Info & Tips

Youth & Junior Race Bikes - Demystifying Ge...

Enthusiastic Youths & Juniors can sometimes arrive at their first race, nervous, excited, eager to compete - only to be told that their bike falls foul of the regulations, 'because the gearing is not compliant with the rules.' This can be confusing and frustrating, especially if a brand new bike was purchased in good faith and the shop said that the bike was 'race-ready.'
 
Far from being over-zealous kill-joys, race oficials must follow the regulations set by international and national cycling organisations, which limit the top gear for all youth and junior racers participating in road and track races. Gear restrictions teach good pedaling techniques that will be essential later in life, help prevent injury, encourage good race tactics and level the playing field when children are developing at different rates.

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Our 10 Tips on How to Ride in a Peloton

Cycling as part of an organised group, (known as a 'peloton') has many advantages for both the individual riders and other road users:

• Riding alongside others is sociable
• Riding behind others is very efficient because you are using up to 30% less energy
• Other road users often find it easier & safer to pass one bunch of cyclists that is cohesive and behaving predictably, rather than trying to pass the same number of cyclists riding as a succession of uncoordinated individuals, pairs or small groups.
• By sharing a common awareness, the same number of cyclists in well drilled bunch, can stop or manoeuvre quicker and more safely, than if the cyclists were riding individually or in disorganised groups.

Inexperienced riders in a peloton can be danger to themselves and to others - so to stay safe, they need to get 'up to speed' not just with the pace of the more experienced rides - but also with the level of skill needed.

You can start the learning process to become a better bunch rider by reading this article, which has gathered together tips & advice from our experienced members and qualified coaches.

There's quite a  bit of information to take in if you are a beginner - but try not to be put off - you are not expected to know it all from the off. It takes many, many miles of group riding for the points below to become instinctive - and even then everyone can make mistakes. All that is expected of you is to try to ride safe and try your best to improve in your own time.

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Cyclists Don't Pay Road Tax...

...and neither does anyone else!

• No one has paid 'Road Tax' for over 75 years!

• There has been no direct relationship between Vehicle Excise Duty and government expenditure on public road since 1937 - Road construction and maintenance is funded by general taxation.

• Roads aren't paid for by pay Tax on Petrol - which is a tax on petrol purchased & goes into the general taxation pot.

The term ‘road tax’ is well past its sell-by date and at best is misleading - at worst it is often used in the mistaken belief that having buying a tax disc provides some sort of superior entitlement over others. The fact is, in 1926, Winston Churchill started the process to abolish Road Tax because he didn't want motorists to think a token payment gave them ownership of the road.

i-Team is a pro-bicycle organisation - but in no way are we anti-motorist. 99.9% of our members drive a car (or are driven by parents etc.) when they are not riding the bike for leisure or commuting. i-Team.cc wants to present cycling in a positive image and we respect all other road users who show us respect, whether we are cycling or in a car.

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Why Join A Cycling Club

None of us can know it all - fellow club members will become a wealth of information on topics like where to ride, how to train - or maybe even how to enter your first race. Often, cyclists that have been riding the same roads for years can benefit from a groups knowledge of traffic conditions, prevailing wind - and even what route is easiest on the eye.


If you are thinking of joining a cycling club, you could first check out the local cycling clubs in your area, compare what they offer and what they can deliver - and if you don't find one that suits your needs, you know where we are 24/7

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Tips For New Cyclists

By the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Try to remember to take small drinks often. Until you get in the habit, every time you see another rider take a drink, reach for your bottle. Some riders like water, others prefer sports drinks such as Gatorade. A benefit of sports drinks is the carbohydrates and potassium they contain. Read the label and choose one which contains sucrose or dextrose. Drinks which contain high fructose corn syrup are harder to digest and can cause some riders stomach distress.
  
  * Hold a bottle to the side of your head when you offer it up to your mouth - that way you will continue to be able to see where you are going!

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Heat, Clothing & Your Sportive/racing/train...

Suppose I could tell you about something that could take  1-2 hours off of your Etape time? - I've got your attention right!

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A Cyclist's Guide To Knee Pain

Even with perfect pedal / cleat setup and saddle position, everyone is vunerable to knee injury. For instance, soft tissue knee injury is common in Spring because riders often increase their training volume too quickly when they leave it too late to get fit for the racing season - or they go from 2 hours to 5 hours on the first warm Sunday.

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