Cycling tips

[Source: Rick Hellard, posted in Tri-Rudy newsletter, April 24, 2008]

Over the past years, I have posted some riding tips and this year is no different.

It's really long, and I have added some new stuff based on comments from last year, so even if you have read it before, I suggest you give it a re-read.

Research has shown that a skilled rider significantly reduces his/her risks of an accident and injury. A cyclist can improve their skills by joining a club and riding with skilled and experienced cyclists in group situations, for example the Ottawa Bicycle Club. People who are really new to cycling should consider taking a road skills training course as offered by Citizens for Safe Cycling and delivered by their certified instructors.

Over the years, I’ve put together a simple and I hope comprehensive list of riding tips for better safety on the road. This list is by no means complete, but it’s a pretty good start. For more information, you can check out, the OBC website at http://www.ottawabicycleclub.ca/techniques.shtml In the OBC’s spring newsletters, they carry detailed group riding instructions. There also is access to laws as they relate to cyclists at http://www.ottawabicycleclub.ca/laws.php .

I’ve split it into three sections: Safety, Group Riding Etiquette and Helpful Hints.

Safety
• Last year, I started to pay attention to the oncoming traffic and what it was doing to figure out what the traffic behind be was doing. As an easy example, if I now see an oncoming car moving towards the shoulder of the road, I know there is a very good chance there is a car coming up behind me and they are moving out of the way.
• I strongly suggest people practice shoulder-checking with a focus on holding their line (not swerving). There is no need to turn around enough to read the fine print on anything. Use your periferal vision and turn your head just enough to know if there is or is not anything behind you.
• Always make sure your bike is in good working order.
• Look where you are going and far enough up the road that you can anticipate obstacles (potholes, parked cars, turning vehicles, etc) BEFORE you have to take emergency action to avoid them. A sudden swerve can force the rider behind you to hit the pothole, etc.
• Be aware of the fact that if you turn your head to look at something, your bike will likely turn the same way, at least a little bit.
• Ride in a straight line—don’t weave! Sudden movements cause crashes.
• Stay on your side of the road. You may be legally entitled to be 1m of the edge of the road, and this should put you outside the sewers and rougher road, but that does not mean you can take up the whole road. That just pisses people off.
• Speaking of sewers grates, make sure sewer grates are at right angles to your direction of travel. Don’t get your wheel caught between the bars
• The only legal requirement under the HTA is for drivers of any vehicle to stay right when moving slower than the traffic at the time. Personally, I will ride anywhere if necessary for my own safety. Also passing on the right is a very risky practice if you are not aware of the risks. Drivers don’t often think a cyclist will be edging by on their right, thus car doors get opened in your path, as well as unanticipated, unsignalled right turns, etc.
• Wear a helmet but safety is much more than wearing a helmet
• keep your hands on the brake levers whenever there is a possibility you will have to stop
• Use your aero bars sparingly in the city, and never when going through intersections.
• Use your aero bars only in groups where you know everyone’s ability.
• use aerobars when you have long stretches of clear roadway, and generally not on bike paths.
• Signal your turns and stops. You only need to get the point across—a quick point is fine, and then get your hands back on the handlebars.
• Never cross the centerline, except when you need to pass another vehicle
• When riding with parked cars on the road, look into the driver’s seat to make sure there is no one there. If there is someone in the driver’s seat, they may be ready to get out of the car, so go wide enough to be safe. If you are in a group, be sure to signal your intention to go wide, and let the rest of the group know.
• Rarely ride more than two abreast.
• Cross train tracks at right angles, and carefully.
• Carry tools, a pump and spare—know how to use them.
• If you wear headphones, use just the right one and keep the volume low enough so you can hear the gears on your bike. That way, you can hear the cars around you.


