Safety
Know How to Ride Safely
First off, learn the bicycling laws of your state
and your local community. Know your route and how it changes during different weather, lighting and traffic conditions. Know accident avoidance techniques. The booklet Bicycle Street Smarts will give you good ideas for staying safe on your bike.
Be Visible
Wear bright colors. The patterned, multi-colored racing shirts you see on many bikers actually aren't best. A single color shirt stands out more and conveys the shape of a human body better. At 30 yards, the patterns on a shirt actually serve as a kind of camoflauge. Ride in such a way that drivers can see you, including riding further out into the center of the street when necessary. Ride with a flashing headlight and taillight, even in daylight hours.
Be Predictable
Do what drivers are expecting you to do and not what they aren't expecting. This allows them greater reaction time, since there is no surprise.
Obey the Traffic Laws
Follow Traffic Conventions
Use Hand Signals
Think Ahead
Don't assume cars will watch out for you and give you the right of way. Watch out for danger zones and be aware of what's happening in them. Also consider what might happen if a car were to suddenly do something unexpected. This might limit your rubbernecking, but it might save your life.
Watch for Clues
Just like you do when you're driving, watch for clues for what cars around you are going to do. Much of this is subconscious, so listen to your instincts.
Be Aware of Your Riding Environment at All Times - Pay Attention!
...to Vehicles and Pedestrians Around You
...to Danger Zones
...to Riding Conditions
DON'T Wear Headphones and Listen to Music!
If you want to stay in one piece, you need your ears as well as your eyes on the road.
Are You Insured?
Make sure both you and your bike (especially if it's a fancy new one) are insured for commuter riding - this may be different from casual riding to your insurer. This means liability coverage should you damage a car or a pedestrian, not just property insurance.
Repair
When things go wrong on the road, you need to know how to fix them. Get a bike repair manual. The problems you're most likely to face involve tires, chains and spokes, so get to know at least these components of your bike. Carry a riding tool kit and know how to use everything in it. Other equipment malfunctions are very unlikely and you'll be excused if you have to call on your local bike shop.
To avoid many problems, keep your tires at the correct pressure, keep your chain lubricated and have your bike tuned up once a year. It sounds simple, but don't run over things - you'll have fewer flats. Contingency Plans
If you wake up to a bad knee, a bad cold, a broken bike, a hailstorm or a home emergency, it's going to have a negative impact on your commuting plans. Have a backup plan for getting to work withouut biking. Driving yourself (if a car is available), bumming a ride, taking a cab and taking the bus are a few good alternatives. But plan ahead for contingencies - don't wait until the disaster is upon you. Know in advance who you can call on, how long it takes for a cab to arrive, what bus to catch and when.
Securing Your Bike
You need a secure place for your bike. If you can't take it inside, lock it well. Make sure frame, both wheels, saddle and seatpost are secure, and take all gadgets like computers and lights inside with you. When you find a good place to lock it up, you can leave the lock in place (locked, of course) when you ride home - one less heavy thing to carry.
Tires Make A Difference
No smart remarks - you know what I mean. The kind of tire you ride should reflect the riding conditions you face. There are basically four characteristics of a tire which you should be concerned with: durability (how long it lasts), puncture resistance, grip and speed. Each rider has his own priorities for these characteristics. If your route is smooth, slick tires grip better and give better speed (thin tires are not really faster than comparable wide tires). If your route is rough, wide, textured tires will grab more surface and deal better with loose material. As a commuter, you'll certainly want good puncture resistance, so look for tires with superior reinforcement (e.g. Kevlar or ceramic). Tire prices vary from $6 to $75, so there is good reason to do some research here.
| Local Bike Shops Commuter Sites Repair Links |
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On-line Bike Forums Commuter Blogs Basic Maintenance |
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On-Line Biking Blogs Accident Avoidance |
