Cycling is a very popular hobby. It’s not hard to see why, honestly. Cycling is a form of exercise that works out most of your body’s muscle groups. It is also a very economical way of getting around, which is perhaps more relevant than ever considering the cost of living crisis and rising fuel prices.
If you are considering taking cycling up as a hobby, however, then there are a few things that you should know. Cycling isn’t as simple as it seems. This post will tell you about some top tips you should know before going cycling:
Legal Protection
Unfortunately, accidents do sometimes happen. According to one Los Angeles bicycle lawyer, it’s not uncommon for motorists to collide with bicycles. When such accidents do occur, they can result in fatalities. The best way to protect yourself in the event of an accident is to have a bicycle lawyer on retainer. Having a lawyer on retainer means that you pay them monthly, so that when an accident does happen, they will be able to represent you without delay, and you will already have paid towards your legal costs (which are not cheap).
Quality Bicycle
You need to make sure that you invest in a quality bicycle, too. You wouldn’t go out on the road in a beaten-down old car, so don’t go out on an old bicycle. It’s arguably more dangerous to use an old bicycle than an old car because you’ll have to ride alongside cars and do not have the protection of a cabin. A quality bicycle will not set you back a lot of money if you buy it second-hand. If you do want to buy one new though, then you could end up having to pay a fortune. Set yourself a budget so you know how much money you have to work with.
Protective Gear
You should never set out on your bicycle for a ride without first ensuring you are covered in protective gear. You need to make sure that you have a helmet, elbow pads, and shin pads. Wearing protective gear will help you to prevent injuries. Injuries can make riding your bicycle impossible (because it often takes people a long time to recover from bicycle injuries). Protective gear will reduce the impact on your body if you fall off and prevent cuts and grazes. Protective gloves are also worth considering.
Defensive Riding
Defensive riding is something that you need to consider. If you do not ride defensively, then you could end up getting into a crash or an accident. Because cyclists share the road with cars, they always need to ride defensively. Riding defensively will help you to ensure that you are able to avoid collisions. Defensive riding is not unfortunately something that a lot of cyclists do, however. It’s common for cyclists to ride aggressively, ignorant of the danger that they are putting themselves and other motorists in.
Cycle Tracks
Try to avoid main roads as much as you can. It’s much better to ride on cycle tracks than it is main roads. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that riding on main roads is the safest way to ride, but it isn’t. Cycle tracks are a much better way to travel. Cycle tracks are usually only used by pedestrians and cyclists. Make sure you have a bell equipped to your bicycle so that if you do encounter pedestrians you can alert them to your presence. Riding up behind pedestrians without a bell is a pretty effective way of causing an accident.
Buying Lights
You should try to buy lights for your bike. Buying lights for your bicycle will make your bike safe for night-time rides. You should never ride a bicycle at night without lights attached to it, otherwise, motorists might not see you coming. If motorists cannot see you, then they could hit you. You are very unlikely to be eligible for any compensation if you do not have lights on your bicycle. The motorist’s insurance company will say that the collision was your fault because you did not take steps to protect yourself.
High-visibility Clothing
Finally, make sure that you wear high-vis clothing, too. It’s common for motorists to not see cyclists’ lights. High-vis clothing adds an extra layer of protection. Having high-vis clothing on will mean that you are instantly illuminated when the car’s headlights hit you. This will then mean that unless the motorist is paying no attention, they will see you immediately. Being able to see you will then mean that they can then take action and start driving more safely, ensuring that they give you enough room, and slow down. High-vis clothing is widely available and very cheap, there’s no excuse for not wearing it.
If you want to take up cycling, then you need to incorporate the safety tips outlined here into each of your rides. Cycling is a fun hobby, but it can be dangerous. If you do not take steps to protect yourself, you could end up getting hit.