Cycling safety tips for a family outing
Cycling is a great activity for you and your loved ones. Whether you are planning on going road biking or mountain biking it is a great sport. We’re lucky to have some great trails in South Africa, that not only brings families closer together, but cycling also has a number of health benefits.
Sometimes it’s hard to spend time with family and your children because of busy schedules and technology. Either you’re rushing to meet deadlines at work or your children are spending hours on their phones or the internet. But it is important to have some quality time with your family and cycling can be a great way of achieving that.
Before you take your family on a mountain trail, you should prepare yourself and your family. There are many things that could happen when you’re on a cycling trail. Here are a few top tips on how you and your loved ones can stay safe while enjoying a family outing.
Sun protection is important
We all know how important it is to protect yourself from the sun. Sun exposure can cause painful sunburns or skin cancer. To protect yourself and your family from the sun, you should always wear sunscreen. Sunscreen should be worn before going out and during your ride. You should also purchase cycling gear that has been designed to protect you from the sun such as arm protectors.
Arm protectors are ideal as they protect your arms from sun exposure. Arm protectors can cover up your arms from the sun without causing you to ‘overheat’ and become flustered. They are designed to keep you warm during winter and cool during summer while protecting you from the harsh environment.
You should also wear glasses when cycling, the sun can cause a lot of damage to our eyes so it’s always good to prepare yourself. Cycling glasses don’t only protect you from the sun, they also protect you against the wind – making sure that no dust or dirt can get into your eyes while riding. There are many different coloured glasses you could find that will complete your look.
The protective gear you and your family will need
Another important thing to remember is to wear a helmet. There are many bicycle helmets for sale, you can also find some nice bicycles helmets for kids which is great. According to the National Road Traffic Act of 1993, you should always have a bicycle helmet in South Africa. Make sure you purchase a helmet and pay special attention to choosing the correct head size. Bike helmets are especially important for the more adventurous mountain bikers
Cycling helmets are important and are an effective way of keeping you safe during your ride. So many people, both adults and kids, injure themselves or are involved in collisions that’s why it is safe to wear a helmet to avoid anyone getting hurt. You would also need to purchase cycling gloves, glasses, and knee pads. Knee pads are important especially for your children, there a baby knee pads that are available for your children.
Lastly, you need to get cycling gloves. Cycling gloves are comfortable and they help deal with sweaty palms while cycling. With good quality gloves, you gain more grip and control making it safer for you especially if you’re riding on a mountain trail.
Those are the important things that can protect you and your loved one from the harsh environment.
Carry an emergency kit
There are things you should never leave your house without, besides your bicycle, especially when you’re riding on a mountain trail. You never know what could happen, you or a family member could get injured, therefore it’s important to have these things in times of need.
You should always have your phones with you, in case someone gets lost or hurt. Everyone should have fully charged phones before you leave the house. You will also need a pump and your inner tube, tyre lever, in case a bicycle tyre gets flat while you’re on a trail.
Because cycling is a form of exercising don’t forget to bring water bottles especially during the summer seasons. It can get quite hot and having a refreshment at hand can be helpful. You should also pack in a few healthy snacks, especially for the children, depending on how long the ride is they might get hungry. Lastly, keep money with you – yes we live in an era where credit cards are whats being used as a method of paying, but you never know when you might need some money and ATMs can be quite hard to find at times.
Final thoughts
Cycling can be a great activity for family and friends especially when done right. Always ensure that you are protected from the sun and that you have an emergency kit when going out. More importantly, make sure you enjoy yourselves.