Coach's Corner

Each month we will be profiling a Central Ohio coach, who has offered their time and expertise to COTT. This month we are introducing Alan Martin, this year’s Bike Coordinator.

Alan Martin is a USA Cycling level 2 (Expert) coach and USA Cycling official with over 25 Years Cycling Experience. He is the owner and operator of Central Ohio Velosport (www.cohvelosport.com) which specializes in training cyclists to become better riders and racers no matter their skill level or experience. He is also the coach for the Central Ohio Bicycle Club Junior team and is the Chairman of the board of directors for Consider Biking, central Ohio’s bicycle advocacy organization. In the past he has served as the team coach, Savage Hill Cycling Team junior squad; tour director for The Dry Run and Family Fun Ride; and, was the President of the Westerville Bicycle Club. Alan has ridden tens of thousands of miles and still enjoys riding competitively. Through the years he has raced in road races, criteriums, and time trials and has also participated in ultra distance events, randonneurs, and tours. His favorite ride is any one that he can do with his wife and son, but he also loves the challenge of mountainous event such as Ride, Ride the Rockies, Assault on Mount Mitchell, Mountains of Misery and The Mountain Mamma Road Bike Challenge.

Here are some tips from Alan about riding safe…

1. Riding in dense urban traffic can be nerve racking but there is plenty that you can do to protect yourself and make urban riding safe and enjoyable. Unlike country roads, urban riding requires a lot more concentration and you need to ensure that drivers know that you are there. That means wearing brightly colored clothes, equipping your bike with extra lights and reflectors and even using a bell or whistle to ensure people know you are there is much more important. Urban roads are also full of hidden dangers. Parked cars, driveways, alleys, pot holes, and frequent intersections all cause problems. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for these hidden dangers. Also, don’t ride right up against parked cars since doors always have a way of opening when you least expect them to. Instead, move a little further out into the lane. Multiple lanes of traffic with a high volume of vehicles is another urban hazard but with a little practice you will find that they can be maneuvered just like any other road. The key here is to look twice and be very clear and definite about your actions. If you are going to turn left signal and when it comes time to move do it with authority. Don’t hesitate as this will cause confusion and lead to big problems.

2. Wherever you ride be sure that you obey basic traffic laws. One of the biggest complaints cyclists make is that they just want to be treated like any other vehicle on the road. They want their fair space. However, I can’t tell you how many times those very same people take advantage of their ability to violate traffic laws due to the fact that they are riding a bike. Behavior like this causes driver’s to shake their head in disgust and loses the cycling community the respect it deserves. If you want respect, you too have to follow the same rules that apply to cars.

3. Don’t crash lights or stop signs. Every time you blow through an intersection you risk being hit. It only takes a second longer to come to a stop, look in all directions then proceed. It is never OK to crash a stop sign or light whether your are in a car or on a bike.

4. Don’t use your small footprint as a bicyclist to pass cars at stop lights and intersections. Not only is it illegal but it is highly dangerous. Even though you can inch your way up a line of traffic and pass people don’t. For one thing, driver’s won’t know you are there and at any time a car could decide to swing out of its place in line and hit you. Instead, as traffic slows, move to the center of your lane and take your rightful spot and wait just like everyone else. As traffic begins to flow again, get up to speed then move to the right and let cars pass you. Every time you creep up past stopped cars you risk your life and cause motorists to become further irritated with cyclists in general. By getting in the middle of the lane and holding your spot they can not only see you but they will also respect the fact that you are obeying the law.

5. When you are going to make a turn be sure to first check behind you and the proceed once traffic is clear. Before you get to the turn be sure to signal with your hand and take ownership of the lane. In doing so, don’t just swing out in front of cars. Instead, wait until it is clear then move into an open position and hold it until you have completed your turn. After you are safely around the corner move back to the right side of the road and let traffic pass. It is very important that you look, signal and not just swing out into oncoming traffic.

