Cycling Tips
Like my swimming tips, where I do front crawl and mainly swim in a pool (as opposed to sea or lakes), so can only talk about that kind of swimming, I only do a certain style of cycling. I have a road bike, and I get into full MAMIL mode and do short 1 or 2 hour, sometimes up to 4 hours of road cycling virtually always alone. I say this because what I learn from this is different to what you'd need to know for off road mountain biking or riding in in a group.
I do however spent much of my time on two wheels and have done for the last 10 years or more as my main form of transport is a 300cc Vespa which I ride under a full motorbike license. The best thing for learning how to ride safely is motorbike training of which I did a CBT (a full day of compulsory basic training) twice, and 5 days to get my full motorbike licence.
The main thing this teaches you in all of this is how to stay alive. With a motorbike, death comes very easily, especially if you add in complacency or speed. Less likely when riding a Voi electric scooter, but it all still applies.
So here are the things that I have in my head which may help you stay safe on two wheels when on the road.
1. Always take the safest line.
On a motorbike there is a standard way of riding and a normal position to be in, but the safest line always comes above this in all cases.
Normally, on a two lane road the safest line is close to the centre of the lane when conditions are dry. When its wet and you can start to see the rainbow colours of the oil dripped by cars down the centre of the lane, you may move slightly to the 1/3rd or 2/3rd line in the lane. On a bike or scooter I would accept that I would need to be closer to the left, but I would still not take the gutter, its unsafe, full of potholes, glass and is where people will take their first step when crossing without looking, its safer being closer to a meter away from the pavement, which can feel like a big gap.
As an example, on my riding test I passed over a speed bump that was split in two, it had a piece either side of the road in the middle of each lane, exactly where a motorbike rides normally. So I decided to move to the middle to avoid hitting it, a perfectly acceptable thing to do. However, a bus was oncoming on the other aide of the road. The safest line for me wasn’t the middle, it was to the left of the bump or just going over the bump.
I also try and ensure that I always ride at least a car doors width away from the doors of parked cars. Hitting one of those opening would never be fun. If the safe line means you cannot do this, slow down to reduce your risks or the pain of hitting a door.
Always take the line on the road that’s going to prolong your life.
2. Life Saver Look
This is another motorbike habit that I now do when cycling and riding Voi. I’ve noticed that I also do it when driving, especially on a motorway.
The life saver look on a motorbike is something you’re always supposed to do when changing position on the road. It’s a turn of your head left or right after you’ve indicated but before you move. The other part is obviously acting on what you see and not moving into danger.
When cycling, I probably do something similar, more regularly to maintain an awareness of what’s behind (as I don’t have the mirrors.)
On a bike, make sure you’re comfortable doing this and that you don’t wobble and swerve before doing it. That would defeat the object.
3. Ride With Confidence
On a motorbike you're told to dominate the lane. This is easier to do on a motorbike because you also have speed with which to beat cars But the point is, if you timidly ride towards the left and loiter in the gutter, drivers are encouraged to pass you in more dangerous manoeuvres and may push you further over to the left or attempt to pass you dangerously.
You’re entitled to be on the road, the roads were build for horses and then paved for bikes, not cars. Road Tax does not pay for roads. We all pay for roads via Income Tax. Roads do not belong to drivers
On a bike, dominate your space. Ride with confidence (always taking the safest line).
4. Know You’re Risks
On a motorbike, most accidents are caused by another driver crossing your path. This means oncoming cars turning right in front of you. I’ve hit a car coming out of a right hand road into my lane, waved on by another friendly driver who was stationary in a que of traffic but took on the role of traffic cop without having any awareness of what was going on around them.
The other risk on a motorbike is speed and complacency, which will still apply to riding a bike as it applies to driving. But remember that the risks increase exponentially with any increase in speed.
Taxi’s also present a danger as they have a habit of doing rapid U turns in unexpected places.
On a bicycle these risks probably still hold true.
5. Be visible
its surprising how easy it is not to be able to see a cyclist when they are wearing dark clothes and against a dark background like buildings or a hedge. At night, it’s impossible to see an unlit cyclist until it’s very late.
Most motorbike helmets are brightly coloured and I think white is the most obvious to car drivers as it moves against the background more than other colours.
Hi-Viz that catches car head lights is good. Reflectors on your ankles are good because of the constant movement. Reflectors on your back are pointless if you then wear a rucksack.
Helmets, I'm not so convinced about. Research shows you're at increased risk of death or injury when you wear them rather than when you don't. When you don't drivers show you more care and attention and it lowers your risk of accident. Wearing a helmet is like wearing a bullet proof vest if you think guns are a danger. Its not addressing the problem.
Otherwise, anything other than dark colours will help, but at night, always make sure you have lights.
6. Don’t Ride Car Routes
When you’re a driver you start to map routes In your head from A to B. However, these are not always the best routes for a bike. Always re-think your route and use a bike lane app if you need to.
Don't forget that you can cycle in bus lanes. Bus drivers undergo a lot of training, are constantly monitored and everything they do is recorded. They also don't rush if they're stuck behind a bike. Don't ever worry about making a bus go slightly slow in a bus lane.
Portishead to Bristol is approximately 10 miles by car. Much of it between 40 and 60mph. Both feel very fast when you’re only cycling at 15mph. However you can do the same journey almost totally off road and therefore with almost zero risk of cars.
So plan your route and use bike lanes.
7. Check Your Brakes
When hiring a Voi for the first time, pull away then brake hard. The power of the brakes vary and if you’re expecting to stop in an instant but the brakes are like a sponge, you’ll be at risk.
The same applies to a bike, and in the case of a bike it’s important to know which one is the back brake. If you apply all your force to the front, you’ll be over the handlebars and on the floor. Good bike breaking in dry conditions is probably 60/40 front/back.
You can’t really go over the handle bars of a Voi or a motorbike, but braking conditions are important variable which affects risk. Gravel, metal drain covers, oil, dead animals, all of these things can affect your balance.
Finally, on a bike, know that the U.K. back brake is normally the left hand. In Europe it’s the right. This makes checking the brakes before you ride important, if you found this out at speed, you’ll be eating tarmac at the same time.
Thats all I can think of for now. I hope its helpful. Get out there are ride and gain your confidence.
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