GEARED TO RIDE By Shane ‘Rossey’ Ross
Hey bike fans, Rossey here again with some more on ‘Riding Strategies’.
Apart from rain, there are a number of other situations where you need the tools to avoid certain risks. Like riding at night, heavy or congested traffic, inexperience, unfamiliar roads, group riding and rural roads.
In all of these situations, there are a lot of reasons why risk is increased, such as nighttime, you have reduced vison, additional load on concentration, and your eyes take time to adjust. In heavy congested traffic, you have traffic constantly moving and changing lanes, stopping suddenly, and yes… greater levels of fatigue, frustration and impatience, sometimes leading to road rage.
With inexperience, its obvious. You have not yet mastered the skills of riding, you may have poor concentration and you might focus on tasks not yet automated, such as looking down to cancel your indicators. In unfamiliar areas, your concentration will be taken up with navigating, and there will be unexpected hazards and road features.
On group rides, you might experience some peer pressure, someone demanding you keep up with the group, and there are a range of differing skill levels, which causes differing concentration and fatigue levels. Rural roads have concealed driveways and high-speed curves and watch out for those hazards that jump out in front of you, and I’m not talking about trees. And those pesky hopping hazards can also become roadkill.
So… how do we eliminate these risks? Well, simply plan to not ride at night, avoid heavy and congested traffic, avoid unfamiliar areas on the bike by using other forms of transportation to recon the area, or go the way you know. Don’t group ride if you’re new to riding, but if you need the experience, there are some great groups that you can ride with that respect your skill level.
Ok… now let’s say you have no choice, and you can’t avoid these situations. There are strategies you can use to reduce the risk of a crash with these simple tasks:
1. Reduce your speed, in every one of these situations, reducing speed provided more time to react to avoid hazards.
2. Increase your crash avoidance space from the vehicle in front, once again giving you more time to react.
3. Allow more time for your journey, so you don’t have to rush, which increases impatience and causes you to take unnecessary risks.
4. If you are inexperienced, practice controls, limit riding to areas within your skill level, and gradually increase ride duration and frequency.
5. Plan your trip in detail, so you limit your navigation, and you’re aware of the roads you’re riding.
6. With group riding, find out the destination so you’re not forced to keep up with the more experienced riders, and assess and manage riding motivation and behaviors. And…
7. Treat every corner like it’s the first time you’ve ridden it, as road surfaces change with every weather event, not to mention that poor guy who no longer has that spring in his step.
Please remember, every ride brings new challenges, so be aware, be alert, plan and scan and keep your head up and eyes level. Reduce your speed, increase your crash avoidance space, and continue observing the road. As I always say, stay shiny side up and ride your own ride. I’m Rossey, and I’m going to get you ‘Geared to Ride’!
