Author: Duncan Haynes

If you go to Mallorca, hiring a bike is great option, so too Richmond Park in London, being free to cruise the trail or road.  You have a contract and thus you respect the bike and return it.  But I’m thinking about the hire/shared bikes, you see left around the streets.  Where I live, they are ‘dockless’ (dump anywhere is probably a better name).  Is it just me seeing these?  It seems to be a challenge to dump your hired bike (if you did in fact hire it), in the most ridiculous locations, like; trees, rivers, gardens, ditches, driveways, shop fronts, in the road, middle of footpaths……  I do see a lot of these bikes being ridden and left responsibly.  But many aren’t.  I cannot be sure but not having hired a bike in London, do they come with a licence allowing you to do what you like?  Nearly every day I see one that goes that extra mile to achieving; ‘that’s unbelievable’ or ‘how have they manged to live so long’!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

The ‘race of truth’ – it solely tests a rider’s individual strength and endurance.  It’s just you, your bike and a clock – okay a few rules and a course.  But you get the idea.  It’s considered the purest test of a cyclists ability.  Any form of competitive cycling is hard, but most of us need to see a marker/rider to race against and this is not the case here, so mental strength is probably the biggest asset to be good at TT’s.  I’ve just got back into them.  I use my road bike, my normal cycle clothes (all be it the tightest I have) – skin suit might come out when it’s warmer… and a little preparation and planning for the event.  So far its’s going okay but that can all change; going out too hard or worse still, too soft!  I use a power meter and heart rate to gauge my effort and just constantly remind myself to keep as aero as possible while hitting the numbers – bingo.  It can be a bit of a faff to get involved as you need to join a club that either does them or is affiliated to the CTT, but it’s not that expensive.  And best, you can use your normal road bike as there are separate categories.  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

The big debate.  I apologise for anyone who has just bought a new bike!  Is it really needed?  Latest model, more gears, bigger tyres, lighter, nice colour or just that your current bike is worn out (which is probably the only justifiable reason to anyone else).  Who’s to gain the most out of your spend?  My thought is, unless you are on a serious upgrade, think about; what’s my aim?   Mine is to be as efficient as possible, while being relatively comfortable (bikefit territory).  For me, a bike upgrade may give 2% gain, max.  A big upgrade say from your steel 9sp wearing 23mm rubber to a carbon 12sp and 32mm rubber could give you 5-10%!  Back to me, surely, I could benefit considerably more by adding 60 minutes plus a week training and adjusting my diet?  But this takes effort.  So, do I take the easy option – new bike and same lifestyle?  Or the third option…   Biggest difference nearly everyone can make is being aware of what they are wearing and how they are positioned on a bike.  So unless you are riding uphill all the time, being aero is the game changer.  Just think ‘time trial’ every time you get on your bike!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

Not entirely my ideas, but I thought good to pass on; 1. Mudguards, 2. Cargo carrying capabilities, 3. Lights, 4. Chain guard, 5. Kickstand, 6. Battle scars.  Okay, so I might add stuff away from the bike and I’d probably take a couple off this list. But generally, they make sense?  Battle scars might need expanding on; the theory is if you buy a new bike (or new anything really) you stress over that first scratch, dent or damage.  So, get in early and do if yourself (maybe not your £5k Specialized you got last week)?  The mudguards make total sense – look rubbish but so does dirty wet work clothes.  Lights – tick.  I’ve said before about panniers – again don’t look great but save the back and neck from stress.  I think you could also look at tyres suitable for your journey, clothing suitable for the weather…. You get the picture. Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

I’ve cycled for a long time. It’s taken various forms from going to school (once I’d passed my cycle proficiency around 9 years old), my paper round, BMX (mainly falling off), cyclocross (again a lot of falling off), commuting to college & sports & all my jobs, trail riding (now called Gravel), Sportives, triathlons, Time Trials, club rides, road racing (one time only as was too scary) and now a track ‘taster’ session! A few years ago, I went to watch ‘London 3 Day’ at Lee Valley Velodrome.  Wow.  And having seen the track events on TV, being there was more of everything.  Anyway, if you get a chance go and watch or better still, do a track taster session – it really is amazing (and hard work)!  It was four 15 minutes over 2 hours; getting to know the bike and track, group drills, more advanced drills and then last 15 minutes a mix of races.  Really emptied the tank on the last 15 minutes!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

