HOW TO MANAGE YOUR BIKE

Be confident in your abilities. You can't forget how to ride a bike, but you still need to get off to a good start and understand how it works.

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It may seem unnecessary to remind you of this, but it's important to know how to start, stop and turn properly on a bike. Once you've read this article, you'll be able to ride with peace of mind in the city, and everywhere else.

How do you start off right? Fast, safe and comfortable. These words may sound crazy to a novice, but they are crucial in the city traffic, and on the way up. The aim is to get up to speed quickly to gain balance, and therefore safety. Confidence comes with practice so don't panic!

If you want to make it easier on yourself, make sure you change your speed slightly to make it easier to restart, when you stop at traffic lights, intersections, etc. And yes, red lights and stops apply to you too, dear cyclists!

Before you get on your bike, you should think about checking your brakes. You'll quickly get to know them, their behaviour, their response time according to the humidity and the grip... And above all, use both at the same time to avoid any skidding or tipping. To do this, gently tap the brakes to stop, and in wet weather, as in a car, time and distance are extended.

RUNNING IN RAINY WEATHER

Before you think about equipment, be confident in your abilities. Driving in bad weather is not impossible! You just need to remember to ride slower than usual, to use the rear brake to control your speed to better control your bike, to use both brakes to stop, in which case, you risk falling off!

For safety, when you want to stop, press down on the pedal, tilt your bike slightly towards the ground to put your non-starter property on the ground. Restart calmly!

As for equipment, the poncho is the most practical piece, as it's compact and large enough to protect you (almost) entirely, to have with you at all times in your belongings! For the more city-dwellers, a waterproof and reflective jacket is a very good idea to protect yourself from rain, motorists and other users, safety first!

You can also find overshoes or rain skirts, suitable for both men and women, to ensure you have perfect protection against the elements and thus, no longer look for excuses not to drive!"

How to get around the city by bike

You're in control of your ride, so when you go into a corner, remember to lean slightly to the side! The higher the speed, the more you have to lean to get an even radius of curvature. It's all about gravity! The cyclist's centre of gravity is mobile to maintain balance. This not only allows you to turn properly and signal to other road users your willingness to turn, but more importantly, keeps the bike manageable!

You can also, for the more comfortable, use your hands to indicate the direction you are going. Go for it, the speed - reasonable - and the adrenaline of the moment give you the necessary balance to turn. So don't panic!

As you may have noticed, bike lanes are unevenly built in metropolises. Some are better equipped than others. In Marseille, for example, you have to be a genius at slalom and resourcefulness to make your way through cars, markets and pedestrians. Strasbourg, on the other hand, is a cyclist's paradise in France! The leading city in France in the ranking of cities with more than 200,000 inhabitants, carried out by the Fédération Française des Usagers de la Bicyclette (FUB), Strasbourg has developed itself by taking into account the bicycle as a means of transport in its own right. You will therefore find real cycle paths.

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In Paris, let's just say that Hidalgo is trying as best she can to build a safe and acceptable (and accepted) space for cyclists. The work remains colossal. Mentalities must also change but that's another debate.

The main thing, for the moment, is to find - if possible - the cycle path indicated by a pictogram on the ground, and, failing that, to position yourself correctly on the road. A bicycle is a means of transport, just like a bus, a car or a scooter. Make yourself seen and respected. Take up space, it's the best way to make yourself safe and it will be easier to turn or cross the road. Again, remember to be careful and signal: tell drivers what you are doing and where you are (watch out for truck blind spots)! If you are driving on the carriageway, watch out for door openings!

Another, not insignificant rule. And this time it contradicts the Highway Code. Cyclists overtake on the left! This ensures that you are more visible to motorists, who overtake on the right.

BEWARE OF OTHERS

The Highway Code applies, too, (yes!) to cyclists! That's why you risk a fine of €135 if you wear earphones or are on the phone while riding.

