New Riders
BEGINNERS’ CHECKLIST
SIMPLE BIKE CHECK
• Brakes- adjustment; not rubbing against sidewalls/wheel
• Cables (visual)
• Bounce check-quickly reveals many problems-investigate any rattles
• Tires pumped to correct pressures
• Quick visual tire check-for cuts, etc.
• Check for glass on/in tire
• Quick release-correct tightening
• Lube chain
• Check shifting/derailleurs
ELEMENTARY BIKE HANDLING
• Relax your hands and body. Avoid “death grip”.
• Arms bent.
• Power comes from thighs and glutes
o Avoid upper body gyrations.
o Trunk braces the legs.
• Steering: largely with your weight. The bike naturally goes straight when your weight is centered. (That’s why riding no hands works). Internalize this…it may save you a spill!
• Constantly scan the road surface for hazards: potholes, debris, and glass.
• Looking back: Chin touches left shoulder (L.A.B. method).
• How to brake:
o Evenly, but front does the work. (Demonstrate front vs. rear, walking the bicycle)
o For hard braking: weight back.
• Control your speed on downhill. Feathering and pumping brakes.
RIDING MULTIUSER PATHS
• Be courteous of peds, etc.
• Watch out for dogs, kids, baby-strollers, roller skaters, etc.
• Pass on the left; call out.
• Single up if the path is busy.
• Some have posted speed limits, e.g. 15 mpg.
• If stopping, pull off the path.
• Less challenging and less exercise than open road.
RIDING IN TRAFFIC
• Lots of novice bikers are afraid of riding in traffic. They shouldn’t be. They simply haven’t been educated.
• Share the road. This means:
o Bikes and cars share the roads, the same travel lanes.
o Same roads, same laws.
o Cooperate with drivers and they should cooperate with you.
• Vehicular biking: Think like a vehicle; act like a vehicle. You’ll be treated like a vehicle.
• Be just as alert to traffic and obstacles as if you’re a car driver.
• Where to ride on the road? Lane positioning: done by speed:
o To the right;
o Not so far right you’re in the debris zone;
o Not in the shoulder, unless it’s very good quality.
o Not on the sidewalk, unless under 18 (depends on municipality).
o Not in right turn lanes when you are going straight.
• Be predictable. Don’t weave. Act the way you’d want a car driver to act.
• Always observe lane markings, traffic lights, etc. Always ride with traffic.
• Intersections (done by destination): Always take the right-most lane that goes where you want.
o Turning left: Use the left lane (or rightmost left-turn lane, if several).
o Going straight through an intersection do not use turning lane, stay to the right of the lane going straight.
o Never call out “clear”.
• Take the lane:
o Always, when stopped in an intersection.
o Whenever the lane is too narrow for safe sharing.
o When safety otherwise dictates- e.g. moving same speed as auto traffic
• Summary: “Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.”
o Drive defensively, bike defensively.
o Common sense and common courtesy.
RIDING IN A GROUP
• Ride a straight lane. Again, be predictable.
• When in traffic: ride single file, except when the group takes the lane (e.g. to turn left)
• Be alert to other bikers, ahead and behind.
• Bad things to do:
o Quickly stop in front of someone.
o Veer into someone’s path.
• Don’t follow too closely- but assume someone is following you too closely.
• Don’t pass on right-except if very safe and necessary- rotating off the front of the line.
• Calling out:
o “Car back!” (single-up for cars to pass)
o “Car up!” (narrow roads only)
o “Slowing!” “Glass!” “Stopping!” “Gravel!” “Hole!”
• Hand signals
o Left. Right. Slowing. Stopping.
o Point out hazards.
