Better Bicycling Fact Sheet Ten Cmmandments f Bicycling I. Wear a helmet fr every ride and use lights at night II. III. IV. Cnduct an ABC Quick Check befre every ride Obey traffic laws: ride n the right, slwest traffic farthest t right Ride predictably and be visible at all times V. At intersectins, ride in the right-mst lane that ges in yur directin VI. VII. Scan fr traffic and signal lane changes and turns Be prepared fr mechanical emergencies with tls and knw-hw VIII. Cntrl yur bike by practicing bike handling skills IX. Drink befre yu are thirsty and eat befre yu are hungry X. Have fun ABC Quick Check 1. A is fr air Inflate tires t rated pressure as listed n the sidewall f the tire Use a pressure gauge t insure prper pressure Check fr damage t tire tread and sidewall; replace if damaged 2. B is fr brakes Inspect pads fr wear; replace is there is less than ¼" f pad left Check pad adjustment; make sure they d nt rub tire r dive int spkes Check brake level travel; at least 1" between bar and lever when applied 3. C is fr cranks, chain and cassette Make sure that yur crank blts are tight; lube the threads nly, nthing else Check yur chain fr wear; 12 links shuld measure n mre than 12 1/8 inches If yur chain skips n yur cassette, yu might need a new ne r just an adjustment 4. Quick is fr quick releases Hubs need t be tight in the frame; yur quick release shuld engage at 90 Yur hub quick release shuld pint back t insure that nthing catches n it Inspect brake quick releases t insure that they have been re-engaged 5. Check is fr check it ver Take a quick ride t check if derailleur s and brakes are wrking prperly Inspect the bike fr lse r brken parts; tighten, replace r fix them Pay extra attentin t yur bike during the first few miles f the ride
Bicycle Clthing Basics 1. Always wear a prperly fitting helmet Make sure that the helmet fits n tp f the head, nt tipped back Always wear a helmet while riding a bike, n matter hw shrt the trip After a crash r impact n yur helmet, replace it immediately 2. Shrts Bike shrts include a pad t increase cmfrt while in the saddle Tight, clse fit keeps fabrics frm rubbing yur skin and causing irritatin Bike shrts shuld be wrn alne r under anther pair f lightweight shrts 3. Jerseys Technical fabric f jerseys pulls misture ff f yur skin t keep yu dry Jerseys d nt absrb misture; they d nt get heavy with perspiratin On cld days, cttn will absrb water and hld it next t yur skin, chilling yu 4. Shes Stiff sles f cycling shes allw better pwer transmissin t pedals Mesh vents allw air t circulate arund feet keeping them dry Shes are usually designed t accept cleats fr clip less pedals 5. Glasses Prtect yur eyes frm wind, dirt, debris and the sun while riding Yur frnt wheel r smene else's rear wheel can sht glass r dirt at yur face Keep perspiratin ut f yur glasses with a thin headband arund yur frehead 6. Glves Prvide padding t help increase cmfrt and relieve numbness while riding Prtect yur hands in the event f a fall with cycling specific glves Experienced cyclists can clean glass and debris ff f tires with glves while riding 7. Tights Keep yur legs warm and ut f the wind with full-length tights when it's cld Muscles functin better when they are warm and prtected frm the elements Full-length leg warmers which can be remved during a ride are als a gd idea
Bike Cmfrt 1. Frame size Frame size is the mst imprtant cmpnent f cmfrt; it cannt be changed Yu shuld have 1" t 2" f stand ver n rad bikes; 3" t 4" n muntain/hybrid Yur lcal bike shp will be able t help with frame fit determinatin 2. Saddle Height While seated, yu shuld have a slight bend in yur knee with yur feet n the pedals Wear yur cycling shes t insure prper seat height Beginners may want their seat a bit lwer fr cmfrt and security 3. Seat Angle Frm the side f the saddle, the nse and back f the saddle shuld be hrizntal The middle f the saddle shuld create a dip frm frnt t back The saddle shuld be tilted n mre than five degrees up r dwn frm level 4. Handlebars Handlebar setup is a persnal preference; higher fr cmfrt, lwer fr perfrmance Drp bars: lwest flat part f bars shuld be hrizntal Muntain: bend shuld sweep hrizntally 5. Saddle Design Saddles cme in gender specific as well as cmfrt and perfrmance mdels If yu hurt after yu and yur bike shp adjust it a few times, try a new ne Explre yur chices; yur saddle shuld nt hurt yu r cause numbness
