This post is for everyone, especially amateur cyclists, who recently started cycling or gaining momentum with their bikes.
Cycling as an activity comes up with adventure, thrill and challenges on road. Each adventure sport is somehow connected to the danger element. This dangerous element in cycling sport and hobby is not only related to you but also to the people driving next to you. It also depends on the road conditions, weather, your bike condition and your personal skills on the bike. Here is the guide to avoiding the bigger mishap during your ride and having a safe ride.
Kindly note- In this article, I will imagine the worse possible scenario on the road that can happen to a cyclist.
Ride in a group. A group has all power in the world.
I always recommend riding in a group. There are many reasons for riding with your colleagues apart from you can talk to them during your ride but also they can make you more visible on road.
- Riding in a group helps you to be seen more vividly from a far distance. It’s more important if you are riding at night. Your rear light may not be enough but your group can reinforce the visibility to the people driving on the same road making you safer.
- A group can support you during bike breakdown, puncture or any mechanical failure that can result in you being stuck at the midway without any support. Say you have used all your spare tubes and don’t have any solution to the next puncture on a long-distance ride.
- A group also makes you safe from snatchers and people with ill intentions.
- In case of any worse accident during your ride, you could be assured that there would be someone who can take you to the nearest medical centre for urgent medical needs without wasting much of your precious time. In this scenario, informing your family, taking care of basic monitory needs can be sorted very easily
- A group ride also helps in scenarios where the road is unknown to some of the co-riders and few could be the torch bearer to others.
- What if you need an extra energy supply or water supply at an unknown place without any hint of help? You know what I mean.
- A group can motivate you if you are falling apart and feel difficult to return on a long journey. This motivation can keep you alive on the saddle without losing hope, and energy and of course without feeling low.
- Not to mention, drafting saves huge energy, therefore, making you less tired on road. Your tiredness is also directly proportionate to you getting blacked out during the ride.
I recommend making your group your family, that can be with you on those difficult terrains and roads. This group ride is so important that it was supposed to be the first on the list.
Ride with safety gears. It’s a religious practice.
- Helmet: How can small gear like a helmet save your life? You would never know until it does. Our head is the most complicated part of the system and usually the most fragile system that can bring us down. During small or bigger incidents, head protection is a must and the first thing to have. My advise is to skip some coffees but buy a good helmet.
- Eye Glasses: Riding on city roads will make you face more dust and sharp particles thrown at you while you are with large trucks. I have personally felt insects in my eyes in the early morning ride when I missed my glasses. If you ride in the dark, avoid the cool looking sunglasses and wear any safer clear glasses. During the daytime, it’s your right to look like a dude with those colourful reflector glasses.
- Gloves: Numb hands, no braking power? Have you ever faced this issue ever? This will be a dangerous trick if you are unable to brake on time. Gloves give you another safety layer at the time of the collision and any other form of incident.
- Reflector vest or Jersey: This is a thumb rule to be visible to be safer. Reflecting material on your upper body will make you more attractive on road along with making you safe from cars and trucks. This is more important in winters and foggy days.
Put more lights on us. Front & rear lights are a must.
I have a humble request to all of you reading this, please buy a good light for the front and rear of your bike. It’s such a cheap material compared to your bike. The lights on the rear will make you noticeable. Sometimes front light seems not so necessary to us, but it’s as important. Front light helps you to be seen at a crossing, junction or especially here in India when someone is coming on the wrong side of the road at a full-throttle at night.
Live Location, be seen while moving
In case you feel you still need to be seen by family and friends or even by your group, you can leave your live location during the ride. It will just take some data from your internet plan and some battery from your phone but will make it certain that you are moving to those who are concerned about you.
Emergency Contact. Help those who want to help you.
Suppose, if someone riding at a great speed and met an accident and lying unconscious on road. How would one contact your parents/friends/groups or anyone who can help you immediately? The advice here is that you should keep an emergency contact number written on your bike, jersey, helmet or in your pocket all. the time. This is such a small thing to do but would help you in a situation of danger. There are plenty of ways you can keep this with you. I am sure you are already aware of it. Soon we will launch a safety tag for all cyclist friends in India.
Help Others, If you wish to be helped.
Don’t forget, if you are in your car and someone needs help on the road whether a cyclist or any common man. Do help him in case of emergency. You never know when do you need help when you are on your saddle. Please remember, saying hello to a fellow cyclist and helping them during puncture or bike breakdown is one of the greatest help of that time.
I don’t know what I am missing here, but I still feel that there are many many more suggestions we can have for a safe ride. As a community, I invite everyone to come together and share their experiences and tell us how and what has helped them at a difficult time. Don’t forget, your advice could be life-saving for someone. Please do contribute.
(This article is dedicated to a friend, who recently lost his life in a cycling accident.)
