Wise Words
A Dozen Ways to Greener Cycling
Riding a bike is a great way to tread lightly on our fragile planet. But there still ways you can improve the green credentials of your cycling. In many cases you'll also be protecting the fragile ecosystem of your bank account too!
- Love the one you're with. Step off the runaway train of Yearly Product 'Upgrades'/Model Year Obsolescence and develop a long term relationship with your bike! Riding a bike might be green but bike manufacture, in the main, certainly isn't. So give the bike you've got some love.
- Wear stuff out. Might sound like a no-brainer, but when was the last time you actually wore something out on your bike? If you wear out your back tyre before your front, you're not honour-bound to replace both. It might be more cost effective to replace a whole bike sometimes, but is the whole thing really ready for landfill?
- If you're buying a new bike, buy something that will last. Don't buy a fad machine. Don't go for a crazy colour that'll make you hate it in a year's time. Go for durability, versatility and compatibility.
- When you're buying bikes and gear, look for manufacturers or suppliers who go about their business ethically and responsibly.
- Use biodegradable cleaning products and solvents to clean your bike and use them sparingly.
- You don't have to degrease your chain every time you clean it. Indeed some chain manufacturers warn against fully degreasing chains by dipping them or running them through a chain cleaning device. Over-zealous degreasing can strip lube away from the pins and inner surfaces of the rollers, where it's pretty hard to reintroduce lube. Most of the time a wipe down with a rag and a swift relube, followed by another wipe down is all that's needed.
- Try natural, non-petroleum derived substances for chain lube. Try Olive Oil as a chain lube. It works! Don't be fooled by marketing hype and jargon. A bike chain is just a bike chain! It isn't the high-stress, uber-challenging environment that lube manufacturers would like you to think it is.
- Similarly, look to non petroleum derived fabrics for your cycle clothing and luggage. Wool for base layers and jerseys is wonderful. Cotton duck or hemp for saddlebags is sustainable and oozes retro cool.
- Learn to fix inner tubes - don't just throw them away! Learn to fix and recycle them. You can reuse an inner tube 10 or more times. Remember, they're a long time dead in the landfill.
- Don't fall too easily into the 'Roof Rack Cyclist' mentality. You don't have to load up your car and drive miles to some designated cycling destination. Some of the best rides start and finish at your own front door. I've nothing against trail centres and big events in fantastic parts of our fair isle, but I bet there's some diverse and interesting riding to be had on your own patch.
- Bags are great Bags turn a bike from a leisure device to a practical vehicle, enabling you to carry your work stuff, school stuff or shopping.
- Finally, make it as easy as possible to use your bike as your primary form of transport. Kit it out for everyday riding and keep it somewhere in your house where it's as convenient as grabbing your coat when you need to pop to the shops.
Your Green Wisdom
"For those who really must have the latest bike/helmet/saddle/etc - consider offering your old one on Freecycle, or sell it on eBay" - Mhairi, via email
Everyday Community Comments
Share this article with your favourite social networking sites.