Tag: how to start riding again

What to look for in a 2nd hand bike

Family Bike Riding

You can get some real bargains on various second hand market sites (Facebook/community pages/Gumtree to name a few) – here are some things to keep in mind: Suitable for your purpose – it might be a bargain, but is is what you are looking for? … are you wanting a get around town bike – or a ‘faster’ bike bike a road bike Do the ABCDE check Does it fit you – do you feel confident getting on/off, stopping/starting, riding it, does it make your sore? After the ABCDE check – are you happy to take it to your local Bike…

Y’ve Gotta Have ‘Heart’

Family Bike Riding

When working with children in our learn to ride lessons it is often the case that I’m teaching a child aged 5-8 yo and for the majority they are open to learning new experiences – as this is what most of their life is about. Yet when I am asked to teach children 10+ it’s when I see children at their ‘rawest’ for kids at this age ‘know that they can’t ride’ and in their opinion this is something they will never be able to do. Then they meet Ride-a-Bike Right instructors. Last week, we started our 4wk cycling skills…

The Journey that Started it all – Three years ago

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In 2011 Ride-a-Bike Right came to life as the AustCycle provider for SA’s Healthy Communities Initiative program; working with local councils to deliver courses to adults to increase fitness and activity rates amongst the population. Initially working with Playford Council delivering cycling skills to adults and the disability sector to get people back onto the bike (then expanding into Onkaparinga, Holdfast Bay, Marion and Renmark-Paringa Councils when they started HCI) we have since delivered over 60 programs to groups of adults. Moving into the children’s cycling domain we have been delivering our school as well as community programs to over…

Getting Back on the Bike

Adult Bike Riding

When you think of a cyclist, you may imagine groups riding expensive bikes with thin tyres. So if you haven’t ridden a bike for years, the thought of it may be daunting at best. But no one is asking you to join the lycra-brigade – although there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you want to do! Getting back on the bike is the 1st step Going for a weekend ride with the kids, your partner or friends is a great reason to start riding again, spending quality time outdoors and rekindling the joy of riding a bike and…

Preventing the Magpie Swoop – The Shiny Side from Above

Adult Bike Riding Family Bike Riding

Spring has arrived and with the lovely, sunny, warm days come nesting Magpies. If you’re a seasoned rider you will be familiar with these very protective, feathered parents and heard the many ways to avoid the dreaded swoop from above. Here is a video of a swooping Magpie There are numerous ideas on how to deter the swoop, or limit its ability to get near your head/face. And I bet you’ve seen people riding with long cable ties attached to the top of the helmet; this has been used for many years as a deterrent but does it actually work?…

Recreational Riding in the Adelaide Hills – The Amy Gillett Bike Way

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Over the weekend my partner and I decided to get out of Adelaide and go for a ride – it was a lovely winter’s day so we headed up to the Woodside to ride the Amy Gillett Bikeway. Starting at Charlseton (playground and amenities available) we headed south along the pristine path – there were a few couples/families also out on that afternoon as well, but most of the time it was a un populated path to ride along.    About 3.5kms into the trip there was a required detour to sample some of the Hills famous food produce –…

Cycling and Sun Safety

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While it may be the official end of Summer in 2 days, here in Adelaide the sun is hotter than ever and the UV index  is still very high to extreme. Many people want to keep themselves protected from the sun and will SLAP on a hat under their helmet as they head off for a ride… but this isn’t best practise. My opinion, as a professional cycling teacher is that a hat under your helmet is not the best way to protect yourself while cycling. 1) Helmets are designed with holes to aid air flow and cool the body…