[Anna Marie Hughes]

With the coronavirus restrictions there haven’t been as many opportunities lately to go on rides with groups of friends or join in on a club ride. It’s been harder to pick up those little bits of cycling know-how here and there as a beginner, so…

We want to compile a guide with the best snippets of things you wish you’d known when you started out and the best advice you were ever given.

Share in the comments below or email to tech@road.cc

Topic

[David9694]

…on my rides around

…on my rides around southern Spain in July. However, in December in the UK the benefit of the humble pant may outweigh the disadvantages…

 

[Anonymous]

One thing above all others:

One thing above all others: it’s NOT a race. 

What you wear, what bike you ride, how fast you ride, whether you go out in the rain, what you eat and/or drink during rides doesn’t matter.  Changing or following advice on these things might make you faster and/or more comfortable, but it is NOT obligatory.  Ride what you have.

Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth… Oh yes: wear sunscreen.

[ktache]

It tends to happen less at

It tends to happen less at the moment, the driver rarely wants the cold and wet getting in through the open window and spoiling their sealed environment.

[Gary's bike channel]

expect to be shouted at at

expect to be shouted at at least once every hour by motorists who have paid road tax and want to tell you how to ride your bicycle because they’re an adult who passed the driving test by some magic miracle

[zeeridesbikes]

Don’t wear pants under your

Don’t wear pants under your bib shorts. Took me a good few months to figure that out. 

[Judge dreadful]

Ride lots, don’t crash. There

Ride lots, don’t crash. There’s no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit. Get decent lights, smash it, be the ball.

[TheBillder]

Live at the the bottom of a
Live at the the bottom of a hill then?

[brooksby]

Quote:

N+1 – the correct number of 5mm Allen keys. 

Amen to that, brother! Those things just seem to disappear…

[don simon fbpe]

So don’t take it so seriously

So don’t take it so seriously then, it’s just shite, especially for a newbie. Us hardened cyclist know it’s a bit of fun, don’t we? If you’re not rocking 53/39 you can just go the fuck home, and as for more than 25 on the rear, etc.

[Stratman]

don simon fbpe wrote:

I’d forgotten about that shite.

Captain Badger is right, not to be taken seriously, and fun when you don’t 

 

[Anonymous]

1) Don’t over-dress, you will
1) Don’t over-dress, you will get too hot
2) Don’t buy a bike that is too big for you
3) Don’t be afraid to wear lycra and buy a good pair of shorts
4) Do spend a fair bit on a bike, and get a bike with a Shimano Claris groupset or higher
5) Do take out equipment to at least change a tube if you puncture (or have a very understanding partner!)
6) Be careful shouting “hello” at the top of your voice when overtaking another cyclist, I nearly made some guy fall off once
7) Don’t overdo it, cycling can be very addictive

[don simon fbpe]

That’s never happened to me.

That’s never happened to me. What a strange thing to say to a stranger.

[David9694]

Shortly before you pop the

Shortly before you pop the mudguards on again and find they rub. Just like the Christmas lights that went into the box in January working – and now don’t. 

[David9694]

It’s what a passing cyclist

It’s what a passing cyclist called out to me a few years ago as I flagged and flogged my way up a hill one day – a well timed and delivered motivational kick up the arse. 

[Captain Badger]

don simon fbpe wrote:

I’d forgotten about that shite.

[Author]

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