1) Becoming a competent/confident cyclist
Becoming a confident rider takes time, patience and
practice. If you are a novice bike
rider, begin with riding on quiet roads or designated cycle tracks. Although popular routes shared with dog
walkers, pedestrians and kids can be intimidating. You may need to transport
the bike to such a quiet spot.
If you are a car driver then you probably already can
recognise good cyclist and bad habits.
Knowing how people drive will make you a better and safer cyclist. There
are many providers of cycle training courses – in Bristol some do free courses
for adults, see this link for more information http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/
2) Training
tips
Get out on the bike as much as you can. Start with some
30 minute rides and gradually increasing the distance/time spent on the
bike. Your bottom and legs will
gradually get accustomed to cycling, aim to cycle most days. Look to go for a
longer ride 1.5 hour ride once a week. You should be looking to do a 3-4 hour
ride, over the course of a day, before the Glastonbury ride.
Having a local map is a useful asset in planning a ride!
3) Safety and
comfort
a) Wear a high visibility top and a HELMET
b) If there is any chance you will need to cycle at night
you will need lights (hopefully not a problem this time of year)
c) Cycling shorts do make a difference with their built
in padding, a worthwhile investment for any ride, especially for a longer one
like Bristol to Glastonbury
4) Make the
training fun
a) Do it with someone.
b) Have a purpose - i.e. visit someone/something – there
are lots of places within a 2 hour ride of Bristol.
c) Plan a cafe/rest stop
d) You may be able to go further by combining the trip
with a train ride (the strawberry line bike route starts at Yatton and the Bristol/Bath
bike path goes close to Bath station)
e) Go somewhere/explore where you haven't been before -
this can even be on your doorstep.
f) It is ok to push the bike up steeper slopes!
5) Before you
go too far from home
There are occasions when cyclists have a break down – the
most common one is having a puncture. So be prepared to be able to fix this or
arrange alternative transport home! Remember, well pumped up tyres are less
likely to puncture through pinching etc.
6) What to take
on a ride
At the minimum take...
a) Spare inner tube
b) A puncture repair kit in case you are unlucky enough
to get two punctures
b) Spanner/tools to remove a wheel
c) A set of tyre levels to remove the tyre
d) A pump
e) A drink
f) Your mobile phone may be handy in an emergency, carry it in a water proof bag
g) Don't forget some money for drink etc. (easy forget with no pockets in those cycling shorts)
Even if you don't know how to change an inner
tube a friend may or some other passing cyclist may be able to help
f) Your mobile phone may be handy in an emergency, carry it in a water proof bag
g) Don't forget some money for drink etc. (easy forget with no pockets in those cycling shorts)
