SESKStuff Everyone Should Know

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Stuff Every Cyclist Should Know

Road rules, helmets, hand signals, bike care, flats and riding skills.

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Free to start, no sign-up. 64 cards so far. One Knowledge Score and day streak across all your courses.

⏱ Timed practice exam

SESK practice exam: 50 questions, 50 minutes, pass with 40 right (80%).

Take it like the real thing: a countdown, no hints until you finish, then your score by topic, every miss explained, and a readiness score from your last 3 exams.

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  1. When you ride a bike on the road, which way should you go?
    Show the answer

    In the same direction as traffic. Bikes ride with traffic, in the rightmost lane going your way. Drivers pulling out or turning look for traffic coming from the usual direction, so riding against it surprises them.

  2. In most states, what does the law give a person riding a bike on the road?
    Show the answer

    The same rights and duties as a driver. In most states a bike on the road is treated like a vehicle. You get the right to use the road, and you must obey the same signs, signals and rules as drivers.

  3. Which hand signal tells drivers you are turning left on your bike?
    Show the answer

    Left arm held straight out to the side. To signal a left turn, stick your left arm straight out sideways. Arm bent up means a right turn, and arm pointing down means stop or slow down.

All 64 practice questions

The first 50 are free, with the answer, why it's right and the official sources. The other 14 (🔒) are for SESK members. Or play them as a game and track what you've learned.

Show all 64 questions
  1. When you ride a bike on the road, which way should you go?
  2. In most states, what does the law give a person riding a bike on the road?
  3. Which hand signal tells drivers you are turning left on your bike?
  4. Besides the left-arm signal, what other right-turn signal can bicyclists use in many states?
  5. On a bike, what does a left arm bent up at the elbow, hand pointing to the sky, mean?
  6. How do you signal 'I'm stopping or slowing down' on a bike?
  7. In Idaho and Oregon, how far before a turn should a bike rider start signaling?
  8. When riding at night, what color light do state laws require on the front of a bike?
  9. Under Washington law, what must be on the back of a bike ridden in the dark?
  10. Under Florida's passing law, how much space must a driver give when passing a bike in the same lane?
  11. In Washington, how must a driver pass a bike in the right lane when at least two lanes go that way?
  12. In Washington, when you ride your bike on a sidewalk, whose rights and duties do you have?
  13. In Florida, what must a bike rider on a sidewalk do before passing someone walking?
  14. In Oregon, riding on a sidewalk toward a driveway with a car approaching, how fast may you go?
  15. Under Idaho's famous 'Idaho stop' law, what may a bike rider do at a stop sign?
  16. In Idaho, what may a bike rider going straight do at a steady red light?
  17. Oregon passed a 2019 law about bikes at stop signs. What does it let riders do?
  18. Riding experts say to stay out of the 'door zone'. What is it?
  19. The 'Dutch Reach' helps protect bike riders. What does it tell people in parked cars to do?
  20. In Washington, who has the legal duty to make sure a car door opens safely into traffic?
  21. Florida lets bike riders move away from the right edge when a lane is what?
  22. In Florida, a bike rider making a left turn from the turn lane may use how much of that lane?
  23. Some intersections have a painted 'two-stage bicycle turn box'. What is it for?
  24. In Florida, a driver who just passed a bike may turn right only if the bike is at least how far from the intersection?
  25. In Washington, how many bike riders may ride side by side on a regular roadway?
  26. What is the safest way to cross railroad tracks on a bike?
  27. Bike helmets sold in the US must carry a label saying they meet whose safety standard?
  28. How low should a bike helmet sit on your forehead?
  29. How snug should a bike helmet's chin strap be?
  30. Your bike helmet took a hard hit but looks fine. What does the required warning label say?
  31. When buying a bike helmet for a growing kid, which should you pick?
  32. In Florida, which bike riders and passengers does the law require to wear a helmet?
  33. In Oregon, if a child 11 or younger rides without a required helmet, who gets the ticket?
  34. Which habit helps drivers notice you when you ride a bike?
  35. In the ABC Quick Check, what does the A stand for?
  36. In the ABC Quick Check, which part do you check by looking for worn pads?
  37. Where is a bike tire's recommended air pressure usually printed?
  38. A flat bike tube has two small matching slits side by side. What usually caused it?
  39. Before prying a tire off the rim with tire levers, what should you do?
  40. Before you put a new tube in after a flat, what should you do?
  41. Which bike valve is thinner and has a small locknut you unthread before adding air?
  42. Which bike valve is the same type found on American cars?
  43. How much chain lube does Park Tool say to put on a clean chain?
  44. What should you do right after putting lube on your bike chain?
  45. When pedaling starts getting harder, like on a hill, which gear should you shift into?
  46. On flat ground, where in your range of gears should you usually be?
  47. For best results, how should your bike chain line up when you pick gears?
  48. Sitting on the saddle with one pedal all the way down, how should your leg look?
  49. Riding with a saddle that is much too low puts extra stress on which joint?
  50. What does a clipless pedal need on your shoe?
  51. Some clipless cleats have 'float.' What does float let your foot do? 🔒
  52. Compared with sitting upright, what does the bent-over drop bar road bike posture offer? 🔒
  53. Straddling a mountain or hybrid bike and lifting it up to you, how much tire clearance should you have? 🔒
  54. In states with e-bike classes, like Minnesota and California, what is a Class 1 e-bike? 🔒
  55. In states with e-bike classes, like Minnesota and California, what is a Class 3 e-bike's top assisted speed? 🔒
  56. On a shared path, what should you clearly say as you pass someone? 🔒
  57. After passing someone on a trail, about how much room should you leave before moving back right? 🔒
  58. In Minnesota, how many bicyclists may ride side by side on a roadway? 🔒
  59. Who wears the yellow jersey in the Tour de France? 🔒
  60. Who wears the red polka dot jersey in the Tour de France? 🔒
  61. On a ride of more than 1 hour of hard effort, what does MedlinePlus say you also need during the exercise? 🔒
  62. When does Mayo Clinic say to drink water around a workout like a bike ride? 🔒
  63. In the ABC Quick Check, what does the C stand for? 🔒
  64. In states with e-bike classes, like Minnesota and California, what makes a Class 2 e-bike different? 🔒