Keeping Yourself Safe
by Thom Remington

Any time you get on your bicycle, you put yourself at some risk of injury. The key, of course, is to keep those risks to a minimum and still have a good time. One thing that makes the MS different from most other rides you'll do is the sheer number of riders involved. With 1,500 cyclists of varying skill and experience, things can get, ummm, well, let's say they can get interesting.

Apparel
Obviously, wearing a properly-adjusted helmet is the most important thing here. 'Nuff said. You should also wear bright-colored clothing so you are readily seen on the road by other bicyclists and by motorists. Gloves are important too, for two reasons. First, if you do crash, they can help you to keep the skin on the palms of your hands. You're much better off keeping your skin on your hands and not leaving it behind on the road surface!

Second, they're important for comfort. You'll spend a lot of time leaning on your hands on the handlebars. Good padded gloves will really ease the pressure on your hands. Wear something over your eyes to keep out the sun, dust, dirt, bugs, and (let's hope not!) rain and wind.

Equipment
Make sure your bike is ready for the ride. Many area bike shops offer discounts for MS riders, and many offer special deals on bike tune-ups in the weeks before the ride. Don't let a mechanical failure keep you out of the ride or, worse, get you hurt.

Traffic: motor vehicles
You know a lot of this. We'll stick with some things that are more a part of large group rides.

• Communicate with drivers! Signal your turns. Signal your intention to slow or stop unless it's obvious (red light, stop sign, etc.)
• Communicate with other cyclists. If a motor vehicle is approaching from the rear, call out "car back" to alert other riders. If a motor vehicle is approaching from the front, especially on a narrow road, call out "car up."
• Many experts discourage calling out "clear" when you're crossing an intersection that might have cross traffic. You might have missed something, and someone may cross because you said it was clear and - Well, you get the idea.
• Ride single-file most of the time. Under Delaware law, it's legal for two bikes to ride side-by-side if they don't impede traffic flow. In the past, the State Police have reportedly been out to enforce that law during the MS. Don't find out the hard way that they're out there!
• Be sure you can hear what's going on. Wearing headphones while riding is illegal in Delaware, except for hearing aids. Your hearing is very important for your safety. Don't use headphones to "blind" yourself!
  
  

Traffic: other bicycles
On the MS ride, you'll encounter cyclists of almost every imaginable level of skill and experience. Some folks will be riding very fast, some not so fast, and some very slowly. The real key is to watch out for others and communicate with them. If you're overtaking other cyclists, pass on the left wherever possible, and call out "on your left!" as you approach them. Don't surprise them; they may surprise you.

If someone is passing you, be courteous and stay to the right; don't force them out to the left. Check behind you before you pull out to pass other riders. Bicycles don't make much noise; be sure you won't pull out into the path of a rider who's passing you.

Pacelines can be a wonderful way to ride fast, but you have to be careful who's in a line with you. Riding in close proximity to other riders can be hazardous, especially for folks who aren't used to it. As a courtesy, if you come up behind another rider to draft for a while, tell the rider by calling out, "on your wheel." If you do ride in a paceline, be polite: take your turn "pulling," riding in front.

Tandem bicycles merit a special note here too. Tandems are fast, but they don't start, stop, or turn as quickly as single bikes. Give them a little extra room!