A Beginner’s Guide For Biking: The A to Z of Biking Safety

Biking is fun, and it is the best getaway for anyone who enjoys riding them. Cycling may seem simple for many, especially those trying to learn cycling. It may probably seem like all you have to do is just pedal! However, it can also be intimidating to some who have never ridden a bicycle in quite a long time. To make your biking adventure more pleasant and less troublesome. There are certain things that you need to know before buying or riding a bicycle. Don’t worry, and we have got you.

In this article, we have introduced a few of the things that are important to ride your bike with confidence and the safety precautions you need whether you are riding your bicycle for a short distance as a regular activity or you are deciding to use the bike for a trip down to the hills.

1. The first important thing that you must do is choosing the right type of bicycle. While buying a new bicycle there are certain things you should consider, firstly is the type of road you want to use your bicycle to ride on. Choosing a bicycle that is lightweight and can be easily accessible is very important. Just like the perfect shoe size, an ideal bicycle is also essential.
   
   Also while looking for a bicycle, it is necessary to buy a bicycle that can fit in your budget and for this you might want to consider why you are purchasing the bike which includes for long-distance travel, or a bike race or just for exercising hence, knowing why you want to ride should be the enough for you to purchase a perfect bike.
2. Getting a bicycle is just the start of the journey. Hence, you might need specific tools or essentials to carry with you while riding a bike. Don’t be careless and this is not important, because you might be risking your life if not. First and foremost, buying or investing in a good safety helmet is very important. The helmet should always be worn while riding the bicycle as it protects your skull during any mishaps. Consider buying a new helmet with a new bike as these helmets will be made with the guidance of new United States safety standards. You could choose to buy a cycling kit which has all the essential things required.

   The kit may include some comfortable pair of clothing that is used for cycling. While purchasing any cloth for riding a bicycle, it’s essential to check the material of the fabric and does it help in regulating your body temperature. Using shoes is always preferred over flats as they give you the desired grip on your shoe.

3. To avoid any sort of accidents and other unfortunate events while traveling a long distance. It is essential to carry specific tools.
4. Some bikers like to ride light, with minimal Gear in their way to impair their vision. What should you bring.
5. A Multitool is a multifunction tool as light as they come and can do almost anything on your bike.
6. Take a minimum of two tire levers made of plastic.
7. If you don’t want to carry a spare inner tube, make sure your tube repair kit/tubeless repair kit has emergency repair patches. Purchase some that don’t need to be adhered to.
8. CO2 canister – use a CO2 Kit instead of a bike pump to save weight and get your Tire pumped in seconds.
9. If one of the links of your chain breaks, a quick chain link acts as a replacement. Quick links have the benefit of weighing nothing and requiring no tools to set up.

If you are using your bicycle for a long trip and the journey is long, it is essential to carry all basic tools that might be required during the journey; we have listed a few of them:

1. If you’re mechanically inclined, you could utilize these if you like to carry a lot of spare parts and tools to help you get out of a jam.
2. A multitool with 20 or more capabilities, such as a chain breaker, spoke tool, and bottle cap opener, will cover almost every part and bolt on your bike.
3. You should carry three tire levers with you. Some tires are noted for being stubborn, and as a result, one of the tire levers can break. This way, you’ll have a spare.
4. Extra tube and tube repair kit – We usually suggest carrying only one spare tube, but if you’re having an awful day and have two flats tires, it’s nice to have some patches on hand as well. These kits are specifically designed for your tires and are of great help.
5. This option might cause a slight inconvenience to you, but it’s your choice if you want to carry them. Using a Bike pump instead of a CO2 canister is much easier as you can use it unlimited times.
6. If you have a bike with French valves instead of American valves, you can carry the valve adapter with you.
7. Cable ties are a great tool that one can use for repairs.
8. In any case, if you suddenly crash your rear derailleur on a rock or someplace. You can carry some spare Derailleurs hanger, and your bike can start working flawlessly back again.
9. While traveling long distances, it is essential to take some common Over Counter medication like painkillers and a small first aid box.
10. Carrying a spare Disc Brake pad is also helpful if you plan to visit a place during monsoon season.

But these are long-term safety tools that you need to carry along with you when you travel. What if you want to travel somewhere near where you reside? There are still certain precautions you need to consider before starting your journey, whether the distance is small or huge. Taking precautions is always better and preferable to avoid accidents.

• Brakes: squeeze the brakes of your bicycle before you set out. Do this a couple of times. If you are using an old bike, you haven’t used in a long time, it’s better to get your bicycle checked by the mechanic.
• Gears: you can keep going up and down the Cassette. If it works smoothly, your Gear is in good condition.
• Tires: before you set out, check your Tire. Do you need to fill it with gas, or is the Tire punctured? You can check the top of the type and know.
• Steering: If you find any restriction in the movement of your steering when you move your bicycle left and right, then it’s a problem. Keep both of your wheels on the ground and hold onto your front brake and try to move your bike in the forward direction. We need a rock-solid feeling, meaning your bike shouldn’t move.
• Check whether your wheels are correctly installed or not.