by Andre' van Wyk 

Most bicyclists are badly hurt, maimed or even killed due to simply not being seen on the road, and the most important - yet ignored - safety aspect on a bicycle is to be visible. You can improve you visibility  with lights, bright clothing and reflective bibs and vests.

(Christmas trees do not go unnoticed, and neither should you! Ed)

I know that there are riders with sub 7kg R60 000 plastic-fantastic bicycles that will not be caught dead riding in anything other then their favourite team colours, never mind a ghastly yellow bib. However, its to  be remembered that its just for training-rides,  or your daily commute  that you need to take sensible measures. It’s probably dark anyway, so no one will see that your kit does not match the bike... On race day, feel free to dress in your black spandex outfit , and become the sleek, cycling warrior you want to be.

A pet hate I have is with weight weenies so adamant not to add any weight to their bicycles, that they use the lightest and smallest light available. These (like the tiny, single LED lights) don’t work as they are neither bright enough, nor have a spread wide enough. (You could always use 10 of them and point them in 10 different directions...) When you shop around , you will find decent front and rear flashing lights that are not too heavy, and does a stirling job. Just shop around.

Having lights is a good start in the fight for survival, but pointing them in the right direction is just as important. Remember, we're talking about 50 lumens flashing - not 500+ lumens enduro lights - used to be seen and not to see with. If you want to see where you are going, invest in a proper headlight!

The first thing to consider when installing your light/s, is height. Point them to shine driver-height. Not 4x4 drivers but normal cars. This is easy and means that the lights must be almost horizontal on the bars and seat post.

Secondly, consider the direction of your lightspread. As you are expected to ride on the left of the road / lane, its inefficient to point the lights straight ahead / straight down your back. 

As you are in the shoulder / emergency lane there are no cars directly ahead or behind you; they must be to your right. Twist your lights so that they compensate for this, and beam a little to your right.

Accordingly, you'll not be “wasting” the beam on the sidewalk.

How does one cross traffic? 

A: When you want to turn across traffic it is best to keep to the left of the far most left turning lane. Stay on the left side of the cars turning This way you will be on the outside of the car when you get to road being turned into. Never cross the path of a car.

B: If you do not get the chance to cross to the turning lane, you can just continue in the straight lane, cross the intersection, turn and face the direction you want to go and wait for the light to change.

C: When you travel in a straight lane and there lane widens to make way for a slipway to the left, keep you line in the lane you are in as if the kerb is still on your left. Indicate to the cars behind you with a normal right turn signal that you are staying where you are. This way you will not need to worry about crossing the path of cars using the slipstream.

All in all, use your common sense, and listen to traffic from behind. Do not be afraid to leave the tar if anything arouses suspicion within you, and always ride with a helmet.

PS. Andre' has been an avid - albeit swinging both road & mtbiking - cyclist for a number of years, and a daily bicyle commuter of the Jo'burg - jungle ever since. His carbon footprint is now solely maintained by his own carbon emissions, which is not to be sniffed at. Ed

Communting - what works for me.

by Robin Harvey

1. Clothing - Always high visibility. A luminous windbreaker/shell is really useful for both visibility and warmth. In addition I have an intermediate - for Spring/Autumn - and a winter jacket. Even on the coldest mornings, the windbreaker over one of these jackets is adequate. I also wear a pair of thermo fleeced tights, and a pair of well insulated gloves. A buff doubles as a balaclava, ear warmers and a handkerchief.

2. Eye wear - I leave just before sun up so if you start out with amber lenses your eyes will be dazzled before you get to work . This is not good from a safety perspective AT ALL. Go for something that will keep your vision clear all the way to work taking into account the changing light conditions.

3. Lights - I have 2 rear flashers - one on my backpack and one on my seat post – in addition to  a powerful white LED flasher on the front. A single 1 LED flasher  on your bike is not good enough. Be safe!

4. Reflective tape - I have some of this in key areas on my bike - allows you to be visible from the side.

5. Packing - I use a day pack with multiple compartments to pack my toiletries, towel, clothes, shoes and laptop. The weight adds up RAPIDLY. Perhaps you could leave clothes at work?

6. Leaving your car at work - It works great, almost as a mobile locker on wheels. It does restrict you in the evenings at home, and your Friday will be spent stuck in traffic, but it's great if you can manage it.

7. Hygiene - Use underwear on your rides as it helps with the ride home (which could be a manky affair with a pair of tights that’s been left to grow fungus the whole day!) I pack my riding kit into a plastic bag for storage during the day - it’s never quite dry for the trip home, so fresh underwear and my under vest from the day's work comes in handy to prevent cold and dampness.

8. General safety - Get used to cycling with potentially 8 kg's on your back, as the weight has a big influence. Learn to position weight on your back properly. With time in the saddle, it’s easy to get neck and lower back pain with the additional weight, but you’ll get much stronger for race day...

9. Always remember that this type of commute is shared with stressed, distracted and sometimes careless drivers.  I take absolutely no chances, and 98% of my ride is on pathways, pavements, trails etc. Always stop at lights. Not stopping seems to enrage some motorists, and entice them to get even with you. Sounds crazy, but I have learnt this over time. Just obey the rules wherever possible. Never attempt a pavement mount (bunny hop) or anything fancy whatsoever with traffic behind you. A fall into the road could be the last thing you do. Rather stop and portage.

Safe commuting!

Rob  Harvey