Safe riding starts with wearing suitable clothes. Not
everyone rides in cold temperatures but if you do, protect yourself from
frostbite. In hot weather you don’t want to overheat but you should also
protect yourself from excessive sun exposure and consider long pants to protect
against ticks. Ticks are not much of a problem while riding but you will probably
be stopping at some point.
I also wear high visibility colors. I don’t like to ride
with cars but most trails have an occasional road crossing. An added benefit is
better visibility to other trail users. I have almost been run off the trail a
few times by other riders not paying attention. Most of the instances involved
teen aged tourists on rental bikes. Trails also traverse wooded and other areas
often shared with hunters. You don’t want a hunter to mistake you for a deer
running.
Safety also needs to be considered when parking your car.
Many trail-heads are located in isolated areas. This makes for a tempting target
for would be thieves. I remember riding back to the trail-head one day last year
to find a police officer taking a report from a young female trail user.
Apparently she had her purse stolen from her car while she was out on the
trail. She not only had her purse and its contents stolen but had a broken car
window as well.
I always make it a point to not have anything of value in
the car while I am out riding. Even small items I stash out of sight to be sure
would be thieves are not tempted. I know of some trail users that go so far as
to place a sign in their car stating the car is unlocked – please don’t break
the window. Unfortunately these precautions were not enough for me this summer.
I went for an hour or so ride and when I returned to my car I found my bike
rack missing. The rack was a strap on with no provision to lock it to the car.
This particular trail-head is near homes and a firehouse, didn’t help.
The missing bike rack annoyed me more because I no longer
felt comfortable parking at this trail-head, the closest to my house. I made a
point to immediately report the theft to the local police department. Later in
the day when my wife got home I told her what happened. She said “I guess you
will need to go out and buy a new one”. My reply was that there was no need, I
stopped at my local bike shop after making the police report and had already
replaced it.
It should go without saying, wear your helmet. I have fallen
a few times on my bike. Most of the time I could have anticipated the
possibility. Once it was while riding a steep nature trail (not bike trail, see
Dunmore Reservoir #1). Other
times it was while riding on ice. There have been several close calls that I
would not have anticipated. Sometimes it is loose graves that I did not expect,
other times it is an animal. Dogs are often not as well behaved as their owners
like to think they are. I have had several close calls with dogs unexpectedly
jumping into my path, sometimes on a leash, sometimes not leashed. I have also
had some close calls with wild animals. More than once I have found myself
within 10 feet of a deer and was lucky the deer headed away from me. I also had
a black bear run across the trail within 10 feet of me.
In the summer, when you decide to wear shorts and short
sleeve, don’t forget the sunscreen. A wide brimmed hat is good to keep the sun
from you face and eyes but the hat precludes a helmet. I have found after much
searching a topless hat that I can wear with my helmet. More recently I found a
brim made specifically to attach to your bike helmet. I don’t generally mention
specific commercial products here but this brim attachment was difficult to
find. Search for “Da Brim”.
I often ride in jeans. If you wear jeans or other similar
loose pants be aware that the pant leg can get caught in the chain. My current
bike has a guard that protects against this happening but my previous bike did
not. I learned the hard way to use a Velcro strap to secure your pant tight to
your leg. The straps for this purpose usually also have reflectors that aid in
visibility also.
Animals are a concern for some. I have had a few dogs snarl
and lunge at me but most were leashed by their owners and did not pose an
issue. I have only been chased by a dog twice. The first time I was able to
ride fast enough that the dog was not able to reach me. The other time the dog
was closer but was called back by the owner before he got too close. Some
people keep chemical spray handy for such instances. Others have suggested a whack
with a tire pump. The best suggestion I have seen was just a squirt from your
water bottle. Without personal experience, I am not sure about any of these
methods. Hopefully my luck continues.
Some people are concerned about wild animals. The only wild
animals of any concern that I have encountered in Pennsylvania are deer, rattle
snakes and black bear. The deer are unpredictable but usually run away from
you, most of the time while you are still a considerable distance away.
Black bear are generally scared of people and will run away.
A notable exception is if you get between a mama bear and her cubs. Don’t do
that! It will not end well. Rattle snakes bites are serious. I do see rattle
snakes on the trail on occasion. They are generally docile and don’t bother you
if you don’t bother them. Baby rattle snakes are cute but their bite can be more serious than an adult rattler.I will often stop to take a picture but keep a good
distance away. Use a zoom lens and outstretched arm. Steer clear of moving sticks,
which is what snakes often look like from a distance.
You should also be aware that many trails pass through
rather remote areas that may not have cell service. No cell service means no
easy access to emergency services. Plan accordingly. Some trails are patrolled.
The
Lehigh Gorge section of the D&L trail is patrolled by conservation
officers. I have seen police officers on bikes on the Schukill River Trail near
Valley Forge and on trails near St. Geroge, Utah. I have also seen officers on
horseback on the
Wissahickon Trail in Philadelphia. I am sure other trails are
also patrolled but these are the ones I have personally seen patrols on.
Use some common sense and you will find trails a safe and
enjoyable getaway.
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| Trail-head where my bike rack was stolen. Notice houses in upper right and firehouse in upper left. |
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| DaBrim |
