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well worth the investment.

Refuelling: drinks and snacks

It's important to eat healthfully for maximum energy and mental alertness. Granola bars and trail mix with a variety of dried fruits and nuts make healthful snacks to bring with you on longer rides. Bananas also make great snacks and now you can even purchase plastic banana holders that will keep your banana from getting bruised in your backpack. It's importance to stay well hydrated so bring water or other healthy drinks along on every trip.

Ride during daylight hours

Probably the most important safety precaution to follow is to avoid riding your bike after dark. Motorists can be unpredictable even in the best of conditions so biking after dark is often just asking for trouble. If you can't avoid it due to your work or school schedule then be sure to take the following precautions:

-Always wear light-coloured clothing.
-Wear something with reflective. You can purchase reflective vests to wear over your regular clothing or you can sew reflective material onto your backpack if it doesn't already have it. You can also purchase reflective bands that attach with velcro around your upper arms, wrists and ankles.
- Battery-operated taillights and headlights also help greatly to increase visibility.
- Always wear a helmet (even during the day) and make sure it fits you well and that the chin straps are adjusted properly. You should be able to fit two fingers under the chin strap but you should not be able to remove the helmet without undoing the strap.
-If you plan to bike during the winter you can purchase studded tires to help prevent you from slipping on the ice and snow. Studded tires cost approximately $75.00 each.

Bicycling in the city is not for the faint of heart. It requires mental alertness, determination, and somewhat of a thick skin to deal with impatient motorists. There are many ways you can help make your city bike riding safer including wearing the proper equipment, using hand signals to notify other road users of your intentions and staying alert to what is going on around you. Riding your bike regularly in the city can help you save money on gasoline and may eliminate the need for a costly gym membership. If you use common sense and take the necessary precautions, city bike riding may be the perfect activity for you.

Learn more about this author, Karen Chamchuk.
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