- It’s always better to road cycle in groups, and since 2003, cyclists are allowed to cycle in parallel (albeit always as far to the right as the road permits, and only on sections of the road with good visibility); so by cycling in groups, you are more visible to drivers, who will be much more cautious.

- Bad weather… bad luck, in this case. If nobody is forcing you out on the road (and unless you compete, nobody is), don’t go biking when there is strong wind, storms and other similar weather conditions. To cycle under these conditions is just to take a dumb risk.

- Music, never. Wearing earphones that keep you from hearing sounds on the exterior (honking, for example) is absolutely prohibited, and while in theory it is possible to wear just one earphone, it’s not at all advisable. Caution must be observed at all times, and so distractions should be kept to a minimum.

- Keep your hands firmly on the handlebars, unless it is absolutely necessary to let go, in which case it would still be better to stop cycling first. And when going downhill, don’t crouch too much; keep your eye on the curve and look towards the next one, if it is visible, to check for oncoming traffic.

- Just in case there is an incident, make sure you take your ID, mobile phone, an emergency contact number and even a tag (or something similar) that identifies your blood type. You can’t be too safe. .