Group Riding Etiquette

• Use standard gestures to warn of dangers. e.g. right hand pointing left across back to warn of parked car or approaching pedestrian
• When there is a vehicle approaching from behind, and it could affect the safety of the group, the last riders should warn everyone else—the phrase is “car back!”
• Similarly, when approaching an intersection, the front riders are responsible to make sure the route is clear—if there is a vehicle approaching from any direction, the phrase is “car on the ____”
• When approaching a set of lights, pay attention. Cars may not!
• The front people should point out significant holes, glass and obstacles to those following, who should also point them out. A quick point is all that is necessary if people are paying attention. However, the repeated stating of the obvious in group situations can drive experienced cyclists crazy – the less experienced groups in the OBC do this – usually you only have to communicate those things which are not obvious or inconsequential. If you the group is on a road full of potholes, pointing them out is equally unsafe.
• When pointing out obstacles, point out things that you yourself would not want to hit.
• Remember, if there is an obstacle, you only need to not hit it. You do not need to miss it by much, so small movements may be all that are necessary to avoid hitting them.
• If you don’t have time to avoid hitting something without weaving uncontrollably, you have two choices: take the hit and possibly fall, or, weave and take someone else down with you. The choice is yours.
• If you look at a pothole, or bump, you will likely hit it.
• Front people should be aware of what is happening to the back people, especially on hills and at stop lights and signs.
• At stop signs, allow the riders at the back sufficient time to catch up before accelerating. If not, the back people may be forced to burn the sign in order to keep up.
• Behave predictably, so that others know what you are going to do
• Do not take lead from someone unless they ask you to. Let them pull off.
• Likewise, don’t stay at the front all day, or too long.
• Work as hard as you can to not get dropped, unless you want to—it can be lonely and miserable on the way back alone and well worth the effort to hang on. If you do want to be dropped, tell someone that is what you are doing so the group does not worry about you.
• Don’t be afraid to draft.
• Don’t be afraid to not draft and pull a little.
• If you do pull, do not exceed your comfort level—don’t compete with the speed others have set. If it’s too hard for you, take a short pull and save your energy.

Helpful Hints

• Make eye contact with motorists at intersections to determine whether they see you
• Be prepared to give up the right of way if a motorist makes a mistake that could hurt you, but...
• Be assertive in taking your place on the road
• Move to the left lane to make left turns. Do this well before the turn
• Obey the rules of the road!
• Stop at stop signs (I know this is a lost cause)
• When approaching a red light, slow down enough to allow the light to change before you get there. Make sure to tell the other riders you are slowing.
• The above also applies when approaching intersections or driveways where there are frequent right turns. In this case move away from the curb to indicate you aren’t turning right. This helps prevent “right hooks” by car drivers
• Stop at red lights if you don't time them right
• Be courteous and respectful to others you meet on the road
• Don't swarm motorists (or other cyclists) at stop signs and lights
• Help motorists pass in difficult spots
• Be aware of cars behind; don't make it impossible for them to pass
• Don’t over-dress—if you sweat too much, you will chill and things will be worse than if you under-dress—you can always work harder to warm-up.
• Don’t stop for too long to refuel—you’ll get cold.
• If/when you get wet on your ride, get out of the wet clothing and into something dry as quickly as possible.
• To avoid bonking, eat and drink often.
• If you do bonk on your ride, have a Coke—it’s like jet fuel to get you home. One Coke is worth about an hour of hard work, sometimes 2 hours.
• Some people like to sprint for town signs—the simple rules are that the sign has to be in sight for the sprint to start, and once the sprint is over (past the sign), it’s over and everyone should let up, so if you don’t contest the sprint, those that did should back off and come back to you; sprint safely.
• Expect to get dirty.
• Expect headwinds.
• Whenever possible, ride into the wind at the beginning of your rides. That way, you finish with a tailwind.

My final few are simply matters of courtesy to other riders whom you do not know.

- understand that being passed or latched onto is not a challenge. There is no need to take it as one.
- if someone does latch on, or you latch on to someone, be friendly and say hi and make a friend.
- If you are not comfortable with someone on your wheel, tell them you prefer they not be there.
- likewise, if you latch on to someone, ask if it is okay to be there
- either way, obey their wishes.

Hope this helps.