Cycling is all in the family

Cycling is something people of all ages and abilities can do together. I got talking to Peter Dunham about cycling families at the Bendigo Parks ride in March. This is his family’s story.

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My wife and I both grew up riding bikes, not competitively, but just as kids do. It was a great source of fun and independence.

Stiff soles make for happy feet

Feet are marvellous pieces of bio-engineering when you’re walking. They don’t work so well when they’re operating on a small surface like a bicycle pedal. Since your feet are the power connection between you and the bike, you need to treat them well.

On a bike there’s no heel-toe action as there is when you walk. All your pedalling power is displaced into the pedal through the ball of your foot, which is not natural.

ICE could save your life

A cyclist lies unconscious in an ambulance. The police are calling bike shops and local cycling clubs describing his clothes and bike to see if anyone can tell them who he is. All the while his family wonders why he’s late getting home.

It’s a scene that emergency workers dread though it’s one they’ve experienced too often. But it’s very easy to make such a horrific scene a little less stressful. Carry identification whenever you go out.

Fixing a puncture

It’s generally faster to fix a puncture and get rolling again than to phone and wait for help. Fixing punctures is simple – once you know how and have some practice.

I don’t have space to take you through the process step-by-step – that’s best done by a friend or your local bike shop. But I can give you a few tips to keep in mind.