- Don't attach a cycle computer to your bike.
- Just pootle. What's wrong with doing a 15 mile ride that takes 3 hours because you've stopped at a cafe and a pub? Nothing.
- Say 'hello' to people as you pass them/they pass you.
- Ignore the temptation to chase down the cyclist 200 yards in front of you. Just chill.
- Similarly, if you notice someone behind you who is trying to catch you, don't try and speed up.
- Fit some cheap platform pedals to your bike and go for a ride in an ordinary pair of shoes.
- Go for a ride on a good bike in 'non-cycling' gear.
- Don't think that spending £200 on a particular component will make you go significantly faster (or even faster at all).
- Stop and take photos regularly.
- Go for a ride in a the pouring rain.
- Own a bike that you don't mind riding in a downpour.
- Learn how to build a wheel (it really isn't difficult).
- Always take a pump, spare inner tube and repair kit on a ride.
- Feel comfortable about mixing and matching stuff on your bike(s).
- Always stop and ask if another cyclist is OK if they are stopped at the side of the road.
- Do a time-trial on a touring bike with panniers attached :-) At least you'll beat your time next time out.
- Vary your commuting route often.
- Just GO for a ride one morning and don't come back til dusk. No planning. No maps. No GPS. Just follow your nose.
- Go for a night ride.
- Go cycle camping for a night.
- Make sure you spend (much) more time riding your bike than cleaning/fettling it.
- Never sneer at another person's bike.
- Ride down a big hill with your feet off the pedals, shouting 'wheeeeeeee'.
- Buy stuff in your local bike shop(s) rather than from t'interweb.
- Resist the temptation to become obsessive and a 'cycle-bore'.
03 August 2007
Becoming a 'happier' cyclist.
Sometimes its easy to forget about enjoying cycling for cycling's sake. I do that too often so have come up with a (far from exhaustive) list of tips/stuff to do that might lead to happier cycling. I think we should all try to do at least some of these once in a while.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Totally agree Rob. Perhaps we should turn this blog entry into a web page?
(Although you forgot the one about filling your panniers with rocks, putting on as many layers as possible and heading off up the steepest hill you can find)
If you (and others) think this is worthy of a web page on the PP site then feel free to use. And its obviously more popular than I thought to ride with lots of layers. I saw one chap spinning up towards Fox House yesterday afternoon (probably the hottest day of the summer so far) wearing a rain jacket!!! It wasn't you by the way :-)
No, that was me in the greatcoat & plus-fours :-) As you can read in http://smgcycleblog.blogspot.com/ I don't bother with hills - that's what trains & tunnels are for!
I've now turned the whole thing into a web page - http://axelrod.plus.com/ppmw/index.php/How_to_be_a_happier_cyclist
& included a suggestion from Richard.
More suggestions welcome!
What a great post - I think i'll link to it from my blog. Cheers!
Nick
I love this, take away all the crap and you are left with a dude (or dudette) on a bike.
The way it should be.
Post a Comment