Handling Skills Every Cyclists Should Know 

At 20mph, when you see the pothole, in most cases it's already too late to stop...

I've used a Garmin radar for about a year now. Can't recommend one enough. I won't ride on the road without it now.

The comments on puddles concealing potholes hits home. Absolutely smashed both wheels into a huge pothole the other day riding into what I thought looked like a shallow puddle. Burst front tyre and big dents on both rims.

As predominantly a road cyclist as well as an avid motorcyclist there is a lot of skills overlap. Things you should learn and practice: emergency breaking (learn to break with both front and back simultaneously); counter-steering (understanding how if e.g. I want to turn towards the right I 1) look where I want to go 2) press on my right grip and 3) accelerate into the turn. The press sends your front wheel briefly to the left (in this example) which drops you into the appropriate lean immediately and helps you turn easier. Takes practice as it feels wrong!); practice how to deal with “target fixation” - you will go where you look. In a panic situation you can often focus on what you DON’T want to hit… and the. You go right at it. Force yourself to look away and to look where you want to/need to go and then counter-steer towards that lane. This has saved my life a couple times both on my motorcycle and my bike; and, as you mentioned, slow speed maneuvering. Also ride as though everyone is trying to kill you. Be defensive as you are the most vulnerable when it comes to a battle between you and a vehicle.

Good discussion about important skills - one more very important one - Emergency Braking. Stopping as fast as possible without going over the bars is critical - and understanding that in an emergency braking situation the rear brake should only be applied very lightly - and if it skids you are about to go over the front. This needs practice, both to apply rear brake lightly and evenly ----- and bringing front brake to maximum braking possible

those radars are really worth their money. You can see how many cars are behind you, how fast they approach and they even see other bikes (unless at basically same speed). And for some reason, the most dangerous situations i had on a bike was while watching behind me (not because i can't hold the line but because something changed in front of me in those 1 or 2 seconds)

sometimes making hand signals is not available as in some occasions you need to keep both hands on the handlebars. I concur with Jimmy, cyclocross and in general, off road riding requires more skill to deal with the unexpected changes in terrain and grip. This eventually forces you to acquire the essential skills. The same works for motorcycles, the more skilled riders usually had a good experience off road.

For potholes and stuff you don't even need a glorious high bunny hop. If there is just negative space to bridge, an imitation will do: lifting the front wheel and slightly unloading the rear, pretty easy with clipless pedals. Of course, if you've got to get up a curb, that's different. I think, the best skill is anticipation, though... Choosing the right line to get though, slowing down before a potential emergency stop, signalling or showing your intent before committing to a move.

One thing you need to learn is riding one-handed. It's amazing the number of people i wave to that can't take a hand off to wave back.

I think one of the skills I wish I knew about was controlling speed wobble. I didn’t know it was a thing when I was descending one time, and ended up crashing. I later find out that you can put your quad/thigh against your top tube to alleviate it but it isn’t guaranteed. I have just decided going that fast isn’t for me, and to keep my speeds lower going forward - a more experience cyclist pointed out that the difference between descending 6000-8000ft at 25-30mph vs 40-50mph is negligible for a typical enthusiast in the grand scheme of things. That put it in perspective for me.

Here's the thing I've learned about the Varia radar: it's a brilliant device, but not by itself. Without a mirror to see behind you, it's just a countdown to a possible collision. You need to use a mirror to see whether or not the thing the Varia is warning you about is giving you enough room or not. I get that some people are good at looking behind them. But you can't do that while keeping your eyes forward. Just like in a car, you need to be able to glance around in front of you, at cross traffic, and in the mirror, constantly. The Varia just tells you when you need to watch that mirror.

Very dangerous situation , I think bunny hop is the best alternative. I have small mirrors on each drop bar and try to be aware of what is always behind me. I get a lot of shit from my mates but who cares, safety first.

Bunnyhop should be an essential skill. You don't even have to know how to do it properly if you're clipped in.

I would still report the car. They were going too fast for the road conditions.

I agree with hand signals

Just because a road is narrow shouldn't be an excuse to overtake so closely - especially not going 60 mph...

Id always advise to look further ahead not just few metres in front of the front wheel. I also ride a motorbike so this has become a habit as obviously travelling at higher speeds, but pothole issue is the same

I also always unclip right, so whenever I have to make a left turn, I unclip waaaaaay in advance, because between it being 1, unusual and 2, my non-dominant side, yeah, let's not rush anything while I evaluate traffic, etc. (USA, so left turns usually involve dealing with oncoming traffic.) This all reminds me that I should get on some grass and practice going v e r y slowly in left-turning circles.

Being able to look ahead and anticipate, and don't assume actions of drivers. I assume that drivers can't see me and act accordingly.

Think I’m gonna learn to do left handed skids, doing them right sided it’s like I don’t even need to think about it lol

riding without your hands on the bars. maybe a nobrainer but it's good to be comfortable with it

I'm left-handed and cant turn right! But I clip out to the left, so maybe it's more about that.

Totally agree with water in the potholes. You can't see them :-( I hit one at about 16mph and come off my bike! luckily the Car stopped before hitting me behind me !

Never trust a puddle. Was taught very early

Radar is amazing. Feel naked without it now!

I ride far out from the curb, to keep a consistent line on the road, This makes me predictable to the driver. lots of communication with drivers. I also dominate the middle of the road when going round corners and road furniture in the middle. This stops cars passing at dangerous points on the road, thus keeping it safer for me.

Pothole in a giant puddle mangled my front wheel and fork a few weeks ago. The bike mechanic was able to true the wheel, but topd me i have to change my fork... cant it be bent back to position (aluminium bike with a metal fork (it says 4130 chomoly fork, but i dont know what it means ) Anway. I will go around everytime from now on.

Emily is such a great part of these videos. Maybe the lads will let her sit centre stage with them one day? 😒😂

I really should learn to bunny hop

Why did I even click this video, the Jimmy Show is just as boring as ever.