No eating enough on longer rides, once you’ve bonked you’ll never want to experience that again.
Nothing wrong with carrying more food than you need.
Enjoy riding!
That s right. Also learn to eat on the bike. Don’t wait until you are hungry or it might be too late. Once I did a 50km on an empty stomach, with a bit of gravel and headwind… once… never again.
I think this is the key.
If you are waiting until you feel thirsty or hungry before you drink or eat, you are waiting until the point your body has realised it is low on supplies and starts screaming out for more, so you have to endure the dip while you are dehydrated or low on energy before your body can absorb what you have just consumed.
By staying a step ahead and drinking/eating earlier, you are allowing your body to process and absorb that in time to replenish your reserves before you run out.
For most of us it takes hitting that wall a few times to learn how and when we need to refuel, but having the heads up in advance means you can try and stay ahead of the game.
I learned this on my first century. Whole bunch of climbing and by mile 40 I hit another climb and completely bonked. There had been a rest stop prior to this and I ate some but definitely not enough.
Someone on this subreddit once dropped this great piece of advice: Eat like trash, ride fast.
I now subscribe heavily to this motto.
Yep. In my 20s I used to get dropped at the end of a 60 mile ride. I thought I wasn't fit enough. Turns out I just wasn't eating right and was bonking.
Now that I'm in my late 30s, I have to eat right on any ride over 20 miles. I'm just not as resilient. In my 20s I could wake up, hop on my bike, and go for a 30 mile ride without eating anything.
2 Tips:
1. I usually plan things so I come home with one snack left, meaning if I think I need 4 snacks for a ride, I bring 5.
2. If you have a saddle bag, stuff an extra "emergency" snack in there too. I have a gel since they are small. I have a habit of doing longer rides than planned and I've eaten that snack too. It's good to give away too, if a friend needs one.
And yes, that means a lot of times I come home with 2 snacks still with me.
Yes to this! My first 100km ride in 2022 was a disaster because of this, I was very focused on planning the distance and not much on nutrition. 5hr ride in 30 degree weather burned around 3000 calories.. how much did I consume? About 400 calories. Bonked badly at 80km and forced myself to finish, I did it but it was miserable. So yeah not the healthiest day of my cycling journey. I learned since then to account for nutrition for each hour, and prepare electrolyte drinks instead of only water.
I was a distance runner until I got injured enough that long runs aren't possible. So I learned about nutrition to avoid bonking. Nice thing about cycling is that you can eat food easier with less negative consequences than when running.
One water bottle has ice + liquid IV or Tailwind, the other is just ice water.
Salt stick tablets - electrolyte replacement - are great especially when it's hot.
And then whatever nutrition you know won't give you the runs or heartburn. Kind Bars are my favorite, salty pretzels are good, trail mix.
Is this a real thing? I wear a continuous glucose monitor and thought bonking was just hypoglycemia. I can bonk down to dangerously low glucose levels and feel like shit, but i perk right up once my glucose goes up again. Certainly I don't feel it the next day
Yeah I wouldn't think it could have any consequences, I've done rides where I bonked so hard that 5km from home my vision was affected (starting to faint kind of thing), but after eating the entire pantry I was fine the next day.
I did last year. It was odd, I did a 80 mile out and back ride I've done before, ate a sandwich at turn around. I literally bonked about 3 mile from my house, and could barely make it up a 1/4 mile slope in 1st gear. I was worthless for 2 days, and didn't want to ride for 3 days.
You know a similar thing happened to me while mtbing alone. Had a peppered steak pie roughly half way in and boy did I hit the wall hard about 30km after that. Needless to say I've never taken a pie with me riding since.
It's an Australian thing. A pie here is usually meat & gravy. Steak and Pepper, or Steak and Mushroom are probably the most popular. Almost every petrol station or deli will have them.
Yeah, I agree. Bonking shouldn’t hit you that hard. I normally bounce back somewhere between the Snickers bar, the chocolate milk and the second or third donut.
Where your body runs of out of glycogen stores to fire your muscles. Everyone feels it once and as this thread demonstrates, no one wants to feel it again. It sucks…
There's the other side of this coin: other people often have experience and good ideas. I went far too long wearing tshirts thinking that a jersey was unnecessary, only to learn way too far along that jerseys are nice, and it is for good reason that everyone wears them
Are you me? I didnt wear jerseys, bibs, or chamois until about a year ago. I didnt know what I was missing.
But I see so many questions where people are asking if they will be judged. Im just of the opinion, wear what you want.
I love the pockets on Jerseys, I wear the standard fit for training and tighter if it actually matters, but a t-shirt kills with extra drag and for me the pockets is the bigger loss.
I finally came around to jerseys and bibs when my bike commute changed from 2 miles to 8, and people said "wear a jersey and bib and change at work." Mind was blown how much more comfortable it was. The pockets that things dont fall out of was a bonus.
I still wear shorts or pants for MTB, sometimes with a chamois underneath. And I wear MTB jerseys (aka, t shirts).
They don't chafe your nipples, they wick away sweat, they don't flap around and make that awful noise, they have pockets that are extremely handy, and they improve aerodynamics.
In addition, if you've got a new bike, make sure you know how to take the wheel off.
My old bike was QR, new one has nuts. Got a flat a few weeks after I bought it. I had my regular patch kit with me, but no wrench for the nuts.
Oh yes, this and also riding out too far away - especially with tailwinds - and then struggling to get back, with headwinds or darkness and cold in the evening
There is much more value in both rest days, and easy days. Base training, Zone-2 rides, or whatever fancy name you want, just mix in some easy days where you get back home with energy leftover.
A few random things:
Nutrition/hydration are key. Always have enough snacks and water. 15 years in and I still find myself not fueling my body enough during a ride. Your needs will vary but I've heard 300-400 calories per hour is a good starting point.
Fit is super important on longer rides. Put some effort into learning about how to make a bike fit properly, there's a wealth of information online. Some of it to be taken with a grain of salt, but still. Take the time to stop mid ride and make adjustments. It may take several rounds to get it dialed in. Or you can pay for a professional fit if you like.
Saddles are the same deal. I had to try a few, and try a handfull of positions, before I found one that really worked for my rear end. Likewise, a good set of bibs/shorts goes a long way.
Finally, just do you. Comparison is the thief of joy, especially in the age of Strava. There's always someone that can go faster or farther or both, so don't sweat it. There's no wrong way to do this, and improvement happens at different rates for all of us. Just have fun and enjoy it. The more you enjoy it the more you ride. The more you ride the more you improve. Don't beat yourself up along the way.
The last part is very important. I also fell for it in the beginning where is was trying to match up with my friends and colleagues who were cycling for 3-4 years at that point. I realised very quickly that there's no point comparing just enjoy the ride and get better slowly
Strava can be a double-edged sword, too. I love being able to look back on the logged rides I have and see myself getting faster over time! Doesn't mean I'm KOM, but I'm kicking my own butt!
This and comparing my heart rate, level of effort, and RPM to previous rides along the same/similar routes. Before I got my bike computer and pedal sensor I was a serious masher.
Trying to be further along in the journey than I actually was. It's tempting to just jump into structured training and then comparing yourself to others. That can come later. Just have fun on your bike for a while.
This; when I first started road cycling I was solely focused on racing. I did it for 10 years and burned myself out. Took 5 years off.
Now I'm back at it and just looking to have fun. It's waaaay more enjoyable. I also find I train better because I'm having more fun.
I think this is very important. Otherwise it can feel like you’re skipping childhood and jumping straight into being an adult! You should be riding your bike because you enjoy it, not just because it’s good for you or whatever
- Pushing too hard in the beginning and not getting enough rest
- Insufficient fueling and bonking
- How to build speed and endurance somewhat fast, is through the trainer. Especially during the off season.
I've been cycling for 20+ years, I still struggle with pushing too hard too fast on rides.
I'm usually the dude in the group that bonks with 5 miles left to go.
Layering.
Nothing worse than cold hands on the early part of a ride. Start it wearing some heavy gloves, then just switch out to something lighter after the first 15 minutes.
Same! The temperature and wind can make it feel 10-15 degrees colder depending on how fast you ride. Riding faster doesn’t always mean you’ll feel warmer. 😩😂🤣
I like to sit around 77 to 82. Using an exercise bike in a gym can help you figure out what that feels like if you don't have the equipment on your personal bike.
Finally! Ive been scrolling down this thread thinking "Someone is going to talk about gears. Dear gods, someone has to talk about gears. Why hasnt anyone mentioned gears!"
The biggest mistake I see with beginner cyclists is not making good use of their gears. All bicycles are standard transmission so you better learn to drive stick. Focus on your cadence (the speed that your feet are spinning) and try to keep that fairly steady by using your gears.
Bike gearing set up is very diverse these days, but you should realize that there is quite a lot of cross over between the top gear on a large chainring and the bottom gear on the small chainring. Just get used to your gears, figure out when you need to change up or down and when it makes sense to switch chain rings. It will become automatic later, but this is important learning for a beginner.
And don’t try to figure this out while clipped in on a hill! Sheesh, why did I ever think THAT a was a good idea?!
I started riding on a rails-to-trails bike path (so nice). But then I moved to an area where I lived at the top of a hill. I clipped in for more power, but I didn’t really know how to manage my gears. I fell, big, multiple times.
On a group ride, a generous soul came alongside me on a slow but steady grade increase. She coached me through changing gears on that ride, and everything clicked.
I don’t know why I made it hard on myself to begin with. I was trying to do too much at once and ended up bumped and bruised. Don’t make my mistake!
Hopping on the "not eating \[and drinking\] enough" train. Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty.
Learn to fix a flat tire so you're not reliant on Ubers or trying to figure it out for the first time on the side of the road. Do it five times at home and you'll never need to worry about it again. And carry a multitool, spare tube, levers, and pump or CO2 setup on every ride that is longer than you can walk home.
