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prepare your bike
=== Minimum equipment list ===
You will need:
* A '''roadworthy ''' bicycle
* A cycling helmet (strongly recommended)
* Reflective clothing and lights (white in the front, red in the rear) if you plan to travel in darkness
==== Before you return ====
Have a sandwich which is available at the club (or whatever is available if there is no sandwich). Bear in mind the return trip is of the same length and your body can be much closer to exhaustion than you think.
=== Prepare your bicycle ===
Being roadworthy is the minimum requirement of the bicycle. This means the most basic set of requirements such as having effective steering and brakes. But apart from that, you will find the following helpful:
# Keep appropriate tyre pressures. The correct pressures (plural form because the front and rear wheels should be treated differently, with the rear wheel pressure slightly higher than the front one) are determined by the type of the bicycle, dimensions of the tyres, weight of the rider, seasonality, conditions of the road surface (with the road to the airfield being worse than average "road use"), and whether the surface is dry or wet. Consult suitable cycling technical material for reference values. Generally slightly reducing the tyre pressure improves the comfort on the road leading to the airfield, but doing this will make the tyres more prone to puncture, and also make the riding take more physical effort. Don't inflate over the limits written on the tyre, especially in the summer.
# Keep your bicycle lubricated, especially the transmission. Set your shifters correctly so that the chain does not squeak or rub on things while you ride.
# Have a professional bike fit (it's money well spent) to make sure your sitting position is ergonomic on your bicycle. This is a higher requirement than being "comfortable" as there is quite a wide range of positions that you will feel comfortable in if you only try it for five minutes. Sitting in an ergonomic position will help you to save effort while cycling for long distances, and more importantly, to minimise the likelihood of injury.
