As a cyclist of many
years I’ve decided to compile a list of things newcomers might take not
of. Some are obvious, some are preferences
and some are purely my own prejudices.
Any other cyclists out there, feel free to disagree or to add your own
thoughts. I’ll add the ones I agree
with to the list.
1.
Wear something bright or visible.
The
jury is out on what makes you visible in an urban setting. All the different background colours on a
busy shopping street make it difficult to stand out. When I used to commute in London I always wore
a day-glo workman’s vest (cheaper than specialist cycling shops). The reflective strips are very effective in
the dark.
Out in
the countryside I wear a nice bright top or if I’m touring, strap my day-glo
vest onto the back of my carrier. Your Tour
de France replica gear isn’t always going to do the trick.
2.
Lycra gear is for the Tour de France and elite
cyclists.
Ok, a
slight exaggeration. A good pair of
padded cycling lycras are a good investment if you intend spending more than an
hour and a half in the saddle. They’ll
make life more comfortable if you’re riding off-road too. If you’re going to spend many hours in the
saddle, I’ve found gel padding more comfortable than foam.
I once did the whole Argus Tour in a pair of
joggers - remember those polyester
running shorts in the seventies? My backside
was fine. I was twelve and I managed it in five and a half hours, including a
puncture repair. So lycras don’t make
you go faster, see?
Apart
from making a fashion statement and spending a fortune, you’re not benefitting
by wearing a branded cycling team shirt.
If your shirt says you’re an elite rider, your paunch vehemently
contradicts it. Technical fabric is
good, especially for longer rides.
Though a normal t-shirt is adequate.
When I go touring I prefer a long-sleeved collared hiking shirt. It’s light, cooler than a cycling shirt,
dries quickly. Best of all it keeps the
sun off my arms and neck.
The point
is this: you can wear what you like to
ride a bicycle – check out the Dutch. Don’t let the lycra brigade put you off
cycling.
3.
Don’t ride in the gutter.
Whether
in the city or out in the countryside, take your space on the road. I take at least a metre. I’m of the opinion that you are more visible
and command more respect from car drivers.
They are forced to change their line slightly and are less likely to
push past you dangerously close. If you
have a bit of room on your inside you’ll have space to escape to without
crashing onto the gravel if some idiot does try to brush past.
On a
related matter, keep an eye on the state of the road edge and the
shoulder. If, as happened to me in Namibia
several times a day, an oncoming car overtakes and you have to duck off the
road, you’ll know whether it’s an easy exit or you’re likely to crash! You can plan accordingly.
4.
A bicycle is a vehicle.
Obey
all the rules of the road. That includes
stopping at traffic lights. If you don’t,
you can’t demand the respect of motorists.
And signal when you’re turning, dammit!
5.
Don’t duck into bus stops and lay-byes.
It may seem considerate to motorists but it
then becomes difficult or even dangerous to re-enter the stream of
traffic. Claim your place on the road,
you are as entitled to it as any other road user.
6.
Invest in the best lights you can afford.
At
dusk, dawn and at night, the better the lights the more visible you are. Keep batteries fresh. The number of cyclists I’ve seen riding with
puny lights and/or nearly flat batteries is frightening. A token light is as good as useless.
7.
Helmets.
All
in all wearing a helmet is probably the safest way to go. Some cycling lobbyists argue against wearing
them, saying that there is no proof that they prevent serious injury. They also claim that motorists take more
risks around cyclists wearing helmets because they assume a high level of
proficiency. This may well be true. When
I’m cycling in the city, I feel safer in a helmet. For most of my tour of Angola I wore a sun
hat. I calculated that the risk of
sunstroke was probably higher than a head injury. And it was much more comfortable. I’m against legislation in this regard and
pro-choice. We need to encourage
cycling, not discourage it by over-regulating what should be an easily
accessible form of transport and exercise.
I’ll
still sometimes wear a sunhat.
8.
Use your bike for short everyday trips.
It’s a
vehicle not a mobile gymnasium and it’s cheap to use. I go to the shops on mine. Suburban roads are
quiet and safe. There’s always an alternative route to the busy main
roads. Take time to find them. It’ll save you a fortune in petrol and gym
membership. And remember: you DON’T have to wear lycra!
9.
Single file.
I’m not in favour of riding two abreast on the road even when it’s
quiet. I’ve heard principled arguments. Like,
two abreast still takes up less space than a car. But from a safety point of view I’d advise
single file. “Teams” out practicing
together may have a case if there is a big enough group to present a presence
on the road. In South Africa I still
think this is dangerous. Particularly as
these training “teams” often seem to act as if they have all the protection of
a Tour de France escort and attack the leader without a glance over their
shoulder at the traffic situation. I’ve
been surprised on more than one occasion behind the wheel of my car by a group
of these “elite” riders. Dangerous, stupid, selfish and potentially
fatal.
10.
Car drivers are homicidal maniacs.
Well, not all. I’m one too. But
as a cyclist, it’s safer to make this assumption. If you assume everyone behind the wheel of a
car is a homicidal idiot out to kill you, you’ll live longer.
11.
Be a cycling ambassador
The other thing about motorists – those who aren’t also cyclists that is
– is that they are all one-eyed selfish creatures. They believe the road belongs to them and
that cyclists are a hindrance to their god given right to get from A to B in
the fastest possible time. Don’t give
them the ammunition to reinforce their anti-cyclist prejudices. Obey the rules and be polite towards
them. They don’t know any better.
