Читать книгу The Lancashire Cycleway. The tour and 17 day rides онлайн

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Gloves have two main purposes: keeping your hands warm is only one. Proper cycling gloves have subtle padding where your hands rest on the bars, and this improves comfort immeasurably. In warmer weather, fingerless gloves with ventilated backs, often called track mitts, keep this comfort advantage but stay fairly cool. Some people, including some pros, can’t bear riding with gloves, but I feel naked without them even on a two-minute spin to the corner shop.

Last but not least, a helmet may serve no purpose whatever most of the time, but there just might be that millisecond when it could save your life. Modern cycling helmets are extremely light and well-ventilated and you'll probably forget you’re wearing one. If you still overheat, shaving your head has been found to help. Like everything else, a helmet must fit properly. Don’t wear it tipped back on your head, as so many people do. The front rim should be, at most, three fingers’ width above your eyebrows.

Carrying gear

Weight is not the most crucial factor when cycling on the flat, but certainly makes a difference when you hit the hills. How you carry it is important too. A bum-bag is reasonable, but if you need to carry a large rucksack, think again. On your back is really the worst place for heavy loads. It will make your back sweaty, compromise your balance, and may obscure your vision to the rear. It can also give you backache and a sore posterior.