Four wheels good, two wheels better

Arriving in a new city means that you’re likely to feel lost most of the time; and even if you turn up with at university with a car, your budget isn’t likely to stretch to filling up your old banger just to find your way around.

Cycling is a great way to get around a city in good time and still be able to take in the sights. Getting to know a city is all about being able to stop-off when you fancy a gander. There are a variety of organisations out there that can help you get going, relocate as a cyclist or just simply meet like-minded cycle experts. There are cycling events taking place all over Scotland throughout the year; for a flavour of what to expect, BikeEventsScotland.com has a detailed calendar.

Based in Glasgow, CycleScotland.com is a valuable resource for bike training and promotes cycling as a healthy and attractive lifestyle. I’m not sure how healthy I felt teetering along the Union Canal in the dark on my way home from the Student Union as a fresh-faced first year, but every cyclist has to start somewhere.

In Edinburgh, organisations like The Bike Station can help you get started, and provide advice and assistance to people at all levels of expertise. They are a charity, and can give you the low-down on campaigns like Bike Week and The Bike Breakfast.

Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative has stores all over the UK and is a good place to find a good deal on a bike, and pick up some essential skills along the way. They offer a variety of classes to suit all skill levels, the prices start around £25. Martin Quinn from EBC explains: “The wheel building classes are good for students in the long run, and learning to look after your own wheels is a good introduction to the dark art of cycling.” They sponsor the Edinburgh-St. Andrews cycle, and while the Cooperative doesn’t offer any special deals for students, they do provide Women’s-only maintenance classes.

Edinburgh and Glasgow cater for the gear-savvy professional cyclist, but they also allow for a more relaxed cycle between campus buildings. Make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing. Stick to cycle lanes when you can – they do have a tendency to disappear without warning in Edinburgh – ensure your bike is in good condition and that you have decent, reliable lights when cycling at night. Getting involved with a cycling club or group can make the experience far cheaper and can help you get your wheels spinning.