You can listen to music but, it is imperative that you maintain a certain level of concentration. Listening to the surrounding sounds, being "present" and alert allows you to better anticipate traffic hazards and ensures a more comfortable drive.

Be aware of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians who (often) cross like real Parisians - so not on pedestrian crossings - but also, and even more so now, users of the e-scooter! Its nature makes it silent and its size highly dangerous, for pedestrians and for the user who, without protection, risks violent falls if he does not respect the Highway Code. In addition, rollerbladers and skateboarders have not disappeared, so be vigilant.

Your number one priority remains, despite everything, pedestrians who are even more vulnerable than you are and far more unpredictable.

When cycling, we are more vulnerable. It is therefore important to equip your bike properly. A front or rear basket to carry your belongings, why not.

The key is still lighting. Get front and/or rear lights to indicate your presence at night or in bad weather. There are even turn signals that you can attach to your helmet or the back of your bike and control with a remote control attached to your handlebars.

More and more city dwellers are practising "velotaf". The market of accessories and equipment for cyclists is booming. You will certainly find what you are looking for!

Good communication between road users will avoid many risky situations. Your safety is the safety of others.

ADAPTING YOUR SPEED

It is tempting to drive at high speeds when cycling. However, for your own safety and that of others, you need to control your speed to avoid obstacles, unexpected overtaking and, of course, it is also a matter of good citizenship.

Just as when you are driving, it is important to be aware of the density of traffic and your surroundings. You can never be too careful, a pedestrian can quickly run onto the road to cross outside the pedestrian crossings, or a driver, in too much of a hurry, who does not indicate his manoeuvre and surprises you on your path. An accident can happen quickly... So be careful. Passing quickly through an orange light, or even a red one (shhh, we won't say it, we promise...), is possible but only after being well aware of your surroundings!

Motorcycles and scooters are the most dangerous on the road as they often drive very fast and, at times, can surprise with their unpredictable maneuvers.

It's best to be vigilant and always stay alert, whether you're a bike rider or a sport or Sunday cyclist. Use your common sense and tolerance.

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BE WELL EQUIPPED

You're probably asking yourself if you're just starting out on your bike: how do you get the right gear? At JE SUIS À VÉLO, our credo is that you don't need to dress like a Tour de France cyclist to ride! Style and cycling are not compatible, far from it! You'll soon find out how to equip yourself smartly, whether it's clothing or cycling accessories.

Let's talk style. As you have read above, it is possible to ride in the rain! So forget the "I don't want to arrive at work soaking wet" excuses and take note.

First of all, the most economical solution is still the poncho. It covers your head (above the helmet, especially if it is ventilated), hands, back and legs. It is long enough to be worn under your buttocks for added safety. Practical and comfortable, it is the easy and compact solution for all cyclists, as it can be easily stored in your belongings, once folded. You can also find rain skirts, rain trousers, overshoes and waterproof jackets, more or less long, but above all, reflective! Essential when riding at night or in bad weather, you can be seen from a distance and you protect yourself! And, for the cold, the advice I give you is: dress in onion skins. Succession of layers, neck warmer, gloves (ski or under-gloves) with mittens that can be attached to the handlebars, reflective armband to be seen.

In good weather, because yes, the sun can also be an obstacle for you! Remember to take your sunglasses, if you are not equipped with a helmet with visors. And take a spare t-shirt, or your work shirt - which you carry in your suit carrier attached to your luggage rack! Yes, yes, there is such a thing - because good weather means hot weather, which means sweating!

Let's talk about equipment and accessories for your bike. A comfortable and safe ride requires a well-equipped bike.

Cars, motorbikes and scooters have rear and front lights to signify if they are turning, when they are braking and for "warnings" (temporary parking on the road, accident on the road therefore slowing down, etc. Bicycles can also be fitted with front and/or rear lights, and this is recommended! You can even have turn signals that you attach to the back of your bike or helmet and that can be controlled by remote control, which is attached to the handlebars. Being visible is of paramount importance. Day or night, being able to spot others and be spotted makes for a smoother ride.

