SLU Cycling

Road bikes (sometimes known in the UK and some other countries as “racing bikes”) are lightweight bikes designed for speedy on relatively smooth terrain. These bikes are equipped with narrow wheels and tyres pumped to high pressure, and shaped (including drop handlebars) such that the rider sits in an aerodynamic, stretched-out position. Furthermore the brake-levers and gear shifters are often positioned sich that you can reach them without taking your hands off the handlebars, and hence make speedy gear changes.

Although riding one of these bikes, especially at speed, can be a lot of fun, road bikes are not usually the best choice for urban commuting. The bikes do tend to be relatively delicate, the range of gear ratios may not be sufficient if there are steep hills in your area, and the the brakes may not be good enough for emergency stops.

Another thing to bear in mind is that road bikes don’t usually have mudguards, or even the capacity to attach them – as a result, you can’t simply hop on your bike in your work clothes and expect the mudguards to protect them. Furthermore, road bikes made not have braze-ons for a carry rack, and even if you can attach a rack directly to the frame, you do need to remember that road bikes are not designed to carry heavy loads.

In short, if you’re looking for a sturdy durable bike, then a road bike may not be the best choice for you, and perhaps you ought to consider a mountain bike or a hybrid bike. On the other hand, if you think you’ll enjoy zipping through country lanes at speed, then a road bike is the ideal choice.

By: Sunil Tanna

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If you have just purchased a mountain bike then you may be desperate to get out and take it on a long, scenic trail. However, if you have not taken the time to research about your mountain bike and the parts that it uses, then you could end up in trouble if something were to go wrong. Understanding how your bike works and what each part does can help you to stay out of trouble and to know what to do if something were to go wrong.

Usually people who go mountain biking tend to go to places in the middle of nowhere. This means if your bike were to break down, you would be pretty stuck if you didn’t know how to repair it!

What you should know about Mountain Bike Shocks

Mountain bike shocks are designed to help you to control the bike. They are part of the suspension and they work by dampening the spring oscillation. When you are out and about riding casually along, the shocks are what help you to keep the bike controlled. Keeping the tires on the ground and stopping them from bouncing when you go over a bumpy service, shocks are especially important for mountain bikes which will be travelling over uneven surfaces.

Due to the fact that they are so important, mountain bike shocks should be looked after and monitored. When they look like they may need replacing then get onto it straight away. By replacing the shocks when they are worn down you will also be helping out other parts of your bike. This is because when the shocks aren’t working properly, the friction caused can damage other parts of the bike. The tires could become worn down quicker than usual and wheel alignment could also be affected.

Generally the best thing that you can do is research more about your mountain bike and gain the right knowledge in case anything were to happen to the bike. Find out everything about replacing the shocks and what to look for as that way you will be able to prevent any damage from occurring. Of course you could always hire a professional to replace the socks for you, but it is always a better idea to learn how to do it yourself just in case you are in the middle of nowhere when a problem occurs.

Overall you really do not want to ruin a potentially relaxing and fun mountain bike ride because you have not done the proper research. Look after the shocks on your bike and they will look after you.

By: Alison Addy

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Cycling 100 miles (a century) is an achievable feat for most people assuming adequate preparation and training are performed.

Obviously the main thing you need to do is to start building up the miles you clock on the bike as early as possible in your training regime. You should aim to be able to complete a 75 mile training ride two weeks before your century attempt. Assuming you achieve this then the extra 25 miles on the day should not be a problem.

Based on this 75 mile plan you will need to slowly build up your rides to this length in order to avoid injury. Aim to go for at least 2 short rides during the week and then one long ride at the weekend. The long ride (and your weekly mileage total) should not increase in distance more than 15% each week. Ramping up your training at a faster rate will significantly increase your chances of picking up an injury.

Another essential way to prepare for your 100 mile ride is to treat your training as a practise ground for the kit, clothing and nutrition you will use on the big day. Try to simulate race circumstances on every training ride by wearing exactly the clothing and carrying exactly the kit you will start with on century day. By doing this you will reduce the risk of any nasty surprises ruining you enjoyment of the 100 mile ride.

Nutrition is key on such a long ride. Use your weekly long rides to experiment with what foods work best for you. Foods such as potatoes, bagels, fig rolls and the famous peanut butter sandwich are all popular amongst endurance cyclists. Find out what works for you and what does in training not on the century attempt itself.

By: James Wannop

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One of the nicest things about cycling is that it’s generally possible to do it in your normal clothes without spending ages getting changed, or messing around with gadgets and pieces of kit. There is however one exception – regular cycling wears out your shoes very quickly, and for this reason it’s best to wear specialist cycling shoes whenever possible.

The reason why cycling is hard on shoes, is that your feet need to grip the pedals, and this grip tends to tear aware at the soles of your shoes. Thus you’ll find it’s a false economy to “save money” money by buying sneakers and cycling in those.

Aside from durability, there other reason to choose specialist cycling shoes if possible. Cycling shoes are designed to support the whole of your foot’s sole, and this avoids you getting sore patches at the places where the pedals touch. Additionally, cycling shoes have stiffer soles than regular shoes or snickers, and this allows you both to pedal more efficiently, and also helps the blood flow freely in your feet, which will help keep you warm in cold weather, and cool in hot weather.

Clipless Pedals:

Once you have become a regular cyclist, one of the things that you may wish to look into is clipless pedals. These require special shoes with metal cleats on their soles: your feet are then able to lock securely to the pedals, although you can receive instant release (for example in an emergency) by simply twisting your feet.

Shoes and cleats from different manufacturers are generally interchangeable so you can mix and match your choice of gear. In general, there are two bolt holes recessed in the sole of the shoe, and the cleat attaches to this. However, cleats and clipless pedals are generally sold together and only work in specific combinations – so for these you cant mix and match.

By: Sunil Tanna

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