Mastering the links

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Iain Treloar runs you through the process of breaking, sizing and fitting a bicycle chain. Chains are beautiful in the simplicity of their function, but surprisingly complex in their construction. Each link consists of a matching pair of outer and inner plates, two rollers and two pins. A standard derailleur chain will have approximately 57
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Crash. Bang. What next?

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Harriet Edmund advises what you need to do—and what you need to know—if you are involved in a crash. You know the importance of staying vigilant while you ride into work but the road is greasy and nothing has prepared you for what’s about to happen. A motorist suddenly turns left, cutting in front of
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Time to train

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Too busy to get as much time on the bike as you’d like? Don’t worry—Lee Rodgers explains that the secret to improving your performance is to train smarter, not longer. “If only I had more time to train, I’d be so much quicker!” It’s a common refrain of the time-­constrained cyclist, bemoaning the lack of
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Cross training benefits

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When someone says “cross­training”, people usually reply “What for?” Danielle Halvorsen explains the benefits for bike riders. If bike riding is all you do for fitness, you need to start thinking of other ways to benefit your overall physical health. Cross training changes your regular patterns and movements and shows up underperforming and inflexible muscles.
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Keeping it in the family

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There are many great reasons to ride together as a family. Nicola Rutzou looks at ways to encourage parents and children to get on two wheels and active. Family life is often frantic and fraught, so it’s important to take time out to spend together. What better way than by getting on a bike and
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How to turn right

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Do you use a hook turn to turn right? It’s a great risk-reduction tool for riders, Simon Vincett explains. Moving to the middle of the road to turn right is a nerve-wracking situation for many bike riders but fortunately it can be mostly avoided. The answer is a hook turn. Hook turns are familiar to
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Top risks to riders

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  There are many confident riders who have the knack of identifying the risks on the roads, and who have developed good riding practices to manage the uncertainty that shadows every vulnerable road user. But are riders totally responsible for their welfare, or do other road users, and roads management authorities, also have an obligation
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Wet, wet, wet

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Margot McGovern has handy hints to get you and your bike rain ready. It’s rare to hear a fellow rider extol the joys of riding through a deluge. Indeed, most of us have woken up to the sound of rain rat-a-tat-tatting on the roof and been sorely tempted to leave the bike at home and
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How to ride a roundabout

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Are you confident of when to give way and when to take your turn in a roundabout? Simon Vincett explains. To ride a roundabout confidently you need to be assertive about taking your turn and you need to indicate clearly. Traffic can flow quickly, so you must be clear about what you’re doing. The rules
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Ride ready: the ‘M’ Check

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It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the many parts of a bike—and easy to ignore the state of your bike altogether—but this simple and speedy bike check draws the eye through all the most important areas. While more useful as a diagnostic aid, the ‘M’ check helps you to become aware of many of the
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