Spacial and situational awareness are the biggies when it comes to longevity on a bike. Anticipating potential road dangers, looking ahead, evaluating risk/benefit is constant, but experience is the real factor in being safe. Been there, done that, are huge teachers. Near misses, over cooking corners, seeing dangerous drivers, dogs, idiots all add up to being a better cyclist and better driver.
(Quick story, a neighbor I have known for 15 years, two doors down, decided he wanted to get into cycling, so he geared up with a nice bike and kit. On his fifth ride with some buddies on a local MUP lost focus for a second, went off and got stopped dead by a fence post. Got knocked out, broken arm and dislocated shoulder with a trip in an ambulance. Six weeks later he moves slowly and looks like s***. He is probably 58 so no spring chicken. He hasn’t said if he will get back n the saddle. I rather doubt it.). Didnt have the nerve to ask about his driving record.
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Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️