Bike Diva

Top 5 Cycling Safety Tips

5 Safety Tips for Cyclists

This article is a Sponsored Guest Post

Cycling is slowly becoming everyone’s favorite hobby. It is fun and it also allows you to exercise properly. Many people are including it in their regular workout regimen and cycling is now at par with swimming. Not just that, cycling to work can help you in doing your bit for the environment. Children can cycle and lead healthy lives which would help them to grow and become healthier adults. Apart from bearing in mind safety consideration I also make sure I have a decent padlock, I have replaced a few bikes due to theft. However, in order for cycling to be as fun as it is supposed to be, you have to make sure that you follow all the safety pointers.

 

The following are top 5 safety tips for cyclists : 

1. You Should Follow Legal Cycling Rules – If you follow the legal laws for cyclists, half your job would be done. This means that you should never cycle when the red lights are on. Also, don’t cycle through when the lights are on at the pedestrian crossings. Cycling on pavements is not legal unless you see a sign showing that the particular pavement is also a cycle path. On a one-way street, you shouldn’t cycle up the wrong way unless you see a sign showing that it is okay for cyclists to do that. Don’t ride across pedestrian crossings except in case of toucan crossings.  

2. Try to Maintain Cycling Etiquette – Cycling etiquette might sound like something that you can ignore but it isn’t. There is a reason why it’s common etiquette – it leads to better safety for people and cyclists. This means that you should not weave your cycle in and out of the traffic. Don’t change your direction without signaling first. Even though it is not compulsory, make use of toucan crossings, cycle boxes, stop lines and cycle routes for safer cycling. It is always prudent to give priority to pedestrians. Some pedestrians could be disabled, deaf or blind, so you should be careful around them. If your cycle does not have a bell, get one fixed to inform people of your presence on the road. 

3. Always Wear a Helmet – Even if you follow all the traffic rules, accidents can still happen. On the road, things happen pretty fast and there isn’t a lot you can do. Also, because there are other drivers and pedestrians involved, sometimes, because of no fault of your own, you can find yourself in a dangerous situation. Your bicycle could tumble and you could get hurt. In such a situation, you would be grateful that you were wearing a helmet because it will protect you from serious and severe head injuries. You can also wear shin and elbow pads to protect from scratches.

4. Don’t Listen to Music While Cycling – It is common to see cyclists listening to music on high volume when they are cycling but this can be extremely dangerous. This is because with your headphones on, you will not be able to hear other people sounding their horn. It could lead to accidents. Not only could it be fatal to you but it could also cause accidents to other people. Similarly, you should not speak on the phone, even if you are using hands-free headsets to do the same. Any blip in your concentration could be disastrous. If you get a call, stop at a safe stop and then take it. 

5. Wear Bright Clothing During Low-Light Conditions – Because you are on a bicycle, it is important to be visible to others on the road. It is recommended that you get some lights installed on your bike but otherwise, you can also wear bright clothes in fluorescent colors to get people’s attention. 

These tips will make sure that you can enjoy cycling safely.

Related articles

Your Guide to Bike Trail Safety

5 Bicycle Safety Tips You Can't Afford to Forget

Infographic - 8 Best USA Cities for Cyclists

Check out this great infographic on the Great 8 Top US Cities for Cycling. Hmmm, I live in south Florida, no surprise we didn't make the list.

Tucson, AZ is a great place to ride. I had a chance to do the 100+ mile century ride, El Tour de Tucson, back in 2007. I would love to travel to Seattle, WA and spend some time cycling - road trip anyone? What's your favorite US city/state for riding your bike? And what kind of cycling are you doing there - roadie, mountain, triathlon or something else?

Brought to you by:SpareFoot.com - See more at: http://blog.sparefoot.com/eight-best-cities-for-cyclists/#sthash.oaGHpkcR.dpuf

Matt Schexnayder

Matt works on the SpareFoot marketing team and specializes in SEO. He enjoys reading "interesting" blog posts by Matt Cutts, watching sports, and jammin out to the latest underground hit.

5 Bicycle Safety Tips You Can't Afford to Forget

Today's sponsored guest post was written by Matthew Hall.

Bike riding is one of the most popular methods of transportation in the world today. Bicycles are used for an array of things ranging from getting to work, riding for pleasure or riding competitively. Although people use bicycles for different purposes, there should be one thing kept in common between all of them, safety. Nothing is more important than staying safe while riding your bike, and the good part is that it’s not hard to stay safe on your bike as long as you follow the tips I will be going over in this article. So before you head out riding let's go over some important tips to keep you as safe as possible while you are out riding your bicycle.    

