Bike Safety Equipment To Use When Riding A Bike

Riding a bike has plenty of benefits. Apart from being simply “fun”, cycling is a great activity for bonding with friends, losing or maintaining weight, and biking from place to place is an eco-friendly way of traveling short to medium distances, especially since the cost of gas keeps going up.

A crucial aspect of biking on roads and streets is safety. Plenty of accidents are met by bike riders each year, and those that do not use safety equipment when they use their bikes compromise their safety. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute  reports that in 2009 alone, 51,000 bicyclists incurred injuries on the road, and so even if it is not required by law for you to wear safety equipment when riding your bike, it simply makes sense to be proactive about your own safety. Consider the biking gear for safety below when you are thinking about buying a bicycle:

Bicycle helmet

Using a helmet is necessary and required by law in some states and countries, while not in others. No matter the case, it makes sense to wear a helmet to keep your head protected from injuries, in case of an accident and you are thrown off your bike. Helmets are absolutely crucial for safety - not just for kids or motorcyclists.

Bright clothing and reflective stickers

Articles of clothing that are bright or reflective make it easier for vehicle drivers to spot you on the road or see you, even from a good distance. This is especially something to consider if you always ride your bike at night, or in areas where lighting is poor or minimal. Reflective stickers work similarly in that they catch the attention of motorists.

Trouser clips

Otherwise known as bicycle or bike clips, trouser clips are tiny metal pieces in the shape of a horseshoe. These are for those that ride their bikes while wearing trousers or pants, and these are especially made for stopping the bottom portion of the trousers from flapping about and getting hooked on the crank mechanism or chain. This handy biking equipment is also great for keeping your trousers safe from the oil on your bike chain.

Safety flags

These flags work just like reflective clothing, and are mostly made out of bright-colored materials. Since the flags are light in weight, they tend to flap around as you ride your bike, so drivers can easily see you on the road, even from a distance.

Bike safety light

At night, it is very useful to have a bike light, both for the purpose of giving you a light source so you see what is in front of you, and also to catch the attention of a motorist, to avoid accidents (especially when this is installed around the back portion of the bike, too). In the US, these are legally required when riding bikes on the road during the nighttime.

As well as making sure you have all the right equipment you should also make sure your bike is properly maintained for safety.  That includes check the gears, bike brakes and other parts of the bike to make sure they are in perfect working order.

The Guide To Bicycle Brakes

Mountain bike brakes are crucial to safety, especially when riding a bike in uneven terrain, or areas with a lot of slopes. In fact, brakes for bikes can make all the difference, and inefficient brakes are a safety hazard. Brakes serve to decrease the speed of a bike or to allow it to come to a halt, and the 3 different brakes available for bikes are drum brakes, disc brakes and rim brakes. Spoon brakes were first used for high wheel bikes in the 1800’s, but these are deprecated and have not been used for many decades. It is important when buying a bike that you take the braking system into consideration.

Disc brakes

These are mostly found in more modern mountain bikes, and these are specifically created to allow a bike to slow down or come to a halt more effectively, especially compared to rim brakes. Even in difficult situations or complex terrain, this type of brakes has proven to work well, mostly because they are directly connected to the very part of the bike that is responsible for the bike’s motion: its wheels. This way, the bike also stays dry and safe from elements that can damage it. Still, using disc brakes has its downside. These brakes are not as affordable or light as other types of breaks, such as rim brakes. Maintenance for disc brakes also requires additional effort, particularly with hydraulic types, which function by injecting brake fluid by way of a hose or line, so the pads press together. Getting the right bicycle gear is very important so choosing brakes wisely.

Drum brakes

This type of bike brakes are used on both front hubs and hubs that have freewheels outside, as well as inside. The majority of systems that use drum brakes are controlled using a rod or cable, and this type of brakes is regularly used for utility bikes such as velomobiles and freight bikes, in many places like the Netherlands. These breaks are heavy-duty and very effective, whether riding on a wet road or otherwise. However, like disc brakes, they are rather heavy compared to other brake types, and not as hard-wearing as rim breaks.  The upside to using them is that it does not take a lot to maintain them.

Rim brakes

Finally there are rim brakes, which are popular because they are heavy-duty and affordable. These use friction pads to curb the speed of a rolling wheel, in the process decreasing the bike’s speed. Cork, rubber or leather are among the materials used for brake pads, and the brake pads work by pulling levels on the handlebars. Apart from the abovementioned, rim brakes are powerful and easy to maintain. They are also light and their mechanism is not complicated. However, the thing to know about rim brakes is that they don’t work as well on wet surfaces, but this is not much of an issue with rims that use aluminum, compared to those that use chromed or steel rims.


Bicycle brakes are probably the most important part of all bike safety equipment so make sure you choose the right system for your needs and keep them properly maintained.

The Guide To The Best Bicycle Gear

Bike gear is a crucial part of cycling, especially for more serious cyclists. In determining what gear to get when you are buying a bike, you will need to find out several things. Consider your cycling style, habits or plan; the legal gear that is required for you to wear when you use your bike; as well as the bike safety equipment to get depending on the weather, since the clothing to wear on a cold or hot day will differ. The best way to find out what gear is perfect for you can also be found by doing some research, asking employees working at a local bike shop, or asking an online seller for bikes and bike equipment.

Cycling Safety

For safety reasons, some gear is necessary for cyclists to wear. In many states in the US and other countries, bike riders are required to wear a helmet, so in the event of an accident on the road, they are kept safe and protected. There are states wherein a minimum age is required for this. The thing to bear in mind is that even though it is not mandatory to wear a helmet when riding your bike, it is just being smart to keep your head protected when you set out to ride your bike. A helmet can be the very thing that saves your life, be it while biking on a road or on the street, in case you find yourself in an accident.

Another thing that can keep you safe from accidents is reflective gear. Reflective shoes, clothes and other items you wear when biking at night or when the sun has gone down works by catching the attention of a vehicle driver. It serves to notify a driver that you are there, because otherwise, you may not easily be seen, especially at night, and if you are a good distance from the driver.

For added protection to your eyes, you may want to wear safety goggles. Half-finger gloves can also protect your hands from blisters and abrasions.

Cycling Style

How, when and the length of time you ride your bike mostly defines your cycling style. There are street bikers, those that cycle for weight loss, casual bike riders and the like. No matter what your cycling style is, there are appropriate articles of clothing for you. It can be very comfy to wear cycling shorts of excellent quality, especially if you will be riding your bike for a good distance. The best type to get would be one with some padding around the butt, so you experience comfort, especially when riding longer distances.

Weather

On a hot day, you may want to consider wearing cycling jerseys that are sleeveless, with your cycling shorts, and perhaps a heavy-duty vented helmet, to allow your skin to breathe. On colder days of the year, you could want long sleeve cycling jerseys, as well as a pair of cycling tights, which covers more skin than cycling shorts.  If it is raining be especially cautious and remember to test your bike brakes at regular intervals.