Finding the Right Bike

Posted on March 23, 2011 @ 12:08 PM in

Whether you plan to start cycling to work, want to spend some time enjoying the tracks and trails of the Northern Irish countryside or are hoping to get into competitive racing, your choice of bike is essential to get right so that it is the best for the job.

The main choice to make initially is whether you are going to choose a mountain bike, a road bike or a hybrid all round bike. To the untrained eye all bikes look fairly similar, with the classical diamond shaped frames as invented by John Starley in 1885, but a short ride will quickly demonstrate the difference.

Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes are a popular choice for many, as their low gearing and knobbly tyres make them well capable of coping with even the toughest off road conditions. The handlebar mount can often be fairly steeply angled, encouraging the rider to adopt a tuck position whilst on the bike. This can put some novice riders off as it creates a top heavy sensation, but despite this a mountain bike is one of the most versatile types of bike available. Mountain bikes can easily be adapted for road use by exchanging their knobbly tyres for slicker road treads.

When buying a mountain bike it is essential to make sure the frame fits you. You need around 6cm clearance between the crossbar and your crotch and although all wheels are 26 inches, frames are available in a range of sizes to suit the rider. Reputable brands include Kona, Specialized, Marin, Giant and Cannondale.

Road Bikes

Image Courtesy of Bann Wheelers

If you are looking for something fast which you can ride for miles, then a road bike may be more your style. Road bikes are only suited to tarmac surfaces and are geared to allow swift climbing up inclines and great acceleration for speeding back down. Drop handlebars ensure you can change positions during your journey for comfort and the frame is designed with energy efficiency in mind. Good brands for road bikes are Condor, Scott, Bianchi and Colnago.

Hybrid Bikes

For the best of both worlds the hybrid bike offers the versatility of a mountain bike with the lightweight frame of the road bike. The large wheels offer more speed for less effort and their semi slick road tyres offer less resistance whilst still being able to cope with the odd rough track or muddy path. The riding position is more upright than mountain bikes due to the high rise stem and flat handlebars. Trusted brands include Trek, Marin, Ridgeback and Scott.

Fold Up Bikes

City commuters may also want to consider a fold up bike, particularly if part of your journey includes a bus or train. Whilst the downsides of these bikes is the small wheel size, low speeds and poor energy efficiency, the practicalities and usefulness of a folding bike is well worth the sacrifice for many. Good brands include Brompton, Birdy and Dahon.

With budget in mind, although a bike can be bought for as little as £150, for this amount of money the bike you will get will not be a great standard. For road, hybrid and mountain bikes a budget of around £400 will get the rider a considerably better bike with a lighter frame and better quality components.

For more information on the different types of bicycles available please visit www.bikes.org.uk.

Wintery Wheeling…

Posted on December 1, 2010 @ 2:01 PM in

Listed below are a few spectacular places to visit in the last few months of winter…so wrap up and get ready for the crisp winter air because there isn’t a better way to explore them than by bike! 

o        Lagan and Lough Cycle Way, Belfast

This is one of the most popular routes on CycleNI.com and it is no wonder why…traffic free, flat path, nice coffee stops and in the winter time it offers beautiful crisp winter scenery for the whole family to enjoy! The whole route itself is 21 miles long but can be accessed from various points so you can cycle shorter sections of it suiting any ability. 

o        Castlewellan Forest Park, Co. Down

Wheel your way around Castlewellan Lake on this 2.5 mile family cycling trail and keep your eyes peeled for birds such as Little Grebes, Cormorants, Mallards and Mandarin Ducks. Set within the Mournes Area of Outstanding Beauty you will be sure to catch some great glimpses during the winter season.

o        Gosford Forest Park, Co. Armagh

One of my personal favourites…and the picture above says it all! Gosford is not only a fantastic cycle trail but a wonderful forest filled with incredible flora and fauna making it a winter wonderland at this time of year. The trail combines forest roads with two short sections of single track and is suitable for cyclists with basic off-road cycling skills and should take an average of 1 hour to complete.

o        Dungannon Park, Co. Tyrone

This traffic-free route is great for a family ride with young children. The parks mature woodland, the winter mist above its tranquil lake and its stunning swans make this a place to remember!! The areas of high ground offer splendid viewpoints of surrounding town land and countryside with views of Lough Neagh on a clear day.

o        Castle Archdale Family Cycling Trail, Co. Fermanagh

Explore 1000 years of history on the shores of Lower Lough Erne whilst riding this trail in Castle Archdale Country Park. The trail runs through secluded parts of the forest as well as on open areas where it hugs the shore of Lower Lough Erne offering stunning panoramic views. Experience the cold chills of the wintery forest as well as the clear cool mist of Lough Erne! 

o        Castlerock to Downhill Forest, Co. Londonderry

This short family cycle connects Castlerock village and Downhill Forest and is predominantly along traffic-free sections of NCN Route 93. Cyclists will be able to take in the winter sea breeze and scenery as they make their way along the coast and also experience the mystery of the cold forest as well as being able to view two of the tallest Sitka Spruce trees in Ireland, known by some locals as "Laurel & Hardy".

