Safety and Preparedness

Congratulations.  By reading this website and doing your research you are already much further ahead than most.  But even the most experienced and skilled cyclists can run into difficulties so here are some tips to help you ride safely:

     ● wear a helmet.  The use of a bicycle helmet is mandatory for all ages while cycling in New Brunswick.
     ● make sure your bike, fitness, experience and abilities match the ride you have chosen.
     ● know some basic bicycle maintenance skills.  The further one ventures into the back country, the more knowledge one needs.   At the very least, learn how to change a tube, patch a rip in the sidewall of a tire, and fix a broken chain.  If mechanical skills are not your forte, make sure you can phone a friend or take someone with you who has the required skills and tools.
     ●ultra-light is only for the ultra-experienced.  Take more clothes, food and water than you think you will need.
     ● always ride under control and slow down when approaching other users.
     ●everyone needs to be responsible for themselves but if riding in a group, take care of each other. Travel only as fast as your slowest rider. Regroup at junctions to ensure everyone knows where to go.
     ● be alert to the presence of animals, both the two-legged and four-legged kind.  New Brunswick’s wilderness is expansive and healthy so with that comes a large population of small and large critters including bears and and moose.  Be on the look-out and give the big creatures a wide berth if you happen upon one.  When venturing into the woods, it is a good idea to carry bear-spray and if possible, don’t ride alone.  Avoidance is always the best defence so make noise while riding to alert animals of your presence.   “Good” bears don’t want to see you any more than you want to see them and fortunately, most bears in New Brunswick are “good” because they haven’t been habituated to people and human food sources. 
     ●consider carrying a very loud whistle, such as a Fox 40.  When blown intermittently in the back country, you are unlikely to ever see a bear.  It also stops dogs in their tracks because it hurts their ears.
     ●bad weather can turn a wonderful ride into a miserable trip or even worse, a dangerous experience.  Ever notice that the sky is almost always blue in tourism brochures and on travel websites?  Well, as we all know, real life isn’t quite so sun-shiny.  The weather can change quickly in New Brunswick.  Check the forecast before heading out and be prepared to turn back or put on warmer clothes or rain gear.  Expect strong winds at any time, especially in marsh areas and along the coast.  During spring and summer, temperatures along the Fundy Coast are often cooler than elsewhere in the province.
     ●sometimes sharing the roads with vehicles is unavoidable, but there are many things we can do to stay as safe as possible. Remember that when riding on roads and streets, you are a vehicle. You have the same rights and responsibilities of a vehicle. Abide by the rules. Ride on the right hand side of the road. Stop for red lights and stop signs. If a sidewalk is the only safe alternative, ride very slowly, or better yet, walk your bike. When at street junctions, make eye contact with the driver. To ensure a vehicle is stopped, watch its’ tires. Be seen by vehicles. Wear bright coloured clothing and use lights on your bike.
     ●if you have not done much mountain biking, consider taking a course or riding with skilled riders. They will teach you techniques that will help you stay safe and eek out even more enjoyment from your ride.
     ●if embarking on a Great Ride for your first time, use more than one form of navigation.  Cell phone batteries are notoriously known to die at the most inopportune times so it is a good idea to carry either a printed map or a Handheld GPS that uses regular old-school batteries.  Always start with a full-charged phone.  Always tell someone where you to plan to ride.
     ●New Brunswick has many logging roads, blueberry field roads, private roads, private trails, ATV trails, and snowmobile trails.  Some of these may or may not show up on the map you are using. Sometimes these roads may show up on a map but then just unexpectedly quit.  And some roads that are passable at certain times of year may almost disappear at other times. 
     ● when first venturing into unknown territory, give yourself permission to slowly expand your comfort zone. For example, the first time you head into the woods by yourself, you don’t know how good (or bad) your sense of direction and map reading skills might be. Better to figure that out on a small adventure close to home before you plan a big trip.