4ucycling

Some claim that a simple bicycle ride through an urban landscape will do more to educate about urban ills/joys, and sell the joy of cycling better than any other kind of communication. Some contend that the bicycle is "an instrument of experiential understanding" through which complex civic and environmental issues are graphically conveyed. There is no question that the experience of cycling as serious transport is powerful stuff. It is also true that, like many things, actually trying something may be the best way to understand its value and that cycling revolutionizes one's view of one's surroundings. Back to Reality However, it is still a massive challenge to get enough people in the saddle long enough to have that revelation. Acquired Taste I've been actively recruiting new cyclists for years but I can still count the converts from my personal life on one hand. Even when you get new butts in the saddles, the first thing those butts do is complain tha...

The road to fitness is from the road itself. Bicycling or bike-riding is steadily increasing in popularity as a mode of transportation when going to school, office or work and as a means of recreation. It also opened for many opportunities for sports enthusiasts to showcase their strength and stamina in cycling competitions or bike races. Many of the conducted studies on the benefits of cycling show that a regular routine of riding the bicycle helps reduce various health risks and problems due to our unhealthy lifestyle. First, it reduces our risk from cardiovascular diseases that include hypertension and heart attack among others. Second, it decreases the feeling of anxiety and depression that could be fatal if unattended. Lastly, it is also one of the important alternatives to lose weight. It burns our excess fats accumulated in our bodies then turns these heavy baggage to become muscles. In losing weight, it would be beneficial if the exercise is accompanied with a healthy diet ...

Many amateur cyclists dream of taking their passion to the next level and joining a bike racing team. But before this can be done there are some very important considerations that must understood first. Here is what you need to know before joining a bike racing team. Riding a bike for pleasure and biking as a member of a competitive team are very different. Once a person joins a team there is an important commitment that is made where other team members will depend on you. It is important to be prepared to fulfill this commitment responsibly. Participating on a competitive team also takes a lot out of the individual both physically and mentally. The stress of the race, inclement weather conditions and the physical hardships all compound to make bike racing challenging enough. There are certain things which you must be aware of before embarking on a professional journey. Here is a quick checklist of what you should know before joining a bike racing team. The first prerequisite bef...

I have a very interesting job title, I'd like to share it with you and talk a little about what I do. I am a strategic cycling officer and infrastructure consultant. Quite a mouthful right? Let me tell you what I do. I go to schools on a Monday (a different school every week) and I leave on a Thursday. On the Monday I hold an assembly with all the kids and teachers and tell them why I'm at school. Basically my job is to make an overall assessment of the school and its surrounding area in terms of its suitability for cycling. I tell the kids that I am here so that more of them can cycle to school. They are on my side. I spend the next few days cycling around the local roads and making reports about the suitability for cycle paths. I also look at the school itself, where can they put more cycle shelters- do they have enough cycle shelters? I liaise with the head of the school and give them information about funding - there is up to £5,000 available in grants for schools that ...

Every year about 300 people are killed on UK roads as a result of a driver falling asleep at the wheel. Driver tiredness accounts for one in five fatal crashes occurring on motorways and other major roads in the UK. Tired driver crashes are three times more likely to result in serious injury or death than other road accidents, because drowsy drivers do not brake or take other avoidance action. These accidents tend to occur most frequently at night, peaking between 2-6am and also in the mid-afternoon, roughly between 3-5 pm. Men, particularly those aged 18-24, are most likely to be involved in these accidents. But statistics also show that some occupations are at particularly high risk: Truck drivers Company car drivers Shift workers, particularly on the first night after a shift Skilled manual workers (e.g. bricklayers, carpenters, electricians) Microsleeps If you are very tired but continue to resist the urge to sleep, you will soon start to experience 'microsleeps...

Regulation of bike-share schemes should aim at the goal of creating long-term sustainable mobility options on bicycles. This, in our opinion, can best be achieved by providing the opportunity for bike-shares to place a necessary amount of bikes on the streets to provide a proof of concept and thereafter grow their scheme provided that the bikes are utilised. Regulators should seek to prevent bike-share systems from applying predatory pricing, that is, reducing prices below the long-term sustainable level. To make matters more concrete, our suggestion is that cities should allow bike-share schemes to place an initial maximum number of bikes (for example, 1 bike per 1,000 citizens) and require a certain level of usage on the bikes to be achieved before the bike-share scheme can scale. Considering that cities would like to increase bike usage, permits should be allocated to bike-share companies without fees to ensure that cost is not passed onto users. Cities should establish minimum ...

