Emergency Maneuvers: The Martial Arts of Cycling

Emergency Maneuvers: The Martial Arts of Cycling

LIKE MANY OF THE MARTIAL ARTS, THE REAL TRICK TO SURVIVING a fight with an unknown and unexpected opponent is to be on the defense. It takes less energy to react than to attack because you can use the power of that attack to your advantage. Although there’s not much that’s great about unexpected dangerous situations, getting out some cones and practicing these maneuvers until they’re second nature will give you a great boost in your bike-handling skills. When that emergency comes up, you won’t even think, you’ll just avoid.

Emergency Stop 

Emergency stops can manifest themselves in these common scenarios: the car that suddenly backs out of a driveway, the light that turns red, or the irresponsible driver who throws litter out of the window of his car. They are also easy to learn because they are mainly an exaggeration of your normal braking technique. After putting both your feet evenly on the pedals, grab a handful of both your brakes. This isn’t the time for feathering: Go big or go down. Simultaneously shift your butt so far back that you’re behind the saddle and thrust your arms forward. This will cause your torso to drop down over the top tube and lower your center of gravity, which will keep you glued to the road. Be bold as you force your bike forward and push your weight back. (See image for an example.)

Road Kill Roundabout

The dreaded road kill—unfortunately, it will happen eventually. Whether it’s the victim of wildlife, a big rock, or random garbage, there will be things in the road you want your tires to miss but you don’t see until it’s too late to ride around. You can still figure-eight the path of your wheels around them. Ride until you’re a few inches short of the obstacle and then quickly steer left then right, then continue riding on past the debris. When you flick your handlebars, the bike will lean each direction and your tires will roll around it. This is a great one to practice with a rag or something you can easily roll over. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can make this move—and how easy it is to stay upright.

Hop Like a Rabbit 

The bunny hop is a classic move that not only helps you get over cracks in pavement and potholes, but also looks cool while you’re doing it and makes you feel like a kid again, too. Crouch down like a tiger, elbows out, knees bent, feet even, butt back and off the saddle. Get as close as you can to the pothole, and then, as if you’re leapfrogging with your bike, spring up with your body while pushing your bars slightly forward. Without enough momentum, your hop won’t be long enough to clear both wheels, so hold some speed to make this happen. As you land, keep your joints bent and your booty off the saddle to absorb the landing.

Dog Daze 

Dogs are man’s best friend and less commonly known as a cyclist’s nightmare. If you’re riding on a shared bike path, slow down and warn owners early that you’re coming up on them with a call of “On your left!”—especially if they have a retractable leash that can clothesline you. This will give them time to get their canine under control so you can ride safely by.

Unfortunately, out in the countryside, you’ll have less luck with leash laws or having an owner actually being present. If a loose canine comes tearing after you barking its head off, you have a host of options to get away safely. Most of the time, dogs are either playing or trying to protect their territory. Either way, they’re not much of a threat if you ignore them and carry on—without speeding up. Dogs love nothing better than a game of chase, so if you accelerate, they may think it’s an invitation to play.

If they do get too close, slow down, stay calm, use your deepest, sternest “bad dog” voice, and tell them firmly to go home. Don’t scream in panic. Don’t try to kick or hit them. Dogs react to your temperament, so fearful reactions or timid voices tell them they need to be fearful themselves and will consequently incite further barking and raise their excitement level.

If they are still on your wheel, spray them with your water bottle. This usually does the trick, but if your regular route is a plague of pooches, an air horn or a non-toxic dog deterrent like Spray Shield are great options. These work as well as pepper sprays, but won’t affect you if the wind happens to be blowing the wrong way.

Sometimes just stopping, putting the bike between you and the dog, and waiting for the owner is the best tactic.

If You’re Going Down . . .

Sometimes there’s no avoiding an accident. If you are certain you’re going down, don’t stick your arm out to try to break your fall—that’s the shortest route to broken bones. Instead, hold on to the handlebar, tuck your head and shoulder, and try to land on large muscle masses such as your bottom, hip, or shoulder. Angling your body toward the ground, use the flow of the energy to dissipate the impact and try your best to roll out of the fall. Of course, if your helmet has impact—no matter how hard—it’s going into retirement. Don a fresh one for your next ride. Bonus: You’ll feel safer and more confident for your post-wreck return to the road.