How to Survive Road Hazards
By Fred
Matheny and Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com
Cycling
is a unique sport because its arena is the open road. That’s the same place
frequented by traffic, potholes, snarling dogs and absentminded pedestrians.
But
sometimes we’re our own worst enemy. Inattention and poor technique can put
us on the pavement as fast as any hazard. Use these tips and you’ll be less
likely to take a tumble.
· Always ride with your head up. While cruising along, it’s tempting to stare at the
whirling pattern of the front spokes or fixate on your cyclecomputer’s
numbers. A momentary downward glance that lasts just a second too long can
mean riding into a problem that could easily have been avoided.
· Focus.
The smooth and rhythmic motion of pedaling can have a hypnotic effect.
Daydreaming cyclists have crashed into the back of parked cars, wandered far
into the traffic lane or blithely ridden off the road. Don’t let yourself be
separated from the outside world by the vivid canvases created by your
imagination. Keep your head in the game.
· Keep your bike in top mechanical condition. Repair or replace faulty
parts sooner rather than later. It’s a loser’s game to milk “just one more
ride” out of worn brake pads, a frayed cable, or tires with a threadbare
tread or bulging sidewall. Your first line of defense against the challenges
of the real world is a bike with all parts in good working order. You’ll find
easy, at-home bike maintenance procedures in the RBR Publishing Company
eBook, "Bike and Gear Guide for Roadies."
Punctures
It’s
every rider’s fate to flat. But it’s relatively easy to limit the frequency.
· Choose your line with care. The best way to avoid punctures is also the easiest: Steer
around broken glass, road rubble and potholes.
· Use tires with a Kevlar belt under the tread. Kevlar does a good job of
stopping nasty things from penetrating. Inspect the tread after every ride
for embedded debris. Remember, most punctures are caused by something
sticking to the tread and working through during numerous wheel revolutions.
Replace tires before they become so thin that they’re virtually defenseless
against pointy things.
· Check inflation pressure every couple of days. Tubes are slightly porous and
may lose several pounds of pressure each day. Soft tires slow you down,
corner poorly, wear fast, and don’t protect your rims against metal-bending
impacts.
Potholes
Hitting
potholes can bend your rims beyond repair. If the chasm is deep enough, it
will send you hurtling over the handlebar when you bury the front wheel and
the bike suddenly stops. Here’s a primer on pothole evasion.
· Note where potholes lurk on your normal training routes. Plan your line well in
advance to avoid them. Don’t expect the road to be in the same condition
every day. Potholes have a habit of sprouting up out of nowhere, especially
in the winter and early spring due to the daily freeze/thaw cycle.
· Treat potholes like glass. Ride around them, first checking behind for traffic. Be
mindful of riding partners when you change your line. Newly minted potholes
present a double hazard—the chasm itself, and the chunks of shattered
pavement around it. If the pothole doesn’t bend your wheel, the sharp bits of
rubble might puncture your tire. Give these highway craters a wide berth.
· Jump your bike over a pothole, if you have the skill and are unable to ride around it
because of traffic or adjacent riders. Learn this move on a grassy field.
Level your pedals, crouch off the saddle, then spring up and lift with your
feet and hands. Start by jumping over a line on the ground, then graduate to
higher but forgiving objects such as a rolled-up towel or a shoebox.
Railroad Tracks
Unlike
most dangers, tracks can’t be ridden around. You can suffer an instant crash
if your tires slip on the shiny steel rails. Ride with extreme caution and
follow these safety tips.
· Slow down!
Tracks are rough, and even if you don’t crash you could get a pinch flat.
This happens when you ride into something abrupt, like a rail, and it pinches
the tube between the tire and rim, slicing two little holes in the tube.
