General News
5 September, 2025
BARRY'S CORNER: spring onto a bike
Now is the right time to drag out the dusty thing called a bicycle from the winter hibernation in the shed to get it into usable condition.
It is a real struggle to keep riding a bike over a winter because the need for extra warm clothing, scarves and gloves.
It takes a bit of organising to be prepared, but it can be done.
Now, with the longer daylight hours and some relief from the bleak conditions, it becomes more attractive to hit the quiet tracks and roadways to pick up some exercise and even be rid of some of the excess winter calories.
The bike needs to be checked over for its mechanicals and tires for wear and tear, oil the chain, and make sure the frame is not showing any signs of cracks or loose things.
Once this is sorted, you are set to go.
For those new to the game, or who need a new machine, then straight to the bike shop for an update or another model.
If there are no options, one can start with a model off the rack to pick up some experience for a while, until you are ready to seek a date with your own ideas
and learning.
One of the better ways to get started is to find one or more cyclists to ride with.
A group is a good way to have company, especially if there is a flat tire or some other distraction.
Starting feels hard, and you think your muscles are on fire, and it is no shame to complete only half a kilometre or maybe up to five kilometres a week.
Does not sound much of an achievement, but you need to start somewhere.
I have heard many sad tales from enthusiastic would be cyclists who get the bike ready after a long lay off and they head off on a 20kms odyssey and make it back home and throw the bike back in the shed never to cycle again.
A few days and weeks of steady build-up and more is the only way to restart.
It sounds tedious, but a body cannot tolerate leaping into the deep end, just like becoming a shearer, start quietly.
There is a lot of fine weather ahead to make up for some fitness level.
The high level cyclists are probably cycling 1000 kms a week it is another level.