Great Tips for Improved Cycling Performance

Below you will find lots of helpful advice on how to enjoy your cycle and get your bike to work for you:

Bike Gears

Most new cyclists keen to get fit think they are getting a better workout if every pedal stoke is a strain and the quads are burning. Although there's a place for low-cadence workouts, during a normal ride, aim for a smooth spin at between 85-100 rpm (pedal revolutions per minute) which is much more efficient -- and easier on the legs, especially the knees.

Handlebar grip

Always keeps a good grip on the bikes handlebars using the thumbs. Don’t rest hands on top of the bars.

A rear mud guard is a good idea during winter

• Keeps your back dry and warm by wearing correct bicycle clothing (even if it does not rain during the cycle a wet road could have your back wet and cold in a few minutes).

Your fellow cyclist will appreciate your mudguard as it reduces the amount of water and grit thrown into the face of the cyclist behind.

Food and Nutrition

Eat a healthy breakfast 30/40 minutes before the start of your cycle
• Porridge and a slice of toast are a good option.
• Light cereals such as cornflakes may not provide the slow release energy you will need for a cycle lasting a few hours.
Carry additional food
• Some bananas and sports nutrition such as energy bars (Powerbar Energy Bar ) are ideal.
• Take two water bottles. Add fruit juice to improve the taste or use a sports drink like PowerGel from Powerbar if going on a longer cycle. Try to drink/eat small amounts often.
• If you are nervous eating while on the move, wait until you are at the back of the group to eat.

Alert Calls

knowing to alert the cycling group or partner to hazards on the road and traffic approaching is very important. The cyclists at the front of the group should clearly and loudly announce hazards on the road ahead. These are announced early so the group is aware of potential dangers and can smoothly and safely take evasive action. Cyclists at the front of the group call the hazard and people behind repeat the call so the message gets passed through the group.

Example of calls
• “Hole on left” = Pothole on the left hand side.
• “Stones on the right” = Stones on the right hand side.
• “Gravel in middle” = Loose gravel in the middle of the groups path.

Moving cars approaching the group
If a car is approaching from behind (or a car following the group is beginning to overtake the group) “Car up” is called. The last person in the group should be aware of traffic following/approaching the group from behind.
If a car is approaching the group from in front: “Car down” is called.

Puncture
The person who gets the puncture should call “puncture”. This alerts the group that someone has a puncture so the group can stop.
The call also alerts people who are cycling behind the person that has suffered the puncture that there is someone in the group who may need to stop immediately and that they need to be alert.

Cycle two by two / don’t overlap the rear wheel of the cyclist in front.

Cyclist in front cannot see the position of cyclist following behind.  If your front wheel overlaps the rear wheel of the person in front, any movement left or right could result in wheels touching and a loss of balance and a large number or people could be involved in a crash.

Never pass another cyclist on the inside (left), always pass on the outside (right).

Avoid freewheeling when at the front of the group

• It usually requires more effort to cycle at the front of the group.
• If a cyclist at the front of the group freewheels the following cyclists could easily run into the back of the cyclist at the front, causing an accident. Always keep pedalling when at the front of the group.

Enjoy your Cycle

Last but most importantly, build up the distance of your cycles gradually. If you are comfortable with 20 miles try 25 then 30 miles and so on in small increments.

Join a bike club where possible and ask the group leader (or another club member) for advice if your have any questions. Cycling club members are always delighted to advise new members

Cycling Clothing For The Brave

Cyclists wears specialist cycling clothing and regardless of being male or female, nobody wears those body hugging skin tight cycling clothing better than a cyclist. Now for some cycling clothing for the brave men (and maybe a few women) cyclist, ITS SEE THROUGH, mesh effect cycling clothing that requires a whole new level of confident cyclist. Maybe its a passing fad but louder, brighter, lighter cyclewear seems to be in vogue.
The cyclist in us lives for the sunny days where they really feel like the cyclist they train to be. Cycling in on a bright day, legs are getting tanned, and every drink gulped from the bottle is making the cyclist more and more the pro they feel they are. Every cyclists deserves this feeling.
So on those hot days, make the most of cycling, and find the tightest, most see through, meshiest jersey (bonus points for skinsuit) you can find, and wear it with pride (ladies, please be careful). We’re already paving the way for people to understand you, thanks to the Alimay Sports blog series of manly cycling things so you don’t have to bear the brunt of the judgement.

Remember there is no shame in the cycling clothing any cyclist wears, it serves a purpose way beyond anyone who doesn’t cycle just can’t understand. So when you put in the hours of suffering, pain, and heavy breathing – now you know why, so you can look great on these hot summer days.

If you haven’t got enough cycling clothing, then be sure to check out our online bike shop today

Alimay Sports Cycling Offers

This week in Alimay Sports, we have started our new promotions of putting out exciting new cycling deals for our customers in the UK and Ireland. Each offer is going to focus on simplicity and clear value, as opposed to an increasing amount of complex and minimal sales for cyclists in the UK. Bike Components and Cycling Accessories are going to be the focus of every cycling offer that we put together. Like the first offer that has been launched in the cycling store – buy a pair of Polaris Omnium Bib Cycling Shorts and get 2 Continental Ultra Race Cycling Tyres free! So the current cycling offer gives UK cyclists a chance to get a new pair of cycling shorts, which I guess can fall into the cycling clothing category. Then with that you get a free pair of Continental Ultra Race Tyres, which are in the bicycle components category.

