Bicycle safety tips that are important for riders to remember

With the weather warming up, that means more people will be breaking out their bicycles for the summer.

Bike experts said while riding can be fun and healthy, there are some safety tips riders need to keep in mind.

Kathleen Van Wesenbeeck, manager of the Element Outfitters bike shop in Pocatello, said the first step before hitting the road is to make sure the bike is in good shape.

“Make sure your brakes work, that the brake pads are still in good condition,” Van Wesenbeeck said. “If they pass the rear line, you really have to change your brake pads. Then, of course, you should check that the chain is still on there, if it’s working properly. Make sure that the chain is not falling off when you’re riding.”

Van Wesenbeeck also said to check the air in the tires before heading out. They shouldn’t be flat, but people also don’t want too much air in them. She said tires have a minimum and maximum psi on them, which tells the rider how much air should be in them. She also said it’s important that both tires have close to the same amount of air in each.

Van Wesenbeeck said the next important thing riders can do is to wear proper safety gear. She said wearing a helmet is key, but it also matters how it’s worn.

“You don’t want to have the helmet tilted on the head,” she said. “You want to have it straight, like a straight line from your ears. And then you don’t want it too loose or too tight.”

Element Outfitters also recommends wearing closed shoes, like sneakers, when biking. This is because they have a better grip on the pedals than sandals or flip-flops would.

As for other clothing, the shop said just wear whatever is comfortable. But they do want to caution against pants.

“Do watch out with your pants, if you wear pants, because sometimes they can catch the chain,” Van Wesenbeeck said.

Once riders have the safety down, they can enjoy the benefits of biking.

Since bikes don’t need gas, Van Wesenbeeck said biking is a great benefit to the environment and to wallets. But she said there’s another benefit that she personally enjoys.

“It’s so relaxing. It can take you 10 minutes, 15 or 20 minutes, just relaxing before or after work,” she said. “It’s like a mental piece of mind for a second.”

But she said just like cars, bikers need to know what they’re doing and know the rules.

She said doing these things will keep bikers safe.

Van Wesenbeeck also recommends having a professional bike shop inspect your bike or do any repairs on it. She said sometimes fix-it-yourself jobs can make things more dangerous. So she said it’s always a good idea to have a professional take a look.

For any questions or information on bicycles, Element Outfitters said people can give them a call at 208-232-8722.