The Senior Cyclist
My Top Tips
Here, in no significant order, are my top tips for getting the most out of your cycling.
- Get hold of a copy of Cyclecraft, by John Franklin. This book, published by HM Stationery Office, is basically the bible of good cycling practice. A careful reading of this book, plus an understanding of the relevant sections of the Highway Code, will equip you with all you need to cycle safely and pleasurably on our roads.
- Set your saddle at the correct height (if your bike is an upright). From what I see on the roads, many cyclists have their saddles set too low. As well as encouraging inefficient pedalling, this can result in pain and ultimately in damage to knee joints. There are various methods used to determine the correct saddle height but ultimately it comes down to personal feel. My own habit is to set the saddle as high as I can have it without feeling that I have to stretch hard to reach the bottom of the pedalling circle or feeling that I'm rolling from side to side while pedalling.
- Inflate your tyres to the right pressure. There's a huge difference between cycling on correctly inflated tyres and cycling on tyres that are too soft. Read the recommended pressure on the wall of your tyres (usually given in PSI - pounds per square inch). Buy a decent track pump (that's the kind that you put your feet on and push down on with both hands) with a pressure guage and check your tyre pressures each time you go out for a decent ride. Tyres go down surprisingly quickly even when the bike is just sitting in the shed.
- Consider using "clipless" pedals and shoes. This system (there are several makes including Shimano, Time and Crank Brothers) involves shoes with metal cleats attached to the soles which lock into special pedals. The shoes are firmly fixed to the pedals while cycling, but are easily removed by a twist of the foot for stopping or dismounting. They take a bit of getting used to (and inevitably involve a couple of embarrassing falls right in front of the neighbours or your pals from the pub) but very quickly they become indispensable. Pedalling is easier because the rising foot can draw the pedal on the upstroke, making the pedalling cycle smoother and there is no risk of a foot slipping off a pedal, even under the load of climbing.
- Buy and wear "proper" cycling clothes. It's entirely possible to ride a bike in jeans and a scruffy jumper and many people do. However, there are real advantages in wearing padded cycle shorts (and cycling tights in winter) and upper body clothing on the layer principle (a base layer to wick away sweat; a cycling jersey and an outer gilet or jacket depending on the weather). Not only are these clothes cut to be comfortable while cycling, they are made from modern "technical" fabrics which best deal with our Brirish weather conditions and have features such as back pockets which are very useful to the cyclist and rarely found on "ordinary" clothing. Cycle clothing doesn't have to be brightly coloured lycra (although there are safety arguments in its favour). Several ranges are available which are hardly distinguishable from casual streetwear.
- Fit lights to your bike. You never know when a bike trip might last a little longer than planned and it's quite easy to find yourself riding in the gathering gloom of early evening, especially in winter. Having lights in such conditions is not only a legal requirement, it can increase your safety on the road. Simple LED type lights, white to the front and red to the rear, will help drivers to see you in good time. Of course, like everything else in cycling, you can have the super-duper lights which will drill through concrete at a hundred yards and be seen from the space shuttle if you want. Just make sure your batteries are working and you have a set spare.
- Learn how to service, maintain and repair your bike. Not only does doing your own workshop jobs save you money, it gives you confidence in your bike's state of repair, it gives you satisfying work to do on wet and windy days when cycling is off and it can be great fun as well. With modern motor cars so complex their workings have to be left to the professionals, the DIY mechanic can get in amongst the spanners and the grease to work on the much more accessible bike. However, be warned, the work must be done properly and completely if your safety isn't to be compromised. There are several good books on the subject and a number of excellent web sites, some of which can be found on our links page. In addition, a few good bike shops run home maintenance classes from time to time. Then all you need is an expanding toolbox as each new job leads to the acquisition of another shiny new piece of kit!
- Get suitable insurance. Your bike may well be adequately covered by your home contents policy, but it may not. Check and find out. Additionally, take out a policy which covers you for public liability in case, in this increasingly litigious world, you become involved in some sort of accident and face expensive legal proceedings. The Cyclists' Touring Club annual subscription includes useful insurance cover.