So while we’re only in the early stages of building a product mix that is matched perfectly to the need of UK cyclists, we feel that we can achieve it, and when we do – we then build on the cycling offers that are available to you. In the end, hopefully within 1 year, we will be in a better position so you can find everything you need on our cycling store, and you enjoy the experience of browsing our cycling store, and can do so know that you can rely on us to deliver every order within 2 days everywhere in the UK. Once we’ve reached that point, then we are going to start to offer very narrow lines of the best in class products in the higher price brackets. We want to do this by building close partnerships with the brands we feel are making the best cycling components in their class. We’ve already started this process with some brands on the higher price range bicycle stuff, but we want to get our lower price range necessities nailed down first, and then move on. So until we reach that point, it will be another post as to how we are coming along in partnering with the best brands on things like bicycles, power meters, wheels, and other expensive items that you don’t change as regular as your tyres or clothes.

We’re doing the same thing with all of the cycling products in our cycling store, because we are building a convenience cycling store rather than a megastore with items that you may have no interest in. Instead we are building our cycling store to keep stock of the items you buy regularly and in need for riding your bike. This allows us to manage our pricing and give you the best price possible, all the while still giving you the fastest and most convenient delivery times in the UK. By doing this, we aim to make it a cycling store that you can browse easily without being overcome by bicycle items that aren’t relevant to you. 

 

We don’t want to blur the lines for cyclists with small discounts on selected products, but with a lot of restrictions on what can and can’t be bought. This is really what is setting the standard for the offers we are going to run really simple offers for cyclists in the UK, with bike components that cyclists want and not just what we want to sell in our online cycling store.

UK Bicycle Discount Store

Alimay Sports is a UK bicycle discount store online where cycling accessories and bike parts are shipped directly to cycling customers every day. Stocking a huge selection of branded cycling gear for the cyclist looking for serious savings on everything bicycle

An online discount bicycle store stocks nearly everything for cycling enjoyment and safety whether it is something as basic as a bicycle pump to cycling clothing or tyre replacement. Also Alimay Sports stocks a range of bicycle components and bike parts from all the top brands at discounted pricing to ensure cycling enjoyment whether on the road or trail. Price, quality and service counts when it comes to purchasing bike parts and cycling accessories. The occasional cyclists will happily get by with very little equipment, while the frequent or sports cyclists needs more specialized cycling gear in more quantities. Regardless as to the type of cyclist or level of experience their needs are served well at the Alimay Sports UK cycling discount store, who believe in a healthy and safe bicycle approach. Customers choose Alimay Sports as their cycling supplier of choice for discounted branded cycling gear together with a range of cycling accessories, bike parts and components.

On the Alimay Sports website a visitor can search and purchase bike parts and cycling accessories. The cyclist can also search and purchase online anything and everything for cycling comfort, from bicycle parts, cycling clothing  to sports nutrition. Also discount cycling stores online offer prices on cycling accessories for 20-30% below a bricks and mortar bicycle retailer.
The mission at Alimay Sports is to improve the whole cycling experience without breaking the bank. The list of bicycle accessories and to make cycling more enjoyable or competitive is a long one. Start with a shopping list making cycling safety the top priorities to purchase, then sports nutrition and clothing with nice to have accessories coming last. Remember to focus on useful bike products that a cyclist really needs to making cycling safe and to carry out those cycling repairs. Alimay Sports offers discounted quality cycling accessories and bike parts with fast, free delivery backed up by excellent customer service.

Cycling Gear

Discount cycling gear is shipped directly to cyclists and cycling clubs throughout the UK and Ireland every day. Whatever cycling gear the serious or hobby cyclist is looking for, shopping on the web offers the convenience and savings to kit out the cyclist from head to wheel.

Every cyclist will have a need to purchase cycling gear whether it is something as basic as a bicycle pump to cycling clothing or tyre replacement. A whole range of bicycle components and gear is available to ensure you enjoy your cycling whether on the road or trail. When it comes to purchasing bike parts and cycling accessories lots of cyclists happily get by with very little equipment, while other cyclists only want the best, and a lot of it. No matter what type of cyclist or level of experience your needs will be served well at any online bike store, which is just as passionate about a healthy bicycle approach as the cyclists itself. Any online bicycle retailer will offer discounted branded cycling gear together with a range of cycling accessories, bike parts and components.

Cycling gear covers allot more than bike parts and cycling accessories, cyclists can now search and purchase online anything and everything for cycling comfort, from complete bikes to bicycle parts, cycling clothing  or sports nutrition. Also purchasing cycling gear online including bike parts can be found for 20-30% below a bricks and mortar bicycle retailer.
The purchase of cycling gear, bicycle parts or accessories should be all about improving the cycling experience without breaking the bank. The list of bicycle gear and associated components to make cycling more enjoyable or competitive is a long one, a suggestion to make the shopping for bike parts or any cycling accessory easier is to list down a wish list making cycling safety your top priorities with nice to have accessories coming last. Focus on useful bike products that a cyclist needs to making cycling safe and to make those cycling repairs. Alimay Sports offers discounted quality cycling gear with fast, free delivery and excellent in customer service so every cyclist can get the best value deals on the web.