Riding safely, safety equipment, and safe places to ride.
10
votes
5answers
819 views
Child seat: how to keep the child's head from falling forward?
When my child falls asleep in the child seat, his head falls forward.
How can I keep his head back?
The child seat is a modern type with a back that can be tilted back to prevent that. It works, but ...
10
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
640 views
Do liners or other hats worn inside a helmet compromise safety?
Is there any data or official (e.g. standards-based) information on the effects of wearing a liner, bandana, or other hat under a helmet?
Like many riders, I wear "headsweats" in the summer for sun ...
9
votes
6answers
540 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 ...
9
votes
8answers
586 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 ...
9
votes
6answers
488 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 ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views
How do I bring an old bike up to speed?
I'm an adult that is new to biking due to a triple whammy of a childhood aversion to effort, my family moving to a town on the side of a mountain with steep roads, and my bike getting run over by a ...
9
votes
7answers
346 views
Hand signaling while decelerating
I'm nervous about hand signalling (taking a hand off the handle bar) while I'm decelerating: I'm worried that my body being pushed forward will act on the one remaining hand and change the angle of ...
9
votes
2answers
936 views
What do you do when a bus stops in front of you?
When a double decker bus stops in front of you, what do you do? Is it safe to attempt to overtake the bus?
9
votes
4answers
276 views
Should I be concerned about new helmet laws?
In Australia there was recently a change to to bicycle helmet standards as outlined in AS/NZS 2063:2008.
Basically, helmets complying to the 1996 version of the standard will soon become illegal to ...
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
6answers
835 views
Is standing up and peddling on multi-gear bicycles a bad idea
After reading While pedaling standing up, bike crank gives in as if shifting, what is causing this? , I was thinking well for starters one should probably not be standing up to pedal under normal ...
8
votes
5answers
646 views
What to do if you are about to get doored?
I was talking to a bike messenger the other day, and he said something that surprised me: If you see a car door swing open in front of you and you can't avoid it, pull your hands off the handlebars ...
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 ...
8
votes
5answers
495 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 ...
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 ...
8
votes
5answers
533 views
Protocol for slipstreaming another cyclist?
I have a nice 12 km commute where lots of different bicyclers travel. The entire stretch is only for pedestrians&bicycles, no cars to worry about.
I ride a regular old 5-speed bike (not a ...
8
votes
3answers
286 views
Is it safe to ride on an unevenly bulging tyre?
Most of the tyre looks fine, true and straight but the section photographed shows bulging. The rim itself is true, is this safe to ride on?
8
votes
4answers
248 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.
...
8
votes
6answers
375 views
Can I jump from small heights on my bicycle?
I have recently bought a Merida Matts 40-D bicycle. I didn't buy it for extreme sports, rather for a recreational cycling, etc, but as I'm only 22 years old, it's too tempting to jump down from small ...
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 ...
8
votes
4answers
206 views
Supervising a beginner in traffic
Let's say you persuade some significant other to ride with you in the city. You both have good bikes, they are inexperienced, and you are (I am) used to commuting, including in traffic.
How do you ...
8
votes
4answers
584 views
Is it generally the case that bikes are allowed to use the “full lane”?
Many blogs and other sources of information on cycling advocate "riding like a car" or "taking the lane" as a way to increase safety and visibility when riding on a road. But such advice presupposes ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Enhancing brake force with steel rims in wet conditions?
I currently own an old racing bike, that still has ripped steel rims and a side pull caliper brake. The braking power is acceptable when the street is dry, but as soon as it gets wet (even morning ...
8
votes
7answers
688 views
What hand signals are there for communicating with others when cycling in a group?
Recently I took a hit from behind. Fortunately it was just my friend's bike rather than one of those large-boxes-for-one-person. I was partly to blame because I failed to indicate that we were slowing ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I tell a bike is safe after a crash?
I was recently in an accident where a car pulled out on me. I hit the car around the front wheel and me and the bike went over the bonnet and landed on the road, the other side of the car. I was ...
8
votes
3answers
616 views
Silencing a rattling u-lock
I'm not sure if they're all like this, but my u-lock is a bit loose between the two pieces, the U and the bar. The provided mount snaps very very tightly onto the U, leaving the bar to fend for ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Is it a good idea to get a narrower front tire and a wider rear tire on a road bike?
