[Lombard]

Pain is pleasure leaving the body!

 

[fiziks]

1. The 2 most important pieces of equipment are the helmet and the piece of grey matter it was designed to protect.
2. Ride your bike, whatever kind of bike it is. Any bike is better than no bike.
3. Ride like you are invisible. Never, ever, assume a motor vehicle driver sees you, even if they are looking at you (they are probably looking past you).
4. Wind is the enemy, not hills, particularly when you ride solo. It sucks to have to pedal just to go 11mph DOWN a hill you could normally coast down at 16-20mph. And that same wind might give you a boost, but it certainly won't push you back up the hill. If possible, try to start your rides into the wind, or so that you do your last leg, when you are most tired, with the wind at your back.

 

[MichaelMarmarad]

1.) Listen to MB1

2.) Don't worry too much about your first bike....just get one that fits close, ride it for a year and then go to someone who knows how to fit you on a bike and buy another bike. It will be a completely different size. If you are paying attention to maintaining a flat back, your position will stretch out and change your sizing.

3.) You only have 3 contact points with the bike, pedals/shoes, seat & Handlebars. Make sure you spare no expense in getting comfortable with these. I see way too many newbies who spend tons on a bike and go cheap on shoes/pedals and seat/shorts and can't ride distance due to comfort. Don't go cheap on the contact points.

4.) You have to break your butt in as much as you have to break your seat in. Every time you ride longer, the first time your butt will hurt, the next time it will hurt less.

5.) Work yourself up to longer distance, don't try to do it all at once. I try to add 30 minutes /week to my longest ride of the previous week.

6.) Rest is as important as hard efforts.

7.) The easiest way to gain endurance is to practice relaxation on a ride. The more relaxed you are, even at hard effort, the more blood flow and oxegen you are getting to your muscles. Tense will get you tired faster than relaxed.

8.) Work on increasing your cadence. Do this by gradually increasing the cadence you ride at. It has to be soemthing you think about. Being able to ride at multiple cadences allows you to rest different things. To rest your cardio system spin slower, to rest your legs, spin faster.

9.) A more frequent hour ride will maintain your fitness, better than an infrequent longer ride.

10.) It's not (despite what this site might say) about the equipment.

Len

New here today. Have curbside find today Trek 3700. Road worthy after a little work. Like how the top bar slopes down. Easy for my 62 years to get on. It's pretty light and really stable. What should I lube it with? Used WD 40. Probably not the best but chain and gears were rusty. Front forks too. Michael

 

[Lombard]

New here today. Have curbside find today Trek 3700. Road worthy after a little work. Like how the top bar slopes down. Easy for my 62 years to get on. It's pretty light and really stable. What should I lube it with? Used WD 40. Probably not the best but chain and gears were rusty. Front forks too. Michael

If your chain is rusty, you should replace it before it breaks and leaves you stranded.

Check the tires for dry rot (cracking).

 

[Xydadx3]

This thread was a great read over a 2 day time period. I found it interesting how things have changed. Here's my 10¢:

1. Some of the earlier posts referred to mp3 players...who has those anymore? The same principles apply but the tech is better. We mostly use cell phones for music now (not flip phones!), and wireless headphones are the way to go. Someone mentioned wiring both audio channels to one side to keep one ear open at all times; this is automatic now. If you do choose to wear headphones, wear just one and wear it in the ear away from traffic. Keep in mind that your brain won't be able to triangulate the source of a sound without both ears.

2. Radar! When did this become a thing? I didn't know about it until it was mentioned last year by someone in a facebook group who sold me their Varia for relatively cheap. I won't leave home without it now. It's helpful especially when riding on side roads near main roads where I can hear traffic noise but its not always from a car on the same road as me. Between the radar and a mirror on the dropbar my awareness is much higher while keeping my eyes forward.

3. If you're riding on the road use lights even during the day. Don't be obnoxious but your safety comes first; be seen!

4. As if it hasn't been mentioned enough, get professionally fitted at your LBS. I tried the google route to adjust things myself and ended up barely able to walk due to back pain for a few days, then I went in and had it adjusted by the expert. I took his recommendation for a new saddle (support your local bike shop!) and riding has been so much better ever since. Now I just need to take my own (and everyone else's) advice and get properly fitted on my new bike before I repeat the back thing.

