Adventures on a Bicycle and Ten Lessons for Life

1. There are many types of bike available today,expended on reaching your
roadbikes, mountain bikes,target. Is that really what you want?6. Pedalling after
hybrids, BMXs and superficially, many of each typea puncture is brutally hard work and destroys your
look equal:In everything, be able to see beyond thetires.Know when stopping to take stock and make
paintwork and recogniserepairs if necessary will
quality.2. Recognise the type of bike which meetsenable you to reach your life's goal faster.7. Carry a
your needs and match thepuncture repair kit or spare inner tube and be aware
characteristics and quality to your planned ridingthat both
environment:Every job is easier and can be doneare useless without a bicycle pump or air supply.Be
faster or better when you have theaware of the critical dependencies in your life and
right tools.3. If the size of the bike you choose iswork and ensure
inappropriate you will never benone are overlooked.8. Minimise your air resistance
able ride efficiently or in comfort. Regardless ofexcept when the wind is behind you.Know when to sit
whether the saddle is tootall and make yourself like a sail to be swept along
high or low, it still make your eyes water!Even qualityeffortlessly. Know when to hunker down into the
equipment is useless unless it fits well!4. Having boughtmost aerodynamic position
the right sized bike, know how to set the saddle andyou can find to pierce that headwind.9. In my teens
handlebar position, up or down, forward or back, to fitour rides always took us to where the hills were
your limb length forsteepest. Once climbing there was only one socially
maximum power and riding comfort.Leverage theacceptable way to
power of quality equipment by learning how to use itdismount: fall-off when it became impossible to turn
forthe pedals anymore!Which of your ingrained customs
maximum effectiveness.5. Do you really need 27 gearor beliefs is it time to review and
ratios? Did anyone ever mention simplicity?The moreshed?10. All your equipment is useless without the
you have, the more time is spent on repairs andmuscle to push it.Be prepared for your journey in
maintenance,terms of nutrition of the mind and the
the more weight you carry and the more energy isbody and the conditioning of both.