Spokes now has trained ride leaders

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British Cycling

Spokes now has formally trained ride leaders thanks to a recent course organised by West Berkshire Council. Josh Kerry and Gordon Oliver attended the two day course that covered Ride Leader Training (Level 1), as well as Route Mapping and Planning. This means that we are now formally qualified to plan and lead rides of up to 50 miles.

Spokes has been successfully running a programme of informal, social bike rides for a couple of years, which are planned and led by experienced local cyclists. Although one of our group already has a CTC ride leader qualification, we were keen to get others trained up to ensure that we are delivering rides in accordance with best practice. As well as being helpful for our own purposes, it means that we can volunteer to lead more formal programmes of rides on behalf of third parties, such as West Berkshire Council.

The sessions covered a lot of theory including duty of care, child protection and risk assessment, as well as how to safely travel as a group, navigate a variety of different junctions and plan a ride route for different abilities.  These classroom sessions were then followed up with some practical assessments out on the road, where we could put our newly learned skills to the test.

Having cycled for many years, we considered ourselves to be quite knowledgeable and safe cyclists, but we were surprised at how much there was to learn and how leading a group of cyclists requires a very different riding style and set of skills to riding on our own.

We are looking forward to putting our new skills into practice on our led rides. These take place on the first and third Saturdays of every month right through to October.  We have a good mix of easier and intermediate rides to cater for a wide range of abilities.  To find out more and to book your place on any of the rides, please visit our page on the GoSkyRide.com website. If you have any questions about any of the rides, or if you want to find out about which rides are right for you, then please contact us beforehand.

What bike should I buy?

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Specialized Concept Store

This is a question that we get asked a lot. Unfortunately, asking 10 cyclists what bike you should buy will get you 17 different answers, since most will say that you need more than one!

There are lots of different kinds of bike that you can spend your hard-earned cash on – cyclocross bikes, folding bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, touring bikes, etc. This huge choice can be really confusing for new cyclists.

The first question that you need to ask is, “What sort of cycling will I be doing?”  Just as with cars, each bike is created to fulfil a particular role.  You wouldn’t buy a high-powered sports car if all you wanted to do was tootle to the shops and back.  Similarly, while a full-suspension mountain bike is great for rough, technical trails, if all you are going to do is ride on roads and the occasional towpath, then you will quickly get fed up with the extra weight of that suspension and the drag from the tires.

If you need a bike primarily for commuting, then you will probably need something with a luggage rack and mudguards (or at least the ability to fit them). Also, dynamo lights are great for commuters, as they are permanently attached, less attractive to thieves and you never have to worry about running out of batteries.

Other factors that you need to consider are comfort and riding position. If you suffer from back or neck problems then a road bike with dropped handlebars is probably not for you. Instead look at a hybrid or flat-bar road bike with a more upright position. An adjustable stem can also help you to find the perfect riding position.

Regardless of the style of bike that you choose, the most important thing is to ensure that it fits you. This is where your local bike shop has a massive advantage over the Internet. They will be able to discuss your needs, pick out some suitable models, help you choose the right size and make adjustments to tailor it to your particular requirements.

We would always recommend that you take a bike out on a long test ride – up to an hour if you can – to make sure that the handling and riding position are comfortable and that it does what you want. It’s always a good idea to compare two or three bikes in order to find the one that suits you best.

Finally, if you are looking to buy a bike, don’t forget that Spokes members get 10% off bikes, parts, accessories and clothing at Banjo Cycles, Bikelux and the Specialized Concept Store.

Spokes launches 2016 programme of led bike rides in Newbury

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West Berkshire Spokes Bike Rides

Winter weather means that cycling can be hard work. It always seems to be cold or wet and it gets dark way too early! However, Spring is just around the corner, and so we have been working hard to plan our programme of led bike rides for 2016 to tempt you back out on two wheels to discover the beautiful countryside in and around West Berkshire.

