These Five Things Will Help You Avoid A Summer New Haven Bicycle Accident

One of the best times of the year to ride your bike is in the summer. Summer weather can be quite beautiful to hop on your bike and go, but it can also present some challenges that you should be aware of when you are riding. Most notably, the heat can be an issue as you hop on your bike and go. Prolonged exposure to significantly hot conditions can put you at a greater risk of getting into a New Haven bicycle accident and becoming injured as a result of the weather.

Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just out for a fun ride you can be sure that when you are riding your bike through the streets of the Elm City in July and August the temperatures may become sweltering. If this is the case your bike ride can turn from fun and invigorating to treacherous and dangerous quite quickly if you’re not careful. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to battle the heat if you are prepared so you don’t experience conditions that could put you at risk of getting injured.

The one thing that is important to remember is that you should think about these things before you get on your bike and not during your ride. If you wait until after you’re already a few miles in to your ride you may find yourself in a situation that could be difficult to navigate. If you take the time to think about your ride ahead of time and take some steps to make sure you are able to manage your temperature while you’re riding then you will likely be putting yourself in a great position to be safe and comfortable while you ride.

Not only may the heat cause you discomfort it can also cause you quite serious physical issues like heatstroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration. All of these medical conditions may put you at risk of not being able to control your bicycle and leave you unable to focus on the road in front of you which could cause you to struggle with riding your bike safely. To avoid these conditions you should take the following steps before and during your bike ride.

1.) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. No matter what type of physical activity you are doing in the summer, you need to make sure you are hydrating your body completely. Drinking plenty of fluids before, during and after your ride will be an essential step to take to keep yourself hydrated and fueled for a fun ride. After your ride you may want to hydrate with an electrolyte heavy drink to replenish the salts and minerals you lost when you sweat along the way.

2.) Take a moment to plan the route of your ride. Even if you’re not the type that likes to think about the route before you go, on particularly hot days in the summer you should absolutely have a route in mind. If you go out expecting to ride for 10 miles and then you get lost and end up doing 25 miles that can be a big difference in your body’s stamina and hydration. Knowing where you’re going to go and how you’re going to get back home are critical to keeping yourself safe when riding.

3.) Your clothing matters. You may want to be fashionable while you ride, but the importance of fashion goes out the window when you are riding your bike in hot weather conditions. You should be wearing lightweight, breathable fabrics, that are moisture wicking to keep the sweat off your body. Consider the color selection too when thinking about your clothes as lightly colored clothes will keep you cooler then riding with dark colors.

4.) Taking breaks can be an essential tool in your tool belt so you can remain free from heat exhaustion and heatstroke. No matter how you feel physically, you should work breaks into your ride so you can stop to catch your breathe and cool down a little bit.

5.) Listen to your body. Believe it or not your body will tell you when it is time to stop for the day. If you’re riding along and start to feel dizzy or lightheaded you may want to pull off to the side of the road or path that you are on and seek shade to let your body cool down. If you really feel overwhelmed by the heat you will want to find someplace indoors with air conditioning so you can help your body cool down further.

When you start out on your ride you may find that your body feels good and you’re not worried about heat, but if there are just a few sections of your ride that are in the scorching sun and the temperatures begin to rise just a little bit you could be at risk quickly. Heat related issues can distract you from focusing on the road in front of you and leave you at a greater risk of getting into a New Haven bicycle accident. You should follow the steps above and make sure you ride safely this summer as the weather heats up.

It is important to take precautions when you’re riding, but no amount of precautions can guarantee that you will not get injured. If you do get injured you may need to seek medical attention and then speak to an attorney who has experience handling situations like you are facing. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.