9 HABITS Beginner Cyclists Must AVOID
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 พ.ค. 2024
- From bike handling and position to descending techniques and safety advice, these are 9 habits beginner cyclists should avoid doing to improve their cycling ability.
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00:00 Intro
00:10 Use lights
01:24 Bike handling
03:03 Avoid locking upper body
04:30 Descending techniques
06:49 Surging
07:58 Under-fuelling
09:13 Bike maintenance
09:59 Bike fit
11:00 Safety
This cycling instructional video was filmed in Girona, Catalunya, Spain; a cycling mecca that has been home to many professional cyclists including Ben O'Connor, Jack Haig, Esteban Chaves, Ryan Mullen, George Bennett, James Knox, Dorian Godon, Jay Vine, and at one point George Hincappie, Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton. Girona is used for training for races such as the Tour de France, Volta Catalunya, Vuelta Espana, Paris-Nice, Giro d'Italia and more. Teams such as Bora-Hansgrohe, INEOS-Grenadiers, Israel-Premier Tech Pro Cycling, Human Powered Health, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team, UAE Team Emirates and others use Girona for team training camps and rider testing. - กีฬา
One important thing is to carry some tools and learn how to use it. I often go on group rides where people don't carry anything ever and just depend on help from others.
Agreed 🤝🏼
Yeah, sure, pumping the pedals, steering, braking all with one hand, and you throw in “carrying some tools too”?
Get a back pack! This is getting ridiculous.
@@MattScottMusic Saddle bags exist. He doesn’t literally mean carry tools in your hands.
Even if they do carry tools, not all of them have the slightest clue on how to use them. If I get back into group rides, there's a chance I might be exploited just because I have bike maintenance experience.
@@yonglingng5640 same here. My mates watch all videos about upgrading their bikes and spend money on that, but never bother learning about the basics.
I would suggest that a point missed about pedal position when cornering is that by keeping the inside pedal up, you avoid the risk of having the pedal strike the road surface.
Especially off road when there are natural obstacles.
One of the most important thing is to take a sht before riding a bike and blow your nose thanks me later
This is how I learned from a very young age XD
yes, it comes quite natural, to avoid that.
@@klopcodezinstructions unclear, I've shit myself and there's snot all over my handlebars.
One point of safety I believe you missed is “Gloves” I’m a firm believer in wearing them, if you take a fall the first thing you do is put your hands out, as a guitar player I’m always trying to protect my hands from falling or getting cut or scraping them, it also helps from getting sweat all over the bars and stuff.
You.missed it. He did mention gloves.
Yes, your hands might get scraped off due to the roads which are rough
Here's one: Don't feel like you have to buy a bike with such an aggressive stance. Being crunched over all the time is pretty miserable. If you are doing simple commutes then look for a bike that allows a more comfortable upright riding position.
That's not true for everyone. I used to commute 18km in a very windy region. I added tribars to allow me to keep going into the wind. I find the tucked position quite comfortable so that worked very well for me.
@@lafamillecarrington he's literally saying buy what you feel is comfortable, you're agreeing with his point, but you prefer a different option. Who are you arguing with?
@@ditoo2002 He literally says that cycling in a tucked position is uncomfortable - and I'm saying that isn't true for everyone. So, yes, do whatever you want, and don't be told that one position is right and another is wrong.
@@lafamillecarrington "don't feel like you have to..." he's literally saying it's not necessary, hes not saying dont get it, tf are you on?
@@ditoo2002 "Being crunched over all the time is pretty miserable. If you are doing simple commutes then look for a bike that allows a more comfortable upright riding position". I disagree. If @slugbones has an issue with my comment, I'm sure he'll let me know.
Your descending tip on putting pressure on the outside foot has been super crucial in getting back my confidence after crashing and breaking my collarbone six months ago. Thanks again 👍
You also end up with less space to lean when the inside foot is down, pressure or not, that pedal will get in the way quick
Its crucial when MTBing thus strongly suggest to cross discipline if possible
Good tips. I would add “wear something bright”. You can’t underestimate the average motorist.
