Ten gears and counting
Getting back in the saddle can be a daunting thing for those who have lost their way and forgotten the joys of cycling, but help is at hand with top advice from Warwickshire County Council.
This summer marks the tenth anniversary of cycle training in Warwickshire, with almost 30,000 being trained over the decade.
And while the cycle training remains extremely popular with children, it is also proving increasingly attractive to adults wanting to get back in the saddle.
Improving health, beating the rush hour queues and cheap travel with no petrol or parking costs, are just some of the reasons people are turning back to bike power.
However, with many people spending many years in their cars, while their bike gathers dust in the garage or shed, their confidence may need some building before heading back out on the road.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “They say you never forget how to ride a bike, and this is true, but it’s also true that confidence can fall unless you are doing something regularly.
“Selecting the right gear, what lane to be in, how to react to traffic, and even where you can and can’t cycle, are all issues many people face when thinking about getting out and about, and this can quite easily put people off even bothering.
“For ten years now we have been trying to make it easier for people, and it’s incredible that in the past decade we have trained 28,964 people.”
Warwickshire County Council’s Bike User Group know what it’s like to get those pedals turning and have offered some top tips for making bike rides more comfortable.
Checking tyres are properly inflated is probably one of the most important things to do regularly. This helps to avoid punctures and tyres at the correct pressure make cycling far easier.
Changing to a skinnier tyre is probably the easiest way to increase speed and decrease effort, especially if cycling a long distance. However, slightly wider tyres (28mm) are a fair compromise, as they maintain good grip on the roads and still allow you to deviate onto a canal towpath or track should the opportunity arise.
Make sure the saddle is at the correct height. Many people ride with the saddle too low, therefore not maximising the use of the legs as levers. At the bottom of your pedal stroke, your leg should be almost straight.
If you need to bring items to and from work, invest in a rack and panniers or saddlebag. Wearing a rucksack/shoulder bag makes you top-heavy and is uncomfortable over a long distance.
Use your gears. Why struggle up a hill when there are 18 gears?
If wearing trousers wear cycle clips or tuck trousers in socks so you’ve lots of space to move and won’t get caught in the chain.
If you get too hot wear a hi-viz sleeveless ‘airtex’ type jacket to keep you cooler.
Use a specialist product that repels dirt and doesn’t evaporate on your chain once a week.
If cycling a long distance, buy some proper cycling shoes and some decent SPD type pedals. Your foot will always be in the correct position, the shoes are stiff so no power is lost, and you get drive from both the down, and up-stroke.
Use a good lock that you can leave at your workplace. It needs to be secure and weather proof.
Use mudguards for keeping you and the bike clean and dry(ish).
For more information on cycle training in Warwickshire visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cycletraining, or for more general information about road safety visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/roadsafety