Bright ideas
Getting tooled up: a trip to the workshop
Tooled up in this instance is very much referring to fixing the bike rather than anything else!
Did I mention I had signed myself up for a bike maintenance course? I think possibly just a few times!
There were a few events that triggered the decision to get myself some training. The first time I questioned my lack of preparation was not long after I’d got the bike and was embarking on a ride with a group of experienced riders. Finding out just how much practical equipment others had in their bags versus mine being full of snacks and a puncture repair kit (forgot the pump!) was a bit of an eye opener.
My bike not only provided a very liberating freedom, but also gave me such optimism for picture perfect bike rides. So much so that I was oblivious to anything maintenance related, my mind was so occupied with excitement that I hadn’t given inner tubes, lube, cleaning equipment, chains, quick links, gears, brake pads etc much thought at all. This awesome bike was surely going to be so awesome that it would never get a puncture right?! Well , maybe not! but that tiny plastic box containing a puncture kit was surely all I’d need!!! I’ve brought two so I'll give myself a pat on the back… oh dear!
Previous bike knowledge was limited to my dad attempting to teach me to ride a bike and for some reason me just not being able to get it. My husband was very supportive when I decided to try again as an adult a few years ago. I’d thought that perhaps I just didn’t try hard enough as a child and could put a bit more effort in now that I was older. I really wanted to be good at it. I was still not good at it! I found it a painfully frustrating experience and never pictured myself going cycling EVER again. I’d never spent enough time cycling to have had to give a second thought about maintenance.
Being diagnosed with a rare genetic condition gave hindsight that helped to put a lot of negative sports related experiences into a new perspective. Now that I've found the bike for me ( best bike ever, cycling is actually rather awesome!) I’m very much inclined to look after it.
I figured there would be some maintenance to do but that it couldn't be that hard. If it was then I’d take the bike up to the really nice chap at the bike shop to sort it. As I spent more time on the bike I began learning a lot more about how they aren’t quite as simple as I first thought. It seems I like to learn the hard way and have made some silly mistakes.
So far I’ve managed to give myself some oily black freckles ( arms and face, they stained it for a few days) as a result of too much lube on a not very clean chain, lots of tiny cuts after thinking the frayed gear cable could be smoothed with bare fingers back into its casing, and a near breakdown from thinking I’d totally broken the electrics, but had actually just knocked the sensor out of place!
Not being capable had been chipping away at me. Thinking ‘I wish I could do that’ and then questioning it, well then why don't you?
If I wasn’t cycling solo in my own oblivious bubble then I was with a group of experienced riders who seemed to know what kit to carry and how to use it. Maybe riding on my own wasn’t such a good idea? I could feel my confidence being chipped away. I had to do something about that before it developed into a problem, so I signed up for a course.
Cytech does a fantastic two day home mechanic course. It was in depth and hands on, which was exactly what I needed. I went in with very little knowledge on bikes, other than how to fix a puncture! I left feeling much more confident and ready for solo rides again. Things like replacing brake and gear cables, sorting out everything chain related, derailleur placement and identifying the necessary tools were what I wanted to walk away knowing. We got much more than that! It was a relaxed atmosphere with a small group of very likeable people. I'd highly recommend checking out the Cytech website for a breakdown of the course and signing yourself up for a confidence and knowledge boost.
I’m building up my tool collection and I now carry more than snacks in my bag!
Bright idea:
The darker evenings haven’t stopped me from riding, I’ve been joining a group who meet in the evenings and go on various routes to clock up the miles. One particularly wet evening led to me reviewing my clothing choices and I now have a waterproof cycling jacket for future rainy days.
Visibility is key, good lights, reflective clothing, and not forgetting the flag! Doing all that I can so there's a better chance of me being seen and not injured. I feel the safety of numbers is best for night rides.
One thing that had stuck in my mind was the inability to signal which direction I'm heading in on the road. Putting your arm out to signal on a handbike is awkward! I tend to ride in the middle of the group so that it’s, hopefully, fairly obvious that I’ll be travelling in the same direction. It’s not an ideal solution though. Whilst scrolling through a handcycle group on social media wanting to see how others manage, I discovered a review by a fellow handcyclist for a helmet with indicators!!! How awesome is that!
‘’Indicators on the helmet give me a lot more confidence… the ability to get around safely is truly liberating’’
Ellis had reviewed a bike helmet by Lumos, a company who have raised over £2 million on kickstarter, for their cycle helmets dubbed ‘Cycling’s smartest safety accessory’. The slogan for Lumos: move smart, stay safe.
The rationale behind the indicators in the helmet are that they are easy to understand, and that it is safer and more visible. By using the same ‘road language’ of a flashing orange light there is less chance of misunderstanding intentions.
Unlike hand signals the lights can be left on for the whole turn, making it safer to manoeuvre without getting off-balance. Indicators are mandatory on cars, it makes sense for cyclists to get some too!
I now feel like I’m getting the right gear and have a bit more of an idea than I did when I started! It’s all small steps in the right direction. I’d like to think as I develop my own confidence with the bike that I can pass this on a bit when the time comes to hire the bikes out. Aside from bringing the helmet to my attention, Ellis highlighted that many people don’t know about the bike options that exist, and so never bother trying it out. My favourite quote from him: ‘Roll models - pardon the pun - are key.’
