So you wanna start riding to work/school etc?

The light nights and warm days are almost upon us, and some may be wanting to start cycling to work or to school.

Cycling will make any trip much more fun and pleasant than being in a car & what better way to round off a day in the office staring through the window at the sun than a bike ride home in it.

Riding a bike is simple and fun, And about the only special piece of equipment you will need is a bicycle. Here's some hints and tips which certainly for me make riding for transport a lot more pleasant and easier.

The bike

If you haven't got a bike hiding at the back of the shed, then you'll be needing one.
You don't need a full suspension mountain bike with masses of travel or a top end carbon racing bike. Yea, they're great in the correct place, but riding to work or the supermarket isn't it.

All you need is a straightforward bike with no suspension, or just some simple front suspension. Look for places where you can attach proper full length mudguards, and a rear rack if (like most) it doesn't have them already. Lights are ace as well, and along with the guards and rack will allow the bike to be used anytime, and not just on dry days.

This Btwin night and day from Decathlon may not be the lightest bike, but for £230 with rack, mudguards and hub dynamo lighting it is a ready to run all purpose transport bike. If you have more, then something like this is available.

Carefully buy the best bike you can afford though as the extra money will buy a better lighter frame, and better more durable components.

Mudguards

If you can, then fit full length mudguards on as even on dry days with damp roads they keep the water and mud off you and the bike. Unless you have no option avoid the ones that clip to the seatpost and anything that is not full length.
If you are keen a DIY mudflap attached to the bottom of the front guard can protect your feet and the bike even more.

Racks and luggage

If one can be fitted then fit a rear rack, as they are so useful and cheap. If you have the mounting points on the seat stays, then a 4 point rack is best. You can purchase P clips if your bike does not have the mounting points. Alternatively a rack that fixes to the brake/mudguard bridge (a 3 point) will do, but will be less stable.
Cantilevered racks that attach to only the seatpost should be avoided for all but the lightest and smallest loads.
Also invest in some panniers that are separable, so you can use just one if you are not carrying much. Putting any luggage on the bike is much more comfortable than on your back, and will let you carry much more. Buy some rubble sacks (very heavy duty bin bags) from the supermarket, and use as liners inside the panniers. They will keep any rain out, and will last.
Keep a couple of elastic straps on the top of the rack as they will come in handy for the odd thing that is too bulky to fit inside the bags.

Tyres

For commuting and transport, I swear by Schwalbe Marathon plus. Look for the ones with smart guard puncture protection. When you are buying and fitting the tyres, also replace the plastic tape that covers the top of the spokes with cotton rim tape such as Velox. The plastic eventually splits or moves, and can then allow the spokes to puncture the inner tube.

Lights

If you're gonna be using the bike all year round, then by far the best thing is a hub dynamo and fixed lights. I'll cover this in a separate blog post.

Having a set of lights on the bike (or in the bag) is handy as for most of the year, evening riding in the UK will be either dark or getting dark. LED battery lights come in all shapes and sizes and costs.
If you are relying on battery lights, always have at least a couple of front and rears, in case one fails.

Carry a spare set of batteries in the bag if you are going any distance, and practice changing the batteries in comfort so it will be easy in the dark when the rain is pouring (cos that's the only time batteries go flat!).

Lock it, don't lose it.

Never leave your bike unlocked. Buy and use a good branded U-lock, and buy a second lock or a cable extension as well. Wheel locks such as this one which are bolted to the frame are popular in Europe, and are a good thing to have fitted as an extra deterrent or for that 30 second nip in the shop whilst you can see the bike.

Always lock the bike to something immovable, and that the bike and lock cannot just be lifted over. Try to fill the space in a U-lock so things like jacks cannot be used to pry it apart. Wrap the cable or second lock around to lock as much of the rest of the bike as you can.

Be prepared

Unless you are only on a short hop where walking back would be quicker than repairing, then carry a basic toolkit.
A multitool - These vary enormously. I carry the now sadly defunct CoolTool. Whatever you buy, make sure it has the tools to fit your bike, and doesn't have a lot of stuff you won't need.
Tyre levers - Carry 3 or 4 of the plastic tyre levers. They weigh nowt, and occasionally break.
A spare inner tube - Easier to replace the tube and repair any puncture at home then on the roadside. Make sure you remove whatever caused the puncture from the tyre though!
A pump - Again, these vary in size and performance, but generally the smaller and cheaper they are the harder they are to use. Make sure the one you have fits the valves on your bike. Topeak are well regarded. I happily use a cyclair, but others have had mixed results
A puncture repair kit - It's not unknown to get more than one puncture. Kits are light and small, so carry one. Rema Tip Top kits are about the best I have ever used

Purchase and keep a full sized bicycle pump at home, and keep the tyres inflated. That will minimise the drag from the tyres, making riding easier, and reduce the likelihood of punctures, or tyre/wheel damage due to the tyre bottoming out over potholes or kerbs.

Regularly use a proper chain lube to lube and clean the chain. Most of the time in the UK a lube for wet conditions is best as the weather can be changeable.