6. Stay to the right. Slower traffic is required to stay to the right so faster vehicles can pass. Since I doubt most people are going to be riding at the posted speed limit you need to stay to the right so other vehicles can pass. For those that are nervous about riding close to the white line, there are lots of bike handling drills and classes that you can take to get rid of those jitters, so don’t use that as an excuse to ride where you don’t belong. People that are out in the middle of the lane or riding next to the yellow line are risking their own lives and making it difficult for cars to safely pass them.

7. Two abreast is legal in many places. Know your rights but don’t abuse them. Far too often a pack of riders will head down the road and take up an entire lane. Two abreast is not the same as four or five. Likewise, two abreast doesn’t mean you can take up the entire lane. Stay to the right and be aware that in some places you may only ride in a single file line. A good paceline can ride far enough to the right side of the road so cars can easily pass and is capable of quickly changing over from a single to a double paceline within seconds. If you frequently ride as a group, practice your paceline skills and perfect the ability to “single up.”

8. Big groups can coexist with drivers and there are times and places where you can spread out on the road. However, you have to be aware of your surroundings. If there is a fair amount of traffic, be smart and keep your group tight and to the right. When you get out on to less crowded roads feel free to loosen things up a bit but keep a close eye out for approaching traffic from the front and the rear and be prepared to get tight and to the right well before they reach your group. Nothing is more irritating to a driver than to come upon a big group of riders who leisurely move over causing them to have to wait before they can pass. Be courteous and move before you need to.

9. Communication with others is essential. First, traffic laws require everyone to use signals to indicate their intent. At intersections you need to signal left and right turns as well as stopping. Don’t ignore this. Being clear in what your intentions are can be the difference between life and death. Stick your arm out and be very clear and decisive as to what your intentions are. Just going through the motions and not making your intentions clear can lead to disaster.

10. When you ride in a group hand and voice signals are very important too. Those in the front need to point out road hazards such as holes, rough roads, upcoming stops, and oncoming traffic. Likewise, those in the back need to be sure to communicate to the rest of the group approaching traffic. Be sure to not only call out obstacles but also use your hand to point to them. People also need to be sure to pass the information along to the rest of the group. Be sure to not only repeat what is said but also to use the same hand signals to point out the problem. Groups also need to get into the habit of doing things the same way. It is kind of like a game of Simon Says. If Simon avoids a hole in the road by moving over to the right, then the entire group should move to the right. The one person that moves left in the middle of the line can disrupt the entire line and before you know it people are all over the road and invariably, someone will drive right into the hole. When everyone works together and mimics the hand, voice and actions of the leaders in pointing out obstacles the line will work smoothly and safely.

11. Look, then go. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen people just blast through a turn or intersection without paying attention to what is going on around them. Whether it is going through a crossroads, stopping at an intersection, or making a turn you have to take a second to look around and be sure it is clear before you go. Pay attention to traffic and your surroundings and take the time to move your head around and see what is going on. This sounds really simple but you can’t believe how many people don’t do it. Time and again, I have seen someone come to a dead stop at a stop sign and then go only to look up and see a car coming right at them. They were so busy staring at the ground that they didn’t even see the car.

12. Act like any other vehicle on the road. That means you have to operate your equipment the same as they would. When you come to an intersection and the light is red, wait your turn, don’t hop up on the sidewalk, ride through the cross walk, and then get back on the road. Likewise, don’t cut through parking lots to save a few seconds time. Again, this inflames drivers and it is illegal.

13. Ride safe and predictable. This means you need to know how to operate your equipment properly and have the confidence in what you do to be able to survive a variety of situations that may arise on the road. Learn how to ride a straight line, turn, brake, shift, and avoid obstacles. If you are new to cycling or your have trouble with any of these basic cycling skills take a class on bike handling so you can improve. The better you can handle your bike the safer you will be.

14. Cycling safety begins with you. Use your head and don’t forget that every time you ride like an idiot you not only make yourself look bad you also make your team, club and the cycling community in general look bad. Not only that, you potentially risk injury to yourself and others.