EFFECTIVE CYCLING

Effective Cycling teaches the craft of cycling--the basic ability to use a bicycle with confidence and competence for pleasure, for utility, or for sport under all highway conditions and conditions of climate, terrain, and traffic. Students are expected to become capable of daily commuting to work or to school, of undertaking day trips alone or with a group, and of joining or organized overnight tours. They should be well prepared to join cycling clubs. The course covers four areas. 1. The bicycle: Choosing a bicycle suitable for the student's needs and learning to do all that is necessary to keep it operating over its normal life. This requires learning the mechanical principles of bicycles and becoming familiar with the basic tools needed for adjustment and repair operations. 2. The cyclist: Learning proper posture and pedaling technique, and cycling enough to develop motor skills for smooth, supple action. Learning the theory of physical conditioning for an endurance sport--including an understanding of the concepts of muscle strength, oxygen transport, and metabolic fuel production--and cycling enough to develop strength, circulatory capacity, and short-term endurance for a 2.5-hour ride at moderate speed. Learning the theory of bike handling and developing the reflexes for instant emergency turns and stops. 3. The cycling environment and traffic safety: Learning the basic types of car-bike collisions and the traffic rules that can prevent them, the basic highway designs and the techniques for adapting the traffic rules to each design, and the basic road surface hazards and the proper emergency maneuvers for each type of hazard and all conditions of traffic. Learning, with practice if the climate permits, the special techniques for wet weather and for nighttime riding.

  • Corporate Authors:

    Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press

    55 Haywood Street
    Cambridge, MA  United States  02142-1493
  • Authors:
    • Forester, J
  • Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
  • Pagination: 344 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00393927
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: May 31 1985 12:00AM