Cycle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Helmet

A helmet is essential when riding a bike or another vehicle such as a motorcycle. The reason for this is because, should you fall, your head needs to be protected against any impact that could damage your brain permanently. The NHTSA suggests parents to make of the phrase "no helmet, no riding" a rule in order for children to know that it is an indispensable piece of equipment. The helmet should fit snugly on your head using the foam pads, and the chinstrap should be buckled at all times while riding.

You could also use knee and elbow pads for extra safety, especially if you are riding for the first time.

Answer: Rainy

Riding a bike over a wet surface, such as the street covered in rain water, can be dangerous, as you could skid and cause an accident. Rain could also reduce your visibility or reflexes, which represents a major safety hazard. Clear, sunny, or even partly cloudy days are much better and safer options to ride a bike. If you must ride a bike while it's raining, always wear a good jacket, have a lamp on your bike and use eye protection if possible.

Answer: Pump

Having sufficient air in the tires is a basic safety element for all vehicles with wheels. A deflated wheel may cause the bicycle to lose balance and could ultimately result in falling or an even more serious injury. To prevent such a thing, always check that your tires have enough air; if they don't, use a pump in order to re-inflate the damaged tire.

It is important to periodically check your tires to ensure that you haven't ridden over sharp objects, such as nails, that may be deflating the tire without you noticing.

Answer: Yellow

It is very important that other people, cars or other bikes can see you to avoid accidents. You could wear colors such as bright yellow and orange, which are easily distinguishable. You could also use bright-colored vests to increase the chances of other people seeing you from a distance.

Answer: Reflective duct tape

You should add strips of reflective duct tape to whatever you have with you while you ride a bike: your backpack, your bike, your clothes. This will help make yourself more visible and protect you from accidents. When possible, aim for lighted bike paths to maximize your safety.

Answer: Use hand signals

There are universal hand signals that can help you prevent accidents. You should only do these if you feel confident temporarily releasing the handlebars, otherwise you should stop before turning (which you can always do as an extra measure for your safety). Generally, pointing your left hand outwards means you will be turning to the left, raising your left hand or pointing your right hand outwards means you will turn right, and pointing your left arm downwards means you will stop.

Answer: Headphones

While some people can cycle while listening to music, this is not the best idea, as it is convenient to stay aware of outside sounds. You should always listen and look carefully to be able to realize if there is a hazard for you. If you are wearing headphones while listening to music, you could not hear people, even if they scream, and you could cause an accident. If you feel confident using headphones while riding a bike, try to keep the volume low so that you can still listen to what's happening outside and you are still able to concentrate.

Answer: Park

Most parks have designated spaces to ride bikes, such as Central Park in New York. Parks are great places for bicycles, especially for people who feel they are not ready or don't want to ride a bike on the street. You should always have a friend or an adult watching out for you in order for you to be safe.

Answer: Bell

Many times when cycling, we need to let people in front of us know we're there, in order to prevent accidents. Ringing your bell is a helpful way to let other bikers, and in many cases pedestrians, know you're there so they can move out of the way in time, which is usually easier than it would be for you to suddenly stop your bike.

In the US, the standard rule is to ride in the right lane, closest to the sidewalk if you want people to overtake you, so that you can ride without worries.

Answer: Frame

When locking a bike, you should always lock the frame first, as it is the hardest part to remove from the bike. If you only lock the wheels, there is still a risk that parts of the bike will be stolen. The lock should not be on the ground. It is always best to lock your bike to an immovable object (such as a bike rack).