jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Apology's for the long thread, but i think this is important.
I’ve learnt a massive amount about safer, more efficient city cycling from these pages , It’s a great forum and very, very active so there’s always plenty of help and knowledge (and debate) on tap.
However it has taken me a year to learn what I have so far and a lot of that could be summarised (or peculated) into a succinct guide …a bit like an abridged cycle craft for beginners. I also learn new stuff every day (as i have this week)
With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to try and start a TOP 20 CITY CYCLING TIPS section. I’m talking about tips for city commuting in particular (hence not posting this in Beginners and Riding section), this is advice specifically for those COMMUTING on a bike.
I’m not trying to re-write cycle-craft here, rather I envisage a collaboration of ideas on topics and associated advice, succinctly put into short sections that are easy to read and clear to understand.
We don’t seem to have a specific Tips section for city riding, at least not one I have found.
If you are interested, then perhaps you could send me a PM with suggested topic and associated advice (no more than a paragraph or two please).
Once I have received all entrants I can format these and ping them across to admin for them to have the final choice on whose advice “gets in” and whose doesn’t …it is their site after all.
For starters I have thought about the following topics
1. Positions - (Primary, Secondary) What do they mean and when should you consider using them.
2. Traffic Lights – and the A.S.L (or A.S.Z) How to use these safely.
3. Right Turns – How to achieve a safe and efficient right turn in busy traffic.
4. Left Turns – How to “Stay Alive” at junctions and in moving traffic.
5. Roundabouts – How best to “control” a busy roundabout.
6. The hidden perils of the Cycle Lane – Why it is sometimes best to use your own judgement on road position (rather than that of the D.O.T).
7. The art of traffic negotiation – How to communicate and interact with other road users to make your journey safer.
8. Traffic Jamming (threading or weaving)- Can I do this?...how…when.
9. Attitude – The different approaches and attitudes required to ride in the city.
10 Accidents (or collisions)- How best to protect yourself physically during (and .legally after) a collision.
11. Rain- specific skill for riding in the wet.
12. Kit – Some basic suggestions for useful (or essential) city cycle kit.
13. Distance - How far is a long ride and how do you best prepare (mentally and physically).
14. Confrontation – How best to avoid confrontation and enjoy your ride.
15. Which type of bike for the city – The pro’s and con’s of the many varied flavours of bike. (perhaps Andyfromotley can provide a section from his excellent sticky in the beginners and riding section)
There are plenty more “slots” for sections available (and I’m not prescriptive about the ones I have suggested) If I don’t get any offers I shall attempt to write them up myself…but I can't imagine I would do anywhere as well as the rest of you lot, so please…contribute, I think new riders would find this really helpful
You never know, we could actually help to keep someone safe
Please feel free to offer content on as many sections as you wish (perhaps admin will credit the author of each section…so your words will be forever immortalised on the cc pages!!).
PS, WARNING…I’ve read cycle craft, so no cut and paste please!!!
thanks
Jonny
I’ve learnt a massive amount about safer, more efficient city cycling from these pages , It’s a great forum and very, very active so there’s always plenty of help and knowledge (and debate) on tap.
However it has taken me a year to learn what I have so far and a lot of that could be summarised (or peculated) into a succinct guide …a bit like an abridged cycle craft for beginners. I also learn new stuff every day (as i have this week)
With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to try and start a TOP 20 CITY CYCLING TIPS section. I’m talking about tips for city commuting in particular (hence not posting this in Beginners and Riding section), this is advice specifically for those COMMUTING on a bike.
I’m not trying to re-write cycle-craft here, rather I envisage a collaboration of ideas on topics and associated advice, succinctly put into short sections that are easy to read and clear to understand.
We don’t seem to have a specific Tips section for city riding, at least not one I have found.
If you are interested, then perhaps you could send me a PM with suggested topic and associated advice (no more than a paragraph or two please).
Once I have received all entrants I can format these and ping them across to admin for them to have the final choice on whose advice “gets in” and whose doesn’t …it is their site after all.
For starters I have thought about the following topics
1. Positions - (Primary, Secondary) What do they mean and when should you consider using them.
2. Traffic Lights – and the A.S.L (or A.S.Z) How to use these safely.
3. Right Turns – How to achieve a safe and efficient right turn in busy traffic.
4. Left Turns – How to “Stay Alive” at junctions and in moving traffic.
5. Roundabouts – How best to “control” a busy roundabout.
6. The hidden perils of the Cycle Lane – Why it is sometimes best to use your own judgement on road position (rather than that of the D.O.T).
7. The art of traffic negotiation – How to communicate and interact with other road users to make your journey safer.
8. Traffic Jamming (threading or weaving)- Can I do this?...how…when.
9. Attitude – The different approaches and attitudes required to ride in the city.
10 Accidents (or collisions)- How best to protect yourself physically during (and .legally after) a collision.
11. Rain- specific skill for riding in the wet.
12. Kit – Some basic suggestions for useful (or essential) city cycle kit.
13. Distance - How far is a long ride and how do you best prepare (mentally and physically).
14. Confrontation – How best to avoid confrontation and enjoy your ride.
15. Which type of bike for the city – The pro’s and con’s of the many varied flavours of bike. (perhaps Andyfromotley can provide a section from his excellent sticky in the beginners and riding section)
There are plenty more “slots” for sections available (and I’m not prescriptive about the ones I have suggested) If I don’t get any offers I shall attempt to write them up myself…but I can't imagine I would do anywhere as well as the rest of you lot, so please…contribute, I think new riders would find this really helpful
You never know, we could actually help to keep someone safe
Please feel free to offer content on as many sections as you wish (perhaps admin will credit the author of each section…so your words will be forever immortalised on the cc pages!!).
PS, WARNING…I’ve read cycle craft, so no cut and paste please!!!
thanks
Jonny