March brings us Ride to School Day on the 19th. This doesn’t mean that you have to ride your bike only on that day. It’s best to do a couple of practise rides and plan your trip before the day.
Getting on your bike requires some forward planning and some safety considerations.
You will need:
- A bike (or scooter, skateboard, roller skates, or even a hoverboard)
- A helmet that fits (ask the shop attendant to help you find the right fit)
- Enclosed shoes (toes should be covered, laces tied)
- Weather protection – sunglasses and sunscreen
- Water or a form of hydration
Check out Road Safety NSW for all of your bike questions in regards to helmets, seat heights and handlebars! https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/bicycle-riders/helmets-gear.html
Planning your trip:
Before you pick the route to ride to work or school consider cycle paths; traffic lights; safe places to cross roads; where you are going to store your bike at your destination.
Warming up for your cycle:
- Wrist circles x 10 each way
- Neck circles – 5 rotations in each direction
- Squats x 10
- Shoulder stretch – hold for 1 minute each side
Give the movements in the below image a go and see how you feel. These movements are a great way to get your body mobile before physical activity. They can also be repeated once you reach your destination to cool down!
![](https://themovementmill.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Capture.jpg)
Are you struggling to get yourself or the kids ready for exercise? Book in a session with our exercise physiologists to get you on the right cycle path (pun intended!)
By Liz Spiteri, Accredited Exercise Physiologist