Bike Injuries Are Common
Take this dream for a spin: The sun is shining, there’s not a cloud in the sky, and your crush just called to ask if you want to go on a bike ride. You dust off your brother’s old bike and picture yourself on a hillside adrenaline rush, riding into the sunset with your sweetie.
OK, hit “pause” for a second and get practical. Want to enjoy the ride without ending up in a humiliating pretzel-shaped pile on the side of the trail?
Bike injuries are common. So follow the tips below to really enjoy your ride.
Pick the Right Bike
Can you make your brother’s sleek racer pass for a mountain mule? Nope. If you’re headed on a hillside trek and don’t want to pull out a patch kit after 5 minutes, you’ll need to choose a mountain bike for its rugged, chunky tires, and trail-grabbing capabilities. The reverse is true, too — when you’re going for speed on a paved surface, all those high-tech shocks and other mountain-climbing gadgets will do nothing to help you catch up with the distant speck on the horizon that’s your cycling partner.
So what do you do? If you’re not into buying a new bike, check out bike shops in your area for rentals. Not all stores rent bikes, but some do — like renting snowboards or skis, they think it gives their customers a chance to try before they buy.
There’s more to the bike than just what kind of trails you’ll be riding. Fit is just as important. Here are some ways to tell you if yours is right:
- When sitting on the bike, you should be able to just about fully extend your legs to reach the pedals when they are in the lowest position.
- When standing astride the bar with your feet flat on either side, there should be about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of space between your crotch and the crossbar for a road bike and 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 centimeters) for a mountain bike. Guys especially will be thankful for that space if there’s ever a need to unexpectedly jump off the seat.
- If you’re still growing, make sure that your bike’s seat post and handlebars can be raised a bit to adjust to your new height.