Regularly check the brakes to make sure they are working properly, and that the blocks (assuming rim brakes) are lined up correctly against the rim. If you are unsure, then get them checked at a cycle shop.

Regularly check things like cranks, pedals, the headset for any signs of looseness or play. Checking regularly means that if and when something does loosen you will be able to detect the change.

I ride a bike when I can cos...

I ride a bike when I can cos...

1. I just love riding the bike.
2. Riding keeps me healthier fitter & it's easy.
3. Riding burns calories, allowing me to indulge my other hobby which is eating & not feel guilty.
4. Riding makes me feel awesome, especially the buzz of achievement at the top of a large hill, or dragging a trailer full of shopping home.
5. Riding saves me money on fuel & car maintenance. I've reduced my car mileage by 1/3 over the last year.
6. Riding for me is often more direct & convenient than the car so quicker.
7. Riding turns every trip, no matter how mundane, into a mini adventure
8. Riding on a sunny day though a tree lined road/path with the birds singing and the sun shining though is just wonderful.
9. Apart from riding down hills,. Nothing is better than that :-)
10. Did I mention that I do it cos I just love riding the bike?

How much does it cost to run a bicycle..

There is a story in the Daily Mail about MPs claiming 20p per mile for trips by bicycle, and it has elicited the usual and expected response by Commentards

"They're taking us for a ride"

"If they're cycling during the working day they're already being paid"

"It costs nothing to run a bike"

Actually the 20p/mile rate is a standard HMRC rate & anyone using the bicycle for business miles who can claim is entitled to claim including myself.

But is running a bike actually free?

Let's assume that you have actually bought the bike you use outright.

If you cycle approx 2000 miles a year and claim it back, which is about 200 return trips of 10 miles.

2000 miles will probably see off
One pair of tyres - Schwalbe Marathons - £60
One chain - £16
One cassette- £15
2 sets of brake pads (assuming V brakes, front & rear)- £20
One full service - £80 (Halfords Elite Service)

That's the thick end of £200 already.

As for fuel, the Calories burnt calculator here reckons about 600 calories per hour, which is about a 10-12 mile ride. That's the equivalent of 7 bananas (90 cal each). Or £1.40 (current ave cost of 20p each), or £300 worth of bananas for the 2000 miles.

So in terms of fuel  & maintenance, a bike will cost about £500 to run over 2000 miles a year, before the cost of buying the bike, and other items such as clothing/shoes is taken into account. Insurance, etc are excluded from this, as is the cost of buying the bicycle and depreciation.

Compare with running a car (bog basic 1.4 hatchback) for the same 2000 miles.
Fuel (at 35 mpg) would cost £340 using this calculator.
A years service will be approx £150.
Tyres will be £250 to replace, but will last about 20,000 miles, so about £25

So in terms of fuel  & maintenance, a car will cost a similar £500 to run for 2000 miles a year
Insurance, VED etc are excluded from this, as is the cost of buying the vehicle and depreciation.

Yet car mileage comes in at about 67p/mile, where bicycles only attract 20p.

So the real issue is why are car drivers subsided so much from HMRC, especially when the other  benefits to society of cycling are not taken into account?

We should pay much more people who cycle, and indeed the french are thinking about it

New Bike parking at Brockley Whins Metro

Noticed that there has been some new bicycle parking installed at the Brockley Whins Metro station on South Tyneside.

The previous parking, which is a couple of sheffield stands behind the Westbound station building, cunningly placed to render half the capacity unusable. They are still in place.

These are the new stands. Only gripes are that they are not covered. Some lockable "pods" would have been nice to attract regulars. Also they have been placed under the CCTV mast, so it is very possible that they are not covered by CCTV, which is isn't good news. Other than that they seem to be reasonably well placed and accessible. The concrete plinth has been there a few years, since the install of the CCTV, and I always assumed it was for maintenance vehicles. Obviously no more.

Missing the point

The last 24 hours have seen cycling safety in the spotlight from a couple of normally driver centric sources.

Firstly Top Gear did a piece on making a public information film about cycling safety.
Since TG had basically morphed into last of the summer wine with 3 old blokes posing about for cheap and obvious  laughs, I didn't expect much. It turned out to be even lazier and more unfunny. It reminded me of the last, cheap , casual racist and sexist bullying humour of the 70/80s. The BBC should have amount higher editorial standards.

The saddest thing seems not to be that the Neanderthals that revere Clarkson as a god will (and are) hanging on any and all of the negative points raised, but that so many people on cycling forms such as road.cc and bikeradar thought that some good points were all raised.
With fellow cyclists thinking that, we don't need enemies.

The second is the announcement of the AAs bike safety campaign which will be officially launched this Friday, so this may be premature.

The pre launch information revolves around the idea of stickers given away for car mirrors.
Unless there's more this, like TG, misses the point, as mirror stickers won't guard against actions such as passing dangerously close, or left hooking people on bikes,

I applaud the AA for taking positive action, but I just fear that it's missing the main areas of danger to cyclists from drivers.
The campaign also seems to suggest that it will have the recommendation that cyclists need to adhere to the highway code, falling into the lazy stereotype we've come to expect that all drivers are saints and anybody on a bike is a scofflaw, when in fact it's usually the opposite, with virtually all success anything they habitually breaking the law.

