Know the limits of your bike

THE combination of corners and two wheels is a mystery for many newcomers to cycling and is most likely shrouded by the fear of falling off. You don’t have to be going fast to lose control of the bike – slow turns can be a cause of difficulty for the novice. It may bring some confidence knowing what some of the limitations of the bike you are riding are as this will vary for each style of bike and size.

The custom-built, cherry red, comfy tourer

Built for comfort: Mark got just what he wanted by building his own touring bike.

The only original part of Mark’s old touring bike was the front derailleur and that was looking weary.

After 22 years, it was time for a new bike, but nobody made exactly what he wanted. So he built his own.

Touring bikes are designed for comfort. They generally have a longer head tube so you can sit more upright and longer chainstays so your heels don’t bump the rear panniers.

Get to know your gears for an easier ride

Easy rider: get your gears working to reduce your effort. This bike is set for comfortable cruising. Photo: Helen Cronin

One Sunday morning, we passed a woman valiantly pushing up a hill in her top gear. But she was working needlessly hard.

Gears are designed to even out the terrain so it’s not such hard work. Up hill in low gear should be almost as comfortable as on the flat with a ripper tail wind.