That you’ve heard the arguments for cycling a million times – it’s cheap, good exercise, eco-friendly – doesn’t make them any less compelling.
But if you’re thinking about hitting the saddle, here are a few useful pointers:
1. When choosing a bike, go for practicality, not looks
I have a Pashley Princess. It’s one of those traditional sit-up-and-beg bikes that makes you feel like you should be cycling through a French village with a baguette and perhaps a small dog in the basket. It’s also insanely heavy, and anything more than the slightest incline in the road leaves you collapsed, sweating in the road, gasping like a cardiac patient. The moral of the story: buy a practical, lightweight bike, one with 57 gears that allows you to sail effortlessly around town.
2. Map out your route first
There will most likely be several routes to your destination and you want to make sure you’re taking the best one. If you’re cycling around London, try to incorporate as many parks as possible and always, always avoid Oxford Street.
3. Be aware of cycling black spots
In London there are a number of notorious accident black spots. These have been mapped online here. Be aware of them and take extra care when passing them.
4. Wear the proper gear
A helmet goes without saying, but embrace the anorak. And no, you can’t cycle in heels. I learned this the hard way. For stylish cycling gear, try Cycle Chic.
5. Invest in a decent lock
Everyone has their bike nicked at some point. I’ve lost two, despite being relatively careful. Make your bike less attractive to thieves by investing in a quality lock (ideally two). Some people cover their expensive bikes in masking tap, to make them look cheap and knackered, but this may be taking things a bit far.
6. Obey the rules
Yes, it’s tiresome waiting for the traffic lights to turn green, particularly when there’s clearly nothing coming, but careless cyclists give them all a bad name. Plus you end up being shouted at, which is really embarrassing.
{Image: Ian Sane}
