Category: Cycling Tips

Going on a bike ride is one of the best ways to have a speedy commute to work. Moreover, it’s a great way to get some exercise into your daily routine and live a healthier and longer life. But let’s face it, just a few minutes of wearing a helmet can wreak havoc with your hair, and cycling, especially on a hot and humid day, can leave you feeling less than fresh and presentable. But you don’t have to give up your bike rides to look great. With a few tricks, you can look your best even after cycling. Here are a few smart hacks to prevent helmet hair and look great after a bike ride.

Studies estimate that switching to a bike from a car can reduce your carbon output by more than 10 times cumulatively. Cycling is leading the way in terms of green transportation. Strategies like improving more sustainable ways of production, upcycling or repurposing bikes, and using more environmentally friendly cleaning products are all gaining traction as ways to improve cycling’s impact on the planet. Cleaning is necessary in order to maintain a functioning bike over the course of its use. Effective cleaning can not only ensure a consistent ride but also lengthen the ultimate lifespan of your bike. Using greener cleaners is the natural next step for someone who is looking to minimize their impact on the planet by cycling.

Adults often reminisce about the good times that they had while biking when they were young. But nowadays, most kids are leaving their bicycles untouched – a 2019 survey revealed that bike riding among children has dropped almost 20 percent since 2007.

While we’re in the middle of the horrible COVID-19 pandemic, let’s remember the cycling advice during the Influenza of 1918, also erroneously known as the “Spanish Flu”.

Being a dedicated cyclist is great for almost every part of your body and mind. But, could it be putting your bone health at risk? Turns out, people who spend a lot of time cycling experience lower bone density, especially professional cyclists, even though they are otherwise healthy, fit and young. Even those cyclists who regularly lift weights have a lower bone mineral density than recommended.

I confess I’m a MAMIL (Middle-Aged Man in Lycra). In fact, at my stage of life, I’m a SMILEY (Senior Male in Lycra/Elastane, Yo).

Tim Olds, University of South Australia

Why film your ride? Studies have found that professional cyclists have a superior pedaling technique to elite cyclists. This is perhaps no surprise, given the level of training and dedication required at a professional level. But in order to improve speed and reduce the risk of injury, leisure cyclists can learn from the pros. By studying your own practice, you can improve your technique without investing in formal training. One of the best ways to do this, particularly if your focus is speed, is to film your ride.

Cycling, like all sports, comes with its fair share of injuries. In fact, 94% of cyclists experience some kind of overuse injury in the span of one year – 45% being injuries to the lower back and 23% being an injury to the knees, a Norwegian study found. Fortunately, there’s a number of ways cyclists can prevent common injuries, such as delayed onset muscle soreness, saddle sores, and lower back pain.