How to learn to ride a bike better?

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I can ride a bike somehow, but I'd like to learn to do it better (maneuvering, etc.) before starting to use it as a way to move about the city. Any suggestions how I should go about doing that, what I should consider? All I could find on the web was how to learn to ride for beginners.










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  • 4




    Just ride your bike as often as you can and you will gain experience and practice.
    – Herr Derb
    yesterday










  • Do you ride alone or with others? My best times are when riding with several other people.
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago






  • 2




    What kind of bike do you ride, and where do you ride it?
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago










  • Learn to keep your inside pedal up when turning. i.e. when turning left, your left foot should be up and your right foot down. You may never intentionally turn sharp enough to clip a pedal (inside foot down, the pedal hits the ground, you can crash), but the physics work better for cornering that way. It seems that there's something psychological about having the inside foot down when cornering because most people I see riding casually (and some not so casually) do it that way. To me it feels innately awkward to have the inside foot down...
    – FreeMan
    22 hours ago






  • 1




    @ojs - he was asking how to learn, I was throwing in a what to learn, so I didn't feel it was an appropriate answer to this question.
    – FreeMan
    14 hours ago














up vote
8
down vote

favorite
1












I can ride a bike somehow, but I'd like to learn to do it better (maneuvering, etc.) before starting to use it as a way to move about the city. Any suggestions how I should go about doing that, what I should consider? All I could find on the web was how to learn to ride for beginners.










share|improve this question















migrated from sports.stackexchange.com yesterday


This question came from our site for participants in team and individual sport activities.










  • 4




    Just ride your bike as often as you can and you will gain experience and practice.
    – Herr Derb
    yesterday










  • Do you ride alone or with others? My best times are when riding with several other people.
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago






  • 2




    What kind of bike do you ride, and where do you ride it?
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago










  • Learn to keep your inside pedal up when turning. i.e. when turning left, your left foot should be up and your right foot down. You may never intentionally turn sharp enough to clip a pedal (inside foot down, the pedal hits the ground, you can crash), but the physics work better for cornering that way. It seems that there's something psychological about having the inside foot down when cornering because most people I see riding casually (and some not so casually) do it that way. To me it feels innately awkward to have the inside foot down...
    – FreeMan
    22 hours ago






  • 1




    @ojs - he was asking how to learn, I was throwing in a what to learn, so I didn't feel it was an appropriate answer to this question.
    – FreeMan
    14 hours ago












up vote
8
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
8
down vote

favorite
1






1





I can ride a bike somehow, but I'd like to learn to do it better (maneuvering, etc.) before starting to use it as a way to move about the city. Any suggestions how I should go about doing that, what I should consider? All I could find on the web was how to learn to ride for beginners.










share|improve this question















I can ride a bike somehow, but I'd like to learn to do it better (maneuvering, etc.) before starting to use it as a way to move about the city. Any suggestions how I should go about doing that, what I should consider? All I could find on the web was how to learn to ride for beginners.







technique city skills






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edited 1 hour ago









James Bradbury

5,13211943




5,13211943










asked yesterday







user18894











migrated from sports.stackexchange.com yesterday


This question came from our site for participants in team and individual sport activities.






migrated from sports.stackexchange.com yesterday


This question came from our site for participants in team and individual sport activities.









  • 4




    Just ride your bike as often as you can and you will gain experience and practice.
    – Herr Derb
    yesterday










  • Do you ride alone or with others? My best times are when riding with several other people.
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago






  • 2




    What kind of bike do you ride, and where do you ride it?
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago










  • Learn to keep your inside pedal up when turning. i.e. when turning left, your left foot should be up and your right foot down. You may never intentionally turn sharp enough to clip a pedal (inside foot down, the pedal hits the ground, you can crash), but the physics work better for cornering that way. It seems that there's something psychological about having the inside foot down when cornering because most people I see riding casually (and some not so casually) do it that way. To me it feels innately awkward to have the inside foot down...
    – FreeMan
    22 hours ago






  • 1




    @ojs - he was asking how to learn, I was throwing in a what to learn, so I didn't feel it was an appropriate answer to this question.
    – FreeMan
    14 hours ago












  • 4




    Just ride your bike as often as you can and you will gain experience and practice.
    – Herr Derb
    yesterday










  • Do you ride alone or with others? My best times are when riding with several other people.
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago






  • 2




    What kind of bike do you ride, and where do you ride it?
    – Criggie
    23 hours ago










  • Learn to keep your inside pedal up when turning. i.e. when turning left, your left foot should be up and your right foot down. You may never intentionally turn sharp enough to clip a pedal (inside foot down, the pedal hits the ground, you can crash), but the physics work better for cornering that way. It seems that there's something psychological about having the inside foot down when cornering because most people I see riding casually (and some not so casually) do it that way. To me it feels innately awkward to have the inside foot down...
    – FreeMan
    22 hours ago






  • 1




    @ojs - he was asking how to learn, I was throwing in a what to learn, so I didn't feel it was an appropriate answer to this question.
    – FreeMan
    14 hours ago







4




4




Just ride your bike as often as you can and you will gain experience and practice.
– Herr Derb
yesterday




Just ride your bike as often as you can and you will gain experience and practice.
– Herr Derb
yesterday












Do you ride alone or with others? My best times are when riding with several other people.
– Criggie
23 hours ago




Do you ride alone or with others? My best times are when riding with several other people.
– Criggie
23 hours ago




2




2




What kind of bike do you ride, and where do you ride it?
– Criggie
23 hours ago




What kind of bike do you ride, and where do you ride it?
– Criggie
23 hours ago












Learn to keep your inside pedal up when turning. i.e. when turning left, your left foot should be up and your right foot down. You may never intentionally turn sharp enough to clip a pedal (inside foot down, the pedal hits the ground, you can crash), but the physics work better for cornering that way. It seems that there's something psychological about having the inside foot down when cornering because most people I see riding casually (and some not so casually) do it that way. To me it feels innately awkward to have the inside foot down...
– FreeMan
22 hours ago




Learn to keep your inside pedal up when turning. i.e. when turning left, your left foot should be up and your right foot down. You may never intentionally turn sharp enough to clip a pedal (inside foot down, the pedal hits the ground, you can crash), but the physics work better for cornering that way. It seems that there's something psychological about having the inside foot down when cornering because most people I see riding casually (and some not so casually) do it that way. To me it feels innately awkward to have the inside foot down...
– FreeMan
22 hours ago




1




1




@ojs - he was asking how to learn, I was throwing in a what to learn, so I didn't feel it was an appropriate answer to this question.
– FreeMan
14 hours ago




@ojs - he was asking how to learn, I was throwing in a what to learn, so I didn't feel it was an appropriate answer to this question.
– FreeMan
14 hours ago










9 Answers
9






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up vote
16
down vote













The short answer is practice. Simply riding around at moderate to slow speeds, practicing starting off, braking, stopping and negotiating tight turns will help build balance, confidence and control of the bike. Do this in a quiet spot away from people and cars if you can. If you are worried about falling do it on grass.



The most useful foundational bike handling skill is to learn how to stand up on the pedals, or at least take your weight off the saddle and onto the pedals through your legs. Being able to do this enables better braking, dealing with bumps and low speed maneuvering. Being able to pedal while standing up also allows you to apply more power to get over short climbs or accelerate quickly.



Learning how to brake hard and stop quickly is obviously a very important safety skill. It involves using both the front and rear brakes in the right proportion and shifting your weight backwards.



The other thing I'd recommend it learning how to use your bike's gears properly and be able to shift into appropriate low gears for hills, short steep climbs and stopping and starting.



