Traffic Skills 101 Chris Gist, LCIMac Lafferty, LCI.

Traffic Skills 101

Chris Gist, LCI Mac Lafferty, LCI

Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated

as drivers of vehicles.

1. Saddle2. Seat Post3. Seat stay4. Brake5. Rear derailleur6. Chain stay7. Chain8. Cranks9. Pedal10. Front derailleur11. Seat tube12. Down tube13. Top tube14. Stem15. Headset16. STI dual function brake and shift lever17. Fork18. Rim19. Tire20. Tire valve

Getting Started: Buying a Bike• How much to spend?• What am I going to use my bike for?• How fit am I?• Where will I ride?• What kind of terrain will I be riding? How hilly is it?• Will I need carrying capacity?• Will I ride with a group?• Do I want to ride off-road?• Toy store, warehouse store, discount store?

The basic qualities of a good bike that will serve you well for many miles:

• Wheels – Aluminum rims, stainless steel spokes

• Frame – Strong, but light: steel, aluminum, titanium or carbon fiber

• Bearings – Sealed for long life and ease of maintenance

• Brakes – Powerful and easy to use• Shifters – indexed and at your fingertips

Getting Started: Opportunity Cost

Strength

Weight

Cost

Getting Started: Bike Types: Mountain

Getting Started: Bike Types: Road

Getting Started: Bike Types: Hybrid

=Getting Started: Bike Types: Commuter

Getting Started: Bike Types: Recumbent

Getting Started: Bike Types: Designed for women

Getting Started: Bike Fit

Getting Started: Saddle HeightWith the ball of the foot on the pedal, there

should be a slight bend in the knee when the pedal is at the very bottom of the pedal stroke. If your hips rock when pedaling, the seat is too high.

Getting Started: Saddle AngleThe saddle should be flat.

With horizontal pedals, front of knee should be directly over middle of pedal.

Getting Started: Saddle fore/aft

Getting Started: Saddle Type

A saddle should support your pelvic bones and be narrow enough to prevent chafing.

Getting Started: Handlebars

Getting Started: Brake Lever Position

Handlebar Stem

Length and rise should be determined by riding style. Generally, longer and lower for more aggressive riders, shorter and higher for more relaxed riding.

Getting Started: Pedals

Getting Started: Cranks

Getting Started: Helmet

• Try on several in the store• Position – Level• Fit – Snug, Bend over test• Straps – Y under the ear, Tight• Do not use crashed helmets

Getting Started: Other Equipment

• Gloves• Cycling Shoes• Cycling Shorts, tights• Cycling Jersey • Rain Gear• Cold Weather Gear• Glasses• Locks• Lights• Hydration System – Bottles, Camelback

Getting Started: ABC Quick Check

• A is for Air• B is for Brakes• C is for Cranks, Chain,

Cassette (Drive train)• Quick is for quick releases• Check is for a brief, slow ride to

test shifting, brakes and everything elseis working properly

Getting Started: Road Tools• Minimal

– Tube and/or repair kit– Tire levers– Pump and/or power inflator– 4, 5 & 6mm Hex Wrench

• Useful– Multi tool– Chain tool– Extra spoke– Tape

• Safety– ID– First Aid– Change– Dollar Bill – Phone

Getting Started: Tire Repair

Presta Schrader

TeethCogs

LOW GEAR (move chain to extreme left)

HIGH GEAR (move chain to extreme right)

Rear (cassette) Front (chainrings)

Getting Started: Gearing

CHAIN

Front CHAINRINGS (Teeth: 52 48 24)

Rear CASSETTE5 Cogs

Teeth: 14 17 21 26 32


Most Riding:


Uphill:

•Easy Pedal•Low Gear•Left Position


Downhill:

•Hard Pedal•High Gear•Right Position


DON”T:DON”T:OR


General Rules• Most often keep chain on MIDDLE chainring• Shift only when pedalling• Don’t push hard on pedals when shifting• Shift rear derailleur: – Going uphill (or against wind) ------- Left– Going downhill (speed increases) -- Right– Big uphill coming up:

• Shift front chainring – Left• Shift before being on hill


LOW GEAR (move chain to extreme left)

Rear (cartridge) Front

22 teeth30 teeth


Bicycle Gear RatiosLOW GEAR

• A typical bicycle has wheels that are 26 inches in diameter.

