Have you finally plucked up the courage to take your bike out onto the road? This has become a popular way to travel with the expensive petrol prices. But, if you plan on cycling on busy roads, you have to be careful. The traffic needs to be able to see you and they need to be able to understand what you are doing. Here are five tips that can help you safely cycle on the road and feel confident.
Go For Electric
If you are new to riding a bike, you might not have the stamina and fitness to keep up with the traffic on the road. This is particularly true if you are cycling somewhere with hills and long stretches of road. Something to realise is that if you are too slow in the road, you can be a danger to cars and yourself.
To prevent this from happening, you can always try an electric bike. This is going to have a motor that can give you a boost when you are struggling. You are still able to pedal and power the by yourself manually. But, the motor is there when you need it. So, if you are coming up to a big hill, you can use the motor when you get tired for a push. You can check out Eco Bike Co to see different electric bikes on offer. There are different price points and models, which means there is something for all ages and experience. Even if you are new to cycling, electric bikes are simple to operate.
Practice a Relaxed Grip
Cycling on the road is not always a walk in the park. In fact, when it is rush hour, it can be quite a stressful experience for beginners. In particular, something that we see a lot is a tense grip on the handlebars. Often, this is something you can do without knowing.
Well, try to be aware of when this is happening. Practice relaxing the grip to avoid muscle strains and even sudden cramps. You can try shaking your hand temporarily when you are riding. This can get the blood flowing again.
Be Cautious in Wet Weather
When you are travelling on the road, you always have to be aware of your surroundings. This means keeping an eye on cars and pedestrians. But, something that happens a lot is that cyclists are not being cautious in wet weather. Perhaps you think because the rain has stopped, you are safe to ride. But, you still have to be careful because the road surface can be slippery.
Oils and other debris are present on the road. When this gets wet, it becomes slippery for all road users. But, it is particularly true for cyclists. So, make sure that you take corners carefully and break in plenty of time. In addition, realise that things like road lines, drain covers and grates are all going to be dangerous when they are wet. So, you really need to pay attention to where you are cycling.
Keep Away from Parked Cars
Cyclists have a tendency to keep to one side of the road. They feel like this keeps them out of the way of cars. But, this often means cycling close to parked cars and this is something that can be dangerous. While they can look parked, you often cannot see who is inside. There have been many incidents caused by a driver getting out of the car and not looking behind them. This ends up in the cyclist being knocked off their bike.
One way to avoid this happening to you when you are cycling on the road is to leave a door space between you and parked cars. This way, if someone does suddenly get out of their vehicle, they are not going to injure you. It also means that you are more visible to people looking in their mirrors.
Take a Day Off
Beginner riders are definitely going to have tense and sore leg muscles at some point. But, it is important not to push through when this happens. The reason is, you are going to fatigue quicker than when you are fully fit and this could put you in dangerous situations on the road.
So, when you feel tired from riding, take a day off. Allow your muscles time to recover and grow and this is going to make your cycling more enjoyable. Eventually, your body will adapt to this new exercise.
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