Makes sence, but by all means, do not de-prioritize building skills in safe cycling. Those will come in handy, too, if deivers simply don‘t look your way.
I just forwarded this video to my son who wants to start riding to work. He is not living in my state (USA) and though I’m an experienced cyclist, I haven’t had a ride with him in over 18 years. I very much appreciate being able to share these sound advice videos with him to ease my worries.
Hope it helps 🙏🏼
A really good way to improve bike handling is to go mountain or gravel biking on some technical trails (preferably with some friends). It really taught me a lot and how to respect not only my bike, but also the terrain I am riding on. It also helped build my confidence when riding on the roads.
This is great advice. 👌🏼
I don't have any friends, so that's a no-go for me.
@@ghenulogo by yourself🗿
Thanks for mentioning relaxing your shoulders and elbows. This is one thing I have trouble remembering. It not only improves comfort while riding but also helps prevent you coming home with sore or stiff arms after a long ride.
This is one thing that having a mindfulness type practice has helped with too. Remembering to check your posture regularly. I have to say that I'm still better at remembering when I see obstacles ahead to act as shock absorbers than I am just riding steady for a long period.
In city environments, I find that a front blinking light, day or night, is at least as important as a rear light. I get much more recognition from drivers turning in front of me, from my lane or the opposing lane (s)) when I have one.
I started to consistently use one when a driver approaching from the front, in broad daylight, turned right into me, and only stopped then their bumper hit my front wheel - I was turning away from them the whole time. They were focused on turning into a parking lot and claimed to just not see me.
Yeah great advice. I actually recorded a portion to add in about this and left it out, but really should have added it in. I agree that it is just as important.
Light r for p*ssies
I don’t use blinking lights simply because in my state, at LEAST half of all drivers drive distracted. I use steady lights. There’s no confusion. You can’t glance at the road and not see it. Either you’re drunk or you didn’t even glance at the road in front of you. Blinking lights scare me because people have the attention spans of a goldfish when that auto-pilot turns on in their brain.
All my family drives. I know all too well how how badly people drive. I don’t think humans are meant to be driving because we suck at multitasking.
I digress. If you made it this far, watch for pedestrians! Share the road. And have a great day.
Screw it I’ve read this before and no more delay. Imma get me a front light asap.
@@andrewholden1501 I just saw your response to my comment!
While I don’t know the proper scientifically correct answer is, I have to agree that ANY light is better than no light. I’ve used both blinking and steady lights, but I haven’t exactly tested the safety of sharing the road at night using my different lights!!! I’m gonna run an experiment over the next month or two and see what I find just doing my normal nightly commutes.
Biggest tip for begginers, dont fall for the newbie no gloves look. wear gloves and save your palms if you land at over 30kmh.
None of the riders in this video were wearing gloves...
Yea im not buying em, ive gotten bad road rash skating and bombing hills, ill live man
I always avoid cornering with my inside foot because the inside foot might hit the road causing an accident. Didn't know about putting weight on the outside foot to make cornering better. Guess I'll try that. Thanks.
Avoid patches of loose gravel on junctions and bends; especially if braking.
this tip just came in after I've crashed during a corner, cycled a 100 km ride with horrendous posture, cycling with only one hot dog consumed, bike back bearing broken, thanks for teaching me
Hey mate, a really important topic and well presented! The only thing I would add is to stress the importance of avoiding overlapped wheels. Also to be careful passing bikes especially if the rider being overtaken is unaware they are being passed. The clients I have been guiding lately are relatively new to cycling and the biggest problems I see are nutrition, cornering, descending but the scariest is the lack of road positioning sense. I am catching them overlapping my wheel and find they pass me when there is a need to slow down putting us all at risk.
Thanks man. All great points. 🙏🏼
Glad you mentioned sunscreen. So many bikers skip on this and they end up aging like raisins over their lifetime (UVA sun rays account for the majority of skin aging) while also increasing thier risk of skin cancer greatly. Hat and sunglasses also is of great help, and also sun protection clothing.
