How-to
How to dry out your damp cycling kit
26.09.2020
By Cyclescheme
Pulling on cold, soggy lycra and wet shoes for the ride home is grim. Here’s what you can do to avoid the situation.
How to: Know how often you should pump up your tyres
03.07.2020
By Cyclescheme
Tyres that are too soft spoil the way a bike rides and make punctures likely. Pumping them up now and again is an essential job.
How to: Adjust your bike, not your clothing
03.04.2020
By Cyclescheme
You don’t need to look like a racer for the journey to work. Normal clothing is fine – as long as your bike is properly equipped.
How to: Keep cycling to work in the winter
01.11.2019
By Cyclescheme
It’s colder, darker, and wetter, but cycling to work can still be the highlight of your day if you have the right equipment and attitude.
How to: Join Cyclescheme Ireland's Love to Ride Community
05.09.2019
By Cyclescheme
Spread the cycling message by logging your journeys and encouraging colleagues and friends to ride. There are prizes – and prestige – to be won.
How to: Enjoy a healthy body & healthy mind from cycling to work
15.08.2019
By Cyclescheme
Cycle commuting improves your physical and mental health, as well as boosting productivity at work – so long as you do it right.
How to: Beat hay fever when cycling
20.05.2019
By Cyclescheme
Cycling through the countryside on a summer’s day is glorious – unless you’ve got a runny nose and itchy eyes. Here’s what you can do about it.
How to: Manage chilly mornings and balmy afternoons
16.05.2019
By Cyclescheme
It’s going to be a beautiful day… except for first thing when you’re cycling to work. So what should you wear?
How to: Handle canine encounters when cycling
09.05.2019
By Cyclescheme
Man’s best friend may dart in front of you, give chase, knock you off, or nip you. Here’s what to do if that happens.
How to: Showerproof your commute
06.03.2019
By Cyclescheme
Rain showers are inevitable. Here’s a selection of tips to keep you safe and dry throughout your commute by bike.
How to: Use tyre valves
06.03.2019
By Cyclescheme
Whether pumping tyres or buying innertubes, you need to know what valves your bike has and how they work.
How to: Adjust handlebar height
21.02.2019
By Cyclescheme
Changing your bike’s handlebar position can take only a few minutes yet transform your cycling comfort. Here’s how to do it.
How to: Maintain your waterproof jacket
13.11.2018
By Cyclescheme
On the first really wet commute of the winter, you may find your old waterproof jacket isn't as good as it was. Here's what you can do about it.
How to: Keep cycle commuting in any weather
13.11.2018
By Cyclescheme
With a bit of forethought and preparation, you can become a master of the elements.
How to: Ascend and descend hills when commuting by bike
12.11.2018
By Cyclescheme
Here's how to conquer any fear of hills on your commute.
How to: Lose weight with the aid of commuting by bike
06.09.2018
By Cyclescheme
Commuting by bike will help you lose weight and combined with healthy eating can bring you the best results.
How to: Get back on your bike and cycle to work
24.08.2018
By Cyclescheme
Holiday's over: back to school for the kids and back to work for you. Now is the time to rediscover your cycling mojo.
How to: Get involved in Cycle to Work Day
14.06.2018
By Cyclescheme
Join Cyclescheme on Wednesday 15th August and get in the saddle for Cycle to Work Day.
How to: Control your temperature when wearing a helmet
16.05.2018
By Cyclescheme
Despite being ventilated, any cycle helmet will make your head hotter. Here are some tips to help you manage the heat.
How to: Split your commute and cycle the last few KM's
16.05.2018
By Cyclescheme
Using a bike for the final leg of a commute by car or train saves time and money. Here’s how to make the most of the last few miles.
How to: Keep your hands warm
12.01.2018
By Cyclescheme
Whatever the weather throws at your on your ride to work you can ensure you mitigate cold hands.
How to: Beat cold feet
12.01.2018
By Cyclescheme
Keep your feet warm and dry this winter with a mix of accessories, clothing, and inexpensive hacks.
How to: Beat the commuting blues
12.01.2018
By Cyclescheme
Bad weather, traffic, and tiredness can grind you down when you ride to work every day. Here’s how to find the fun again.
Cyclescheme How to: Commute in winter
30.10.2017
By Cyclescheme
Winter commuting doesn’t have to be as bad you might think, with the right kit and some preparation you can still enjoy your commute.
Cycleschme How to: Avoid common commuting errors
23.08.2017
By Cyclescheme
There are plenty of beginner’s errors to avoid when riding to work. Here are ten of the most common.
Cyclescheme How To: Commutify your bike
23.08.2017
By Cyclescheme
Any bicycle can be a capable commuter, but if it wasn’t designed with transport in mind some modifications can get you there.
Cyclescheme How to: Replace your brake pads
07.02.2017
By Cyclescheme
Replacing brake pads is as easy as replacing an innertube once you know how. Here's how to do it.
