On the level, use a gear that gives you a fast comfortable spin (‘cadence’) of around 70-90 rpm. Check ahead and shift into a lower gear well in advance of hills. Always shift into a low, easy gear before you stop. The basic rule is that low gears are for slow speeds, using a small chainring in the front and a large sprocket in the rear. They are much less effective than hand brakes. Also make sure you can stop in a straight line.Ĭoaster brakes are located in the rear hub and applied by pedalling backwards. You will need considerably greater stopping distances during wet conditions. Practice stopping as quickly as you can to get a feel for how much distance is needed at different speeds and under different conditions. It is important to always keep both hands on the handlebars when applying the brakes. This, in addition to using both brakes, will reduce the tendency for the rear wheel to skid and will increase stability. For optimum stopping power, shift your weight towards the rear and try to keep your centre of gravity low and towards the rear wheel. On a bicycle with hand brakes, the front brake accounts for up to 80% of the stopping power during abrupt braking because forward momentum puts most weight over your front wheel. In such cases, it is accepted that safety should prevail and the cyclists’ discretion and skills must be relied upon to avoid incidents or injuries. In the case of an emergency manoeuvre, the need for the cyclist to keep both hands on the handlebars may sometimes outweigh their need to signal. The proper turning sequence is first shoulder check, then a hand signal, and then, with both hands on the handlebars, shoulder check again before making the turn or the stop. Since making a hand signal requires cycling with just one hand on the handlebars, practice doing that while maintaining a straight line. Hand signalsĪlways make hand signals well in advance of any turn, not just when you think they are needed. A mirror does not replace the need to shoulder check in any circumstances. This is not easy at first, but it is a critically important skill in traffic. Also practice cycling in a straight line while looking over your shoulders, both to the right and to the left.
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