Have you been dreaming about taking your favorite fat tire beach cruiser out for a ride along the water? Although biking on the beach can be relaxing, stress relieving and a great source of exercise, it can also have potential pitfalls that you’ll need to be aware of. Luckily, you can avoid potentially harmful mistakes by reading up on what to expect before you head out. Check out these four easy tips to keep in mind as you head out for a beach bike ride.

1. Check That Your Beach Bike Is in Great Shape

Before you decide to take your women’s fat tire beach cruiser out for a spin, check to make sure that it’s suited to a beachy environment and that it’s in good shape. After all, you don’t want to risk getting stuck in the sand or stranded without functioning tires! It’s best to make a checklist of the most important parts to check and to conduct a thorough run-through before heading out. For example, you should ensure that the bike to take to the beach has:

• Appropriately sized tires
• Good tire thread
• Good tire pressure
• Bike mirrors
• Reflective lights

2. Survey the Landscape First and Watch out for Sand Patches

When riding on the beach, one of the biggest dangers to look out for is unexpected conditions or landscape variations. In order to avoid catching your bike on rough patches or running into poor biking conditions, it’s best to survey your route and determine your path before leaving. Pay extra attention to the following possible obstacles.

• Weeds
• Rough patches
• Deep sand patches
• Shell fragments
• Beached fish and other marine life
• Rocks and pebbles

3. Adjust Your Riding Settings As You Go

Even if you’re riding on the best fat tire beach cruiser out there, you may still need to pause and adjust your bike during the ride to keep up with changing conditions. For your safety, make sure you:

• Shift to low gear along the water
• Avoid braking and shifting in soft sand
• Lower your tire pressure if you need help with steering
• Keep your eyes on your path to stay on the right trail

4. Prep Yourself for Beachy Biking Weather

Last but not least, don’t forget to prepare yourself for biking in beach weather! Depending on the time of year, you may need to slather on some sun cream and bring a broad-rimmed hat for stops along the way. Some other personal care essentials that can help make your beach biking experience more pleasant include the following.

• A helmet
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• A mouth guard
• Bug spray

Before you slather on some sunscreen, pull your bike out of the garage and head to the beach for an exhilarating ride, make sure you take some time to prepare for the potential dangers and pitfalls of riding on the beach. It’s important to avoid rough patches, plan out your trail ahead of time, prep for beach weather and ensure your bike is appropriate for the terrain. With these four tips in mind, you can safely enjoy a pleasant beach bike ride.