Just as a note: Flickering rear lights are in some countries not allowed for the reason that it is really hard to estimate the distance of a flickering light. The fact is that they make orientation for traffic behind you much harder, certainly with great brightness. They are strongly advised against.
Fair point. I’ve heard they aren’t allowed in some places.
You mean those drivers behind the light have to pay more attention that there is a fragile human ahead, not a two-ton metal box. The fact blinkers are not allowed in some countries speaks to those countries' pro-wealthy-driver bias and anti-cyclist bias. Ever seen a stopped police car dealing with an accident or an apprehended speeder? Flickering lights, yes? If cops' lives are important, so are those of cyclists. Blinkers are a warning, not something a human can't deal with. I'm interested to see who "strongly advises against" blinking rear bike lights. Yes they can be too bright - so can massive car LEDs and arc lamps. Blinkers have been shown to be more easily detectable - google Bike Radar's piece on this for specifics.
@@teacherguy5084 Calling the Netherlands unfriendly for cyclists? Having just about the most cyclists, and least cycling fatalities?
I hope you don't teach anything important..
My 2 cents on bike lube. We don't. We use a bee wax, ptfe, and candle wax in a simple proportion to hot dip the chain and the casette. We never use any liquid oil on the open to air surfaces, that can dust and moisture. So we do check everything on autumn fall, then never worry until spring. Thank's for all other conseils. Sportivement a tous! Bon courage!
That was a great video! I learned a couple of things way too late myself. Especially fueling, took me just 30 years to get it right 😂. Cannot be overstated. Also to keep safety 1st.
There were a lot of good tips in this one - things I've learned over 40 plus years of adult cycling. It didn't look like you were riding with a mirror - I recommend it to keep track of the vehicles behind you. I still use an old trick for fueling if I don't have anything better with me - fill your water bottle with half water and half soda. You burn the sugar as you go. Stay safe, and keep pedaling!
Soda will make your body dehydrated
Really great advice! I've been cycling for as long as I can remember but I only recently got myself a proper gravel bike for future long distance travel and bike touring.
Your advice on relaxing the shoulders and elbows is very helpful, general comfort is something I find that I struggle with. Also I think I use the drop bars a little too frequently...
I appreciate you and this video! I’m a newbie to road cycling. This stuff and the comments left are very valuable. I appreciate them and those leaving them.
I now need to look into getting the right clothing for warm or cool weather…
I'm definitely guilty of #2. I learned to ride with no hands on my old steel bike, but my road bike feels so much more twitchy. Good advice to take the weight off of the arm that is left, and general push to take the time to do it. Next ride will definitely put more of a focus on one-handed riding.
is it that much more difficult? Im currently on a 7+kg frame/bike that just says citybike and in the process of slowly retiring it and switching to a mountain- and a road bike. But if its really difficult to ride a road bike without hands I'll 100% do the mt setup first....
@@LucIndustriesI don't think so I have moved from a kids bike when I was a kid to a mtb now and have ridden both one's hands free although you do need practice first with one hand
Loved the video - especially the tips about cornering. I have a huge problem with cornering, always slowing down.
I just want to say that it's better to avoid removing clothing while cycling. I had an incident where the sleeves of my jacket got caught in the rear wheel, locking it as I was taking it off. My arms remained trapped in the sleeves, propelling me forward for several meters, and I came close to a fatal accident.
Otherwise good video !
This is very fair..I don’t think people should try this until they are more experienced, and perhaps I should’ve left it out of the video. However I do think learning to ride one handed is a skill that can help many cyclists. Thanks for the feedback 🙏🏼
I don't wear enough clothing to remove anyway: just a jersey and tights (and I don't want to disgust anyone by being seen without either). In the winter, I take off my balaclava when going up the mountain rather than down it, but that's it (you don't even have to take it off, but I do; putting it below the chin suffices).
I got headlights that I actually wear on my head. So mamy drivers spastically rush up to the stop sign, exceeding the white line. Same thing keeps happening at the exit/entrance of strip malls. So I have my headlamp on flashing red lights. I'm also armed with front & rear lights on my bike, also flashing.