Smaller Batteries While firms such as Bosch and Shimano are always looking to improve and refine their drive systems, this year’s important e-bike technical developments are more likely to be associated with power sources. Battery size and efficiency is something that’s an important topic for a vast range of modern products — from mobile phones to electric cars — and with the digital consumer hugely reliant on electrical power on the go, battery manufacturers are constantly searching to make theirs smaller, lighter, and hold a bigger charge for longer. In the case of e-bikes that is particularly important because the battery is the main thing that makes pedal-assist models bulky, heavy and obviously different from ‘normal’ bikes. The battery’s ability to hold a charge is also key to an e-bike’s range — effectively regulating how far you can go on your e-bike before it runs out of power. However, one increasingly popular idea is that manufacturers will start shying away from routi...

FOLLOW THE LAW Your safety and image of bicyclists depend on you. You have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. Obey traffic signals and stop signs. Ride with traffic; use the rightmost lane headed in the direction you are going. BE PREDICTABLE Make your intentions clear to everyone on the road. Ride in a straight line and don’t swerve between parked cars. Signal turns, and check behind you well before turning or changing lanes. BE CONSPICUOUS Ride where people can see you and wear bright clothing. Use a front white light, red rear light and reflectors when visibility is poor. Make eye contact with others and don’t ride on sidewalks. THINK AHEAD Anticipate what drivers, pedestrians, and other people on bikes will do next. Watch for turning vehicles and ride outside the door zone of parked cars. Look out for debris, potholes, and other road hazards. Cross railroad tracks at right angles. RIDE READY Check that your tires are sufficiently inflated, brakes are work...

Modern high-end light systems offer enough brightness to give your riding companions sunburn (kidding!). And, they come in a wide variety of price points. But, how much light is needed for safe road or off-road riding?We have a wide assortment of bicycle lights for every purpose! Light It Up To illuminate the road or trail ahead for your own eyes, not just to be seen at night by others, 10 watts is a good starting point. In general, the greater the headlight's wattage, the brighter the light. There are also systems with yellow and white light, the latter being brighter at the same wattage. Find The Right Features Modern lighting systems are packed with features. There are twin- and single-beam headlight systems. There are different battery types (rechargeables are found on better lights). There are ingenious quick-release mounts so you can install and remove the light in a blink. Most lights offer high- and low-beam options like your car (use the high beam for downhills, pitc...

Cycling Tips Equipment Know-How <<<(FAQ 6 of 12)>>> Back to Tip List Proper Shifting Helps Your Bike Last Longer, Work Better An important shifting rule is to reduce pressure on the pedals during shifts. Modern drivetrains will shift regardless of pedal pressure. But, if you can always ease up a bit, the shifts will be smoother and your chain, cogs and chainrings will last longer. Shift Before Hills The hardest place to ease pedaling, of course, is when you're struggling to get up a steep hill. The trick is to shift before the steep part of the hill so you can make the shift with little pressure on the pedals. Finesse Front Shifts Another thing to remember concerns shifting the front derailleur. You're shifting between chainrings that are significantly different in size. This means that the derailleur has to work hard to move the chain from one to the other. So, the light-pedal-pressure rule really applies here. If you can finesse this shift, yo...

Vintage bikes, especially steel racing and track bikes, have always had their fans and collectors. In the 2000's, a new generation of riders have also taken interest in owning, collecting and in the best case, riding these beautiful machines as an everyday commute or in events like L´Eroica or Tweed Rides. If you consider buying a vintage racer for yourself, make sure you are spending your money on the right one. What makes a vintage racer valuable? Some collectors favour nothing but handcrafted bikes that were manufactured only by the dozens to low hundreds. Bikes made by the master builders like Ugo De Rosa, Faliero Masi and Ernesto Colnago are some of the most sought after in the world. These bikes will probably retain their resale value the best in the long run. Other icons like Cinelli, Colnago, Pinarello, Peugeot and Gios are very desirable brands among buyers, even though some or all of their models were mass-manufactured in great numbers. Complete bikes usually cost mor...

We are very open-minded about cycling innovations. But this time we want to deal with curious new developments that we think are aberrations in the bicycle revolution. An indication of how much is going on in the field of cycling and sustainable mobility in cities are the many innovative products that try to make bicycle mobility ever easier and more diverse. These include freak bikes and modding, where punk creativity meets the fun of having a good time, as well as real innovations with the potential to make cycling even more interesting. Some developers, however, apparently want to literally reinvent the wheel. A few of these curious products are presented here. If you aren’t put off by our criticisms and want to try any of them out, please send us a report of your experiences – after all, we could be wrong! Raht Racer – more car than bike The “raht racer” – despite the advertising campaign that aims to create a closeness to the bicycle – is an electric car with pedals. Thank...

Many cyclists enjoy treating their bike to new equipment even if it doesn't need it. Irrelevant as to what type of bike you have - getting the right saddle is the most important factor in being able to ride comfortably. Sitting on the wrong one can lead to quite an unpleasant experience. Riding style With many choices out there and with very subtle differences to the untrained eye, it can seem confusing which saddle is the one for you. Just like the unique specifications of an individual, a saddle is a unique and personal product. There are many different variations of shapes and sizes that not only fit your riding style, but also the width of your sit bones. Consider your riding style and position on the bike first. Are you sitting upright? Or are you leaning your body towards the front of the bike? Once you know this, it narrows down the selection process. Some saddles have very helpful packaging where it describes its intended riding style, which makes your decision a lot ...