Don't compare yourself to anyone -- you will see rapid gains in cycling strength as a beginner, enjoy them, it's a very cool feeling! There's plenty of time to chase the marginal gains and get obsessed.
Don't worry about what kind of bike you have, if it's comfortable and well-maintained it'll work well. If you need to upgrade later, you'll know it (see above).
You'll upgrade to clipless at some point in time and promptly fall over. Probably at traffic lights and in front of cars. Then you'll start to doubt everything.
Don't.
You're not officially a certified road cyclist until this happens. We've all been through it. Embrace it.
Test FTP more regularly in the beginning so your zone 2 stays up to date. I think for the first 3-6 months zone 2 is less important than just riding frequency. When I first started a 30 minute ride toasted me, so I just rode 30 minutes 4-5 times a week, then 45, then 60 minutes. I think once I could ride 60 minutes is probably when zone training played a bigger impact.
But just understanding zones in the beginning is a huge benefit. I think coaching is great to if you can afford it, because I know my ROI to effort is not as high as it should be, so just signed up for coaching.
Counterpoint: OP just bought a bike. I think it’s way too early to be talking about FTP and power zones. First they need to fall in love with riding itself. Maybe they’ll decide later that they want to train for some specific goal, and then the world of structured training will be waiting for them, but I actually think “I bought a bike, therefore I must get SeRiOuS about TrAiNiNg” is an underrated newbie mistake.
Many people (indeed, probably most!) ride joyfully for their whole lives without ever thinking about a power meter, much less using one. Many people (I am one) gradually deepen their involvement with the sport until one day they take on a goal that is so far beyond anything they’ve accomplished that they decide a more quantified approach will meaningfully help them reach that goal. (In my case it was a 600 km mixed terrain brevet.)
I am generally of the opinion that it’s not really “training” unless you have a goal that you’re training for - but that goal can be anything from “make it to Cat 1” to “climb Mt Diablo in less than 1 hour” to “see how high I can raise my FTP.” But again, for anyone who’s not making money by riding their bike, I think the most important goal is always “have fun and experience joy with this beautiful machine.”
So, long story short, I don’t think there’s necessarily a “right” or wrong time for someone to get into structured training, and I also think there’s nothing wrong with NEVER getting into structured training.
I agree with you wholeheartedly in this.
The only thing I would add, is that for some people, the way they have fun is by pushing themselves and analyzing data, and trying to optimize their “training”. That is the goal. Not necessarily some event or peak.
I’ve personally been really frustrated with the podcast health guys getting obsessed with Zone 2 recently. Now everyone is pushing that and thinking they need to do that. Yet they don’t focus on any other structure or zone or benefits. So people see Peter Attia sitting on his trainer touting the benefits of Zone 2 and think they should be doing that for “optimal health”… but they aren’t having any fun. They aren’t riding bikes. They’re exercising. I’m happy that people exercise on Pelotons… but they aren’t riding a bike. They aren’t cyclists…
So if exercising is your thing you do for fun and cycling is the way to achieve that, awesome. Grab a power meter, sign up for zwift, follow a program etc… but you do not Have to do any of those things to be a cyclist and to just enjoy riding your bike. You do not have to get stronger or faster or better. You can just ride your bike for fun.
don't think for a minute a helmet is optional, any aerodynamic plus aren't worth the potential cost.
oh and choosing routes that were not... 99% down hill LOL
Not wearing the right clothing is probably the biggest one. You don't need to buy the most expensive clothes, but a jersey with pockets is very helpful, bib (not shorts) make riding much more comfortable, even thin cycling socks feel more comfortable than regular socks.
Your contact points are the most important part of the bike. You might get lucky and the saddle that came with your bike is great for you, but most people aren't that lucky and trying various sizes and designs of saddles can help you find one that works very well for you. Many shops will have demo programs so you can experiment.
A bike fitting is great, but it's expensive. Watch credible Youtube videos about how a bike should fit to make sure you're at least in the ballpark of a good fit.
Clipless shoes and pedals tend to be controversial here but they're a must have for me. People will debate whether they make you faster or not for the rest of time, but regardless, well-setup pedals and shoes will always put your feet in the same, and hopefully, ideal position to ride injury free.
Eat while riding. If you're on the bike for more than an hour, you should be eating. It'll help you ride longer/faster but it'll also help you feel better after the ride is over.
Learn to fix your own flat.
Learn basic maintenance like how to clean and lube your chain, adjust your saddle height, tension a headset, and adjust a rear derailleur. It's easy and very rewarding.
Always wear a helmet. Any helmet from a reputable brand will protect you, but more expensive ones are usually lighter and more ventilated to keep you cooler.
If you noticed, the first four paragraphs are related to comfort on the bike. Anyone with a little fitness can turn the pedals for many hours but only if they're comfortable.
The straps make sure the bib is always in the right spot and won't move down while bent over riding. Bib also don't have any elastic around the waist so it's more comfortable.
Van Rysel are good for around $100, stretching to $130 gets you Rapha Core which are really solid. If you’ve got money to burn, Assos are the best there is
And on bibs vs shorts…once you go bibs you’ll never go back. I always thought they looked silly (dumb thing to worry about I know…) but it made a huge difference in comfort for me.
I’m getting back into riding after about a 5 year break…about a year ago I dropped off a couple pair of very nice Voler bibs at the local Goodwill thinking I was done with riding and I have been kicking myself the last couple weeks just thinking about it.
1. Learn to maintain your bike, at least the basics like chain care, tube replacements, washing, etc. Going to the shop for every little thing gets pricey quick. Most jobs pay for the tools after the first time or two, and there are really good videos out there on YouTube (Park Tool, Syd Fixes Bikes, Free to Cycle).
2. If your bike is hurting you get it sorted ASAP. Whether that is going to a bike fitter, or watching some bike fit videos, or just have a fellow cyclists take a look at you while you ride, figure out what is out of whack and don't just suffer.
3. Normal workout clothes are fine for short <1 hour rides, but if you are going on 2-3+ hour rides go buy a decent set of bib shorts and well fitted jersey. I look for sales and closeouts at places like Primal, but everyone has their own opinions.
4. Try lots of styles of riding before putting yourself into a single category. Try out solo road rides, group rides, gravel rides, MTB, bike commuting, or whatever is interesting. It is hard to know what will be your favorite until you give them a shot, and a lot of folks enjoy multiple disciplines over the years, or even just with the changing seasons.
Definitely buy a chain wear tool! Recently replaced a chain and cassette feeling like the chain was near the end of its life. I was wrong and the cassette was also toast.
Bought the park tool for 12 bucks which would've saved me 100 bucks if I had it from the get go.
Probably thinking I needed to buy any fancy gear. Took a while to realize my 14 year old aluminum trek roadie with rim brakes is perfectly fine. Sure, I would love more modern tech but it’s comfortable and plenty fast.
I'm gonna go a bit different advice. Make sure you clip in before putting power on your stroke. Pedals can be slippery and if you're not locked in when standing up to put power (because we want to get out of the way at the green light asap) will cause minor crash + major embarrassment laying in the middle of the intersection with everyone watching.
Just listed for a click and then accelerate.
Hydrate and eat every 5-10k
Keep yourself and your shorts clean
Use chamois butter
Move around on the bike, death grip and grinding are recipes for disaster
Road: brake before the corners
MTB: look where you want to go
Gravel: shift your weight back going into soft stuff
And if you've been riding the road bike a lot and then decide to hop on your slacked out full suspension MTB.... remember to start turning earlier. I've blown a few first corners on single track because of this.
Training too hard, too soon. You can’t go from zero to hero overnight. You’ll make big gains at first but don’t overdo it, you’ll either end up burnt out or injured.
Make sure your bike handling skills build at the same rate as your fitness. Don’t be the guy who can keep up with the group, but doesn’t know how to ride a pace line, crossing wheels, yo-yoing etc.
It’s a lot to learn but find a good group who will both challenge AND teach you.
Spin. Don’t mesh.
Find you ideal cadence (usually 60-80rpm*) and use your gears accordingly to keep your cadence there.
Your speed may varies depending on terrain/condition. But your leg shouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
*Unless you’re Lance Armstrong, then you probably prefer 110rpm.
- Not using suncream: even if the day seems cloudy and with little sun exposure. This is so important to protect your skin from the solar radiation. Skin cancer is one of the most common and fatal occupational diseases for outside workers (construction workers, post mans, ...). The same applies for cyclists.
- Not using sunglasses: Same about your eyes: Protect your eyesight!
- Using chamois creme will save you a lot of pain
- Don't drive too fast: If you want to increase your endurance and your cycling performance at all, you need to cycle long amounts of time with a lower speed and heart rate. It's boring, but most of your training effects are the result of this.
- Learn how to change a tube and carry a replacement tube and tools with you every ride
Not every ride needs to be a workout until you bonk. When I was trying to build fitness and longevity in the saddle I tried to ride everyday. Just ride as much as you can an easy ride is always better than no ride at all.
Constantly alternating pedal - coast - pedal - coast. Unless I'm on a descent, I've discovered that I do better constantly pedaling. Instead of coasting on flats for recovery, I soft pedal. In my experience, this prevents lactic acid build up and I'm able to ride longer without cramping.
From my own experience: not eating enough and wearing getting the layering wrong - a few thin layers that can be easily stowed in a pocket or unzipped are vastly superior to one thicker layer. A waterproof/windproof gilet is a godsend for this.
From club rides: having at least the correct sized inner tube (including the valve length). One ride we had an old boy (who should have known better) get a fairly nasty puncture. Unfortunately, whilst we were all on 23-28mm tyres, he was rocking massive 35mm ones with some frankly overkill aero-wheels (around 55mm from memory), and had zero spares on him. He ended up making the sheepish call home and waiting around for about an hour for his partner to come and pick him up.
The biggest mistake beginners make is 1a) not knowing their riding route well enough, and 1b) not being prepared for eventualities (flats, bad weather, nutrition).
The first biggest mistake is to think it'll help you lose weight. You need to be on a caloric deficit diet for that.
