Safety first.

Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and in recent years training outside has become increasingly dangerous, especially in a country like South Africa where I live. Many of the dangers we face in South Africa is a problem in other countries as well, therefore it is always wise to be careful and ensure that you take the necessary precautions to prevent any incidents that can affect your safety.

Tips to make your training safer.

Train in groups

Let yourself be tracked live

Join a club

Avoid dangerous conditions where things can happen to you when you are alone

Take care of your health

Work on your skill and make sure you don’t push yourself beyond your skill level without somebody capable to assist you if things go wrong.

It is always first prize to exercise in groups. The unfortunate reality is that it is not always possible. Recently a mountain biker has been robbed of his bike and cell phone and shot by perpetrators who waited for him on a trail. He died  and was only found a day or two later. We don’t think it will happen to us but the reality is that it does happen.

One good way of ensuring your safety is to join a good running or  cycling club who provide backup vehicles and protection on the road. My son joined a good club in Pretoria-east and they even provide you with an armband with medical details on.

When you cycle and ride in a group, always keep the back markers in sight. A friend of mine recently fell back from the group and then had a crash over an obstacle that he cleared a thousand times before. He was lucky that he could get up and continue his ride but he was injured quite badly and has been nursing his ribs for quite a while thereafter.

So be responsible and caring and let’s keep our sport safe.

Live tracking.

When I have absolutely no choice I use live tracking where my wife can monitor my progress on her cell phone. The added benefit is that she can see when I am approaching home and if she is in a good mood I get breakfast as I walk in the door.

There are some apps that can do love tracking, either as a paid service or as a free option.

One of the best options is offered by Lezyne on their GPS based cycling computers. It is free once you purchased the device.

As always enjoy yourself responsibly and get home safe. Remember an injury can set you back a lot if you are prevented from training.