Cycling is amazing but there are many embarrassing, school boy errors that a beginner can make. Fortunately I have made them all already so you can read this article and save your self quite a bit of shame.
Do’s and don’ts in cycling?
What should a beginner cyclist know?
Look up ‘THE RULES’ of cycling. The rules of cycling are a toung in cheek list of commandments for cyclists. Eg Rule 11: The correct number of bikes to own is n+1. Some people take them as laws and live by them. Although funny, they contain lots of wisdom and are well worth reading.
Always remember your spare tubes, pump or tools. Getting a flat tyre sucks but not having your repair kit (replacement tubes pump etc.) and having to make the call of shame is so much worse. Have a basic multi tool that fits all of your bolts and some tyre levers in a saddle bag even if you are going with other riders. Better to have them and not need them.
What should you not do while cycling?
Wearing too much clothing. Over estimating how much to wear is easily done. For the first couple of kilometres you can feel great but once you warm up being over dressed feels like slowly being cooked. Some advise being slightly cold when you set off riding but there is another option. Having a light wind proof gilet that can be rolled up and put in a pocket once you are warm is a great addition to your cycling wardrobe. They can be used for long descents also.
Not wearing enough. Under estimating how bad the weather is can ruin a ride. It’s good to check your weather app before you set off (careful this gets addictive). Some plan their weeks training around the long term forecast. You can then be forewarned about any serious weather issues. Having a packable gilet or roll up rain jacket in your arsenal will help on changeable days and cover any glaring errors in wardrobe.
What mistakes do beginner cyclist make?
Starting a climb too fast. On short climbs its ok to go at them with maximum effort and simply power your way through but on longer efforts this will see you pushing your bike by the half way point. instead start slower than you usually would and let the effort find you. You can slowly ramp up the speed as you get further in to the climb if you are feeling ok but there is nothing worse than going in too hard and suffering slowly up most of the hill.
Descending too fast. If you have watched pro cycling you often see the legends of cycling flying down an alpine descent at brake neck speed, seemingly glued to the road and risking it all for an advantage. All very exhilarating to watch but they are very experienced riders and racing on closed roads. They are also getting paid to take calculated risks and even then they often have near fatal crashes. Speed is fun but crashing isn’t. ‘Road rash’ from skidding along the tarmac in little more than your undies really isn’t worth the thrill so err on the side of caution (well at least at first).
Brake pad wear. Check your brake pads for wear regularly. When you clean the bike after a ride is a good time. Worn pads can be dangerous and on rim brake bikes can damage the brake track.
What should you not do when cycling?
Tailwind fitness mistake. Check the wind direction to avoid this one. You leave the house and for some reason feel fitter and faster than ever before, buoyed by this you ride fast and hard whilst dreaming of the imminent signing of a pro contract for team sky. At the half way point you turn around to ride back and are faced with a massive headwind that had been pushing you all the way out. Painful ride home. Lesson learned. If its an ‘out and back’ style ride its better to have the tail wind on the way back.
Clipping and unclipping errors. Stopping at the first junction when trying out your new clipless pedals (pedals you literally clip in to) can end in an embarrassing delboy side flop when you fail to unclip properly. Avoid this by practicing clipping in and out whilst balancing, stationary in a door frame until you have the knack. As you approach junctions slow down early and give yourself more time to unclip your preferred foot in advance.
Why do I find cycling so hard?
“It never gets easier you just get faster.” Greg LeMond (cycling legend)
A few things might help though:
Set up errors/position change before big ride. Tweaking your bike set up (saddle height, stem height, handlebar position etc.) is advised but do it incrementally and have time to test ride the results of what you have changed. It’s amazing how much suffering you can cause yourself by last minute changes to position before a bite ride.
Wrong saddle shape. On shorter rides saddle comfort is not a massive issue but once the distance mounts up and time in the saddle extends, the shape of the saddle that are with the bike cans become an instrument of torture. How you sit on the bike (upright/racing position) , the distance between the bones in your pelvis and weather or not you need a relief area in the centre of the saddle all play a factor in comfort. There are countless options available to solve these problems but the choice can be bewildering. Some shops have sample models for you to borrow and most cyclists can offer you a saddle to try out also having been through several before finding ‘the one’.
Consistency. We all love cycling but if you want to improve, consistency is king. Going on an epic (read painful) ride then not being able to even look at the bike for a week means your gains will be slower. Instead ride more often and slightly less crazy until your body adapts.
What should you not do while cycling
“My fear isn’t crashing this bike at 85 miles per hour and losing my skin. It is sitting in my chair at 90 and thinking, ‘I wish I’d done more.’” –Graeme Obree