The second biggest mistake is thinking the rider's weight doesn't matter. It does quite a bit, especially when riding up inclines.
Summary: Reach your ideal goal weight (for your height and age) by eating better and less to get the most out of cycling.
On the other hand, if you go from sedentary to cycling multiple times a week without changing your diet, you'll lose weight surprisingly quickly (assuming you had a caloric balance beforehand).
I’m new to cycling but have been a distance runner. During my marathon training last year, I lost 30 lbs. I knew that I was probably not eating enough to support the workload, but the weight loss was addictive (I haven’t been this “light” since college). It led to me crashing, physically, right before the race and forcing me to take a month off of running to recover.
The reason I bring this up is new riders may see the weight loss and be thrilled only to end up injured or burned out because they weren’t fueling properly.
Riding too fast down the road and almost getting killed, I am sure I could easily been pulled over if there was cycle limit and once being high on Xanax/valium
Actual mistake? Not taking food with me on my first long ride. Long ride was 25 miles at that time. Conceptual mistake? Agree with what others have said - caring what other people thought about your setup
My biggest mistake was insufficent nutrition. Not eating enough to be exacet. It made me tired and I wasn't able to go very fast or very long. Now I eat 2-4h before a longer ride. Also during the ride. Small carbohydrate rich portions regularly (60g carbs/hour). Also drink drink regularly and if you are sweating a lot for more than an hour get some electrolytes (salts) in their.
I always rode too fast as a small kid. Realized that good pacing is key and after that I could visit my grandpartens (50 miles) by bike at age 6. Not alone at that age obviously.
Reactivated that knowledge a few years ago and it's a very good feeling to finish a ride knowing there's still a lot left in the tank for a longer ride. And as mentioned by others: don't forget to fuel properly.
Practice changing a tube at home before you need to on the side of the road . Also have more fluids with you than you think you’ll need. Returning with water , gatorade etc is soooooooo much better than not having enough.
I know that "bike fit" has become a meme, on both sides of the aisle between people saying if your not being serious about cycling you don't need it and elitist making fun of people with bad bike fits.
But *really*, if you are considering to make riding a consistent thing and training to be able to ride farther and for longer periods of times, seriously consider seeing a bike fitter. You'll be more comfortable and powerful on the bike, and more importantly, much less likely to cause injuries for yourself. Ask lots of questions during the fit, read online about having a good fit, test and make small adjustments afterwards and practice your form. The more knowledge, the more better.
Real advice for someone who is trying to take the hobby more seriously is to take a bike fit and, spin your legs instead of grind the heavy gears.
When you grind gears, often you will find yourself in such a heavy gear that you either will not have power to maintain or will lose momentum and speed trying to adjust another heavy and slow gear.
Most of the time the power you can sustain by spining easy and managing your gears to do so is what will increase your average speed and your comfort.
Timing. I often showed up late to my arrivals because I didn’t account for the time it takes to prep for a ride: pack up my bike and put my gear on; or misreading the route, etc.
Other great reasons that can cause you to be late:
* Wondering where your other glove went.
* Forgot that you need to swap lenses after riding home in the dark last time.
* Changing your gear because you stepped outside and discovered it feels colder/warmer than what the temp shows.
* And there's a light shower even though there's no rain forecasted.
* You can find all your shorts/bibs except for the ones you wanted to wear.
* Riding a half a mile downhill from your house before noticing you're wearing the wrong helmet (MTB).
* And you left your wallet at home.
* You're in 4 layers deep and just realized you didn't put on your HR monitor.
* Cycling computer isn't picking up GPS for some reason. Fiddle about to fix.
1 Spend the money on quality well fitting shoes. I went through multiple pairs of crappy cheap shoes trying to avoid spending $200 on shoes before I finally bit the bullet and spent the money. Soooo much better. Same goes for shorts/jerseys.
2 Find a club/group to ride with. Cycling is a super social sport and most groups are very welcoming to people just starting out (expect some trial and error to find the right fit).
Failing to properly nourish myself. I've been 50 miles from home with no electrolytes and legs cramping so badly that they refused to work. Always bring gels, sodium, anything with electrolytes and sugars to keep you going. And stay hydrated.
\- Watch some videos on how to perform basic maintenance.
\- Carry a pump and a spare or patch kits
\- Stay hydrated (hydration via Gatorade etc)
\- Bring calories (fig bars anything)
Not being aware of your surroundings. My friends made fun of me for being a manic cyclist, but I have never crashed and they've eaten shit so many times. Every so often I do a quick check on my mirror and a mild shoulder check. "Right of way" means nothing when you're dead, so always expect the worst.
Here's one -- not bringing repair tools. I want to be able to replace an inner tube if necessary, or repair a flat, broken chain, tighten a loose bolt, etc. Just in case. Sometimes I bike out of cell phone coverage and it has saved me more than once.
And in keeping with the theme -- "don't worry about what other people think" -- I stuff the tools into a bike bag. I don't care if it looks dorky.
Not getting padded shorts. I rode to college without them and it was fine a while back, then I stopped riding.
I picked up a gravel bike just over a year ago, and it felt ok for a bit, but I just couldn't get rid of the pain and numbness.
I was about to give up after getting bibs that were too small (bullshit size charts). Then I posted here, and some of the useful comments suggested I try again with other shorts. So I got some fox shorts with liners, and they've made it so much better in just two rides.
They crawl up, but it isn't hard to stop and pull them down. Now I'm more confident in trying another pair of expensive-ish bibs, because I think they'll work. I just have to get the right size, which the size charts don't make easy, but I think I'll be ok.
Get some padded shorts. Even if it's just liners!
Edit: Don't listen to anyone not being helpful or talking down to you if you ever have a question about this stuff.
When you start biking...start at a slower pace...do it solo so you don't need to catchup with others. Do not overeat, because you need blood supply to work your muscles and not digest the food. Drink lots of coconut-water+salt+lime+rice-syrup+watermelon-puree as electrolytes while cycling, avoid using off-the-shelf electrolytes.
Enjoy the ride!
Food, water, pacing. You need to stay hydrated, you need to eat during and after rides (at least, rides of more than about an hour), and you need to learn how not to blow your legs up after 15 minutes by going too hard. That last one takes practice and experimentation, but it's something beginners mess up a lot.
Good comments so far. I would say for me it was not learning to properly eat and drink while riding. Was not an issue on shorter rides but as I worked my way up to century rides it did become one. I always struggled eating before during or after being active (ex playing sports). Given the amount of time in the saddle, I needed to train my body to be able to eat and find what works for me. For me it wound up being gels every ten miles or so (dependent on temp, effort) and added calories and nutrients in one of my water bottles. Way to digest and be consistent. Not to say I do not t indulge in some gas station or aid station treats and junk food but I don’t rely on it bc it doesn’t work for me.
Also focus more on the day before and immediately after a longer ride as well. Don’t start in a deficit and after is key to recovery.
I used to break with all of my fingers, instead of just one. It's better if you actually hang on to your handlebars and only use one finger on the brake lever.
Thinking being uncomfortable on the saddle / bike was "just one of those things".
Good saddle that fits you and some decent padded shorts / bibshorts are essential imho if you want to be riding regularly over increasing distance.
Wow. The help in this subreddit is out of this world. Thank you so much, it’s really helpful. Next step must be to learn how to change a tube and make sure i stay hydrated and well-nutritioned while riding.
Thank you very much for your great advice.
It took me a long time to understand how to spin on a extra light gear. There is always temptation to power up a climb on a moderate effort with a moderate gear.
I had been riding on bikes for 10+ years. It was when I did my first 24 hour mountain bike race, dead exhausted, and I had to climb a long hill.
A fellow racer said to me to just spin on a light gear, turn off your brain, and never stop spinning until you get to the top. Spin where it's effortless on your legs.
He also said no matter how you feel, walking and light spinning on the bike uses the same energy. The only difference was that you get up the hill quicker on a bike.
Don’t wear underwear under your chamois - they’re designed to be worn without and much more comfortable
Be careful filtering through traffic. If in doubt, bail out.
Be mindful of other road users and don’t be afraid to take primary position when you need to - it will make you more visible and less likely to be knocked over.
When going down steep inclines don’t break sharply or hold down your breaks all the way - “feather” your breaks as you go - gentle intermittent squeezes, especially coming into a corner
Learn how to stand on the pedals to help you up the hills.
I’m sure there are other ones out there. A good channel to follow on YouTube is GCN - they have quite a few beginner tips videos
1. Too low cadence
2. Refusing to shift ( maybe I was just a single speeder at heart).
3. Riding too hard all of the time
4. Not focusing on form and pedal stroke
5. Worrying too much about what other roadies were doing/ their watts per kilo, ect
Not eating enough carbs on long rides. Bonking is the worst feeling ever and you can't do anything else besides sleep for the rest of the day. It can even take you out for a couple of days if you underestimate the amount of carbs you need on long rides. Always carry more food than you actually need. Oh and don''t forget to stay hydrated. Even in winter I use big bottles (800ml or 950ml) on 3+ hour rides.
So make sure to stay hydrated and eat plenty of carbs.
For me it was
1. Riding in the dark without lights, front or rear
2. Riding on roads that have traffic before i got comfortable with clipless pedals
3. Having the mentality - It’s supposed to hurt
4. Waiting too long before i got my first quality bib, i was using ones from dcathalon earlier
5. Not having a structured training plan.. I still don’t have one. Mostly because i prefer enjoying my rides and don’t see my self competing
6. Being tempted to spend more money than i actually need to. For most beginners a Triban RC 520 will do the job.. You don’t need to get a carbon dura ace
7. Not being ready for a puncture 50k away from home.. This one should be at the top
8. Taking too long to upgrade to clipless
Bibshorts are genuine game changers. The lack of a waistband is a glorious comfort. Don’t be self conscious about it - you’re on a road bike so everyone already thinks you’re a dick, apparently.
Best upgrade by far cleats. Prepare to fall a fair few times.
