Riding safely, safety equipment, and safe places to ride.
8
votes
5answers
223 views
Is having your hands “on the hoods” of drop handlebars safe for braking?
I've never had a bike with drop handlebars, but may get one for commuting in busy London (likely a single-speed with mechanical disc brakes).
This would mean riding with my hands mostly on the hoods, ...
9
votes
6answers
558 views
My wife has Cerebral Palsy (CP) so can’t balance on a normal bike, what are the options so she can go cycling with me?
My wife has Cerebral Palsy (CP) so can’t balance on a normal bike, what are the options so she can go cycling with me?
We don't own a van, the size of any "bike" is important as it will have to fit ...
10
votes
4answers
834 views
What hand signals work best for cyclists in the US?
I am looking for some guidance on what hand signals and strategies to keep me alive on the roads.
1
vote
4answers
242 views
Thinking of quitting due to dangerous driving [closed]
I used to cycle a lot, and decided to try taking it back up after last year's Olympics.
But it feels like almost every time I try to go out for a ride I nearly get taken out by someone passing far ...
3
votes
2answers
204 views
What is the braking (stopping) distance for bicycles?
A vehicle driver must keep enough braking distance (aka stopping distance) between him/her and a vehicle in front in order to avoid collision. It depends on the driving speed.
What is the braking ...
4
votes
2answers
207 views
How to get back on the road again?
I am from Mumbai, India. And as some of you might be knowing, it is a pretty crazy traffic on roads here. Many times, it so happens that trucks, cars etc. may force you to get off the road while you ...
2
votes
6answers
337 views
Does exercising solely through cycling cause injuries?
I get most of my exercise through cycling. Does cycling without cross-training cause injuries? If so, are there specific injuries to which cyclists are susceptible (knee, hip, etc.), and is it ...
36
votes
9answers
2k views
Protocol for downhill cyclist overtaking a car?
Last weekend, I was driving (yes in a car, something I rarely do) down a fairly steep and very curvy mountain road (thus with very poor sight lines/visibility ahead) when I noticed a cyclist in my ...
0
votes
1answer
97 views
Cycling fast - and brakes don't work - what to do? [duplicate]
I hope this doesn't occur to any of us, but it can.
What must the cyclist do when he/she is cycling (too) fast and needs to stop or slow down immediately, but neither the front and rear brakes work ...
6
votes
2answers
124 views
How much of the saddle rail is suiteable to use
Is it possible to safely set the seat to the max to get the saddle as far forward as it will go. Or should it only be clamped within the marked range 0 to 3.5? I have marked the points in red. The ...
4
votes
2answers
157 views
What is the largest hole a tire can bear before replacement?
Saw this question today. The tire in question has a 2cm long hole on the inside, from a knife.
I sometimes get puncture flats from e.g. glass. Never as big as 2cm. Usually if they're less than ...
45
votes
26answers
5k views
How do I deal with a dog chasing me when I'm touring?
Once I was riding my road bike down a rural road. I heard barking over my shoulder and saw two dobermans running toward me. I can't think of a time in my life that I felt more endangered.
I reacted ...
9
votes
6answers
489 views
How many fingers on the brake lever?
I have seen people stop with one finger, two fingers or the whole hands on the levers. Is there a recommended number of fingers on the brake levers when stopping/anticipating an emergency stop? Do ...
6
votes
3answers
168 views
How can I determine whether rust has made my bike unsafe?
I ride a 1972 steel frame bike year round through Canadian winters.
When I got the bike it was in good shape, but after putting a few thousand km worth of commuting on it, it has a lot of scratches ...
26
votes
1answer
350 views
Does a helmet-mounted light affect the safe functionality of the helmet?
I am currently testing a bunch of lights for my (slowly) upcoming head lights review. Several of the lights can be mounted to a helmet using a mounting strap, like this:
I'm wondering if having a ...
31
votes
5answers
2k views
Safety data: Which is safer, head/tail lights which blink or emit a steady beam?
My head and tail lights can be set to blink or emit a steady beam of light.