Proper Roadside Etiquette

Just because you're on a bicycle and not in a car does not mean that there are no rules to follow. It is quite opposite actually. Bicyclists have rules to follow on the road just as cars do. When you are riding in populated areas always make sure to double-check before crossing roads and intersections, as motorists may not see you. Normally there will either be a marked lane or a sidewalk in which you should ride your bike. Riding your bike against traffic or in the middle of the road is not the proper way to travel on your bike.

Wear a Helmet

It doesn’t matter if you are just going to be riding down the street real quick or if you are planning on going on a long bike ride. Accidents happen, and it is important to always have the proper protection on incase something does happen. I am pretty sure that most people aren’t out riding a bike to try to  look good and impress anyone. Most of us are using it to get somewhere or as a hobby, so the “helmet looks stupid” excuse shouldn’t fly because last time I checked, it is better to be safe and smart than to look cool. In the end, if you take a spill without a helmet, you may not be looking so good anyway. Just to give you an example of how important helmets are, statistics show that in 2010 alone 616 people were killed on bicycles. A whopping 429 of those killed were not wearing helmets. So next time you head out on your bike make sure to protect your head first.

Wear Bright Clothing

If you plan on riding your bike close to or on the side of the road then it is important that you wear the proper attire. If your going to be out riding at night wearing a dark shirt is obviously not a good idea. Look into purchasing some bright clothing or shirts with reflectors on the outside of them so that other vehicles and bike riders can see you ahead of time.

Maintain Your Bike

You don’t need to do this every time you go for a bike ride but I would say to check up on your bike at least weekly if you use it often. This means checking to make sure your tires are inflated, that the handle bars are not loose, that your chain is lubed up, and that your brakes are working properly. If you notice that something needs some attention then fix the problem immediately instead of waiting, as a small problem could turn into a big problem if not treated right away.

Pay Attention To The Road

Unfortunately most cities can’t repave every roadway and sidewalk to make it perfect for us to ride our bikes on, although that would be nice. This means many sidewalks and roads are old and have cracks and potholes in them that are often hard to see if you are not looking close. This can be especially dangerous at night-time. If you are riding your bike at night you should have some type of light on your bike. It is also important to look out for fellow riders or vehicles as you may be paying attention but they may not be and hit you if you're not paying 100 percent attention.

Riding bikes can be convenient in this day and age. With the combined price of gas, insurance, and car payments, the money you can save by riding a bike can be well in the hundreds of dollars per month if not more depending on your driving history. Just make sure before you ride your bike you remember to be safe, wear a helmet, lookout for others, dress appropriately, and follow the rules of the road and you should be well on your way to riding your bike as safe as possible.

 

Sources:

Helmets.org

Washington DOT

WikiHow.com

About the author: 

This article was written by Matthew Hall. As gas prices have steadily rose over the past decade, so have the number of miles Matthew has put on his bicycle. While biking for the majority of his transportation needs has been mostly positive, roadside safety is always a concern. In addition to his avid cycling, he is a professional writer for Heil-Law.com. To learn more about Matthew, visit him on Google+.

Related articles

Your Guide to Bike Trail Safety

Steps To Keep In Mind If Involved In A Bike Accident

Rules of the Road: Kids and Bicycle Safety

A history of bicycle safety: re-inventing two wheels

Your Guide to Bike Trail Safety

Today's guest post is a wonderful guide on general cycling safety from probikefit.com.

Your Guide to Bike Trail Safety

Whether you are planning to test your strength and stamina by tackling the more challenging routes near your home or explore the easier ones at a leisurely pace, it is a good idea to think about basic safety precautions before setting off. Sticking to cycle trails may help you to avoid some of the dangers of the road, such as careless motorists and pedestrians, but there are other things that you need to consider when exploring the countryside on two wheels.

• Preparation – This point applies to all routes but especially to the longer and more demanding ones. Make sure to study the trail carefully while you are still at home so that you are aware of any obstacles and the type of surfaces that you will encounter. Take note of the weather forecast and dress appropriately. If you already own some decent racing bike clothing that is waterproof, you can probably use it when tackling cross country trails. If not, you might like to invest in some good quality garments to keep you warm and dry.

