4ucycling

If you haven't been on a Boris Bike then now is the time. This is your final reminder to not miss out on the fun of hiring one of London's cycle hire bikes and get yourself around London without having to cram onto a bus or tube. Not only that but I highly recommend taking the time to have a day out on the bikes combined with some of London's finest pubs. A Boris Bike Pub tour is all the new rage in London so saddle up for some serious fun. You can hire a bicycle from any of the docking stations located all over central London. There are hundreds of them and ideally located close to some great pubs of London. I have been plotting the best routes to carve out a fun Bike and pub tour so I thought I would share this great idea with the world. First up you need to register for a key token which gives you access to the bikes. This can be done easily online but soon enough anybody will be free to walk up to a docking station and hire the bike. Once you have your key token you...

“A rider who has good handling skills will be a safer rider,” says Stu Auckland. “If they’re confident and comfortable in handling their bike, in tune with its handling, braking and accelerating characteristics, they can also then put more energy into their riding.” Auckland says a better bike handler often has more time to make decisions when encountering hazards, because less conscious thought is put into reacting to them on the road – everything becomes more instinctive, with fewer knee-jerk reactions made because the rider is experienced and able to deal with a given situation. This takes on extra importance when riding in a group. “You want your actions to be fast and fluid, not jerky and haphazard, especially if riding with others or within a large group” he says. “Last-minute swerving, heavy braking or constant changes in pace because you’re a ‘jerky’ rider will filter throughout the group meaning those behind will be expelling unnecessary energy slowing and speeding up, pl...

What can I do to improve my bike handling skills? So you want to improve your bike handling skills? Here are six tips to make you feel more comfortable and controlled when out on the bike. 1. Practice makes perfect Needless to say, one of the best ways to improve bike handling is to actually get out and ride your bike – the more often you do, the more natural it will become. However, if bike handling is a particular issue for you then having a quiet space to practice troublesome skills on your own is a great way to do improve your skill on the bike. 2. Think ahead The key to being able to react to obstacles and hazards in good time is to think – and look – ahead. It’s so easy to ‘chew your stem’ when working hard at the front of a group or grinding up a climb and miss important and potentially dangerous hazards. 3. Watch others They say one of the best ways to learn is by watching others. Not just anyone, however – you need to watch those who are well-versed in goo...

It is neccesory for cyclists to wear pedal cyclists wear helmets? A study of 538 motorcyclists and 523 pedal cyclists who attended the A&E Ward of University Hospital in Nottingham following a road accident, including post mortem reports of 19 pedal cyclists and 87 motorcyclists who died. Pedal cyclists who died more commonly suffered head injuries than motorcyclists who died. Pedal cyclists who survived also sustained head injuries more commonly than motorcyclists who survived. Head injury was more likely to be the main (or only) cause of death for pedal cyclists whereas motorcyclists who died usually suffered other major injuries, but less severe head injuries. The report concludes that head protection could reduce the incidence and severity of head injuries among pedal cyclists

You may already notice that many people around us are cycling fans. Cycling is a fantastic way to get and stay fit. Regular cycling can also help you lose weight and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. People who cycle regularly in mid adulthood typically have a fitness level of someone 10 years younger, and a life expectancy two years above average. Yet, over half the people questioned in a RoSPA survey* said that they don’t cycle, with the main reasons being ‘concerns around the safety of road cycling’ and ‘concerns about drivers treating them badly’. Whether you are a driver, cyclist or both, by understanding other road users can help your anticipation and forward planning skills and ability to take evasive action, leading to safer roads and less conflict between road users. Misunderstanding is a major cause of conflict. Some cyclists feel threatened by inconsiderate driving and close overtaking. Whilst some drivers can’t understand why cyclists at times ride in the midd...

For the safety while cycling, we need to know something about SA laws. The National Traffic Act 93 of 1996 and the National Road Traffic Regulations 2000 promulgated on 17 March 2000 in Gov Gazette 20963 (as amended from time to time)  includes the following bicycle-specific laws: * You must be seated on your saddle * You must ride in single file * You may not deliberately swerve from side to side * If you are riding on a public road where there is a bicycle lane, you must use that bicycle lane Note: Regulation 296 of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2000 states: “A person driving a vehicle on a public road shall do so by driving on the left side of the roadway … .”. Driving is defined in the Act to include riding a bicycle. There is no requirement to ride on the far left of the roadway or on the shoulder. The Road Traffic Regulations impose the same obligations on a bicycle as on a motor vehicle in this regard. Regulation 298(1) requires a vehicle to pass a cyclis...

