you are pedaling with the ball of your foot there should be a slight bend in
your knee. This allows for your legs to work at maximum efficiency and
comfort while riding your bike.
bicycles, accidents and safety
Your bicycle can be fun when used for transportation, recreation and exercise.
But riding a bicycle can also be dangerous, especially if you try to ride beyond
the limits of your ability or the limits of your bicycle. The skill of bicycle riders
can vary greatly, just like the skill of automobile drivers. Do not ride in a
manner that exceeds the limits of your ability.
The first rule in safe bicycle riding is to use common sense. A bicycle is
vulnerable –it cannot protect you in a crash, impact, or loss of control in the
way a car can. A bicycle can tip over sideways or pitch you over the front
wheel.
Most dangerous situations are obvious. For example, a bad accident can
occur if an object gets caught in your bicycle's spokes. But not all dangerous
situations are obvious. However, you add to your risk when you make
modifications to your bicycle, ride in an unusual location, ride over obstacles
or debris, or ride in any other high-risk manner.
an impact can weaken your bicycle
Each bicycle and its parts have limits because of many properties: design,
material, maintenance, use, surface of the road and more.
If you crash or apply force that is higher than the limits of your bicycle or its
parts, you are very likely to cause damage. If your bicycle or a part has
damage and you crash or load it again later, this additional impact can cause
a failure at a much lower load.
a bicycle cannot protect you in an accident
Bicycles are not designed to withstand every situation. In a crash or impact, it
is not uncommon for the bicycle to have damage, and for you to fall. If you
fall, your bicycle cannot prevent injury. Cars have bumpers, seat belts, air
bags, and crumple zones. Bicycles do not, so even a fall at slow speed or an
impact with a small object can cause serious injury. Higher speeds and larger
impacts will only be worse.