MOST of the things you mention I agree with except two. Firstly I don't think it's a good idea to take both hands off the handle bars. If you hit a pothole or anything else you could lose control of the bike. Learning to ride with one hand yes. Secondly having a good meal before setting out. Some people cycle to lose weight so should eat sensibly. I think it's a very good idea to take a water bottle with you to stop dehydration, even in the winter.
5:10 I did not think of that! Well, I did think to put my outside foot down to allow clearance when I am leaning on the turn. To avoid scraping the road or even getting caught on something and falling over.
The thing about grip makes total sense. Though, I did fall over once when I leaned a bit too hard to the right when it was raining. It kind of subconsciously makes me fear leaning to the right. I've been forcing myself to lean right again.
One more suggestion Tristan. I have been riding bike since I was 3 years old. I learned a lesson of braking rear first then front. If I brake front first I will lost control and the bike will tripped. Since then my braking order is always rear first then front. In this way the bike will be more stable.
When I was younger I had an accident on a ramp where a friend’s cousin had been very close to the ramp for a while when I was going down, however, since I was not the smartest back then but knew the front brake was much better than the back brake, I waited until the last second and pressed it first out of instinct while on the ramp and proceeded to get slammed onto the ground
Thank you for sharing, your video was very informative.
high speed non-curvy descents when you are not pedaling bring your knees together to pinch the top tube. this will help you stabilize
I literally surge up every single hill. Ty for these tips I've been cycling near daily for 6 months straight now and I still have alot to learn
Great points Tristan. Took me way too long to realise I was way too tense in the neck and shoulders. A top tip I can offer on the fuelling front is to get prepared before you set off. Even with the best handling it can be difficult to unwrap certain packaging, so what I do is pre-open energy bars at one end, I even go so far as to break them in to perfect 5ths so that I have the mouthful ready for every 20 minutes, and not have more to chew than my lungs can cope with without breathing! SIS gels are notoriously hard to get in to, so I start the tear off in advance with those too.
This is great advice. Also for when it’s freezing and you’re wearing gloves making the whole process even more difficult.
I also recommend to rest every 2-3 hrs ( going to bathroom) ,
A long ride 5hrs + needs more rest .
Some good stuff in your video. Thank you for the time and effort you put into making it!
Thanks mate. I appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏼
Excellent tips and I agree with them. I personally recommend to have and use a MIRROR ! … not to see what is immediately at the back, but to see what is coming from “far” behind (and possibly how many of them) which allows one to anticipate what to do ! … as you said: safety first!
Very interesting for newbies. Nice presentation. Thanks Tristan. Nice place you hv there to cycle.
Excellent advice and completely fluff free. Great video. 👍🏽
Great points made thanks ill start trying to put this advise to all my commutes
This is an excellent, informed, common sense orientation for newbies. And even me, a 50+ year rider. Thank you. The relaxed posture is so important, and yes, the right size bike fit makes good posture possible, and it's worth it the trouble to find. . Expensive or cheap!
Great video! I recently got into cycling because I totaled my car and didn't feel like buying another one, but after a few months of commuting with my bike I've started really enjoying riding and I'm trying to learn more about proper techniques to keep my body safe and happy 😝
Excellent video, just getting back into riding at 61 with a new-to-me gravel bike
So professional approach. Thank you!
What a great video and very well explained. Thank you and I wish you well.
Thank you 🙏🏼 🙌🏼
Very important: Stay away from large trucks, buses, and specialized vehicles with limited vision.
Great video tristan as Always very useful well explained👍🏻🚴🏼
Thank you for the informative video. Hoping for more videos like this. As well as how about on commuter bikes and MTBs.
Super helpful. Thanks!
Oh My Word! This is so helpful! Thank you!
What a great video! I will share this video with my CC in Los Angeles.
Thanks a lot for sharing these tips, I've started learning how to bike about 10 days ago, and this video is just perfect
Great content. Thanks.
Another note on locked arms, if you find that your elbows are locked, it could be a sign you're reaching too far for the handlebars and your stem needs to be shortened. Locked elbows could also be contributing to the feeling of hands going numb during a ride.
Very good point. 🤝🏼
I do partialy unwrap my food before a ride.
