Читать книгу The C2C Cycle Route. The Coast to Coast bike ride онлайн

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 Riding 225km (140 miles) makes it important to have a reasonably comfortable saddle. They range from squidgy gel saddles that promise to be soft on your backside to hard leather – the choice is yours. Remember that for maximum pedalling power and comfort the saddle must be at the correct height, with the down-stroke leg almost (but not totally) straight at the bottom of the circle.

 To achieve maximum pedalling power, use clipless pedals. However, a pair of simple ‘bear trap’ pedals suits this kind of ride very well, enabling cyclists to wear trainers or sandals and still storm up those hills.

 Fitting the bike with lights is sensible, even for cyclists riding the C2C in mid-summer. You may get delayed and still be riding as dusk falls or get caught by thick mist on the high hills. In either case, it is important to be visible on murky roads. Except for cyclists who expect to ride in the dark, flashing LEDs provide an ultra-bright, low cost, lightweight solution.

 A handlebar-mounted cycle ‘computer’ is optional, since the C2C map provides a very effective ‘mile counter’. It’s useful to be able to record your mileage, and it may be interesting to log average or maximum speed, but a significant disadvantage of using a computer is that it’s easy to get transfixed by those little numbers clicking off the miles, when you should be enjoying the views.