If these routes have inspired you to get out cycling...there are lots more routes listed on CycleNI.com.

Tips for Buying a Cycle Helmet

Posted on September 1, 2010 @ 1:42 PM in

Buying a bike is a good time to buy a helmet which is so important to protect you and your child’s head. There are many types, colours and brands of helmets as well as the price range, from £7/8 to hundreds. A helmet is advisable but not compulsory in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, so here are a few reasons why we should wear them...

• Evidence shows that 35%-40% of children taken to hospital after a cycling accident have head injuries

• Wearing a helmet can reduce head injuries by 88%

• Wearing a helmet can reduce facial injuries by 65%

A lot of helmets are made of EPS foam with a thin plastic shell. The shell helps the helmet skid easily on rough pavement to avoid jerking your neck. The shell also holds the foam together after the first impact. Some excellent helmets are made by moulding foam in the shell rather than adding the shell later.

A few things to think about when buying a helmet…I feel you should:

• Take it out of the box and try it on if possible

• Make sure there are plenty ventilation holes to keep you cool in warm weather, but not too many as this can reduce the protection

• If possible buy a helmet with an adjustment at the back of the head as this will give a much better fit

• A visor sometimes comes separate from the helmet, this is important as it protects your face in a fall. It is easily attached to the helmet.

• Rigid visors can snag or shatter in a fall

• Narrow straps can be uncomfortable

• Dark helmets are difficult for motorists to see

• Don’t buy a helmet which is too big for your child as it will not sit properly on their head

• If possible get a helmet with a buckle which locks on the straps coming down around the ears, as the ones without the lock move about

• A sticker inside the helmet tells you what standard it meets

• Replace any helmet if you crash. Impact crushes some of the foam and the damage may not be visible.

• The helmet should sit level on your head and cover as much as possible. Above all, with the strap fastened you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by pulling or twisting. If it comes off or slips enough to leave large areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet.

• Keep the strap comfortably snug when cycling

Look out for more tips from Mary on cycling safety. For more information on Pedal Right and its services please click here.

Bed, Breakfast and Bike

Posted on July 27, 2010 @ 1:53 PM in

Northern Ireland has some fantastic places to stay, from which you can hire a bike and base yourself from for a scenic cycling experience in Northern Ireland....Here are a few options which i have thought of...

• Castle Ward Estate, Co.Down - hire a bike at Clearsky Adventure Centre and cycle around the stunning estate or along the amazing long distance Strangford Lough Cycle Trail.

• Dunhill Cottage, Hillsborough - this B&B offer bikes for hire, from here you can take the opportunity to cycle around Hillsborough Forest or join the Belfast to Ballyshannon cycle route at Lisburn.  

• Share Centre, Fermanagh - whether you are undertaking a number of short cycling routes or riding along the Kingfisher Trail, the first long distance trail in Northern Ireland named for its abundance in wildlife, Share Holiday Village provides everything you need to make the most of your stay.

For more information on cycling holidays in Northern Ireland please click here

Bike Week has arrived...

Posted on June 17, 2010 @ 9:49 AM in

Already there has been lots of events happening for this years Bike Week which starts on 19^th June…the main aim of Bike Week is ‘to promote cycling and show how cycling can easily be part of everyday life.’

Here are just a few of the events that are happening across Northern Ireland over this years Bike Week…so why not get out and enjoy the sun and take part in one (or more) of them!

• Saturday 19^th June:
  • Family Cycle and Midsummer Fayre – Lisburn
  • Mountain Bike Race – Davagh Forest
  • Lower Bann Cycleway – Ballymoney
  • Fresh Air Miles Sponsored Cycle – Derry

• Monday 21^st June:
  • Florence Court Forest Family Cycle – Fermanagh

• Tuesday 22^nd June:
  • Craigavon Cycle Challenge – Craigavon

• Wednesday 23^rd June:
  • Castle to Castle Family Cycling Evening – Enniskillen
  • Bike Doctor - Derry

• Thursday 24^th June:
  • Bling Your Bike Day – Derry
  • Bike Doctor – Derry

• Friday 25^th June:
  • Maghaberry Bike Night – Maghaberry
  • Critical Mass Belfast City Centre Spin – Belfast

• Saturday 26^th June:
  • Inis Eoghain Cycle - Derry

• Sunday 27^th June:
  • Pedalling Picnic on the North Coast – Coleraine

Check out CycleNI.com for more events over Bike Week and all year round!