Global Cycling Network has several bike handling skills videos. They are oriented towards fast road riding but the principles all apply. Here is their latest one:









share|improve this answer


















  • 1




    i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
    – Sdarb
    14 hours ago










  • @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
    – Criggie
    13 hours ago










  • @Sdarb no problem
    – Argenti Apparatus
    12 hours ago











  • @Criggie link seems OK
    – Argenti Apparatus
    12 hours ago










  • OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
    – Criggie
    12 hours ago

















up vote
6
down vote













In the UK there is a national training scheme targeting child cyclists, often organized through schools. It claims to have trained about 2.5 million children to date. It has been running under different names for a long time - I took part in it back in the 1950s! Go to https://bikeability.org.uk/. "Level 1" is mainly about controlling the bike. Levels 2 and 3 are about riding safely in traffic.



From their website FAQ page, there may be opportunities for adults to take part:




Can adults take part in Bikeability?



Yes, adults can take part in Bikeability. The skills taught as part of
Bikeability will last a lifetime, and it is never too late to learn.



Your local authority might have an adult cycle training offer. They
might call it Bikeability, or refer to the National Standard for cycle
training, the standard upon which Bikeability is based. It is
recommended that you check with your local authority about their adult
cycle training offer – information is usually available from their
website, under ‘cycling’ or ‘cycle training’. There may be a charge
for training.



The training you receive can be built around your specific training
needs – so, if there’s a particular route you would like to practise
or a skill you’d like to work on, please make your instructor aware.







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    up vote
    5
    down vote













    I agree with the advice to practice.



    There's a book, Effective Cycling by John Forester, which covers everything--the physiology of cycling, bike maintenance, interacting with traffic, etc. Some of the advice on bike maintenance is outdated at this point, and I think some of what he wrote about physiology has been superseded by improved scientific understanding, but in terms of day-to-day riding, his advice is specific and solid. There is a series of courses based on the book as well, although I don't know if they are offered where you live.



    Here's some of my own advice:



    • Get your bike set up properly. Most people ride with the seat too low, and without enough weight on their hands. Your seat should be high enough that your knee is almost fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and you should be carrying some of your body weight on your hands. And if there are any serious mechanical problems with your bike, fix them.

    • Learn how to ride in a straight line by instinct. This sounds trivial, but most naive bike riders can't do it. You should be able to hold a line that's no more than 15 cm wide.

    • Learn what the real risks of riding in traffic are, and prepare for them. A lot of naive riders will try to mitigate their perceived risks, and will do it in ways that actually increase their real risks.

    • Assuming your bike has multiple gears, ride in a lower gear than feels natural. You'll adjust. Most naive riders have a cadence (pedal speed) of 60 rpm or lower; you should aim for about 80 rpm. This is better for your knees, and it helps you accelerate quickly when you need to.

    • Most importantly, learn to ride in a heightened state of awareness. Anticipate what's going to happen. If you need to swerve around a patch of broken glass, is there a car coming up behind you that will need to swerve too? Is there an oncoming car that will prevent it from doing so? Is someone going to get out of that parked car up ahead? What gear do you want to be in to accelerate away from the stop you're approaching?





    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      I'm not certain what you are asking?



      Once you know how to ride your bike, it is just a question of getting more experienced.



      Ride and ride more, go around your neighborhood, learn how cars and pedestrians and other cyclists behave and react.



      Go to parking space when there are no cars and ride there practicing how to maneuver safely at different speed (mostly low speed).






      share|improve this answer




















      • There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
        – Vladimir F
        14 hours ago

















      up vote
      1
      down vote













      The most important thing is control. It is like they said in a movie that the Sword should become an extension to your body only then you will master it. That is the case with Bikes, too.



      One additional suggestions other than the obvious 'experience'.



      Do not turn your bike using only the handle. Tilt your bike sideways to the side you want to turn. Reason - Physics --> Centripetal Force --> Better Control.



      PS - I was able to ride my bike for almost a km with numerous turns and completely hands free, (I highly recommend against it, though). Reason: you can turn the bike just by your own weight as explained above. High Schooler me didn't know the science behind this, then.






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      • 1




        Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
        – MichaelK
        20 hours ago











      • If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
        – ChrisW
        2 hours ago

















      up vote
      1
      down vote













      A lot of bike confidence comes from learning your particular bike. Here's some maneuvers I like to practice when there's no traffic or other bikers/pedestrians around:



      • Find an empty parking lot or an alley without traffic and practice taking one hand off the handlebars while still pedaling. You'll learn how to manage your weight, and you'll be more comfortable taking a hand off in real riding conditions to signal your turn or get water.

      • The trackstand. Come to a slow halt while riding and try to balance the bike up while keeping both feet on the pedals, braking as needed. You'll learn a lot about how your bike responds to small amounts of braking and small weight shifts. You can use this in real life at stoplights to let you get off the line quicker and be able to get out the way more easily.


      • I like to practice riding with no hands on the handlebars sometimes - it's a great way to stretch out your back after being hunched over and having to steer with your leg weight shifts alone teaches you more about how to handle the bike.


      • On wide roads with no traffic, I like to get up to speed and then practice steering left and right, as if there were imaginary obstacles, to practice making tight turns at speed, so I know how to make them in real life when a car door appears.

      • Finally, I like to try locking up my rear tire and managing a skid for a second or two, in case it would happen in real life. I wouldn't recommend trying this unless you really want to, but I feel better knowing I can handle one if it should happen.

      • If you haven't tried using toe clips or foot straps yet, those are a good easy upgrade to have more control over the bike and gain more confidence.

      Also keep in mind that most things on a bike can be adjusted and customized for you. If you feel like your brakes are too mushy or too firm, that's easily adjustable. Same with tire pressure and saddle position, and front shock softness on mountain bikes. Once you have your bike exactly how you like it you'll feel a lot better and enjoy riding more.






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      • 1




        I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
        – Argenti Apparatus
        12 hours ago

















      up vote
      0
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      I think with just riding your bike you will get enough bike handling skills for casual city riding. If you really want to practice, i would suggest you four exercises:



      • braking with front brake only

      • locking up your back wheel

      • jumping over small things

      • riding with no hands

      However I have never fell because of poor technique but because I underestimated how slippery the road was. So watch out for tight turns



      • after light rain

      • in the winter

      • when the road is covered with wet leaves

      • on (wet) tram tracks.





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        up vote
        0
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        As others have mentioned, practicing in a safe environment without traffic will help you improve your skills.



        I think learning the following skills is essential for riding around a city.



        • Pedalling standing up for quick acceleration.

        • Signalling left and right with your arm and only one hand on the handlebars.

        • Observing behind you by looking over your shoulder. Mirrors can help, but the shoulder-check is considered a life-saver.

        • Knowledge of the rules and rights of way for traffic in your country.

        • The ability to do all the above without excessive wobbling or swerving.





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          up vote
          0
          down vote













          For "moving about the city", nothing is as important as safety.



          Study something like, Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling -- especially the later pages, which explain how to interact with traffic. Note page 20 (and page 36), for example, which shows how to avoid getting trapped between the curb and vehicle turning right (or in the UK, turning left).



          It doesn't tell you everything though, e.g. in the situation on page 21 I'd also want to make eye contact with the driver who is waiting to exit the driveway or the side-road, and (even though I have right of way) not cross in front of them until I had made eye contact.




          As a semi-advanced skill, get the kind of cycling shoes which clip to the pedals (and corresponding pedals) -- called "SPD", also confusingly-named "clipless". I have two-sided pedals, one side with a clip receiver for bike shoes, and the other side flat for street shoes.



          When learning to use these shoes, you'll fall off: the bike store told me that everyone does -- and I certainly did, when travelling at a speed of zero i.e. when coming to a complete stop at an intersection or destination and forgetting to unclip in time -- so learn to do it on sideroads where you're not in traffic ... and (they said) do it while you're wearing a winter coat (and a helmet of course, and cycling gloves): I found that gives extra padding on arms and hips, which makes a zero-speed fall painless.



