Thinking of taking up Cycling?

Details: Category: Cycling; Last Updated on Thursday, 05 May 2011 18:40; Written by Site Admin; Hits: 849

Thinking of taking up Cycling?

If you are thinking about taking up cycling then let me be the first to say - go for it! Cycling is a cheap, fun and safe way to travel to work or for pleasure, and brings health benefits and possible cost savings into the mix.

Nobody's going to say that cycling uphill isn't energy-sapping, so if you consider yourself out of shape you should look for relatively flat routes to begin with, but that said you get to look forward to the fast downhill sections and the exercise will certainly help your general fitness level no end, and there can be almost immediate improvements in stamina and excess weight loss with regular cycle use. It is also cheaper than joining a gym.

With a bike you can go down narrow lanes, on canal paths and often take shorter routes that are unavailable to the car. In many congested towns, a bike can often offer the quickest method of transport. Also with a bike, you don’t have to spend time driving around looking for parking.

New bikes are currently available from as little as £89, with some local charities offering second-hand or refurbished bikes even cheaper than this, so bike ownership has never been more affordable. With new bikes of course you generally get what you pay for, but if you're going to use your bike for road or cycleway riding then even the cheapest bicycle will do the job for you. The general rule is - buy the best bicycle that you can afford. If you don't know what the best for you is straight off, buy as cheaply as possible then use your experiences with that bike to work out what your ideal bike should be. The savings you make whilst using the cheap bike will allow you to get your ideal bike all the quicker.

If you factor in the massively cheaper running costs of a bike compared to a car or even a motorbike, and you can begin to see the positives a bike can bring. With oil prices rising constantly, cycling can save significantly on fuel costs. The majority of car journeys are for distances of less than 5 miles. These distances are easily cycleable. These short journeys also have the relatively highest petrol costs because cars are most inefficient at low speeds. Adding a pannier rack to your bike can make it a more versatile machine and allow you to do those light shopping trips you'd normally take the car for.

Cycling creates little in the way of pollution or carbon dioxide emissions. It provides a powerful way to help make a meaningful contribution to reducing pollution and preventing future global warming.

So what are you going to use the bike for?

An important question to answer BEFORE you buy your bike is, what am I going to use it for? The answers you come up with can impact directly on your choice of bike as there are bikes designed for different roles. Here are some of the main categories.

All-terrain and Mountain bikes

Commuter and folding bikes

Road and touring bikes

Hybrid bikes

What are your size measurements?

Another important factor is getting a bike that you can ride comfortably. Try out a couple before buying if you can, but whatever you do, make sure you buy a bike with the correct frame size for you. Most bike suppliers provide a size guide for their bikes, which is usually based around inside leg measurement, and good cycle shops will advise on your choices.

Top Tips:

Get a good quality cycle helmet and make sure you fit lights to your bike.

Buy an air pump and use it to keep your tyres at their optimum pressure.

Maintenance kit like oils, tools, puncture repair kit, air pump, tyre levers etc.can save you a fortune should you be able to maintain your bike yourself. Alternatively, cycle repair shops provide a good service if you're not mechanically minded.

Choosing your first route carefully - don't push yourself so hard that using the bike immediately becomes a chore. Riding your bike should be enjoyable.

Accessories like water bottles, pannier racks (and bags), cycle computers, etc. are 'nice to have' items which can help you get more use from your bike by making it a bit more versatile.

Go for it. If in doubt check out local cycling clubs and cycle shops for advice on bikes, routes, safe riding etc.

Land Rover G4 bicycle