I usually set my rear (red) light to blink, because I believe it makes me more visible at night. My friend argues that it ...
1
vote
2answers
90 views
Sun protective clothing interfering with bike mirror
I have had a "third eye" type bike mirror on my helmet for years. However, recently I have learned of some genetic predisposition to certain types of skin cancer which affect the skin on the ...
7
votes
2answers
135 views
Baby Transportation Safety Statistics
Is there a resource comparing different safety statistics for transporting babies on bicycles, specifically using different methods?
I'd like to see some information about how safe it is to compare a ...
3
votes
3answers
128 views
Which is the most stringent bicycle helmet certification?
There are numerous safety standards for bicycle helmets available, but which certification is the most stringent one in terms of safety?
8
votes
4answers
249 views
Recovering confidence after a fall
One month has passed since I fell on a mountain bike trip. The accident wasn't critical, it just left a huge scratch. The accident happened during a fast descent when my front tire hit a little crack.
...
10
votes
1answer
180 views
Does helmet padding contribute to the safety of a helmet?
Does the padding inside of a bicycle helmet contribute to the overall security of the helmet? I.e. do they cushion a crash in some way, or are they just there for comfort?
7
votes
1answer
179 views
What are my options for cycling mirrors?
What options are available in terms of types of cycling mirrors? Where all can I mount them and what are the advantages and disadvantages to each?
2
votes
3answers
175 views
What is the correct way to put a helmet on?
I hear often claims similar to "many cyclists wear their helmets the wrong way" and "wearing a helmet incorrectly significantly reduces it's protective ability".
My helmet is similar to the following ...
9
votes
1answer
218 views
What is the proper technique for crossing railroad tracks?
I cross railroads as perpendicularly as is possible, but that's all I know to do. Safety is a priority, speed not so much. Specifically:
Is there an optimum speed?
Should you pedal through them ...
8
votes
7answers
379 views
Should I be wearing sunblock?
I spend the vast majority of my time inside, so I would like to start getting into cycling. I rode up to the beach a couple days ago and got some slight sunburn. I personally don't mind sunburn all ...
12
votes
4answers
468 views
Is complaining to companies about bad driving like howling at the moon?
On my commute in this morning I found myself in another situation where I was in conflict with another road user. (Briefly, a truck and I arrived at a roundabout at a roughly similar time, but I was ...
5
votes
2answers
336 views
Fixed gear Biking, how to ride properly?
I Have been riding bikes since I've been 6 years old, and I don't mean riding up and down the street - I mean touring with my sisters for 10-20 Km. Later on, I really got into Downhill.
Over time I ...
1
vote
2answers
180 views
New Chain causing skipping on cassette - will this work itself out or is it unsafe?
I just installed a new chain on my 2002 Trek 2200 Road Bike. The old chain was a Shimano 9 speed that I installed 18 months and about 5000 miles ago. It had stretched modestly and was full of winter ...
8
votes
6answers
472 views
Prescription eye glasses and shoulder checks
I've never had prescription glasses but might like some.
My left eye doesn't focus easily (I ride on the right side of the road, in Canada). If I look over my left shoulder, I can see behind me only ...
3
votes
1answer
160 views
How does one test the freewheel?
What are the failure modes (symptoms) of a failing or failed freewheel?
My understanding of normal free wheeling means the rear tire should rotate when the bike is moving and the pedals are or are ...
5
votes
2answers
155 views
Is this rim safe?
The rim has a parting at the join:
This is a brand new wheel, and I was wondering if this is a safe one. Could it split at the join?
4
votes
4answers
246 views
Employer Duty of Care for cyclist
The company I work for provides cycle racks for cyclists in a semi underground carpark that is open at one side. Several cycles have been stolen from this area and one colleage was attacked by a bike ...
34
votes
9answers
3k views
Why is it safer to bike with traffic, instead of facing oncoming cars?
There has been an ongoing debate in my area's local newspaper, regarding biking with vs. against the flow of traffic. A recent incident in which a cyclist was hit from behind, and later died of his ...
