Top tips from champions

During the Big Breeze Bike Ride campaign, we asked our champions for their top tips when out on their Breeze rides. There were some really great tips and we wanted to share them with you.

Elaine says drink enough: 'Hydration is the most important part of your nutrition strategy. Dehydration not only compromises your performance, it can affect your mood and leave you prone to infections. With weather warming up make sure you’re drinking plenty. Once you feel you need a drink, you’re dehydrated already.'

Joy advises be prepared: ‘I always carry a little bit of cash with me when out on a bike ride. It's good to have a bit of loose change to pump up tyres at a garage if they're completely flat. A bit of money is also handy if you need to get alternative travel home.

'I recommend a pair of vinyl gloves in your puncture repair kit if you don't like getting your hands filthy!

'If you plan on doing lots of cycling you will probably get a puncture at some point. It's a good idea to practise repairing a puncture or replacing the inner tube at home when you're not under pressure or battling the weather, light etc...’

Wendy has carrots to dangle: ‘I can think of two four year olds who cycled five miles each way by dangling the carrot of a drink half way down there, pancakes the other end and another drink as well came back again.  By taking it slow and steady, with regular breaks and a carrot being dangled in the form of a drink or munchies so they can refuel, it is amazing what can be achieved’.

Mel advises to pick a popular park: ‘Nothing beats word of mouth – the last few Breeze rides I have been on we have had texts telling us about 'a new women’s cycle club passed us on this road'. Or we saw these ladies stopping for a cuppa at xx cafe. And it was US!

You can even collect a few additions to your ride if you pick a popular park that cyclists use and sign them up on the day. So choose your start finish location as a visible place which everyone knows. And chat to passing people – everyone is a potential new recruit!’

Thanks to our champions for sharing their top tips. If you have more, please email us at breeze@britishcycling.org.uk