In the nearly 20 years that I have been cycling myself, I have been lucky a number of times. Not only have I survived a collision with a car without too much damage. I have also twice done a 360-degree somersault and a fall on gravel without major injuries. One of the reasons I come out of the battle reasonably unscathed is the way I cycle. By not just cycling, but by choosing to 'cycle safely' - an art in itself, especially in the urban jungle. Recent encounters with near misses and falls by others confirm it time and again: safety starts with us, the cyclists, and our interaction with the environment. Here, I share six of my tried and tested tips that will help you reach your destination safe and sound, because 'safe cycling' is more than stupid pedalling; it is ultimately your ticket to a worry-free ride.
1. Look at the eyes of other drivers
This is a tip from an ambulance driver. Many road users, whether in a car or on a bike or scooter, often seem lost in their own world. Distractions lurk - prompted by technology, conversation partners, or complex navigation instructions. The result? A world where an accident can happen in a split second. The solution can be surprisingly simple: make eye contact. When driving behind a car, look for the driver's gaze. If you need to give or get the right of way, make sure the other person has seen you. In doubt? Reduce your speed and be ready to brake. 'Cycling safely' means being proactive - because, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
2. Reduce your speed drastically in built-up areas
In the city of Utrecht, my home town, cycling is at an advantage. Wide cycle paths and good opportunities to get out of the city quickly. But certainly many accidents involving cyclists also happen in Utrecht. The wide cycle path near Tivoli Vredenburg is a good example. Everyone is in a hurry and wants to overtake, which causes dangerous antics by other road users. If you ride your road bike or gravel bike in the city, adapt to other traffic. Especially if someone has headphones on, they won't hear or see you, even if you ring your fancy bell very loudly. So, 15 or 20 kilometres an hour, but better that than riding with a folded bike in an ambulance.
3. Dodging tractors and other work vehicles
On my most recent drive, I saw it. A tractor that had to drive on a service road because the tractor was not allowed on the provincial road. A cyclist behind it who couldn't get rid of his irritation. At the last moment, he goes past and then overlooks the bollard on the road. Boom, pats, fall. Shoulder pain and broken morale as a result. Again, just stay behind this vehicle, make sure the driver sees you and if you pass, make sure you have enough space and know what is coming in front of you. If you don't know that well, then it's better to just stay behind it. Breathe in, breathe out and you can usually move on quickly.
4. Visible by lighting, also during the day
Especially during the winter period, daytime light is moderate. Clothing manufacturers also often choose to use dark colours in the winter collection process. (Tip: Etxeondo has nice bright colours. So always visible!) Result: cyclists are poorly visible. It is therefore advisable, especially in winter, to cycle with lights during the day too. This can be done with a simple rear light that lights up when you brake, or with a small front light. This does not have to be a construction lamp, but the small lights from the HEMA are not what you want. This SIGMA combination is very nice and provides ideal visibility. It makes safe cycling a lot easier.
Read also: Looking for Lights: A Guide to Using Lights on your Road or Gravel Bike in Autumn and Fall
5. Learn to ride in a group
Riding in a group is a skill. Too often I see people riding in a group who are not used to it, but also think they are riding in the Tour de France. They are also often men I must admit. So what do you get? Unsafe crossing, forgetting to signal, leaving too much or too little space, suddenly riding in the middle of the group with hands loose or making unexpected movements. The pro peloton, or any peloton at all, is a group that can ride together because there are unwritten rules. Because people know what happens and how they react. If you ride in a group and you don't know each other, you have to be more careful and agree good rules beforehand. Then you usually get home safer.
6. Check your bike before you leave
In October, we had a crash in our group. That can happen, only for me the feeling still prevails that we could have avoided it. Why? One of the bike's brakes wasn't adjusted quite right. Too little braking power. We could have adjusted that at the shop, but yes, speed, hurry, 'no sense'. That's why it's good to do some basic checks beforehand:
- Are your brakes doing well? That means you can't squeeze the brake handle all the way to the handlebars and that your wheel stops immediately when you brake. So also check whether the brake pads still have enough rubber.
- Headset check: squeeze your brakes and push your bike forward when standing still. Do you feel any play? Then your headset is loose. So tighten it
- Tyre check: take a quick run with your hand to check your tyres. Are there any braking surfaces on them? Or do you happen to see a piece of glass? Just change them. Also make sure you have the right tyre pressure
- Can you still shift gears well enough? Is it running smoothly or is it ticking? If you can't shift properly, the chances of a descending chain are higher. Especially in a group, a greater risk of falling.
BONUSTIP: ALWAYS wear a helmet
This tip should be superfluous, but certainly on a road bike but also in the woods on a gravel bike, a helmet is mandatory as far as I am concerned. Even with a helmet on, you can still hurt your head considerably, suffer a concussion or similar. Without a helmet, I really don't want to know what your head looks like after an intense hug with a tree or with the tarmac. A helmet has saved me several times. A helmet is personal, so get good advice. Rather have one that is 15 grams heavier but fits nicely than the latest trendy model.
