Ready to ride on the road

Ok, you have ridden your new bicycle along the local canals, adjusted the saddle to be exactly comfortable and discovered some fresh air, exercise and how to travel many miles, easily, but without creating that dreaded CO2! Now you want to cycle where you really want to go, from your home to where you work, let's say. But you have heard all sorts of scary tales about potholes, loads of traffic, big traffic islands and impatient drivers!

• Those potholes. Well, unless you are riding with your eyes shut, you will probably see 'em ahead? Potholes tend to be near the gutters and close to the kerb, which is also where drainage gratings are placed and rubbish collects, so a first rule of road cycling is

• Ride away from the kerb! Many cyclists tend to 'hug' the kerb, trying to keep 'out of the way' of the traffic. But you are ONE OF the traffic! The recommendation is to ride at least 1 metre away from the kerbline and, if the road is narrow, to ride in the centre of your lane.

• Loads of traffic. Well, sometimes there is, on the main roads, so ride in a position where they can easily see you. Become part of the traffic, not shy away from it. Or look at your 'Cycling and Walking Map of Birmingham' available from Birmingham City Council Transportation Strategy and find quieter alternative roads.

• Big traffic islands. As you gain riding experience and particularly if you do drive a car, you will learn to handle these too. Again, riding well away from the outer kerbline is essential (yes, despite what the Highway Code recommends), so too is making 'eye contact' with vehicles joining and leaving.

• Impatient drivers. Well, if you adopt a prominent road position you can make 'em wait! But be particularly watchful of the driver who overtakes and immediately turns left in front of you. Be aware, with mirrors or by looking, that a driver IS overtaking and be prepared to stop or turn with them if they do cut across your path.

There is of course much more to be explained buying bikes and safer road cycling, so I have compiled a presentation which is available to any individual or community group, For more information on this, please Email me! I also have my web site and I can offer training to any adult.

I have not mentioned public transport as an alternative to driving and you may want to combine your cycling with a train journey. With a few exceptions, taking a bicycle on a train usually involves pre-booking and all sorts of restrictions UNLESS you have a 'Folding Bike'. Yes, these clever machines give a normal ride yet, in a few seconds, fold down to the size of hand luggage! So if your journeys often involve trains, consider a 'folder'.

Finally I must mention 'Push Bikes' the Birmingham Area Cycling Campaign. Push Bikes meets with Birmingham City Council to press for improved conditions for cyclists in Birmingham and sends a quarterly newsletter to its members. Why not join us? Click here for the Push Bikes web site Next week's 'Lighter Footprints' blogs will come from Alexandra Haskyn of SuSMO. So cheerio and thanks for reading my 'blogs' about bikes!