Bought A Bicycle - Tips And Advice, Please...

[discopop]

I’m shitting myself now! Hahaha.. Cheers though lads, looking forward to it really.

Bike comes tomorrow or Wednesday I think.

What did you go for btw? Was fettling one of mine today as off to France fora week so will be getting some smiles and miles in and a sneaky beer or two before I head back to the apartment

 

[normskih]

Cheers fella, I’ll take that all on board.

I remember doing the Cycling Proficiency test when I was in Primary School so remember the hand signals.

Think I’ll start watching some bike maintenance videos online.

Never realised denim was good cycle clothing martial. Think I’ll be alright over the Summer months, but need to buy some suitable clothing and lights for the Winter though.

What about a bell? When I went to Amsterdam everyone seemed to have a bell on their bike.

There's not many who still stick out an arm when signaling to turn left or right, but I'm one who still does, even though sometimes I feel like a right prat. As regards to a bell? Which ever store sold you your bike should have put one on it, but these days not many will hear a bell, pedestrians usually have their phones next to their ears anyway. I tend to find a loud "watch where you're going" usually does the trick:)

 

[heatonblue]

If you think a car may pull out on you watch the wheels . You will see them move long before you see the car itself move .

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I’ve not had a bicycle since I was a kid but I’ve just bought one so that I can ride to-and-from work (4miles away) and to-and-from my my Sister’s (7miles away). I actually used to be a spinning instructor but never had a bicycle as an adult.

Will only be riding on dry days and the rides are only going to be leisurely rather than for fitness, that can be a side-positive. Mainly doing it to save money on petrol and to use my car less for green reasons (I’m getting more green conscious as I get older).

I haven’t spent a fortune but didn’t want to buy some shite that wouldn’t last long or that was ugly looking. Saw some cracking models that were between £1-2k but went for the nicest looking one I could find for £500.

Having not had a bicycle since I was a kid, I actually know very little about them. Are there certain things I should do or shouldn’t do?

Should I get insurance (is that even a thing with bicycles?)?
Should I do anything to the bicycle on a regular basis to keep it working well?
Do I get it serviced regularly like a car?
Where are the best places for repairs or new tyres when needed?

Also, if cycling wear is advisable, is there cycling clothing available that isn’t the tight Lycra stuff (that look isn’t for me at all!)? And where’s the best place to get it from?

For leisure cycling go on council websites - Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire (if that's where you are) and check out their cycle routes. They tend to be quiet roads. Also National Cycling Network, and canal towpaths. We've just come back from Birmingham - train to Wolverhampton and a canal towpath (tarmacked surface) all the way to Birmingham centre, and from there you have a choice of canals. Our old codgers bespoke cycle club (there's only four of us - total age 270yrs+) regularly cycle down the Rochdale Canal to the velodrome, and then onto Victoria if we don't fancy the cycle back to Littleborough. The Leeds-Liverpool Canal is a good ride from Burnley to Foulridge and there is a superb cafe at the Foulridge end. We've also ridden the Bridgewater Canal to the Aaaaaaaaargh Centre but those bastards, who let all kinds of prams (I counted one with TWELVE wheels!) won't let yer wheel yer bike in, even a folding one! If you are really adventurous then a flight from Manchester to Eidhoven by Ryanair for a tenner each way and then you can see what Rags, rats and Dutch cycle paths have in common - yer never more than six feet from one! The Dutch system is incredible. You can download an app that allows you to plan a route with associated node points. We like to get across for a few 'koffie verkeerd'! And the nicest thing about cycling in The Netherlands is I believe that if you are in an accident with a car, they always blame the car!!

