Cyclists of Hitched

I can't help, but was just wondering where you got the advice that cycling would be ok on your knees?

L
xx

I don't really know about on road cycling I'm afraid as I'm still a bit too scared, but it might be worth having a nose around the sustrans website - if you google it should come up. They're a charity dedicated to getting better "facilities' for cyclists, they're responsible for the national cycle network. I've had quite a lot of info from them.

Would agree tho that it's not great for knees - a friend of mine has had to give her bike up due to knee problems.

I'd be interested to see any links too, i'm just getting a bike through work's cycle to work scheme and while i've planned my route mainly on cycle paths i have to negotiate 2 roundabouts which terrifies me!

My knee problem is specific to my pronation issues - cycling doesn't exacerbate it (hence my consultant and physio are both happy for me to cycle/use elliptical trainer to maintain my fitness). Couldn't comment more generally as knees are bloody awkward things ?

I don't know about online, but your local council may do adult cycle lessons - in Cambridgeshire they were £20 an hour (i think) and generally very well received.

An in person course rather than online, but your local authority training course should be listed here:

/news/legacy?PageID=175

Otherwise the general advice is to ride visibly, confidently (assertively but not aggressively) and clearly signal your intention whenever you change road position (between lanes or across lanes). Head check, head check and head check again. Assume all vehicles may pull directly into your path and ride accordingly.

If you have a licence and haven't driven recently, I'd really recommend getting out for a drive along your route to work at the time you'll be riding. I think some non-driving cyclists don't realise just how easy they are to see through (that is, not see), particularly by car drivers who don't cycle. (Drivers/cyclists/riders tend not to notice road users who use a vehicle they've never used.) Also, by reminding yourself what habits car drivers have, its easier to compensate when on your bike.

H isn't home at the moment for me to ask him but I know he's checked this site a few times (he's the cyclist, not me, sorry). Hope it might help.

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

I've recently got back on a bike after 10 years too. I bought a yellow fluorescent jacket which I think is a good idea - I feel less likely to get run over if people can see me. I was a bit wobbly to start with but your confidence soon builds up. I love it.

Thanks all. I had a quick 6 mile ride round a slightly quieter route this afternoon. Motorists were surprisingly patient and I got up to 29.1mph on a bit of downhill (get me - my running watch has a cycling mode too ?). Definitely feel a bit more confident and I can just about look behind me without wobbling all over the road. Just.

Having spent Saturday morning in A&E with an infected knee after my accident on Friday, my advice is always wear something that covers your knees. If you come off with no fabric covering them, I dread to think what damage you could do. I was wearing trousers and still have a fooked knee cap.

Other than that, I think for me it was just about getting out there and building up my confidence. Same road rules apply at roundabouts etc... as when you're in a car. Wear bright clothing, always signal where you're going and make sure you ride about 1m out from the kerb.

You can get little mirrors that attach to your handlebars - I find that very useful in being able to check what the car behind was doing/planning without being too distracting plus it means I can also check on gaps etc because I use a bike trailer.

The other tip is to avoid being forced into riding too close to the kerb. You do have to be "aggresive" (I don't mean really aggressive but I can't think how else to word it!) and hold your own so that you have a margin of error if the car overtaking decides to be stupid.Oh and watch out for cars that have just parked up and people getting out without looking...

Above all, getting out there on a regular basis will quickly improve your confidence.

I was going to post exactly what VS said about not riding too close to the kerb - that's the most important tip in many ways (it's counter-intuitive really as it's quite natural to want to get away from the speeding hulks of metal ?)

Cheers. I purchase a pair of Tesco cycling shorts and the padding was woeful. I feel like I've been kicked in the scruttocks ?. Thankfully I have some nicer, baggy shorts from Wiggle that arrived today so hopefully my crotch will be blissfully comforted as I dice with potholes.

Lilyfitz - not sure whether a club would be my thing. My bike's a hybrid anyway so it's more leisure/general fitness cycling rather than anything. Plus I like my own company ?.

Not sure if you're still around Baron, but this book is pretty definitive for what you're asking

[View:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclecraft-Complete-Enjoyable-Cycling-Children/dp/0117037400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240861766&sr=8-1:550:0]

And welcome to the road -getting round on two wheels is fab ?

How are you getting on Baron?

I've now cycled to work and back twice and have only been nearly killed once so far (by someone who pulled out in their enormous car into my path from a parking space about 3 feet in front of me. knob), which is nice. I'm still getting off and walking around the worst roundabout.

I am ridiculed by my workmates due to what they believe is excessive safety equipment, but lets just say you can't miss me ?

I get to work in less than 20 minutes instead of 1 hour on the bus which is great but crikey am i saddle sore ?

My H is doing a 100 mile road race on Sunday. Why don't you join him? A sort of 'kill or cure' approach if you will ?