Before You Ride

Before You Ride


You must wear a helmet
Your helmet should have a sticker that says it meets safety standards set by Consultants Europe (CE). Have a look inside the helmet for a CE sticker. If your helmet doesn’t have a CE sticker, ask your mum or dad to get you one that does.

Always wear a bike helmet, even if you are going for a short ride.

Your bike helmet should fit you properly, you don’t want it too small or too big, and you should never wear a hat under your bike helmet. If you’re unsure if your helmet fits you well, ask someone at a bike shop.

Once you have the right helmet, you need to wear it the right way so it will protect you. It should be worn level and cover your forehead. Don’t tip it back so your forehead is showing. The straps should always be fastened. If the straps are loose, it’s likely to fall off your head when you need it most. Make sure the straps are adjusted so they’re snug enough that you can’t pull or twist the helmet around on your head. 

Take care of your bike helmet and don’t throw it around. That could damage the helmet and it won’t protect you as well when you really need it. If you do fall down and put your helmet to the test, be sure to get a new one. They don’t work as well after a major crash.

You must make sure your bike is in good working order
Riding a bike that is the right size for you also help keeps you safe. When you are on your bicycle, stand straddling the top bar of your bike so that both feet are flat on the ground. There should be 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimetres) of space between you and the top bar.

Here’s a safety check-list that your mum or dad can help you do. If they are unsure on how to fix your bike, always take it to someone more knowledgeable, or ideally to a bike shop:

  1. Make sure your seat, handlebars, and wheels fit tightly.
  2. Check and oil your chain regularly.
  3. Check your brakes to be sure they work well and aren’t sticking.
  4. Check your tires to make sure they have enough air and the right amount of tire pressure.

The video below provides more information

Make sure you have the right clothing
Make sure clothing isn’t baggy, laces are tucked away, trousers tucked into socks, and coats and toggles can’t get caught on handlebars or moving parts. If it looks like rain bring a rain jacket. All riders must wear gloves or cycling mitts to protect hands in case of a fall.

Respect the Club’s code of conduct
The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to state how we expect all participants to behave so we can ensure that everyone has fun at the sessions.

Do’s

  1. Always be on time
  2. Listen to the coaches
  3. Try your best
  4. Respect others
  5. Be honest
  6. Play fair
  7. Help others
  8. Most of all have fun!

Don’ts

  1. Cheat
  2. Be cheeky
  3. Bully
  4. Make fun of anyone
  5. Swear
  6. Mess around