 

[Bluemanc100]

For leisure cycling go on council websites - Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire (if that's where you are) and check out their cycle routes. They tend to be quiet roads. Also National Cycling Network, and canal towpaths. We've just come back from Birmingham - train to Wolverhampton and a canal towpath (tarmacked surface) all the way to Birmingham centre, and from there you have a choice of canals. Our old codgers bespoke cycle club (there's only four of us - total age 270yrs+) regularly cycle down the Rochdale Canal to the velodrome, and then onto Victoria if we don't fancy the cycle back to Littleborough. The Leeds-Liverpool Canal is a good ride from Burnley to Foulridge and there is a superb cafe at the Foulridge end. We've also ridden the Bridgewater Canal to the Aaaaaaaaargh Centre but those bastards, who let all kinds of prams (I counted one with TWELVE wheels!) won't let yer wheel yer bike in, even a folding one! If you are really adventurous then a flight from Manchester to Eidhoven by Ryanair for a tenner each way and then you can see what Rags, rats and Dutch cycle paths have in common - yer never more than six feet from one! The Dutch system is incredible. You can download an app that allows you to plan a route with associated node points. We like to get across for a few 'koffie verkeerd'! And the nicest thing about cycling in The Netherlands is I believe that if you are in an accident with a car, they always blame the car!!

Correct... even if the cyclist is behaving like a bellend the driver is to blame...

 

[discopop]

For leisure cycling go on council websites - Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire (if that's where you are) and check out their cycle routes. They tend to be quiet roads. Also National Cycling Network, and canal towpaths. We've just come back from Birmingham - train to Wolverhampton and a canal towpath (tarmacked surface) all the way to Birmingham centre, and from there you have a choice of canals. Our old codgers bespoke cycle club (there's only four of us - total age 270yrs+) regularly cycle down the Rochdale Canal to the velodrome, and then onto Victoria if we don't fancy the cycle back to Littleborough. The Leeds-Liverpool Canal is a good ride from Burnley to Foulridge and there is a superb cafe at the Foulridge end. We've also ridden the Bridgewater Canal to the Aaaaaaaaargh Centre but those bastards, who let all kinds of prams (I counted one with TWELVE wheels!) won't let yer wheel yer bike in, even a folding one! If you are really adventurous then a flight from Manchester to Eidhoven by Ryanair for a tenner each way and then you can see what Rags, rats and Dutch cycle paths have in common - yer never more than six feet from one! The Dutch system is incredible. You can download an app that allows you to plan a route with associated node points. We like to get across for a few 'koffie verkeerd'! And the nicest thing about cycling in The Netherlands is I believe that if you are in an accident with a car, they always blame the car!!

One thing to remember in the Netherlands if there is a cycle path you have to use it otherwise plod can slap a fine on you.

 

[canyerdogputoutafire]

I tend to find a loud "watch where you're going" usually does the trick:)

Glad to hear you don't want a nobel prize, it works both ways, every day now the weather is decent, at least two cyclists tow-path hog me, well maybe not tomorrow, it's raining.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

@Dave Ewing's Back 'eader , he's your man...…….

I think that bike will suit @Psychedelic Casual with his username. He just needs to pop an acid tab with a Barbi girl cycle helmet on and ride a white dogshit cycle lane tripping off his box; )

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

One thing to remember in the Netherlands if there is a cycle path you have to use it otherwise plod can slap a fine on you.

Only once in about eight years did we have to come off the cycle path as it was flooded and ended up on the road - narrow single carriage both sides and the drivers let us know that we shouldn't have been on the road. The path was diverted onto the other side of the dyke which we couldn't see! But I remember coming back into the Hook of Holland where all kinds of diversions were in place, roads blocked off whilst they resurfaced the roadways - but the one thing they had sorted out first and got organised were the cycle paths!

 

[TheRemainsOfTheDave]

If you think a car may pull out on you watch the wheels . You will see them move long before you see the car itself move .

Thought it was just me that did this. Especially useful when a vehicle on the opposite lane is waiting to turn in front of you, across your path, and waiting for a gap in the traffic flow. If the wheels are moving there's a good chance they're timing their manoeuvre because they've spotted a gap in the queue of cars, but they will look for cyclists only if they get time.