Former Olympian and cycling coach David Brinton rides bikes for a living—and as a professional stuntman, he used to get paid to crash them, too. Brinton shares some advice on how he handles his bike in nine common road hazards.
Photo: AutumnlightPotholes
Swerving around potholes makes sense—unless there’s traffic or you’re surprised by one while riding in the middle of a group. Learn to lightly roll or hop over potholes. “Master popping the front wheel over small cracks,” says Brinton. “Once you can do that, practice popping the rear wheel over the same crack.” When you can clear both wheels separately, combine the two maneuvers. With your pedals parallel to the road, pull up on the handlebar while lifting your feet. “For most potholes you don’t even need a full bunnyhop,” says Brinton. “At 40 km per hour, all you really need to do is take a little bit of your bike weight off the road and your wheels will float right over.”
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