1
vote
3answers
243 views
Bicycle lights- Indicating in the dark
I am a product designer and am currently working on a bicycle lighting project and would really appreciate your valuable feedback.
In England, turning left on a bicycle is not really a problem as ...
31
votes
8answers
2k views
Why don't cyclists wear all-encompassing motorcycle-style helmets?
It is possible to get a helmet that covers your entire head and face, and in theory would protect you against more kinds of falls. In particular, Why don't bicyclists wear them, and why do ...
7
votes
6answers
325 views
How can I avoid crashes on my urban commute? Tramlines and CBD sections especially
I live in Melbourne, Australia, a city famous for its compact, grid-like CBD (downtown area) and trams. Trams mean tram tracks and hook turns. And compulsory helmets. My daily ride is only 10 km but ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Do stickers or paint compromise a helmet?
Would sticking stickers on a helmet or painting them etc make a helmet less useful in a crash? Not knowing the science of helmets but perhaps stickers in the wrong place might make it not behave how ...
26
votes
8answers
638 views
How can I be visible in the dark when I'm signalling a turn?
My bike and I are fairly visible at night--white light in front, red light in the back, bright yellow fenders, reflective tabs and a light on my helmet. I use hand signals to alert motorists when I'm ...
9
votes
8answers
588 views
What's the safest way to turn left from a right-side bike lane?
(United States road configuration and customs here. Sorry, those of you who drive on the left!)
On my trip home, I use a bike lane near the right side of a very busy one-way arterial street; there is ...
12
votes
4answers
312 views
Determining if a road is safe to bike on
How do you determine which roads are safe to ride on and which should be avoided? What traffic patterns do you feel comfortable riding in, and which ones set off alarms? What sorts of intersections do ...
24
votes
13answers
3k views
Safest way to slow down a bike quickly if both sets of brakes fail
This may sound like a crazy question, however today in the wet my rear brakes decided to stop working effectively. It has been pouring rain here which makes the problem more apparent.
I managed to ...
6
votes
1answer
314 views
Any experience about radially-laced hub flanges actually breaking?
Most hub manufacturers forbid lacing spokes radially, mostly because there is less material in the radial direction away from a flange hole than in the standard 3-cross, tangential lacing.
(UPDATE: ...
8
votes
5answers
498 views
How do you know if you can trust your LBS?
I've visited a lot of bike shops in my time.
There have been great ones, and scary ones. One thing I've noticed is that they all seem to have the best intentions. I've never had one deliberately rip ...
18
votes
7answers
933 views
What are some alternatives to fruitlessly ringing my bell at a motorist?
I doubt that motor-vehicle drivers can hear the "ding" sound that a bicycle bell makes. What are some better alternatives?
10
votes
4answers
655 views
Are bicycle helmets repairable or disposable?
Suppose I wear a bicycle helmet, and I fall hard and my helmet cracks. Do I buy a new helmet or can I try repair the old one with some glue?
7
votes
3answers
406 views
What are the pros and cons of sunscreen vs. protective clothing?
I have decided that, lack of sunburn aside, I need to get back to being pretty serious about UV protection. I've been sloppy about it for a few years, and would like to not continue inviting skin ...
26
votes
10answers
1k views
What is the proper etiquette for overtaking a horse?
What are the general rules when encountering a mounted rider (on a horse) on a trail? I understand if we are approaching each other I would dismount, move to the side of the trail and allow them to ...
1
vote
3answers
280 views
Is it safe to ride with bent fork?
My bicycle went from this when I bought it:
To this when I crashed (note the front fork bent where it attaches to the stem; front wheel almost touches the down tube):
Update: Just looked at the ...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
Are anti-pollution masks effective?
In Toronto when the temperature goes above 30 degrees Celcius (90 degrees Farenheit), for a few days and without wind, there is smog.
I find the smog irritates and makes it difficult to breathe in ...
3
votes
2answers
286 views
Which brake is most expendable?
I'm thinking of removing a brake(front or back) to reduce weight and simplify my bike. Which brake is most expendable? Its your average fixie road bike.
