Cycling helps you to enjoy the outdoors while improving your cardiovascular fitness. Most people find that they can ride for longer distances than they originally thought, so it pays to run through a pre-ride checklist to make the outing a success. Before taking to the road or the trails, make sure your bike is mechanically sound and that you have the right clothing, safety equipment, tools and nutrition.
Step 1
Inspect your bicycle and make sure you tires are adequately inflated according to the manufacturer's specifications, which are on the sidewall of the tire. Check your front and back brakes by squeezing the brake handles to ensure that the brake pads make solid contact with the metal rim of the wheel, not the tire rubber. Inspect the brake pads for excessive wear.
Step 2
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that are brightly colored to improve your visibility on the road. Depending on the weather conditions, you may need to dress in layers with a wicking base layer to transport moisture away from your skin.
Step 3
Wear the appropriate safety gear for the style of riding you are doing. A Consumer Product Safety Commission-rated cycling helmet is a must to protect your head from falls. Although optional, sunglasses and fingerless cycling gloves are useful to protect your eyes and hands.
Step 4
Check the tool bag mounted underneath your saddle to make sure you have a set of tire levers, at least two carbon dioxide cartridges and an inflation device, as well as a spare tube. Flat tires are common when cycling on roads or trails, so prepare to deal with at least two flat tires during your ride.
Step 5
Fill your water bottle with water or other hydration drink. Even if you think you are going out for a short ride, always bring at least one bottle of fluid. You may change your mind and go for a longer ride. Or you might get a flat tire that you cannot fix, and you will have to walk your bike home.
Tips and Warnings
- Start pedaling in an easier gear and ride at a comfortable pace for the first few minutes to loosen your muscles and make sure you have no rattles or loose parts on your bike.
- Obey the rules of the road and pay extra attention to traffic at intersections and blind alleyways. Cyclists are difficult to see, and you cannot always count on motorists seeing you before you cross their path.
References
- "Bicycle Riding;" Tracy Nelson Maurer; 2010
- "Everybody's Book of Bicycle Riding;" Thom Lieb; 1981
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