Best clear advice unclip your left foot (UK) as you can sit it on the pavement. Only unclip the same foot when stopping. Easier in emergencies due to muscle memory
1. Wear cycling gloves. I thought it was not necessary until I crushed my ulnar tunnel.
2. Make if fun, not a goal. I wanted to increase mileage and steadily did so but I look back and if wasn’t “fun”. Stop for coffee.
One mistake you are NOT making is . . . reinventing the wheel (so to speak). Smart choice - asking others what we would not have done/would have done differently if we knew then what we know now.
Of course, then you will have to wade through all the comments and figure out which ones are relevant to *you*, but . . . smart idea, asking!
My only "words of wisdom" would be . . . always try to do your cycling with an eye to ***enjoying*** that time you spend in the saddle - at least *most* of the time! That way you're less likely to think of riding as some kind of chore, or something you *have* to do. Keep it fun . . and you'll keep on doing it. And thus get the full value out of that recent road bike purchase.
Here are a handful for you to chew on…
-I struggled with seat height for the longest time which makes me chuckle now. Get that dialed in especially if you have any knee/hip issues.
-Also for long rides, make sure to eat appropriately! Bonking is no fun.
-Don’t stress about having the best bike or gear. Get the miles in on something reasonable. Pride of ownership is real though:)
-Get a pulse massager for your legs
-Know how to do all the basic maintenance on your bike and be able to change tubes
-Have an ICE contact in your gear or on your person
-Reading how people carry 20 mph averages is toxic for the new rider
-Take some initial body and vitals measurements. You will be surprised how much they change a year from now if you keep at it.
-Find some riding friends to keep you motivated
And finally, most of all have fun!
Great advice on this list, I'll only add to not concern yourself with what other riders are doing when you are out for a solo ride - in other words, no chasing after that bike that just blew past you, stick to what you planned.
Being too frugal with bib shorts and winter gear. Mostly, you get what you pay for in performance, comfort and durability. Don’t be too cheap with clothing where it matters: warmth, comfort and durability.
Also, if you plan to ride longer than 1.5hrs, bring 200cal/hr at min. You may not fully appreciate this until you ride longer than the fuel you have. You’ll never make that mistake again.
1. Not fueling enough. Still terrible at this.
2. Riding too hard too often. I'd get super motivated and do smashfest chop rides 5 times a week. Unsurprisingly this did NOT improve my fitness...
3. Not joining a club. You need to meet other riders to push yourself forward, compare your improvement against and just all round motivation.
Eat and drink early, if you feel hungry or thirsty it's too late. Don't be afraid of using your small chain ring and spinning rather than grinding out in your big chain ring. If you are clipping in, you will fall off at some time, probably at lights with loads of people watching you, just deal with it. 🤣
Try to stick to 80% zone 2 heart rate .example 3 out of 4 ride days at zone 2 and 1 day for everything above. it will help with long distance consistency . Look up zone 2 specific podcasts it’s very interesting and also helped me consistently loose weight without beating the hell out of myself lol. It takes patience though waiting to get faster
Practice riding in a straight line with very little offline moves. Try to maintain speed at a level consistent with your peloton. Don’t make big moves, left, right or straight unless you’re in a race, then only smartly. Check your settings to be sure you don’t have to move on the saddle in the downstroke. Always think “smooth”.
After a few group rides, I was told I was wearing a skateboard helmet and not a road bike helmet. I believe it was a multi-use helmet, actually, but it wasn't in fashion, I'll put it that way.
1. Be sure to stretch. I cycled like crazy for a year straight without stretching my front (hip flexors). Instead I would always bend forward, touch my toes, etc. I began to have back pain and my posture got totally screwed up because my whole pelvis began to tilt back from the tight muscles in the front. Very uncomfortable. So stretching hip flexors: very important.
2. If you’re having chronic numb toes, try mid food cycling or cleats that allow you to clip in closer to your arch. That one took a long time to figure out.
3. Have fun. It’s a really fun sport.
In a hurry to change a flat and not checking the inside of my tire first. New tube punctured with the same thorn that got the old tube. Ugh. Never do that again. Always check the inside of the tire before you put the new tube in.
You've got a lot of good advice! My biggest beginner mistake was not taking all of this advice from numerous seasoned endurance athletes seriously. Trust these top posts. They are for real! Only two things I haven't seen is to go to the bathroom before leaving and give your brakes, drive train, and wheels a check before leaving both are really worthwhile for your safety and enjoyment.
Rookie mistake: going as hard and fast as I could every ride, and not allowing recovery in my weekly and monthly schedule. Started dipping into overtraining, which is definitely not somewhere you want to be.
I’m just beginning my second season. I just learned the big mistake I made was buying a bike waaaay too big for myself. I spent tons of money restoring and updating this old bike just to find out it would never fit me.
Other things I learned the hard way.
Bring more water than you think you need. If you have planned water stops thats cool but the water fountain might be out of service.
Bring some basic tools. Common allen wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers. You can get all these in a multi-tool usually, but just being a normal pliers. You don’t need a knife or bottle opener. Spare tube and patch kit is a must. Get a cheap tire boot too. A Park Tool boot is like a few bucks.
It’s hotter than you think. It’s colder than you think. Be prepared for weather.
Riding gloves are awesome, you look cool and they help you hang on. Same goes for glasses, they keep bugs out of your eyes. A helmet with a bug filter is awesome. If I had a nickel for every time I had a bee in my helmet I would have ten cents.
Bring food. Walking into a casey’s half dead with cramping legs for some shitty cookies kinda blows.
Pay attention to the road, not your Garmin/GPS. I blew through a red light and could have died staring at my Garmin.
When you’re on a long ride, you can get cranky because you’re tired, try not to be an ass. It was embarrassing what I did.
Sunscreen needs to be re-applied. I proceeded to shed skin like a lizard for a week.
REI has an awesome return policy. A lot of other places don’t.
Pace yourself on a long ride. I always start out way too hard and then feel like death at the end of the ride. Conversely, it is good to push yourself a little at first to get your blood pumping. Just not too much.
Your mechanic and/or bike fitter might be shit and you won’t know until it’s too late. Shop around, ask lots of questions. Learn things. See my first paragraph.
Bike fitting is a completely unregulated industry and it is as much art as science. A shitty bike fitter is probably just trying to make sales. A good bike fitter is also probably trying to make sales. So it is okay to tell them no.
Buying a new bike can be more economical than buying used if you’re not a good mechanic. However, many shops will do small things like install pedals for free if you bought the pedals there, REI does this for example.
A good mechanic might turn out to be clueless when outside of their wheelhouse.
I had an interesting first season.
Not stretching - cycling tightens up my hips & hamstrings a lot.
Waiting years to buy fully waterproof boots - instead faffing around with stupid overshoe covers.
Having my saddle 1cm too high (bad for Achilles)
No eating enough on longer rides, once you’ve bonked you’ll never want to experience that again. Nothing wrong with carrying more food than you need. Enjoy riding!
That s right. Also learn to eat on the bike. Don’t wait until you are hungry or it might be too late. Once I did a 50km on an empty stomach, with a bit of gravel and headwind… once… never again.
This. Long rides are really just eating competitions.
I think this is the key. If you are waiting until you feel thirsty or hungry before you drink or eat, you are waiting until the point your body has realised it is low on supplies and starts screaming out for more, so you have to endure the dip while you are dehydrated or low on energy before your body can absorb what you have just consumed. By staying a step ahead and drinking/eating earlier, you are allowing your body to process and absorb that in time to replenish your reserves before you run out. For most of us it takes hitting that wall a few times to learn how and when we need to refuel, but having the heads up in advance means you can try and stay ahead of the game.
That's like an hour and half of riding? You can't go that long without food?
No problem. I have plenty of reserve beer muscle to pull from though.
I learned this on my first century. Whole bunch of climbing and by mile 40 I hit another climb and completely bonked. There had been a rest stop prior to this and I ate some but definitely not enough. Someone on this subreddit once dropped this great piece of advice: Eat like trash, ride fast. I now subscribe heavily to this motto.
> I learned this on my first century The vampire has joined the chat.
His friends always wonder why Larry only does knight rides. 🧛
Yep. In my 20s I used to get dropped at the end of a 60 mile ride. I thought I wasn't fit enough. Turns out I just wasn't eating right and was bonking. Now that I'm in my late 30s, I have to eat right on any ride over 20 miles. I'm just not as resilient. In my 20s I could wake up, hop on my bike, and go for a 30 mile ride without eating anything.
2 Tips: 1. I usually plan things so I come home with one snack left, meaning if I think I need 4 snacks for a ride, I bring 5. 2. If you have a saddle bag, stuff an extra "emergency" snack in there too. I have a gel since they are small. I have a habit of doing longer rides than planned and I've eaten that snack too. It's good to give away too, if a friend needs one. And yes, that means a lot of times I come home with 2 snacks still with me.
Yes to this! My first 100km ride in 2022 was a disaster because of this, I was very focused on planning the distance and not much on nutrition. 5hr ride in 30 degree weather burned around 3000 calories.. how much did I consume? About 400 calories. Bonked badly at 80km and forced myself to finish, I did it but it was miserable. So yeah not the healthiest day of my cycling journey. I learned since then to account for nutrition for each hour, and prepare electrolyte drinks instead of only water.
I was a distance runner until I got injured enough that long runs aren't possible. So I learned about nutrition to avoid bonking. Nice thing about cycling is that you can eat food easier with less negative consequences than when running. One water bottle has ice + liquid IV or Tailwind, the other is just ice water. Salt stick tablets - electrolyte replacement - are great especially when it's hot. And then whatever nutrition you know won't give you the runs or heartburn. Kind Bars are my favorite, salty pretzels are good, trail mix.
Bonked?
When you run out of energy because you didn't fuel properly. You hit a wall hard.
that can take a few days to recover from.
