Do you own a cycle??? And it is sitting somewhere in the corner of your house and getting rusted?? Well, my dear friend, you are not doing justice to your bicycle. How about taking it out for a ride, whether you’re looking to be fit or just to kill time rather then sitting at home during this challenging pandemic. I can understand, being a beginner there might be a lot of confusion on what to do and what not to do. So I am here to tell you that we do not need to follow any specific rules, rather make our cycling experience fun, safe and enjoyable. All we need is some basic instructions and we are good to go.
1. Safety First-Helmet Is A Must
Everyone riding a bicycle-be it a child or an adult. Helmet should be worn mandatory regardless of the distance of the ride-whether it is short trip or longer one or just a casual one. Being safe should be our first priority and we should make sure we buy a proper certified helmet.
According to www.nhtsa.gov:
Step 1-Helmet should fit snuggly Step 2-Helmet should sit level on your head and one or two finger- width above your eyebrows.
Step 3-Adjust the slider on both straps to form a “V” shape under, and slightly in front of, the ears.
Step 4-Center the left buckle under the chin.
Step 5-Buckle your chin strap. Tighten the strap until it is snug, so that no more than one or two fingers fit under the strap.
Step 6-Check for a final fitting and make sure all the straps are properly buckled.
2. You And Your Bike
- The seat should be adjusted to the proper height and locked in place. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back.
The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.
- Make certain all parts are secure and working properly
- Check that the tires are inflated properly
- Make sure the bike is equipped with reflectors on the rear, front, pedals and spokes
- A horn or bell, a rear-view mirror and a bright headlight also are recommended
3. Dressing And Gear For Your Bike
Being a beginner, you should not worry about spending a lot of money for fancy clothing and gears. However, all you need is to be dressed in fluorescent, neon or other bright clothing so that you are visible to people at any hour. You should avoid riding in the dark but in case if you have to, then you should be equipped with reflective tape or markings or flashing lights.