We will be running at least two bike rides each month from March right through to October. Rides on the first Saturday of the month are shorter, slower rides that are aimed at occasional cyclists, or those who are looking to get back into cycling after a break. Rides on the third Saturday of the month are a bit longer and faster and are aimed at more experienced cyclists. If you’re feeling really brave, then why not sign up for ‘William’s Big Wheel’ – a 57 mile jaunt deep into Hampshire!

All rides start and finish in Newbury and our meeting point is at the side of Lloyds Bank in the centre of town. Details of the rides can be found on the calendar page of our website. For safety reasons, we limit rides to a maximum of 20 places. To book your place, please visit: www.goskyride.com.

If you want to find out more about our rides and whether or not they are right for you, then please do get in touch. We hope to see you soon!

How to Keep Your Bike Secure

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bikeregister

One of our members contacted us recently to report that their bike had been stolen. As well as the obvious inconvenience and financial cost associated with losing a bike, it can be very upsetting, particularly if it is stolen from your home.  However, the good news is there are steps that you can take to prevent the theft from occurring in the first place, and to increase the chances of being reunited with your bike in the event that it is stolen.

It is vital that you register your bike with an on-line database such as Bike Register or Immobilise.  The basic service is free and allows the police to check the frame number of any bike that is stolen and subsequently recovered to identify its owner.  You can pay to receive an electronic tag or tamper-resistant label with a unique QR code that can be scanned.  This can deter thieves from stealing the bike in the first place and alerts the police to check the database. You can also pay for permanent etching kits for additional piece of mind.

We would also recommend that you insure your bike(s). Low value bikes are often covered as part of household insurance policies when stored at home. However, you may need to increase your cover, or take out a separate policy to get cover outside the home, or to insure more expensive bikes. If you intend to take your bikes abroad, then you will need to check that your policy will cover this. Also, if you live in a block of flats with a communal bike store, it is worth checking that the bikes will be covered if left in these areas. You can use an on-line price comparison website to compare prices and cover.

Make sure that you take reasonable steps to secure your bike. Buy a good quality lock – preferably two. We recommend that you buy a lock with a Sold Secure Gold or Silver rating. D-locks are popular and can be used with extender chains. However, these locks can be heavy and cumbersome to carry, but there are alternatives available. For example, the HIPLOK is a heavy duty chain that loops around your waist. Alternatively, a Dutch-style horseshoe lock and extender chain offers a neat solution. Be sure to lock your bike whenever you leave it, including at home.

When leaving your bike, make sure you attach it to a bike stand or item of street furniture that cannot be easily broken, cut, or moved, or where your bike could be lifted clear. Try to choose a well-lit area with CCTV coverage. It is best to choose an area where other people are around and are frequently walking past – never leave it in an isolated place.  Wheels are an easy target for thieves, particularly where they have quick release skewers. When locking your bike, make sure that you secure both wheels and the frame to the bike stand, and if you are going to leave your bike in a public place on a regular basis, then consider fitting security skewers or skewer locks such as those made by Quick Caps.

Spokes Carry Out Local Cycling Audit

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St John's Roundabout

One of Spokes’ early achievements was a Cycling Map of Newbury and Thatcham, which was produced after a detailed audit of the local cycle network by Spokes members.  It was a great success and helped to get more people out on bikes.

West Berkshire Council has now asked if Spokes can carry out another audit of the urban cycle network in Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford, while Reading Cycle Campaign are covering Theale and the Reading fringe. The audit will help to inform how the cycle network can be improved, including for the various new developments that are planned.

The audit has to be completed by 31 March 2016, so we have recruited volunteers from our membership to help us over the next couple of months. This team effort will be coordinated by our Highways Officer, Dr Tony Vickers.  We are focusing initially on ‘commuter routes’, identifying gaps that could be filled, junctions that could be improved, and anything else that would make life a little easier and safer for a cyclist.

If you would like to help with the audit, or if you have any ideas about how the local cycle route network could be improved, then please get in touch and let us know.  We would love to hear your ideas.