Cycling safety is not only about preserving your body, but enjoy peace of mind while riding,you can't fully enjoy your ride when you have to worry about accidents, right?
We listed 3 important things you should pay attention to, in order to prevent injuries.
1. Wear the right equipment
- Helmet: This one should be obvious, but you’d be amazed about how many cyclists simply refuse to wear a helmet. A helmet can not only prevent a fatal injury but reduce wind resistance and improve your performance.
- Lights: Bike lights should ideally be used night and day to make you more visible to cars. Many cyclists believe you don't need to use lights during the day, however according to research, using lights during the day can reduce the chance of accidents from 30 to 50 percent.
- Cycling Glasses: Many people don’t know about this, but not wearing a pair of protective glasses while cycling can put your eyes in serious danger. It is not uncommon to find reports of cyclists that got hit in the eye by flying insects or debris. A pair of cycling glasses will also shield your eyes against wind and improve your vision.
2. Don't push yourself too hard
As we cycle more, our muscles get fatigued and we tend to slouch adopting bad posture habits. Pushing past your limits more than you should also puts stress on your joints which can lead to injuries. Here are some of the areas that commonly get injured and what you can do about it:
- Lower Back: One of the main reasons cyclists get pain in this area is due to weak abs. Strengthening your abs will not only protect your spine but improve your performance.
- Knees: Don’t overstress your knees, gradually build strength and remember to align your knees with the pedals correctly.
- Shoulder: Remember to bend your elbows, that way your arms can absorb the impact of the road putting less stress on your shoulders.
3. Choose the right bike for you
Riding a bicycle that is not properly fit for you can in the long run cause a lot of problems.
- Saddle: Setting the right saddle height is one of the most important things you can do to prevent injuries. You can do this by sitting on your bike, and seeing if your heels make contact with the pedal while you cycle. If you have to sway your hips, the sit is too high. At the bottom position, there should be a small bend in your knee.
- Handlebar: You should set your handlebar height in a way that makes it easy for you to always bend your elbows. If you have a lot of flexibility you can ride a lower handlebar for longer, but that’s not the case for everybody, so setting the handlebar higher may be better for comfort and longer rides.
Also, remember always to follow traffic rules and pay attention to the transit. This post is only educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional.
Make sure to consult your personal physician to determine what's is best for your particular situation.