Last year, in an attempt to save money and add another element to my yoga-focussed fitness routine, I bought a bike. Now, apart from the occasional wobbly ride on holiday, I hadn’t cycled since I was a teenager, so I was a bit nervous about hitting the streets of London. The frequent emails from my worried Dad with links to news stories about cyclists dying on the city’s streets didn’t help (thanks Dad!). Apparently I’m not alone, the one thing that stops most women cycling is concerns about safety. If you’re thinking about getting on your bike this spring, I say go for it and here’s my best advice.
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Practice Away From Roads
I built up my confidence by test-riding a couple of bikes around a nearby park. When I finally bought my bike (I couldn’t decide between a vintage-style Pashley or something more modern for AGES) I picked it up on a Saturday morning so the roads were quiet for my cycle home. Initially I only cycled outside of rush hour (even now I avoid rush hour if possible) and I always take the quieter route if there’s a choice.
Wear A Helmet
When I tell people that I’ve started cycling in London their first question is, “Do you wear a helmet?” Well yes, of course I do, at the end of the day I’d prefer to not die than have just-stepped-out-of-the-salon-hair and, to be honest, even when I actually have just stepped out of the salon it doesn’t look like it, as my instructions to my hairdresser always end with, “And please make it look like I haven’t just had a haircut.” There are some awesome styles around, including leopard-print ones (see box for link).
Have a lesson
If you’re feeling really nervous it might be worth having a lesson or two before you hit the road. Google cycling lessons or training in your area to find ones close to you.
Choose A Slow Bike
I (finally!) bought a Tokyobike and on their website it explains that the bikes are designed for comfort as opposed to speed, adding: “The bike is simply a way to enjoy your city, as much about the journey as the destination.” I don’t let it worry me that more speedy cyclists are whizzing past, I’d rather feel safe, take in the sights and get to where I’m going sweat-free, than win a race I didn’t even know I was in.
Don’t Be Afraid To Get Off & Push
There are a couple of unavoidable super-busy junctions on my regular route and if they’re looking a little crazy, I jump off and join the pedestrians. I figure that I bought my bike to make my life better, not to cause me extra stress, and if it takes me a little longer to get to my destination then so be it.
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{Cool Cycling Kit}
The Bike I love my Sand Brown Tokyobike Bisou but how cool is the (released AFTER I bought mine) Saffron Yellow? It was either a Tokyobike or a Pashley. In the end I decided the lighter Tokyobike was a better choice for my first floor flat.
The Helmet Mine is basic black but when I see helmets like the Sawako Leopard I think I might have to invest in a second one. Or perhaps one to go with every outfit…
The Bag I quickly realised that wearing a bag over one shoulder wasn’t going to work and put a rucksack on my Christmas list. Eastpak has loads of stylish options. I’m lusting after the APC x Eastpak Classic Backpack which has a padded laptop-protecting pocket.
The Book I’ve just ordered a copy of The Girls’ Bicycle Handbook by Caz Nicklin, cyclechic.co.uk founder and cycle style blogger. It promises advice on choosing your bike, bike maintenance and combating helmet hair. Hurry up with my copy Mr Postman!
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Are you a regular cyclist? If not what’s stopping you? Any lovely cycling brands I need to know about? Do share! Images: Free People
I would love to get into cycling but I’m put off by two things – we live on a massive hill, and when you get to the bottom there’s another big hill, and also my husband (still v excited when I say that!!) is a keen cyclist. “Keen” as in, averages 200 miles per week. He speeds off up the hill and I give up and potter round in the garden instead.
PS surely the lady on the right isn’t suitably dressed – I have visions of her hi lo hem being caught up in her chain …
Ah, I’m not a lover of hills either. There’s one on my regular route, it’s pretty small but it feels like a mountain on the way up, I do enjoy freewheeling down it on the way home though. Yes, you’re right, she’s not suitably dressed at all, and neither of them are wearing a helmet!
When I was younger the highlight of my summer holiday was our trips to Clumber Park to cycle round their cycle trail. As I got older though the bike rides became less frequent but I would love to plan in a ride over the next few months.
A friend of mine got knocked off his bike by an ambulance(!) and so the idea of riding on public roads terrifies me!
I do love it, I feel very free on my bike. On a sunny day it definitely beats being on the tube or stuck in a traffic jam. Hearing stories like what happened to your friend do scare me, but I always take the safest option!
They mightn’t be wearing helmets but at least the one on the right has airbags. Which she will most definitely need if she actually tries cycling in that attire 😉
Haha, exactly!
I suppose i am a keen cyclist of sorts, i own four bicycles… a have a lush vintage raleigh saffron shopper, a hybrid, a mountain bike and a road bike.
My key advice for anyone cycling would be …….. make eye contact with turning drivers in front of you, if no contact they haven’t seen you, don’t drive in anyone’s blind spot, and expect the unexpected! ps don’t ride with head phones in.
I recently completed a 48 mile sportif in the shropshire hills it was hard but great fun. I have my eye on a Bobbin next
I am very jealous of your collection of bikes Sarah! Yes, you’re absolutely right, making eye contact with turning drivers is key, I tend to smile as well, to break down that us and them attitude some drivers seem to have towards cyclists. And headphones are a definite no no, so important to have your wits about you. Wow, a 48 miler sounds tough, but I bet the views were awesome!
I bought a bright red shopping bike when we moved to Germany as everyone and their grandmothers (I love seeing the old folks out on their bikes, it seems to keep them fit as you don’t see many with Zimmer frames etc!) rides over here. We are very lucky as there are properly separate cyclepaths all over the place or at least a cycle lane on the road, it’s very rare I have to go on any roads that are too busy. The drivers here are also terrified of hitting cyclists as even if it happens to be the cyclist’s fault it is the driver who gets in trouble, it seems to work very well.
I also love the lack of lycra here. There are a few racing bike folk in their lycra but the majority use their bikes for transport and shopping so everyone just rides in their normal clothes – I often go out on my bike in a skirt and heels. I have a basket on the front of my bike but also invested in some nice panniers for the back for larger shopping trips – it gets so hot here in summer that the thought of a hot rucksack on my back didn’t really appeal.
I think you’re very brave cycling in London, but do keep it up – the more people who cycle the safer the roads will become!!
Sorry, I seem to have rambled on a bit there so I won’t get started on the helmet debate (I don’t wear one but it’s not because of helmet hair)
Enjoy your bike, doesn’t it make you feel like a kid again? 🙂 xx
Germany is so much more set up for cyclists than the UK, I noticed that when I was in Berlin last year. Love seeing people looking chic on their bicycles, although I’m a long way off cycling in heels, it’s Converse or Air Max all the way for me at the moment! You’re right, cycling totally makes me feel like a kid again! x
After many years spent in bike heaven – The Netherlands – I can say that living in that country is the best way to gain confidence on your bike, whether you ride in an urban environment or across the country, from coast to countryside. Other than that, I would of course suggest sticking to the wise rules you mention above in order to fully and soundly enjoy this very leasurely activity.
😉
Well clearly I need to move to The Netherlands, perhaps I could relocate for the summer?!
I love riding my bike and am lucky enough to live in a compact, flat city with good cycle routes (Portsmouth) so there is no reason to take the car for getting about in town. Seaside cycling is a great stress relief!