Riding safely, safety equipment, and safe places to ride.
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 ...
4
votes
8answers
447 views
Long sleeves for safety?
I took @Jason's and @Neil's advice and practiced wearing clipless pedals in cold weather. I fell three times (nearly four) last week, all at very low speeds: twice because of ice, and twice because of ...
3
votes
1answer
261 views
How to practice jumping over cars with disc brakes and SPD shoes?
This question here raises a sub-question, to avoid accidents. I am looking for some safe ways to practice jumping over cars. I use SPD shoes and disc brakes because I have noticed that I can burst ...
2
votes
1answer
173 views
Safe countries for touring (without having to take public trasport all the time) in EU? [closed]
I discussed today foreign ambulance guys and they told stories about sliced bicyclists in an ex-communist country. The country in itself is not special but rather the fact that it lacks proper roads ...
0
votes
2answers
107 views
Which countries should be avoided due to political reasons? [closed]
This question raises more questions here.
Please, keep politics totally separated of safety and answer here political reasons not to cycle in some countries. The user Ambo100's earlier example about ...
19
votes
3answers
1k views
Is fluorescent clothing effective?
I read recently that fluorescent clothing was not effective at all at night. If this is the case, how effective is it during the day, and should I stop buying tops that are fluorescent to use on my ...
16
votes
11answers
271 views
Safely overtaking pedestrians
When riding on bike paths or mixed-use paths, there are usually pedestrians walking along them as well. Pedestrians tend to be somewhat unpredictable; they may suddenly turn around or step to the ...
-3
votes
3answers
516 views
Do Mandatory Bike Lights at Point of Sale Save Lives?
In France and Germany there are laws so that new bicycles have to come with lights. Presumably the French and Germans thought that this would be a good idea for road safety and there must be some ...
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 ...
3
votes
5answers
479 views
Which footwear is the safest for summer cycling?
This morning I could not find my training shoes. So, I used my sandals. I found that the sandals not only kept my feet cool but there was no pedal slippage as I had expected. The more I think about ...
4
votes
2answers
473 views
Different tyre width (front and back)
Out of necessity, I had to put an 1.26" (32mm) rear tyre on my bike where the front tyre is only 1.1" (28mm) wide (and the bike came with 1.1" tyres when I bought it). Are there any advantages or ...
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 ...
10
votes
8answers
653 views
When should cyclists use pedestrian facilities?
I generally try to ride in traffic as a vehicle, following the rules of the road, stopping at red lights, taking the lane, etc. In many urban areas, you are not allowed to ride on the sidewalk ...
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
638 views
Back wheel skidding out
On my cycle to work this morning I noticed my back wheel was skidding out as I was going up a fairly steep hill. It did it enough that I thought I'd probably gotten a flat, however upon inspection it ...
13
votes
4answers
632 views
Why are battery-powered lights so popular?
Both on this site and "in real life", battery-powered lights appear to be at least as popular as generator-powered lights.
I have always been slightly confused by this. To me, a generator-powered ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
How close do I have to be for effective drafting (while commuting)?
I commute and want to draft another bike, but still have room to stop when someone opens a car door in front of the rider in front of me. At what distance does drafting significantly reduce drag? Are ...
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 ...
3
votes
5answers
2k views
How do you know when you need to add more air in the tires?
How much air is too little and you should add more for the safety and ease of your bike ride?
13
votes
11answers
807 views
How can I look unsafe to a car driver but be safe
This research seems to show car drivers give you more space if they think you are more likely to do something unpredictable.
It claims that where a cycle helmet often results in drivers giving you ...
5
votes
3answers
104 views
How can I tell if a helmet will be comfortable before buying?
Barring taking a helmet on a 50-mile ride before buying it:
Some kinds of chin straps, for example, won't stay tight, and some kinds of cages aren't comfortable no matter how I adjust them. What ...
13
votes
2answers
528 views
Passing cars on the right, and later merging into their lane
My commute takes me along a fairly busy road, with 4 lanes of traffic and parked cars along most of it. There are no bike lanes, but in some places, it's wide enough that I can easily pass traffic on ...
17
votes
10answers
534 views
Safety guidelines for cycling in traffic
Please post your safety tips for cycling/commuting that should help you get to your destination place in one piece.
I came across a nice printed guideline a few years ago when working as courier, it ...
