Bicycle riding is a great outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. Not only that, but it’s also a great way to get around without spending any money on gas. Young and old alike can enjoy and benefit from a nice ride, but there are a few potential safety concerns. Bicycles are nowhere near as dangerous as cars, but they can still get you into trouble if you aren’t careful. Here are three ways to make bike riding safer for you and your family.
1. Invest In Some Good Helmets
It is absolutely essential that everyone in your group wears a helmet. In the event of a collision, that helmet could be the difference between life and death. As such, make sure that you don’t skimp out when buying these essential pieces of gear. You need to make sure that all the helmets worn by your family are thick enough and strong enough to do the job. Don’t go for the prettiest helmet…go for the toughest one.
But how effective are safety helmets? Is there any way for us to tell for sure? Well, we did find this study on the subject. The study involved about 1,200 people in total, although most of them were part of the control groups. Out of this group, 99 people suffered head trauma as a result of a bicycle accident. Of those 99 people, only 4% were wearing their helmets. All in all, the study concluded that wearing a helmet reduced one’s risk of serious injury by about 85%.
2. Keep The Bikes Lubricated
One of the main things that can cause a bicycle accident is a malfunction in the bicycle itself. This is a little bit scary because it means you can be involved in an accident through no fault of your own. Of all those potential problems, you might be surprised at how many can be prevented through simple lubrication. Without lubrication, many bad things can happen, including:
- Chain lockup, which causes a sudden stop and might even throw you over the handlebars.
- Chain breakage, which causes a complete inability to pedal
- Various problems with gear shifting
- An annoying squeak
- Grinding of metal against metal, which causes it to erode
There are six parts of the bicycle that must be thoroughly lubricated at all times. These are:
- The chain
- The pedals and crank
- Derailleurs
- Brake and derailleur lines
- Brake and shifting levers
- Wheel hubs, and the bearings around them
If you want a nice little shortcut, you might consider the use of a grease gun kit.
3. Check The Brakes Regularly
We have already talked about the need to keep your brakes lubricated. However, that isn’t really enough. Bicycle brakes require periodic adjustment for maximum efficiency. Further, these are the parts that should be replaced quickly if they stop working normally. As with any vehicle, being able to stop is one of the utmost safety concerns.
To check your brakes, turn the bicycle upside-down so that the wheels can be spun freely. Using your hand or the pedals, spin the front tire until it’s going fairly fast. Now engage the front brakes quickly and see how quickly the wheel stops. You can also try to move the wheel with your hand so as to ensure that the brake is gripping tightly enough.
The first thing to do is to figure out what kinds of brakes each bicycle has. Since there are a few different varieties, and repair will be different for all of them. Simple rubber grippers are the most common thing that you will see, but consult your bicycle’s manual to be sure.
Conclusion
These are not the only bicycle safety measures that we could have mentioned. For instance, you should always use plenty of reflectors, especially when biking at night. It’s also obviously a good idea to stay away from cars as much as possible. Bicycle safety is incredibly important, so we hope that you will continue reading and educating yourself. Bicycling is indeed safe when done properly. but that last part is entirely up to you.