• Safety gear – If you are new to cycling and do not have any equipment yet, one of the first items that you should buy is a cycle helmet. Although it possible to find cheap examples, both on-line and in physical stores across the country, it is better to economise in other areas as a good quality helmet could literally save your life.

• Cycle maintenance – It is important to ensure that your machine is in good working order before setting off. You will not want to have to deal with mechanical problems when all your focus should be on the track ahead of you. A careful visual inspection is a good start and will help you to spot any obvious faults. However, it is also worth testing each moving part individually to make sure it is functioning properly. If you will be tacking steep gradients, pay particular attention to the brakes and gears.

• Food and water – For longer routes, make sure that you take adequate supplies with you. Cycling on a hot day can lead to dehydration if you do not take on enough liquids during the ride and carbohydrate-rich snacks will help to ensure that your energy levels do not drop too quickly.

• Stay alert – All your preparation could be in vain if you fail to pay attention to your surroundings when you are tackling off-road trails. You should focus on the terrain at all times to ensure that you have time to avoid any unexpected obstacles and you should also keep an eye out for other people along the way. If the route that you have chosen bisects or follows any bridleways, make sure that you are ready to take evasive action if you should happen to come face to face with a horse and rider.

About the Author

Founded in the early 90s, ProBikeKit is a leading road cycling expert, offering the best range and advice on a huge variety of biking components.

Related articles

Night Riding on the Bike Trail - Use at Your Own Risk

Review of Indoor Bike Trainers

Buying A Bike Trainer?…Know This First

After months and months of research into the world of indoor bike trainers, I've learned a thing or two about what a perspective buyer should be looking for. Having done a lot of indoor bike trainer reviews, I’ve discovered that the best bike trainers share some important commonalities. Let me tell you about them.

We'll Start From The Ground Level

Of course the 'foundation' of any product is important. In the case of bike trainers, we're talking about the frame. The better bike trainers like the Kurt Kinetic Road Machine and the CycleOps Fluid 2 certainly have a solid frame, but the folks at Blackburn would beg to differ. They've developed a frame that's twice as stiff as the rest of the market. If you're a strong heavy rider, increased rack stiffness may be worthy of consideration.

Whisper Quiet Please

In the world of indoor bike trainers , quietness is queen (or king). If we were to develop a noise hierarchy, fluid bike trainers would be at the top of the heap (that is to say they're the quietest), wind trainers would occupy the lowest rung on the ladder (they can sound like a roaring locomotive if you’re pedaling all out), and magnetic (mag) trainers are somewhere in between. If the cyclist lives in an apartment, the use of a wind trainer can become awkward, with invitations to social events beginning to wane the longer the rider torments his neighbors with his cycling workouts.

How Does It Create Resistance?

This is where the 'rubber meets the roller'. In short, the three categories of trainers are named for their method of resistance. The simplest are wind trainers, which get the rider huffing and puffing by pushing air around. One of the companies, CycleOps, has a wind trainer that has impellers in a 'Vortex' design. This is said to be quieter and develop more resistance than standard wind trainer designs. With wind trainers there’s no provision for increasing the resistance level other than pedaling faster.

Mag trainers develop resistance by rotating magnets past each other. The repulsion of the magnets as they come into each other's 'force field' is what creates the workout. Some models, like the CycleOps Magneto, have what's called Progressive Resistance. With the use of centrifugal force, the magnets move to the outside of the spinning rotor, which increases the resistance. You can 'switch gears' on other mag trainers by manually changing the configuration of the magnets, either by getting off the bike or by using a control lever that's mounted to the handlebars.

Fluid bike trainers work by rotating an impeller through a fluid. Kurt Kinetic uses silicone, which has the added advantage of getting thicker as it heats up (and the heat generated from a strong workout can be substantial). This thickening of the fluid, in addition to the basic physics of fluid dynamics, is what makes fluid trainer resistance increase exponentially. You can be assured that you’ll never get strong enough to exceed your fluid trainer’s ability to dish out punishment. Traditionally, fluid bike trainers could be counted on to begin leaking over time. However due to new designs and better parts, leakage on the best quality bike trainers has been minimized.

 

Three Conclusions

There at least three important considerations in the buying of an indoor bike trainer.

1. The integrity and stiffness of the frame should be considered.
2. The amount of noise that the trainer's expected to produce can be important, particularly if the rider lives in close quarters.
3. The way in which the trainer develops resistance can be as simple and foolproof as loudly moving air with a wind trainer. Alternatively, creating resistance may involve moving parts with potential for something to go wrong, as in a mag trainer. Lastly, it can be as smooth as an impeller moving through silicone fluid...but with the potential to leak.