Cyclescheme How to: 10 ways to cycle more in 2020
06.02.2017
By Cyclescheme
Even those of us who ride regularly often wish we rode more. Some of us want to get fitter. Some of us want to use the car less. Some of us just want to spend longer having fun in the fresh air. Yet it can be hard to break old habits. Here are some tips to get you pedalling more in 2020.
Cyclescheme How to: Get your employer to provide a Cycle to Work scheme
03.02.2017
By Cyclescheme
You get a bike and equipment plus reap the health benefits. Your employer save’s money and get's a happier, healthier, more punctual workforce. Everybody wins. Nudge your employer now!
Cyclescheme How to: Winter-proof your bike
17.01.2017
By Cyclescheme
Bad weather, grime, and grit can grind down your bike and your patience – unless you're prepared. Here's how to get your bike winter-proofed.
Cyclescheme How to: Get fitter faster when Cycling to Work
17.01.2017
By Cyclescheme
Just cycling your bike to work regularly will make you reasonably fit. If you want to get fitter faster, here are some helpful tips.
Cyclescheme How to: Keep your bike safe
04.11.2016
By Cyclescheme
Thousands of bikes are stolen every year in Ireland. Don't let yours be among them. Here are some tips to keep your bike safe.
Cyclescheme How to: Buy the right sized bike for your commute
18.08.2016
By Cyclescheme
The most important quality in any bike is that it fits you. Here's how to avoid buying one that's too big or too small.
Cyclescheme How to: Lighten Your Load When Cycling to Work
18.08.2016
By Cyclescheme
Carrying less on your commute means less effort and more chances of enjoying the ride.
Cyclescheme How to: Look business-like after cycling to work
20.06.2016
By Cyclescheme
'I don't want to arrive all sweaty and dishevelled…' That's one of the reasons given by people for not cycling to work. Yet it's straightforward to ride to work and still get your desk looking (and smelling!) like you mean business.
Cyclescheme How to: Group Cycling
27.05.2016
By Cyclescheme
Cycling with others is sociable and saves energy. Doing it safely requires predictable manoeuvring and good communication
Cyclescheme How to: Carry your laptop by bike
27.05.2016
By Cyclescheme
Commuting by bike with an expensive, fragile laptop sounds daunting, but it's easier than you think.
Cyclescheme How to: Safety Checks for your Bike – Steering
28.04.2016
By Cyclescheme
A bike with steering problems has staying-upright problems. These simple safety checks will help to keep your bike on the right track.
Cyclescheme How to: Clean your bicycle
28.04.2016
By Cyclescheme
A clean, well looked after bicycle is more reliable and more efficient.
Cyclescheme How to: Prevent bike theft
25.02.2016
By Cyclescheme
Over 6,700 bikes were reported stolen in Ireland in 2014. To protect your commuter bike, you'll need locks and tactics.
Cyclescheme How to: Cycling in low sunlight
24.02.2016
By Cyclescheme
Winter sunlight can dazzle cyclists as well as drivers. Here's what you can do to see and be seen.
Cyclescheme How to: Ride on ice and snow
04.01.2016
By Cyclescheme
Winter weather is seldom bad enough to make cycling impossible. But when we do get snow and ice, it affects us disproportionately compared to countries that spend months in the freezer. We don't have the same infrastructure to keep the roads clear. And we're not used to cycling (or driving!) on snow and ice, so we're less likely to have the skills or equipment to make it easier.
Cyclescheme How to: Pedal
02.01.2016
By Cyclescheme
If you can ride a bike, then by definition you know how to pedal. But there's more to spinning your feet around than you might think.
Cyclescheme How to: Changing an innertube
01.01.2016
By Cyclescheme
You get far fewer punctures if you keep your bike’s tyres firm. Invest in a floor pump (also known as a ‘track’ pump) with a pressure gauge and use it weekly. Even so, sooner or later you will get a flat tyre. If you practise changing a tube at home, you’ll be ready for it.
Cyclescheme How to: Fix a bike chain
01.01.2016
By Cyclescheme
Chain wear is fact of cycling life. Most of the time it’s gradual. Our guide to chain care explains when you need to fit a new one. But occasionally the chain will snap while you’re out cycling. Fortunately it’s not difficult to fix. Here’s what you will need…
Cyclescheme How to: Pass side roads when Cycling to Work
04.11.2015
By Cyclescheme
Traffic leaving or entering a side road won't always give way to you as you ride along. Here's what you can do about it.
How to: Live with lorries
04.11.2015
By Cyclescheme
To share the road safely with trucks, it’s essential to understand their blindspots and turning dynamics – and to cycle accordingly.
Cyclescheme How to: Commuting after dark
04.11.2015
By Cyclescheme
With good lights and sensible precautions, cycling at night is straightforward and only a little slower than doing so by day.
Cyclescheme How to: Split your commute
04.11.2015
By Cyclescheme
When the journey to work is too far to cycle, take your bike by car or public transport and cycle part way instead
Cyclescheme How to: Stay upright on slippery roads
12.10.2015
By Cyclescheme
More rainfall in the autumn means less grip on the roads. Here's what to look out for and how to deal with it.
