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1001 cycling tips. the essential cyclist's guide. hannah reynolds. vertebrate publishing softback. 150pp illus. £25

there are not, so far as i'm aware, educational evening classes for those intent on entering the velocipedinal realm. yes, you can, if you wish, attend classes on how to build bicycle wheels and how to maintain your bicycle, but i'm talking about the little idiosyncracies that pervade many an extra-curricular activity, though several do offer at the very least, online classes. for instance, several years past, i undertook a series of onlne classes in the operation of an industry standard music recording software. (despite proving to have at least a notional aptitude, i have yet to record the inevitable hit single).

cycling, it seems, is an activity or sport that relies on skills being handed down from the more senior members of the peloton to those recently apprenticed. or, if all else fails, there's always velominati's book of rules. personally, i was apprenticed to the mighty dave-t, a man who has been there, done that, and currently wears the t-shirt. it was he who taught me the art of the one-man echelon, which might be the most appropriate gear for a previously unscalable gradient, and on which side of his back wheel i should sit when forging into a galeforce headwind.

and it wasn't simply a one-way street, if you'll pardon the pun. while the mighty dave may well know that one ought not wear underpants 'neath bibshorts, he is less well-versed in the mechanical operation of the central object of our desire. i have thus been charged, on separate occasions, to fettle his trusty steed, during which time i might learn more from the master before we, once again, perambulated the highways and byways of the principality. and when it came my time to pass on this wisdom, i have done my level best to step up to the platform (metaphorically speaking).

a recent recruit to the sunday morning peloton is less well inured to the vicissitudes of a sturdy headwind than are the rest of us, therefore i have taken it as my duty to teach him in a similar manner to my instruction from the mighty dave. however, in the majority of circumstances, in whichever peloton you care to mention, this instruction and passing on of the grail is carried out by word of mouth. none that i know are inclined to have concealed the commandments in a jersey backpocket. and though hannah reynolds has made a valiantly successful effort to record much of what we all need to know, it has stopped short at inhabiting a format that equates to jersey-pocket size.

that is, of course, really of no nevermind, for much of the information contained within this excellent volume, ought best be learned in the comfort of your own bike shed, rather than only half-heard in a wind-strewn peloton. ms reynolds is not short of experience in such matters, having worked within the industry for over two decades, including a stint as fitness editor at the comic and editor at cycling active magazine. a journalistic career such as this, has no doubt led to the clear, concise presentation of all 1001 pieces of advice.

these are helpfully separated thematically, making it a simple matter of choosing the heading under which a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge might exist. for instance, tips numbered 1 - 161, are categorised under the heading basics, the definition of which might vary, depending on how recently you began riding your bike in earnest. however, as basic as it surely gets, choosing a bike would seem an appropriate starting point. and even tautology has its place: "The only thing you need to be a cyclist is a bike". if the publshers have any sense of enterprise, that piece of advice ought to be emblazoned on an accompanying t-shirt.

of course, as we all know, buying the bike is only the beginning, with untold horrors to be negotiated the more obsessed with the cycling life we subsequently become. for instance, following an extensive section concerning the maintenance of whatever genre(s) of bicycle you opted for, the author approaches the subject of cycling life, the ultimate meaning of which we all know to be '42'. however, from personal experience, i might take issue with #394. i can think of many instances where discussion of bicycles has been a more effective conversation stopper than starter. however, in the right company, i know just what hannah means.

and, of course, no matter the seriousness of any cycling situation, there are always life-affirming humorous moments. under the bike maintenance chapter, are a few mentions of those bike shop staff that you really want to dislike. "Not all bike shop staff are amazing [...] A female athlete went into a bike shop to buy some flats (pedals) for her commuter bike. The staff member selling them told her how she'd be much better off using clipless pedals, to which she airily replied, 'Oh yes, I know all about them, i used clipless pedals when I rode the olympics last year'."

the subject matter is wide-ranging, including the various disciplines available, fitness (for which the author is well-equipped on which to comment), apps and tools, navigation and routes, travelling by bike, and finally, everything else. you would no doubt expect my welcoming thoughts on the statement (#793) "It is a lie that if it is not on Strava it didn't happen." and the opinion that "...Strava is a great tool that can be used for good or evil."

I confess that, on learning of 1001 cycling tips, i was expecting a volume of the blatantly obvious; there may be a few of those included, but as said by a wiser person than yours truly, there are no daft questions, only daft answers. how many newbies are likely to ask the sixty year-old in the peloton precisely where to rub that chamois cream? (#320).

for those of us who readily admit to being complete know-it-alls, (who me?), there is still plenty within these 150 pages to occupy many a happy hour or two. and who knows, maybe you'll (i'll) even learn a thing or two. an ideal christmas present for the cyclist in your life.

"You will never regret a bike ride." (#1001)

tomorrow: a few words with author hannah reynolds.

buy a copy of 1001 cycling tips

wednesday 17 november 2021