- In this day and age
we should all be more aware of the environment.
So with that in mind, here are our top 10 ways
to be a more eco-friendly cyclist.
Reduce the amount of new bike bits that you buy.
The first big thing you can do
is pretty simply to stop buying
as many new parts for your bike.
Although it's constantly tempting
to get yourself the latest bit of hot new tech
that's not necessarily
the most environmentally friendly decision.
Now, we're by no means saying that you can never
buy another bit of cycling teach again,
just that it's good to have proper thought
about whether you really need those super light inner tubes
or that time trial bike you're looking at
because you've been thinking about trying out
the local TT sometime soon.
Buy second hand.
For some of us though, breaking that habit
of buying new things can be really difficult.
So why not start buying second hand?
Buying second hand is more eco-friendly
than buying new simply because nothing new
needs to be manufactured for your purchase.
These days, buying second hand is easier than ever.
Of course, you've got Ebay, Craigslist and Gumtree
but Facebook Marketplace has become to go to site
for a lot of bargain hunting cyclists.
You do need to be a little more careful
when buying second hand, but you can really find
just about anything you want.
Fewer big trips abroad.
Or if you are going to go,
try and use some other forms of transport.
Big cycling trips abroad are obviously great fun
and in themselves aren't necessarily
that bad for the environment.
The problem comes with getting where you're going.
The aviation industry is coming under scruntity
for just how much pollution a single flight causes.
So, maybe it is possible
to consider another means of travel.
Electric rail, perhaps or even a cycle tour
from somewhere in your own area to somewher new
and then back again.
Repair your punctured inner tubes and other broken parts.
We do live in a disposable generation
but it doesn't have to be this way.
Don't throw away old tubes or tires frivolously.
They can play a part in vital repairs going forwards.
They can be used for protecting items
that shouldn't be knocked or scratched
and you can reuse them.
Tire boots and patches are the quickest
and easiest way to get yourself back on the road
and if this isn't good enough for you
and you're fortunate enough to have tubeless ready rims
then your next purchase could be biodegradable sealant,
thus negating the need for excess rubber at all.
Don't use CO2 canisters.
Unless there are rechargeable options out there
and available to you, let's not fill little tubes
of metal with compressed air only
to use them once and then discard them.
Sure, you can treat them as any scrap metal
and take them to a recycling,
but how many tires can you inflate with one mini-pump?
And how much longer does it actually take you?
Lift-sharing and public transport
to sportives, events and other rides.
If you're in to traveling to events
one way to immediately half the impact you're having on
the environment, is to lift-share
with just one other person.
And if you want to reduce that further,
then simply add more people to the same vehicle.
Or better yet, how 'about consider another
form of transport completely.
Something that was already going, public transport.
Meaning no extra motor vehicle is being used
just because you needed to be somewhere.
Choose your degreaser carefully.
When washing your bike it's easy to follow
the marketing hype and choose
the best degreasers you can find.
But have you ever stopped to consider
the ingredients and the impact they have on
the environment as they drain away from your bike?
No, well UK TV personality and ex-motorcycle racer
Guy Martin has and they've also considered
the production and packaging to create a final product
that is undetectable to the environment
when diluted correctly, and that's pretty smart.
Never ever throw wrappers on the road.
To me this just seems like common sense.
But almost every time I ride the roads in
the weeks after a sportive, I am blown away
by just how much litter there is strewn across the roads.
I mean, it couldn't be a more recognizable associated
item of trash, gel wrappers are literally
the most distinctive item you can imagine.
It clearly belongs to a group of people
who have participated in some form of endurance sport.
And as cyclists on the roads, we do bear
the brunt of any backlash from these offenses.
Make your own food or energy products.
One of the best ways yo be an eco-friendly cyclist
is to cut down on the amount
of processed food that you use.
Instead try experimenting with your own recipes
to fuel your bicycling adventures.
The options, and they're literally endless
to what you can make.
We've dabbled on the channel in the past
with a few recipes that you could try
but if you really want something healthy
a quick Google with the term "homemade cycling food"
throws up some seriously interesting ideas.
Commuting by bike more often.
There are many reasons to commute by bike.
It is scientifically proven to expose you
to less pollution than any other means of transport,
as you spend less time in the fumes.
But is is also incredibly cost efficient compared
to any other form of travel.
You're probably watching this channel as a cycling fan,
therefore it's also a great way to incorporate
your hobby into your daily routine.
Of course, you will need an accommodating employer
and ideally a means to clean up and store equipment.
But if you can arrange that, you're saving money,
freeing the flow of traffic on the roads
and easing pollution.
If you enjoyed this video please do give it
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if you haven't already done so.
And if you have any tips yourself
to be a more eco-friendly cyclist
do let us know in the comments below.