5. Snacks! I didn't really think about it when I started riding but felt like I'd hit a brick wall around 25mi. A granola bar took care of that!

6. Not to discourage any previous advice but acclimate yourself before riding hard in heat; try ice water and room-temp water to see how your body responds. Ice water is good to cool you down; however, if you're sweating and its evaporating then room temperature water will require wasting less energy for your body to use. Its a trade off and completely dependent on your environment and body.

7. Check your tube, tire AND rim if you get a flat. I've had 2 flats in the last year, both of them were on the tubes that came with the used bike I bought. The second one was during the first group ride I ever participated in which made for some great first impressions. I had the old rear tube out and new tube back in really quickly then the more experienced guy asked if I had checked the rim...nope. So off came the tire again and sure enough some of the tape had shifted, which likely caused the rubbing and the flat. He shared some electrical tape with me and that repair has held for a couple hundred miles. Now I also carry some electrical tape.

8. Have a goal, but accept that it will take time to reach it. A group ride that splits in different paces is a good start. I managed to keep up with the A+ pace for about 10mi but had to accept I'm not there yet and rode with the B+ pace the rest of the ride. My goal is to be at the A+ pace next year!

9. The right 1/3 of a lane is your friend. It allows enough room for cars to pass you on the left as well as enough room for you to dodge right if needed (see awareness in #2)

10. It IS the bike...AND the rider. Buy the bike you're happy riding and can afford. The happier the rider is the better the bike will perform.

 

[tlg]

2. Radar! When did this become a thing?

Oh just 7 years ago

3. If you're riding on the road use lights even during the day. Don't be obnoxious but your safety comes first; be seen!

That's dependent on your riding conditions.

4. As if it hasn't been mentioned enough, get professionally fitted at your LBS.

Nope. Many (most) LBS's have no clue how to fit people. Go to 3 different LBS's and you'll get 3 different fits. Who's right?
There's no defined science on how best to fit you. Even among experienced quality fitterers they differ on their methodology.
I'm not saying not to get a fit, but don't assume just going to your LBS and having some guy eyeball you on the bike has any meaningful benefit.

Don't assume everyone has a LOCAL bike shop. I'm 30min from the closest LBS. They suck. I wouldn't let them lube my chain. There isn't a shop within an hour of me I'd trust much beyond that.

 

[Xydadx3]

@tlg all good points. Using your best judgement for your situation is the best advice.

 

[Cheshirebiker23]

this thread is very helpful thanks everyone, really has come in handy for a beginner like me

 

[tmoore]

3. Ride like you are invisible. Never, ever, assume a motor vehicle driver sees you, even if they are looking at you (they are probably looking past you).

Learned this as a motorcyclist. Being annoyed or angry about it doesn't change it. It's a psychological thing. Something small like a motorcycle or bicycle doesn't appear as a threat so it's subconsciously disregarded. #1 piece of advice for the road cyclist. imho

 

[misterb123]

Educational tips. Thanks!

 

[froze]

I have one top advice...just ride, do it for fun, don't make it work.

If you'll be riding on streets read this site carefully: Bicycle Safety: How to Not Get Hit by Cars

Never ever pull alongside or pass big trucks or RVs on the right, they may not see you, and if they turn right, you could be killed. Watch these videos to get an understanding: What cyclists need to know about trucks - CyclingSavvy

