The Tao of Cycling

Be the bike...

Kung Fu is literally the acquisition of skill through focus, hard work, and practice. After all, there are no shortcuts to excellence, and true mastery of any skill - cycling, and cycling fitness notwithstanding. Following this thought through, it becomes clear that cycling literally is, Kung Fu.

At 50/15 Fitness, we know that mastery of cycling begins with safety, situational awareness, and etiquette. You aren’t the only road user, you are one of many. As such, when you ride, do so with purpose and confidence. Following some basic guidelines and etiquette (aka, the way).

The list below constitutes the way. Read this list. Know it. Practice it so that in time, your kung fu will become strong.

Observe - Look around, and take it all in. Become aware of what’s happening around you.

Anticipate - Not everyone is as observant as you. Become aware of the probable intentions, and possible mistakes of others.

Communicate - Remember, you aren’t the only road user. Make others aware of your intentions by using:

• • Body language - Ride predictably, with purpose and confidence.
  • Hand-signals - Indicate turns, changes in speed, and road hazards in the line of travel
  • Verbal commands - Call out traffic conditions, changes in direction, changes in speed, and road hazards in the line of travel.

Be self-aware - Know yourself, your abilities, and your limits. Understand how they affect:

• • Average pace - Become enlightened about your’s, and the duration that you can maintain such over various terrain.
  • Rolling speed - Understand the nature of averages. Rolling speed is much more swift, for any given average, than you may think.

Be prepared - Both punctures, and mechanical failures are difficult to correct with one’s bare hands. Carry gear that will enable timely correction of these problems.

Wear a helmet - Helmets do not prevent crashes. They prevent brain injuries in the event of a crash. One can’t be self-aware if one’s brain doesn’t work due to an injury.

Hold your line - Ride where the road surface enables you to maintain control, and hold your line.

Mind your speed - Ride as swift as you can (controllably) muster. Keeping in mind that swift riders overtaking slow riders and pedestrians, are responsible for doing so safely. Communicate your intentions by verbally calling out, and overtake on the left.

Mind your wheel - You’re responsible for your own front wheel. Painful lessons await those who ride with overlapped wheels.

Carry ICE - In Case of Emergency, carry contact information on your person.