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If you are interested in sponsoring the 2016 Bike MS: The Road Divided, please contact Sarah Flowers for details.
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The safety of our cyclists is the number one priority at the . Each year, tens of thousands of participants join in approximately 100 rides across the nation. There is a great mix of riders with different experience and skill levels on the road together. To help ensure that everyone has a great ride and arrives safely at the finish line, we work hard to create a proactive approach to safety.
Safety isn't just about wearing your helmet and knowing the rules of the road. Those are very important measures, but cycling safety involves much more. Bike safety encompasses a wide variety of topics including bike maintenance, group riding skills, cycling etiquette, and much more.
The National MS Society strongly encourages you to review the compiled bike safety information resources below. This information will help you prepare and practice safe cycling skills.
Ride safely and have fun because there's nothing like crossing the finish line and celebrating with your team! Don't just ride, Bike MS.
Education has been a core activity of the League's since the late 1970's. It is designed to work with experience levels ranging from brand-new bicyclists up to experienced bicyclists who want to refine their skills and teach others.
League of American BicyclistsAdditional Safety Resources:
The is more than just a ride; it's also the anticipation and preparation for an incredible experience. Training is a journey in itself and is essential to a successful ride. Training will help you to prepare mentally and physically.
Official Bike Stores are the official bike store partners of the National MS Society and the . They are major supporters and partners with the National MS Society in our efforts to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis and raise funds to support research, programs, services, and advocacy for those living with MS. In addition to sales, parts, and labor, Official Bike Stores will be able to get you up-to-speed on training programs underway in your area. View our Official Bike Stores page to find our partner nearest to you.
Official Bike StoresWe're pleased to introduce you to TrainingPeaks, the official training software of Bike MS! We are excited about this partnership and invite you to experience it.
Training PeaksIf you prefer a downloadable and printable training guide, we have that too: Bike MS Training Guide
Be sure to click the "Recommended Rides" tab at the top of the page to view other training rides from around the region served by the .
Check out upcoming training rides in your area here!
Cyclists need to have basic bike-handling skills and safety knowledge in order to keep themselves and others around them safe, especially while participating in group cycling activities, like a bike ride. Our focus is to provide a high quality, safe and fun bicycling experience. For this reason, the National MS Society has partnered with the League of American Bicyclists to provide our cyclists with the knowledge and resources to cycle safety.
Table of Contents:
Cornering
Braking
Hazards
Protect Yourself
Protect Your Bike
Important reminder! Always carry the following items:
All cyclists are responsible for keeping their riding equipment in good working order, so get into the habit of checking your equipment before every ride. Small adjustments can make a significant difference in your experience. The "ABC Quick Check" is an thorough-yet-brief bicycle safety check.
Group riding takes practice. Riding with other cyclists all around you may cause you to feel trapped. Relax; it is most important to create your own safety zone. This may vary depending on the speed and ability level of the people you are with, so be flexible. Let others know of your anxiety – they may also be new at this.
Your responsibility in a pack includes:
Head injuries are a special concern for cyclists. Even falling at a slow rate of speed can cause a serious head injury. Helmets must be on your head and strapped securely while riding in the – No exceptions. Participants found not to be wearing their helmets will be disqualified from the ride and removed from the route.
All states consider cyclists to be vehicle operators, and give them the same privileges and responsibilities as other drivers.
On the routes, our active route support team works to make the ride safe. Here are a few additional suggestions to help keep everyone safe on the ride:
Group cycling has its own form of communication. The presence of road hazards, directions, and need-to-know information is relayed through the pack of riders by gestures and words. Remember to pass all communication on to the cyclist behind you in the group. Speak loudly and clearly. The following are the most common terms you may hear in group-sponsored rides:
Group communication between teams and between individual riders is vitally important to ensuring the safety of all riders. Therefore, headphones, cell phones, radios, or similar devices are NOT permitted while riding.
Many cyclists find that situations occur in which quick thinking and heightened bike-handling skills are required. Here are some suggestions for managing potential obstacles:
5 Minute Inspection
Natasha Grief, Bicycling Magazine
Most cyclists, if they check their bikes at all, wait to do it five minutes before the group is about to start rolling. What's the point? No one's going to wait for you to remedy a cracked frame or a torn sidewall. Be one of the smart ones: Give your bike this once-over after each ride, so you're ready to go at the drop of a hat... or helmet.
Check for: Side-to-side play in the wheel; QRs or skewers that aren't tight or secure
How? Make sure quick-releases are closed all the way and that bolt-on skewers are securely fastened.
On your next ride: Your wheel won't come loose and detach from your bike mid-ride.
Check for: Trueness
How? While spinning the wheel, watch the distance between the rim and the brake pad. It should be uniform for the entire rotation. If it wobbles, the wheel needs truing. (Watch our pro true a wheel at our maintenance feature at Bicycling.com)
On your next ride: Your wobbly wheel won't lead to more serious problems, such as a shudder while descending or brake pads rubbing.
Check for: Grit on the pads; caliper alignment
How? If your brakes feel gritty, clean the pads with a rag and degreaser; replace pads if the grooves are worn more than 50% compared to new pads. Calipers are aligned if the pads are equidistant from the rim.
On your next ride: You won't go to grab the levers only to roll right through the stop sign at the bottom of the hill.
Check for: Low tire pressure; embedded debris in the tire; slices in the tire or sidewall
How? Inflate tires to proper pressure, and carefully remove embedded debris with tweezers. A cut tire or sidewall is prone to a blowout and shouldn't be ridden; replace it.
On your next ride: Your chances of flatting will greatly decrease, and you may have prevented a nasty mid-ride blowout.
Check for: Supplies you may have depleted on your ride
How? If you used something during a ride, replace it so it's there for the next ride. If your spare tube has been in there for a while, give it a quick inspection to make sure it's still intact.
On your next ride: You'll have a spare tube and CO2 cartridge to lend to the guy who didn't follow this post-ride checklist.
Check for: Loose bolts; overall wear
How? Worn-out cleats won't engage as crisply. You'll know when they've just plain quit on you; then, it's time for new cleats. Bolts can loosen over time. If your cleat isn't secure to your shoe, tighten the bolts.
On your next ride: Your foot won't pop out without warning, and you won't tumble to the ground because you couldn't disengage your cleat.
Check for: Cracks (especially at the joints)
How? Using a rag and bike polish, wipe dirt and moisture from your frame. Look for cracks, flaking paint and other irregularities.
On your next ride: You'll either be on your bike because you didn't find a crack, or you'll be on your way to the shop for a pro evaluation. If you have a carbon-frame bike with a crack, don't mess around: Failure could be catastrophic!
Check out these additional articles to help you prepare for Bike MS!
Learn the basics of bike maintenance, brought to you from our friends at Bicycling Magazine: Quick & Easy Bike Maintenance (Adobe Flash Player required)
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