How To Stay Safe On Your Bicycle - 7 Ways To Practice Safety While Riding Your Bike

You want to be safe when you ride your bike. The increased popularity of cycling now means that bike riders are a major part of the traffic stream since more people ride bikes as a form of transportation.  So how do you stay safe when riding your bike? Here are some ideas:

Wear a cycle safety helmet. There are many styles and makes of bike safety helmets but not all of them provide the safety you will need when riding your bicycle.  The cycle helmet you choose will depend on your personal circumstances but bear in mind that the price will reflect on the quality, not only in the protection but also the fitting.  In the event of an impact, your helmet should not move so correct fitting and the ability to alter straps is important factors when buying a cycle helmet.

Of course there are those detractors who say that a bike helmet will not protect you if you were to be hit by a car at, say, 40 mph.  Everything has its limitations so to have some head protection is better than having none at all.

Wear visible clothing. When you are out on your bicycle you need to be seen and one of the best ways to be noticed by vehicle drivers is to wear some kind of fluorescent clothing.  It could be a full reflective jacket, reflective belt and arm bands or a reflective tabard. Whichever you choose, it will ensure that you are seen while you are out on your bike.

Consider wearing cycle gloves.  Cycle gloves not only protect your hands while cycling but they will also offer your hands protection should you fall off and your hands hit the ground.  There are different types of cycle gloves but consider ones that have gel-padded palms which offer extra protection and they will ease the pressure on the palms of your hands against the handle grips of your bike.

Inspect your bike each time before you ride it. When you take your bike out of the garage or wherever you have it stored, take a careful look at your bike. Check that the brake pads are making contact with the wheel  rim. Check that the chain doesn't slip and the gears are operating correctly. Sudden mechanical malfunctions when riding your bicycle can cause you to lose concentration and balance. Bikes don't last forever so check for any severe rusting of the bike frame, in particular check the bike forks for damage as they are the most likely to become damaged through wear and tear.

Be Seen In the dark With Your Lights On.  It's a fact that some bike riders do not bother to a invest  in lights.  They instead prefer to ride on roads and pavements in the dark dressed in black and expect everyone else to see them, with no consideration to others. Having a proper cycle lights set on your bike will ensure your safety when you ride your bike in the dark.

Attach reflectors to your bike. Although you should already have lights on your bike, this is an additional safety precaution.  Place them on the front and back wheels attached to the spokes and on the front and back of the frame. At least they will reflect in vehicle headlights giving you some amount of added protection from being knocked off your bike.

Cycle Bell.  Let others know you are behind them.  You can either shout for them to get out of the way or use a cycle bell.  Shouting is a little anti social and may be taken the wrong way, so consider having a bell on your bike and using it to pass pedestrians when you are on a designated dual cycling/pedestrian route.

Cycling can be fun and healthy provided you ride your bike sensibly.  Remember that when you are using the road with other road users, that traffic laws apply.  So stay safe and be seen and enjoy your bike.

The Essential Guide to Road Bike Cycling

Imagine being able to improve your cycling ability right now in 3 easy steps, no matter the style of road bike cycling you undertake. If you follow these 3 steps, and bare in mind the loads of other tips and hints featured throughout this book, you are guaranteed to become a better, fitter, more successful cyclist!

Or what about if you could unleash the power of your own mind and body, to become the best cyclist you can be? Would you participate in the Tour de France?… or maybe you’d embark on a cycling tour of Europe, experiencing the landscapes, monuments and cultures from a perspective that most people never will. Maybe you would revolutionize your own body, cycling to lose weight and become physically and mentally fit?. How would it feel if you could do this?

Imagine being able to walk into a bike shop and recognize what you actually need, instead of taking the word of the salesperson, who may not know what they’re talking about or may simply be trying to make an extra sale. Stop flushing your hard earned money down the drain! By the end of this book, you will know what cycling equipment you should be investing in, to bring you closer to achieving your road cycling goals. It truly is possible.

That’s what this brand new ebook could help you do.

This ebook covers the rarely discussed mental side of cycling, as well as more physical and practical elements of the sport. It is amazing really – the mental aspects are some of the most important in terms of being able to stick with cycling in the long term, and yet, most cyclists don’t think about their mindset until they are on the verge of going professional (and therefore, must have had a naturally high level of drive and motivation to have gotten that far).

This means no fluff. Just the real answers you want to know – the tools to help you get the most out of your cycling.  To find out more Click Here!

Cycling Can Be Fun and Beneficial

There are now many different types of bike designed specifically for each cycling pursuit that can be undertaken. For example you may just want a bike to get around on, so that you can cycling to work, go shopping and  maybe to school.  The good thing about this is that not only will you be getting valuable cardiovascular and muscular exercise but you will be doing your bit to protect the environment from harmful pollution.

Before choosing a bike you will to need decide what type of cycling you will be using it for.  Whether you want to use your bike just for leisurely road cycling, road bike racing or perhaps mountain biking, you need to select the right bike for your specific needs. Maybe you will want your new bike to have a "dual" use, such as being able to use it on the road as well as on the track. Your planned  use of your bike will affect your choice and more than likely the amount you will need to pay for the bike.

