I’m somewhat biased in this matter — mostly because there are several bicycles parked in our garage that get regular use — but there’s no doubt in my mind that a bicycle is, in any form, a great way to get around.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Bicycles have been around since the 1860s when the rather awkward looking penny-farthing was developed. You can still buy one if you are interested — there was one on eBay the other day for $1200 plus postage from Italy. The penny-farthing era ended when the so called ‘safety bicycle’ was developed in the 1880s. It had two wheels the same size and did much for increasing the popularity of cycling, as did John Dunlop in 1888 (he of tyre fame) in developing the pneumatic tyre, ensuring a more stable and comfortable ride for bicycle riders ever since. Also, bike riders becoming experts in fixing punctures…

Many a reader of my vintage or older will be able to remember bicycles of their youth. There were few choices. A frame for men or ladies was the prime one, then there were drop handlebars or straight handlebars. Most bikes were gearless or had the well-known Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub gears. I seem to recall that a few lucky kids of wealthier parents had derailleur gears. Brakes, (such as they were) came in a choice of side pull or centre pull, while bike lights weren’t all that good, powered by batteries or operated by a dynamo that rubbed on the front wheel tyre. Naturally, dynamo powered lights only operated when the bike was in motion.

TODAY

In today’s world, there’s almost no excuse for anyone not to take up bike riding. There’s an almost confusing variety of bike styles available — not to mention accessories and methods of transporting them around. Undoubtedly, the development of electric bikes has boosted interest in bike riding. I make that comment based on the number of electric bike exhibitors I noticed at both the Melbourne and Sydney RV shows that I attended in April.

For the novice, choosing a type of bike isn’t easy. Your first thing to do is visit a good bicycle shop or two  and have a look and ride of what is available. A key consideration is what sort of bicycle riding you’ll be doing — be it for exercise, leisure, riding rough terrain, or in our case, just getting around at campsites and rallies. The list of possible bicycles appears quite formidable: road, mountain, BMX, hybrid, electric, folding and more, but each has a purpose, meaning the list can be reduced.

Road bikes are designed for speed and are often lightweight, but sometimes compromise comfort.

Mountain bikes are aptly named and come in several different classes. Downhill bikes are designed for speed but require protective gear. Trail bikes are for less aggressive riding on rough tracks and trails, but there is a weight factor in both cases. BMX bikes are really for the young and designed for racing. Hybrid bikes are a mixture of several bicycle types designed for riding on the road and paved trails but are more comfortable than road bikes. Folding bicycles, while neither particularly fast nor flow, are designed though to be easy to carry and pack away. Electric bikes speak for themselves. Lithium (LiFePO4) batteries have made them very practical and work well for people who don’t like to pedal too hard or struggle with long distance riding.

This is just my opinion, but I reckon the three types of bicycles of most interest to RV travellers would be the hybrid, folding, or electric. Each has advantages and disadvantages, but all would suit one way or another.

Getting a bicycle that suits your needs is important and professional advice is certainly recommended. Just as an extreme example, Mrs. Malcolm was having some muscle and tendon issues with her riding. Several visits to her physio mostly sorted out the issue, but as a sideline her physio runs an individual bicycle-setting-up program and that has worked best as a long-term solution.

Electric bikes are becoming very popular

TRANSPORT AND STORAGE

Storage and transport are considerations. While some folding bikes I have seen have wheels that look too small, at a CMCA rally a few years ago I hired a Brompton  (British-built, surprisingly) folding bike. It had two things going for it: a relatively light weight and it folded down easily enough to fit into my motorhome.

There are several methods of transportation for non-folding bikes. Fiamma, for instance, makes a bike rack that can be bolted to the back of caravan or motorhome — quite easy to use but they do add weight to the rear of the RV and not all wall structures will take the weight. GripSport makes a rack which will fit on the drawbar of caravans or camper trailers, though this will add to the Tow Ball Mass on the tow vehicle and is certainly a factor to consider.

Apart from that, the only other real option for tow vehicles is roof racks. Both Rola and Thule make suitable fittings. They work well, but a factor to consider is that someone has to be able enough to lift a bicycle onto the roof of the vehicle. Often a short step ladder is required.

MAINTENANCE

Bicycle maintenance shops have increased in number over the last decade or so for good reason. There was time when bicycle maintenance really wasn’t thought about unless there was something wrong, but now items like derailleur gears (in particular), chains, disc brakes, bowden cables, and tyres need  attention from time to time. Some simple items like an overall bike wash can be done by anyone using Muc-Off (a very effective cleaner) or something similar.

WHERE TO RIDE?

A problem for many bike riders in Australia is that of where to ride safely. Australia, unlike some European countries, is not particularly cycle-friendly in all places, often depending on where you live. Sydney, for instance, has had some cycling trails being developed in various places but is not particularly accommodating — I know, I live here. Melbourne is better but the folk who live in Canberra are in seventh heaven as far as the rest of us are concerned. There are cycling trails everywhere. Some states have better track records than others in cycling trail development. I’ve not long enjoyed some of the rail trails (former railway tracks which are now developed as cycle/walking tracks) around the Beechworth/Bright area. The Victorian Government and local councils have done an excellent job. Queensland has its Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. Other states like New South Wales are lagging behind, but developments like the Tumbarumba to Rosewood rail trail are on the horizon.

Happy riding.

Category: Features
Written: Wed 01 Jun 2022
Printed: June, 2022
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