Riding Safety And Skills

As cyclists we are vulnerable to many hazards unique to our pastime whilst using the public roads. In this section of our website we seek to give some helpful advise on how you can minimize your risk and how you might acquire some skills that will help you when, not if, such hazards arise.

The first thing to consider is your situational awareness. The best way to avoid a problem is to be aware of what is going on around you at all times and to anticipate potential dangers very early on as this allows you the maximum amount of time to take appropriate avoiding action. Some of the methods that can be employed are discussed in an introduction to bicycling safety.

It is inevitable that at some stage you will need to execute some kind of emergency maneuver whilst out riding. It may be as simple as avoiding a large pothole that you didn’t see until the last minute or it could be to avoid a vehicle that is turning across your path right in front of you. It is useful to have some bike handling techniques at your disposal for just these circumstances and below we have suggested 10 skills that individually or combined can help you in just such circumstances.

A word of caution before we proceed. If you wish to learn or brush up on any of these techniques you should only do so in a location off of the public roads and away from all traffic. If you can find a soft surface to use then so much the better, and always wear your helmet and gloves. The Brampton Cycling Club accepts no liability for any injuries or damage sustained during such exercises.

Ten useful bike handling techniques;