Cyclists, Motorways and real dangerous roads.

There's been a furore today about Surrey Police stopping a cyclist on the M25 today

Currently awaiting a cyclist seen on the M25 between 12 & 13. CCTV watching him on the hard shoulder. Should be with me very soon
— Surrey Roads Police (@SurreyRoadCops) February 25, 2014

Shortest route home by bike? Don't rely on the Sat-Nav! Cyclist stopped on M25...yes really: http://t.co/CaX5CoJXfz http://t.co/rE4DrIJklM
— Surrey Roads Police (@SurreyRoadCops) February 25, 2014

Apparently this was all after following the navigation app on his phone. Now a quick check on google maps offers as a cycling route along the A19 to my nearest town centre. Here it is. 70mph, same as an M-way with no hard shoulder or cycling facility. There is a footpath along the southbound carriageway  but that's not even shared use


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Which is the safer road?

About a mile south of this, this very road is the shortest road route for me to use a trailer to get to the shops, as the safe option is barriered up preventing a bike trailer from using it.

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WHY?

My commute to work is alongside a similar stretch, although it has a shared use path. In icy or snowy weather when the path is uncleared, the route is unusable as cycling at 10-12mph (3-4% uphill grade) on a 70mph DC in rush hour is like russian roulette.
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WHY?

And in case you think the real problem was the guy crossing the slip road, here is the A1231 though Washington, which is another 70mph road, with a road sign instructing cyclists to pull exactly the same manoeuvre

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WHY?

The problem is not an odd guy on a bike getting lost.
The problem is not that he relied on his phone's navigation app.

The problem is that the Highways agency, and Local and national Government have steadily turned direct though roads into virtual motorways, with no regard for anyone but motorists.

These roads are often the only usable, visible and direct route between point A and point B.

Often these roads have NO safe or legal alternative for cycling on, and certainly if you do not have local knowledge or have a local map and the skill to read it, you are stuffed.

Why a terrible verdict shows how the ASA is wrong

Today's been a bad day for cycling in the UK.

First we had the ruling by the ASA about 5 (yes five) complaints about one of the Nicewaycode adverts, which we all thought had been put to death with a bicycle pump though it's heart to prevent resurrection.

If you haven't read the ruling (surely everyone reading this will have by now) it's here

The advert is below

ASA upheld the compalints about the final scene where where the cyclist is being overtaken by a car.
The car is not over the lines. At the very end of the clip it can be seen that the rider is riding to avoid potholes.

ASA ruled that:

We noted that the cyclist in the final scene was not wearing a helmet or any other safety attire, and appeared to be more than 0.5 metres from the parking lane. We also acknowledged that the cyclist was shown in broad daylight on a fairly large lane without any traffic.

We understood that UK law did not require cyclists to wear helmets or cycle at least 0.5 metres from the kerb. However, under the Highway Code it was recommended as good practice for cyclists to wear helmets. Therefore, we considered that the scene featuring the cyclist on a road without wearing a helmet undermined the recommendations set out in the Highway Code. Furthermore, we were concerned that whilst the cyclist was more than 0.5 metres from the kerb, they appeared to be located more in the centre of the lane when the car behind overtook them and the car almost had to enter the right lane of traffic. Therefore, for those reasons we concluded the ad was socially irresponsible and likely to condone or encourage behaviour prejudicial to health and safety.

ASA have banned the advert and have imposed the following on Cycling Scotland

The ad must not be broadcast again in its current form. We told Cycling Scotland that any future ads featuring cyclists should be shown wearing helmets and placed in the most suitable cycling position.

A few issues with that ruling

• Firstly what the feck is a "parking lane" there are no lane markings in the clip other than the central one. Do they mean the pavement?
• ASA think that no cyclists should be more than 0.5 metres from the edge of the road. That's about 18 inches in old money. Or not much more than the diagonal distance across most laptop screens. 
• The argument about helmets is legion, and is recommended (not by me btw) but conclusive evidence about their effectiveness is hard to find at best, and they are not designed for protection in vehicle collisions anyway.

If you disgree with the ASA, then please sign this petition or write or email them.

The second blow to cycling was the aquittal of a minibus driver from Dorset who hit and killed a cyclist travelling in the same direction. This was in daylight and the cyclist was wearing a helmet, hivis, and lights. The BBC article is here

Leaving aside the legals, the driver admits that he hit something with his nearside door mirror although he thought he'd clipped a bus stop sign. How close to the kerb was he then?

Although we could never know, and it was certainly NOT the cyclists fault regardless of position, I suggest that if the poor cyclist had been riding further out,contrary to the ASA ruling, then the driver may have seen him and taken action instead of just ploughing on regardless.

The Dorset tale certainly highlights one of the main reasons for not hugging the gutter, and that's vehicles squeezing past given the slightest gap, which is extremely dangerous.