Back on the Saddle

Cycle

I am back on a cycle after sometime with a Firefox Target, which is an expensive one by Indian standards, but may be a normal bike by global standards. My previous two cycles were mainly meant for exercising, but with this I want to commute to work as well. But the main reason I looked around for a bike was for cross-training to improve my running. Then I figured out that there were plenty of guys(including guys older than me) biking to work. But if I can regularly use the bike irrespective of whether I commute, that should make the bike worthwhile. Biking to work is all the more possible because I have got just a 2KM commute, but on the busy Bannerghatta Road.

The bike was worth Rs.11,995/= and with accessories(helmet, back light, bottle holder, fender) it was around Rs. 15000/=. Almost 10 times that of my last cycle. So for people who are curious about the price, my line has been "if you have to ask the price, you cannot afford it"! Many of the m don't understand why anyone would spent that much money on a cycle. More details and technical specifications(!) are here

There are pretty nice things about the cycle which I figured out after placing the order. The wheels can be removed without any tools though the back one has gears and derailleurs(I didn't know about this either:) which makes it a bit difficult. The seat post, which is the only thing that I had fiddled around earlier can also be removed and fixed without any tools. They are called quick release parts! But this makes it a bit dangerous to park in open spaces like I do because it is really easy to steal things as well! So I need to get the bike insured as well - I learned that there is indeed a cycle insurance policy as well. It comes with a manual and an Allen-key and a spanner(tools look pretty ordinary though).

While I didn't pay much attention to cycling skills or its setup earlier except for setting up my seat posts, this time I am far more technically knowledgeable about the bike thanks to internet and BOTS who has a great website with blogs and cycling forums as well. Since I haven't used a geared cycle(or motorcyle), I read up about cycle gears and derailleurs a bit. The best information I got was from BicycleTutor.com where its video on gears made things pretty understandable. This is a great resource and the videos are of the best quality where you can see the cycle parts very clearly, the following videos from them were also pretty useful.

How To Shift Your Gears
How To Remove and Install Your Wheels
How To Adjust V-Brakes
How To Fix a Flat Tire

And being weary about the occupational hazards of cycling, I read a bit about good posture and cycling skills(which people tend to take it as a given). The following websites were very useful as well. Sheldon Brown seems to be the king of cycling.

Bicycling and Pain
Starting and Stopping
A Comfortable Saddle
Standing to Pedal
Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary(pretty useful one to understand technical lingo)

The video below also helped me understand the cycling terms which you keep hearing in the forums,





There are a lot of websites on commuting to work, but they mainly focus on US or European conditions, I think the best for Indian conditions are from the BikeZone forum in their commute section. But the general perception remains that cycling in Indian city roads are dangerous and unhealthy because of the pollution. The Bikezone and Bangalore Biker Club forums are pretty useful in hearing other commuters experiences. But there is definitely a cycling community in Bangalore which is a great help in keeping yourself on the saddle for a long time.