Finding a bike to take on your daily commute is not that hard, if you keep in mind some basic things. Here you will find five tips that will help you choose your first commuter bike. So, if your last bike ride was twenty years ago and you're trying to figure out how to approach the unfamiliar world of using valuable commuting time to keep yourself in better shape, look no further. 1. Ride Length Matters Knowing the length of your commute could make all the difference in your wallet and your ride comfort. Every three miles or so, the general requirements and goal of your commute will change based on what the length of your ride does to your body and what your bike should be designed to handle. Be aware of cycling conditions in your city and try to accurately gauge how much you’ll be riding throughout the week. If you find yourself riding less than three miles per day, any bike will fit your needs. At six miles your ride comfort will decline without paying special attention to yo...

Unlike the name Bicycle Day suggests, it was not the bike that is celebrated as a cherished all-around means of transportation on 19 April. It rather is a particular historical event that is the reason for this festivity – the unforgettable bicycle trip by the Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann. We’ll tell you what happened that day in1943 and where you can celebrate this day! It was not just for Albert Hofmann that his bicycle trip would become a special event. His “trip” was legendary. Bicycle Day namely commemorates the first time that the scientist intentionally took a 250 microgram dose of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). He had only discovered the drug by chance three days before. This amount of white crystalline substance was indeed far smaller than a grain of pepper, but it had a tremendous impact. Less than an hour later, Hofmann began to feel strange and noticed sudden and intense changes in his perception. He decided to pedal home from his laboratory. His bike ride accompanied...

Different countries, different customs. This also rings true for the loads carries by bike and sometimes also for the number of people riding it. Many things are allowed, some things are forbidden and now and then some things that don’t quite fit, are made to fit. The cultural differences are surprising. One bike, several people To sit on the rear bike rack is not allowed in Germany and Austria (for anyone over the age of eight). Nevertheless, people love to hop on frequently, the same counts for sitting on the bicycle frame or handlebars. There are also rules for child seats. In Germany, child seats can be installed on the handlebar as well as at the rear of the bike, provided that the child seat has a foot rest. In Austria, children are only permitted to sit at the rear of the bike. For the bike-friendly Danes, two children under six years of age are permitted as passengers on one bike. In comparison to those regulation, the United Kingdom goes with a more flexible point of vi...

…you can adopt strategies for general prevention and reduction of conflict in road traffic situations. “Science presents a very useful approach here. It would also be a good way to raise awareness among the general public of the following point. Not every reaction on the part of another road user is necessarily intended in a malicious way,” says Risser. Often, we are unsure how to judge the reactions of our fellow people on the roads. In our uncertainty, we tend to “automatically assume the worst intentions on the part of the other person. This negative tendency presupposes that the other person’s behaviour is wrong, stupid or malicious.” With this type of negative tendency, conflict is then more likely to occur. However, it does not need to be this way. We don’t need to view everything based on this negative tendency. This thought should also be promoted to the public in campaigns. If you make a conscious decision against this negative defensive position, then you are giving yourself...

And then everything’s in motion, at least officially. Sometimes, the order allows for a few more minutes of waiting at home, to go back into my own little world for a little while – only to be brutally ripped out of dozing off by the dispatchers. But then, at the latest, you dive back in: into the maze, the chaos, the wilderness of the (big) city traffic. Your bag on your shoulder, your lock stowed in place, your helmet strapped on, and the post is off – no, I don’t like to be called a postman. The first pick-up brings me right into the city centre. I should take it easy, something else could come my way, and as long as the order hasn’t been placed as ‘urgent’ (called express, VIP, rush or something like that in the professional jargon), there’s no reason to burn out already right at the start of the day. So I swim quietly along in the morning traffic toward the centre, enjoy the first sunbeams and notice how my head switches from tiredness and hangover mode to concentration, focus a...

Catherine, you prefer a bike as your means of transport. Why? A bike is a fast and inexpensive way of getting around. And it does me good to get a bit of exercise after uni, for example. I save on going to the gym and it’s fun. What do you like most about cycling? What I like best about cycling in the city is getting from A to B quickly. There’s no waiting, unlike with public transport. With the bike, I don’t have to worry how many minutes I have to wait for the tram. I just ride off. And when I go cycling at home (I’m actually from the countryside), it’s a great contrast. Especially in summer, when I want to ride to the lake or along the river. And if you had a choice, which city would be your favourite for cycling? Hmm … maybe somewhere in Iceland. I think Iceland’s great. Where I wouldn’t feel safe as a cyclist would be in Los Angeles or Barcelona. LA isn’t for cyclists who want to get to their destination in less than three hours. The promenade along the beach in Santa Monica ...