Safety tips to help you Cycle Accident Free

I've been cycling for about 17 years now (since I was 9 or 10 recreationally, started commuting occasionally about 4 years ago, first tour 3 years ago.) 

I've never been in a car accident, but I've had a few mishaps due to terrain/bike management that usually amounted to a skinned knee or a jumbled up kit.

Here are a few of the tips that I've gathered to cut the risk of accidents, with cars, other cyclists, or even just myself

1. Try to avoid car-intensive pathways.

As much as possible, I try to cycle either on back roads with fewer motorized vehicles, recreational trails or bike paths with no motorized vehicles, or during off peak times like early in the morning when the numbers of cars is drastically reduced. While this can add an extra hundred yards or two to my trip length, minimizing the number of cars and other shared road users I encounter helps to cut the chances that I will collide with one of them.

2. Research your route

I've gone on short trips and long trips, sometimes lasting several days. Beforehand I make sure to develop a plan for where I'm going to go and the types of terrain I'll encounter, so that I am not surprised when I'm required to go over a train bridge or the road turns to gravel. If I ever have to proceed into "uncharted territory" due to short term construction in an area I haven't been before, I make sure to proceed with caution, and sometimes I've even gone back to avoid the potential hazards.

3. Stay Visible

High visibility clothing is a major factor in keeping yourself safe, and best coupled with a high visibility bike. I like to have lights and reflectors in as many places as I can: Front and back lights, red blinker in the rear, lights on my helmet, reflectors on the seat tube/bag, pedals, for a while I even had a big reflector on my backpack. Every little bit counts when you are riding in the twilight or at night, when drivers and other road users might be battling distractions or exhaustion.

4. Keep your eyes moving

Often times, especially on a long haul ride, you end up picking a spot about 15 yards in front of your bike and start riding into it. The exact length from your bike varies on the person, but this is a terrible trap, because when you stop scanning around for potential hazards and start shutting out the world, you set yourself up for a tumble or worse. Tunnel vision is as dangerous on a bike as it is for a car driver. You need to scan frequently to take in other road users, their speed, and potential hazards on the road itself.

5. Know your limits

The more exhausted you are, the less aware you are. I remember the last time that I met the gravel, I was at the tail end of 120 miles and dog tired, and I just didn't notice the dip in the trail I was riding for the first time. The last time I tasted concrete, I was trying to ride faster than my skills could take me, and I brushed the sidewalk with my front tire, sending me sideways and, had I been in a heavily trafficked area, into the path of a car. Luckily it was around 6AM in the middle of nowhere, so I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and kept riding. It's OK to work yourself at your limit, but not beyond it, or else you aren't being safe.

And of course, wear your helmet in case you end up eating pavement anyway.

Any more tips for avoiding accidents? I'd love to hear them!

Presta Valves: Worth the Trouble?

I'm dealing with the Presta valve issues that many a cyclist has had before, and I am finding that the old solutions are probably still the best ones. My new street bike came complete with presta valves and 700C tires, and I've had very few issues with them prior to last week. I went out on my first 10+ kilometer ride to the gym on the other side of my current town and I developed a slow leak in my front tire.
I had left my pump at home, and had no spare tubes, so I ended up calling a cab, driving to pick up my bike, and instead of spending a sweaty afternoon at the gym, I was wrangling with my local bike shop to get a great deal on some tubes. I ended up going with the Rubbers brand, by the way. Great 700C tubes and dirt cheap, ended up being about 4 dollars a tube.
Then back home to pump up and take test rides until I got to the right inflation pressure for my riding style.

I still had fun, but there was a definite sense of the opportunity cost of having a presta valve. I love my narrow rims and low rolling resistance as much as the next guy, but I really miss the convenience of Schrader valves. They are everywhere, easier to inflate, and much sturdier than Presta valves.

I'm likely to consider a Schrader conversion in the near future, or purchase a pump adapter to keep in my bike kit.

New Town, New Bike, New Bike Lock

I've recently relocated, and I've managed to track down a decent deal on a used bike.

While I've broken my rule of not paying over 200 dollars for a used bicycle, I haven't done too badly. I ended up dropping 300 dollars for a Fuji 2.1 Absolute, a couple of years old. I'm satisfied with the bicycle so far, but it has been so long since I had a bike without shocks that I am still adjusting to the stiffness of the ride.

I also had the opportunity to buy a bike lock for the first time since 2014, and I ended up buying a decent looking braided steel cable with a stacked steel padlock. I'm pretty happy with my purchase so far, and if I end up being satisfied after a month or two I'll post a review.

All in all I'm looking forward to starting to bike commute in the next month or so.