• The "lowest" gear ratio on the bike might be a front chain wheel with 22 teeth and a rear gear having 30 teeth.

• A gear ratio of 0.73-to-1 (22/30) means that for each pedal revolution, the rear wheel turns 0.73 times


Bicycle Gear RatiosLOW GEAR

• For each pedal revolution, the bike moves about 60 in (3.1416 x 26 x .73 = 59.6 in)

This is 0.00096 miles/rev

• At 60 RPM:

60 rev/min x 60 min/hr x 0.00096 miles/rev = 3.4 mph

(At a 60 RPM pedaling rate, the speed of the bike is 3.4 mph)


HIGH GEAR (move chain to extreme right)

Rear (cartridge) Front

44 teeth11 teeth


• The "highest" gear ratio on the bike might be a front chain wheel with 44 teeth and a rear gear having 11 teeth.

• A gear ratio of 4.0-to-1 (44/11) means that for each pedal revolution, the rear wheel turns 4 times

• For each pedal revolution, the bike moves forward about 326 inches (3.1416 x 26 in x 4= 326 in)

Bicycle Gear RatiosHIGH GEAR


• For each pedal revolution, the bike moves about 326 inches (3.1416 x 26 in x 4= 326 in)

This is 0.0051 miles/rev

• At 60 RPM:

60 rev/min x 60 min/hr x 0.0051 miles/rev = 18.4 mph

(At a 60 RPM pedaling rate, the speed of the bike is 18.4 mph)

Bicycle Gear RatiosHIGH GEAR


Getting Started: Brake System Inspection

• Check to make sure the rim and the brake pads are clean. Wipe rim clean and sand the brake pad with sandpaper.

• Check cables for freedom of movement. Enlist the assistance of a bicycle mechanic if you find difficulties with the cables.

• Inspect the levers - they must be firmly installed and there must be at least 2 cm (3/4 inch) clearance between the lever and handlebars when the brake is fully applied. If necessary, tighten, lubricate, and adjust.

• Make sure the brake arms move freely without resistance, and that they return to clear the wheel fully when the lever is released. If necessary, adjust, lubricate or replace.

Getting Started: Brake Pad Adjustment

• Centered on rim• Toe in• Ensure not touching tire• Check operation, fine tune

as necessary• Can clean pad with sand

paper

Getting Started: Chain Lube

• Oils are messy and collect dirt• Paraffin or teflon lubes are cleaner• Apply periodically with light coat• Wipe off excess• Avoid solvents • NEVER USE WD-40

Getting Started: Helmet

• Try on several in the store• Position – Level• Fit – Snug, Bend over test• Straps – Y under the ear, Tight• Do not use crashed helmets

Getting Started: Other Equipment

• Gloves• Cycling Shoes• Cycling Shorts, tights• Cycling Jersey • Rain Gear• Cold Weather Gear• Glasses• Locks• Lights• Hydration System – Bottles, Camelback

Getting Started: ABC Quick Check

• A is for Air• B is for Brakes• C is for Cranks, Chain,

Cassette (Drive train)• Quick is for quick releases• Check is for a brief, slow ride to

test shifting, brakes and everything elseis working properly

Getting Started: Steering a Straight Line

• Bike wants to go in a straight line • Caster Effect• The Lean Effect

Getting Started: Starting

Power Position• Dominant foot on pedal with crank in 2 o’clock

position (for right and 10 o’clock for left)• Push off, push down pedal, bring ground foot• Power position gives burst of speed giving

more stability sooner

Getting Started: Stopping• Recommended you put your right foot down

first to lean away from traffic• While braking, put left pedal down• Downshift• Shift weight to left pedal• Slide off saddle• Put right foot down and turn handlebars to

slightly to left• Dismount to right avoid traffic

Getting Started: Scanning

• Head Scan• Body Scan• Avoid wobbling• Communication• Make eye contact• Show your face

Getting Started: Signaling

On the Road: Principles of Traffic Law

• First Come, First Serve• Drive on the right-hand side of roadway• Avoid door zone• Yield to crossing traffic• Yield when changing lanes• Speed Positioning• Intersection Positioning

Cyclists fare best when they act and

are treated as drivers of vehicles.