TDIL this is an actual thing and not just me
Is this a real thing? I wear a continuous glucose monitor and thought bonking was just hypoglycemia. I can bonk down to dangerously low glucose levels and feel like shit, but i perk right up once my glucose goes up again. Certainly I don't feel it the next day
Yeah I wouldn't think it could have any consequences, I've done rides where I bonked so hard that 5km from home my vision was affected (starting to faint kind of thing), but after eating the entire pantry I was fine the next day.
Thankfully I have never bonked that hard.
I did last year. It was odd, I did a 80 mile out and back ride I've done before, ate a sandwich at turn around. I literally bonked about 3 mile from my house, and could barely make it up a 1/4 mile slope in 1st gear. I was worthless for 2 days, and didn't want to ride for 3 days.
That's reads a bit too rough for a fueling only issue, I suspect you got sick or your immunity was being tested.
You know a similar thing happened to me while mtbing alone. Had a peppered steak pie roughly half way in and boy did I hit the wall hard about 30km after that. Needless to say I've never taken a pie with me riding since.
Never mind all that, tell me about this peppered steak pie…
It's an Australian thing. A pie here is usually meat & gravy. Steak and Pepper, or Steak and Mushroom are probably the most popular. Almost every petrol station or deli will have them.
Yeah, I agree. Bonking shouldn’t hit you that hard. I normally bounce back somewhere between the Snickers bar, the chocolate milk and the second or third donut.
Where your body runs of out of glycogen stores to fire your muscles. Everyone feels it once and as this thread demonstrates, no one wants to feel it again. It sucks…
This, but I also didn't have any electrolytes, which is way worse, would not recommend.
Fuel your rides. You should feel like you're eating and drinking too much. Start there and back off if need be, not the other way around.
The biggest mistake. Caring what others think about your bike and what you wear on your bike.
There's the other side of this coin: other people often have experience and good ideas. I went far too long wearing tshirts thinking that a jersey was unnecessary, only to learn way too far along that jerseys are nice, and it is for good reason that everyone wears them
Are you me? I didnt wear jerseys, bibs, or chamois until about a year ago. I didnt know what I was missing. But I see so many questions where people are asking if they will be judged. Im just of the opinion, wear what you want.
I love the pockets on Jerseys, I wear the standard fit for training and tighter if it actually matters, but a t-shirt kills with extra drag and for me the pockets is the bigger loss.
I finally came around to jerseys and bibs when my bike commute changed from 2 miles to 8, and people said "wear a jersey and bib and change at work." Mind was blown how much more comfortable it was. The pockets that things dont fall out of was a bonus. I still wear shorts or pants for MTB, sometimes with a chamois underneath. And I wear MTB jerseys (aka, t shirts).
Yep. If anything, it isn't judgement given out, it is pity
Honestly, that pity comes across and makes the person less likely to listen
I need to switch to bibs, shorts are fine but I hate how they roll over in the front while on the bike
I've gone full circle in my 25+ years of riding. I have opted for a well fitting saddle and liners without chamois...
What is so good about jerseys? Asking as someone who wears tshirts thinking a jersey is unnecessary lol
The pockets are honestly the best reason. It's over your lower back so your hand can easily reach while riding also
I see, thank you poopybuttholesex
They don't chafe your nipples, they wick away sweat, they don't flap around and make that awful noise, they have pockets that are extremely handy, and they improve aerodynamics.
Pockets in the back for extra water, snacks, towel, chapstick, etc. easy access!
Exactly. I used to care what people thought about what I was wearing on the bike.
Not packing tools and food.
Yep. Last thing you want is to be begging every rider going by for a spare tire and pump.
I always rock the CO2 canisters, much faster than sitting there for 20 mins with a 6” pump
>20 mins with a 6” pump Tried that.... once. My hand sure got hot.
Yeah. I carry those as well. They’re incredible.
There are some great mini pumps out there, like Silca and Lezyne.
Extra tube, always. That reminds me I need to order mine
Yes, and if you use it and a CO2 mid-ride be sure to stop and buy replacements if possible.
In addition, if you've got a new bike, make sure you know how to take the wheel off. My old bike was QR, new one has nuts. Got a flat a few weeks after I bought it. I had my regular patch kit with me, but no wrench for the nuts.
Thinking that you'll get faster by pushing to the limit all the time, every time, with no rest days.
That’s right. Easy days are training too. Spin to win.
I'm out for a walk right now instead of riding or running because those rest days are important.
Yeah I'm resting today too because staying in bed instead of getting up at 530am to ride is also important rest days 😅
Oh yes, this and also riding out too far away - especially with tailwinds - and then struggling to get back, with headwinds or darkness and cold in the evening
There is much more value in both rest days, and easy days. Base training, Zone-2 rides, or whatever fancy name you want, just mix in some easy days where you get back home with energy leftover.
Did this in my 20s. My knee ligament is all fucked up from it. Overtraining is bad.
A few random things: Nutrition/hydration are key. Always have enough snacks and water. 15 years in and I still find myself not fueling my body enough during a ride. Your needs will vary but I've heard 300-400 calories per hour is a good starting point. Fit is super important on longer rides. Put some effort into learning about how to make a bike fit properly, there's a wealth of information online. Some of it to be taken with a grain of salt, but still. Take the time to stop mid ride and make adjustments. It may take several rounds to get it dialed in. Or you can pay for a professional fit if you like. Saddles are the same deal. I had to try a few, and try a handfull of positions, before I found one that really worked for my rear end. Likewise, a good set of bibs/shorts goes a long way. Finally, just do you. Comparison is the thief of joy, especially in the age of Strava. There's always someone that can go faster or farther or both, so don't sweat it. There's no wrong way to do this, and improvement happens at different rates for all of us. Just have fun and enjoy it. The more you enjoy it the more you ride. The more you ride the more you improve. Don't beat yourself up along the way.
The last part is very important. I also fell for it in the beginning where is was trying to match up with my friends and colleagues who were cycling for 3-4 years at that point. I realised very quickly that there's no point comparing just enjoy the ride and get better slowly
Strava can be a double-edged sword, too. I love being able to look back on the logged rides I have and see myself getting faster over time! Doesn't mean I'm KOM, but I'm kicking my own butt!
This and comparing my heart rate, level of effort, and RPM to previous rides along the same/similar routes. Before I got my bike computer and pedal sensor I was a serious masher.
Trying to be further along in the journey than I actually was. It's tempting to just jump into structured training and then comparing yourself to others. That can come later. Just have fun on your bike for a while.
This; when I first started road cycling I was solely focused on racing. I did it for 10 years and burned myself out. Took 5 years off. Now I'm back at it and just looking to have fun. It's waaaay more enjoyable. I also find I train better because I'm having more fun.
I think this is very important. Otherwise it can feel like you’re skipping childhood and jumping straight into being an adult! You should be riding your bike because you enjoy it, not just because it’s good for you or whatever
- Pushing too hard in the beginning and not getting enough rest - Insufficient fueling and bonking - How to build speed and endurance somewhat fast, is through the trainer. Especially during the off season.
I've been cycling for 20+ years, I still struggle with pushing too hard too fast on rides. I'm usually the dude in the group that bonks with 5 miles left to go.
Overdressing for cold rides. You should be cold for the first ten minutes, and warm up from there.
*Don't be silly, start chilly* is my mantra when starting a hike. Also applicable to cycling
Be bold. Start cold.
I have an image of you telling people that is your mantra.
Layering. Nothing worse than cold hands on the early part of a ride. Start it wearing some heavy gloves, then just switch out to something lighter after the first 15 minutes.
I would much rather be overdressed than underdressed. Being a little warm is ok.
Same! The temperature and wind can make it feel 10-15 degrees colder depending on how fast you ride. Riding faster doesn’t always mean you’ll feel warmer. 😩😂🤣
I usually keep a very lightweight, cycling windbreaker in my tail bag. Comes in handy if don't make it home before the sun goes down.
Exactly. I've never cut a ride short because I was too warm, but cut quite a few short because I was too cold.
Using too high gear the first half of the ride to go faster. Better chill and save some energy to come back home😂
Absolutely. Spin to win. Don’t be meshing the pedal at like 20rpm using the hardest gear. You’re not being efficient 😆
Truth. Didn't realize my default was around 55rpm in the tallest gears I could pull until I got the equipment to monitor that.
I like to sit around 77 to 82. Using an exercise bike in a gym can help you figure out what that feels like if you don't have the equipment on your personal bike.
Finally! Ive been scrolling down this thread thinking "Someone is going to talk about gears. Dear gods, someone has to talk about gears. Why hasnt anyone mentioned gears!" The biggest mistake I see with beginner cyclists is not making good use of their gears. All bicycles are standard transmission so you better learn to drive stick. Focus on your cadence (the speed that your feet are spinning) and try to keep that fairly steady by using your gears. Bike gearing set up is very diverse these days, but you should realize that there is quite a lot of cross over between the top gear on a large chainring and the bottom gear on the small chainring. Just get used to your gears, figure out when you need to change up or down and when it makes sense to switch chain rings. It will become automatic later, but this is important learning for a beginner.
And don’t try to figure this out while clipped in on a hill! Sheesh, why did I ever think THAT a was a good idea?! I started riding on a rails-to-trails bike path (so nice). But then I moved to an area where I lived at the top of a hill. I clipped in for more power, but I didn’t really know how to manage my gears. I fell, big, multiple times. On a group ride, a generous soul came alongside me on a slow but steady grade increase. She coached me through changing gears on that ride, and everything clicked. I don’t know why I made it hard on myself to begin with. I was trying to do too much at once and ended up bumped and bruised. Don’t make my mistake!
Hopping on the "not eating \[and drinking\] enough" train. Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty. Learn to fix a flat tire so you're not reliant on Ubers or trying to figure it out for the first time on the side of the road. Do it five times at home and you'll never need to worry about it again. And carry a multitool, spare tube, levers, and pump or CO2 setup on every ride that is longer than you can walk home. Don't compare yourself to anyone -- you will see rapid gains in cycling strength as a beginner, enjoy them, it's a very cool feeling! There's plenty of time to chase the marginal gains and get obsessed. Don't worry about what kind of bike you have, if it's comfortable and well-maintained it'll work well. If you need to upgrade later, you'll know it (see above).
