As we find ourselves in the middle of the Coronavirus lockdown, we are truly grateful that the government has allowed cycling to continue. Here at Primera Sports, we have seen for ourselves and through our customers how important cycling is to our wellbeing, both physically and mentally.
Cycling is an activity which gives our life so much value. If you have been cycling for a while, you will already know how much better it feels to be fit and healthy. Gentle cycling is also a great exercise choice once you have recovered, should you fall ill.
Here in the UK, we are still able to continue cycling, but there are some restrictions in place and there are also ways you can help to protect yourself and others whilst on a ride.
- Try to ride solo or with family members whilst avoiding contact with others.
- Always let someone know your proposed route with start/finish time.
- Don’t take unnecessary risks while riding, the emergency service is already stretched.
- Take your mobile phone in case of a mechanical breakdown. Call family members to collect you when possible.
- Carry disposable gloves in your pocket. They take up no room but are very useful if you need to stop for some reason.
- Make sure your bike is roadworthy before starting out, if not sure about anything call your local bike shop.
- Smile at people when out riding, we all need a friendly smile to make our day!
Always make sure to follow the latest government guidelines to ensure you aren’t putting yourselves or others at risk.
Indoor trainers
If you don’t feel comfortable going outside or are self-isolating due to an underlying health condition an indoor trainer is also a great form of exercise. At our Primera Sports bike shops in Bournemouth and Poole, we have a choice of indoor trainers, including turbo trainers and rollers.
If you are new to indoor riding and just want to keep your legs turning, jump on and watch your favourite movie on your iPad, listen to the radio or whatever helps you pass the time. Once you are used to being on the static machine and your legs have started to enjoy it, you can start to mix it up a little.
Indoor cycling training workouts
Start with a steady warm-up of about 10-15 minutes in an easy gear.
Then introduce a few efforts for one minute in a harder gear, then soft pedal in an easy gear for two minutes. Repeat this as many times as you feel happy with. The idea is to increase the amount and intensity of efforts as you feel happy with.
Always remember to warm down for 10 minutes at the end of a training session as it aids recovery. We have had a lot of customers ordering these trainers over the past few weeks and are new to indoor training. This coupled with having more time on your hands can easily result in doing too much too soon which can result in injury. This is the last thing you want, so please take your time and build up slowly.
Ditch the car with electric bikes
Electric bikes are also proving extremely popular with the lockdown. With fewer people out and about in cars, many are turning to cycling as transport, fitness and fun – changing their lives and getting on the road to a healthy future. With parking restrictions at many workplaces, especially hospitals, cycling is becoming a lot more popular. E-Bikes can get you to work still looking fresh, and feeling great. Learn more about the benefits of electric bikes.
How to ride an electric bike
By using the power settings, which are placed right by your hand, riding an electric bike is simple. You can pedal as hard or as gentle as you like, ride to work on a higher setting to give you more assistance. Fancy more of a workout on the way home? Pop it into eco mode and you will have to pedal a little harder. A full charge takes about three hours giving you enough power for a few hours of riding.
Modern E-Bikes are very easy to ride and a lot of fun; reliability is important, and with the brands, we sell aftersales support is excellent. We carry a comprehensive range in our stores with Electric Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, Hybrids and Cruisers, something for everyone at a range of prices.
If you would like to ask any questions on cycling you are welcome to contact us via email, live chat, phone or in-store. In the meantime, we have set out some frequently asked questions we get asked below with our answers.
Q. Is it okay to ride with a group of friends?
A. The government are asking people to social distance and only mix with household members.
Q. Should I wear a face mask when cycling?
A. If you are happy to do so, there is no reason not to. Make sure it fits well with no possibility of restricting vision.
Q. Do I need to wear a cycle helmet?
A. It is not a legal requirement, but we would always recommend you wear a bike helmet when cycling.
Q. What prices do your bikes start from?
A. Our bikes start at around £400 which would get you a good reliable bike.
Q. I don’t want to go out of the house, do you deliver?
A. Yes, we deliver to local customers and if over 30 miles away we use a courier service. Please contact us to arrange delivery.
Q. I’m new to cycling, which accessories do I need?
A. Cycling accessories can make riding more comfortable and more enjoyable. We carry a full range of cycling accessories on our website and in-store. The most important accessories are a helmet and a puncture repair kit (to make sure you get home safe)
Accessories you may also want to consider:
- Helmet
- Pump
- Puncture repair kit
- Saddlebag
- Padded shorts
- Water bottle
- Gel seat cover
- Cycle glasses
Q. Do you offer finance packages on new bikes.
A. We offer 0% Finance on all new bikes, 10% deposit is required as a minimum.
Ride safe, keep healthy and please send any more questions you may have. Visit our bike shop in Bournemouth or Poole today or call us on 01202 775588 to request delivery.