About cornering with outside foot down; an additional hazard you face in corners that are quite tight is your inside pedal touching the road if you have the inside foot down, I speak from experience 😅
Thanks a bunch for this! 🎉 cheers
Hi Iv just stumbled across your good self and I’m so glad I did, I’m 3 weeks out from my 3rd triathlon and the bike is my nemesis it absolutely terrifies me, I’m still THAT scared after completing 2 tris successfully and I don’t think I’ll ever really like it let alone love it but ur video is really informative and I’ll be sure to put all the things u have touched upon into motion …… thanku again :)
Thanks Clair! Glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏼 Take solace in knowing having already completed 2 you’ll no doubt smash the third. Riding takes years and years to properly “get” so hopefully in time it’ll become less of a barrier for you. Thanks again!
Thanks for the info!
Fantastic presentation. Thanks
Thank you, Tristan, I'm really enjoying your channel ,.. some really great points... I can apply most of your advice re nutrition, safety, training... all except the pedal position while corning... no free wheel and with 36" wheel there is plenty of clearance... ;-)
Great info!! Thanks!!!
Outside foot down is to avoid striking the pedal on the pavement. The whole weight distribution aspect is trivial compared to the havoc that can come from striking a pedal when you are turning at speed. What's more important is to also put your a bit more weight on the outside hand (or less weight on the inside) as well when turning.
Appreciate these tips as a old beginner. LOL riding as a child is different when u pick it up back as an adult 😅
During cornering, in addition to having the outside foot down, keep your body weight centered over the wheels. Resist the urge to lean into a turn
Agreed 🤝🏼
How else would you turn?
@@ghenulo the right way? with your lower body, bum to feet.
Very good very nice tips and advice ! I might mention some thing I was taught when taking one hand off the bars is to place it on the tops or the flat section. Depending on a persons, skill or bike handling skill that is if they placed one hand and keep it on the hoods maybe they hit a reflector in the road or something you could easily oversteer and maybe crash makes the bike very Squirrley so I think it’s for me. I try to keep it on the tops there’s less chance to oversteer or over correct . just my two cents 🤔👌🏻😄
AS a long distance cyclist I can relate to alot of the tips and tricks layer out in this video.
Love that you gave unique tips I haven't hesrd from other channels. Really helpful.
Thanks Christian 🙏🏼 Really glad you enjoyed.
Great tips!
*Skip sports drink though as it is SO acidic on your teeth from the added acids etc. Just go with table sugar aka sucrose as it is PH NEUTRAL and wont erode your enamel. Have one bottle of fresh water and another with table sugar + water in it. Take in around 100g of sugar per hour and you will be your strongest for sure! Ive lost count of how many WT riders Ive coached with this tip and others in the last decade. Jonas V being a subscriber for a long time and you can see it today- carbs and sugar etc.
Sports drink also CRAZY expensive compared to 2kg bag of table sugar. Dont just trust me though! Go out and test it for yourself. Let the watts, better digestion, saved money and healthier teeth prove it! :)
Hm. I just use plain water. I don't know what y'all do to need food and sports drinks when cycling. My butt hurts sooner than I need to "fuel" (though I don't have that problem with my daily hour ride, but just when I decide to ride for a few hours).
I can attest to the dangers of riding with acidified sugar drinks on teeth. As a Dentist who also rides a bit, my Patients who do serious Kms per week with sport drinks and gels are often turning up to see me with far higher rates of both decay and acidic tooth structure loss. Both are exacerbated by frequent sipping on these agents so I try to recommend training with water and if required, ingesting these things in one go. At the very least, follow the agent with some water to at least dilute the acid. When we ride we are already in a dry mouth situation and often mouth breathing meaning we lose the protection of saliva which protects your teeth from both decay and acid erosion. It won’t necessarily be a problem for everyone but will be for a significant number of riders using those agents. Ask your Dentist to monitor it [ there are a number of great new tools like 3D digital scans] and consider using dental pastes and gels to help repair any damage. If you are like me and not racing and rarely going over 100Ks, fuel well before and after and ride with water.
