What is the recommended action when encountering a pothole while riding?

What is the recommended action when encountering a pothole while riding?

• A. Look straight ahead and rise slightly off the seat
• B. Look down at the road surface
• C. Brake hard before pothole
• D. Turn the handlebars away from pothole

Answer: (A)

When you encounter a pothole, your stability and ability to react quickly matter most. Look straight ahead so you can scan for the best path and avoid making abrupt, unplanned moves. Rising slightly off the seat lets your legs act as natural suspension, helping absorb the pothole’s impact while keeping your weight centered over the tires. This maintains traction and smoother control, which is safer than fixating on the hole or applying hard braking. Looking down at the surface can cause you to brake or wobble unexpectedly, braking hard before hitting the pothole can lead to a loss of traction, and turning the handlebars away from the hole can throw you off your line and risk a fall. So, the recommended action is to look ahead and rise a little off the seat.

When you encounter a pothole, your stability and ability to react quickly matter most. Look straight ahead so you can scan for the best path and avoid making abrupt, unplanned moves. Rising slightly off the seat lets your legs act as natural suspension, helping absorb the pothole’s impact while keeping your weight centered over the tires. This maintains traction and smoother control, which is safer than fixating on the hole or applying hard braking. Looking down at the surface can cause you to brake or wobble unexpectedly, braking hard before hitting the pothole can lead to a loss of traction, and turning the handlebars away from the hole can throw you off your line and risk a fall. So, the recommended action is to look ahead and rise a little off the seat.