Riding a Bicycle - Why would you do that?

Riding a bicycle has a secret. A big one.

 Whilst there are many things you may have been told about cycling:

• "it's good for your health"
• "it's economical because you don't need a travel card so it doesn't cost anything to run it (apart from food to fuel you)"
• "it's environmentally healthy as it has no CO2 emissions"
• "it's faster than using public transport or cars in towns and cities"
• "blah, blah, blah, whatever"

There is something that you may not know:

It's fun.  Really big fun.  It doesn't matter how fast you go or how far you go. It's still really big fun. There is nothing quite like the freedom, the total control you have over your bicycle, where you steer, the speed, the road you choose, when you are going to stop and start.  The overwhelming effect of the wind in your hair, the air on your face, the endorphins that give you an incredible feel-good factor which literally change your mood and make you feel fantastic. Every ride no matter how long or short is an adventure. It's exciting and invigorating.  You very rarely see a grumpy cyclist!

Through cycling I have met the most incredible people, seen parts of the country in a way you just dont see unless you are on a bicycle. You become part of the scenery without being an intrusion.

                                                                   Enjoying the sunshine

 

                                                                         Silently cycling by

                                          
                   Arriving in Scotland from London (LonJoG - London to John O'Groats)

                 The bottom of the descent, Arthur's Seat, Gower Peninsular, Wales

                                                                Cyclists sailing

                                                
                                                   Along a beach on the way to Harwich

                                                   Cycling up Semnoz, Annecy in France

                                                Arriving in Bognor on a recumbent

                                                          A ride around The Hague

                                                                      A Coffee Stop


And it's not just about cycle rides.  There are so many other things to do

                                                                    

Bicycle Polo

                              

                                    Circuits at Hilllingdon Track with the Minets Cyclist

                                            Herne Hill Velodrome in South East London


Not forgetting mountain biking, time-trials, hardcourt bike polo, triathlons and all the other ways to bring a bicycle into your life.  Whichever one(s) you choose, they all have the most amazing amount of fun!

Have Bike - now what?

A little bit of bike maintenance will keep you moving.

Every day before I ride my bike I check that my tyres are pumped up well (by squeezing them to check they are hard), that both brakes work (by pushing the bike backwards and squeezing the left brake, the right one by push the bike forward and squeezing the right one) and that the chain is working (by turning the pedals).   

Cycling with insufficiently inflated tyres really makes a difference to your ride. For instance it's far less smooth and if you go into a pot hole you really feel it.  Also, pedalling needs much more effort and the lack of air can really damage the wheel itself. 

At some stage punctures will happen. Its just unavoidable. But once you have learned how to fix them you will be amazed how easy it is and how important it is.  Looking after your tyres, checking that there aren't any pieces of stones or glass in them, letting out some air and removing the bits gently with a needle then keeping them pumped up to their maximum pressure (which is embossed  on the tyre not always easy to see but is there!) will make a big difference to how frequently you have what friends call "a Visitation from the P*^*^*^ *Fairy"!!  

If you do have a visitation, stop cycling and put you and your bike on the pavement out of the way of traffic and pedestrians.    It is important to identify what caused the visitation so inspecting the tyre and the tube to find out what caused it and remove the thorn, piece of glass or stone before you fit the new tube will hopefully stop you putting another hole in a replacement tube.  You wont always find something but it is worth looking.  

When I first started cycling I was not keen to learn how to do fix it but a friend of mine knew how important it was so he showed me how to do it.  He then deflated one of my tyres and made me swap inner tubes.  Every time I made a mistake he would make me start again from the beginning!!!  It was hilarious and rather a harsh way to learn but I can now do it and here's the proof:

 

Rear wheel removed

                      Tube replaced, tyre reinstated and inflated, wheel back on the bike!

You won't need to learn the same was as I did but do learn how to do it.  I also learned that my hands are not strong enough to remove tyres unless they are folding tyres which are more malleable so I only buy folding tyres.

In order to fix a puncture you always need to have with you:

• a pump
• a set of tyre levers (to remove the tyre)
• a spare tube (I carry 2) 
• a puncture repair kit
• a rag (to run around the inside of the tyre to find the culprit that caused the deflation)
• a pair of gloves (I carry a pair of disposable ones) 
•  

Once you have inflated the tyre as much as you can it is worth looking out for a bike shop some of whom leave a track pump outside their shop so you can inflate the tyre to the correct pressure.

                              Here is another ride I was on where there was a "Visitation"

                                                            And another one!! 

Hopefully this shows how easy they are to fix/replace - in this team of three the chap in red is inspecting the tyre looking for the cause of the puncture, the chap in yellow is looking for the hole in the inner tube and the chap in black and white is pumping air into the tube to help identify where the puncture is.  But you can do these things yourself on your own without any difficulty.  Don'f forget - I can do it so that is proof that it is not that hard!

Most bike shops do bike maintenance course, some local authorities offer them and local cycling groups and clubs can help show you the basics.