| Cycling is becoming an extremely popular way to | | | | uncomfortable, they need to be oiled from time to time, |
| keep fit and to lose weight as more and more people | | | | which can stain your clothes, and they can be ruined |
| realise the benefits of it. | | | | by the rain. |
| My Mentor, Roy Savery, is one of the fastest cyclists | | | | Saddles with gel padding are very popular because |
| in the world for his age group. He trains by cycling | | | | they mould themselves to your shape without needing |
| really fast for at least a couple of hours most days. | | | | to have a breaking in period. |
| I used to cycle a lot myself - cycling to and from work | | | | * It's very important for comfortable riding to have the |
| and going out on Club rides at the weekends and | | | | saddle set to the correct height. To check this out sit |
| touring in the holidays. I found it a great way to keep fit | | | | on the saddle with the peddle at it's lowest point. Put |
| and exhilarating and it gives you a great feeling of | | | | your heel on the peddle and there should be a slight |
| accomplishment after completing a long ride. | | | | bend in the knee. If not then adjust your saddle |
| However, you can cycle for general fitness without | | | | accordingly. |
| having to do gruelling training runs like Roy. It has so | | | | * The secret to enjoyable cycling is to spin low gears. |
| many advantages to many other ways of keeping fit. | | | | This means to select a gear that you can comfortably |
| For example, the weight of your body is taken by the | | | | pedal with. Do not push really hard on the peddles in a |
| bike whereas with jogging all that pounding goes | | | | high gear. This puts pressure on the joints and can |
| through your body and puts a strain on the joints. | | | | become painful. With cycling it is NOT true to say "no |
| Cycling is a very enjoyable way to keep fit and lose | | | | pain, no gain". |
| weight. You can also easily incorporate it into your daily | | | | * If you're going do a lot of cycling then it's worth |
| lifestyle by doing the daily commute or by nipping down | | | | getting special cycling shorts or long trousers. These |
| to the shops. If you join a club it can also be a very | | | | are cut in a different way from ordinary shorts so that |
| social way to keep fit. | | | | the seams are in a different place to make them more |
| Here are some tips to help you get started cycling: | | | | comfortable. I found that cotton underwear with |
| * A study of more than 10,000 people found that those | | | | made-to-measure corduroy shorts or trousers was a |
| who cycle at least 20 miles a week are half as likely | | | | very comfortable combination. If you decide on padded |
| to have heart problems as those who don't cycle. | | | | shorts then you shouldn't wear underwear with them. |
| * If you want a bike for riding mainly on the road, a | | | | * Build endurance by cycling regularly. Cycle at least |
| hybrid bike with road tyres is probably the best bike to | | | | twice per week to get the full benefit from it. |
| get. If you're buying a new bike, don't buy a mountain | | | | * Burn fat by increasing your intensity, going faster, |
| bike unless you intend to ride off road. | | | | doing sprints or intervals. Do this by riding as hard as |
| * It's important to have a saddle that's comfortable for | | | | you can for two minutes then take it easy for two |
| you. Leather saddles used to be extremely popular for | | | | minutes and repeat this sequence a few times. |
| this as over time they would mould themselves to your | | | | If you get started cycling in this way you'll get fit, keep |
| shape. The downside of them is that it takes time to | | | | fit, lose weight and have an enjoyable time doing it. |
| break them in and meanwhile they can be | | | | |