Tips For Winter Cycling

Dog Alert!!

Shimano Gear Combination Guide

Pedal Power!

Guidelines for Cyclists by Delhi Traffic Police

In order to be safe while cycling on roads of Delhi, keep the following tips in mind. Before you go out on the road with your bicycle, ensure that:  a. You should wear: A cycle helmet. Appropriate clothes for cycling. Avoid clothes which may get tangled in the chain, or in a wheel or may obscure your lights. Light coloured or fluorescent clothing which helps other road users to see you even in dark and poorly lit roads. Reflective clothing and/or accessories (belt, arm or ankle bands) in the dark. b. Follow these rules: Never ride with just one hand on the handle bar except when giving a signal. Keep both feet on the pedals. Do not ride more than two abreast. Use the cycle lane, wherever provided. Never follow any vehicle closely. Maintain safe distance. Do not carry anything which may affect your balance or may get tangled up with your cycle wheels or chain. Avoid big and busy roads with fast moving traffic. Stop before you enter moving traffic from a driveway, a parking lot, a minor road, or from behind a parked car or bus. Go ahead only when the way is clear. Ride on the left of the road, with other traffic. If you are passing a stopped car be careful, a door may suddenly open. Obey stop signs and traffic lights, like the rest of the traffic. Before turning right at a crossing, look back over your shoulder, and give way to the traffic coming from behind. Never stop your cycle on a pedestrian crossing. Never ride your cycle on a footpath. Never try to overtake- if you must, do it only if the driver of the vehicle in your front has permitted or signalled you to overtake. Never try to overtake a vehicle, which is in the process of taking a turn. Always follow the light signals wherever you notice them. Any violation of the same is not only against the law but also dangerous to your life. Do not enter a street where you see the "No Entry" sign. Slow down at the zebra crossing- better stop if you see people crossing the road. You should learn and understand the language of signals given by the other road users and the signal you are expected to give while riding your cycle on the road. Never stop suddenly without showing a signal. Watchfully move towards the left while slowing down, but signal your intentions to the traffic following you. Under no circumstances should you ride on the wrong side of the road or cross the road abruptly. Source: http://www.delhitrafficpolice.nic.in/guidelines-for-cyclists.htm

The Essential Pre Ride Checklist !!

Tips For Riding In Rain

With the monsoons having arrived in full spate, keeping in mind some rain riding tips will help in making the most of the weather and enjoying the ride.

Bike Essentials

• Fenders are a good idea if you commute to work as the rainwater on the roads is oily and dirty. Long, full coverage fenders are the best bet or even short fenders with mud flaps.

• Lighting improves visibility when it's raining, so keep your lights flashing even in the daylight.

• LED lights are inexpensive and do a good job in the rains.

• A flashing red LED rear lamp is a good investment for stormy riding.

• Saddles can be kept dry by covering with a plastic bag. Shower caps work very well as saddle covers.

Riding Strategy 

• Reduce your speed to compensate for slick roads and reduced visibility.

• Brake early, accelerate slowly and take the corners carefully.

• While taking corners, put as much of your weight on the outside pedal and lean your body more than the bike.

• Avoid riding through large puddles since there's no way to know their depth or if there's a pothole hiding underneath.

• Watch out for rainbow edged patches on the road as they are an indicator of oil build up.

• Keep an eye out for manhole covers, wet leaves and steel grids as they become very slick, especially just after the rain has started.

Clothing

• Waterproof Jacket or Rain Cape provides adequate coverage. The Rain cape has the added advantage of being easy to take on or off, although it can act like a sail in crosswinds.

• Go for bright colours to increase visibility.

• Wicking or dry feel fabrics should be worn for increased comfort and breathability.

• Avoid wearing cotton clothes as they soak up water.

• Footwear can be kept dry with shoe covers. Wear lightweight walking/hiking shoes.

• Baseball cap worn under the helmet is great for protecting your face from the pelting rain and keeping your head dry.

• Clear lens sunglasses should be worn so that the obstacles can be seen easily.

Storing stuff

• Ziplock bags are good for storing your cell phones and other delicate items before putting them into your bike bag.

Bike Maintenance 

• Chain should kept well lubed so it does not rust or squeak.

• Make sure that the chain is dry before you use a lube and use a heavier lube.

• Wipe the bike with an old towel after a rain ride to prevent corrosion.

• For even better protection, give a quick rinse with fresh water, follow it with towel drying and lubing.

Meet the bicycles - Part I

If you think there are only three types of bikes: Road, Mountain and Hybrid....well, then think again!! There are 18 bicycle variants and in this post, I will introduce you to nine of them.  

