Safety tips provided by UT Health San Antonio Police & National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Protect Your Head. Wear a Helmet.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommend bicyclists wear a helmet that complies with the CPSC standard. Select a helmet that fits snugly and sits flat on the head.
Give Your Bike A Thorough Inspection Before Riding.
- Make sure your brakes are clean and adjusted. If you cannot stop quickly, adjust your brakes. Consult your bicycle owner’s manual, or have a bicycle shop adjust the brakes. When your hand brake levers are fully applied, they should not touch the handlebars. Each brake-shoe pad should wear evenly and never be separated more than one-eighth inch from the rim.
- Tire condition: Check the tread for excessive wear.
- Frame damage of any kind. Look for cracks, dents, damage at weld sites, tube buckles, carbon damage, and alignment problems.
- Chain wear: Much like an oil change in a car, routine chain changes save more expensive parts from excess wear
- Cable and housing condition. Check for rust, sticky gear shifters or brake cables, UV damage, cracking.
See and Be Seen.
- Wear clothes that make you more visible. Always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding a bicycle.
- Ride in the same direction as traffic, as a vehicle on the road.
- Obey traffic signs, signals, and lane markings; signal all turns and follow local laws.
- Be predictable; ride in a straight line and use hand signals when changing lanes or turning.
- Stay focused; look ahead for traffic and obstacles in your path.
Race Day Checklist Suggestions
- Bike
- Properly Fitted Helmet
- Shoes
- Socks
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Jersey
- Shorts
- Bottles
- Race food
- Electrolyte drink
- Plenty of water
- Spare wheels and tubes
- Bike floor pump
- Essential tools: Allen-key multitool, flathead & Phillips screwdrivers, electrical tape
- Post-race recovery drink/snack with a 4:1 ratio of carbs vs. protein
Day of the Race “To-Dos”
- Please make sure you check in at the registration desk. We need to know precisely how many people are riding in our event.
- Eat a good breakfast. Include some complex carbohydrates, lean protein, and some antioxidant-rich fruits.
- Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Make sure you remain well hydrated leading up to your event and during the ride itself. It’s always a good idea to include some electrolyte drinks.
- Get to your race at least 60-90 minutes early to allow yourself to get ready at your own pace.
- Most importantly, have fun!
SOURCES: UT Police & National Highway Traffic Safety Administration