Truck driver's blind-spot and cycling

This last video is extremely graphic and very sad, but doctor did not have good street smarts. What happens when you watch the video is that a semi passes her, she had to have seen this truck, but she stays in the far-right lane AFTER signs that are posted telling cyclists to move over to the cycling lane, which you will see where that's at as the video moves forward, there's even a cyclist in that proper lane; there are also signs that you can't see saying that the far-right lane was for buses. She is moving a pretty good clip, she remains in the right lane, the truck can be seen with his turn indicator on well before the turn, she disregards that as well. Everything she did was totally wrong, the only thing the driver did wrong was not clear his mirror, he assumed the cyclist moved over to the bike lane, people must not ever assume anything, but it happens and that's why you need to protect yourself because no one else will. She also failed to realize that a truck driver needs to make wide turns, so he went out into a left lane to make the turn, that is perfectly legal to do. The driver fled the scene but that's because he thought he ran over the curb, which is common in tight city turns. Regardless what the Bicycle Coalition thing says, they're wrong, the cyclist was wrong by at least 75%, the driver was at the most 25% wrong for not clearing his mirrors, he might have but never saw her, so he should have waited before turning till he saw her somewhere.

This is a very sad and graphic video, I've warned you, if you think you can't handle what you are about to see, don't watch it. Anita Kurmann Video - Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition

The outcome so far in all the legal mumbo jumbo that occurred was that the driver was not at fault; there was an ongoing 2nd case, if it has concluded the result of that has never been released to the public.

 

[Lombard]

I have one top advice...just ride, do it for fun, don't make it work.

If you'll be riding on streets read this site carefully: Bicycle Safety: How to Not Get Hit by Cars

Never ever pull alongside or pass big trucks or RVs on the right, they may not see you, and if they turn right, you could be killed. Watch these videos to get an understanding: What cyclists need to know about trucks - CyclingSavvy

Truck driver's blind-spot and cycling

This last video is extremely graphic and very sad, but doctor did not have good street smarts. What happens when you watch the video is that a semi passes her, she had to have seen this truck, but she stays in the far-right lane AFTER signs that are posted telling cyclists to move over to the cycling lane, which you will see where that's at as the video moves forward, there's even a cyclist in that proper lane; there are also signs that you can't see saying that the far-right lane was for buses. She is moving a pretty good clip, she remains in the right lane, the truck can be seen with his turn indicator on well before the turn, she disregards that as well. Everything she did was totally wrong, the only thing the driver did wrong was not clear his mirror, he assumed the cyclist moved over to the bike lane, people must not ever assume anything, but it happens and that's why you need to protect yourself because no one else will. She also failed to realize that a truck driver needs to make wide turns, so he went out into a left lane to make the turn, that is perfectly legal to do. The driver fled the scene but that's because he thought he ran over the curb, which is common in tight city turns. Regardless what the Bicycle Coalition thing says, they're wrong, the cyclist was wrong by at least 75%, the driver was at the most 25% wrong for not clearing his mirrors, he might have but never saw her, so he should have waited before turning till he saw her somewhere.

This is a very sad and graphic video, I've warned you, if you think you can't handle what you are about to see, don't watch it. Anita Kurmann Video - Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition

The outcome so far in all the legal mumbo jumbo that occurred was that the driver was not at fault; there was an ongoing 2nd case, if it has concluded the result of that has never been released to the public.

Excellent info here. I've seen the first link before about how not to get hit by vehicles, but hadn't seen the others. All excellent info. Thank you for posting.

 

[MorningMiler]

1) Learn all the safety rules, mtb or road (and FOLLOW THEM!)
2) If you need to purchase a bike, be clear with yourself about your goals, fun, commuting, fitness? Knowing those will help you make a better decision on which bike to buy.
3) Now that you know what type, RESEARCH!, lol
There a lot of choices, and varying prices.
4) Once you narrowed your choices, head to a reputable bike shop or trusted brand site
5) If you plan riding often, GET A PROFESSIONAL BIKE FIT! It's around 200us and worth it
6) Go ride and learn about your bike, do small circles, figure 8s, stops & starts, go thru your gears and stuff before heading far from home
7) Now that you're all ready, go ride and learn about yourself, fitness and energy level, it gets better from there
8) A good pre-ride and post-ride stretching is helpful for preventing injuries
9) Plan ahead, and bring the following, bike tools and a pump, bike computer/and or phone, food (how much depends on length of ride/fitness/intensity of ride, etc) Hydration (more than needed is better than less) and don't forget to plan restroom stops if you like longer rides.
10) Ride with people and solo, both have advantages. Lastly, stay safe and have fun!