Bike safety - equipment question

Ok so I am probably an odd ball here but for V-Day I am getting a bike from the hubby. Candy does me no good and flowers are not useful. So I am getting a bike. I chose a hybrid (I think) bike. One that is for road and mountain  trails oh and 18 speeds. So I was wondering what all safety stuff I need more so that drivers see me. I have a bright orange hunters vest (my husband has a bright orange fleece vest) so I think I am covered there. I looked for a reflective arm strip but could not find any nor could I find any more reflectors for the bike at the store. I already know about the helmet deal. I will probably have to get a different seat because the stock one is rock hard. Anything else?

Oh and I have been studying the road rules for bike riding (I am in a rural area):

Go with the grain of traffic

use hand signals:

left arm straight out:left turn..left arm bent up:right turn....left arm bent down slowing or stopping.

Stay to the right of the lane, use no more than a 1/3 of the lane

Move over as far as I can for on coming traffic

No MP3 player :(

Anything else I am forgetting? 

Check out reflective tape at places like www.thetapedepot.com. How about various bicycle lights, cycle computers, tools, locks and bags/fanny backpacks? You'll also need to think about fluids and nutrients. What if you get stranded for an hour or two in those rural areas, will you need your phone and maybe your MP3 player? Great Vpresent, by the way.

Original Post by venice1:

Check out reflective tape at places like www.thetapedepot.com. How about various bicycle lights, cycle computers, tools, locks and bags/fanny backpacks? You'll also need to think about fluids and nutrients. What if you get stranded for an hour or two in those rural areas, will you need your phone and maybe your MP3 player? Great Vpresent, by the way.

 They did have some attachable light thingies I will look into those. And I will check out the site you linked. It comes with a sports bottle and and cradle type thing for it. Also behind the seat it has a pouch already attached.

 

Original Post by momto2siameses:

Oh and I have been studying the road rules for bike riding (I am in a rural area):

left arm straight out:left turn..left arm bent up:right turn....left arm bent down slowing or stopping.

Move over as far as I can for on coming traffic

 Hi!

I live in London, UK,  and I've been cycling to work nearly every day for about a year now, and it certainly helped me lose weight and stay toned (it doesn't do anything for the upper body, but my leg muscles have never been better)

I read what you wrote about the road rules, and I am a bit confused. Here (and elsewhere in Europe where I lived) you stretch your left arm for a left turn, and you strech your right arm for a right turn.

When I first started cycling I would move over as far as I could when cars were passing me (you can imagine what London traffic is like), but I realised it is actually safer for me to ALWAYS leave about 1 meter or so of space between myself and the curb. That way, if someone comes too close, I still have enough space for a last second swerve.  

 Enjoy cycling!

By the way, I usually wear reflective strips on my ankles,  which also prevent my trousers getting stuck on the chain.

Hey Skp I don't know about other countries but from what I typed above is how its done here (at least from what I read). As a matter of fact its also how motorcycle riders signal as well.

http://www.bikemiamivalley.org/safety1.htm 

For safety, I would also recommend that you wear gloves. I hope you never fall off the bike, but if you ever do, well...it's better to be wearing gloves!

yeah I was looking at some biking gloves wondering if I should buy them or not. When I go back to town I will pick them up.

I am going on my first ride today. I have already took the route in my car and it about 4 miles. Its both hard road and dirt road. And its back roads so not to much traffic. I have another route mapped out and only 1 mile of it is on the main road and its 12 miles. Thats what I am going to build up to.

My husband brought my new bike home last night. Its is slightly different then the one we looked at. So where can I buy something to attach a water bottle to the bike. 

I didn't read all the other posts, but I recommend a flashing LED light for the back of your bike. 

Here is a good write up about bike safety:
http://bicyclesafe.com/

Oh!  One more piece of advice, although it might not affect you as much on a hybrid bike.  If the road is wet, don't ride on the white line.  It can get slippery.

You can get a bottle and cage at any bike shop or online bike shop.  You also need to be able to change a flat tire so you need tire levers, spare tube and/or patch kit, frame pump or CO2 inflator, and a seat bag to carry them in.  By the way, a hard seat is way more comfortable than a soft one if you ride distance.

To remember hand signals I think about pointing where I am going....

and personally for stopping I want both hands on my breaks especially if I am going fast.... If you break hard on your front break and not on your back break you could end up flying over your handle bars...... I did this once by getting my front tire stuck in a snow bank.... flew right over the handle bars...luckily into the snow so I didnt get hurt...Watch out for drains and grates and wide cracks in the road...the same thing can happen.  Happy cycling

Oh yeah and I second the comment about gloves and Hard seats.... If you ride for any length of time 1+++ hrs .... a softer seat will make your butt numb.

Unfortunatly in the times we live be very aware of strangers on those country roads.....carry some pepper spray!!!!!!!!

If you like a really cushy soft seat (which I do!) you can get a cheap one at Walmart that has an attached light underneath the seat. I love it because when I'm riding, if it gets dark or cloudy I just reach underneath and turn it on. Plus, if you forget to turn it off, it turns itself off after it senses that you've stopped moving! I love it. It's made by Bell.

Original Post by zenmama:

Oh yeah and I second the comment about gloves and Hard seats.... If you ride for any length of time 1+++ hrs .... a softer seat will make your butt numb.

Not true. I rode across the United States on a soft seat, plus I had padded shorts (which I definitely recommend, plus padded gloves). That was 6+ hours of riding a day. It's all a matter of preference and what you're used to. Plus, I think men have more of a problem with the numb issue, since they've got the package to worry about. But you're a woman, so it's more you choice.

I don't think you're an oddball at all, a bike is an awesome gift!  I agree with the others re: the seat.  At least try riding with the harder seat for a few weeks and see if you get used to it.  Everyone's bone/body structure is a little different, so in the end (no pun intended!) you might need a different seat, but sometimes you just have to get used to the feel of it.  And you could always try a pair of padded cycling shorts.

I also agree with gloves.  The padded ones are a great help for longer rides and give you a better grip.

Definitely get a blinking LED light and attach it to the back of your bike (I got mine at Target.)  A "headlight" for the front is not a bad idea if you're riding in an area where there will be traffic.

Always, always, always take your cell phone with you.  I agree with you about not using the mp3 player...that might be okay if you're riding off-road, but on the road, you've gotta have both ears and both eyes totally alert.

Don't forget sunscreen, including the tips of your ears and your lips!  I keep a tube of SPF 45 lip balm and a trial size tube of SPF 15 sunscreen in my saddlebag.

Have fun!  I too have a hybrid bike and I can't wait until I get back out on the road again!

I love my hybrid and I can't wait for nicer weather either.  I had terrible pain with original hard seat and got a ladies gel that works for me.  My longest trips are 25 miles.  I ordered a dog repellant that hooks on my bike.  also a couple of pouches for cell, power bars, water.  Also, like my rack in back to put a tote on.

I hate riding on roads and have had problems with drivers, so enjoy loading my bike and driving to trails where I don't have to worry about cars/trucks.

beware soft sand :)

it used to trick me up when i was a kid... and i found out the hard way that soft sand can still trick up a bike no matter how slow you go, how careful you are, and how cool your tires are.

i bought a hard seat, with a gel cover. that way i could slip off the cover if i wanted a change in seating. the LED flashers are excellent for any rural riding, dusk is horrid for visibility.

ohio45: The dog repellant you're talking about - do you remember where you ordered it from?  I need something like that.

justlaura:  yes, I got it online, but now get catalouges from a place someone on CC recommended to me;

bike nashbar. com

they have good prices.

Awesome!  Thank you :)