          Anyway, having feet clipped to the bike eventually helped me feel more 'at one' with or tied to, linked to the bike -- I no longer have to think about keeping my feet on the pedals, and can concentrate on eyes and hands (and ears) instead. It's also more comfortable eventually, e.g. easier to stand on the pedals (like you'd "rise to a trot" on a horse, using stirrups) when going over bumps, or to shift your bum to behind the seat when performing a hard stop or downhill braking (or an emergency brake).




          Having equipment might help confidence:



          • Effective brakes, front and back. Preferably, very effective brakes (I have and like hydraulic disk brakes, which remain effective even when wet or snowy, downhill in traffic). If yours is an older bike, ask whether you need new brake pads (they, and chains, are consumables).

          • Lights (front and back) and reflectors (to the side), especially in winter when the days are short

          • Helmet, glasses (with corrective lenses if that's you, otherwise just to keep the wind/dust/insects out of your eyes and to keep you from ever having to squint), gloves (if you fall then you're likely to put your hand on the ground to break your fall, and they absorb some of the vibration of the handle bars)

          • I like to have robust tires too, so that the bike isn't fragile (the tires were the least reliable part of my bike until I upgraded them to "Marathon Plus")

          • A bell (no good for cars but useful for alerting bikes and pedestrians on a cycle path)

          Also, communicate with the traffic around you: use hand signals, and do shoulder-checks.






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            9 Answers
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            9 Answers
            9






            active

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            up vote
            16
            down vote













            The short answer is practice. Simply riding around at moderate to slow speeds, practicing starting off, braking, stopping and negotiating tight turns will help build balance, confidence and control of the bike. Do this in a quiet spot away from people and cars if you can. If you are worried about falling do it on grass.



            The most useful foundational bike handling skill is to learn how to stand up on the pedals, or at least take your weight off the saddle and onto the pedals through your legs. Being able to do this enables better braking, dealing with bumps and low speed maneuvering. Being able to pedal while standing up also allows you to apply more power to get over short climbs or accelerate quickly.



            Learning how to brake hard and stop quickly is obviously a very important safety skill. It involves using both the front and rear brakes in the right proportion and shifting your weight backwards.



            The other thing I'd recommend it learning how to use your bike's gears properly and be able to shift into appropriate low gears for hills, short steep climbs and stopping and starting.



            Global Cycling Network has several bike handling skills videos. They are oriented towards fast road riding but the principles all apply. Here is their latest one:









            share|improve this answer


















            • 1




              i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
              – Sdarb
              14 hours ago










            • @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
              – Criggie
              13 hours ago










            • @Sdarb no problem
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago











            • @Criggie link seems OK
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago










            • OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
              – Criggie
              12 hours ago














            up vote
            16
            down vote













            The short answer is practice. Simply riding around at moderate to slow speeds, practicing starting off, braking, stopping and negotiating tight turns will help build balance, confidence and control of the bike. Do this in a quiet spot away from people and cars if you can. If you are worried about falling do it on grass.



            The most useful foundational bike handling skill is to learn how to stand up on the pedals, or at least take your weight off the saddle and onto the pedals through your legs. Being able to do this enables better braking, dealing with bumps and low speed maneuvering. Being able to pedal while standing up also allows you to apply more power to get over short climbs or accelerate quickly.



            Learning how to brake hard and stop quickly is obviously a very important safety skill. It involves using both the front and rear brakes in the right proportion and shifting your weight backwards.



            The other thing I'd recommend it learning how to use your bike's gears properly and be able to shift into appropriate low gears for hills, short steep climbs and stopping and starting.



            Global Cycling Network has several bike handling skills videos. They are oriented towards fast road riding but the principles all apply. Here is their latest one:









            share|improve this answer


















            • 1




              i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
              – Sdarb
              14 hours ago










            • @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
              – Criggie
              13 hours ago










            • @Sdarb no problem
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago











            • @Criggie link seems OK
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago










            • OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
              – Criggie
              12 hours ago












            up vote
            16
            down vote










            up vote
            16
            down vote









            The short answer is practice. Simply riding around at moderate to slow speeds, practicing starting off, braking, stopping and negotiating tight turns will help build balance, confidence and control of the bike. Do this in a quiet spot away from people and cars if you can. If you are worried about falling do it on grass.



            The most useful foundational bike handling skill is to learn how to stand up on the pedals, or at least take your weight off the saddle and onto the pedals through your legs. Being able to do this enables better braking, dealing with bumps and low speed maneuvering. Being able to pedal while standing up also allows you to apply more power to get over short climbs or accelerate quickly.



            Learning how to brake hard and stop quickly is obviously a very important safety skill. It involves using both the front and rear brakes in the right proportion and shifting your weight backwards.



            The other thing I'd recommend it learning how to use your bike's gears properly and be able to shift into appropriate low gears for hills, short steep climbs and stopping and starting.



            Global Cycling Network has several bike handling skills videos. They are oriented towards fast road riding but the principles all apply. Here is their latest one:









            share|improve this answer














            The short answer is practice. Simply riding around at moderate to slow speeds, practicing starting off, braking, stopping and negotiating tight turns will help build balance, confidence and control of the bike. Do this in a quiet spot away from people and cars if you can. If you are worried about falling do it on grass.



            The most useful foundational bike handling skill is to learn how to stand up on the pedals, or at least take your weight off the saddle and onto the pedals through your legs. Being able to do this enables better braking, dealing with bumps and low speed maneuvering. Being able to pedal while standing up also allows you to apply more power to get over short climbs or accelerate quickly.



            Learning how to brake hard and stop quickly is obviously a very important safety skill. It involves using both the front and rear brakes in the right proportion and shifting your weight backwards.



            The other thing I'd recommend it learning how to use your bike's gears properly and be able to shift into appropriate low gears for hills, short steep climbs and stopping and starting.



            Global Cycling Network has several bike handling skills videos. They are oriented towards fast road riding but the principles all apply. Here is their latest one:


















            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 12 hours ago









            Sdarb

            1033




            1033










            answered yesterday









            Argenti Apparatus

            24.4k12664




            24.4k12664







            • 1




              i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
              – Sdarb
              14 hours ago










            • @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
              – Criggie
              13 hours ago










            • @Sdarb no problem
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago











            • @Criggie link seems OK
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago










            • OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
              – Criggie
              12 hours ago












            • 1




              i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
              – Sdarb
              14 hours ago










            • @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
              – Criggie
              13 hours ago










            • @Sdarb no problem
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago











            • @Criggie link seems OK
              – Argenti Apparatus
              12 hours ago










            • OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
              – Criggie
              12 hours ago







            1




            1




            i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
            – Sdarb
            14 hours ago




            i'm dumb and added a suggested edit to this comment but realized it was just a missing video embed because of an extension i'm using but i don't have enough points to comment on the review to say my bad
            – Sdarb
            14 hours ago












            @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
            – Criggie
            13 hours ago




            @argentiapparatus could you please review the youtube link? I remember it previewed okay last night but seems to be done today. The edit history shows no youtube link, so I'm confused what's happened.
            – Criggie
            13 hours ago












            @Sdarb no problem
            – Argenti Apparatus
            12 hours ago





            @Sdarb no problem
            – Argenti Apparatus
            12 hours ago













            @Criggie link seems OK
            – Argenti Apparatus
            12 hours ago




            @Criggie link seems OK
            – Argenti Apparatus
            12 hours ago












            OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
            – Criggie
            12 hours ago




            OK there's something wrong with youtube generally right now for me, so no video works and therefore no preview shows up. I've noticed a similar thing if Imgur is over capacity or otherwise not working, in that photos can be simply missing.
            – Criggie
            12 hours ago










            up vote
            6
            down vote













            In the UK there is a national training scheme targeting child cyclists, often organized through schools. It claims to have trained about 2.5 million children to date. It has been running under different names for a long time - I took part in it back in the 1950s! Go to https://bikeability.org.uk/. "Level 1" is mainly about controlling the bike. Levels 2 and 3 are about riding safely in traffic.