In the followings are safety tips which are applicable to all cyclists, but even more so for commuters who often ride on their own as opposed to in small groups. Always wear a helmet. Apart from it being South African law since 2004, you never know when a dog runs out in front of you or a car cuts a corner in front of you and causes a fall. And as they say: If your head is worth R50, wear a R50 helmet… Obey the traffic rules: * Most cyclists get killed riding on the wrong side of the road or because they were not visible. Always have a steady white light on the front of your bike and a flashing red rear light between sunrise and sunset, and wear reflective kit. * ALWAYS STOP AT RED TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND ALL STOP STREETS. And even if the light is green for you to cross an intersection, look out for motorists jumping the lights. Watch out for other road users at stop streets. Even if you are continuing straight at a T-junction stop street, there may be horseriders or people wal...

What is safe cycling? You’ll probably get a different answer from every website you read or any other cyclist you talk to. To me, ‘safe cycling’ relates to the combination of common sense, road rules and cycling knowledge to get you from Point A to Point B in a safe and efficient way, preferably with the journey having been a pleasant one and not fraught with danger. Firstly, please make sure that you are visible when you go out on the bicycle. Fit bright lights to your bike (steady white light in front; flashing red light behind the saddle); wear reflective strips or bands eg around your ankle where the motion attracts attention, and wear bright coloured kit (luminous colours work well) – especially when it is rainy, misty or overcast or at dawn/dusk. What do you need in order to cycle safely? a) You need the right vehicle… Choose the right bicycle for the job. I prefer using a hybrid or mountain bicycle for commuting purposes. It is more comfortable than a road racing ...

 When it’s time to get on your bike, Europe really offers something for everyone. There are mountain climbs for those who like a challenge (this is the continent that birthed the Tour de France, after all) as well as scenic flat-as-a-pancake rides along coasts and through bucolic landscapes, many of which are suitable for families. Here, Paul Sullivan picks 10 of the best cycling routes in Europe. 1 Alpe d’Huez, France Best for: dramatic Alpine scenery Distance: 13 km (9 miles) Duration: 1–3 hours, depending on fitness levels This iconic ascent, best known as one of the key sections of the Tour de France, offers 21 bends that corkscrew between Bourg d’Oisans and Alpe d’Huez in the French alps. The scenic 3,670 ft climb is unrelenting, yet 1,000 riders per day – pros as well as determined amateurs – tackle it each summer. 2 Baltic Sea Cycle Route (Hansa Circuit) Best for: fresh sea air Distance: 7,980 km (4,958 miles) Duration: varies Otherwise known as Eurovelo 1...

I used to cycle EVERYWHERE. In my early teens my trusted Raleigh Racer took me to see friends, boyfriends, movies and shops. But then marriage, kids, cars and jobs happened, the weight piled on, and my poor old bike got left behind to rot. Mum got fed up of having to stack stuff around it, and after being hoarded in my shed for a couple of years, I eventually gave in and sent it for recycling. Living with a cycling addict is a bit of a nightmare, everything revolves around cycling, even trips away with the kids, (it even infected our honeymoon!) and I have to admit that there were times when I resented it appearing to be more important than our relationship. This year I finally relented and gave in to the annual pleas of hiring cycles as a family. “It’ll be so much fun mum!” filled me with dread, the last time I’d attempted to cycle I’d got out of puff at the sight of a slight incline and given up before even attempting it. But I was about to discover that a lot of it is down to the ...

 Bike sharing is a concept originating back to the 1960s. However, it was slow to catch on until better technology was developed, which could provide real-time information about the scheme, track the bikes and help safeguard against theft. Now, bike sharing is booming at an unprecedented rate, largely due to the reasonably low cost of the schemes, and how easy they are to implement compared with other transport infrastructure. And it’s an easy win for governments and urban societies, which can boost their green credentials by embracing such an environmentally friendly design. In 2004, only 11 cities had adopted bike sharing. Today, more than 1,000 public bicycle schemes of varying sizes and specifications run in more than 50 countries, across five continents. Europe’s biggest scheme is the Paris Vélib’, with 1,800 stations and more than 20,000 bikes. Hangzhou, China hosts the world’s largest system – three times bigger than Vélib’ – which is set to expand to 175,000 bikes by ...

