There are loads of online resources, including websites and videos about cycling: bike maintenance, safety, buying a bike, etc. So instead of reinventing the wheel, we have pulled together some of the ones we think are most useful and relevant to cyclists in Northland.
Why ride a bike?
It makes you feel good, it is good for your health and wellbeing, it is environmentally friendly, it is fun, it takes you places you may not otherwise go…. The list is endless. But if you need some more convincing check out these articles below.
Obviously, what sort of bike you buy will depend on what you want to use it for. Start with your local bike shop, go and meet them and have a chat about what you want to do, how much you want to spend, etc. You may want to visit a few shops if you have them, as most bike shops will be associated with set brands. Do you want to consider electric?
Balance is everything. Ditch the training wheels and remove the pedals. Once they have their balance sorted put the pedals back on. There are lots of snippets of advice and videos on how you should teach your kids to ride online. What ever you do it needs to be fun and safe. Be realistic about how long you should spend at each ‘lesson’. You want your kids to embrace riding for life. Make sure they are on the right size bike and they must have a helmet that fits. And once they are riding ok plan some biking adventures. Having a friend along can often help make the harder bits more fun, (and little boosters in the way of jet planes always help). Lastly make sure you are enjoying it too!
There are some step by step instructions on the NZTA BikeReady site here and some great little videos on the Auckland Transport website and kid spot has some good ideas and tips for littlies.
Fitting a helmet
In New Zealand all cyclists must wear a helmet. But a helmet will only protect your head properly if it fits correctly, is not already damaged and meets the required safety standards.
Some simple diagrams and explanations can be found here
These kids understand the importance of wearing a helmet, check out this very cool video.
Cycle skills
If you are going to be riding more you need to understand the rules for cyclists be it on the road, mountain bike trails, shared paths etc. There is an official New Zealand code for cyclists which covers the rules for cyclists on the road, including the required equipment, rules and responsibilities for the cyclist.
If you have not ridden before or have not ridden for some time you may want to complete a cycle skills workshop. These are aimed at improving your confidence and competence riding on the road. Grab a couple of friends and spend a few hours with a cycle instructor to brush up on your cycle skills. It will only cost you your time, will improve your riding and be fun. Check out the details about the program here or contact Bike&Hike Northland directly.
Mountain bikers too have a code; respect the track, respect others, and respect the rules. DOC has a code for riding on trails within DOC land. Good trail etiquette goes a long way to ensuring all trail users are safe and improving the chances of more trails being made available to mountain biking in the future.
If you are riding on a shared path, be aware of the other users. This article on the Conversation is an excellent overview of how to use shared spaces safely.
Looking after your bike
So you have bought yourself a bike. Now you need to look after it to ensure that it is safe to ride, and continues to operate for as long as you want it to. You should carry out a basic A, B, C check before every ride. This page from Waka Kotahi/NZTA has some good basic guidelines and videos.
Where to ride
Once you have your bike and helmet and are confident to get riding, check out where to ride in Whangarei and Northland. There are also loads of trails (primarily for mountain bikers) on trailforks.com, a free app you can download. Check out apps such as Komoot or Ride with GPS for mountain biking and road options.
Biking to work
Commuting to work is a fantastic way to avoid traffic queues and maintain health and well-being; its good for the environment, and it makes you feel great. There are some great little tips and guides on the Bike Auckland website.
Bike Security
Bike theft is on the rise. With the increasing popularity of e-bikes and all forms of cycling more and more people are buying bikes, and many are worth a significant amount of money.
What can you do to deter bike theft?
Register your bike with 529 Garage bike registery for free.
Add a 529 Garage shield to your bike.
Lock your bike properly.
529 Garage Project – Free Bike registration
You can add a level of security to keep your bike safe by registering it with 529 Garage. It’s free, easy to do, and helps Police return stolen bikes to their rightful owners. 529 Garage Project is a community-powered bike recovery service. Widespread use of 529 Garage has the power to reduce bike theft. The more people using the system the more powerful it becomes. The app moves with you so if you report a stolen bike immediately the community closest to the location is the first to be notified of the theft.
Local Councils, Bike advocacy groups, the New Zealand Police, and Bike shops are coming together to try and reduce bike theft and improve the chances of reuniting stolen bikes with their rightful owners.
Benefits of 529 Garage
Your bike will be included in a secure nationwide database.
If your bike gets stolen you can use 529 Garage to send an alert to the local 529 community.
If someone sees your bike, they can contact you anonymously through the app.
529 Garage makes it easy for Police to return your bike to you if it is found.
You can use the database to check if a second-hand bike you are considering purchasing has been flagged as stolen.
No personal information is required to complete the registration, just an email address.
You can register your bike on the web, or download the app at:
Once registered you can add a 529 shield which is a tamper-resistant decal with a unique code that adds another layer of protection to your bike. Shields can be purchased online from participating bike stores and advocacy groups.
Follow Bike Northland Facebook page for information about coming registration events.
Locking your bike
Use a high quality, durable lock – not a cable lock that is easy to cut.
Find something sturdy to lock your bike to – a bike rack, pole or object.
Secure your whole bike not just the wheels or seat.
Check out this short video on how to lock your bike to keep it safe.
Herenga ā Nuku provides support to trail groups that create public access to the outdoors and build or maintain tracks and trails. Visit the ‘Trailmakers’ section of their website prior to starting your trail-making journey.
