From: Long Beach, WA
Download Cycling Stretches (PDF): Click here
In last week’s episode of Morgan gets on her rant, I talked about alternative forms of transportation (though I did forget to mention teleportation…darn!). And while many of us have terribly good intentions about walking or riding our bikes, it has been brought to my attention that many people just don’t feel safe getting around the city without a huge metal bubble barrier.
So, this post is devoted to safety tips, planning strategies, and awareness elements that will keep you safe and confident while riding your bike or pedestrianizing (it’s totally a word, I double dog dare you to look it up).
The main elements we need to address are: visibility, comfort, and respect for the road and all those who use it.
VISIBILITY!
There is no better way to be safe on the walk or on wheels than by being seen. This doesn’t mean you have to sing opera with wild hand gesticulations or wear only neon colors head to toe, though neither would hurt. ☺ It does mean that you should avoid wearing dark blue or black at night. It also means using appropriate lighting (one white headlight for the front and one or more red flashy lights for the rear on a bike). Additionally, a light on your wheel spokes, so that you are visible from the side, is quite helpful. And while you can also wear reflective vests, a cheaper and more creative thing you can do is to decorate the back of your jacket, pants, or bag with reflective tape. This cannot be underestimated, reflectors are magic in car headlights!
Another aspect of visibility is awareness of whether or not you are seen (this one gloms on a little with the whole respect element). Attempt to always make eye contact with drivers, other cyclists, and pedestrians before proceeding to turn or make your way through 4-way stops. It’s amazing how much difference making eye contact can make. It’s as if once you’ve made eye contact, you’ve been recognized as another human being, and therefore given the respect you oh so clearly deserve!
COMFORT
Many times I have heard people say, I would like to ride my bike, but it’s uncomfortable and the weather isn’t always great. Numero Uno: Welcome to the Pacific Northwest.
But moving beyond the fact that Oregon (and many other states) does not provide windless sunny days with the consistency some might hope for, there are heaps of ways and strategies that will keep you comfy on your bike, no matter what the circumstances!
First of all, if your bike is uncomfortable, you may simply need to have changes made to your bike’s set up. It could be as simple as moving your seat, changing the angle of your handlebars, or learning the correct position on your bike. Luckily, skilled physical therapists (and you might know a few. Ahem, Therapeutic Associates Downtown Portland J) are trained to do cycle fits and can make changes to your bike to appropriately fit your anatomy.
Preparing appropriately for the weather, or the possibility of weather, is another key factor in being comfy cozy on your bike! First and foremost, dress in layers! Nothing beats the elements of hot and cold like variety. It may be 10 degrees cooler in the hills than it is in the valley and you should plan accordingly.
Secondly, purchase, borrow, or find in a free box some good rain gear. It’s truly amazing how impervious to wet Gortex can be; and how much easier it is to get your pedal on in the rain when you know you’ll still be dry once you strip off your waterproof layer upon arrival. Additionally, you can bring extra clothes with you to change into or leave a spare set at your common destinations. For example, I used to leave “a few pairs” of shoes under my desk at work just in case I happened to get wet feet on my commute…never mind that half the time I opted for barefoot status…but that’s another story. ☺
Being comfortable on your bike also includes an amount of confidence in yourself on the road. If you feel hesitant to ride your bike amidst cars, there are simple steps you can take to be sure you have a comfortable and safe route. For one thing, improving your visibility to cars (see above) will give you confidence that everyone knows you’re there. Also, take bike routes or side streets anytime it’s possible. If you live in lovely Ptown, you’ll find no shortage of preferred marked bike routes and bike lanes and most outdoor or bike shops sell maps that specifically detail these. Mapping your routes accordingly will dramatically decrease the number of cars you even get remotely close to while pedaling away.
If you don’t feel confident about your balance on a bike, particularly at intersections when a stop is required, try these tips:
When you stop at an intersection, DO NOT try to continue sitting on your seat with both your feet touching the ground on either side. This is a precarious position full of terrible teeter totter possibilities. INSTEAD, bring your seat off your saddle (giddyup riders) and place one foot (or both) on the ground. Lean your bike slightly down towards the foot you have placed on the ground (the other may be on the pedal still). This will give you a more stable gravitationally affected triangle AND it will have you in the ready position to push down on your pedal and restart when that light turns green!
Practice your starts and stops around your neighborhood (that’s right, where everyone can see you, and then you can educate them on bike safety!). This will help you gain confidence in going at different speeds, stopping appropriately, and restarting…without any other cyclists or cars to worry about.
R. E. S. P. E. C. T.
find out what it means …for you…sing with me now!
No matter where you’re going or what kind of bike you’re riding, you should always always ALWAYS respect the road. Remember that it is very hard and unforgiving to your amazing flesh covered body. I could rant about wearing a helmet, but I figure that if you’re smart enough to be reading this blog, you likely R.E.S.P.E.C.T your brain and the way it currently functions, so I don’t even need to go there. ☺
Respecting the road also means adhering to the rules. Stop at signs and lights that involve the color red, use appropriate signals for turning and indicating a change in direction, and just say no to agro! Some of these tips go back to visibility and communication; just because you’re wearing that superstar helmet with antenna, does not mean that cars or other cyclists can read your mind. Tell us what you’re going to do before you do it! Biking on the street is like having a relationship, the more open and forthright you are, the less likely that anyone will get hurt…you can also catch me on my other blog, Dr. Luv Tells It Like It Is…
Riding a bike is one of the funnest, bestest, most awesomest ways to get around. Making every pedal a comfy cozy happy safe ride can only help! More power to the pedal!
Oh yeah, and also these stretches are handy dandy for anyone who’s putting some miles on the bike ☺
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