            From their website FAQ page, there may be opportunities for adults to take part:




            Can adults take part in Bikeability?



            Yes, adults can take part in Bikeability. The skills taught as part of
            Bikeability will last a lifetime, and it is never too late to learn.



            Your local authority might have an adult cycle training offer. They
            might call it Bikeability, or refer to the National Standard for cycle
            training, the standard upon which Bikeability is based. It is
            recommended that you check with your local authority about their adult
            cycle training offer – information is usually available from their
            website, under ‘cycling’ or ‘cycle training’. There may be a charge
            for training.



            The training you receive can be built around your specific training
            needs – so, if there’s a particular route you would like to practise
            or a skill you’d like to work on, please make your instructor aware.







            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





















              up vote
              6
              down vote













              In the UK there is a national training scheme targeting child cyclists, often organized through schools. It claims to have trained about 2.5 million children to date. It has been running under different names for a long time - I took part in it back in the 1950s! Go to https://bikeability.org.uk/. "Level 1" is mainly about controlling the bike. Levels 2 and 3 are about riding safely in traffic.



              From their website FAQ page, there may be opportunities for adults to take part:




              Can adults take part in Bikeability?



              Yes, adults can take part in Bikeability. The skills taught as part of
              Bikeability will last a lifetime, and it is never too late to learn.



              Your local authority might have an adult cycle training offer. They
              might call it Bikeability, or refer to the National Standard for cycle
              training, the standard upon which Bikeability is based. It is
              recommended that you check with your local authority about their adult
              cycle training offer – information is usually available from their
              website, under ‘cycling’ or ‘cycle training’. There may be a charge
              for training.



              The training you receive can be built around your specific training
              needs – so, if there’s a particular route you would like to practise
              or a skill you’d like to work on, please make your instructor aware.







              share|improve this answer










              New contributor




              alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.



















                up vote
                6
                down vote










                up vote
                6
                down vote









                In the UK there is a national training scheme targeting child cyclists, often organized through schools. It claims to have trained about 2.5 million children to date. It has been running under different names for a long time - I took part in it back in the 1950s! Go to https://bikeability.org.uk/. "Level 1" is mainly about controlling the bike. Levels 2 and 3 are about riding safely in traffic.



                From their website FAQ page, there may be opportunities for adults to take part:




                Can adults take part in Bikeability?



                Yes, adults can take part in Bikeability. The skills taught as part of
                Bikeability will last a lifetime, and it is never too late to learn.



                Your local authority might have an adult cycle training offer. They
                might call it Bikeability, or refer to the National Standard for cycle
                training, the standard upon which Bikeability is based. It is
                recommended that you check with your local authority about their adult
                cycle training offer – information is usually available from their
                website, under ‘cycling’ or ‘cycle training’. There may be a charge
                for training.



                The training you receive can be built around your specific training
                needs – so, if there’s a particular route you would like to practise
                or a skill you’d like to work on, please make your instructor aware.







                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                In the UK there is a national training scheme targeting child cyclists, often organized through schools. It claims to have trained about 2.5 million children to date. It has been running under different names for a long time - I took part in it back in the 1950s! Go to https://bikeability.org.uk/. "Level 1" is mainly about controlling the bike. Levels 2 and 3 are about riding safely in traffic.



                From their website FAQ page, there may be opportunities for adults to take part:




                Can adults take part in Bikeability?



                Yes, adults can take part in Bikeability. The skills taught as part of
                Bikeability will last a lifetime, and it is never too late to learn.



                Your local authority might have an adult cycle training offer. They
                might call it Bikeability, or refer to the National Standard for cycle
                training, the standard upon which Bikeability is based. It is
                recommended that you check with your local authority about their adult
                cycle training offer – information is usually available from their
                website, under ‘cycling’ or ‘cycle training’. There may be a charge
                for training.



                The training you receive can be built around your specific training
                needs – so, if there’s a particular route you would like to practise
                or a skill you’d like to work on, please make your instructor aware.








                share|improve this answer










                New contributor




                alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited 22 hours ago





















                New contributor




                alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                answered 22 hours ago









                alephzero

                1612




                1612




                New contributor




                alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





                New contributor





                alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                alephzero is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.




















                    up vote
                    5
                    down vote













                    I agree with the advice to practice.



                    There's a book, Effective Cycling by John Forester, which covers everything--the physiology of cycling, bike maintenance, interacting with traffic, etc. Some of the advice on bike maintenance is outdated at this point, and I think some of what he wrote about physiology has been superseded by improved scientific understanding, but in terms of day-to-day riding, his advice is specific and solid. There is a series of courses based on the book as well, although I don't know if they are offered where you live.



                    Here's some of my own advice:



                    • Get your bike set up properly. Most people ride with the seat too low, and without enough weight on their hands. Your seat should be high enough that your knee is almost fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and you should be carrying some of your body weight on your hands. And if there are any serious mechanical problems with your bike, fix them.

                    • Learn how to ride in a straight line by instinct. This sounds trivial, but most naive bike riders can't do it. You should be able to hold a line that's no more than 15 cm wide.

                    • Learn what the real risks of riding in traffic are, and prepare for them. A lot of naive riders will try to mitigate their perceived risks, and will do it in ways that actually increase their real risks.

                    • Assuming your bike has multiple gears, ride in a lower gear than feels natural. You'll adjust. Most naive riders have a cadence (pedal speed) of 60 rpm or lower; you should aim for about 80 rpm. This is better for your knees, and it helps you accelerate quickly when you need to.

                    • Most importantly, learn to ride in a heightened state of awareness. Anticipate what's going to happen. If you need to swerve around a patch of broken glass, is there a car coming up behind you that will need to swerve too? Is there an oncoming car that will prevent it from doing so? Is someone going to get out of that parked car up ahead? What gear do you want to be in to accelerate away from the stop you're approaching?





                    share|improve this answer
























                      up vote
                      5
                      down vote













                      I agree with the advice to practice.



                      There's a book, Effective Cycling by John Forester, which covers everything--the physiology of cycling, bike maintenance, interacting with traffic, etc. Some of the advice on bike maintenance is outdated at this point, and I think some of what he wrote about physiology has been superseded by improved scientific understanding, but in terms of day-to-day riding, his advice is specific and solid. There is a series of courses based on the book as well, although I don't know if they are offered where you live.



                      Here's some of my own advice:



                      • Get your bike set up properly. Most people ride with the seat too low, and without enough weight on their hands. Your seat should be high enough that your knee is almost fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and you should be carrying some of your body weight on your hands. And if there are any serious mechanical problems with your bike, fix them.

                      • Learn how to ride in a straight line by instinct. This sounds trivial, but most naive bike riders can't do it. You should be able to hold a line that's no more than 15 cm wide.

                      • Learn what the real risks of riding in traffic are, and prepare for them. A lot of naive riders will try to mitigate their perceived risks, and will do it in ways that actually increase their real risks.

                      • Assuming your bike has multiple gears, ride in a lower gear than feels natural. You'll adjust. Most naive riders have a cadence (pedal speed) of 60 rpm or lower; you should aim for about 80 rpm. This is better for your knees, and it helps you accelerate quickly when you need to.

                      • Most importantly, learn to ride in a heightened state of awareness. Anticipate what's going to happen. If you need to swerve around a patch of broken glass, is there a car coming up behind you that will need to swerve too? Is there an oncoming car that will prevent it from doing so? Is someone going to get out of that parked car up ahead? What gear do you want to be in to accelerate away from the stop you're approaching?





                      share|improve this answer






















                        up vote
                        5
                        down vote










                        up vote
                        5
                        down vote









                        I agree with the advice to practice.



                        There's a book, Effective Cycling by John Forester, which covers everything--the physiology of cycling, bike maintenance, interacting with traffic, etc. Some of the advice on bike maintenance is outdated at this point, and I think some of what he wrote about physiology has been superseded by improved scientific understanding, but in terms of day-to-day riding, his advice is specific and solid. There is a series of courses based on the book as well, although I don't know if they are offered where you live.



