FIXING PUNCTURES

CYCLING LIFE [314–443]

345. Adjust your bike and riding position as your pregnancy progresses. A more upright position leaves more space for your growing bump and also removes pressure from the front of your pelvis, which some women find uncomfortable as pregnancy progresses, when the pelvic joints start to move and ligaments relax.

346. I know a woman who cycled up until the day before she gave birth; I even know a woman who cycled to get her membrane sweep done when she had gone past term. I also know women who stopped cycling outside as soon as they got a positive pregnancy test. Everyone’s experience of pregnancy is different. Do what feels right for you and your baby. Your bike will be there waiting for you when you are ready.

SHAVING [347–356]

347. Do you need to shave your legs to ride a bike? No, of course you don’t, but you might like to. You’ll hear loads of reasons for leg shaving: massage, reducing infections after a crash, aerodynamics. All of these have some truth in them, but you either like the look and feel of it or you don’t.

348. Interesting fact: male cyclists started shaving their legs before women. Women only started shaving their legs in the first half of the twentieth century, a trend that was reinforced during World War II when there was a shortage of nylon stockings.

349. If you are really hairy, trim it down to a manageable length before wet-shaving, otherwise it will take ages and make a right mess of your bathroom.

350. For a close wet-shave you need a lot of lather. You can use anything from soap to shower gel or shaving foam. This helps the razor glide, gets close to your skin without pulling and keeps your skin soft. 351. Start at your ankles and work upwards in long, even strokes. Bend your knee to even out the contours and pull the skin tight, so you can work round it more easily, before switching to your thigh. Rinse and moisturise for that baby soft, just-shaved feel.

352. Where do you stop? At least a few centimetres above the line of your cycling shorts, just in case they ride up a bit and reveal a forest.

353. Advice from a male friend: don’t shave your legs for the first time the night before a big race, as the silky feel of your legs beneath the sheets will distract you from sleeping.

354. Fake tan? Plenty do and no judgement here. After all, if you have gone to the effort of shaving your legs, you’re damn sure you want them to look good.

355. If you are going for fake tan you can keep your tan lines sharp by wearing a pair of cycle socks and shorts and applying fake tan up to the line. I heard this from someone who is fairly well known in the cycling world, and they aren’t the only one to do it. Not every pro gets their tan lines on training camps.

356. So far, we have talked about shaving legs, but if you shave above the short line there are other things to consider. Body hair provides a barrier between skin and the outside world, so a little bit of hair is a good thing. Frequent shaving or waxing can lead to inflammation of the hair follicles and make saddle sores more likely.

SECURITY [357–368]

357. No one wants to lose a bike to a bike thief. Lock up your bike somewhere visible. Look around for CCTV or street lighting that will act as a deterrent.

A rider at the Capernwray Road Race, England. © Pete Aylward, RunPhoto

CYCLING LIFE [314–443]

358. If there are other bikes parked up with parts missing or even a solitary back wheel, it’s best to move on and find somewhere safer!

359. Be particularly careful around places like cafes where there are other cyclists and bikes. Canny bike thieves will turn up in cycle clothing to steal a bike unspotted.

360. Sadly, stealing bikes has become such an industry that thieves will follow cyclists on Strava to find out where bikes are kept. If you put up photos of you and your bike on any social media, but especially GPS tracking apps such as Strava or Garmin, be careful of sharing locations and make sure that you keep your privacy settings high.

361. Put your lock through the main triangle of your frame, not just through a wheel.

362. Try to position the lock so it is difficult to access and to limit the amount of working space around it.

363. If you have a long cable lock wind it round your bike, this makes it harder to use bolt croppers on it.

364. Use additional locks for wheels and take off anything valuable that could be easily removed.

365. Always lock your bike to something strong and immovable so the bike cannot be lifted over it. I once saw a bike stolen from a metal fence – the thieves used the bolt cropper on the fence and took the bike with the fence still attached!

366. Use a Sold Secure bike lock – the industry standard for lock and security system testing. They come in four different grades, depending on the value of your bike, and are well worth the investment. Some insurance companies specify them. 367. This could feel a bit defeatist, but bike thieves are very determined so get your bike insured. It’s not just the financial loss of your bike, but the frustration of missing rides or losing your transport.

368. Got a stable full of expensive bikes? Don’t put them on your standard house insurance – your premiums will rocket! There are several specialist bike insurers who will insure your bike, not just at home, but also when you are riding, travelling and even competing.

TRANSPORTING BIKES [369–392]

369. This section is about travelling with a bike, rather than travelling on a bike. Using other forms of transport can help you see more places and explore further afield. Few of us have the time to start a round the world trip from our own back door.

370. When buying a new car, make sure your bike will fit inside it if you need it to. Seriously, take it with you and check.

371. You know you are a cyclist when the bike on your car is worth more than the car itself.

372. Most accidents involving bikes and car racks are down to user error. I worked for a bike shop that had a height restriction bar across the car park. Twice customers put their brand new bike on the roof of the car then smacked it straight into the car park barrier. Then sales assistants started to ask how customers intended to take their bike home.

373. When packing your car or van for a ride, never put your shoes, helmet, or anything else you may remove from your bike on the roof. Through bitter experience, I now have a rug I throw on the floor and everything gets placed on there before going back in the car.