Home Community Forum 🏠

Bike Handling Skills

When  I first started riding years ago I joined a local cycle club and learned to ride with them. Learned all the rules and how to ride in a pace line and how to handle my bike. When ever I am with someone who is new I talk to them about learning the rules and how to be safe.

 

Fast Forward to today, went riding with my tri club for the first time in a long time, we head out and there is a guy there who is going hard like me working the train, and all is well. Until he has to take his hand of his bike, Yikes is all I can say he almost ran me into a ditch with his swerving. At first thought well we all have lapses until he keeps doing it, the dude can't ride a straight line with a hand off his bike. Well after a few near misses with me, I polietly drop back and give him enough room so he won't take me out.

For all you riders out there learn how to handle your bike, go to a local bike club ride and work with them most will help you out. And when you are out on your own practice, looking over your shoulder, hands off the bike etc. Also there is no need to yell out car when its a 1/2 mile away on  side street.

Glad I survived the ride

 

One good note though, a few of the people I was riding with came back and said they had to drop back as I was riding to fast for them.

Comments

  •  Couldn't you just have had him arrested for swerving?  Maybe call ahead and have your boys set up a check point and then single him out for a field test.  For sure had probable to assume he was drunk right?

  • Just put your shoulder down and give him a good nudge when he swerves over next time. When I did "class" to learn to ride the track they had us ride like 50 yards leaning on each other. It was on grass and at low speed, but good practice for the close quarters on the boards. Oh yeah, and of course back in my messenger days we used to play crash up derby riding from bar to bar at high speeds on single speeds. It's surprising how much contact you can incur without going down when you're expecting it...and half in the bag.
Sign In or Register to comment.