Road training

"Sophie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi there,
I wondered if anyone could tell me where I can get training to ride my
cycle on the road? This may sounds like a silly question but it's been
years since I've used my bike and I want to start using it as transport to
and from work. The problem is I don't drive so I don't know things about
where to place myself when coming up to a roundabout etc.

Can anyone advise please?
I live in NE Lincs.

Many thanks.

This will have some helpful info, Sophie:
http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

And if NE Lincs is Northeast Lincolnshire, UK, you'll find this helpful:
http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/transportstreets/cycling/

--
JF, SW BC (Southwest British Columbia, Canada)

http://velominator.spaces.live.com/

"Jim Flom" <[email hidden]> wrote...

Quoted message said:

This will have some helpful info, Sophie:
http://sheldonbrown.com/beginners/index.html

And if NE Lincs is Northeast Lincolnshire, UK, you'll find this helpful:
http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/transportstreets/cycling/

As far as coming up to a roundabout and so forth, as you gain experience
you'll learn that there are times when it's necessary to "take the lane."
The temptation is often to get as far right as possible so that cars can
squeeze past. But it's not safe, and there's often too much crud on the
road to navigate turns (or even straights) safely. Positioning yourself
nearly in the middle of the lane at times lets people know not to pass you
(at least it's supposed to -- sometimes you have to put a hand out).

The Pennsylvania Bicycle Driver's manual seems to have been written by real
cyclists and is very helpful.

http://www.dot.state.pa.us/BIKE/WEB/safety.htm

Get a h*lmet. There are two kinds of cyclists: those who have crashed and
those who will crash. Take heart. You'll be okay.
--
JF

http://velominator.spaces.live.com/

"Jim Flom" <[email hidden]> wrote...

Quoted message said:

The Pennsylvania Bicycle Driver's manual seems to have been written by
real cyclists and is very helpful.

http://www.dot.state.pa.us/BIKE/WEB/safety.htm

Get a h*lmet. There are two kinds of cyclists: those who have crashed and
those who will crash. Take heart. You'll be okay.

Don't forget this link:
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/BIKE/WEB/road.htm

--
JF

Jim Flom said:

As far as coming up to a roundabout and so forth, as you gain experience
you'll learn that there are times when it's necessary to "take the lane."
The temptation is often to get as far right as possible so that cars can
squeeze past. But it's not safe, and there's often too much crud on the
road to navigate turns (or even straights) safely. Positioning yourself
nearly in the middle of the lane at times lets people know not to pass you
(at least it's supposed to -- sometimes you have to put a hand out).

good advice, just remember to translate right to left (assuming that
Brits still drive on the left)

"Aeek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jim Flom said:

As far as coming up to a roundabout and so forth, as you gain experience
you'll learn that there are times when it's necessary to "take the lane."
The temptation is often to get as far right as possible so that cars can
squeeze past. But it's not safe, and there's often too much crud on the
road to navigate turns (or even straights) safely. Positioning yourself
nearly in the middle of the lane at times lets people know not to pass you
(at least it's supposed to -- sometimes you have to put a hand out).

good advice, just remember to translate right to left (assuming that
Brits still drive on the left)

And here I thought I made the post side-of-the-road neutral for just that
reason. I see there was one "right" that sneaked -- or snuck if you're
Canadian -- in there.

--
JF

http://velominator.spaces.live.com/

Thanks ever so much for these links. And yes...we do still drive on the left
hand side, but I knew what you meant! All I've to do now is get my energy
levels up! I rode my bike this morning and completely knackered myself! I
only did 1mile for god sake lol!!!

"Jim Flom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:MpTEi.25319$bO6.2908@edtnps89...

Quoted message said:

"Aeek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jim Flom said:

As far as coming up to a roundabout and so forth, as you gain experience
you'll learn that there are times when it's necessary to "take the lane."
The temptation is often to get as far right as possible so that cars can
squeeze past. But it's not safe, and there's often too much crud on the
road to navigate turns (or even straights) safely. Positioning yourself
nearly in the middle of the lane at times lets people know not to pass
you
(at least it's supposed to -- sometimes you have to put a hand out).

good advice, just remember to translate right to left (assuming that
Brits still drive on the left)

And here I thought I made the post side-of-the-road neutral for just that
reason. I see there was one "right" that sneaked -- or snuck if you're
Canadian -- in there.

--
JF

http://velominator.spaces.live.com/

Sophie said:

Hi there,
I wondered if anyone could tell me where I can get training to ride
my cycle on the road? This may sounds like a silly question but it's
been years since I've used my bike and I want to start using it as
transport to and from work. The problem is I don't drive so I don't
know things about where to place myself when coming up to a
roundabout etc.
Can anyone advise please?
I live in NE Lincs.

Many thanks.

You'd be a good candidate for an effective cycling course. I think this was
originally developed by John Forester, and that John and the League of
American Bicyclists have parted ways, but there's a lot of good stuff in
these classes about road riding.
http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/
http://www.johnforester.com/Articles/education.htm

Jim Flom said:

Quoted message said:

Get a h*lmet. There are two kinds of cyclists: those who have crashed and
those who will crash.

Oh good grief. There are also the same two types of walkers, joggers,
ice skaters, roller skaters, sled riders...

If you're spreading fear, there are lots more places to spread it than
the bicycling community.

- Frank Krygowski

Sophie said:

Hi there,
I wondered if anyone could tell me where I can get training to ride my cycle
on the road? This may sounds like a silly question but it's been years
since I've used my bike and I want to start using it as transport to and
from work. The problem is I don't drive so I don't know things about where
to place myself when coming up to a roundabout etc.

Can anyone advise please?
I live in NE Lincs.

Many thanks.

http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/usa/index.htm is one of the best
brief, online sources of information.

http://www.cyclecraft.co.uk/training.html is a renowned expert in
Britain.

http://www.bicyclinglife.com/SafetySkills/index.html has some articles
you may like.

- Frank Krygowski

"Sophie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks ever so much for these links. And yes...we do still drive on the
left hand side, but I knew what you meant! All I've to do now is get my
energy levels up! I rode my bike this morning and completely knackered
myself! I only did 1mile for god sake lol!!!

You'll get in shape in a big hurry. You'll enjoy it. have fun!

--
JF

http://velominator.spaces.live.com/

Quoted message said:

Jim Flom said:

Quoted message said:

Get a h*lmet. There are two kinds of cyclists: those who have crashed and
those who will crash.

Oh good grief. There are also the same two types of walkers, joggers,
ice skaters, roller skaters, sled riders...

If you're spreading fear, there are lots more places to spread it than
the bicycling community.

JAUNTY CAPS JAUNTY CAPS JAUNTY CAPS!

(foam domes aren't a bad thing for beginners, if they wear them
properly--which is exceedingly rare...just get a JAUNTY CAP and be
done with it.)

Sophie said:

Hi there,
I wondered if anyone could tell me where I can get training to ride my cycle
on the road? This may sounds like a silly question but it's been years
since I've used my bike and I want to start using it as transport to and
from work. The problem is I don't drive so I don't know things about where
to place myself when coming up to a roundabout etc.

Can anyone advise please?
I live in NE Lincs.

Sophie, what used to be called cycling proficiency has now been
redrafted as National Standard Cycle Training and is now well founded
and sensibly specified. See here http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=3529
for onward links with details and contact lists. Incidentally, it is
in line with all of the other advice you have already received (except
possibly the helmet issue which is best avoided on usenet, google will
show you why). It would be worth buying or borrowing CycleCraft by
John Franklin www.cyclecraft.co.uk/
If you like usenet then uk.rec.cycling will provide more local
knowledge

best wishes
james