Six Tips To Rev Up Your Riding Season
Riding season is finally here, meaning it's time to hit the trails. Whether you're a seasoned rider or just taking your first outing, you'll want to take these six tips into account so that your riding season goes off without a hitch. Get yourself in shape Now that there's snow and ice on the ground and no longer rain every day, it's time to start getting ready for riding season. Begin by warming up with some light cardio activity such as jogging an endorphin-release walk or even a gentle lap swimming before going out for your ride. Next up, hit the gym! That'll give your muscles strength from endurance training and help them recover faster during long rides in case of injury or soreness.
3. Eat right Start off with an 80/20 or 70/30 ratio of carbs to protein, so that you're getting enough to be properly energized for your ride, but not so much that you're suffering from stomach cramps.
4. Get a handle on your tires It's always difficult to maintain tire pressure in the winter months – but that doesn't mean it's not important. Check your tires frequently and make sure they're inflated properly, using the reliable gauge recommended by the manufacturer of the tire (usually located on the valve). If you notice any significant wear or cracking on the sidewalls, replace them right away with a quality tire as soon as possible.
5. Keep an eye on your rear brake caliper If you're riding a mountain bike, make sure to check the rear caliper often for any signs of wear, as it's inevitable the brakes will eventually need to be replaced (or at least re-greased). Check this same area on your randonneur or touring bike as well.
6. Prevent damage Avoid getting caught up in the dirt by making sure everything is out of action before you head out the door, then double-check your equipment before heading out again. Make sure not only that everything is fully functional, but also that it's completely clean and free from grime and dust particles.
7. Always keep your helmet on! It's tempting to head out for your ride without it, but riding with the helmet off will only lead to an accident. Look for a comfortable fit as well, and don't forget to wear a helmet liner when you're not using it. For advice on how to properly fit a helmet, consult the user's guide that came with your helmet. [ARTICLE ENDS]
What do these things have in common? They're all important and can help prevent accidents! But why are they important?
1. You could be injured or killed whilst riding
There is no such thing as a risk-free ride - no matter the sport or activity. You can have the greatest bike, best clothes, be in the best of shape and wear expensive gear but no matter how good you are - there is always a risk that something may go wrong. And it's a fact - cycling is statistically more dangerous than driving. Even with all your protective equipment - a crash has more chance of injuring or killing YOU.
2. There could be an accident
No matter how careful you are (and you should ALWAYS be very careful) - there is always the chance that something could happen to cause an accident. These things happen to everyone and there is nothing you can do about it if they happen to you.
So - how to minimise the chances of accidents?
1. Learn how to ride properly
Okay - stop having a go and stop reading this. It's not that simple, but it IS that important. There's a whole section on our website about it (which we strongly recommend, yes we know) but in summary: educating yourself on safety principles and understanding basic riding skills will help reduce your chances of an accident significantly.
2. Wear the right gear
Put that Lycra away and don't make any excuses - if you want to ride for real, then you need to wear the right gear or else you could end up in trouble. Not only that but by wearing protective clothing, gloves and a helmet - it's a fact that you will reduce your chances of injury in the event of an accident. If you want some more help on what to wear when riding then please check out our Clothing section .
3. Ensure your bike is road-worthy
Cycling can be dangerous enough without having a poorly set up bike which can lead to poor performance, bad handling and overall danger whilst riding. Before heading out ALWAYS make sure that your bike is set up properly and safe. If you are unsure on how to do this, then seek some advice from a professional mechanic or someone who knows what they are doing.
4. Ride in the right place
This doesn't necessarily need an explanation - if you ride on a busy road with lots of motor vehicle traffic then it is much more dangerous than if you were to ride on a quiet lane with less traffic. The same applies to shared use paths - watch out for pedestrians, other cyclists and animals (they can be unpredictable!).
5. Ride at the right time
Riding in the dark without lights on your bike can be difficult, dangerous and downright illegal in certain areas. On the other hand, riding with your lights on is simple - it's just a matter of how visible you are to other road users (especially motor vehicles). This also applies during daylight hours when it is sunny - wear a hat and sunglasses.
6. Ride with 2 hands
It sounds easy but it's surprising how many people ride without holding on to the handlebars properly. You need to have a strong grip so that if anything happens you will be able to prevent yourself from falling off or veering off course. This is especially important whilst riding fast downhill or going around tight corners etc.
7. Get a good bike fit
No matter how good gear you have - if it is not fitted to you properly then it probably won't be doing you any favours (not that we're implying that your gear isn't good, of course!). Make sure that your bike fits you properly and all the adjustments are correct (read our Bike Fit section for more information).
8. Ride at a sensible speed
Riding fast can be great fun but only WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. If not, then riding fast can be dangerous because although your bike could easily carry you faster - the chances of something going wrong are higher.
Conclusion
We've written this article to help you understand the importance of wearing protective gear and how to stay safe whilst cycling. By doing your research, choosing the right gear, fitting your bike correctly and riding according to the rules of the road - you will be much safer and able ride with more confidence.
Please take note that we at Barry's Bikes do not accept any responsibility for any accidents caused whilst riding a bike so please always be careful!
The photos used in this article are all © Copyright of their respective owners. If you would like us to remove them or if you own one of them and would like us to remove it from our website then please let us know - just contact us using the Contact Us page. Thank you.