                        Here's some of my own advice:



                        • Get your bike set up properly. Most people ride with the seat too low, and without enough weight on their hands. Your seat should be high enough that your knee is almost fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and you should be carrying some of your body weight on your hands. And if there are any serious mechanical problems with your bike, fix them.

                        • Learn how to ride in a straight line by instinct. This sounds trivial, but most naive bike riders can't do it. You should be able to hold a line that's no more than 15 cm wide.

                        • Learn what the real risks of riding in traffic are, and prepare for them. A lot of naive riders will try to mitigate their perceived risks, and will do it in ways that actually increase their real risks.

                        • Assuming your bike has multiple gears, ride in a lower gear than feels natural. You'll adjust. Most naive riders have a cadence (pedal speed) of 60 rpm or lower; you should aim for about 80 rpm. This is better for your knees, and it helps you accelerate quickly when you need to.

                        • Most importantly, learn to ride in a heightened state of awareness. Anticipate what's going to happen. If you need to swerve around a patch of broken glass, is there a car coming up behind you that will need to swerve too? Is there an oncoming car that will prevent it from doing so? Is someone going to get out of that parked car up ahead? What gear do you want to be in to accelerate away from the stop you're approaching?





                        share|improve this answer












                        I agree with the advice to practice.



                        There's a book, Effective Cycling by John Forester, which covers everything--the physiology of cycling, bike maintenance, interacting with traffic, etc. Some of the advice on bike maintenance is outdated at this point, and I think some of what he wrote about physiology has been superseded by improved scientific understanding, but in terms of day-to-day riding, his advice is specific and solid. There is a series of courses based on the book as well, although I don't know if they are offered where you live.



                        Here's some of my own advice:



                        • Get your bike set up properly. Most people ride with the seat too low, and without enough weight on their hands. Your seat should be high enough that your knee is almost fully extended at the bottom of the pedal stroke, and you should be carrying some of your body weight on your hands. And if there are any serious mechanical problems with your bike, fix them.

                        • Learn how to ride in a straight line by instinct. This sounds trivial, but most naive bike riders can't do it. You should be able to hold a line that's no more than 15 cm wide.

                        • Learn what the real risks of riding in traffic are, and prepare for them. A lot of naive riders will try to mitigate their perceived risks, and will do it in ways that actually increase their real risks.

                        • Assuming your bike has multiple gears, ride in a lower gear than feels natural. You'll adjust. Most naive riders have a cadence (pedal speed) of 60 rpm or lower; you should aim for about 80 rpm. This is better for your knees, and it helps you accelerate quickly when you need to.

                        • Most importantly, learn to ride in a heightened state of awareness. Anticipate what's going to happen. If you need to swerve around a patch of broken glass, is there a car coming up behind you that will need to swerve too? Is there an oncoming car that will prevent it from doing so? Is someone going to get out of that parked car up ahead? What gear do you want to be in to accelerate away from the stop you're approaching?






                        share|improve this answer












                        share|improve this answer



                        share|improve this answer










                        answered 20 hours ago









                        Adam Rice

                        4,3571329




                        4,3571329




















                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote













                            I'm not certain what you are asking?



                            Once you know how to ride your bike, it is just a question of getting more experienced.



                            Ride and ride more, go around your neighborhood, learn how cars and pedestrians and other cyclists behave and react.



                            Go to parking space when there are no cars and ride there practicing how to maneuver safely at different speed (mostly low speed).






                            share|improve this answer




















                            • There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
                              – Vladimir F
                              14 hours ago














                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote













                            I'm not certain what you are asking?



                            Once you know how to ride your bike, it is just a question of getting more experienced.



                            Ride and ride more, go around your neighborhood, learn how cars and pedestrians and other cyclists behave and react.



                            Go to parking space when there are no cars and ride there practicing how to maneuver safely at different speed (mostly low speed).






                            share|improve this answer




















                            • There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
                              – Vladimir F
                              14 hours ago












                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            3
                            down vote









                            I'm not certain what you are asking?



                            Once you know how to ride your bike, it is just a question of getting more experienced.



                            Ride and ride more, go around your neighborhood, learn how cars and pedestrians and other cyclists behave and react.



                            Go to parking space when there are no cars and ride there practicing how to maneuver safely at different speed (mostly low speed).






                            share|improve this answer












                            I'm not certain what you are asking?



                            Once you know how to ride your bike, it is just a question of getting more experienced.



                            Ride and ride more, go around your neighborhood, learn how cars and pedestrians and other cyclists behave and react.



                            Go to parking space when there are no cars and ride there practicing how to maneuver safely at different speed (mostly low speed).







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered yesterday









                            Max

                            90167




                            90167











                            • There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
                              – Vladimir F
                              14 hours ago
















                            • There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
                              – Vladimir F
                              14 hours ago















                            There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
                            – Vladimir F
                            14 hours ago




                            There are certainly useful skills one doesn't get by just riding the sme over and over. One must actively try to learn them (examples in oher answers here).
                            – Vladimir F
                            14 hours ago










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote













                            The most important thing is control. It is like they said in a movie that the Sword should become an extension to your body only then you will master it. That is the case with Bikes, too.



                            One additional suggestions other than the obvious 'experience'.



                            Do not turn your bike using only the handle. Tilt your bike sideways to the side you want to turn. Reason - Physics --> Centripetal Force --> Better Control.



                            PS - I was able to ride my bike for almost a km with numerous turns and completely hands free, (I highly recommend against it, though). Reason: you can turn the bike just by your own weight as explained above. High Schooler me didn't know the science behind this, then.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.













                            • 1




                              Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
                              – MichaelK
                              20 hours ago











                            • If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
                              – ChrisW
                              2 hours ago














                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote













                            The most important thing is control. It is like they said in a movie that the Sword should become an extension to your body only then you will master it. That is the case with Bikes, too.



                            One additional suggestions other than the obvious 'experience'.



                            Do not turn your bike using only the handle. Tilt your bike sideways to the side you want to turn. Reason - Physics --> Centripetal Force --> Better Control.



                            PS - I was able to ride my bike for almost a km with numerous turns and completely hands free, (I highly recommend against it, though). Reason: you can turn the bike just by your own weight as explained above. High Schooler me didn't know the science behind this, then.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.













                            • 1




                              Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
                              – MichaelK
                              20 hours ago











                            • If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
                              – ChrisW
                              2 hours ago












                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            The most important thing is control. It is like they said in a movie that the Sword should become an extension to your body only then you will master it. That is the case with Bikes, too.



                            One additional suggestions other than the obvious 'experience'.



                            Do not turn your bike using only the handle. Tilt your bike sideways to the side you want to turn. Reason - Physics --> Centripetal Force --> Better Control.



                            PS - I was able to ride my bike for almost a km with numerous turns and completely hands free, (I highly recommend against it, though). Reason: you can turn the bike just by your own weight as explained above. High Schooler me didn't know the science behind this, then.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            The most important thing is control. It is like they said in a movie that the Sword should become an extension to your body only then you will master it. That is the case with Bikes, too.



                            One additional suggestions other than the obvious 'experience'.



                            Do not turn your bike using only the handle. Tilt your bike sideways to the side you want to turn. Reason - Physics --> Centripetal Force --> Better Control.



                            PS - I was able to ride my bike for almost a km with numerous turns and completely hands free, (I highly recommend against it, though). Reason: you can turn the bike just by your own weight as explained above. High Schooler me didn't know the science behind this, then.







                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer






                            New contributor




                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            answered 22 hours ago









                            user39405

                            111




                            111




                            New contributor




                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.





                            New contributor





                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.






                            user39405 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.







