National Bike Week 2010 - Two Wheels Good! | June 19th - June 27th 2010

National Bike Week – 19th June to 27th June 2010

Everyone has got one in their garage – you know, that pile of metal quietly rusting away behind the bags of compost with wheels – well it’s time to dig it out, dust it down and in the words of Norman Tebbit – “Get on yer bike!”

Why?

Because National Bike Week is from the 19th to the 27th June and it’s one of the best ways of giving your lungs a good work out without putting a load of pressure on your joints.

Team Green Britain Bike Week 2010

Last year more than 1,700 events across the UK attracted 265,000 participants.

This year, supported by EDF Energy’s Team Green Britain - an organisation dedicated to helping Britons live a more sustainable lifestyle – Bike Week promises to be even bigger with 12 regional workshops, organiser guides for event planners, and free advice on minimising environmental impact.

Rediscover the joys of cycling with free training sessions, information stalls, inspirational talks, history bike tours and cycle orienteering. And if you feel like updating your old machine, there’ll be cycle try-out sessions with the opportunity to have a go on state-of- the-art mountain bikes or the latest hybrids, touring and trekking models, plus the chance to purchase some trendy cycling apparel.

Bike Week is a sociable event too: last year some towns organised free breakfasts en-route for cyclists on their way to work, and there were cycle tours with stop offs at local hostelries… before a rather more wobbly ride back!

Like Falling Off A Log…

It doesn’t matter if you haven’t ridden a bike since the age of ten – they say that like swimming, bicycling is a skill you never forget.

On the other hand, what you may have forgotten is the sheer exhilaration and sense of freedom you get when coasting along leafy country lanes, or that satisfied feeling of having accomplished some exercise without having to hang out in a sweaty gym or break the bank.

And if you use your bike on journeys for which you would normally use the car, you’re helping to reduce your own carbon footprint and improve the environment into the bargain.

It’s true that since Sir Chris Hoy and company’s remarkable exploits at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, cycling has received a well-deserved boost, but did you know that National Bike Week has been around since 1923?

Health and Safety and Bicycling!

If you’re planning on pedalling your way through National Bike Week, you can find advice about local events or information about planning events on the dedicated website where there are also many tips on how to make getting back into the saddle as painless as possible.

According to www.bikeweek.org.uk, it’s a good idea to try cycling four to six weeks before the event for around 15-20 minutes a day.

Check the tyres are pumped up, make sure the vehicle is clean, paying special attention to the gears and chain, and check the height of the handle bars and saddle – your legs should be straight when your heel is flat on the pedal when it’s at its lowest stroke.

Oh… and make sure you test the brakes before riding down that 2-in-1 hill!

If you’re feeling a bit precarious, it’s best to start off in a place where there are no cars or pedestrians and practise riding one handed to enable you to make hand signals - also, check that you can turn your head to view what’s behind without falling off!

For Everyone and Everywhere

If you’re making a specific journey, plan the route in advance and make sure that it’s cycle friendly and enjoyable.

It might be a good idea to undertake some cycle training, and during Team Green Bike Week there will be free cycling workshops that will cover aspects like basic road positioning at roundabouts, turning right and so on.

You may also be interested in a government initiative whereby people cycling to work get a 15% discount on any bike or bike equipment.

And although there are many light-footed thieves around who seem to like bikes too, it’s nice to know that bikes can be registered on a database making them easier to find if stolen. See the Bike Register link below for further details.

External Links:
Team Green Britain Bike Week 2010
BikeRegister.com