Mirrors can also be fitted to your handlebars, if you want to have your eyes in the back of your head!

Next, if you're biking or taking your bike to run errands, a luggage rack is a great help. On the front and/or rear, you can attach panniers or baskets to it, allowing you to carry all your stuff safely.

If other means see us, it's less risky for everyone. To do this, use reflective, lightweight and backwards.

If you want to check your GPS - not your messages, remember, you need to stay focused! - you can attach to the handlebars, a magnetic or classic phone holder that protects your smartphone.

A doorbell is a highly recommended item to indicate to pedestrians and motorists your presence.

If you have to remember one essential piece of equipment, it's a helmet. In all colours, compact, sporty, urban, the helmet is an object that will never protect you enough! Compulsory for children under 12 years old (in addition to the yellow waistcoat), it allows, in case of a fall, to absorb the shock of your head on the asphalt... Hoping that it doesn't happen, protect yourself and no, it's far from being old-fashioned!"

Ah, and of course, your bike needs to have working front and rear brakes.

REGULARLY CHECK YOUR BIKE

Riding a bike well is possible if it is well maintained! It is important to regularly check the pressure of the tyres, the correct functioning of the front and rear brakes, the chain, whether it needs to be greased or not, that the pedals are well fixed, etc.

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Be careful and prevent than cure! You can take a mini repair kit with you on all your journeys, which will save your life if you have a problem, whatever it is!

Regularly checking your bike is something that should become a reflex. It only takes a few seconds and will give you more peace of mind on your journeys. If you want to revise your steed independently, this could even be an opportunity to call a few friends and organise a "hands-on" afternoon. In the end, everything is a good excuse for a moment of conviviality!

In addition, if you are carrying your belongings on a bike, make sure your vehicle is secured. The luggage rack or bike basket is well installed, very practical so that you are not hindered by the bag moving or possibly rubbing the wheels.

Some of these tips may seem obvious to some, but a little reminder never hurts.

These grounds are the basis for good practice and are essential for getting around town by bike and understanding the dangers of the road.

So many precautions allow for safe cycling and city traffic, because driving is also learned through practice.

Of course, all of this advice must be applied in accordance with the Highway Code.

Cyclists have many other rights and duties and, of course, cyclists must respect them. Also bear in mind that manoeuvring is dangerous for other cyclists on bikes but also provokes other road users.

AN ATTRACTION TO URBAN CYCLING IN THE FAST TRACK

Bicycling has increased by 27% since 2020 in France. And that's excluding periods of confinement! This survey published by the association of elected representatives Vélos & Territoires highlights the change in mentality and habits of the French, who are more concerned about the environment. Cycling has become a way of life, and even a political act.

Not only is the ecological awareness of the French growing, the Mayor of Paris, Ms. Hidalgo, is doing everything possible to make the capital "bike-friendly" by offering cyclists more standard trails.

The aspiration of city dwellers is, moreover and above all, to avoid public transport, which is increasingly crowded and, we all remember the RATP strikes of two years ago that paralysed the metropolis...

Furthermore, the Covid-19 health crisis and its successive confinements have reinforced the desire of city dwellers to get around differently.

According to France's leading sectoral research company, Xerfi, the cycle market is estimated to be worth nearly €2.7 billion by 2020, compared to €2.3 billion the previous year, and "should reach €3.5 billion in 2023, at a growth rate of 9% per year."

The niche of urban cyclists' equipment manufacturers is thriving. There is a real potential for developing and improving cycling in the city! All the more so, as this desire to travel better can also be seen in the preparation of trips and holidays. Today, it is easier to imagine bivouacking and preparing a touring trip by bike. Companies, such as JE SUIS À VÉLO, offer a wide range of products, more or less luxurious, equally efficient and innovative to move serenely and without hindrance.

Knowing that the bicycle market is thriving is an encouraging and attractive fact for urbanites who want to feel the pavement in a different way. Don't hesitate any longer and enjoy the pleasure of riding!

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