                            • 1




                              Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
                              – MichaelK
                              20 hours ago











                            • If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
                              – ChrisW
                              2 hours ago












                            • 1




                              Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
                              – MichaelK
                              20 hours ago











                            • If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
                              – ChrisW
                              2 hours ago







                            1




                            1




                            Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
                            – MichaelK
                            20 hours ago





                            Hello and welcome to Bicycles SE. :-) To nitpick: you cannot turn a bike without leaning into the turn, unless you are looking to fall over. What you say is true but is not something that needs to be improved by experience since this — once you have learned riding a bike — is a reflex to maintain balance, and not a conscious choice. You almost never use the handles to turn, except at very low speeds. It is the "head angle" of the fork and the gyroscopic forces on the front wheel that keeps it at the right direction for the turn, which is why you can ride without your hands on the handles.
                            – MichaelK
                            20 hours ago













                            If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
                            – ChrisW
                            2 hours ago




                            If I'm fast approaching e.g. a sharp right turn (with both hands on the bars, of course) I sometimes think of steering towards the left, to make the bike 'fall over' (i.e. begin to turn towards) towards the right. If you want to go more right then you have to 'push' the bars slightly to the left.
                            – ChrisW
                            2 hours ago










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote













                            A lot of bike confidence comes from learning your particular bike. Here's some maneuvers I like to practice when there's no traffic or other bikers/pedestrians around:



                            • Find an empty parking lot or an alley without traffic and practice taking one hand off the handlebars while still pedaling. You'll learn how to manage your weight, and you'll be more comfortable taking a hand off in real riding conditions to signal your turn or get water.

                            • The trackstand. Come to a slow halt while riding and try to balance the bike up while keeping both feet on the pedals, braking as needed. You'll learn a lot about how your bike responds to small amounts of braking and small weight shifts. You can use this in real life at stoplights to let you get off the line quicker and be able to get out the way more easily.


                            • I like to practice riding with no hands on the handlebars sometimes - it's a great way to stretch out your back after being hunched over and having to steer with your leg weight shifts alone teaches you more about how to handle the bike.


                            • On wide roads with no traffic, I like to get up to speed and then practice steering left and right, as if there were imaginary obstacles, to practice making tight turns at speed, so I know how to make them in real life when a car door appears.

                            • Finally, I like to try locking up my rear tire and managing a skid for a second or two, in case it would happen in real life. I wouldn't recommend trying this unless you really want to, but I feel better knowing I can handle one if it should happen.

                            • If you haven't tried using toe clips or foot straps yet, those are a good easy upgrade to have more control over the bike and gain more confidence.

                            Also keep in mind that most things on a bike can be adjusted and customized for you. If you feel like your brakes are too mushy or too firm, that's easily adjustable. Same with tire pressure and saddle position, and front shock softness on mountain bikes. Once you have your bike exactly how you like it you'll feel a lot better and enjoy riding more.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.













                            • 1




                              I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
                              – Argenti Apparatus
                              12 hours ago














                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote













                            A lot of bike confidence comes from learning your particular bike. Here's some maneuvers I like to practice when there's no traffic or other bikers/pedestrians around:



                            • Find an empty parking lot or an alley without traffic and practice taking one hand off the handlebars while still pedaling. You'll learn how to manage your weight, and you'll be more comfortable taking a hand off in real riding conditions to signal your turn or get water.

                            • The trackstand. Come to a slow halt while riding and try to balance the bike up while keeping both feet on the pedals, braking as needed. You'll learn a lot about how your bike responds to small amounts of braking and small weight shifts. You can use this in real life at stoplights to let you get off the line quicker and be able to get out the way more easily.


                            • I like to practice riding with no hands on the handlebars sometimes - it's a great way to stretch out your back after being hunched over and having to steer with your leg weight shifts alone teaches you more about how to handle the bike.


                            • On wide roads with no traffic, I like to get up to speed and then practice steering left and right, as if there were imaginary obstacles, to practice making tight turns at speed, so I know how to make them in real life when a car door appears.

                            • Finally, I like to try locking up my rear tire and managing a skid for a second or two, in case it would happen in real life. I wouldn't recommend trying this unless you really want to, but I feel better knowing I can handle one if it should happen.

                            • If you haven't tried using toe clips or foot straps yet, those are a good easy upgrade to have more control over the bike and gain more confidence.

                            Also keep in mind that most things on a bike can be adjusted and customized for you. If you feel like your brakes are too mushy or too firm, that's easily adjustable. Same with tire pressure and saddle position, and front shock softness on mountain bikes. Once you have your bike exactly how you like it you'll feel a lot better and enjoy riding more.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.













                            • 1




                              I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
                              – Argenti Apparatus
                              12 hours ago












                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            1
                            down vote









                            A lot of bike confidence comes from learning your particular bike. Here's some maneuvers I like to practice when there's no traffic or other bikers/pedestrians around:



                            • Find an empty parking lot or an alley without traffic and practice taking one hand off the handlebars while still pedaling. You'll learn how to manage your weight, and you'll be more comfortable taking a hand off in real riding conditions to signal your turn or get water.

                            • The trackstand. Come to a slow halt while riding and try to balance the bike up while keeping both feet on the pedals, braking as needed. You'll learn a lot about how your bike responds to small amounts of braking and small weight shifts. You can use this in real life at stoplights to let you get off the line quicker and be able to get out the way more easily.


                            • I like to practice riding with no hands on the handlebars sometimes - it's a great way to stretch out your back after being hunched over and having to steer with your leg weight shifts alone teaches you more about how to handle the bike.


                            • On wide roads with no traffic, I like to get up to speed and then practice steering left and right, as if there were imaginary obstacles, to practice making tight turns at speed, so I know how to make them in real life when a car door appears.

                            • Finally, I like to try locking up my rear tire and managing a skid for a second or two, in case it would happen in real life. I wouldn't recommend trying this unless you really want to, but I feel better knowing I can handle one if it should happen.

                            • If you haven't tried using toe clips or foot straps yet, those are a good easy upgrade to have more control over the bike and gain more confidence.

                            Also keep in mind that most things on a bike can be adjusted and customized for you. If you feel like your brakes are too mushy or too firm, that's easily adjustable. Same with tire pressure and saddle position, and front shock softness on mountain bikes. Once you have your bike exactly how you like it you'll feel a lot better and enjoy riding more.






                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            A lot of bike confidence comes from learning your particular bike. Here's some maneuvers I like to practice when there's no traffic or other bikers/pedestrians around:



                            • Find an empty parking lot or an alley without traffic and practice taking one hand off the handlebars while still pedaling. You'll learn how to manage your weight, and you'll be more comfortable taking a hand off in real riding conditions to signal your turn or get water.

                            • The trackstand. Come to a slow halt while riding and try to balance the bike up while keeping both feet on the pedals, braking as needed. You'll learn a lot about how your bike responds to small amounts of braking and small weight shifts. You can use this in real life at stoplights to let you get off the line quicker and be able to get out the way more easily.


                            • I like to practice riding with no hands on the handlebars sometimes - it's a great way to stretch out your back after being hunched over and having to steer with your leg weight shifts alone teaches you more about how to handle the bike.


                            • On wide roads with no traffic, I like to get up to speed and then practice steering left and right, as if there were imaginary obstacles, to practice making tight turns at speed, so I know how to make them in real life when a car door appears.

                            • Finally, I like to try locking up my rear tire and managing a skid for a second or two, in case it would happen in real life. I wouldn't recommend trying this unless you really want to, but I feel better knowing I can handle one if it should happen.

                            • If you haven't tried using toe clips or foot straps yet, those are a good easy upgrade to have more control over the bike and gain more confidence.

                            Also keep in mind that most things on a bike can be adjusted and customized for you. If you feel like your brakes are too mushy or too firm, that's easily adjustable. Same with tire pressure and saddle position, and front shock softness on mountain bikes. Once you have your bike exactly how you like it you'll feel a lot better and enjoy riding more.







                            share|improve this answer








                            New contributor




                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer






                            New contributor




                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.









