**Always, Always, Always wear a helmet !!!!!
**Be a defensive cyclist. By scanning the road ahead & from side to side, you will be able to see what’s coming up. Be alert for driver-side car doors being opened, cars entering the road from driveways, & cars turning without using their turn signal. Make eye contact with drivers & expect them to do the unexpected. Pay attention.
**Watch for cracks in the road. If they run in the same direction as you are going, they can catch your wheel & down you’ll go. Ride over it at a 45-90 degree angle quickly & you should avoid a fall.
**Railroad tracks must be respected! Ride over them at an angle (90 degrees), cross ways. Sometimes you are able to ride directly over them by rising slightly out of the saddle & squaring yourself up to them. It is a good idea to ride slowly over tracks. They can be very rough & have gaps between them.
**Gravel or dirt can make your wheel slip & slide (like you were walking on marbles). It is not a good idea to make sharp turns or quick moves when there is debris on the road. This is another good reason to pay attention. Often times, there is gravel on the shoulder of a road where a side street or driveway exists. If riding on a shoulder or in a bike lane & you anticipate gravel or debris ahead, check the road behind you, signal, then move into the traffic lane until you are through the debris. It is better to have the cars going slowly behind you than to try & ride through it.
**When the road gets bumpy; try standing out of the saddle. Keep your knees & elbows bent to act as shock absorbers. It might take some time to develop this skill, but it is necessary to know, in order to learn more advanced cycling skills.
**HYDRATE! Find what is right for you & stick with it (do not try a new type of drink on the day of a “big ride”). This may take some time, as there are many sport drinks & juices on the market. Whatever it is you choose, start drinking before you get thirsty. Make it a habit to take a drink every 15 – 20 minutes you ride (more often if it's hot). If you have trouble remembering to drink, when someone else takes a drink, you do likewise.
**EAT! Like drinking, going without food when you ride can & most likely will cause you to BONK (become very fatigued). Your body burns approximately 300-800 calories an hour when cycling (depending on how heavy you are and how hard you're riding). This is a lot of calories over the course of a long ride. Any ride over 1 hr. in time should include something to munch on. Again, as with sport drinks, be aware of the contents of what “bars” or “gels” you are eating so as to avoid any unexpected consequences (i.e. allergic reactions).
