[SIZE=8.0pt]Use your head[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Absolutely crucial: always wear a helmet. Of the nation’s 800 annual cycling deaths, head injuries account for about 60%. If all cyclists wore helmets, perhaps half of these deaths and injuries—especially in children—could be avoided. Choose a bright color, and make sure the helmet fits properly. It should sit horizontally on your head and shouldn’t move about.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Do the right thing[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Brake right. To exert optimal pressure, brake with your hands at the ends of the levers. For a quick stop, as you press the brakes firmly, slide your buttocks to the very back of the saddle. This will keep the rear of the bike down so that you don’t flip over the handlebars.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt] On a long downhill, don’t stay on your brakes. That may overheat the tire’s rim and could cause a blowout. It’s safest to “feather brakeâ€â€”that is, tap the brakes, applying intermittent pressure. This is wise in wet weather, too.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Don’t pedal in high gear for long periods. This can increase the pressure on your knees and lead to overuse injuries such as biker’s knee. Shift to lower gears and faster revolutions to get more exercise with less stress on your knees. The best cadence for most cyclists is 60 to 80 revolutions per minute (rpm), though racers pedal in the range of 80 to 100 rpm.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt] Going uphill, shift gears to maintain normal cadence.[/SIZE][SIZE=8.0pt] On a long hill, conserve energy by staying in your seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]When cycling at night or when visibility is poor, wear brightly colored, reflective clothing, and use your headlight. In fact, wearing bright colors is a good idea at any hour. Also consider a rear strobe-type light (attached to the bike or your belt) to enhance visibility at night.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Easy rider[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Make sure your bike fits. Handlebars, saddle, wheels, gears, and brakes can all be adjusted to match your size and riding ability, but the frame has to fit from the start. To find the right frame size, straddle the bike and stand flatfooted: on a road bike, there should be one to two inches of clearance between your groin and the top tube. On a mountain bike, the clearance should be two to three inches or even more.[/SIZE] thanks...
[SIZE=8.0pt]Absolutely crucial: always wear a helmet. Of the nation’s 800 annual cycling deaths, head injuries account for about 60%. If all cyclists wore helmets, perhaps half of these deaths and injuries—especially in children—could be avoided. Choose a bright color, and make sure the helmet fits properly. It should sit horizontally on your head and shouldn’t move about.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Do the right thing[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Brake right. To exert optimal pressure, brake with your hands at the ends of the levers. For a quick stop, as you press the brakes firmly, slide your buttocks to the very back of the saddle. This will keep the rear of the bike down so that you don’t flip over the handlebars.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt] On a long downhill, don’t stay on your brakes. That may overheat the tire’s rim and could cause a blowout. It’s safest to “feather brakeâ€â€”that is, tap the brakes, applying intermittent pressure. This is wise in wet weather, too.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Don’t pedal in high gear for long periods. This can increase the pressure on your knees and lead to overuse injuries such as biker’s knee. Shift to lower gears and faster revolutions to get more exercise with less stress on your knees. The best cadence for most cyclists is 60 to 80 revolutions per minute (rpm), though racers pedal in the range of 80 to 100 rpm.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt] Going uphill, shift gears to maintain normal cadence.[/SIZE][SIZE=8.0pt] On a long hill, conserve energy by staying in your seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]When cycling at night or when visibility is poor, wear brightly colored, reflective clothing, and use your headlight. In fact, wearing bright colors is a good idea at any hour. Also consider a rear strobe-type light (attached to the bike or your belt) to enhance visibility at night.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Easy rider[/SIZE]
[SIZE=8.0pt]Make sure your bike fits. Handlebars, saddle, wheels, gears, and brakes can all be adjusted to match your size and riding ability, but the frame has to fit from the start. To find the right frame size, straddle the bike and stand flatfooted: on a road bike, there should be one to two inches of clearance between your groin and the top tube. On a mountain bike, the clearance should be two to three inches or even more.[/SIZE] thanks...
