Biking is a growing pastime and many are even replacing their
cars with bicycles as their commuter vehicle. Biking is a good
way to stay active and healthy but it is important that you also
stay safe. Here are the 10 most common safety equipment items
available for your bicycle.
1. Helmet
Helmets are the #1 safety piece of equipment sold for bicycles.
Research has shown that wearing a bike helmet can save your
life in an accident and riders are listening. For those that
don't think anything could happen to them are wrong! In most
places, it is illegal to ride without a helmet and you can face
fines, but smart bikers don't need the law to tell them that
a helmet is an important safety item.
2. Gloves
Gloves serve many purposes. First they will protect your hands
should you wipe out on the pavement. They also will protect
your hands from compression stress from the handlebars on long
rides and keep your hands warm if you cycle in the winter. They
are also useful for wiping bits off your tires.
3. Mouthguards
Although not used as often as in other sports they are a good
protector for cyclists as well. Blows to the chin can do a lot
more damage than breaking your teeth. The energy from the impact
to the jaw can travel right to the brain and produce the same
effects as a concussion. Using a good mouthguard protects you
from such injuries by stabilizing the jaw.
4. Body Armor
To date, there is no real good full body armor that will absorb
energy during an impact. Most of the body armor on the market
is designed to spread the effect of hitting a sharp object,
however it is improving over time. Shin and knee armor does
protect again high speed collisions, while the newest body armor
can protect against broken ribs or vertebrae so improvements
are being made. Body armor is an absolute necessity if you are
involved in extreme biking sports.
5. Flags
A flag can help you stand out in a crowd, or more specific in
traffic. They provide increased visibility and are used regularly
by long distance tour cyclists. They are easy to find and there
is a good selection of styles and high visibility colors
6. Lights
Even if you are not going to be riding at night, there is always
a chance you may get caught out at night or find yourself caught
in a dark and dreary rainstorm. You need to have a headlight
on your bike because no reflective device can achieve the same
visibility as a headlight can. You should also install a blinking
rear light that helps identify a bike as a bike. Don't venture
out until you have proper lighting on your bike.
7. Horns
The horn is one safety device that you can choose to add or
omit. Your voice can do just as good a job of warning a motorist
or pedestrian of a problem. In fact it may be able to do a better
job because your holler is directly related to the situation.
But if you travel on busy trails that hold both cyclists and
pedestrians, you may want to add a bell to your bike to warn
pedestrians rather than spending your whole trip warning with
words.
8. Reflective Markings
Reflective markings are a way to gain visibility at an affordable
price. You should put reflective strips on yourself and wear
a reflective vest at all times when you are cycling after dark.
9. Toe Clips Toe clips can all be used to make sure your foot
does not slip off the pedal. Many bike accidents are a result
of a riders foot slipping off the pedal at the wrong time. Toe
clips can eliminate that worry.
10. Tires
You may not think of your tires as a safety item but they are.
All tires are not created equal in the way that they adhere
to the road. Just as vehicle tires are built for a variety of
road conditions so are bicycle tires. Choose a tire that is
appropriate for the type of riding you are doing.
Biking is a fun and enjoyable sport and a leisure activity. But
it is only fun if nobody gets hurt. Choose the correct safety
equipment and enjoy years of injury free biking!
