Cycling Tips
Since the beginning of the lockdown, most people have started cycling as a form of exercise due to the closure of gyms and essentially, boredom.
Cycling is also a way of getting out of the house and into nature. It can be difficult if you are not a regular cyclist, but with a little advice and experience, you can easily feel comfortable on a bike ride.
This article can also help give you some information and tips on how you can have a successful bike ride.
Wear the right clothes for that day’s weather
Before going on a bike ride, ensure that you wear the right clothes to suit the weather conditions. Weather conditions change quickly, therefore, layer up your clothing so that you can easily warm-up or cool down.
Find appropriate clothes to wear during the summer heat as well as the cold winter.
Adjust the riding position and saddle height.
Higher saddles can strain you and lead to injury while lower saddles do not allow you to use your full leg power and pedaling range. Ideally, your saddle height should be set in a way that your knee has a very slight kink when your foot is at the bottom of the paddle stroke.
Getting your riding position right is also important. Always ensure that the handlebar is obscuring your view of the front wheel hub when you are in your typical riding posture. Cycling should be fun, comfortable and not painful. Whenever you start developing backache or other illnesses, visit your bike shop and let them adjust your riding position.
Ensure that your tires have the right pressure.
Your tires should always have the right pressure. This the most basic thing to do for maintaining your bike. The right pressure is written on the sidewall of your tires. The tire manufacturers always give a range of pressure numbers rather than a specific one to allow you to adjust the tire pressure to match the conditions.
If you are riding on a dry area, fill your tires up so that you can ride efficiently. If where you are riding is slippery and damp, your tires should not be too hard.
What should you take on a bike ride?
The following are the things that you should take on your next bike ride:
Wear padded shorts
Most cyclists think that they need their saddles to be padded for their posterior to be protected but that is not the case. Wearing a good padded short will give you enough comfort to enjoy the first rides as you build up distance and time as well as your tolerance.
There is no need for you to wear underwear when wearing padded shorts as they may give you saddle sores due to rubbing.
Take food and water:
The worst feeling to have on a bike ride is complete energy depletion and dehydration. Therefore, take some ride rations and fluids with you. Snacks such as jelly babies, flapjack or a banana will help with giving you fuel.
If you are riding for a longer distance, take products such as protein bars and electrolyte drinks as they are scientifically formulated to help you avoid mid-ride problems and cramps. This also helps you maximize the benefits of your riding effort.
Take lights and a lock (just in case)
Even if you are planning to go for a ride for just an hour or two, fit a set of lights to your bike if you think you could be delayed till after dusk. Also, carry a lock with you since you might have unplanned café stops or corner-shop visits.
Cycling mitts and gloves:
Most new riders forget to take care of their hands. Hands get tired quickly and having a good pair of padded mitts or gloves can come in handy for your hands.
Carry a saddle pack with spares, tools, and cash
When cycling, you can encounter mid-ride problems and having a saddlebag with a spare inner tube and a few tools will help you. Having a multi-tool will help in adjusting the mechanical components and you can put back the chain if it is broken using a chain tool.
You will also need a mini-pump, puncture repair kit and emergency cash or card.
Where do you go on a bike ride?
If you are not sure where to go on your next bike ride, the following tips will help you:
Find some riding buddies
Cycling alone can be therapeutic as it lets you enjoy some solitude, clear your head and enjoy the beauty of nature without any distractions. However, riding with other people can be fun and having riding buddies can help grow your cycling skills quicker.
Join your community cycling clubs and groups to meet riding buddies.
Start small then build up your riding distance
A park or a trail free of traffic is a great place to start your bike ride to build confidence. Starting with 5 miles is great if you haven’t ridden in a while. This will allow you to build up your distance slowly without overdoing it.
The best way to increase your confidence and strength is to do little and often.
Map your ride
It is great to ride on an open trail and road and see where it takes you but it can be rewarding to set a riding challenge in advance. Online mapping can help you with planning an awesome route for your riding or finding your way back in case you are lost in the wild.
What do you do on a bike ride?
Doing the following things will ensure that your riding is successful:
Pedal at a steady rhythm
You do not want to strain when pushing the pedals or spin your legs like crazy when cycling. Ideally, your pedaling speed should be at around 70-90 revolutions/minute. This is efficient in working your cardiovascular, aerobic systems rather than your muscular, anaerobic system.
This will improve your overall health and endurance. Know what pedaling at 70-90 rpm feels like and then maintain it with your gears.
Learn to use the gears
Not everyone understands how gears work but they are meant to make your riding life easier. When you cycle more, you will notice how changing gears makes you move slower even if you are spinning easier, or, go faster but you are working harder.
The goal is to ride at a steady rhythm by using your gears.
Learn to take a corner properly
As your riding experience increases, you will discover a lot of techniques to make your riding easier. A riding tip to get you started on how you can easily navigate a corner is to ensure that the inside pedal is lifted so that it is at the top of your pedal stroke.
This way, the pedal will not hit the ground when you lean into the corner.
Be confident on the road
Most riders think that when they hide at the side of the road near the curb, they are safe. However, this is not the case because other road users may not see you or when there is no enough room, they can squeeze past you.
Be confident on the road and take your right to use the carriageway by ridding one meter from the curb.
Do not use the handlebar to hang your helmet
Hanging your helmet on the handlebar is dangerous as the straps can get entangled in the front wheel.
Treat other people using the road with care
Cycling teaches you a lot about how people drive. Always remember that people using the road make mistakes as well. Do not assume that a pedestrian or a driver has seen you.
Embrace exploration
One of the best things about cycling is that you can go anywhere you want especially if you own a bike with multi-terrain ability. If you come across a trail and not sure where it is heading, ride on it and find out.
What do you do when you get back from a bike ride?
When you come back from riding, do the following:
Clean your bike
Bike cleaning is as easy as bike maintenance. It involves using some elbow grease as well as recommended lubricants and a bit of time.
Lock your bike
Locking your bike at a safe location at home will keep it secured and will prevent it from being stolen.
Be proud of your riding achievement
Apps such as MapMyRide or Strava, a fitness watch or your smartphone will keep your cycling record including the number of miles and where you have cycled without manually logging it in. This is a great way to be encouraged to keep on going with your riding adventure.
Tips to Turn You Pro
Knowing what to carry, where to go and what to do on your riding adventure is important to help you have a successful bike ride. Hopefully, the above article has given you the information that you need for your next ride.
