10 Bad Cycling Habits
Wheel Sucking & Crossing
Oh yes, on the list of bad cycling habits, this is serious.
On the wheel. The only time you should be close behind another rider is in a pace line, where EVERYONE knows how to ride in a paceline. It is not, just drafting behind someone.
This is dangerous. If the person in front of you stops short because he or she does not know you are there, your front wheel with turn and you will go down.
Wheel Crossing. This is when your front wheel is parallel to and alongside the rear wheel of the rider in front of you. Again, if that rider moves into your path, you are going down.
I cannot recall the number of times a rider has told me “I know what I am doing and I am watching you.” My response has always been, “If I, wrongly, pull out of my position without paying attention, for any reason, you may not have time to get out of the way.
Do not assume the other rider is as diligent as you.”
Littering
Fortunately, not a big issue, but I have seen riders discard candy wrappers from time to time. Littering is not only impolite, but it gives motorists more cause to bad mouth.
Breaking Safe Riding Rules
Yeah, well how many times do you need to hear or read them, before you actually pay attention.
From the simple…car back…where people do not single up, to the more important, don’t pass people on the right and if you absolutely must say…in your OUTODOOR VOICE, “On your right”
Need some reminders?
Poor Maintenance
Lubed chain, tuned shifters, functional brakes, good tires, regular cleaning and of course, visual inspection means you will ride safely and your bicycle will be happy to take you wherever you want to go.
Weaving
For goodness sake, when riding with a group STAY IN YOUR LANE unless you first check to make sure no one is in your way.
Knees Out
Not good. Knees should be straight. Read This.
Zoning
On the road you are not riding your bicycle, you are DRIVING your bicycle.
Admittedly, there are times, on a quiet trail or road where out minds just go to enjoying the ride. So maybe, low level zoning works.
But you always need to pay attention to your surroundings.
Headphones
You really can’t hear the outside world as well as you should.
The music may be making you zone out.
From the state laws I have checked, an ear bud in ONE ear is okay.
Complaining
Complaining serves no purpose, except for a real problem, other than to annoy everyone else on the ride.
When riding a road carbon bike, you should relax your whole body, straighten your back, and look straight up (lowering your head and holding your chest will affect your vision, and it is not conducive to breathing, so don’t have bad habits). The hand can be lightly held on almost any part of the handlebar. I feel that it is more comfortable to grasp the middle section, and it is also okay to grasp the brake lever. The proper height of the cushion is such that when the foot is pushed to the lowest point, the foot is level and the knee joint is slightly bent. Sit firmly, sit upright, and don’t dangle or sway when walking straight. And it is also important to pick one from an reliable site: https://lytron-bike.com/