On the Road: Bicycling in Traffic: Lane Position Rule

Ride just to the right of the motorized traffic when the lane is wide enough to safely share. When lanes are too narrow to safely share, ride in the center of the lane or just to the right of the center in the right hand tire track.

If traveling at the speed of traffic, a bicyclist should use the entire lane (take the lane). If traveling faster than other traffic, overtake on the left, keeping a safe distance from slower traffic.

On the Road: Bicycling in Traffic: Turn Lane Rule

Ride in the rightmost lane that goes to your destination. In single destination lanes, ride on the right-hand side of the lane. In multiple-destination lanes, ride in the side of the lane appropriate for your destination and current traffic conditions.

On the Road: Bicycling in Traffic: Changing Lanes

• Plan ahead• Look behind, perhaps several times• Signal intention• Act carefully, smoothly and deliberately• Negotiate as necessary• Never move in front of another vehicle so closely as to

constitute a hazard

On the Road: Bicycling in Traffic: Lane Positioning

Basic Maneuvers:• Straight Through• Right Turn• Left Turn• Overtaking• Passing Parked Cars


ONE-WAY STREET• Right turn from right

side of lane.• Left turn from left

side of lane if there is little turning traffic, from center or right side of lane if left and straight traffic is heavy.


RIGHT-TURNONLY LANE


DUAL DESTINATION RIGHT-LANE TURN


TWO-WAY STREETS• Left turn from left

side of lane.Right turn from right side of lane.


TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO TURN LANE


ROAD WITH LEFT-TURN-ONLY LANE


ROAD WITH CONTINUOUS LEFT TURN LANE


ROAD WITH CONTINUOUS LEFT TURN LANE


MULTILANE ROAD WITH NO TURN LANE

On the Road: Emergency Maneuvers:Rock Dodge

On the Road: Emergency Maneuvers:Quick Stop

quick stop

On the Road: Emergency Maneuvers:Instant Turn

Coping: Crash Prevention 1. Control You Bike – Don’t fall

or collide with others2. Obey the Rules – Don’t cause

traffic crashes3. Choose the Correct Position

in the Lane – discourage other drivers’ mistakes

4. Learn Hazard Avoidance Skills – avoid other drivers mistakes

5. Wear a helmet – survive a crash

Coping: Crash Avoidance: Avoidance & Collision

50% of bicycle accidents are falls caused by road hazard, cyclist mistake, etc.

Fault Reason Percentage

Bicyclists Riding wrong way facing traffic 14

Motorist Left turn in front of cyclist 13

Motorist Right turn in of cyclist 11

Bicyclist Left turn from right side of road 11

Bicyclists Failure to yield from driveway 9

Bicyclist Running stop sign or signal 8

Motorist Running stop sign or signal 8

Motorist Open car door in front of cyclist 7

Motorist Failure to yield from driveway 6

All Others 8

Coping: More stats• Most car/bike collisions

involving child cyclists are caused by the child.

• Most car/bike collisions involving adult cyclists are caused by the motorist.

• The more cyclists there are, the lower the per capita casualty rates

Coping: Motorist Errors at Intersections

Motorist Left Turn Without Yielding to Straight-through Cyclist

• Prevention:– Be visible wear bright-colored

clothing, establish eye contact, use lights at night

– Be predictable maintain proper lane position, ride a straight line

– Be assertive plan to take your appropriate right-of-way, and act accordingly

– Be alert assess the situation and be prepared to take evasive action

• Avoidance: – Quick Stop– Instant Turn

Coping: Motorist Errors at IntersectionsMotorist Right Turn, Cutting in Front of

Straight-through Cyclist• Prevention:

– Be visible wear bright-colored clothing, establish eye contact, don’t ride in motorist’s blind spot;

– Be predictable maintain proper lane position, ride a straight line, do not pass motorist on right;

– Be assertive take your appropriate right-of-way, and act accordingly

– Be alert assess the situation, look for a turn signal or watch the front wheel of the car, be prepared to take evasive action.


