Nearly every biker is bound to make a mistake at one point or another. After years of practice and experience, you'll naturally learn the do's and don'ts of biking, allowing you to fully enjoy everything the hobby has to offer. Until you reach this point, though, you should familiarize yourself with our list of the top 5 most common riding mistakes.
Mistake #1) Dropping Your Bike
I guess this isn't 'technically' a riding mistake, but nonetheless dropping your bike is an all-too-common mistake that bikers should avoid. There's nothing more embarrassing than pulling up to your favorite restaurant or bar only to drop your bike on the ground. Take the time to put up the kickstand and make sure it's fully secured before walking away.
Mistake #2) Not Wearing Glasses
Whether you're driving right down the road to a buddy's house or going on a cross-country bike trip, always gear up with a pair of glasses before hitting the asphalt. Why is this important? Well, if you aren't wearing glasses, bugs, dirt, rocks and road debris may find its way into your eyes. Not only is this painful, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. The bottom line is that you should gear up in a pair of sunglasses or biking goggles to prevent such instances.
Mistake #3) Underestimating a Pothole
Potholes seem less concerning when you're driving in a car or truck. In fact, you can usually driver right over them without losing speed or momentum. Unfortunately, potholes are a completely different story when you're on a bike. That same pothole could shift your bike in a different direction or even throw you off depending on its size and your speed. Pay attention to the road and always go around potholes rather than over them.
Mistake #4) Out of Gas
It's easy to forget about your bike's gas levels when you're cruising down a long stretch of highway. Unless you enjoy taking long walks to find some obscure gas station, keep an eye on your bike's gas levels. Trust me, running out of gas when you're biking isn't a pleasant experience. In the event you run out of gas, you'll either have to sit around on the side of the road looking like a dummy while you wait for AAA, or you can start walking.
Mistake #5) 'Trusting' Other Motorists To Pay Attention
A fifth mistake that's all-too-common among bikers is trusting other motorists to pay attention. In a perfect world, everyone would have 100% focus and attention on the road, but as you probably know this world is far from perfect. Drivers will constantly drift into your lane without paying attention, pull out in front of you, or do a myriad of other ridiculously dangerous driving maneuvers.