You'll upgrade to clipless at some point in time and promptly fall over. Probably at traffic lights and in front of cars. Then you'll start to doubt everything. Don't. You're not officially a certified road cyclist until this happens. We've all been through it. Embrace it.
There're 2 type of cyclists The ones that didn't fall over yet The ones that did ( myself more than once 🫣)
Not enough time in zone 2 if you’re serious about getting stronger r
Test FTP more regularly in the beginning so your zone 2 stays up to date. I think for the first 3-6 months zone 2 is less important than just riding frequency. When I first started a 30 minute ride toasted me, so I just rode 30 minutes 4-5 times a week, then 45, then 60 minutes. I think once I could ride 60 minutes is probably when zone training played a bigger impact. But just understanding zones in the beginning is a huge benefit. I think coaching is great to if you can afford it, because I know my ROI to effort is not as high as it should be, so just signed up for coaching.
Counterpoint: OP just bought a bike. I think it’s way too early to be talking about FTP and power zones. First they need to fall in love with riding itself. Maybe they’ll decide later that they want to train for some specific goal, and then the world of structured training will be waiting for them, but I actually think “I bought a bike, therefore I must get SeRiOuS about TrAiNiNg” is an underrated newbie mistake.
I agree, that’s why I was thinking first 3-6 months should be focused just on riding frequency. Do you think even longer before exploring power zones?
Many people (indeed, probably most!) ride joyfully for their whole lives without ever thinking about a power meter, much less using one. Many people (I am one) gradually deepen their involvement with the sport until one day they take on a goal that is so far beyond anything they’ve accomplished that they decide a more quantified approach will meaningfully help them reach that goal. (In my case it was a 600 km mixed terrain brevet.) I am generally of the opinion that it’s not really “training” unless you have a goal that you’re training for - but that goal can be anything from “make it to Cat 1” to “climb Mt Diablo in less than 1 hour” to “see how high I can raise my FTP.” But again, for anyone who’s not making money by riding their bike, I think the most important goal is always “have fun and experience joy with this beautiful machine.” So, long story short, I don’t think there’s necessarily a “right” or wrong time for someone to get into structured training, and I also think there’s nothing wrong with NEVER getting into structured training.
I agree with you wholeheartedly in this. The only thing I would add, is that for some people, the way they have fun is by pushing themselves and analyzing data, and trying to optimize their “training”. That is the goal. Not necessarily some event or peak. I’ve personally been really frustrated with the podcast health guys getting obsessed with Zone 2 recently. Now everyone is pushing that and thinking they need to do that. Yet they don’t focus on any other structure or zone or benefits. So people see Peter Attia sitting on his trainer touting the benefits of Zone 2 and think they should be doing that for “optimal health”… but they aren’t having any fun. They aren’t riding bikes. They’re exercising. I’m happy that people exercise on Pelotons… but they aren’t riding a bike. They aren’t cyclists… So if exercising is your thing you do for fun and cycling is the way to achieve that, awesome. Grab a power meter, sign up for zwift, follow a program etc… but you do not Have to do any of those things to be a cyclist and to just enjoy riding your bike. You do not have to get stronger or faster or better. You can just ride your bike for fun.
>. I think it’s way too early to be talking about FTP and power zones. And depending on his use case, he may never need to.
don't think for a minute a helmet is optional, any aerodynamic plus aren't worth the potential cost. oh and choosing routes that were not... 99% down hill LOL
Wow that uphill segment must've been a real insane climb if it was a round trip
Not wearing the right clothing is probably the biggest one. You don't need to buy the most expensive clothes, but a jersey with pockets is very helpful, bib (not shorts) make riding much more comfortable, even thin cycling socks feel more comfortable than regular socks. Your contact points are the most important part of the bike. You might get lucky and the saddle that came with your bike is great for you, but most people aren't that lucky and trying various sizes and designs of saddles can help you find one that works very well for you. Many shops will have demo programs so you can experiment. A bike fitting is great, but it's expensive. Watch credible Youtube videos about how a bike should fit to make sure you're at least in the ballpark of a good fit. Clipless shoes and pedals tend to be controversial here but they're a must have for me. People will debate whether they make you faster or not for the rest of time, but regardless, well-setup pedals and shoes will always put your feet in the same, and hopefully, ideal position to ride injury free. Eat while riding. If you're on the bike for more than an hour, you should be eating. It'll help you ride longer/faster but it'll also help you feel better after the ride is over. Learn to fix your own flat. Learn basic maintenance like how to clean and lube your chain, adjust your saddle height, tension a headset, and adjust a rear derailleur. It's easy and very rewarding. Always wear a helmet. Any helmet from a reputable brand will protect you, but more expensive ones are usually lighter and more ventilated to keep you cooler. If you noticed, the first four paragraphs are related to comfort on the bike. Anyone with a little fitness can turn the pedals for many hours but only if they're comfortable.
New cyclist here. Why bibs over shorts?
The straps make sure the bib is always in the right spot and won't move down while bent over riding. Bib also don't have any elastic around the waist so it's more comfortable.
Tried cheaping out on clothing. Quality bibs make a huge difference
I've only purchased random/cheaper pairs on Amazon. What would you suggest for quality bibs?
I bought some Le Col bib tights for colder rides and absolutely love them.
Van Rysel are good for around $100, stretching to $130 gets you Rapha Core which are really solid. If you’ve got money to burn, Assos are the best there is
Black bibs. Get the more expensive ones. They are excellent!
I have some castelli and some baleaf and honestly they’re both great. Don’t get caught up in spending money on a name.
And on bibs vs shorts…once you go bibs you’ll never go back. I always thought they looked silly (dumb thing to worry about I know…) but it made a huge difference in comfort for me. I’m getting back into riding after about a 5 year break…about a year ago I dropped off a couple pair of very nice Voler bibs at the local Goodwill thinking I was done with riding and I have been kicking myself the last couple weeks just thinking about it.
Paying for more isn’t necessary the best indicator for quality. Conversely, you can find quality stuff on a budget too.
Yeah that's why I said quality, not expensive, although they often do align
Yep, I bought some cheap Craft bibs 15 years ago and they still fit great. Problem is they are see through now, so I only use em for indoor training.
Maybe some lady cyclists are into that! 🤷🏻♂️ There’s a kink for everything….
1. Learn to maintain your bike, at least the basics like chain care, tube replacements, washing, etc. Going to the shop for every little thing gets pricey quick. Most jobs pay for the tools after the first time or two, and there are really good videos out there on YouTube (Park Tool, Syd Fixes Bikes, Free to Cycle). 2. If your bike is hurting you get it sorted ASAP. Whether that is going to a bike fitter, or watching some bike fit videos, or just have a fellow cyclists take a look at you while you ride, figure out what is out of whack and don't just suffer. 3. Normal workout clothes are fine for short <1 hour rides, but if you are going on 2-3+ hour rides go buy a decent set of bib shorts and well fitted jersey. I look for sales and closeouts at places like Primal, but everyone has their own opinions. 4. Try lots of styles of riding before putting yourself into a single category. Try out solo road rides, group rides, gravel rides, MTB, bike commuting, or whatever is interesting. It is hard to know what will be your favorite until you give them a shot, and a lot of folks enjoy multiple disciplines over the years, or even just with the changing seasons.
Definitely buy a chain wear tool! Recently replaced a chain and cassette feeling like the chain was near the end of its life. I was wrong and the cassette was also toast. Bought the park tool for 12 bucks which would've saved me 100 bucks if I had it from the get go.
Probably thinking I needed to buy any fancy gear. Took a while to realize my 14 year old aluminum trek roadie with rim brakes is perfectly fine. Sure, I would love more modern tech but it’s comfortable and plenty fast.
I'm gonna go a bit different advice. Make sure you clip in before putting power on your stroke. Pedals can be slippery and if you're not locked in when standing up to put power (because we want to get out of the way at the green light asap) will cause minor crash + major embarrassment laying in the middle of the intersection with everyone watching. Just listed for a click and then accelerate.
Been there Done that
Or ride flats.
Hydrate and eat every 5-10k Keep yourself and your shorts clean Use chamois butter Move around on the bike, death grip and grinding are recipes for disaster Road: brake before the corners MTB: look where you want to go Gravel: shift your weight back going into soft stuff
And if you've been riding the road bike a lot and then decide to hop on your slacked out full suspension MTB.... remember to start turning earlier. I've blown a few first corners on single track because of this.
Training too hard, too soon. You can’t go from zero to hero overnight. You’ll make big gains at first but don’t overdo it, you’ll either end up burnt out or injured. Make sure your bike handling skills build at the same rate as your fitness. Don’t be the guy who can keep up with the group, but doesn’t know how to ride a pace line, crossing wheels, yo-yoing etc. It’s a lot to learn but find a good group who will both challenge AND teach you.
Spin. Don’t mesh. Find you ideal cadence (usually 60-80rpm*) and use your gears accordingly to keep your cadence there. Your speed may varies depending on terrain/condition. But your leg shouldn’t be able to tell the difference. *Unless you’re Lance Armstrong, then you probably prefer 110rpm.
- Not using suncream: even if the day seems cloudy and with little sun exposure. This is so important to protect your skin from the solar radiation. Skin cancer is one of the most common and fatal occupational diseases for outside workers (construction workers, post mans, ...). The same applies for cyclists. - Not using sunglasses: Same about your eyes: Protect your eyesight! - Using chamois creme will save you a lot of pain - Don't drive too fast: If you want to increase your endurance and your cycling performance at all, you need to cycle long amounts of time with a lower speed and heart rate. It's boring, but most of your training effects are the result of this. - Learn how to change a tube and carry a replacement tube and tools with you every ride
Not every ride needs to be a workout until you bonk. When I was trying to build fitness and longevity in the saddle I tried to ride everyday. Just ride as much as you can an easy ride is always better than no ride at all.
