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Sport Tips: Biking helmet and safety

Sport Tips: Biking helmet and safety

Sport Tips: Biking helmet and safety Proper biking safety, helmet precautions and rules of the road before you venture out on two wheels. Advice for safe riding.
  • Biking is an exhilarating sport, great exercise and fun for the entire family. If you know the rules of the road, you can enjoy many years of biking safely and pass responsible biking etiquette down to your children as well. Following the rules of safety will prevent accidents and injury to you, your bike and other bikers on the road. A bike is a vehicle and it is your responsibility to ride it as safely as you would drive a car, using all of the proper equipment necessary and respecting others on the road as well as pedestrians.
  • Before you even get on your bike, be sure it is properly equipped and in good working order. Be sure your tires are inflated properly, your brakes are working correctly and that you have reflectors on the front, back and sides of your bike. Make sure your seat is tightened as well as the bolts holding on the tires and pedals.
  • Your equipment is also very important. Never ride a bike without a helmet. In most states, helmets are the law and you can receive a summons if you are caught without one. The most severe and most preventable biking injuries are those to the head and there is no reason not to wear a helmet. Helmets are quite inexpensive and are an essential safety element, don?t skimp on them. Make sure your helmet fits well and is in good condition. Your helmet will make you more visible to drivers and other bikers as well as protect your head in the event of a fall. You can almost guarantee that you will crash at least once while riding a bike and if you do fall, you should replace your helmet. Be sure you wear close fitting pants or biking shorts, never ride a bike with loose pants that can become caught in the chain of your bike. If you are riding at night wear clothing with reflective strips on it. You can purchase a roll of reflective tape at your local sporting goods store and make any outfit reflect.
  • While you are riding, there are some rules of the road that you should know to observe proper etiquette in regards to motor vehicles and other bikers. Always ride with the traffic, never against it. While you should never ride in the middle of the road, you should ride near the lane, not too far into the shoulder where you may not be seen. You must always use hand signals to indicate your turns and you should always give the right of way to any pedestrians. Observe all traffic signals and remain a safe distance from any cars and bikes in front of you. Never dart in and out of traffic and never pull out from between two parked cars. Since you don?t have a horn, it is impossible to warn other drivers of your presence, so stay a safe distance away from cars and make sure drivers see you before you pull out in front of them.

    If you keep your bike and helmet in good condition, they can last for years and so can you if you follow proper safety precautions!

    How to choose a good book to read

    How to choose a good book to read

    If you're looking for the next great read, here are a few tips to help you find one that you'll enjoy.
    Browsing the local library or a popular bookstore, you come across several interesting titles that might be worth a second look. Picking up the closest one, you scan it quickly, trying to decide if it's worth getting. How do you know if your time will be well spent or if you'll give up halfway through? That's the dilemma faced by avid readers who value the quality of time spent poring over a book.

    Book lovers inquire into a number of areas to find a tome they might enjoy. Here are some tips that can point you to some exciting possibilities too:
    1. Surf the Web. Subscribe to publishers' newsletters or on-line book lists. Many ezines offer paid or unpaid subscriptions and publish the latest titles or book deals for their readership. Some arrive five days a week while others post monthly. You also can do a Web search to find sites where new or old book titles are posted and reviewed. Evaluators' credentials may be listed too, so you'll have an idea of who is providing the review and whether you are apt to find the commentary meaningful.
    2. Read publishers' or writers' magazines. Many advertise prominent new titles or offer reviews of books in print, and you may be able to find titles categorized by genre or author.
    3. Keep tabs on your favorite authors. Many post Web sites that list previous, current, and upcoming titles, along with book excerpts or sample chapters. Some even discuss their reasons for writing the book or how they developed some of their characters. Visitors can get a feel for the new work to decide if it's something they want to read.
    4. Join or visit a specific genre organization. National or international groups hold conferences, maintain Web sites, and publish ezines with the latest information on specific genres and authors. Science fiction, romance novels, and other types of writing enjoy huge numbers of followers who stay in touch via the organization. Cruise by a favorite genre type for information about upcoming selections.
    5. Study a book's front and back covers. The front typically offers a visible lure with a titillating graphic, compelling statistics, or an editor's blurb that will prompt readers to start reading. On the back you may find author information, reviewers' excerpts, and a brief summary of the book's contents. Sometimes sales information is included.
    6. Check the table of contents or inside covers. A table of contents may list chapter names unless chapters are only numbered, which many are. The book may be divided further into larger sections that are named to give readers a better idea of the themes developed throughout the book. If the book is a hardback with a paper cover, the inside cover pages may include authorial detail or a plot summary.
  • Don't waste your time and money in making a random selection of reading material unless you like surprises. Spend a few minutes browsing sites, links, and covers to find one that will be worth the effort.
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