Someone once said that the bicycle was one of the world’s best inventions, and that person was right. A good bike does a little bit, but it gets you places fast, keeps you fit (makes you happy due to fresh air & exercise) and is far cheaper than a car. Read more on cycle-friendly town planning.
If you ride a bicycle, it helps to note down the details of your local independent bike shop, as for big jobs, it’s a safer option to get an expert to test brakes and wheels etc (and helps to support local experts to be paid for doing something practical, a sometimes rare option these days). But for everyday, it’s good to know how to maintain your bike (to keep it safe and make it last longer) along with doing little repairs yourself (if safe to to do so, to save time and money).
Safe Cycling in the City is a useful book for cyclists in in urban areas. It covers choosing the best bikes and clothes, and also covers road safety, braking, gears, and using extra power provided by electric bikes.
The Many Benefits of Cycling
As well as being very good low-impact workout (as long as you don’t go cycling up hills!), cycling gets your heart pumping, so is good cardiovascular exercise, and also helps to build muscle and keep bones strong. It’s also very good for your mental health, as cycling releases feel-good endorphins.
The financial benefits are obvious. Whether you choose a manual or electric bicycle, both are way cheaper than buying a car, and simpler and cheaper to maintain.
Environmental benefits are also huge. If more people go by bicycle, this reduces pollution from traffic fumes, along with reducing noise pollution and the number of potholes caused often by too many cars in society. With less traffic on our roads, this makes our communities safer for anyone crossing roads – children, adults, pets and wildlife.
Cycling also builds community connections. You’re more likely to ‘see’ local shops and cafes and natural spaces in towns, when you’re cycling. You can just stop off and enjoy, rather than ‘drive through’ as there’s nowhere to park.
How to Maintain and Repair Bikes
- Use Biodegradable Cleaners/Lubes. A good brand is Kingud, which is free from toxic PTFE, you can also buy citrus toxic-free degreaser (keep citrus away from pets) and even a plant-based helmet polisher! Sold with refill packs.
- Invest in a Bike Repair Multi-Tool. This can do a number of tasks including fixing a damage spoke, snapped chain or puncture. Pebble Tool is a good brand sold with a lifetime guarantee, that can fit in your pocket to bail out most common bicycle mishaps. It includes an integrated Dynaplug® tyre repair accessories to quickly patch a puncture.
- Buy a Decent Bike from a bike shop, where people know how to put it together and test the brake, and teach you how to safely ride it. You’ll also need a good lock, bell and bike insurance/breakdown cover.
- Read Back On Your Bike, a super book with info on how to be a cyclist again, even if the last time you cycled was a child. This real-world guide includes tips on safe riding, fixes and maintenance and ideal for the nervous new returning cyclist.
Good Bicycles and Accessories
- Priority Bicycles (US) offers quality affordable bicycles for adults and children, which feature rust/grease-free carbon drive belts (no chains), internally-geared hubs , puncture-resistant tires and (mostly vegan) comfortable saddles.
- Babboe Cargo Bikes (The Netherlands) is the market leader for safe affordable bikes to carry children, dogs and shopping. With electric pedal resistance, if you don’t live somewhere as flat as Holland! Bikeworks offers unique bikes for children with special needs.