Cycling is not only beneficial, it can also be fun! Cycling can be a great way to explore your surroundings. Unlike travelling by car, you get to experience for real the landscape around you,  providing you with a continual change of scenery. On a bike you can smell the surrounding landscape,  flowers and fresh air.

Cycling for an hour or for a whole day does not need much preparation or special equipment. But you do  need to carry some basic items with you in case you get caught out with the onset of bad weather, a mechanical failure or a puncture. Think about using a backpack and in it you could put a bottle of water, some snacks, wind/waterproof, a map or a sat nav, basic tools such as tyre levers, puncture kit and a bicycle pump should be considered as essential and of course your mobile phone will keep you in touch with others.

Bike Maintenance

Bikes have come along way since the first cycle was invented in around 1885.  They have evolved from a heavy piece of metal with two wheels and a chain to lightweight marvels which can cost you hundreds or thousands of pounds.

Having invested in your bike, you will want to keep your cycle in good running order so that it gives you years of trouble free cycling.  Because of the mechanical complexities of today's modern cycle, more care is needed to ensure that the precision engineering that goes into it, works smoothly and efficiently. Consider investing in a bike maintenance kit, that contains amongst others things, spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, cable cutters, a chain tool, a good hammer, a multi tool and hexagon keys.  You should also consider having a supply of lubricant, grease and cleaning agents. Some component and cycle manufacturers are even suggesting that you use a torque wrench when working on their products to ensure the correct tightening of nuts and bolts. The use of a torque wrench on a modern bicycle's components shows just how far bike technology has progressed from the clunky cycles of yesteryear.

Regular checks will need to be made on your bike to ensure that it runs smoothly. Over a period of time chains and gear sprockets will become dirty and dusty causing them to malfunction. There's nothing worse than squeaking brakes that don't work properly or bicycle chains that grate. If you cycle with a dry chain or gear sprocket for instance, they will wear out much faster and changing gears will become difficult. It is important therefore, that you do not allow dirt and dust to build up on your bike's chain and gear sprocket. If it does, scrape it off with a small screwdriver, wipe with a lint free cloth and then apply lubrication.

Equally as important as the bike mechanism are the tyres and wheels. Always check your cycle tyres and wheels regularly for wear and tear. In particular look for possible buckling of the wheels or loose wheel spokes and any damage or wear to the tyres. Low tyre pressure can make bike riding difficult and cause damage to the tyre wall, so keep your tyre pressure at the recommended level for comfort and safety.

If you've spent a lot of money on one of today's precision engineered bicycles, maintenance should be a top priority.

Cycle Computers Explained

How Far Will You Cycle Today? 

You Won't Know Unless You Fit A Cycle Computer!

Here's the scenario.... you have a bike, you go for a bike ride and you return home feeling exhilarated. But how far did you cycle, how long were you cycling, what distance did you travel? You may have done less than you thought. If you had encompassed today's technology however, by investing in a cycle computer, you will have a record of all your accomplishments.

Cycling computer reviews are a good way to help you decide which cycling computer is right for you. One of the most popular wireless cycle computers is the cateye strada wireless computer that attaches to your bicycle handlebars. The cateye cycle computer will show you important cycling activity that allows you to track your progress. Other makes of bike computer, such as the polar cycle computer will give you more functionality, including your heart rate statistics.

Cycle computers give you information when you are riding your bicycle. Depending of the type and model of cycle computer that you have, they are designed to show speed, average speed, trip mileage and total accumulated mileage (or odometer reading). Some cycle computers such as the polar cycle computer, even incorporate calories burned, and a heart rate monitor. There are also computers that show cadence.  Cadence is the term used to show the rate at which a cyclist is turning the pedals per minute or, the revolutions per minute.

Wireless cycle computers work via a small transmitter installed on the bike's fork omitting the need for untidy wires. There are also wired cycle computers but you will need you to run a wire from the device on the handlebars down through the front wheel fork -- the part of the bike frame that holds the front wheel. A small magnet is fixed to the wheel spokes and the transmitter is fixed to the front fork. As the wheel turns, the transmitter counts wheel revolutions and transmits the information to the computer display unit that you install on your bikes handlebars.
 
Calibration will also be necessary to ensure accurate data is sent to the device display. This normally involves measuring your bike wheel circumference; however, instructions on how to do this will come with your cycle computer. It's not difficult to do, but it has to be done correctly to ensure accurate data is being displayed. The distance between the transmitter on the wheel fork and the magnet fitted on the wheel spoke is important. You will need to adjust the transmitter accordingly or else the computer will not register any data.

Cycle computers will record the distance that you travel on your bike and you'll know how far you have travelled over time by the odometer reading. Depending on the model of cycling computer you choose, other functions may include time of day, temperature, elevation above sea level, maximum speed and average speed and a host of other features. As with most gadgets, it is best to make a list of the functions that you need and only spend what you need to.

As with most gadgets, it is best to make a list of the functions that you need and only spend what you need to. But ensure that you choose a cycling computer wisely to avoid the risk of having to spend more money because you found that you need additonal cycling computer functions later.