@@alpal9303now that i am here, great tips. I always wondered why I never hear about tongue cleaning as part of oral hygene?? it's like it is not a thing. I have what I consider a rough tongue and I always scrape a ton of stuff from it. I bought (amazon) a stainless steel scraper that is like an inverted u shape. super effective, comfortable and easy to clean
Two more tips from me as a long time cyclist:
-Always reckon with the stupidity of others.
-Drive as if you were invisible. But also make yourself as visible as possible. This point is more like a thought in your head. If people don't want to see you, they don't see you. No matter, how visible you are.
Use cycle paths where they are available.
Don't wear too many layers - you'll warm up very quickly, even when it is cold outside. But do wear a wind-proof outer layer.
Very informative video.Thanks for sharing sir !! I ride without rear lights but now i will order it soon.
I've seen people ride with rear lights on during the day time. I find it odd. I've been riding with rear lights only at nighttime for the last couple of decades and don't see any reason to change now.
One thing i don't think you emphasized enough was proper leg extension to get maximum performance. I see many people riding with there legs only half extended.
That's under bike fitting.
thank you for the wonderful infos really helpful.
bike fit here in my country is so expensive
Hi, Tristan another great video. I've realized your videos have influenced me more than I realized, after recently purchasing a BMC I've also booked to come to girona. It would be cool if you could do a beginner/intermediate rider guide to girona.
9:13 As a mechanic, this is probably my biggest pet peeve. So many riders don't even bother with even rinsing their bike after every ride and when parts needed to be replaced earlier than usual, they try to blame how the parts suck.
I'm not the best about this, but I also know it is totally my fault lol.
After every ride? I try to clean my bike and lubricate the chain once a month, right before I cut my hair.
@@ghenulo Just a simple hose-down, not a wash. It only takes a few minutes to just neutralise any sweat that has dripped on the bike.
i think i was leaning over my front tire a bit much. this helped a lot. thanks man
I can agree sooo much to the under fueling part. I was riding up a hill on my mountain bike, when I noticed I was very Hungry. so I pushed my Bike till the next descend(I was too hungry to go further on), rode to the next rural Edeka (Yes I'm German) and got myself 2 Brötchen. I was NEVER so exited to eat those 2 Brötchen than ever before in my entire life. They weren't even fresh! they were like 1-2 Days old.
Yeah, it’s crazy what you can convince yourself is delicious when you get that hungry!
New rider, great information
Brilliant tips for us beginners, thx so much
Agree on front and rear daytime running lights.
As for riding w/ one hand on the bars, those of us with downtube shift levers have had to do this for years. :)
This was so incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!!
Thanks Ivy! 🙏🏼
About descending technique, pushing on "internal" hand (extending arm) while pulling with "external" hand (flexing arm) will allow centre of gravity to move above the bike.
GREAT information to know. Lots of GREAT tips. Thanks 4 sharing! Cheers !! 🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴🚴
this is more of a tips video rather than a “must avoid this” video lol
Very usefull tips. Thank you mate
Happy to help! Thanks man
I use a rear light and the live track on my head unit as well
Great tips....what a great dude! Thanks for the awesome vid!
Thanks mate!
Great advice 👍
Super helpful thanks! I was given an older steel road bike by a family member and ride it for fun. You are right though I usually avoid useless carbs from soda, sports drinks, or candy bars. However once I biked to a friend's place and was beat after a 50ish min bike ride. I think I made an electrolyte drink myself (no sugars added) and my muscles weren't cramping or anything but I was pooped out.
The friend offered me a power aid and I accepted for a change. It really helped I think in being able to bike back without stopping.
Although for my basic hobby riding only a few times that long of distance I wonder if my DIY electrolyte drink and a few apples would be good enough. On a good day I try to avoid too many carbs. I'm reasonably fit but my cardio is definitely sub par. I like to lift a few times a week but don't jog or swim.😕
Excellent suggestions! Thanks from a beginner !!! 😊
Great video!
I almost closed the youtube player, but then I noticed this guy posts his Strava. I checked it out.