                            answered 19 hours ago









                            PascLeRasc

                            191




                            191




                            New contributor




                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.





                            New contributor





                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.






                            PascLeRasc is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                            Check out our Code of Conduct.







                            • 1




                              I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
                              – Argenti Apparatus
                              12 hours ago












                            • 1




                              I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
                              – Argenti Apparatus
                              12 hours ago







                            1




                            1




                            I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
                            – Argenti Apparatus
                            12 hours ago




                            I agree generally with all of this except the track stand, which is an advanced skill and hard to learn.
                            – Argenti Apparatus
                            12 hours ago










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote













                            I think with just riding your bike you will get enough bike handling skills for casual city riding. If you really want to practice, i would suggest you four exercises:



                            • braking with front brake only

                            • locking up your back wheel

                            • jumping over small things

                            • riding with no hands

                            However I have never fell because of poor technique but because I underestimated how slippery the road was. So watch out for tight turns



                            • after light rain

                            • in the winter

                            • when the road is covered with wet leaves

                            • on (wet) tram tracks.





                            share|improve this answer
























                              up vote
                              0
                              down vote













                              I think with just riding your bike you will get enough bike handling skills for casual city riding. If you really want to practice, i would suggest you four exercises:



                              • braking with front brake only

                              • locking up your back wheel

                              • jumping over small things

                              • riding with no hands

                              However I have never fell because of poor technique but because I underestimated how slippery the road was. So watch out for tight turns



                              • after light rain

                              • in the winter

                              • when the road is covered with wet leaves

                              • on (wet) tram tracks.





                              share|improve this answer






















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote










                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote









                                I think with just riding your bike you will get enough bike handling skills for casual city riding. If you really want to practice, i would suggest you four exercises:



                                • braking with front brake only

                                • locking up your back wheel

                                • jumping over small things

                                • riding with no hands

                                However I have never fell because of poor technique but because I underestimated how slippery the road was. So watch out for tight turns



                                • after light rain

                                • in the winter

                                • when the road is covered with wet leaves

                                • on (wet) tram tracks.





                                share|improve this answer












                                I think with just riding your bike you will get enough bike handling skills for casual city riding. If you really want to practice, i would suggest you four exercises:



                                • braking with front brake only

                                • locking up your back wheel

                                • jumping over small things

                                • riding with no hands

                                However I have never fell because of poor technique but because I underestimated how slippery the road was. So watch out for tight turns



                                • after light rain

                                • in the winter

                                • when the road is covered with wet leaves

                                • on (wet) tram tracks.






                                share|improve this answer












                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer










                                answered 3 hours ago









                                Balint

                                854




                                854




















                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote













                                    As others have mentioned, practicing in a safe environment without traffic will help you improve your skills.



                                    I think learning the following skills is essential for riding around a city.



                                    • Pedalling standing up for quick acceleration.

                                    • Signalling left and right with your arm and only one hand on the handlebars.

                                    • Observing behind you by looking over your shoulder. Mirrors can help, but the shoulder-check is considered a life-saver.

                                    • Knowledge of the rules and rights of way for traffic in your country.

                                    • The ability to do all the above without excessive wobbling or swerving.





                                    share|improve this answer
























                                      up vote
                                      0
                                      down vote













                                      As others have mentioned, practicing in a safe environment without traffic will help you improve your skills.



                                      I think learning the following skills is essential for riding around a city.



                                      • Pedalling standing up for quick acceleration.

                                      • Signalling left and right with your arm and only one hand on the handlebars.

                                      • Observing behind you by looking over your shoulder. Mirrors can help, but the shoulder-check is considered a life-saver.

                                      • Knowledge of the rules and rights of way for traffic in your country.

                                      • The ability to do all the above without excessive wobbling or swerving.





                                      share|improve this answer






















                                        up vote
                                        0
                                        down vote










                                        up vote
                                        0
                                        down vote









                                        As others have mentioned, practicing in a safe environment without traffic will help you improve your skills.



                                        I think learning the following skills is essential for riding around a city.



                                        • Pedalling standing up for quick acceleration.

                                        • Signalling left and right with your arm and only one hand on the handlebars.

                                        • Observing behind you by looking over your shoulder. Mirrors can help, but the shoulder-check is considered a life-saver.

                                        • Knowledge of the rules and rights of way for traffic in your country.

                                        • The ability to do all the above without excessive wobbling or swerving.





                                        share|improve this answer












                                        As others have mentioned, practicing in a safe environment without traffic will help you improve your skills.



                                        I think learning the following skills is essential for riding around a city.



                                        • Pedalling standing up for quick acceleration.

                                        • Signalling left and right with your arm and only one hand on the handlebars.

                                        • Observing behind you by looking over your shoulder. Mirrors can help, but the shoulder-check is considered a life-saver.

                                        • Knowledge of the rules and rights of way for traffic in your country.

                                        • The ability to do all the above without excessive wobbling or swerving.






                                        share|improve this answer












                                        share|improve this answer



                                        share|improve this answer










                                        answered 1 hour ago









                                        James Bradbury

                                        5,13211943




                                        5,13211943




















                                            up vote
                                            0
                                            down vote













                                            For "moving about the city", nothing is as important as safety.



                                            Study something like, Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling -- especially the later pages, which explain how to interact with traffic. Note page 20 (and page 36), for example, which shows how to avoid getting trapped between the curb and vehicle turning right (or in the UK, turning left).



                                            It doesn't tell you everything though, e.g. in the situation on page 21 I'd also want to make eye contact with the driver who is waiting to exit the driveway or the side-road, and (even though I have right of way) not cross in front of them until I had made eye contact.




                                            As a semi-advanced skill, get the kind of cycling shoes which clip to the pedals (and corresponding pedals) -- called "SPD", also confusingly-named "clipless". I have two-sided pedals, one side with a clip receiver for bike shoes, and the other side flat for street shoes.



                                            When learning to use these shoes, you'll fall off: the bike store told me that everyone does -- and I certainly did, when travelling at a speed of zero i.e. when coming to a complete stop at an intersection or destination and forgetting to unclip in time -- so learn to do it on sideroads where you're not in traffic ... and (they said) do it while you're wearing a winter coat (and a helmet of course, and cycling gloves): I found that gives extra padding on arms and hips, which makes a zero-speed fall painless.



                                            Anyway, having feet clipped to the bike eventually helped me feel more 'at one' with or tied to, linked to the bike -- I no longer have to think about keeping my feet on the pedals, and can concentrate on eyes and hands (and ears) instead. It's also more comfortable eventually, e.g. easier to stand on the pedals (like you'd "rise to a trot" on a horse, using stirrups) when going over bumps, or to shift your bum to behind the seat when performing a hard stop or downhill braking (or an emergency brake).




                                            Having equipment might help confidence:



                                            • Effective brakes, front and back. Preferably, very effective brakes (I have and like hydraulic disk brakes, which remain effective even when wet or snowy, downhill in traffic). If yours is an older bike, ask whether you need new brake pads (they, and chains, are consumables).

                                            • Lights (front and back) and reflectors (to the side), especially in winter when the days are short

                                            • Helmet, glasses (with corrective lenses if that's you, otherwise just to keep the wind/dust/insects out of your eyes and to keep you from ever having to squint), gloves (if you fall then you're likely to put your hand on the ground to break your fall, and they absorb some of the vibration of the handle bars)

                                            • I like to have robust tires too, so that the bike isn't fragile (the tires were the least reliable part of my bike until I upgraded them to "Marathon Plus")

                                            • A bell (no good for cars but useful for alerting bikes and pedestrians on a cycle path)

                                            Also, communicate with the traffic around you: use hand signals, and do shoulder-checks.






                                            share|improve this answer


























                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote













                                              For "moving about the city", nothing is as important as safety.



                                              Study something like, Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling -- especially the later pages, which explain how to interact with traffic. Note page 20 (and page 36), for example, which shows how to avoid getting trapped between the curb and vehicle turning right (or in the UK, turning left).



