Okay, I think I'm getting the hang ofPedaling The Pedalsbut just as I gain confidence, disaster is bound to strike. Or that's what I keep having nightmares about anyways.

I want to be able to maintain my bike without looking like a damsel-in-distress along the way. So for the final post, I've asked Kim what are the most important things you need to know about your bike before you hit the open road.

Liz: What are the most common bike problems?

Kim:I have an amazing bike and having no gears and back pedal brakes cuts out a lot of potential problems. The only problem that I have so far is thechain coming offand that's only when the bike has been knocked over. Otherwise I do know that bikes with brake pads need to get them checked and replaced every so often as they wear down pretty quick.

And, of course, everyone on two wheels can always fall victim to a flat tyre. The best thing to do here is to speak to a good bike shop about gears, brakes and fixed wheel bikes to get the full low down on what issues you might face. They also tend to run bike maintenance workshops so invest in one of those up front and save yourself pounds and pain later on by knowing what to do with punctures and the like.

(Image:Guardian)

Liz: Okay, so refitting a chain I can handle. But if something more drastic cripples my wheels, what on earth do I do then?

Kim:Firstly, don't panic, there is plenty of help out there.

For a full list of places to help you with repairs, have a read of our post on7 helpful bike fixing tips. Also, make sure to check out theLondon Bike Kitchen. The guys over there are great and can help you with any bike questions/problems you might have.

You can also get this brilliant temporaryfoam to inflate your tyresif you are stuck whilst out and about. Keep it in your bike bag for emergencies.

If you feel like you can't tackle the problem by yourself though, then just call up theMobile Cycle Servicesguys and they can come and help you out. All you need is a number and you're sorted.

(Image:Poppytalk)

Liz: Right, I'm all fixed up and ready to go. Shame my bike looks a bit uncool. What do I need to become an accepted member of the cycling community and engage in some traffic light conversation?

Kim:I'm usually spotted with my dog Bangers in my basket and he is what people are most drawn to. So get yourself a cute little pooch and you'll definitely make some friends.

Otherwise you could try installing awine bottle holderor even starta garden on your bike. Either would get you noticed and give you a reason to start chatting to other cyclists.

Painting your bike in whatever colour/design you like is a must and very straight forward. You can use car paint and update the colour scheme whenever you like. For some real inspiration on how to deck out your bike then you have to watchthis video.

That's all from myself and Kim. I'm pretty chuffed that I have dropped my 'noob' title as I have become a fully fledgedbike riderthese days. Since learning how topick my bike, how to make sureno one ever steals it, how to keep myselfout of danger's wayand pimping my ride so I've some street cred, I've unearthed the cyclist in me.

Now I'm ready to hit the cycle paths and talk bike with my fellow two wheelers.

So get out there and startPedaling The Pedals. Believe me, if I can do it,anyonecan.

Happy pedaling.

Liz

(All Images:Vimeo)

If you are extremely conscientious aboutPlugging Out, then thisInstructables is for you.

Inspired by the recent Earth Day,Randofohas hacked his lamp so that it can detect when his eyes are open and when they are closed. When his new device senses that his eyes are shut, it turns itself off, thus saving electricity.

Randofo is a member ofInstructables, a great site that gives you, er, instructions to everything and anything. All the content is uploaded by members and it's a great way of sharing your knowledge and helping someone else out with their DIY.

We must warn you the last step reads: "Caution!!! Connecting your face to a DIY device that is plugged directly into the wall is a terrible idea. This Instructable was for entertainment purposes only. You should never replicate this."

For some safer Instructable ideas check out how to use up theends of crayons,turn plastic bags into yarn, or find something crafty to do with yourold tin of beans.

And for a great way to help out Earth Day (and everyday) goEasy On The Meat.

(Spotted onTreehugger)

All just by eating less meat.

Since it's National Vegetarian Week this week, instead of bombarding you with aloadofrecipesyou'llprobablynevermake, I thought I'd tell you about my experience of giving up meat.

I did not win a prize, get a special hat or suddenly hit spiritual enlightenment. I did not drop 4 dress sizes, start eating lentils for breakfast or acquire a range of ugly shoes.

But nothing bad happened to me as a result of stopping eating meat.

Only lots of good things.

So I thought I’d tell you what they were in case you fancy some good things happening to you too.

First I must add a disclaimer:

This post is not about making you give up meat completely.

It will not attempt to convert you to full vegetarianism, tell you off for enjoying a sausage bap or masquerade as a thinly disguised sermon on how forests are burning so you can enjoy your burger.

Instead, you'll see how goingEasy On The Meatcan benefit your wallet, your waistline and the world.

Sound too good to be true? Prepare to believe your eyes.

GET RICH

First up, going easy on the meat means going easy on your wallet too. I save a lot of money by not eating meat. If you don’t believe me, nip down your local curry house and compare the price of the meat based curries to the veggie ones. Granted, good vegetables don’t come cheap but start tallying it up over the next few months compared to what you spend on meat and you'll soon notice the difference in your bank balance.

GET HEALTHY (AND MORE ATTRACTIVE)

Eating less meat is good for your body too. Studies have shown that eating less meat can reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer as well as helping you to lose a few pounds. It’s also been shown thatpeople who eat more fruit and veg are considered more attractivethan those who don’t. All to do with the pigments found in yellow and orange fruit and veg. So eat vegetables, get laid. Or improve your chances drastically.

Since I’ve stopped eating meat I feel less bloated, my digestion is in tip top nick and I’ve become a much better cook as I’ve had to become more creative. I thought it’d be hard but it’s actually really easy and most of my meat eating friends have now stolen/copied many of the recipes I’ve made them. So you can add‘better cook’ and‘impressing people’ to the benefits list too.

STAY ALIVE

And even if you’re not too fussed about saving a few quid or being healthier, then maybe the prospect of staying alive might encourage you to take it easier on the meat.

Most of us have grown up with‘meat and two veg’ being a standard plate in the UK, meaning it’s what most of us in turn feed our kids who will mostly in turn do the same with their kids.

Since there are a lot more of us on the planet now, that means a lot more environmental impact just to make sure everyone has their bangers and mash.

It’s pretty well documented already thatmeat production and climate change are directly linked. A recent UN report showed that the livestock industry was contributing to a whopping 18% of man made global emissions every year.

Or in more tangible terms, that 1kg of beef needed to whip up a spag bol for you and 5 friends will create a whopping 34.6kg CO2, use 15,000 litres of water and more than 1kg of cereal feed.

So just by you cutting out one meat based meal a week, you could save a staggering 1,779.2kg CO2, 780,000 litres of water and more bags of cereal feed than the eye can see.

Big win for not doing very much.

Going cold turkey on turkey

Going cold turkey on turkey is not the answer for everyone. But giving meat a miss once a week isn’t the end of the world. Especially when it’ll help towards preventing that auspicious day coming.

Back in the day, meat used to be more of a treat hence the Sunday roast being all pomp and roast potatoes. So maybe that’s the way to look at it. Stop buying the cheap cuts from misery farms, pay more for the decent quality stuff so that you really enjoy it when you have it, as opposed to just consuming it as the bog standard norm.

Get rich, look hot and help save the planet.

It’s like Miss World but without the swimwear section.