Be seen. Wear bright clothing and always fit a rear light. It’s often as difficult to be seen on a bright sunny day as it is on a cloudy, overcast day. Always wear a cycle helmet.
Ride courteously, keep other road users in mind and give clear indications and signals of your intentions. Always check over your shoulder before you manoeuvre.
Be self-sufficient as much as possible. As a minimum of self-help and self-reliance, learn how to make small adjustments to your bike, repair punctures and fix a broken chain in the comfort of your home – don’t leave it till it happens out on the road. If you do have a bike maintenance emergency on the road, see Appendix B for a list of bike shops.
Suggested minimum repair kit:
pump
CO2 cartridges (x2) and inflator
tyre levers (x3)
spare tubes (x2)
tube repair patches or puncture repair kit
tyre repair patches
multi-tool
chain tool
Other essential items and considerations:
fully charged mobile phone
paper cash
debit or credit card (taxi ride back to the start?)
a riding partner or two
let someone know where you are going and how long you’re likely to be away
Emergencies
Should a serious injury occur while out on a ride and you require hospital treatment, dial 999 and request an ambulance. You will need to give them your location and the state of your injuries. Always carry a fully charged mobile phone when out on a training ride.
If your injuries are less serious then consider calling 111 for the NHS urgent care facility. If you feel you are able to make it to an accident and emergency unit (A&E), see Appendix C for a list of local hospitals with full A&E facilities.
Equipment
The bike
It may not be ‘all about the bike’, but a good-quality, lightweight road bike certainly makes life easier out on the road. A lightweight bike is generally easier to propel along the road than a heavier one, and is certainly less effort up the hills.
Make sure you ride a bike that is the right size for you; this is important if you want to get the maximum amount of power output from your bike and to avoid any injuries. A bike that is too small will be cramped and uncomfortable, whereas a bike that is too large will not allow enough stand-over height, which is potentially dangerous, and the handlebars will be too far away to reach for the brake levers. Get along to your local bike shop to get specialist advice and to get sized up properly.
Helmet
Always wear a properly fitted cycle helmet. There are plenty of lightweight, good-quality helmets out there in the market to satisfy even the most reticent of helmet sceptics. You will more than likely have to wear a helmet to ride in a sportive anyway. Buy a good-quality helmet, look after it, and again get some advice and proper fitting from your local bike shop.
Cycle shorts
Never scrimp on buying cycle shorts: 100 miles is a long way to be sat down on a saddle and your rear will thank you for investing wisely. Bib shorts are worth considering; they are extremely comfortable and don’t cut into your waist at all. If you are riding often you should invest in at least a couple of pairs of shorts. Wash them regularly, and don’t wear underwear underneath them.
Pedals and shoes
Clipless pedals and shoes are proven to be more efficient than traditional pedals without straps, and by quite some margin. If you do get into sportive cycling quite seriously and begin to include high mileage routes into your training programme then buying specialist clipless shoes such as Shimano Road SPDs makes complete sense.
Cycling apparel
Invest wisely in your cycling tops; buy the best that you can afford and only buy specific cycling jerseys made from either man-made fabrics, such as Polyester, or, in some cases, natural materials like Merino Wool, if retro styling is your bag. It’s worth having a selection of short and long sleeve jerseys to allow for warm or cold weather. Again, pop into your local bike shop to get a taste of what’s available.
When the weather turns cool it’s worth considering layering up both upper body and legs. Cycling leggings will keep hardworking muscles warm, and a windproof and waterproof cycling jacket is a must. Buy the best that you can afford; there is some great kit out there that won’t break the bank.
Gloves are a must-have item too; not only will they keep your hands warm but they soak up the sweat from your palms and help keep a safe grip on the handlebars. Wear short-fingered gloves when warm and full-fingered ones when cool. Waterproof cycling gloves should be considered in the winter or heavy rain conditions.
Cycle-specific glasses are highly recommended too: a fly in the eye at 20mph is not funny. Get clear lenses for rainy days, yellow lenses for low-light days and sunglasses for days when the sun decides to show its face. Three-in-one options are readily available so, unless you want to, it isn’t necessary to buy three separate pairs.
Suitable clothing always pays dividends (Route 8)
Bike maintenance
Clean your bike regularly, preferably after each ride, but do so especially if the weather was inclement on your last ride. Grit and crud from the road will wear out your chain and components in no time if you don’t wash them off. A quick hose-down and a little chain-specific oil will work wonders at prolonging the life of your bike.
Another reason for cleaning the bike regularly is that it is easy to spot any potential problems. When you get down into areas such as the spokes or bottom bracket, it’s easier to inspect them as you clean your bike. Check bolts regularly for tightness too; don’t over-tighten them but always check for safety.
It is worth having your bike serviced at least twice a year by a specialist bike shop. This may depend on how many miles you’re putting in, but after a long winter or in the run-up to the sportive season, it’s worth giving the bike some TLC so that it’s ready for your event.
And a bike wash to finish with – if the level’s up (Route 2)
The rules of the road
Cyclists are responsible for their own behaviour on the road and are therefore bound by the Highway Code. Always ride responsibly and be courteous to other road users, especially horses and their riders. Always give clear indications as to your intentions before manoeuvring; the car driver behind you is not a mind reader, so indicate in plenty of time before turning.
Check over your right shoulder