                                              It doesn't tell you everything though, e.g. in the situation on page 21 I'd also want to make eye contact with the driver who is waiting to exit the driveway or the side-road, and (even though I have right of way) not cross in front of them until I had made eye contact.




                                              As a semi-advanced skill, get the kind of cycling shoes which clip to the pedals (and corresponding pedals) -- called "SPD", also confusingly-named "clipless". I have two-sided pedals, one side with a clip receiver for bike shoes, and the other side flat for street shoes.



                                              When learning to use these shoes, you'll fall off: the bike store told me that everyone does -- and I certainly did, when travelling at a speed of zero i.e. when coming to a complete stop at an intersection or destination and forgetting to unclip in time -- so learn to do it on sideroads where you're not in traffic ... and (they said) do it while you're wearing a winter coat (and a helmet of course, and cycling gloves): I found that gives extra padding on arms and hips, which makes a zero-speed fall painless.



                                              Anyway, having feet clipped to the bike eventually helped me feel more 'at one' with or tied to, linked to the bike -- I no longer have to think about keeping my feet on the pedals, and can concentrate on eyes and hands (and ears) instead. It's also more comfortable eventually, e.g. easier to stand on the pedals (like you'd "rise to a trot" on a horse, using stirrups) when going over bumps, or to shift your bum to behind the seat when performing a hard stop or downhill braking (or an emergency brake).




                                              Having equipment might help confidence:



                                              • Effective brakes, front and back. Preferably, very effective brakes (I have and like hydraulic disk brakes, which remain effective even when wet or snowy, downhill in traffic). If yours is an older bike, ask whether you need new brake pads (they, and chains, are consumables).

                                              • Lights (front and back) and reflectors (to the side), especially in winter when the days are short

                                              • Helmet, glasses (with corrective lenses if that's you, otherwise just to keep the wind/dust/insects out of your eyes and to keep you from ever having to squint), gloves (if you fall then you're likely to put your hand on the ground to break your fall, and they absorb some of the vibration of the handle bars)

                                              • I like to have robust tires too, so that the bike isn't fragile (the tires were the least reliable part of my bike until I upgraded them to "Marathon Plus")

                                              • A bell (no good for cars but useful for alerting bikes and pedestrians on a cycle path)

                                              Also, communicate with the traffic around you: use hand signals, and do shoulder-checks.






                                              share|improve this answer
























                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote










                                                up vote
                                                0
                                                down vote









                                                For "moving about the city", nothing is as important as safety.



                                                Study something like, Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling -- especially the later pages, which explain how to interact with traffic. Note page 20 (and page 36), for example, which shows how to avoid getting trapped between the curb and vehicle turning right (or in the UK, turning left).



                                                It doesn't tell you everything though, e.g. in the situation on page 21 I'd also want to make eye contact with the driver who is waiting to exit the driveway or the side-road, and (even though I have right of way) not cross in front of them until I had made eye contact.




                                                As a semi-advanced skill, get the kind of cycling shoes which clip to the pedals (and corresponding pedals) -- called "SPD", also confusingly-named "clipless". I have two-sided pedals, one side with a clip receiver for bike shoes, and the other side flat for street shoes.



                                                When learning to use these shoes, you'll fall off: the bike store told me that everyone does -- and I certainly did, when travelling at a speed of zero i.e. when coming to a complete stop at an intersection or destination and forgetting to unclip in time -- so learn to do it on sideroads where you're not in traffic ... and (they said) do it while you're wearing a winter coat (and a helmet of course, and cycling gloves): I found that gives extra padding on arms and hips, which makes a zero-speed fall painless.



                                                Anyway, having feet clipped to the bike eventually helped me feel more 'at one' with or tied to, linked to the bike -- I no longer have to think about keeping my feet on the pedals, and can concentrate on eyes and hands (and ears) instead. It's also more comfortable eventually, e.g. easier to stand on the pedals (like you'd "rise to a trot" on a horse, using stirrups) when going over bumps, or to shift your bum to behind the seat when performing a hard stop or downhill braking (or an emergency brake).




                                                Having equipment might help confidence:



                                                • Effective brakes, front and back. Preferably, very effective brakes (I have and like hydraulic disk brakes, which remain effective even when wet or snowy, downhill in traffic). If yours is an older bike, ask whether you need new brake pads (they, and chains, are consumables).

                                                • Lights (front and back) and reflectors (to the side), especially in winter when the days are short

                                                • Helmet, glasses (with corrective lenses if that's you, otherwise just to keep the wind/dust/insects out of your eyes and to keep you from ever having to squint), gloves (if you fall then you're likely to put your hand on the ground to break your fall, and they absorb some of the vibration of the handle bars)

                                                • I like to have robust tires too, so that the bike isn't fragile (the tires were the least reliable part of my bike until I upgraded them to "Marathon Plus")

                                                • A bell (no good for cars but useful for alerting bikes and pedestrians on a cycle path)

                                                Also, communicate with the traffic around you: use hand signals, and do shoulder-checks.






                                                share|improve this answer














                                                For "moving about the city", nothing is as important as safety.



                                                Study something like, Ontario’s Guide to Safe Cycling -- especially the later pages, which explain how to interact with traffic. Note page 20 (and page 36), for example, which shows how to avoid getting trapped between the curb and vehicle turning right (or in the UK, turning left).



                                                It doesn't tell you everything though, e.g. in the situation on page 21 I'd also want to make eye contact with the driver who is waiting to exit the driveway or the side-road, and (even though I have right of way) not cross in front of them until I had made eye contact.




                                                As a semi-advanced skill, get the kind of cycling shoes which clip to the pedals (and corresponding pedals) -- called "SPD", also confusingly-named "clipless". I have two-sided pedals, one side with a clip receiver for bike shoes, and the other side flat for street shoes.



                                                When learning to use these shoes, you'll fall off: the bike store told me that everyone does -- and I certainly did, when travelling at a speed of zero i.e. when coming to a complete stop at an intersection or destination and forgetting to unclip in time -- so learn to do it on sideroads where you're not in traffic ... and (they said) do it while you're wearing a winter coat (and a helmet of course, and cycling gloves): I found that gives extra padding on arms and hips, which makes a zero-speed fall painless.



                                                Anyway, having feet clipped to the bike eventually helped me feel more 'at one' with or tied to, linked to the bike -- I no longer have to think about keeping my feet on the pedals, and can concentrate on eyes and hands (and ears) instead. It's also more comfortable eventually, e.g. easier to stand on the pedals (like you'd "rise to a trot" on a horse, using stirrups) when going over bumps, or to shift your bum to behind the seat when performing a hard stop or downhill braking (or an emergency brake).




                                                Having equipment might help confidence:



                                                • Effective brakes, front and back. Preferably, very effective brakes (I have and like hydraulic disk brakes, which remain effective even when wet or snowy, downhill in traffic). If yours is an older bike, ask whether you need new brake pads (they, and chains, are consumables).

                                                • Lights (front and back) and reflectors (to the side), especially in winter when the days are short

                                                • Helmet, glasses (with corrective lenses if that's you, otherwise just to keep the wind/dust/insects out of your eyes and to keep you from ever having to squint), gloves (if you fall then you're likely to put your hand on the ground to break your fall, and they absorb some of the vibration of the handle bars)

                                                • I like to have robust tires too, so that the bike isn't fragile (the tires were the least reliable part of my bike until I upgraded them to "Marathon Plus")

                                                • A bell (no good for cars but useful for alerting bikes and pedestrians on a cycle path)

                                                Also, communicate with the traffic around you: use hand signals, and do shoulder-checks.







                                                share|improve this answer














                                                share|improve this answer



                                                share|improve this answer








                                                edited 9 mins ago

























                                                answered 33 mins ago









                                                ChrisW

                                                8,51064378




                                                8,51064378



























                                                     

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