Kitchen Garden Forum

My allotment is approx. 2 miles from my home so I decided to buy a bicycle and bike it there as much as possible and leave the car at home.This will help me lose weight and get fitter and save a bit on diesel especially when you consider todays prices.
It is 20 years since I,ve ridden a bike and it is painful!! My leg muscles are protesting at the unaccustomed use and I am considering buying a 'gel' saddle.I have 18 gears to choose from so I musn't let my impatience get the better of me and use the easier of these gears to 'break' my leg muscles in before moving on to the higher gears.Strangely,it takes me more or less the same time to get to allotment by bike as it does by car,by using the local cycle trail.

Good on you Snooky, you will soon get used to it, and on a lovely day it should be most enjoyable.

One day I really must get the racing tandem down from its store shelf.....

Clive.

You'll have to see if OH can spare you an old wheelbarrow to convert into a trailer.

snooky wrote:My allotment is approx. 2 miles from my home so I decided to buy a bicycle and bike it there as much as possible and leave the car at home.This will help me lose weight and get fitter and save a bit on diesel especially when you consider todays prices.
It is 20 years since I,ve ridden a bike and it is painful!! My leg muscles are protesting at the unaccustomed use and I am considering buying a 'gel' saddle.I have 18 gears to choose from so I musn't let my impatience get the better of me and use the easier of these gears to 'break' my leg muscles in before moving on to the higher gears.Strangely,it takes me more or less the same time to get to allotment by bike as it does by car,by using the local cycle trail.

Good on you, Snooky!

Two pieces of advice:
Firstly, train yourself up on the bike by doing short distances at a time to begin with - and yes, use whatever gear feels easiest because you are not doing your joints any favours by using a lower gear than is necessary!

Secondly, make sure that the saddle is at the right height. Many people have it too low, thinking that they should be able to put both feet one the ground when sitting on the saddle. WRONG - if it is so low, your knees will be bent all the time when peddling, whereas they should be almost straight (but not 'locked' straight) when the peddle is at its lowest point.

Thirdly (I know I said two pieces of advice, but a girl can change her mind !!! ): Don't wear jeans to cycle in - no amount of gel in the saddle will reduce the pain of those thick seams in the nether regions!

I speak from experience, after five years of managing without a car. But I have finally given in and got a car again - I am getting soft in my old age.

Finally got a cast off garden centre trolley, dumped the mesh for one of my own construction and fixed it to the chassis. I can stroll down to the allotment with all 'the stuff' and sod the people who constantly park in the access area for allotment holders. Getting a little excersize into the bargain as well. Cheers, Tony. Oh, trolley cost me a jar of damson jam !

Get some proper padded cycling shorts.....essential....makes all the difference to the nether regions. You can wear them under your jogging bottoms or comfy trousers - or whatever you wear for gardening (not jeans!).