Road Craft...

so I'm taking a mate to pick up his new bike (a Lunar Cycles reconditioned single speed)....he's not ridden for years and never in London. He's asked me to take him out and get him used to the roads and the traffic. Any ideas for a set of golden rules/tips I can pass on. And yes 'Dont F*ck With The Truck' will be at number one.

Get him a copy of Cyclecraft - very useful for new and seasoned riders

Red Light = Go faster don't stop.
Pedestrian Crossings = as above
Junctions = as above and he should be fine just like any other fixie ridding dread-locked courier ;o))

If he's never ridden in London take him out on a sunday through the city and the southbank.Not much traffic and pleasant to ride.I'd take it easy at first before going out in full-on rush hour traffic.
Ride on!

Sunday would be Ideal, but we're picking it up in Holborn and have to make it over to west london in one piece on a weekday evening....fun times.

Was thinking it would be good to give him 6 or 7 golden rules to start him off so he wont get into too much trouble before he gets right into it...

1. expect everyone on on the road to be a muppet.
   
2. expect everyone on the road to do silly things.
   
3. look after rules 1 and 2 and he should be alright.
   
4. don't swerve when you look over your shoulder
   
5. wear a helmet
   
6. wear fluro
   

tell him to just ride the bike

1. expect everyone on on the road to be a muppet.
   
2. expect everyone on the road to do silly things.
   
3. look after rules 1 and 2 and he should be alright.
   
4. don't swerve when you look over your shoulder
   
5. wear a helmet
   
6. wear fluro
   

I do a bit of 4, one and two definatly work.

1. PRINT "Don't undertake HGV's unless you want to die."
   
2. GOTO 10
   

If he's never ridden in London take him out on a sunday through the city and the southbank.Not much traffic and pleasant to ride.I'd take it easy at first before going out in full-on rush hour traffic.
Ride on!

+1

1. PRINT "Don't undertake HGV's unless you want to die."
   
2. GOTO 10
   
   

this is just the *basic*s.... ;)

There's a two hour training course for a fiver - google london cycle training. As long as you live or work in a London borough it's available. Two hours one-to-one training on how to handle London's road delights - it's ace.

In the meantime, stay well away from parked cars and HGVs, look back over your shoulder as frequently as you would look in your rear view mirror in a car and assume every other road user is about to perform a road manoeuvre that will kill you.

Thanks Matt...that course is good to know about

Start of slow and cautious, like all things it's not to hard, it's only if he cains it whilst not knowing much that he'll get killed!

I'd change don't undertake HGVs to don't undertake anything unless it's still and you can be certain you'll be in space when the traffic starts moving again. If not, overtake it.

Learn to look over both shoulders without wobbling and do it regularly.

Don't get too close to anything (ie assume everyone else is a fuckwit).

Be visible (that means good lights and hi-vis...)

Don't get emotional, it's fine to get angry at peds/cabs/buses here, but on the road it could all end rather nastily.

Look into the distance at the same time as being aware of everything close to you!

Tell him to Feel the Dream.

Peace, sista.

@Grides, info for your friend

• read the LCC pages on cycle sense
  
• read the TfL pages on cycling and get him to book a 1:1 cycle training which are usually free via your home or work borough. A two-hour session.
  
• Cyclecraft by John Franklin (as mentioned by Clefty)
  
• Never undertake another cyclist and always position yourself where you are visible. Being bold and fast comes with experience.
  
  

And enjoy!

+1 to most of the above advice. The best way of learning to ride in London is from a qualified cycle trainer--get him to call CTUK on 7231 6005 so he can find out what's available to him. All levels of ability and experience catered for, recommended for every cyclist.

make sure he gets a decent D-Lock.
really useful for when "old asian guy" attacks

All good stuff.... thanks guys

Keep a large enough distance from kerb/parked cars so that traffic from behind you is encouraged to drive around you rather than stay on its course.

At all junctions, turns, roundabouts etc; Make sure to be in the centre of the correct lane and negotiate the junctions as if you were a car. No need to rush.