Cycling Handling Skills
Shifting Gears:The Basic Rules for Gear Use Include:
- Shift into a low gear before you stop
- Use lower gears when riding uphill
- Use higher, harder gears when you begin to bounce on the seat from pedalling too fast
- When riding on flat terrain, use a gear that provides you with fast and easy leg spin
- Try to avoid pedalling slowly and pushing hard in your highest gears
Riding in a straight line:
This is very important when riding in traffic. Try not to move your upper body as you pedal and concentrate on allowing your legs to do the work.
Shoulder Checking:
Shoulder checking involves looking back over your shoulder to see what the traffic behind you is doing. This manoeuvre is vital for making safe turns in traffic, but is also difficult to do without wandering from a straight path. Practice riding in a straight line while checking behind you over both shoulders.
Signalling:
Making signals requires being able to ride with only one hand on the handlebars. Because it is very easy to go off course when riding one-handed, practice signalling while riding along a straight line.
Emergency Handling Skills:
The first step in collision prevention is to scan the road ahead for potential hazards. Steer clear of debris and holes in the pavement, and learn to anticipate errors by motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists. No matter how skilled or careful a rider you are, you will encounter hazards that leave you little time to react.
Braking:
Quick stops can be crucial in an emergency. Caution is required when braking quickly to ensure you don't go over your bike's handlebars. Keep a cushion of space around your bicycle to ensure you have ample time to react and stop safely. In wet weather, allow yourself even more space and time.
From: Province of Ontario. Cycling Skills: Ontario's Guide to Safe Cycling. www.mto.gov.on.ca