I am currently running Continental Grand Prix S 4000 in 23-622 / 700x23C front and rear. I am about to buy a new set of tires for my road bike and am fancying a smaller tire for the front and a wider ...
8
votes
4answers
212 views
Night Riding With Heavy Traffic
I live in a fairly urban setting and there are plenty of cars around when it gets past dark. The main point of having a bicycle light/backlight (I contend) is not for you to see, its for others to see ...
8
votes
1answer
199 views
Water safety during touring?
This question raised a new sub-problem of which I was not at all aware of.
I carry a heater to boil the water before I drink it but I am unsure whether it removes all dirt from water. Please, note ...
7
votes
5answers
743 views
Is it more dangerous to use a bike lane or to ride in the road proper?
When I ride my bike, depending on which route I take, there are bike lanes and there are not - both routes take the same amount of time/distance, the only difference is the presence (or lack thereof) ...
7
votes
7answers
573 views
As recumbents are low to the ground and hard to see, how to you use one safely on a normal road?
My wife thinks that she can't use a recumbent on the roads, as a car driver will not be able to see it. What’s the solution?
7
votes
5answers
905 views
What is the recommended type of tire for riding on wet pavement?
I am commuting in rainy Seattle, and the rain has started. Right now I have Continental Gatorskin tires on my commuter, but yesterday I noticed I was braking to stop the wheels and skidding quite a ...
7
votes
3answers
418 views
What are the features that I should seek in cycling glasses?
I am seeking eye protection for cycling. I don't know if I should buy glasses or goggles.
7
votes
3answers
744 views
Will reporting intentionally agressive drivers to police have any effect?
Today I was riding ~3 feet out from parked cars (dooring is the most common way to get killed) and this pickup truck comes up behind me and just lays on its horn for an entire block. The driver was ...
7
votes
8answers
344 views
How to cope with being rattled by the wake of a fast car?
There's one long road that I bike on that has a decent bike lane, but the speed limit for cars is 50 mph. Needless to say, they drive 60+. Often I find myself being shaken or rattled by the turbulent ...
7
votes
3answers
6k views
Carbon bikes make me nervous. Can you ease the tension?
Is it only me, or do Carbon bikes make others nervous!
I realize that carbon fibre is strong, but for some reason, having a bike that isn't made out of metal seems like asking for trouble.
My main ...
7
votes
2answers
294 views
How much does an impact reduce helmet's ability to protect?
I read the answers to "When or how often should I replace my bike helmet?", but unfortunately none of the answers there cites any references.
Have there been any studies quantifying the claim of ...
7
votes
1answer
178 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?
7
votes
7answers
460 views
Do any bike sharing schemes provide a way to rent or share helmets along with the bikes?
Do any bike sharing schemes provide a way to rent or share helmets along with the bikes, either in a kiosk or through an arrangement with local businesses?
None of the schemes that I've used (London, ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Is there such a thing as frame failure?
Several general questions have been asked regarding how long a bike or bike frame will "last", and the gist of answers seems to be that a bike can last quite a while of the replaceable components are ...
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I make myself and bike more visible during the day?
How can I make myself more visible during the day?
Maybe something to put on my helmet (so it's easy to remember).
7
votes
3answers
400 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
308 views
How could I have avoided this accident?
On Sunday I wanted to use my free day and I planned to do a half-day ride with my mountain bike. The weather wasn't really good, but at least it wasn't raining as the days before.
I rode up a ...
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 ...
6
votes
11answers
5k views
What is considered the maximum safe downhill speed on a road bike?
I've heard between 30-40mph, but I am pretty sure I have hit 45 and felt safe and in solid control of my bike. If you look down and see you are above XXmph, you decide it is time to put on the ...
6
votes
4answers
1k views
Are 22mm tires too thin for commuting?
I recently switched from a mountain bike to a road bike with 22mm tires for commuting.
I noticed right away that I could not do the things like hop over curbs with this new bike. I also got flats. ...
6
votes
4answers
484 views
Babies on Bakfietsen: How young is too young?
When is it safe to transport a baby on a bakfiets? How does one know when a child is old enough for this?
By "safe" I mean, protecting the child's brain from damage due to road vibration, pothole ...
6
votes
4answers
4k views
What do I do wrong to get hip aches after biking?
I ride about 17 miles each session. After the ride, the outside of my hips sore: only the parts near the outermost joints, most likely the tendon (although this is only a guess). My knees are fine, my ...