1. The Mountain bike itself comes in three variants - Full Suspension, Hardtail and Downhill. Mtbs have sturdy, highly durable frames, suspension systems, wide-gauge treaded tyres, and cross-wise handlebars. 
2. The Road bikes or Racing bikes were referred to as 10 speed bikes for many years. Designed for racing on roads and tracks, they have a lightweight frame, narrow high pressured tyres and are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible.
3. Touring bikes are lighter than hybrids or mountain bikes but heavier than racing bikes. Their handlebars can be adjusted to drop down or be upright. They are fitted with eyelets for attaching front and rear panniers and have at least 21 gears to ride up the steepest of hills even with excess baggage. 
4. Hybrid bikes first appeared in the late 1980s. A cross between a mountain bike and a road bike, they are good for riding on multiple surfaces. They have a light frame, medium gauge wheels, and derailleur gearing with commonly 700 x 35 c tyres and 21-27 gears.
5. The Classic or the Dutch bike, is a utilitarian bicycle with mudguards or fenders, a rear carrier or rack, relaxed loop frame or geometry, an upright seating position. It generally has an ‘old-time’ look of the early 20th century.
6. The Fixed Gear  bike or the “Fixie”, as its commonly known is a single speed bike, which has a drivetrain and no freewheel mechanism so you can't freewheel or 'coast.. Simply put, whenever the bike is in motion the pedals will go around, so you're always pedaling on a fixed-gear bicycle. 
7. Time Trial/Triathlon bikes are the ultimate speed bikes built with aero handlebars and aero seatpost for a very streamlined riding position for usually short and flat time trials, where every second counts.
8. Cyclocross bikes are specialised off road racing bikes, which are light enough to be carried over obstacles but come with strong frames and cantilevered brakes to handle muddy rutted tracks. 
9. BMX bikes are the original offroaders designed as urban fun bikes and are as much about lifestyle as transport. They come with no gears and in various styles adapted for racing, ramps or jumping the bike.                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Bike Maintenance - How to Clean Your Bike

Recommended when the bike is being cleaned after quite some time

Kerosene-Paint brush-Chain brush-Lubricant

Saddle down

 Clean the Cassette-Rear derailleur-Front derailleur-Chainwheel-Chain

 

Dry with a piece of clean cloth

Clean the Chainwheel with a brush

Put a few drops of lubricant on Bottom bracket-Chain-Ball bearings

Spin the wheel so the entire chain gets lubricated

Clean again with a piece of cloth to remove any excess lubricant

Bike Anatomy

                                                                     

FRAME:    Top tube      Down tube      Seat tube      Seat stay      Chain Stay

SADDLE AREA:      Saddle      Seat post

FRONT SET:    Handlebar grip      Head tube      Shock absorber      Front brakes      Fork

WHEEL:    Spokes      Hub      Rim      Tyre      Valve

Rear brakes      Cogset      Rear derailleur

Front derailleur      Chain      Chainrings

Pedal       Crank arm

Gear Levers

Eating Right for Cyclists

Cyclists need to consume adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to maintain and improve strength, speed and stamina. The daily diet should ideally comprise of 55-65% carbohydrates, 15-20% protein, and 20-30% fat. The food  pyramid here is a good approximation of the recommended food intake.

Tips For Biking in Summers

Laser Lite Lane: A Tail Light with Lasers

3-Mode 4-LED Red Laser Bicycle Cycling Rear Tail Light 

First, the good news - there's more visibility available for the 'nite riders' with the new bike tail lights that work by projecting two red laser beams onto the ground on either side of the bike. The width of the "lane" can be roughly between two to four feet depending on how the lite is angled from under your seat post. You can choose from two modes, steady lines or flashing beams. It also includes a conventional LED that has three flashing modes.

Now, if you are wondering about how the laser tail light is different from any regular tail light, let me answer that for you. For one, the illumination of the red laser lane clearly marks a space or boundary between the cyclist and any vehicle that's coming from behind and helps them to pass the cyclist more safely at night. Also, it marks a safe following distance for the other cyclists. 

However, should that make the cyclist feel completely safe? Now, this is where the concern steps in, as what tends to happen with add on safety aids is that the cyclists start to get complacent. They feel that since they are riding with something like a laser lite lane marker for instance, they are visible for miles around and so they drop their guard. Well, while the visibility of the cyclist does increase for the vehicles that are following a short distance away, it's not so in the case of the vehicles that are far behind or those that are immediately upon them. Also, let's not forget that the drivers look up at the traffic in front of them and not down at the road where the lasers lines are being illuminated. 

My take on the laser tail light is that it's a good add on safety aid that improves the visibility for cyclists at night. However, it should not make the cyclists forget any of the safety precautions, which include following the traffic rules along with the essentials of wearing a reflective vest, a helmet with a reflective strip and a good headlight while riding at night.