Safety First

I'll admit it, I was the safety geek growing up. I still am. I find myself constantly reminding my 7-year old about looking both ways before you cross the street, use hand sanitizer, don't dive in the shallow end, don't jump over your brother from the couch to the love seat, etc., etc. I am also a Physical Education teacher and my goal is to teach students how to participate in physical activity safely. I mean, I was the guy that was solely responsible for assigning the fifth grade students to the Safety Patrol team and encouraged them to keep notepads for suggestions on how to improve school safety (and to catch safety violators)! With all that being said, I CANNOT stress the important of safety on the roadways while cycling! Let's face it, most people in automobiles do not respect the bicycle as a vehicle. People on bikes are viewed as a nuisance. So don't think for a moment that some crazy wacko won't run you down and put you in the ditch...or worse. Which brings me to this:

That my friends is a Road ID. It is a simple piece of silicone and a metal plate that could possibly save your life. They come in various styles, sizes and colors. I hadn't really considered what a great (and cheap) investment a Road ID was until I started remembering all the stories of people I know that have been mowed down by cars while cycling. Yes, many people say they carry an ID with them in their jersey pocket while riding but, truth be told, I honestly can't tell you one person I know that does that. What I can tell you is that there are several people that ride that wear Livestrong bracelets. What you see in the picture above is the exact same size as a Livestrong bracelet. If you can rock the yellow band then you shouldn't have a problem rocking a Road ID. I never leave home for a ride without my Road ID now and I don't even realize I have it on until I jump in the shower after my ride. It not only gives me a piece of mind while I'm out riding but my wife also.

So, take it from Mr. Safety Man himself, visit the Road ID site and make the purchase. Lord willing, no one will ever have to check it for your information because of a crash but it never hurts to be prepared. If you go out for a ride with a fix-it kit then consider the Road ID your life-saving fix-it kit on your wrist.