As we all know whether we drive or ride - we have to apply COAST per CW
We just cannot avoid dangerous situations on the road and our job as riders and drivers is to Observe and Anticipate and Plan by adjusting our Space and Time
still sounds like COAST to me :wink
CW give some tips to ride
defensively and it still comes across as COAST
CW reckon we can learn from off-roaders and racers... (er drivers learn from racer/ralliers s too
)
So now to the advice and some of this came from police courses too
BUNNY HOPPING!
This is the little jump we do. (Part of the police course - and a skill learned in cycling up and down steps
)
However, this little jump is very useful when you come across drains and potholes. Safer to bunny hop than swerve to avoid.
OK - so how do you do this? CW explains it well and they must have done our course
You level your pedals so that your feet are equal distances from the ground. Pres the handlebare and the back ends of the pedals. Slightly litt your hands and feet as you pull your body UP and back. This should pull you and the bike off the ground
Please practice in private first to get it right! It is a a skill and if you can - get some lessons via CTC addresses
When you land - anticipated the drop by leaning up and forward,. maintaining a balance so that you can continue riding forward.
Please remember this is a skill and you must practice in a safe area before taking to the road. Ideally - book a lesson with a CTC approved intructor who will guide you through in a safe area.
TIGHT TURNING
You have to learn to handle a bike as a driver handles a car
Tight turn techniques help if yiou find yourself in that nasty boxed in situation at a corner.
So if you have to tight turn - place hands on drops or lower part of handle bars. Align hips toward the back and make this as parallele to the top tube as possible. Gengtly pull the inside handlebar to release wieght and improve steering. Place weight on the outer pedal to give more traction and your head and body should be pinted to where you wish to go!
Do remember that your position on the road and body postion are important signals of your intention to pedestrians, horse riders and drivers. This is part of what we nag at when we urge cyclists to be repsonsible for their actions and CW has just backed us in their piece this week
They write exactly what Kriss wrote on C+ and both Mad Doc and I have passed similar comments on this site in the past
CW says you should be looking at least 30 ft ahead for hazards (COAST
) and state you should be at turning pace 10 f before turn anbd you hold your line as with racing.
If you maintain a clear line other road users will not have to swerve to avoid you and your slow down should be clean. light and should not cause any alarm or over-reaction to any other road user. It's really COAST but couched in different words
TRACK STANDS
Stopping means having to unclip from pedal. But to make a quick get away you may stay clipped in.
Best way is to use a track stand
Balance on bike in a standing position whilst keeping the bike stationary. You stand out of the saddle and trun the front wheel a little to balance the bike. Pedal an inch forward and apply font brake.
It needs some practice - biut persevere and you will have a cutting edge in speed and safety