Bike Educatin and Helmets 1. Bicycle driver's educatin Educatin is essential fr the prper peratin f a bicycle n radways Bicyclists are drivers f vehicles and the law treats them as such A majrity f bicycle-related deaths are caused by mistakes made by the peratr 2. Mtrist driver's educatin States require driver's educatin befre they will license yu drive a mtr vehicle Mtrists d nt learn hw t prperly deal with bicycles n the radway Cmmercial drivers are nt trained t understand cyclists rights 3. Helmets Many states require riders under 16 t wear helmets while n a bike Helmets decrease severity f head injuries in bike crashes by 85% Educatin encurages safe riding 4. Why educatin? Cyclists wh have received educatin are less likely t be invlved in a crash Helmets d nt decrease crash frequency, nly severity Educatin decreases crash frequency and severity 5. Mandatry helmet laws Educate mtrists abut bicyclists' rights Supprters pint t deaths as the nly measure f bicycle safety Crash avidance will decrease injuries and fatalities mre than just wearing a helmet
Helmet Fit 1. Wear a helmet A helmet is yur last line f defense in an accident; never ride withut ne Helmets can reduce serius head injuries by 85% in a crash A helmet will nt prtect yur head if it is nt prperly fit 2. Helmet Fit Make sure that the helmet fits n tp f the head, nt tipped back Always wear a helmet while riding a bike, n matter hw shrt the trip After a crash r any impact that affects yur helmet, replace it immediately 3. Shell and pads Find the smallest helmet shell size that fits ver yur head Helmet pads shuld nt be used t make a helmet that is t big fit yur head Leave abut tw-fingers width between yur eyebrws and the frnt f the helmet 4. Straps The straps shuld be jined just under each ear at the jawbne The buckle shuld be snug with yur muth cmpletely pen Peridically check yur strap adjustment; imprper fit can render helmet useless 5. Ventilatin In general, the mre vents the better; imprper ventilatin can cause verheating Helmets with gd ventilatin can actually be cler than riding with n helmet at all Mre vents usually mean a higher priced helmet; buy ne that yu are prud t wear 6. Clrs Helmets cme in all different clrs in different mdels; buy a highly visible clr Shell clr des nt affect the temperature f the helmet against yur head Pick a clr that encurages yu r yur kids t wear it
Sharing the Path 1. Curtesy Respect ther trail users; jggers, walkers, bladders, wheelchairs all have trail rights Respect slwer cyclists; yield t slwer users Obey speed limits; they are psted fr yur safety 2. Annunce when passing Use a bell, hrn r vice t indicate yur intentin t pass Warn ther well in advance s yu d nt startle them Clearly annunce "On yur left" when passing 3. Yield when entering and crssing Yield t traffic at places where the trail crsses the rad Yield t ther users at trail intersectins Slw dwn befre intersectins and when entering the trail frm the rad 4. Keep right Stay as clse t the right as pssible, except when passing Give yurself enugh rm t maneuver arund any hazards Ride single file t avid pssible cllisins with ther trail users 5. Pass n left Scan ahead and behind befre annuncing yur intentin t pass anther user Pull ut nly when yu are sure the lane is clear Allw plenty f rm, abut tw bike lengths, befre mving back t the right 6. Be predictable Travel in a straight line unless yu are aviding hazards r passing Indicate yur intentin t turn r pass Warn ther users f yur intentins 7. Use lights at night Mst trail users will nt have lights at night; use a white frnt and red rear light Watch fr walkers as yu will vertake them the fastest Reflective clthing des nt help in the absence f light 8. D nt blck the trail Fr grup rides, use n mre than half the trail; dn't hg the trail During heavy use perids (hlidays and weekends) stay single file Stp and regrup cmpletely ff f the trail 9. Clean up litter Pack ut mre than yu pack in Encurage thers t respect the path Place all litter in its prper receptacle 10. Limitatins fr transprtatin Mst paths were nt designed fr high-speed, high vlume traffic Use paths keeping in mind their recreatinal nature It might be faster t use rads and avid the traffic n the paths during heavy use
Rck Ddge 1. Emergency Designed t allw yu t avid a hazard and nt change rad psitin Vital if yu are pinned by a gutter n ne side and a car n the ther Yur bdy will travel straight; yur bike will avid the hazard 2. Frnt wheel Yur frnt wheel is mre imprtant than yur rear; yu steer with the frnt wheel Just befre the hazard, jerk yur frnt wheel arund it then back Yur frnt wheel shuld avid the rck, pthle r trash 3. Lking ahead Identify hazard, nte its distance, keep it in yur periphery and lk ahead Other hazards may be ahead that yu will need t prepare fr Cncentrate n riding a straight line while mving the bike arund the hazard 4. Yur bdy Yur bdy shuld cntinue straight ver the hazard while yur bike mves arund it Standing up with yur pedals level will help yu maneuver yur bike beneath yu Un-weight the rear wheel in case yu hit the hazard with yur rear wheel 5. Rear wheel Ideally yu shuld nt hit the hazard with either wheel; practicing will help Lift up ff f the saddle in case yur rear wheel hits the hazard Try t lean frward just a bit t get the rear wheel ver r arund the bstacle