“An hour spent gardening is more likely to result in injury than the same time spent cycling. So remember, next time you step outside to clip the hedge, beware of the risks you are running!” –CTC’s policy coordinator Chris Peck
“Cycling is becoming a legitimate form of transport”–Tim Pallas, Minister for Roads and Ports, Victoria
I’m a year-round cycling commuter–it’s never really occurred to me not to ride in winter, and it’s easier and much more fun that you might think.
Bikes are fun. Somehow, folding bikes are even funner.
“BIG isn’t about how large you are but about how large you seem. The rules of BIG are very simple. Be visible. Be noticed. Be in the way. Be expensive. The more BIG you have, the more space needs to be left.”–Tibs and Joan, ‘The Theory of BIG’
If you’re going to ride, you really should be able to fix a flat tyre.
Do you ever experience this? You go for weeks on end without any serious trouble on the road, and then in the space of one ride it seems that every second motorist you meet is trying to kill you.
“It’s a kind of escape for us, a chance to break away from the daily reality of prison.” –Daniel, participant in the prisoners’ Tour de France.
While a certain “street cred” comes with having a “borrowed” milk crate for your bike basket, there’s something elegant about good ol’ wicker.
“Whenever you decide to drive or take public transport, you will feel a deep sense of regret at the first cyclist you see enjoying their ride.” –John the Monkey
A rack-top basket isn’t just a container, it can also be a chance to show-off your bike hackery skills.
“Seventy five percent of all journeys in Britain are under five miles in length; half are under two miles; and thirty two per cent under a mile… Of all journeys undertaken by car, sixty one per cent are under five miles in length; and a similar proportion of all short journeys currently take place in cars.” –Bikes Not Fumes, p. 11, CTC 1991
Make sure you have a front headlight on your bike–so that you are visible to drivers behind you.