On Yer Bike Perthshire Style

Get Out and Get Fit

We all tend to lead very sedentary lives these days and spend many long hours sitting in offices all day either in front of the computer staring at the screen or going from meeting to meeting with the only exercise being the walk along the corridor to a different meeting room or the loo. Add to this lots of caffeine, sweet or fatty snacks, long hours and the dreaded commute to work and it all adds up to a very unhealthy lifestyle.

The dark nights draw in and it's just so nice get home, kick off your shoes and sit down in front of the TV with your tea and watch the Soaps - OK for some!

Well more about keeping fit in the house during the long Scottish winters in a later article.

But hey, what about the weekends and with so many nice places to be out and about, get off your backsides and get yourself a bike because we know a great bike ride suitable for all and safe.

When I first got back on a bike after many years (and it's true you never forget), I boldly went out there thinking - great, nice day out cycling around the countryside admiring the views. How wrong I was! At times I felt it would be safer to ride up the middle lane of the M6 around Spaghetti junction in the rush hour.

What is it that makes ordinary people of all ages, behave like a maniac behind the wheel of a car when they see a bit of countryside.

Well fear not because there is a lovely off road bike road not too far away where you can enjoy a lovely day out with the kids and ride your bike in safety. I believe that certainly in part it is an old disused rail track but easy to navigate and not too demanding even for the unfit.

Head out on the A84 through Callander towards Strathyre and just before the village turn left into the picnic area.

Get your bikes off the rack and head towards the back of the picnic area across the wooden bridge and head for Callander - it's all sign posted. If you want to go for the full 8 miles to the end of the track to can get a pint and lunch in the family friendly Lade Inn before cycling back.

It's a nice ride with only a couple of steep bits where you can get off and walk if it's too much.

Now make sure that your bike is in good condition so that on the demanding bits you don't suffer from chain suck. This is that horrible moment when your pedals come to an abrupt stop, your chain jams and if you are not careful you go over the handlebars. This unfortunate, potentially painful phenomena is caused by the aluminium chainrings that guide the chain, which are subjected to a lot abuse not to mention effects of mud and water. Better to fit your bike with titanium rings as this metal as well as being light is very hard and will have a slower rate of wear. Ask your local bicycle dealer about the benefits of fitting titanium rings. Titanium is an amazing metal and is used in many different industries especially the aerospace industry. Where would space travel be without this wonderful metal? Not only that but titanium has now become popular in the manufacture of jewellery and titanium rings are becoming very popular especially with men. Titanium is used in my the manufacture of household articles and if you have had a hip replacement of other surgical prosthesis, you can bet it's made of titanium. This metal is one of the hardest materials know to man and has amazing properties such as being very light weight, durable, corrosion resistant and hypoallergenic.

Anyway enough of that and back to the bike ride. Do take the opportunity to try out this route as it makes a nice day out and beats larding out in front of the TV. If the weathers bad, get yourself some waterproofs wrap up warm and go out and have fun. You will probably see lots of other walkers, cyclists dog walkers, even the odd tourist on the way so smile enjoy, maybe stop for a friendly pleasant chat along the way and catch your breath. Get out, get fit and get a life.