With more and more people taking up cycling, safety concerns are also on the rise. Cycling is great, but safety always comes first. Here are 10 cycling behaviors you should absolutely avoid—remember them well!
One: Avoid making sudden moves while riding in a group; always maintain steady pedaling and controlled movements.Nothing disrupts the progress of a cycling group more than an impulsive rider. Some cyclists make abrupt moves that endanger everyone’s safety. No matter the situation, maintain smooth actions and stay aware of the road ahead—cycling in a group requires a high level of trust among members.
Two: Never ride with both hands off the handlebars in a group; keep your hands on the brake levers, drops, or the top of the handlebar near the stem at all times.There are several reasons why you should never ride with your hands on the rests: First, you’ll get yelled at by other riders—even though it’s an old issue, many still do it. Second, riding with no hands means relying mostly on your elbows to control the bike, which offers far less stability than having your hands on the grips—and it won’t make you popular in the group. Lastly, if something unexpected happens, your hands will be too far from the brakes, forcing you to quickly sit up and search for them.
Three: Don’t mash the pedals wildly when climbing hills; use gear shifts to maintain a steady effort.You might have cycled like this before—every time you hit a hill, you sprint and lift your butt off the saddle, pedaling like crazy. Not only does this break the flow of the group, it also leaves everyone exhausted.
Four: Don’t stare at the road or obstacles directly ahead; focus on the path your bike is taking.Have you ever seen a big rock ahead, thought you’d avoid it—but ended up hitting it head-on? The reason is simple: your bike goes where your eyes go. If you fixate on an obstacle, your bike will naturally steer toward it. Fighter pilots call this a “visual reference point”—as long as they concentrate on a landmark, they can navigate correctly.
Five: Don’t suddenly stand up when climbing; shift your weight gradually and smoothly off the saddle.When you suddenly stand up to climb, your bike may jerk backward slightly. The right way is to smoothly transition from sitting to standing, shift to a slightly harder gear than when seated, and pedal while rotating your hips upward and forward to lift off the saddle. Let your weight transfer through the pedals while avoiding a death grip on the handlebars.
Six: Don’t tense your upper body and ride like mad; keep your hands, arms, and facial muscles relaxed.Think of your upper body as another suspension system on the bike. Loosen your shoulders and arms to absorb shocks from the road. If you make slight contact while gripping the handlebars tightly, you might accidentally lock the brakes, causing a sudden change that could throw you off balance and lead to a crash.
Seven: Don’t ride alongside the wheel of the cyclist in front; keep one to three feet behind their rear wheel.Most pile-ups or collisions between two bikes occur when one rider’s front wheel is aligned with the rear wheel of the cyclist in front. Always protect your front wheel as if it were your most precious possession—fragile, rare, delicate. Don’t let anything touch it. Your front wheel should be spinning as if inside an invisible force field.
Eight: Don’t stare straight at the rider in front of you; look around at the cyclists you’re following.When you’re tired or struggling, your gaze can become unfocused, fixed only on the rider directly ahead. But if there’s a crash or someone suddenly turns up ahead, you might not notice in time to react. The solution is simple: keep your head up and look past the rider in front so you can see the road ahead, allowing you to react early to any hazards or changes.
Nine: Don’t try to push straight into a headwind.When facing strong headwinds, be smart and steer to the side, waiting patiently for the wind to ease.
Ten: Don’t let gaps form between you and the rider in front; stay close behind their rear wheel.Another simple yet crucial cycling group tip: stick closely to the wheel in front. It’s best to put in a bit of effort to stay smoothly behind the rider ahead, keeping about 150 centimeters of space. Don’t slack off now and then waste more energy later trying to close a 10-20 meter gap. Either put in the effort now, or suffer the consequences later.