Greetings everyone,
In my last post, I said I would cover my recommendations for new cyclists. This is my attempt to do so, based on my own experiences and great advice provided to me by others over the past roughly 18 months that I’ve been cycling. Note that I came to this hobby as someone who was definitely not athletic or in shape by any means. In fact, when I first started pedal biking, I couldn’t climb even the gentlest hills. But over time I’ve been able to change that significantly. Hopefully these tips will help you get you started on getting into this wonderful activity.
1. Find the right bike
You will want a bike that you can be comfortable on. If possible, I recommend visiting a local bike shop. While you can buy your bicycle from some big chain stores, they don’t typically hire people with the expertise in helping you select a bicycle. Likewise, a local bike shop will also typically do a bike fitting, helping you select the right size. They’ll help you select the right kind of bicycle too, as there are a wide variety of different types to choose from.
If you can’t get to a bike shop to buy a bicycle, then I do recommend buying used, preferably with a friend who is already a cyclist. They can help you make an informed decision about what to get. You might not get a bike with a perfect fit. But at the end of the day, the best bicycle is the one you use.
2. Prioritize comfort
I cannot stress this enough. You won’t use your bicycle if you can’t get comfortable on it. I think probably the most common pain point for new cyclists is the saddle. This was certainly the case for me, and it made the thought of the nine kilometer bike ride to work unbearable. As such, one of the first things I did was replace my saddle with one that’s more comfortable.
Most cycling stock saddles are built for men. Thus, most women will want to seriously consider switching to a saddle designed for women. If you can, definitely try before you buy. Some saddles will be better for you than others, and saddle preference is a very personal choice.
Additionally, you may or may not want to consider a pair of padded bicycle shorts. These will greatly improve comfort, especially on longer rides. Personally, I am not comfortable with such clothing, so I do not use them. But many other cyclists will swear by them. In my case, they are not practical for winter cycling anyway (more on that in a future post).
I also recommend gloves. Gloves have a few benefits as follows:
- Extra padding if you crash
- Keeping your hands warm in cooler weather
- Keeping them dry in wet weather
- Something to grab your chain with in the event you have problems with it
Lastly, you’ll want to think about footwear. If cold weather is something you’re dealing with, it’s hard to go wrong with wool socks. Wool retains heat even when wet, which can easily happen when you’re cycling. Keep in mind as well that you have three contact points on the bicycle which will bear all your weight: the saddle, the handlebars, and the pedals. For optimal comfort, you will want to think about these three things when picking what you want to use for cycling.
3. Get biking
As mentioned above, the best bike for you is the one you use. Get out there, even if it’s just to visit a friend down the street or check out a new trail. Use maps to figure out the best routes and different parts of your city or neighborhood that you might want to explore. I’ll link a few good map options below.
In the case of Open Street Maps or Google, you will want to adjust the route planning specifically for cycling. I’ve used both of these tools in the past to discover new cycling routes that I never knew about, or would have considered. You can learn a lot about your own neighborhood by using such tools, even if you have lived there for years.
Moreover, look for reasons to bike if you need to. In my case, because I don’t have a car, and don’t like the unreliability of the bus, I bike to commute to work and to run errands. And occasionally I even bike for leisure as well. The point is, get out there, otherwise you’ll never realize any enjoyment from it.
4. Consider going with a friend
This one is more subjective than the above points. Some people swear by cycling in a group, or at least with company. Personally, I’m much more of a solitary cyclist, having not biked with other people since childhood. That said however, many people enjoy the company of others on their rides.
If you’re new to cycling, and you invite a friend along to join you, I guarantee that friend of yours, if they’re a good friend anyway, will say yes. Now, I know you may have concerns that you may get left behind, you might not be able to keep up with your friend, or that they may feel bored biking at a slower pace. This is exactly how I felt about the thought of asking someone to bike with me right as I first began.
Your friend is not going to be like that. They’re going to go with you because they enjoy spending the time with you, and they enjoy cycling. For them, it’s a win win scenario. They will 100% not be bored just because they may be on a more casual ride than what they’re used to. And if they leave you behind, you might want to question whether or not you would want to be biking with them anyway.
Those are my beginner tips in a nutshell. Few in number, but they can give you many hours of enjoyment if you follow them. I hope this inspires you to get cycling and enjoy this wonderful activity.
5. Take it easy, at least to start
This is my final tip. When you first get onto your bicycle, it can be tempting to bolt as fast as you can. If you are a beginner cyclist, my simple advice to you about that is this: Don’t. If you keep up that pace, you will wear yourself out quickly, make yourself sore, and it will not be a pleasant experience.
Take your time. The road isn’t going anywhere. It will be waiting for you whether you arrive in 30 seconds or 30 days. My very first commute to work, I did not follow this advice. And I at one point literally thought that I could be having a stroke. Instead I was simply extremely worn out, leading to a headache and blurred vision. A cycling friend told me to take my time on the next ride. When I did this, I felt much better. And the crazy thing was that over a nine kilometer distance, me taking my time only added six minutes to the ride. It was absolutely not worth it to try to break the land speed record.
Once you get a little experience under your belt, that’s when you can start pushing your limits. There are times commuting to/from work now where I won’t take it easy. But now I know where the guardrails are so I don’t push past my limits. And ultimately, that’s one of the best things you can give yourself when you’re biking. Get out there and enjoy it, don’t be a slave to it.