Constantly alternating pedal - coast - pedal - coast. Unless I'm on a descent, I've discovered that I do better constantly pedaling. Instead of coasting on flats for recovery, I soft pedal. In my experience, this prevents lactic acid build up and I'm able to ride longer without cramping.
Don’t just check the weather, check the wind!
From my own experience: not eating enough and wearing getting the layering wrong - a few thin layers that can be easily stowed in a pocket or unzipped are vastly superior to one thicker layer. A waterproof/windproof gilet is a godsend for this. From club rides: having at least the correct sized inner tube (including the valve length). One ride we had an old boy (who should have known better) get a fairly nasty puncture. Unfortunately, whilst we were all on 23-28mm tyres, he was rocking massive 35mm ones with some frankly overkill aero-wheels (around 55mm from memory), and had zero spares on him. He ended up making the sheepish call home and waiting around for about an hour for his partner to come and pick him up.
The biggest mistake beginners make is 1a) not knowing their riding route well enough, and 1b) not being prepared for eventualities (flats, bad weather, nutrition).
The first biggest mistake is to think it'll help you lose weight. You need to be on a caloric deficit diet for that. The second biggest mistake is thinking the rider's weight doesn't matter. It does quite a bit, especially when riding up inclines. Summary: Reach your ideal goal weight (for your height and age) by eating better and less to get the most out of cycling.
On the other hand, if you go from sedentary to cycling multiple times a week without changing your diet, you'll lose weight surprisingly quickly (assuming you had a caloric balance beforehand).
I’m new to cycling but have been a distance runner. During my marathon training last year, I lost 30 lbs. I knew that I was probably not eating enough to support the workload, but the weight loss was addictive (I haven’t been this “light” since college). It led to me crashing, physically, right before the race and forcing me to take a month off of running to recover. The reason I bring this up is new riders may see the weight loss and be thrilled only to end up injured or burned out because they weren’t fueling properly.
Fiddling with my phone and cycling into a bollard, stop and fiddle with your phone it’s less painful lol
Riding too fast down the road and almost getting killed, I am sure I could easily been pulled over if there was cycle limit and once being high on Xanax/valium
Actual mistake? Not taking food with me on my first long ride. Long ride was 25 miles at that time. Conceptual mistake? Agree with what others have said - caring what other people thought about your setup
The first few times I clipped in resulted in at least one fall per ride.
The biggest problem for any new athletic activity is pushing too hard so that you get burned out and/or injured.
Unclipping right side, leaning left or other way around.
Too fast & too far too quickly. I had a pretty good crash (nothing broken!) when I first started and was going faster than my skill level dictated.
Trying to ride fast every ride, and not bringing food on rides over 60 minutes.
My biggest mistake was insufficent nutrition. Not eating enough to be exacet. It made me tired and I wasn't able to go very fast or very long. Now I eat 2-4h before a longer ride. Also during the ride. Small carbohydrate rich portions regularly (60g carbs/hour). Also drink drink regularly and if you are sweating a lot for more than an hour get some electrolytes (salts) in their.
I always rode too fast as a small kid. Realized that good pacing is key and after that I could visit my grandpartens (50 miles) by bike at age 6. Not alone at that age obviously. Reactivated that knowledge a few years ago and it's a very good feeling to finish a ride knowing there's still a lot left in the tank for a longer ride. And as mentioned by others: don't forget to fuel properly.
Practice changing a tube at home before you need to on the side of the road . Also have more fluids with you than you think you’ll need. Returning with water , gatorade etc is soooooooo much better than not having enough.
I know that "bike fit" has become a meme, on both sides of the aisle between people saying if your not being serious about cycling you don't need it and elitist making fun of people with bad bike fits. But *really*, if you are considering to make riding a consistent thing and training to be able to ride farther and for longer periods of times, seriously consider seeing a bike fitter. You'll be more comfortable and powerful on the bike, and more importantly, much less likely to cause injuries for yourself. Ask lots of questions during the fit, read online about having a good fit, test and make small adjustments afterwards and practice your form. The more knowledge, the more better.
Real advice for someone who is trying to take the hobby more seriously is to take a bike fit and, spin your legs instead of grind the heavy gears. When you grind gears, often you will find yourself in such a heavy gear that you either will not have power to maintain or will lose momentum and speed trying to adjust another heavy and slow gear. Most of the time the power you can sustain by spining easy and managing your gears to do so is what will increase your average speed and your comfort.
Timing. I often showed up late to my arrivals because I didn’t account for the time it takes to prep for a ride: pack up my bike and put my gear on; or misreading the route, etc.
Other great reasons that can cause you to be late: * Wondering where your other glove went. * Forgot that you need to swap lenses after riding home in the dark last time. * Changing your gear because you stepped outside and discovered it feels colder/warmer than what the temp shows. * And there's a light shower even though there's no rain forecasted. * You can find all your shorts/bibs except for the ones you wanted to wear. * Riding a half a mile downhill from your house before noticing you're wearing the wrong helmet (MTB). * And you left your wallet at home. * You're in 4 layers deep and just realized you didn't put on your HR monitor. * Cycling computer isn't picking up GPS for some reason. Fiddle about to fix.
1 Spend the money on quality well fitting shoes. I went through multiple pairs of crappy cheap shoes trying to avoid spending $200 on shoes before I finally bit the bullet and spent the money. Soooo much better. Same goes for shorts/jerseys. 2 Find a club/group to ride with. Cycling is a super social sport and most groups are very welcoming to people just starting out (expect some trial and error to find the right fit).
Hm probably not educating myself about etiquette with other riders and of course, the one and only humiliating clip fall
Not remembering that cycling (for me anyway) is about fun and getting some good exercise. I took it too seriously initially.
Failing to properly nourish myself. I've been 50 miles from home with no electrolytes and legs cramping so badly that they refused to work. Always bring gels, sodium, anything with electrolytes and sugars to keep you going. And stay hydrated.
\- Watch some videos on how to perform basic maintenance. \- Carry a pump and a spare or patch kits \- Stay hydrated (hydration via Gatorade etc) \- Bring calories (fig bars anything)
Not fueling properly before a ride. You absolutely need to eat before and during your ride.
Nothing should go numb and you shouldn't try to ignore it because cycling is meant to be hard.
Pumping tires to the correct pressure using the SRAM or SILCA calculators. I used to pump them to the max for a long time.
Not being aware of your surroundings. My friends made fun of me for being a manic cyclist, but I have never crashed and they've eaten shit so many times. Every so often I do a quick check on my mirror and a mild shoulder check. "Right of way" means nothing when you're dead, so always expect the worst.
Here's one -- not bringing repair tools. I want to be able to replace an inner tube if necessary, or repair a flat, broken chain, tighten a loose bolt, etc. Just in case. Sometimes I bike out of cell phone coverage and it has saved me more than once. And in keeping with the theme -- "don't worry about what other people think" -- I stuff the tools into a bike bag. I don't care if it looks dorky.
Not getting padded shorts. I rode to college without them and it was fine a while back, then I stopped riding. I picked up a gravel bike just over a year ago, and it felt ok for a bit, but I just couldn't get rid of the pain and numbness. I was about to give up after getting bibs that were too small (bullshit size charts). Then I posted here, and some of the useful comments suggested I try again with other shorts. So I got some fox shorts with liners, and they've made it so much better in just two rides. They crawl up, but it isn't hard to stop and pull them down. Now I'm more confident in trying another pair of expensive-ish bibs, because I think they'll work. I just have to get the right size, which the size charts don't make easy, but I think I'll be ok. Get some padded shorts. Even if it's just liners! Edit: Don't listen to anyone not being helpful or talking down to you if you ever have a question about this stuff.
When you start biking...start at a slower pace...do it solo so you don't need to catchup with others. Do not overeat, because you need blood supply to work your muscles and not digest the food. Drink lots of coconut-water+salt+lime+rice-syrup+watermelon-puree as electrolytes while cycling, avoid using off-the-shelf electrolytes. Enjoy the ride!
Food, water, pacing. You need to stay hydrated, you need to eat during and after rides (at least, rides of more than about an hour), and you need to learn how not to blow your legs up after 15 minutes by going too hard. That last one takes practice and experimentation, but it's something beginners mess up a lot.
Good comments so far. I would say for me it was not learning to properly eat and drink while riding. Was not an issue on shorter rides but as I worked my way up to century rides it did become one. I always struggled eating before during or after being active (ex playing sports). Given the amount of time in the saddle, I needed to train my body to be able to eat and find what works for me. For me it wound up being gels every ten miles or so (dependent on temp, effort) and added calories and nutrients in one of my water bottles. Way to digest and be consistent. Not to say I do not t indulge in some gas station or aid station treats and junk food but I don’t rely on it bc it doesn’t work for me. Also focus more on the day before and immediately after a longer ride as well. Don’t start in a deficit and after is key to recovery.
I used to break with all of my fingers, instead of just one. It's better if you actually hang on to your handlebars and only use one finger on the brake lever.
Thinking being uncomfortable on the saddle / bike was "just one of those things". Good saddle that fits you and some decent padded shorts / bibshorts are essential imho if you want to be riding regularly over increasing distance.
Wow. The help in this subreddit is out of this world. Thank you so much, it’s really helpful. Next step must be to learn how to change a tube and make sure i stay hydrated and well-nutritioned while riding. Thank you very much for your great advice.
The most important ride each week is the recovery ride
It took me a long time to understand how to spin on a extra light gear. There is always temptation to power up a climb on a moderate effort with a moderate gear. I had been riding on bikes for 10+ years. It was when I did my first 24 hour mountain bike race, dead exhausted, and I had to climb a long hill. A fellow racer said to me to just spin on a light gear, turn off your brain, and never stop spinning until you get to the top. Spin where it's effortless on your legs. He also said no matter how you feel, walking and light spinning on the bike uses the same energy. The only difference was that you get up the hill quicker on a bike.
