There are millions of people in American who commute to their workplaces or ride frequently on the road using bikes as their main mode of transportation. As the number of riders continue to grows, it is important for you to understand the haphazard situations that can be caused by not following the correct riding guidelines.
If you’re a beginner who soon plans to ride on a bike down the road, here some bike riding tips for beginners that can really help you ride safer and better.
1: Protect your head
According to a research, the main cause of death for 60% of the cyclists in the US is head injury. The worst part is, many of these deaths could have been prevented only if the riders had worn helmets to protect themselves.
When you’re on a road, you need to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances. At best, you need to protect yourself at all costs so yes, wear helmets regular when you’re out riding on a bike. it will save your life from a severe head injury.
2: Go through traffic rules
If this is the first time you’re going to be riding on the road, you must go through all the traffic rules there are. Get information about the fast and slow lanes. Make sure you’re aware about road sense. There is so much to know.
Never go blindsided on a road so do your research properly.
3: Never pedal in high gear
What most people don’t know that pedaling in high gear puts a lot of strain on the knees. You should try and maintain your cadence between 70 to 90 rpms. If you consistently drive at a higher gear, especially for an extended period of time, you will not only get tired but it will also have massive strain on your body which isn’t healthy.
4: Keep changing position while riding
Don’t forget to move your hands and your rear end on the saddle when you’re riding. If you stay in a single position for far too long, your body parts will become numb and you will eventually start to feel uncomfortable.
Now, we as bike riders ourselves don’t want you to experience something like that. So, the best thing for you to do is make sure your keep changing your position while riding.
5: Don’t forget to use gears
This is specifically addressed towards riders who like to go on mountain riding. When you’re climbing up a steep hill, make sure your cadence remains at the right range by shifting into gears every now and then. This will make sure that you don’t put unnecessary strain on your knees and climb up as smoothly as possible.
6: Go for a customized bike fit
Opting for a bike that fits your body type right is all you need for a smooth riding experience. If you don’t feel comfortable sitting on your bicycle whether because the saddle isn’t comfortable or it feels too small for your legs to pedal, you will not have an enjoyable experience when riding around town.
Having a bike that fits to your body type will not only make your riding experience efficient but you will also not feel any strain on your body during and after the ride.
7: Find the right saddle
You know what made the biggest difference for us when we were choosing the right bicycle, it was the most comfortable and accurate saddle.
Finding the right saddle may seem like a quest but trust us, if you hunt a little longer, you will find a saddle that will comfortable, won’t cause strain on your back and will provide a calm riding experience. You might have to look here and there, maybe research a bit longer to find an accurate saddle but once you do, it will make a massive difference when you’re on the road.
8: Never ride with headphones on
We know this might seem obvious but we had to mention this point given how not many people take this thing seriously. Riding with headphones on can be very dangerous and you must understand the repercussions that come with it.
For instance, you are on the road and somebody is honking you, or there is an emergency vehicle behind you but you can’t listen to it because you have headphones on. Any of these scenarios can turn out be catastrophic. So, it will be very safe and better if you never ride with headphones on.
However, if you wish to enjoy some music while enjoying a comfortable ride, maybe you can install a light speaker on your bike to help you with that.
9: Keep your head up
When driving on the road, keep your head up and look far ahead to assess if there are any obstacles or rough traffic on the road. This will help you prepare yourself for what is to come. Make sure you have your eyes and ears open and you’re sensing everything that is going around you. it is important for your safety and for other’s as well.
Conclusion
Riding a bike may seem like a walk in the park but if you pay attention, it really isn’t especially when you’re on the road. There are a lot of mistakes that you can make so you need to keep yourself completely aware and ride carefully.
This isn’t just important for your safety but for the safety of other people as well. We hope this article has been helpful to you and you will incorporate these tips in your real life. Do let us know if you have any feedback for us.