Cyclescheme How to: Cycle Slower & Arrive Faster
01.10.2015
By Cyclescheme
In urban areas, bikes are faster than cars like tortoises are faster than hares. Going faster isn't about sweating more but stopping less.
Cyclescheme How to: Get comfortable when Cycling to Work
01.10.2015
By Cyclescheme
Don't put up with a sore backside, tingling hands, or other aches and pains. Fit the bike parts your body and riding position demands. Here's how.
Cyclescheme How to: Essential summer skin care when cycling
14.09.2015
By Cyclescheme
Don't let sunburn, rashes or chafing spoil your cycling when the weather is at its best. Here's how to look after your skin.
Cyclescheme How to: Cycle on multi-lane roads
25.08.2015
By Cyclescheme
Extra lanes can be daunting, whether they're at junctions, on busy urban streets, or dual carriageways. Here's how to take control.
Cyclescheme How to use your commute by bike as training
04.08.2015
By Cyclescheme
If your time for training is limited, maximising your gains from any time available for cycling is essential and, if you commute on your bike, these miles definitely should not be wasted.
Cyclescheme How to: Eat well when you Cycle to Work
06.05.2015
By Cyclescheme
Food is your fuel when you’re cycling to work. So what should you be putting in the tank - and when?
Cyclescheme How to: Replace your bike chain
01.05.2015
By Cyclescheme
Chains wear out faster than you think. Here’s why you need to check your bike’s - and how. It’ll save you lots of money in the long term
Cyclescheme How to: Do the weekly shop by bike
22.04.2015
By Cyclescheme
The weekly grocery shop? If you can push it in a trolley, you can transport it by pedal power. You will need a bike with luggage capacity; that massive box of Cornflakes and multipack of toilet rolls will fill a backpack by themselves…
Cyclescheme How to: Communicate
20.04.2015
By Cyclescheme
It's not a war, it's negotiation. Sometimes careless people – on four wheels, two wheels or on foot – will do something foolish. By and large, 'traffic' is a collection of reasonable people just trying to get where they're going. If you act like traffic, politely and assertively, you'll be treated like traffic.
Cyclescheme How to: Flat tyre tactics
16.03.2015
By Cyclescheme
If you get a puncture on the way to work, it's quicker to replace the innertube than to fix the hole. You can do the repair later – at home. These instructions assume your bike has derailleur gearing. If it doesn't, practise removing and refitting the rear wheel or see the Prevention, not cure box.
Cyclescheme How to: Prevent punctures
10.02.2015
By Cyclescheme
It's 8:45am, it's drizzling with rain, and you can feel your bike's rear tyre deflating. How unlucky is that?! Not as much as you'd think. Punctures don't strike randomly. Every cyclist will get one sooner or later, but there's plenty that you can do to make sure it does happen later. Take these preventative measures and you might never be let down by your tyres.
Cyclescheme How to: Cycle to Work (the easy way)
10.02.2015
By Cyclescheme
According to the Central Statistics Office the average time spend traveling to work in 2011 was 26.6 minutes. 27% of commuters travel times was 15 minutes and 55% of travel times was 15-44 minutes.
Cyclescheme How to: Adjust your gears
19.01.2015
By Cyclescheme
Indexed gearing is great. Each click of the shift lever moves the chain smoothly from one sprocket to the next. When that doesn't happen, you need to adjust the gears.
Cyclescheme How to: Right turns when cycling
19.01.2015
By Cyclescheme
Many cyclists find right turns daunting, which is understandable given that motor traffic can be coming from both directions at multiple times your speed. The thing to remember is that you cannot get in the way of traffic: you are the traffic.
Cyclescheme How to Commute by bike in the dark
16.09.2014
By Cyclescheme
With good lights and some common sense precautions, riding on the road at night is no more difficult than cycling during the day
Cyclescheme How to: Wear a cycle helmet the right way
12.08.2014
By Cyclescheme
You just put it on your head and buckle up the straps, right? Wrong. To function properly, a cycle helmet needs to be worn properly.
Cyclescheme How to: Cycle downhill
02.05.2014
By Cyclescheme
Descents are the cyclist's reward for climbing hills. You can travel...
Cyclescheme How to: Cycle up hill
11.04.2014
By Cyclescheme
There are two ways to climb hills easily by bike. One is to be a racing whippet. The other is to make sure your bike has low gears – really low gears
Cyclescheme How to: Reboot your commute by bike
24.03.2014
By Cyclescheme
You miss a commute or two and then before you know it, it's spring and you're half a stone heavier. There's only one way to get back into the habit of pedalling to work again, and that's to do it. But there are things you can do to make it easier.
Cyclescheme How to: Help a colleague Cycle to Work
24.03.2014
By Cyclescheme
One or more workmates may well be willing to give it go. Don't just leave them to it: you can help them enjoy their first ride to work. You stand to benefit too – and not just from good karma.
