Are you an avid biker? Do you love to get on your bike and just go around town enjoying the view and getting a good workout? Well, we cannot blame you! After all, biking is one of the best cardio exercises that can help you lose weight, boost your endurance and stamina. The amazing sights you see is just a bonus, right?
But no matter how fantastic and beneficial biking can be, we cannot deny the fact that it does come with some hazards. To help keep you safe on the road, we have enumerated the most common hazards bikers usually encounter and a few tips on how to avoid them. Here they are:
1.) Gravelly Roads
Not all roads are paved and smooth. Even in big cities, there is a chance that you will encounter biking roads that are riddled with plenty of gravel and rocks. When going through this type of road, your number one problem would be finding the right balance. According to experts, the best way to stay balanced in such types of roads is to maintain your speed and use it as a propulsion to keep balance and stability.
2.) Blind Spots
These are also known as blind turns. It would be a lot easier for you to stay safe when going in a blind turn if you are driving a car. After all, you just need to keep your headlights on the highest setting or blow your horn. But in the case of a biker, it is not that simple. When turning through a blind curve, you can keep yourself safe by staying closest to the inner lane of the turn. You can also put one foot on the ground so you can control your speed.
3.) Wet Road
We are all aware of how challenging and dangerous it is to drive when it is raining so can you imagine how much more difficult it can be for bikers? You are at most risk during the first few minutes of rainfall riding because the oil residue from cars creates a slick film that makes the road slippery. When turning, it is necessary that you apply greater pressure on lowered part of your outer pedal. This will cause your tires to grip the road as much as it can.
4.) Potholes
Avoiding these potholes is easy since you just have to swerve to avoid them. However, if you are driving in traffic or you are in the middle of the group, this may not be an option. The best thing that you can do is to lightly roll your wheels over the pothole. You can do that by pulling up on your handlebar while you lift your feet while placing your pedals parallel on the road.
5.) Parallel Cracks
These can be a great nuisance to your wheels because they have the tendency to shred their skin or rubber when they get caught in these cracks. To go through a parallel crack without having a flat tire, all you need to do is to slightly lean your bike towards the damaged pavement. Once you are near the crack, pop the front wheel sideways.
6.) Visibility
As compared to cars, bikes are a lot harder to spot on the road. After all, they do not have the headlights and taillights as big as those you can see in cars. This is most especially true if you are riding in a gray pavement. This is actually the biggest cause of biking accidents. To remedy this, it is recommended that you avoid biking too fast, especially in quiet streets. More than that, it is also wise that you install headlights and taillights along with some reflective stickers on your bike. Wearing reflective gear will also make you visible to other drivers on the road.
Biking may be one of the most enjoyable and efficient cardio exercises out there but it does come with a few dangers. Because of this, it is necessary to you use the right type of road bike, wear some protective gears and carry out safety precautions when biking.
Put into practice the safety tips we have mentioned above and rest assured—you can avoid the common biking road hazards that you might encounter along the way!
