Independent field notes
Keep It Rolling is a practical and energetic guide to recreational road cycling. It covers riding technique, fitness, safety, bike setup, maintenance, essential gear, and the habits that make every ride smoother, stronger, and more enjoyable.
Maya ReynoldsI’m Maya Reynolds, a dedicated recreational road cyclist who believes a good ride is equal parts preparation, persistence, and the freedom of moving under your own power. I write practical guides about riding technique, fitness, safety, bike setup, maintenance, and the lessons that make every kilometre more enjoyable.
Group rides reward predictable habits more than expensive equipment or advanced fitness. I’ll show you how to practice the key skills—signaling, line holding, braking, and shifting—using simple, low-cost sessions before you ride with others.
Read articleAn early start may feel easier than a late finish, but both can work when the route fits the heat. I’ll show you how to choose shade, water, traffic, timing, and turn-back points before you ride.
Read articleA dry-looking route can still hide frost damage, while a rough-looking road may be manageable with the right bike and pace. I’ll help you weigh pavement, gravel, flooding, and route flexibility before choosing a safer spring ride.
Read articleI’ll help you plan a spring ride around pollen levels, heat, wind, changing road conditions, and allergy symptoms. You’ll learn how to choose a better start time and route, handle medication questions safely, and make post-ride cleanup part of the plan.
Read articleI’ll compare the lighting, route, clothing, battery, and communication choices that matter when a daytime ride may finish after dark, so you can choose a safer nighttime return without carrying more than you need.
Read articleI’ll show you how to design a lower-stress urban cycling route that avoids the common mistake of treating every left turn as unavoidable, using quieter streets, signals, right-turn patterns, and safer crossing alternatives.
Read articleLong rides become stressful when a promised restroom is closed, crowded, or farther away than expected. I’ll show you how to plan dependable stops, carry a few low-cost essentials, and build a practical backup for solo routes.
Read articleI’ll compare the simplest downtown starting routes—from protected bike-lane corridors to quieter side streets and direct arterials—so you can balance traffic, stoplights, early climbing, and a smooth transition to open roads.
Read articleI’ll show you how to shape a road ride around shifting wind, using forecast timing, exposed sections, and flexible turnaround points to avoid the common mistake of saving an unexpectedly strong headwind for the final miles.
Read articleWhen a farmers market or street festival changes the roads you planned to use, a successful ride depends on more than finding a destination. I’ll show you how to build a dependable plan that protects your bike, your timing, and your route home.
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