As it is
How many lives is one minute worth?
As it could be
A school speed limit
click photo for more information
“Traffic passes too close”
You don’t like cycling because the traffic passes too close? The remedy is simple. The motor traffic is too close to you because you are too close to the kerb!
Move away from the kerb and you’ll find you’ve got a lot more room – on both sides.
If you ride in the gutter motorists wil try to get past you without making an overtaking manoeuvre. They are also less likely to see you in the first place.
On most of our roads 1.2m from the kerb is about right. Look round frequently and keep aware of what’s behind you, and let them know you know they’re there.
If you’re driving, notice how tempting it is to squeeze past a cyclist in the gutter. Follow the highway code and give cyclists a full car’s width.
Punctures
Nobody wants punctures. If you seem to get one every time you go out this is probably because your tyres are too soft. Get a ‘track pump’ with a gauge from a bike shop. About £18. A car pump is no good at all. Pump up your tires to at least 60 psi. Mine are kept at 100 to 120 psi. I check them weekly, but can go 14 days if I need to.
Secondly - to virtually eliminate punctures get Kevlar lined tyres. They are worth the extra cost.
It’s too hard work?
Even on the flat, cycling seems hard work? Perhaps you have a mountain bike with knobbly tyres? They are certainly hard work! Keep them for climbing mountains. Get a pair of good quality tyres with just a parallel line minimal tread. Bike tyres don’t need a tread to squeeze out water like low pressure car tyres.
Signals
Your hand signals are fundamental to your safety. Make them very clear and positive. On a bike you are not only saying where you are going – you are directing other vehicles to keep behind you. Imagine you are that obsolete breed, a policeman on points duty, and control other traffic with your signals.
Saddles
Anyone will be sore when they cycle a longer distance than they are used to. But you need a saddle that suits you. There are many different types. If you sit upright, a sprung saddle might be best. A ‘racing’ position though, puts much less weight on your buttocks. Some mail order shops will send a box of saddles for you try.
Saddles are a personal matter! If you have no problem then don’t change anything. If you do, then decide where you hurt and try some others.
It’s raining
Firstly, its rarely as wet on the bike as it looks from inside the house or car.
Secondly – if you cycle to work everyday, you’ll make many more dry journeys than wet ones. It doesn’t rain that much!
Thirdly – you need the right gear. It’s as important as having a bike. You’ll need – a hat with peak, waterproof jacket, over-trousers. Take a spare pair of socks. Overshoe covers if you can afford them. (Or polythene bags!) Get the best you can afford. Breathable fabrics like Goretex are the best – usually the more expensive they are the better they are and you’ll not get wet from sweat on the inside.
Old fashioned capes are coming back now and save you putting on over-trousers for a shower – but make sure you can signal properly.
Roundabouts
Go round roundabouts as you would in a car. Look at drivers in the eye as you approach. Decide where you are going. When it is clear follow the centre line of the lane you need to be in. Keep looking round and signal very clearly to change lanes. Go as fast as you can.
Slip roads
Slip roads and multi-lane main roads are the worst. Slip roads are designed for traffic to merge all at the same speed. For a full study of dealing with slip roads and all other conditions read Cyclecraft by John Franklin.
This is briefly what you do:
You cannot possibly merge with other traffic at 45mph so don’t try. Make sure you can be seen. You need to go in the straight on lane and there is a slip road on the left. First slow or stop where you can be seen before the slip road and study your trajectory and traffic conditions. Are there pauses in the flow, perhaps because of traffic lights behind you? Carry on by the kerb as if you are going down the slip road. When you are opposite the split of the slip road, stop if necessary at the kerb, look, and get across almost at right angles, where the distance is least, and rejoin the ahead lane.
An essential book
For all these topics and many more and a must for riding safely – get Cyclecraft by John Franklin. It will empower your cycling and make it a lot more pleasurable and safer. Get it now. Details at http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/book.html
You can get it from the Stationery Office. Amazon have it, sometimes second-hand.