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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)

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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Board
    • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Group Rides
    • Gravel Rides
    • Road Rides
  • NEWS
    • Member of the Month
    • What's New at SCC?
    • Photo Collection
  • JOIN SCC
    • Membership
    • Sponsorship