The benefits of bike sharing schemes include transport flexibility, reductions to vehicle emissions, health benefits, reduced congestion and fuel consumption, and financial savings for individuals. But the most special quality of public bicycles is the idea of sharing. By sharing with others through a publicly available scheme, individuals can use bicycles on an “as-needed” basis, without the costs and responsibilities associated with ownership. In doing so, these schemes allow people who may not otherwise use bicycles, to enjoy the benefits of cycling; whether they’re tourists or locals. Bike sharing schemes can also act as a door opener for increased bicycle use, by making a strong visual statement that bicycles do belong to a city’s streets. According to my research, commuters using on-road transport can see bike sharing as a powerful on-street “cycling promotion campaign”. What’s more, other studies report that cycling increased in cities which implemented bike sharing sche...

CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA: I’m living in the middle suburbs of Shanghai – a great cycling metropolis. Bike-riding rates are 30 to 40 times higher than Australian cities. Hardly anyone wears lycra or rides a mountain or racing bike here. Cycling is all about “effortless” propulsion at low speeds on cheap, upright city bicycles in everyday clothes. People ride at half the speed of my mates in Australia, never breaking a sweat. Everyone rides here: grandmothers, professors, street sweepers, office workers, my guitar teacher, children. It is these “missing” bicycle riders we don’t see in Australia. Those going to the shop, the train station or the pub on a bicycle, instead of walking or driving a short distance. So how do we target these groups? We are certainly going in some good directions with bicycle policies and programs in many of Australia’s major cities, turning back 60 years of disinvestment in cycling. But how do we take the next step? Here are some suggestions, based on com...

Most new cyclists have huge gains in fitness during the first few months of riding regularly. After this initial introductory period, improvements become much more minimal and may be harder to recognize. Instead of being satisfied with your performance, there are easy ways to identify individual deficiencies that will help continue your progression and ultimately help you to become a faster cyclist. Here are 10 tips to include in your training plan that will help you get faster, stronger and break free from your everyday training rut. Improve Your Fitness The first and easiest way to become a faster cyclist is to improve your fitness. This can be done simply by getting on your bike more often. Just ride! Start by finding a way to commute to work, attend a group exercise class, or squeeze in another ride on the weekend. Buy New Wheels A nice set of carbon wheels are typically lighter, more aerodynamic and create less drag than the heavy stock version that came with your road ...

Riding in the Rain American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, best known for his epic Hiawatha, observed that ‘into each life some rain must fall’. As cyclists, we’re more aware of it than most, but British Cycling club coach Dan Bennett, who runs Progressive Cycle Coaching, highlights the benefits of a good soaking. “Riding in the cold and wet gives you the mental toughness to handle a change in the weather in a race or sportive. It also increases your bike-handling skills, teaches you where the limits of your tyres are, and keeps you in better tune with your bike. Apply the brakes in equal amounts – 50 per cent on the front, 50 per cent on the back – and ride a little further towards the middle of the road: you’ll be less likely to pick up flints and other stones washed off the verges that may cause punctures.” The real key to winter riding is your clothing. “Wrap up with the best training clothing you can afford,” he says. “And when you’re riding in low temperatures on a windy w...

World Bicycle Relief (WBR), the charity that provides specially designed super-rugged bikes to help get people in developing countries mobile, has launched a campaign that will see any donations made by the public before December the 31st matched up to $1.7M (£1.3M) matched. To put it simply a £95 donation is usually enough to buy one Buffalo Bike but until the end of the year it’ll provide two! This year’s campaign, Together We Rise, highlights Umoja Secondary School in Eldoret, Kenya, where children of Christian, Muslim and traditional African faiths study together and embody their motto – “Together We Rise.” Like millions of children across rural Africa, many students at Umoja Secondary School endure long walks to school that put their academic futures at risk. Girl students face even more obstacles accessing an education- hours of obligatory domestic chores and the threat of sexual assault on the way to school. On top of these daunting challenges, Muslim girls in this region al...

Over the past year along with B’Twin and Decathlon UK, we’ve been encouraging people to get themselves and others riding with our getbritainriding campaign. It’s been a huge success too: over 10,000 cyclists have pledged to get friends or family on bikes saying that they’d help a whopping 42,000 people take up riding this year. In total, you lot have pledged to ride a hard-to-comprehend 23 million miles over the course of the year. Sit yourselves down, you must be worn out! British Cycling, coincidentally, have been doing something similar this year and they’ve just published the first results from their ‘Bike Shed’ studies, a collaboration with behavioural scientists at Colombia University and their partners HSBC looking at “how best to encourage, motivate and dispel the fears associated with getting on a bike.” Given, they say, that 50% of UK adults are ‘lapsed’ cyclists, they developed a series of studies to identify new and tangible ways to inspire people to get out pedalling. ...