WHAT TO TAKE ON RIDE
• Helmet
• Water (hotter days and longer rides require more bottles)
• Spare tube
• Pump or CO2 kit
• May need food on long rides: power bars or gels
• Small, compact bike tool kit
Beginners' Checklist (pdf)
SIMPLE BIKE CHECK
• Brakes- adjustment; not rubbing against sidewalls/wheel
• Cables (visual)
• Bounce check-quickly reveals many problems-investigate any rattles
• Tires pumped to correct pressures
• Quick visual tire check-for cuts, etc.
• Check for glass on/in tire
• Quick release-correct tightening
• Lube chain
• Check shifting/derailleurs
ELEMENTARY BIKE HANDLING
• Relax your hands and body. Avoid “death grip”.
• Arms bent.
• Power comes from thighs and glutes
o Avoid upper body gyrations.
o Trunk braces the legs.
• Steering: largely with your weight. The bike naturally goes straight when your weight is centered. (That’s why riding no hands works). Internalize this…it may save you a spill!
• Constantly scan the road surface for hazards: potholes, debris, and glass.
• Looking back: Chin touches left shoulder (L.A.B. method).
• How to brake:
o Evenly, but front does the work. (Demonstrate front vs. rear, walking the bicycle)
o For hard braking: weight back.
• Control your speed on downhill. Feathering and pumping brakes.
RIDING MULTIUSER PATHS
• Be courteous of peds, etc.
• Watch out for dogs, kids, baby-strollers, roller skaters, etc.
• Pass on the left; call out.
• Single up if the path is busy.
• Some have posted speed limits, e.g. 15 mpg.
• If stopping, pull off the path.
• Less challenging and less exercise than open road.
RIDING IN TRAFFIC
• Lots of novice bikers are afraid of riding in traffic. They shouldn’t be. They simply haven’t been educated.
• Share the road. This means:
o Bikes and cars share the roads, the same travel lanes.
o Same roads, same laws.
o Cooperate with drivers and they should cooperate with you.
• Vehicular biking: Think like a vehicle; act like a vehicle. You’ll be treated like a vehicle.
• Be just as alert to traffic and obstacles as if you’re a car driver.
• Where to ride on the road? Lane positioning: done by speed:
o To the right;
o Not so far right you’re in the debris zone;
o Not in the shoulder, unless it’s very good quality.
o Not on the sidewalk, unless under 18 (depends on municipality).
o Not in right turn lanes when you are going straight.
• Be predictable. Don’t weave. Act the way you’d want a car driver to act.
• Always observe lane markings, traffic lights, etc. Always ride with traffic.
• Intersections (done by destination): Always take the right-most lane that goes where you want.
o Turning left: Use the left lane (or rightmost left-turn lane, if several).
o Going straight through an intersection do not use turning lane, stay to the right of the lane going straight.
o Never call out “clear”.
• Take the lane:
o Always, when stopped in an intersection.
o Whenever the lane is too narrow for safe sharing.
o When safety otherwise dictates- e.g. moving same speed as auto traffic
• Summary: “Bicyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.”
o Drive defensively, bike defensively.
o Common sense and common courtesy.
RIDING IN A GROUP
• Ride a straight lane. Again, be predictable.
• When in traffic: ride single file, except when the group takes the lane (e.g. to turn left)
• Be alert to other bikers, ahead and behind.
• Bad things to do:
o Quickly stop in front of someone.
o Veer into someone’s path.
• Don’t follow too closely- but assume someone is following you too closely.
• Don’t pass on right-except if very safe and necessary- rotating off the front of the line.
• Calling out:
o “Car back!” (single-up for cars to pass)
o “Car up!” (narrow roads only)
o “Slowing!” “Glass!” “Stopping!” “Gravel!” “Hole!”
• Hand signals
o Left. Right. Slowing. Stopping.
o Point out hazards.
WHAT TO TAKE ON RIDE
• Helmet
• Water (hotter days and longer rides require more bottles)
• Spare tube
• Pump or CO2 kit
• May need food on long rides: power bars or gels
• Small, compact bike tool kit
Beginners' Checklist (pdf)