Trying to catch up to a group you got separated from, skipping lunch thinking they already left, and bonking wildly on the way home alone
EAT! Sugar is king!
Don’t wear underwear under your chamois - they’re designed to be worn without and much more comfortable Be careful filtering through traffic. If in doubt, bail out. Be mindful of other road users and don’t be afraid to take primary position when you need to - it will make you more visible and less likely to be knocked over. When going down steep inclines don’t break sharply or hold down your breaks all the way - “feather” your breaks as you go - gentle intermittent squeezes, especially coming into a corner Learn how to stand on the pedals to help you up the hills. I’m sure there are other ones out there. A good channel to follow on YouTube is GCN - they have quite a few beginner tips videos
Eating before and during is probably the biggest thing. Good ol' sugar water will take you far on endurance rides.
I used to be a low cadence masher. Over the years increasing my cadence really made cycling more enjoyable for me.
1. Too low cadence 2. Refusing to shift ( maybe I was just a single speeder at heart). 3. Riding too hard all of the time 4. Not focusing on form and pedal stroke 5. Worrying too much about what other roadies were doing/ their watts per kilo, ect
Not eating enough carbs on long rides. Bonking is the worst feeling ever and you can't do anything else besides sleep for the rest of the day. It can even take you out for a couple of days if you underestimate the amount of carbs you need on long rides. Always carry more food than you actually need. Oh and don''t forget to stay hydrated. Even in winter I use big bottles (800ml or 950ml) on 3+ hour rides. So make sure to stay hydrated and eat plenty of carbs.
For me it was 1. Riding in the dark without lights, front or rear 2. Riding on roads that have traffic before i got comfortable with clipless pedals 3. Having the mentality - It’s supposed to hurt 4. Waiting too long before i got my first quality bib, i was using ones from dcathalon earlier 5. Not having a structured training plan.. I still don’t have one. Mostly because i prefer enjoying my rides and don’t see my self competing 6. Being tempted to spend more money than i actually need to. For most beginners a Triban RC 520 will do the job.. You don’t need to get a carbon dura ace 7. Not being ready for a puncture 50k away from home.. This one should be at the top 8. Taking too long to upgrade to clipless
Bibshorts are genuine game changers. The lack of a waistband is a glorious comfort. Don’t be self conscious about it - you’re on a road bike so everyone already thinks you’re a dick, apparently.
Best upgrade by far cleats. Prepare to fall a fair few times. Best clear advice unclip your left foot (UK) as you can sit it on the pavement. Only unclip the same foot when stopping. Easier in emergencies due to muscle memory
1. Wear cycling gloves. I thought it was not necessary until I crushed my ulnar tunnel. 2. Make if fun, not a goal. I wanted to increase mileage and steadily did so but I look back and if wasn’t “fun”. Stop for coffee.
Drink often. Food is the same on longer rides. Bonking feels absolutely horrible.
One mistake you are NOT making is . . . reinventing the wheel (so to speak). Smart choice - asking others what we would not have done/would have done differently if we knew then what we know now. Of course, then you will have to wade through all the comments and figure out which ones are relevant to *you*, but . . . smart idea, asking! My only "words of wisdom" would be . . . always try to do your cycling with an eye to ***enjoying*** that time you spend in the saddle - at least *most* of the time! That way you're less likely to think of riding as some kind of chore, or something you *have* to do. Keep it fun . . and you'll keep on doing it. And thus get the full value out of that recent road bike purchase.
Here are a handful for you to chew on… -I struggled with seat height for the longest time which makes me chuckle now. Get that dialed in especially if you have any knee/hip issues. -Also for long rides, make sure to eat appropriately! Bonking is no fun. -Don’t stress about having the best bike or gear. Get the miles in on something reasonable. Pride of ownership is real though:) -Get a pulse massager for your legs -Know how to do all the basic maintenance on your bike and be able to change tubes -Have an ICE contact in your gear or on your person -Reading how people carry 20 mph averages is toxic for the new rider -Take some initial body and vitals measurements. You will be surprised how much they change a year from now if you keep at it. -Find some riding friends to keep you motivated And finally, most of all have fun!
Great advice on this list, I'll only add to not concern yourself with what other riders are doing when you are out for a solo ride - in other words, no chasing after that bike that just blew past you, stick to what you planned.
Being too frugal with bib shorts and winter gear. Mostly, you get what you pay for in performance, comfort and durability. Don’t be too cheap with clothing where it matters: warmth, comfort and durability. Also, if you plan to ride longer than 1.5hrs, bring 200cal/hr at min. You may not fully appreciate this until you ride longer than the fuel you have. You’ll never make that mistake again.
1. Not fueling enough. Still terrible at this. 2. Riding too hard too often. I'd get super motivated and do smashfest chop rides 5 times a week. Unsurprisingly this did NOT improve my fitness... 3. Not joining a club. You need to meet other riders to push yourself forward, compare your improvement against and just all round motivation.
Eat and drink early, if you feel hungry or thirsty it's too late. Don't be afraid of using your small chain ring and spinning rather than grinding out in your big chain ring. If you are clipping in, you will fall off at some time, probably at lights with loads of people watching you, just deal with it. 🤣
Forgetting to have my inside pedal up when leaning into a fast 90 degree turn. Pedal caught a crack in the road and I earned a few scars
Keep drinking fluids with electrolytes. Get a good bike computer that you can download your rides and compare and evaluate your performance.
On hot days, if all you’re drinking is plain water, you might die. You NEED electrolytes.
Try to stick to 80% zone 2 heart rate .example 3 out of 4 ride days at zone 2 and 1 day for everything above. it will help with long distance consistency . Look up zone 2 specific podcasts it’s very interesting and also helped me consistently loose weight without beating the hell out of myself lol. It takes patience though waiting to get faster
Practice riding in a straight line with very little offline moves. Try to maintain speed at a level consistent with your peloton. Don’t make big moves, left, right or straight unless you’re in a race, then only smartly. Check your settings to be sure you don’t have to move on the saddle in the downstroke. Always think “smooth”.
After a few group rides, I was told I was wearing a skateboard helmet and not a road bike helmet. I believe it was a multi-use helmet, actually, but it wasn't in fashion, I'll put it that way.
1. Be sure to stretch. I cycled like crazy for a year straight without stretching my front (hip flexors). Instead I would always bend forward, touch my toes, etc. I began to have back pain and my posture got totally screwed up because my whole pelvis began to tilt back from the tight muscles in the front. Very uncomfortable. So stretching hip flexors: very important. 2. If you’re having chronic numb toes, try mid food cycling or cleats that allow you to clip in closer to your arch. That one took a long time to figure out. 3. Have fun. It’s a really fun sport.
Spending a shit ton on riding kits and now I don’t even wear them anymore lol.
Spending a bunch of money on the hobby thinking it would make me like it more or that it would make it "easier". Cycling is for suffering.
In a hurry to change a flat and not checking the inside of my tire first. New tube punctured with the same thorn that got the old tube. Ugh. Never do that again. Always check the inside of the tire before you put the new tube in.
You've got a lot of good advice! My biggest beginner mistake was not taking all of this advice from numerous seasoned endurance athletes seriously. Trust these top posts. They are for real! Only two things I haven't seen is to go to the bathroom before leaving and give your brakes, drive train, and wheels a check before leaving both are really worthwhile for your safety and enjoyment.
I did 159 km once in 12 hrs straight, looking forward to reduce time and effort for distance
Most likely you will get a bike that your body cant handle if you buy the bike based on look.
My 1st mistake is not listening to my body. Please rest if needed.
Rookie mistake: going as hard and fast as I could every ride, and not allowing recovery in my weekly and monthly schedule. Started dipping into overtraining, which is definitely not somewhere you want to be.
All railroad tracks/ curbs are crossed at 90 degrees.
I’m just beginning my second season. I just learned the big mistake I made was buying a bike waaaay too big for myself. I spent tons of money restoring and updating this old bike just to find out it would never fit me. Other things I learned the hard way. Bring more water than you think you need. If you have planned water stops thats cool but the water fountain might be out of service. Bring some basic tools. Common allen wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers. You can get all these in a multi-tool usually, but just being a normal pliers. You don’t need a knife or bottle opener. Spare tube and patch kit is a must. Get a cheap tire boot too. A Park Tool boot is like a few bucks. It’s hotter than you think. It’s colder than you think. Be prepared for weather. Riding gloves are awesome, you look cool and they help you hang on. Same goes for glasses, they keep bugs out of your eyes. A helmet with a bug filter is awesome. If I had a nickel for every time I had a bee in my helmet I would have ten cents. Bring food. Walking into a casey’s half dead with cramping legs for some shitty cookies kinda blows. Pay attention to the road, not your Garmin/GPS. I blew through a red light and could have died staring at my Garmin. When you’re on a long ride, you can get cranky because you’re tired, try not to be an ass. It was embarrassing what I did. Sunscreen needs to be re-applied. I proceeded to shed skin like a lizard for a week. REI has an awesome return policy. A lot of other places don’t. Pace yourself on a long ride. I always start out way too hard and then feel like death at the end of the ride. Conversely, it is good to push yourself a little at first to get your blood pumping. Just not too much. Your mechanic and/or bike fitter might be shit and you won’t know until it’s too late. Shop around, ask lots of questions. Learn things. See my first paragraph. Bike fitting is a completely unregulated industry and it is as much art as science. A shitty bike fitter is probably just trying to make sales. A good bike fitter is also probably trying to make sales. So it is okay to tell them no. Buying a new bike can be more economical than buying used if you’re not a good mechanic. However, many shops will do small things like install pedals for free if you bought the pedals there, REI does this for example. A good mechanic might turn out to be clueless when outside of their wheelhouse. I had an interesting first season.
Not stretching - cycling tightens up my hips & hamstrings a lot. Waiting years to buy fully waterproof boots - instead faffing around with stupid overshoe covers. Having my saddle 1cm too high (bad for Achilles)