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Smoother Outings by William Fotheringham "Try to appreciate your
surroundings. This is not just about getting from A to B as fast as you
can. That, obviously, is for car drivers."
The simplest option when planning a ride is to follow part of the National Cycle Network, The network now stretches a boggling 10,000 miles across the UK, one third of which are traffic free (But whichever route you take, bear in mind these tips to make your ride as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible ... 1. Plan your route carefully. If creating one yourself, try to devise a circuit with your home in the middle so you can take a short cut if you get tired, run out of time or have mechanical trouble. Factor in the wind direction so you start your ride by going against it and ending with the wind behind to push you along as you get tired. Avoid major roads where possible. 2. Think about the time of your ride. If you have the option, choose morning: in winter the temperature rises making things progressively more pleasant, and in summer it's cool. Try not to ride for an hour after a heavy meal - so if setting out early, breakfast light. 3. Look after your bike. A clean, oiled bike feels better to ride - mainly because a well-lubricated chain makes pedalling easier. Invest in a track pump so you can inflate your tyres up to the manufacturer's recommended pressure immediately before you go out - that reduces rolling resistance and makes you go faster. 4. Wear sunglasses and a helmet. The latter is self-explanatory, the former keep bugs and dust out of your eyes. There is nothing worse than a beetle getting under an eyelid as you go downhill at 30mph. Apart from on the sunniest days, put a waterproof top or gilet in your pocket, even if it's not raining: if you halt for more than a few minutes, to repair a puncture or have a cup of tea, you will cool down. 5. Put a little thought into what you will eat and drink. If you are riding for more than an hour and a half, eat a carb-rich snack during the ride to avoid getting "hunger-knock". Take a bottle of sports drink or water. If you think you might need a top-up - on a hot day, for example - factor this into your route plan. 6. Don't charge off in top gear. Aim for a relatively high pedalling rate; somewhere between 85 and 110 revs per minute is about right, but the key thing is it should feel comfortable, with the gear spinning rather than your legs forcing it round. You will go further and faster in this way. Don't be ashamed to change gear for windy bits of road or small hills. 7. The oldest trap on the road is the hill that looks insignificant but has you gasping well before the top. So begin each hill in a low gear that is comfortable, remaining seated in the saddle. When you are halfway up, think about going a little faster or changing up a gear or two - if you can. 8. Don't hug the kerb or you will find yourself forced into potholes and drains. You may well find a strip of smooth tarmac about 18 inches out from the edge where car and lorry tyres have worn a path that is a little faster to ride on. If traffic permits, choose a line that allows you the option of going to the left or right of any potholes; if you have to go to the right, look behind before moving out. If a car is coming up behind you, "bunny-hop" the pothole by shifting your weight from front to back as you go over the hole, lifting your front wheel slightly. 9. On descents, if you are travelling at over 25mph, drift further out into the road (still keeping to the left of the white line!) so you have more time to cope with changes in surface, holes and corners. Cars will be less likely to overtake you - you will be travelling faster than they do on sharper bends, so you don't want them in front getting in the way. 10. And finally, try to appreciate your surroundings. This is not just about getting from A to B as fast as you can. That, obviously, is for car drivers.
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