IN 2016, CYCLING AUSTRALIA
SET AN INTENTION: to make Australia
the world’s leading cycling nation by 2020.
With more than 2 million Aussies hitting
the bike lanes every month, progress is
definitely being made.
More women are trading in the stuffy
environment of indoor spin classes for
the world of Lycra, helmets and the kind
of smile only freewheeling down a hill with
the wind in your hair can bring on.
But if you’re among the cycle-shy
crowd, we’ve banished all of your excuses
so you can start taking the joint-friendly
green-transport route...THE EXCUSE:
“IT’S SOOOO
UNCOMFORTABLE”
Sore bum? Numb (ahem) other parts?
Inner-thigh chafing? Yep, these are all
indignities that can result from time spent
in the saddle – but they don’t have to.
First, invest in some padded shorts.
Next, check your saddle. “Don’t assume
the one that comes with your bike is okay,”
advises bike-fit technician James Thomas.
“It’s often a good idea to replace it with
one that fits you better. Those designed
for the female form are typically wider,
filled with gel foam for comfort and with
a cut-away middle to relieve pressure
on your sensitive parts,” he says.
Thomas also suggests checking your
saddle height. “Most people need to lower
theirs,” he says. “When you’re sitting on
the saddle, your feet should be able to just
touch the floor. With feet on the pedals,
you should have a slight bend in your
knee at the bottom of the pedal stroke.”
Lastly, if chafing is a prob on longer
rides, apply some lube or ‘chamois’
cream to affected parts. But remember,anything you apply near the genital region
needs to be irritation free.
To soothe any chafing and saddle
soreness post ride, look for products that
have a blend of calming calendula, tea-
tree, hypericum and lavender.THE EXCUSE:
“I’M WORRIED ABOUT
POLLUTION”
You see cyclists in city traffic, sitting in the
exhaust fumes of buses, trucks and cars- we get it. But is that fear enough to keep
you off the bike altogether? The answer
is complex but, ultimately, the experts say
no. Cycling is much better for your health
than not cycling, even taking into account
pollution and accident risk.
While petrol may have cleaned up
its act, diesel is still a real risk, emitting
particulates such as black carbon (or soot).
“But, interestingly, cyclists may be less
exposed than people on public transport
or in cars because they’re in the open air,”
says Dr Benjamin Barratt, lecturer in air-
quality science at King’s College London.
“So fumes can disperse as they ride along.”
There’s also the fact that most urban
journeys on a bike are quicker and shorter
than the equivalent route inside a vehicle or
on foot – so exposure to pollutants is less.
If you cycle to work, finding a route
on quieter back streets or special bike paths
can go a long way towards reducing your
exposure, while you should also consider
the time of day you’re cycling. In general,
pollution levels are highest in the
afternoons, when ozone peaks. If you can
arrange your rides so you stick to cycling
in the mornings and evenings, especially
in summer, that can make all the difference
to your pollution exposure.
Still freaking out? Download the app
CleanSpace (free on iTunes and Google
Play), which lets you know your local air
quality to help you plan your journey.
THE EXCUSE:
“EEK, I’M SCARED TO
CYCLE ON THE ROAD”
A 2013 survey conducted by the Cycling
Promotion Fund and the National Heart
Foundation of Australia found that
more than 60 per cent of women are
concerned about the safety of cycling.
Whether you’ve cycled in the past and
lost your confidence, or you’ve never made
the transition from beginner to commuteror fitness cyclist, one-on-one and group
lessons for adults are totally a real thing.
Head to bikewise.com.au to find a
workshop or coach near you.
Other confidence-building tricks
include practising on quiet local streets,
or going out for bike rides with people who
are more experienced than you. Ask friends
or check out Cycling Australia’s She Rides
program (cycling.org.au) to connect and
ride with other cycling women.THE EXCUSE:
“I DON’T LOOK
THE PART”
Move over Mamils (middle-aged men in
Lycra), the continued boom in bikes and
cycling accessories is down to the increased
numbers of women getting in the saddle.
And looking the part is as simple as, well,
making a few new purchases...
You’ll be way comfier on your bike if
you have at least some cycling-specific kit.
And nope, it doesn’t mean you need to be
decked out in head-to-toe Lycra (phew!)- instead, think a water-proof jacket or
cape for dodgy weather, aforementioned
padded shorts for longer journeys and
cycling gloves for added comfort.
Check out Skins’ new DNAmic range
of compression wear in a pretty palette
(skins.net/au), Jaggad’s cool jerseys
(jaggad.com) or head to page 104 of
this issue to say hello to on-trend cycling
get-ups and buh-bye to fluoro safety vests.
THE EXCUSE:
“BUT I CAN’T FIX
A BIKE”
If you want to make cycling a habit, then
you’re going to have to get yo’self familiar
with some basic bike maintenance – that is,
knowing how to secure your wheels, ensure
you have the correct tyre pressure, and
clean and oil your chain, and making sure
your bike is in good working order before
you set out. You can have all this info on
hand by downloading Bike Doctor app
($7.99, iTunes), which covers a whole
heap of essential bike knowledge.
While out on the road, it’s important
to have the right tools in your kit (including
a decent tyre pump, multi-tool, spare inner
tubes and adhesive patches) in case of
a mechanical fail – often a puncture. These
are pretty easy to fix and, in most cases,
can be done without taking the wheel off
the bike. Then it’s happy cycling!GET
NICKED!
More like ensure your bike doesn’t
get nicked. Start with a good quality
D-Lock to run through your front wheel,
go around your down tube and whatever
you’re locking your bike to. Then, secure
your back wheel to your seat tube and,
if there’s enough length, to your
immovable object with a different
type of lock, such as a
padlocked chain.womensfitness.com.au womensfitnessaustralia @womensfitnessmag @womensfitnessau 71CycleFIT POWERED BY CycleFIT POWERED BY CycleFIT POWERED BY
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