ON YOUR BIKE!

Cycling is a great sport for those of all ages and fitness levels and can be enjoyed almost anywhere. But before you race off, here are ten tips to make your cycling experience even more enjoyable.

There’s nothing quite like the open road, the wind blowing through your hair and the freedom to travel wherever you like through cities, across country and on the road. It’s no wonder that so many people have recently taken up cycling.

As well as being an enjoyable way to check out your surroundings, cycling has great benefits for your health as it can help you lose weight, tones your bottom and legs and also helps the heart and cardiovascular system to stay healthy. It’s a good idea to go and dust off that old bike you’ve got lurking in your shed and get pedalling. But before you do, take note of these ten tips:

1. First things first: find a bike that is a good size for you. This is important if you are going to enjoy your ride. Make sure that you are comfortable while cycling and adjust the saddle if necessary.

2. The kind of bike you should invest in depends on what type of riding you will be doing. Are you cycling in the city, travelling long distances or will you be going off-road? For long distances you want a light bike with thin wheels, for off-road you want a thicker frame and wider tyres.

3. Another thing to look at if you are planning to go a long distance is your bicycle seat. A long-distance bike needs to be more comfortable and it’s great to have extra padding on the seat.

4. Make sure you bring plenty of water for your ride. A good idea is to have a water bottle attached to the bike so you can easily have a drink at any time.

5. Before you go out on a long ride it’s important to eat proper food. Pasta, rice and bread are foods with a high amount of slow carbohydrates, which help to stabilise your body’s energy level.

6. Cycling can be dangerous, especially if you are inexperienced and riding in the city or along busy roads, so always wear a protective cycling helmet that properly fits. You may even wish to invest in some elbow and knee pads, which will provide some protection from a fall.

7. Always take a phone with you when you are going out. It’s helpful if something unexpected happens – for example, if you drive on something sharp and get a flat tyre. Keep it off while you’re cycling and only use it when you need to. Never talk and cycle at the same time.

8. Bikes do get stolen every so often, so it’s well worth investing in a quality lock. Also, it’s a good idea to park your bike at designated parking areas, since a lone bike is usually more attractive to thieves.

9. Wear comfortable, fitted clothes, since you want to be able to move with ease yet have as little resistance from the wind as possible. Cycling shorts with padding can be very useful and make for a more comfortable ride.

10. When new to cycling, start off slowly and go for short rides, then you can increase the distance and you will be able to go for long rides without having a sore bottom and aching muscles afterwards.

Above all enjoy yourself, as cycling is a wonderful way to get out into the fresh air and enjoy your local surroundings. Most of us could do with a little bit more exercise and this could be the perfect way to shed those extra pounds and have fun at the same time.

Explore a great range of cycles for your budget here