Coping: Motorist Errors at IntersectionsMotorist Pulling out into Traffic from

Cross Street Without Yielding to Straight-Through Cyclist

• Prevention:– Be visible establish eye contact or use

sound to make the motorist aware of you;

– Be predictable maintain position well away from the road's edge so you are visible and positioned where motorists expect to see traffic, and so you are not blocked from view by any parked cars, ride a straight line;

– Be assertive plan to take your appropriate right-of-way, and act accordingly;

– Be alert assess the situation, and be prepared to take evasive action.


Coping: Road Hazards• Dogs• Kids• Wind Blasts• Railroad Tracks and

Surface Defects• Storm Grates• Steel Plates and

Uneven Road Surfaces

Coping: Crash/Injury Prevention

• Wear helmet - %85 of bicycle fatalities are brain injuries

• Keep brakes in good working order• Wear highly visible clothing• Anticipate road and traffic hazards• Practice your skills!

Coping: Riding Enjoyment

• Shift smoothly – match conditions, anticipate change in conditions

• How to shift – take pressure off pedals while shifting

• Cadence – revolutions per minute (75 -95)

• Pace – 10 to 20 mph for several hours while touring

Coping: Nutrition Basics• Eat before you are hungry and

drink before you are thirsty• Carbs– Simple – Sugars from fruits and

vegetables – provide instant energy

– Complex – starches – provide sustained energy

– Carb rich meal night before a big ride and bagel, etc. morning of

• Fats – avoid• Proteins – Dried fruits, nuts,

commercial products

Coping: Hydration• Drink before you are thirsty• Plan to drink 1 20oz bottle

per hour or 12 to 14 miles. More be required on hot day

• Dehydration can make you feel sick and/or lightheaded

• Should stop riding and rehydrate if feeling symptoms

• Sports drinks can help with water replacement and nutrients

Coping: Trail Etiquette• Be Courteous (yeild to

other users)• Give audible and hand

signals when passing• Yield when entering or

crossing other trails• Keep right• Pass on the left• Be predictable• Use lights at night• Do not block trail• Do not litter

Coping: Group Riding

• Use Signals• Give Warnings – Change in direction

or speed• Announce overtaking – “On your

left/right”• Announce Hazards to group• Watch for traffic overtaking from the

rear• Watch out at intersections• Leave gap for cars – when riding

slow, like going uphill, leave space for cars every three or four riders

• Move off the road when stopped• Single file/two abreast• Grouping at intersections

Coping: Educating MotoristsDid you know?• 98 million people in the

United States own bicycles? • About 750 bicyclists are

killed each year in the U.S.? • 96% of bicyclists’ deaths

result from crashes with motor vehicles?

• In all 50 states, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles?

Coping: EducatingMotoristsLearn How To Safely Share The Road With Bicyclists• Leave at least three feet of passing space between the right side of your vehicle and

a bicyclist.• Be aware that when a road is too narrow for cars and bikes to ride safely side by

side, bicyclists should take the travel lane, which means riding in or near the center of the lane.

• Reduce your speed when passing a cyclist, especially if the roadway is narrow.• When turning left at an intersection, yield to an oncoming bicyclist just as you would

yield to oncoming motorists.• After passing a cyclist on your right, check over your shoulder to make sure you have

allowed adequate distance before merging back in.• Don’t blast your horn when approaching bicyclists.• In inclement weather, give cyclists extra trailing and passing room, just as you would

other motorists.• Learn to recognize situations and obstacles that may be hazardous to cyclists, such

as potholes, debris, and glass, and then give them adequate space to maneuver.• Look for bicyclists before opening your car door.• Children on bicycles often act unpredictably. Expect the unexpected.

What To Watch ForUnfortunately, not everyone who rides a bike understands or obeys the rules of the road. Some of the common cyclist errors you may encounter as a motorist are:

• Wrong-way riding. Cyclists riding on the left (wrong) side of the road, facing traffic cause 14% of all car/bike crashes. Look both ways before turning.

• Mid-block ride-outs. This is the most frequent crash type for young riders and occurs when the bicyclist enters the roadway from a driveway, alley, or curb without slowing, stopping, or looking for traffic.

• Cyclist’s failure to yield to crossing traffic (25% of car/bike collisions).

• Cyclist’s failure to yield when changing lanes (13% of car/bike collisions).

Coping: Education Motorists

Traffic Skills 101 Chris Gist, LCIMac Lafferty, LCI.

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