Why do bikes get stolen?  ‘It is a common crime due to the relative ease of reselling bicycles, which have a large second-hand market’. Whether you come off the tube and find your ‘station’ bike gone, leave the office at 7pm when it’s raining and find your lock in two and no bike or go to your shed before your Saturday club ride to find the door open and no bike – it’s rubbish. And having insurance is not much comfort as you want your bike now, it’s your bike that fits you well, you trust it and ‘love’ it.  Reading your insurance policy you’ll find they’ll require you to have certain locks, obviously not leave your bike unlocked and all those other pain-in-the-rear things, that insurance companies ask.  But maybe it’s worth it, to not to feel that sense of lose and inconvenience, by going that extra mile with security? Personally I spend a lot on locks and try and be fastidious about security of my (and others) bikes. Fingers crossed so far, it’s helped.  So double lock and leaving it in well-lit, busy area covered by CCTV, and it will make them think twice.  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

Getting a professional bikefit, it’s true – it will make you more comfortable, less prone to injuries and faster!  There really is no downside, except the initial cost.  A professional bikefit will cost you £200-£700. And that’s without the new crank, shoes, stem, saddle…. I’ve had a couple and each one has benefited my performance and comfort, significantly, and fortunately without a huge cost on new parts (unless you include the second fit, which ended up in a new bike!)  So, this is all relevant to a serious amateur/club cyclist or enthusiast or anyone thinking of spending a reasonable amount of money on a new road bike.  BUT it’s also important for anyone who cycles more than a few miles a week.  Riding a bike should be comfortable, so you should also consider a fit to make sure it is. Pain, numbness, or tingling—especially in the hands, feet, back or glutes—are signs that something about your bike doesn’t fit you properly.  You can do some fitting yourself (lots of info out there online or books) or come and ask me!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

We all like a freebie, right?  Drive to work and you have that lovely temperature-controlled environment and music of your choice. Get public transport to work and it’s better for the environment, not always quick and reliable, but you can get some work done or social stuff on your phone. Walk or run to work – the best! But for most of us, just too far, too sweaty and not practical.  Cycle to work, and it ticks all the boxes.  Okay not everyone has a bike or lives a cyclable distance to the office.  But for those that can incorporate some cycle into their commute – bingo.  A free cardio workout; 30 minutes commuting could burn 300-500 calories.  And did you know, it’s not just a physical workout, but you get a great mental workout too; releasing endorphins, improving brain function, reducing stress, combating depression and anxiety, building resilience, exposure to nature that can reduce tension…. I knew I felt better after a cycle, but this is news to me too!  I’m off for a cycle now!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

We are all susceptible, but you can reduce the probability. Tech stuff; Foreign object through the tyre, ‘pinch’ from the inner tube being squeezed against the rim, rubbing and wearing a hole in the tube (normally from running low pressure or getting grit inside the tyre), rust from water getting into the tyre and reacting with the valve or spoke ends and rim tape damage. They never happen at a convenient time so be prepared; taxi home or carry a repair kit and tools and most importantly knowledge to repair.  Or just forget most of the above and apply a few rules: 1. Run at correct tyre pressure and check condition regularly. 2. Clean tyres & remove embedded foreign objects. 3. Avoid holes, locking up rear wheel, and broken glass – town centres on Sunday mornings!  Myth – you still get punctures with slime or sealant filled tyres/tubes – just you might not know about them.  So if running a tubeless setup, know how to fix a hole that doesn’t seal and apologise to the rider behind you covered in your sealant!  So for the innertube setup I would suggest; pump, spare tube, repair kit including patches, tyre boot and levers and whatever you need to remove your wheel and probably best advice – a pair of gloves. Identify what caused the puncture is a must or you will spend 20 minutes fitting a new tube only for it to puncture again with the same thorn, 5 minute down the road – been there!  Until next time; #handlebars_haynes

Is it ‘to see or be seen’?  I guess both and it’s easy to do both.  I’d add into this the reflective bits you wear or put on your bike.  Boring.  But try driving a car on a rainy night and see how hard it is to see a cyclist – even with lights on.  At 16 you probably don’t care and it’s only your parents nagging you.  Maybe when you have some responsibility or sense, you realise the risk you take.  I’ve done it and sure everyone else has too.  To be honest, I don’t go over the top, I cycle mainly in urban and well lite areas, so I have decent flashing front and back lights. I try to think of a reflective or bright jacket too and I think my tyres have those reflective bits on the side walls (but probably covered in dirt).  I think the idea of flashing lights works best as anything flashing/moving catches the eye more than a solid light.  I’ve noticed a lot of cyclists now have a rear light on during daytime too – maybe a good idea as it can make you more visible? What was the saying? ‘Be safe, be seen’.  I was going to mention traffic lights and stopping at red! But not up for this big debate, today. Until next time; #handlebars_haynes