Ride Safely with Bicycle Safety Gear

All too often we go for a bike ride without giving a thought to safety. Using a helmet may seem obvious, but there’s more to it. Here are some pointers that you would do well to keep in mind.

Gear Up for Bicycle Safety

Bicycles may be the smallest wheeled objects on the road, but in the eyes of the law, they are vehicles nonetheless. As vehicle operators, cyclists must follow the same rules, laws and regulations as other drivers. Legally, the only difference between a bicycle and the average car is a few thousand pounds. But, when you’re sharing the road, it’s a big difference. That’s why proper protection is crucial.

No cyclist should purchase a bike without also buying the necessary safety gear. With the right accessories your journey will be more comfortable, more fun and above all, a lot safer.

The number one rule of safe cycling is to wear a proper helmet. Riding with a helmet is the law in some places, and it’s simply the smartest way to ride. There are many helmets available on the market, and some offer a higher degree of protection than others. Ask for assistance at a professional cycle shop to make the best choice. Look for a helmet that is not only comfortable, but is constructed of top-quality materials to provide the best protection. Saving a few bucks on a cheaper model is no bargain if you suffer head injury from an accidental fall. It’s important that the helmet you choose fits properly to prevent neck pain, and is well-ventilated to provide adequate heat release on during long, hot rides. If you ride without protection because you don’t like the look or feel of a helmet, or if you just don’t believe that you’ll ever get into a cycling accident, take a trip to a group home or hospital. The results of head injury are truly devastating, and it can happen to anyone.

Hydration packs are a wise component of safe biking gear. Many bikes come stocked with water bottle cages, but water bottles can be dangerous to use as they can easily cause riders to lose speed, control and their direct line of sight. For this reason, many riders avoid taking water along for the ride, and quickly become dehydrated. It is essential, however, to keep hydrated during long rides and on hot sunny days. Hydration packs, on the other hand, give cyclists the benefits of fresh water, without the hassle of a water bottle. Hydration packs also have spaces to store keys and other necessities like energy bars, a rain jacket and a cell phone. As far as that water cage goes, it’s perfect for storing an extra bottle of fresh water in case of an emergency.

Any cyclist who’s ever taken a bug or a bit of debris in the eye will tell you that eyewear is a crucial component of your safe biking gear. Not only does good eyewear protect your eyes from debris, it also shields the bright sunlight. Serious riders purchase proper cycling goggles, while others opt for less expensive sunglasses. So long as it is good quality eyewear that fits properly, the choice is really yours. Lenses should be orange or yellow to brighten the road or track, light up dark and shady. In the evening or on overcast days, these lenses really do wonders for your visibility on the road.

As far as clothing goes, any comfortable attire will suffice for the recreational and casual cyclist. Extreme cyclists and long distance riders, on the other hand, will choose padded cycling shorts. The soft material prevents chafing and rashes, and the padded seat means a more comfortable ride.

Many cyclists are surprised to learn that half-finger gloves can be considered safety gear. These gloves are padded to protect the palms, yet allow the fingers to move freely. Cyclists who wear these gloves are less likely to develop calluses and rashes, and so can ride for extended periods of time without pain.

In comparing models, look at the individual safety features of the bikes. Don’t be afraid to invest in a more expensive model, especially if you’re cycling for health reasons. The added safety and security of choosing a lightweight bicycle with good suspension is worth the extra investment.

Bicycles are the smallest vehicles on the road, yet cyclists are expected to share the lane and the responsibilities with all other traffic. Accidents can happen, and cyclists can’t afford to take chances with safety.

October 26 2008 | cycling | No Comments »

Mountain Bikes and the Importance of the Bicycle Seat

Mountain biking is a strenuous sport, and having the riight bicycle seat can help to reduce some of that strain.

Perhaps the most essential investment you will ever make when planning to take on the adventurous trails of mountain slopes is buying a mountain bike which is a completely distinguished bike whose make answers the several requirements of bikers on winding trails and uneven roads. The bike is obviously subjected to a lot of pressure on the tracks so if you come across knobby and wide tires for your mountain bike consider it as normal because they allow for good shock absorption and added traction for the rough scaling ahead. Make a wise choice so far as selecting your mountain bike tires is concerned. It will stand you in good stead over the years.

Lately, more and more bikers are applying front as well as rear suspension today in their mountain bikes and it is a common sight to see even the front wheel suspension on almost every mountain bike. There are many bikes that includes bar ends on the handlebars, and riser handlebars are also well accepted. The circumference of the wheels on these mountain bikes is just a little bit more than 2 feet and it is also usual to see larger wheels too.

Broadly speaking, there are four different types of mountain bikes that come with fully rigid, soft and hard trail, dual or full suspension. The fully rigid bikes come with a frame with a rigid fork and a fixed rear without suspension. The hard tail also does not include a rear suspension but a front suspension to compensate. The soft tail includes a frame with limited rear suspension and is activated with the aid of flex of the frame rather than pivots. The dual or full suspension bikes have a rear suspension and front suspension fork; the rear wheels are moved by pivots.

Typically, the design of the bike is informed by the nature of the terrain it must ply on, and there are a variety to pick from, like 4-cross racing (4X), mountain cross, single speed, dirt jumping - street and urban, trial, downhill (DH), freeride (FR), endure/all mountains (AM), cross country (XC), and north shore usage.

With the sport gaining ground among more and more people, mountain biking is emerging as a mainstream activity and the styles more aggressive with frames of newer designs, lighter, stronger with a better ability to cross over obstacles than previous models. The mountain bikes that are available nowadays come in a variety of speeds like 21, 24, 27 together with three gears in the front while perhaps 7, 8 and 9 gears on the back wheel.

For more details on road bike size chart.

October 05 2008 | bikes | No Comments »