FRIDAY 8TH MAY

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Let’s have a look what two of our friends and cycling fanatics bring with them on a cycle ride. 
Bill Ross and Mrs. Chisholm will be sharing their thoughts and clever gadgets with you here today.

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Hi there my name is Bill Ross and some of you may know me as the Cycling Scotland and British Cycling Tutor who delivers many of the Cycling Scotland Cycle Training courses for trainers and also the British Cycling Level 2 Mountain bike Leadership courses. Whilst I mainly work from Glasgow I spend much of my time delivering courses, including many other outdoor disciplines, north of Inverness as I also have a base just outside Brora. My favourite place to ride my mountain bike is Torridon or anywhere in my backyard of Sutherland.

The attached photograph is a snapshot of the kit I carry when I am out on every ride regardless of location. As a leader and First Aider you never know when you may need kit to fix your own bike or help some other person in need. In terms of emergency kit this is about 80% and I would only include more specialised tools and First Aid equipment if I were heading into the wilds and possibly out of signal for a prolonged period of time. 
I would break down the list into 2 categories: a Local Ride where if necessary getting home involves walking back or hailing transport of some kind, and the second is a Longer Ride but much more remote in terms of getting back home after a mechanical breakdown.

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– Rucksack, big enough for an all day ride
– Puncture repair kit or new inner tube(s). Presta valve(s) to fit not just your wheel (size not crucial as rubber stretches)
– Working pump
– Tyre levers
– A multi tool which fits your bike with a chain tool (make sure you know how to work it)
– A mobile phone (to call help or a taxi) (also useful to have maps of the area visiting loaded)
– Food and water suitable for the journey
– Wet weather and other appropriate spare clothing (check weather forecast) 
– First Aid kit (bandage, plasters, medical tape, sun cream)

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– All of the above (with adjusted quantities)
– Route map
– Happy food (food that makes you happy)
– Additional tools if you can use them: chain lube, assorted zip ties, brake pads spanner
– Tow rope (6mm x 3.5m)
– Spare lights
– Emergency bivy bag or shelter
– Bike lock

The most important thing to do before you go out on a ride is to make sure you are prepared for any eventuality, big or small, and let someone know where you’re planning on heading to and when to be back. Learning how to fix a puncture or mend a chain could save you a long walk home. If all else fails (trying to get the bike running) you may still have a last chance if you learn how to tow someone.

Thanks Bill for sharing what’s in your kitbag! We’d love to hear what you carry on your rides?

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Mrs Chisholm is a very active PE teacher at Inverness Royal Academy, and the founder of their award-winning Cycle Hub! She’s also a keen mountain biker. Jane is a great friend of Velocity, and has kindly made a video to share with you all! Check out her tips on what to carry if you’re planning a local bike ride for your daily exercise!

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It’s Tilia here from our Go ByCycle project! Many people have been dustingoff their bikes to enjoy the weather and quieter roads. But what about cycling with kids?

As a cyclist and mum of two small children I thought I would share some thoughts!

Safety:
– Make sure your kids wear appropriate helmets and hi-vis. Ideally helmets should be bought new as you can’t always tell if used/second hand ones have had a fall or crash. The material can also deteriorate over time and with exposure to UV. I think MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is not completely necessary for smaller helmets which makes them cheaper to buy but you can do your own research. You can find children’s hi-vis in DIY shops!
– Make sure your bikes are in good condition including pumped up tyres!
– Take some kit with you in case you need to repair a puncture!
– Make sure your phone is fully charged just in case!
– Plan your route especially when cycling with children for the first time including where you want to go and how long it will take. You can take a local map (https://hitrans.org.uk/…/fi…/HI-Travel-active-travel-map.pdf.)

Bike seats:

Make sure your kids have a comfy seat to sit on including a good back and head support and secure and adjustable straps made from quality material. Personally I like YEPP seats as the material is soft, sturdy and durable (much better than rock hard seats with a textile lining). The front-seat hasadditional items such as a sleeper-pillow, wind shield and the back seat has adjustable feet rests. Make sure you have plenty of time to fit seats before you want to set off as not all racks are compatible with seats.

Bike trailer:
– A bike trailer can be life-changing! There are many good models on the market, but I’d recommend the Thule Cougar (see photo). They have ventilation with tinted sides, an insect mesh and sun screen, a rain cover, an adjustable suspension system (up to 25kg), replaceable parts and additional items which can be used in town (4 wheels), for jogging (front wheel) or for in snow (skis) with a foldable bag at the back. Additional items allow it to be used for babies from 3-4 months (sling) up to children from 3-4 years old (with or without head and hips support). They’re not cheap but they sell well so it could be a good investment. My life wouldn’t be as good without that trailer!

Food and drink:
– If you’re going for a longer ride you can plan a few rest stops to refuel. I often get the kids to help me pack including plenty of water, or sometimes 100% fruit juice, bread, bars, crisps, fruit etc

Clothing:
– Make sure to bring plenty of spare clothes and baby wipes including a spare bag for dirty clothes or rubbish!

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You can find more information here: https://www.sustrans.org.uk/…/eve…/where-to-cycle-with-kids/