Safety First Rules of the Road:
- Wear a helmet – helmets are required by law for anyone under the age of 14, and are simply good sense for any age.
- Use lights – a headlight in the front, and red taillights – you may be able to see where you are going, but it is important that other vehicles can see you, especially at dawn or dusk.
- Wear reflective clothing – speaking of being seen, wear clothing that has reflective qualities or bands – it is almost impossible for the driver of a vehicle to see you on dark or rainy roads if you are not wearing something highly visible – that safety rule goes for walking on dark roads, too.
- Weather – wear and bring clothing that is suited for the weather, which can change alarmingly fast in the Adirondacks. Layers work, and Gore-Tex wicks better than cotton. There are waterproof astronaut blankets that fold up to nothing and weigh only a few ounces, but are wonderful to have if needed.
- Make noise – have a horn or a bell that you can use when needed to let other people know you are there, and if you wear a whistle you can
signal for help. - Carry an emergency kit – these come in tightly packed containers that fit under the bicycle seat so you don’t even know they are there – until you need them. They generally contain a first aid kit, pump and patch kit, a spare tube, map and compass. Yes, take five minutes and learn how to use a compass, it is easy to do and may save you hours if you get lost. If you are doing trail riding, you may puncture a tire on a sharp rock – and it could be a long walk back. Ron’s ACE Hardware in Bolton Landing carries patch kits, tubes and bicycle pumps.
- Know where you are – have a map and a compass, and know how to use them, and carry a charged cell phone – you may not always have a signal, but when you do you can call for help if needed, and if the phone has a GPS system, that’s even better. Check out the Lake George Kayak Company in Bolton Landing for maps and compasses.
- Bike with friends, and let stay-at-home friends know where you are going and when you plan to return, especially if you are biking by yourself.
- Food and Water – you will get hungry and thirsty – especially thirsty – to keep well hydrated, bring lots of water! If you are planning on drinking from streams or lakes, bring a purification kit. Energy bars are good condensed food, compact and light-weight, and really do give you quick energy.
- Watch the weather – wet roads, especially in the fall and winter, can be dangerous. Leaves and snow can mask faults in the road.
- Ride single file on public roads – easier for vehicles to pass you.
- Courtesy rules the road: trails are often shared with hikers and equestrians. Here’s how: be aware of your surroundings, slow down and sound your bell if you come across a hiker, so they know you are coming and won’t suddenly decide to check out that rare species of flower on the other side of the trail just as you were going to whiz by. If you approach a horse from the front, stop and let them pass you. If you are approaching a horse from behind, get off your bike and walk around. Some horses startle easily, and can dump both their rider and you in an instant.
