MY BIKE

Ride as much or as little, or long or as short as you feel. BUT RIDE Eddy Merckx

Back in 2013 I thought I'd try cycling a bit more and I bought a second hand MTB with disc brakes for £150.00 and cycled to the gym instead of driving. Then in 2015 My wife bought my first road bike as a birthday present. I was then advised to try a carbon frame as it would be more stable down hills, it was a totally different ride and more stable downhill. This was a Boardman Carbon a year later. Working on the N+1 formular I then purchased a Boardman Adventure bike which is all aluminium alloy with disk brakes to go over rougher ground and ride to work.

Since riding I have found 27 (and counting) extra things I've learned over and above a basic tool kit: Chain breaker, quick link, multitool, tyre levers, cable ties and gorilla tape plus a toothpaste tube cut into two strips and a means of fixing a puncture. The toothpaste tube is to fit inside your tyre if it gets a small tear, the gorilla tape to fix it in place.

1. Always take some cash, bank card plus your ICE card and a snack.

2. Always wear a helmet, as it has saved me from 2 possible head injuries.

3. Do a cooldown and stretching after a ride is such a good idea.

4. Drink plenty of water on your ride, at least 100 ml min per hour so you're properly hydrated. You'll be amazed the difference it makes.

5. 10% of the time my bike's totally amazing. 90% of the time I'm wondering "what's that f€$%ing clicking??".

6. Try not to get WD 40 or oil on your brake pads or disk pads.

7. That you 100% don’t wear any underwear under lycra bib shorts and use chamois cream.

8. Checking your Strava stats when you get home after a long ride is a brilliant moment.

9. A few cyclists and some motorists are complete arseholes.

10. Most cyclists and some motorists are very nice.

11. Embrace the lycra! it dries so quickly after getting wet, embrace walking around your local supermarket or garden centre in full kit.

12. Stopping to help a cyclist is worth more than any Strava segment.

13. Remember It's difficult when you don't understand most basic things about cycling. Don't mock newbies.

14. Make sure the first time you take your rear wheel off it is in the privacy of your own home.

15. You can't change all the bad cyclists but you can set a good example.

16. Warn cyclists behind you if you're going to stop or passing a hole.

17. Unless you like a diet of flies keep your mouth closed. When it's bumpy don't have your tongue between your teeth.

18. Good socks are magical, Keeping your feet dry and at a comfortable temperature improves any ride.

19. Downhill Strava segments are bloody dangerous.

20. If everyone cycled, the world would be a better place and remember the meaning of N + 1 = Happy days

21. Riding is good to get rid of depression, really makes you happier it gets your endorphins flowing. (see below)

22. Remember If It's not on Strava it didn't happen.

23. Clipless pedals are easy once you have fallen off once or twice.

24. Heat Pads on top of your socks in winter is even better than peeing in your wetsuit (I know that's scuba diving)

25. It's best to wear a colour that stands out or reflective.

26. Finish your ride on the small rings, back and front, so cables are under less tension while your bike is parked up

27. ERM still thinking

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.