Finally! Someone who rides even MORE than me (slightly). I'll listen to this person.
🤝🏼
I really like the idea that a back light can pair to the Garmin to alert you of vehicles coming up behind you. I never knew that was a thing! awesome.
But does the light flash quicker than what you have in the video? It does not seem to draw attention in because it has too long a pause between the sets of flashes?
Garmin Varia is an excellent light/radar unit and recommended ONLY IF you also have a bike computer. Otherwise, there are many great, bright, long-lasting rear lights for much less money. But yes, if you use a bike computer, then get a Varia (or Magene L508 or Bryton GARDIA R300L) - the radar function is REALLY helpful! (the most significant safety improvement I've made to my riding in the last 50 years!)
Great tips!!!
Great tips 👌
I gotta say man this video amongst others helped me so much. Changed up my form and my seat position and dropped 6 minutes from my normal 17 mile ride. I even stopped to adjust the seat during the ride and time. Can't wait to elevate my cycling.
For reference for how slow I am. 17 miles. 1 hour 16 minutes. Avg speed 13.5 mph.
13.8 today. Making more ground. Now to just get rid of this wide fat boy seat so I can lean forward more without crushing my wobbly bits 🤣 it's amazing how much drag you cut. I go from the 12 to 13 mph sitting up to an easy 18 mph leaning forward but can't do it super long yet.
Super cool to hear mate! It takes a long time to make small adjustments to body position and have the feeling be natural, but as you’ve now seen, the difference in speed due to aerodynamics is pretty noticeable. Far more than buying a more expensive bike or wheels. Let me know how you go in the next couple of months..hopefully you continue to notice some changes. 🙏🏼
Been cycling a lot lately but just moved to a Poseidon Redwood as my first dropbar and "serious" bike. Man that body positioning is tough to get used to and trying to figure out fit was tough but got it about 85 90% dialed in and really starting to like it. Managed my farthest ride ever on it too, 32 mile! Nothing crazy but huge leaps for me. Again thanks for the tips and everything that helped get me started. Now to just get some road tires on this bike and lose some of the drag from the gravel tires and see where I go!
Beginner here; thank you for this comprehensive list! Very helpful
Thanks Chris 🙏🏼
If I may... 11) learn not to swerve when you are looking back over your shoulder (BTW, is it also called "throwing waves" in English?) and 12) if you start riding a bit more, find yourself a physio to occasionally check for imbalances - do not wait until you knee/back hurts (I really wish I had done that).
Please, I am an absolute beginner. I’ve had 2 babies in the past 4 years and I’m hoping to incorporate cycling into my life. My butt becomes sore, on the inner parts of my thighs where my legs meet the private areas. When I came home today, my back was a bit sore. Also, I cycle with a bike trailer and 2 small children in it (About 60 pounds, maybe 70 with snacks and everything I need). I even set my 3. Year olds 14 inch wheel bike on it and rode them along with it to the park today. Needless to say, I’m pooped (although it feels good). Any suggestions for me?
@@symoneprice798 A little bit of a slow reply here but it definitely sounds like you need a bike fit if you're getting this kind of pain at the tops of your thighs and back. You'll be putting undue stress on various muscles you're not often using, and adding the weight of the trailer and children would exacerbate that. Pop by your local bike shop and see if they can have a look at your fit - or better yet it would be worth looking up a bike fitter and having a chat. Cycling does take some time to get used to (I found it took a month of riding 3-4 days a week to get my butt used to the pressure from the saddle), but a bike fit will get you closer to comfort, quicker.
My knees and back hurt before I even starting bicycling. In fact, nothing is harder on my back than walking (a half hour or so and I'm in misery).
A nm click torque wrench & hex bits (look up torque specs for your bike in the owners manual, print or PDF, then every 250 mi or so, check the tightness of all the essential bolts. Under tightened bolts can come lose & cause wear of the bracket, and over tightening can stretch the bolt causing it to snap under loads. Also on a carbon bike, a little over-tight can crack the frame or other parts, so knowing the torque spec for the bolt & using a torque wrench essential to prevent damaging your carbon bike while maintaining it!