This short primer should get you started on your quest to find the best bike trainer for your needs, with additional information as close away as a Google search for the 'best bike trainer'.

About the author:

Ron Fritzke is a cycling product reviewer with a passion for ‘all things cycling’. A former 2:17 marathoner, he now directs his competitive efforts toward racing his bike…and looking for good cycling products.

Fixed Gear Bike Improves Pedal Stroke

There is an interesting article, regarding fixed gear bicycles, on the USA Triathlon site. The article is written by USAT Certified Coaches Mickey Cassu and Jason Norman.

Here is a excerpt from the article:
Using a fixed gear bike to improve smoothness in your pedal stroke.
"Use of a fixed gear bike will focus you on your pedaling technique as well as increasing leg speed and strength. The mechanics of a fixed-gear bike require you to pedal as long as the bike is moving forward. Inexperienced riders should consider using a fixed-gear bike on a stationary trainer for the first couple of rides."

To read the complete article, go to the USA Triathlon website: Achieve a Smooth Pedal Stroke.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Quick Cycling Tips 101

Instant Bike Nutrition
Depending on the level of intensity that cyclists ride, you can burn between 500 and 1,000 calories per hour. To keep your energy levels topped off, cyclists should carry easy to digest, high calorie foods with them at all times. High energy foods, such as nutritional gel packs and small boxes of raisins, can easily be stored in a bike bag which attaches to the bottom of your seat or in the back pocket of your cycling jersey.

Cross Training for Cyclists
If your regular exercise routine is becoming a bit stale, you might want to give cross training a try. Mixing up your regular exercise routine, by trying other athletic activities, will give you a total body workout. Try adding in activities, such as weight lifting, jogging, swimming, roller skating or walking, once or twice a week, in addition to your regular cycling workouts.

Stay Hydrated While Biking
Cyclists should carry water with them at all times while riding their bikes. Various water bottle holders are available which can be attached directly to your bike frame. Another option is to wear a hydration pack, which looks like a small backpack, on your back. Regardless of which hydration system is utilized, cyclists should take a sip of water approximately every 15 to 20 minutes, even if you don't feel thirsty, in order to stay properly hydrated. On longer, more intense rides, replace the water with an electrolyte solution such as MotorTabs, Gatorade, Powerade, or Accelerade.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

The Need to Feed

Image: JPKWitter on morgueFile

Proper Nutrition During Exercise

I don't recommend biking without following proper nutrition. I went for a 39 mile road bike ride today, like I do most Saturday mornings, but I didn't have anything for breakfast before the ride. I normally try to eat a granola bar just to get a few calories and carbs into my system. But my stomach was a bit upset so I couldn't even look at food this morning. I have been dealing with IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, for years and some days are better than others.

I made sure I had a package of electrolyte blocks with me so I could eat those during the rest stop. But stupid me forgot to put them in my bike jersey when I got to the ride start. I felt pretty good the first half of the ride and was taking my turn pulling in the pace line. When we stopped at the half way point I realized I had forgotten my package of Sharkies - they are shark-shaped, gummy electrolyte blocks. Sort of like a Clif Shot Block but smaller, and shark shaped. See my article, Instant Bike Nutrition, for details on various sports blocks, bars and beans you can eat during your rides.

No Gas in the Tank

I thought, no worries, I have plenty of gas in the tank. Well, starting the second half of the ride we had a bit of a headwind. Then a friend of mine caught up to our group at a red light - I tried to keep up on the sprint, but my lack of breakfast and sharkies was already starting to have an effect. The rest of the riders in my group caught up to me and passed me like I wasn't even moving. So that meant I got to do the rest of the ride by myself, with a headwind, with no one to draft behind.

I normally wouldn't have a problem riding by myself, I occasionally go on short rides during the week by myself. But I started to bonk with 14 miles left to go. I sure wish I had eaten something for breakfast before heading out. I had to stop 3 times on my way back. My heart rate was sky high (180's), I couldn't freakin breath and I started getting sort of light-headed and dizzy.

Hellish Bike Ride

The last 4 miles of the ride were pure hell, I kept putting my head down and I was weaving all over the place. I should have stopped riding and called someone to come pick me up. But I also have a problem with being a bit stubborn. I've ridden with other riders that have had this same problem. I made them stop riding and take the SAG wagon back to their car. Once you get to this stage, you are a danger to yourself (you could drift into the road and end up as road kill) and to other riders (not cool to zig zag all over the place while in the pace line).

