Don't Leave Home Without...
The week before the day of the ride, check your bicycle. Make sure all the nuts,
bolts and quick releases are in place and tight. The chain should be oiled for
smooth operation. The brakes should do their job when tested. Tires should be
checked for wear, and air added to the proper pressure for your kind of tires.
When in doubt about the condition of your bicycle, check with a knowledgeable
friend or check out your neighborhood bicycle shop. So much for the bicycle.
Now for the rider.
Who, Me?!
Helmets work! Wear one! The newest helmets come in designer colors, are even
more light weight and comfortable than ever, and have style! Did you know rear-view
mirrors are made for bicycle helmets? They're great! Look into them! Bicycle
gloves protect your hands from numbing road vibration, and from damage in the
event of a fall. Padded handlebars are also helpful for extra vibration protection.
There are other pieces of equipment that help make bicycling
more enjoyable, and easier on your body, and that most riders find helpful as
they bicycle more often. As you bicycle more, you'll find that padded bicycle
shorts, gel-filled bicycle saddles, special hard sole bicycle shoes make the
miles pass in greater comfort.
In The Beginning
The crowd is congregating in the staging area, energy and excitement are high,
you've had that second cup of coffee and some carbohydrates in the shape of
a donut, and you're ready to get going!
After the introductions and speeches by ride organizers and
often local dignitaries, it's time to go! But...this isn't the time to forget
all you've learned and go rushing out into traffic head down pedaling madly.
Check for traffic both ways! Unless the road has been closed for your event,
cars will still be around. Not everyone needs to leave at once. Small groups
of riders can start out between gaps in motor vehicle traffic. The best start
is a safe start.
I Need My Space
With so many bicycles riding together, it's important to give each other enough
room to maneuver. If the front wheel of one bicycle touches the rear wheel of
another while they are moving, a double crash is almost guaranteed. Try to avoid
following directly behind another bicycle. Instead, ride slightly off to the
side of the bicycle ahead of you. That way, both of you can make the right moves
if the situation calls for it.
Where Am I?
With lots of people riding bicycles together, you have lots of different levels
of skill, and lots of different speeds. You're likely to pass riders and in
turn be passed by them as the ride goes on. A long-standing practice and courtesy
of a predictable mass bicycle rider is to "state your intentions."
If you are ready to pass another rider on his or her left side, let them know.
Call out "passing on your left." It's easy
to say, and will avoid the situation of that rider changing lane position and
colliding with you as you pass by unannounced.
Passing on a rider's right is strongly discouraged-- faster
vehicles, be they bicycles or automobiles, should pass on the left. If you're
in a situation where passing on the right is unavoidable, let the rider know.
"Passing on your right."
If you need to slow down suddenly because of trouble up ahead,
or for any other reason, again-- let riders know. "Slowing."
Sometimes, despite a thorough safety check and adequate preparation,
something happens and you need to pull off the road. Once again, let people
know what you're doing. "Pulling off, pulling off."
Also, if you need to leave the ride temporarily--make sure to get your bicycle
fully off the road as quickly as possible. A bicycle stopped suddenly in the
middle of the roadway is a sure way to cause a domino-effect pileup.
As you see, it's pretty easy to be predictable. A few simple
statements can make a safer ride.
What's a Carback?
Actually, that's "car back," as in "there's a car coming up from
in back of us." Riders who have been on group rides before and know the
tricks to spotting traffic behind (hints: rearview mirrors and sounds) will
call out "car back," often followed by "single
up," or "single file."
If riders are riding two abreast, they should then try to arrange in single
file to let the car pass safely without having to move into the opposing traffic
lane.
I'll Be Right with You
You know all about stop signs and stop lights. Because your bicycle is a vehicle,
stop lights and signs are for you. If the ride separates at signalized intersections,
it's ok! Your friends can slow on the other side, or you can catch up after
stopping at the intersection. How you treat signals on your bicycle makes a
statement to drivers near you. Make that statement a positive one.
I Want More
The information in this pamphlet does not constitute a complete guide to riding
in a large group, although it offers you some basics on how to prepare and how
to ride properly in a mass bicycle ride. Check your Public Library for books
and videos on bicycle riding technique and tips on how to be a more skilled
bicycle rider.
