Top ten summer cycling tips

Summers here. Yup, inbetween the bouts of rain, wind and Wimbledon, we’ll get some pretty perfect cycling conditions.

Occasionally.

So here’s our top tips to staying cool in the sun and making the most out of the great British summer on your bike.

1    Stay hydrated. Obvious right? Take a water bottle. Take two if you can. Heck, take a hydration bag – even better. Running out of liquid on a ride is no fun, think cramp and also possibly very dangerous. Drink before, during and after your ride. Carry more than you need.

2    And for those of you looking to go faster/longer (more than an hour on the bike), energy drinks might be worth looking at. You’ll boost energy levels and replace lost carbs and electrolytes.

3    Cycling sunglasses. Again kind of a no-brainer. These’ll keep the sun out of your eyes and prevent you happily cycling into oncoming traffic/branches. A good thing. Make sure you pick the right pair for the right job. Mountain or road? Looks or performance (or both).

4    Bicycle helmets not only provide some essential protection, but they also keep the sun off your head providing some much needed shade. Almost all helmets provide excellent venting now too.

5    Talking of sunburn, and I will be for the next three months being ‘strawberry blonde’, don’t forget to slap on plenty of sunblock. Cycling not only makes the rider vulnerable due to the typically long periods of exposure, but also the sweat on your skin will increase the effect of the sun. And of course you’ll look like a wally with the tan lines from your cycling gear.

6    The right clothing. From head to toe, the summer clothes for a cyclist changes entirely from their winter gear (except Sam at Tredz Swansea who rides in every day in his jeans rain or shine). Having said that though, the desired end result is still the same. To stay dry and comfortable as possible. Short sleeved cycling jerseys, t-shirts and packable shower proof jackets are perfect for the upper body, whilst cycling shorts (lycra or baggy) are de rigueur for the lower. Your clothing should have plenty of vents and preferably be pretty good at moving moisture away from your skin.

7    Cycling tyres are prone to pretty big seasonal variations. Particularly mountain bike tyres. Big knobs might be great for sucking on to wet roots, but they won't be any good in the summer. Check out our range and pick something that'll suit the bike, the trail and the weather.

8    A good bike lock will allow you and your bike a whole lot more freedom this summer.

9    Don’t overdo it. Cycling in the summer can be an awesome experience, whether on the trails or the road, but know your limits. You should never try to push yourself too hard in the sun. Take breaks whenever you fell you need to and try and make them in the shade.

10    Forget the above and sit inside whilst it’s raining and watch Cliff Richards at Wimbledon.