But I didn't have the luxury of SAG support so I slugged along on my own. When I got back to the parking lot where my van was parked I was like the drunken sailor. I could barely stand up straight while I was taking off my bike shoes. I threw my bike into the van and headed straight for the cafe that was there. Two of the other riders were sitting outside waiting for their breakfast to be served. I went inside and got a raspberry iced tea and a fresh fruit salad. I took this outside to sit with the other bikers. They were looking at me funny, asking if I was okay. They could see that I was shaking - guess my blood sugar/carbohydrate reserves were totally depleted. After eating a bit of the fruit and feeling less shaky I drove myself back home. I ate a whole bagel with cream cheese and started feeling a bit better.

Bike Blogger

After my shower I decided to be a semi-couch potato - that's where I am now, writing this post. Here's the word on bonking according to the Lance Armstrong Performance Program: "Symptoms of bonking can include a heavy feeling in the legs, difficulty maintaining pedal cadence, dizziness, severe headache, disorientation, and sometimes hallucination.  The remedy is to eat immediately."

Where was Lance when I needed him this morning? He could have pulled me back to my van. And another Lance gospel: "A common mistake is skipping breakfast. This puts your body in a caloric deficit and hampers your ability to train properly." 

Okay, and finally I can blame my husband. He decided to play with his mountain bike today instead of road riding. So I didn't have him there to drag my a*s back home the last few miles. And he can also be a bit like a drill sergent in the morning "You need to eat something before going out for your morning bike rides." Yeah, yeah, yeah - you and your cast iron stomach can bite me! He actually would make a good coach - oh yeah, this fall he will be coaching the Palm Beach County TNT (Team in Training) cycle team as they train for the Intracoastal Century Ride in Cocoa Beach - cool! That's my husband on the left, in front of the Astronaut Hall of Fame during the 2006 Intracoastal Century Ride.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Garmin Edge 305

Above: Garmin Edge 305 cycle computer with heart rate monitor

Cycle Computers

For Christmas of 2006 I bought new cycle computers for both my husband and I. I purchased a top of the line GPS enabled Garmin Edge 305. At the time they listed for $399 each, I found ours online for $250 each which I thought was a fantastic bargin. I just did a quick search on Google and right now they are selling from a low of $224 to a high of $399.  Prior to this time we were using simple cycle computer's we purchased at Walmart for under $40.

Why buy such a fancy piece of equipment? We are bike addicts and especially enjoy riding our road bikes. We don't drive fancy cars, take expensive vacations or wear designer clothing. So I thought we could treat ourselves to a nice computer for our road bikes.

The Garmin attaches to the front of the handlebars of your bike. It comes with a wireless sensor which gets attached to the rear chain stay, a spoke magnet which gets attached to one of the spokes of the back wheel and a crank magnet which gets attached to the crank arm of your bike. It also comes with a heart rate monitor which you wear around your chest, underneath your bike jersey. I've got my Garmin setup to display my speed, time in the saddle, distance, time of day, calories burned and heart rate.

After I get back from riding I hook my Garmin up to my laptop computer. This is so I can recharge the battery in the Garmin and at the same time download all the information from the ride to my laptop computer. Additional data from my ride is displayed using the included software program that comes with the Garmin. The additional information includes maximum speed, average speed, cadence, elevation gain and elevation loss. You need to turn your Garmin on a few mintues before you plan to start your ride. This is so the Garmin has time to acquire a satellite signal.

Why do you need GPS on a bike computer? When you download data to your home computer or laptop, you can see a map of your exact bike route. The free program Motion Based is designed to work with the Garmin data. You can download your bike ride data to Motion Based and then see a Google Earth map of your actual ride - COOL!!!! Other features of the Garmin Edge 305, according to the Garmin webiste, include:

• Easy to install; no calibration required. Just snap it into the bike mount and go.
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons, making it extremely reliable for distance and speed information.
• Virtual Partner® lets you race a virtual competitor over a specified distance and speed.
• Courses let you race against a previously recorded workout, so you can compare your current and past performances over the same ride.
• Auto Pause® pauses the timer when you slow down or stop and resumes when you speed up again, so you can focus on your ride.
• Auto Lap® automatically starts a new lap each time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva