9 Beginner Mistakes In Cycling And How To Avoid Them

Cycling Weekly

We've all been there, we've all made these mistakes when we started cycling - here's our guide to avoiding the common mistakes.

Transcript

00:00 (upbeat music)

00:02 - Whether you're a cycling newbie or seasoned pro,

00:10 we all make mistakes.

00:12 And while it's believed that we learn best

00:13 from the errors we make,

00:14 at the time, it never quite feels like that.

00:17 - So to save you the time, hassle, and embarrassment

00:20 of making silly cycling mistakes,

00:21 we've gone to the effort of making them for you.

00:24 Here's our top cycling mistakes to avoid.

00:29 (upbeat music)

00:31 We'll forgive you for this one

00:33 because it's an easy and common mistake to make.

00:35 Positioning your saddle too high or too low

00:38 could lead to a loss of power, as well as injury.

00:41 While bike fit is unique to each rider,

00:45 there are some guides to follow

00:47 when it comes down to saddle height.

00:48 As a guide, ride along with your heel on the pedal.

00:51 When your leg is at the very bottom of the pedal stroke,

00:54 it should be almost fully extended, but not quite.

00:57 If this doesn't feel quite right,

00:59 feel free to change it slightly until you are comfortable.

01:02 - Hitting the wall or bonking,

01:07 as it's commonly referred to among cyclists,

01:09 is when the body quite simply runs out of fuel.

01:12 In most cases, you come to an almost grinding halt,

01:15 and things will only get worse until you refuel.

01:17 It's an error everybody has made,

01:19 but it can easily be avoided.

01:21 Before each ride, make sure you are sufficiently fueled.

01:24 In other words, have something to eat.

01:26 Porridge and bananas or toast with honey

01:28 are great to help fuel the body over a few hours.

01:30 Out on your ride, take with you more than enough food.

01:33 A few gels or bars and a couple of bottles,

01:35 heck, even a sandwich, will all provide energy

01:38 and keep your tank topped up.

01:39 Trust us, you'd much rather have too much food

01:42 in your jersey pocket than not enough.

01:43 - Yeah, there's no mechanic van coming,

01:50 and for most of us mere mortals,

01:52 we've got to be self-sufficient,

01:53 because not everyone's gonna stop and help.

01:55 Clearly.

01:57 So to get yourself up and running back on the road quickly

01:59 after a puncture or a double puncture,

02:02 you'll need at least two spare inner tubes,

02:05 a mini pump, or gas canisters.

02:07 And to make your life easier,

02:08 pack a couple of tire levers and a multi-tool

02:10 into your saddle pack.

02:11 In colder conditions, it's always better

02:16 to slightly overdress than underdress.

02:18 And remember, you can always take layers off.

02:21 But even in warmer climes,

02:22 never leave the house without a rain cape or a gilet,

02:25 because it could really cause your body temperature

02:27 to plummet if there's a sudden downpour.

02:29 - And if you're heading out up hilly terrain,

02:34 remember, the higher you go, the colder it will become.

02:37 Wearing a windproof cape will prevent wind chill

02:40 and keeping body heat.

02:42 - Get into the habit of regularly checking

02:47 and keeping your bike well-maintained.

02:49 Not only will this make it perform better,

02:51 but it'll be nicer, easier, and safer to ride, too.

02:54 Pay special attention to the brakes, gears, and tires,

02:57 and make sure that you're regularly lubing and cleaning

03:00 your chain to prolong the life of that, too.

03:02 Now, if you're not confident doing all this

03:04 by yourself at home,

03:05 then most bike shops do offer servicing now,

03:07 so make sure you're taking it in every now and again.

03:10 - We've all done it.

03:14 The adrenaline is coursing throughout our veins,

03:16 and we just can't help ourselves from firing out the gates.

03:19 Cycling is a tough sport at the best of times,

03:21 and while there's nothing wrong

03:22 in wanting to go faster than ever,

03:24 or beating a PB,

03:25 it's important that you know your limits

03:27 and ride within it.

03:28 Going too hard too soon could ruin your ride,

03:32 not to mention your morale, too.

03:33 - It's common for those of you who are new to cycling

03:39 to align your brakes too much.

03:41 When needing to slow down,

03:42 it can be tempting to grab the brakes hard,

03:44 but braking must be done in a controlled manner.

03:47 - Braking extremely hard could lead

03:49 to a loss of control and stability,

03:51 and in extreme cases, could see you flying

03:54 directly over the handlebars,

03:55 not to mention it doesn't do any favours

03:57 to your mates behind.

03:58 Instead, keep your eyes on the road ahead,

04:01 anticipate, and brake gradually,

04:02 using a combination of front and rear.

04:05 - Your gears are there for a reason,

04:10 to allow you to ride comfortably over a range of terrains.

04:13 They're there to make your life on the bike easier

04:15 and more enjoyable.

04:17 There's no need to grind a hard gear at 40 RPM.

04:20 All you're likely to do is injure your knees.

04:22 Likewise, there's very little point spinning 140 RPM

04:26 in easy gears all the time.

04:28 You'll just make yourself dizzy.

04:29 Lastly, make sure you know which part of the lever

04:32 moves the gear in the directions you want.

04:34 There's nothing worse than grinding up a steep hill,

04:36 only to make matters worse by shifting into a harder gear.

04:40 - No one likes a visible panty line, not least cyclists.

04:43 The chamois in your cycling shorts

04:45 is designed to be worn directly against your skin,

04:47 and it'll make things much comfier too.

04:50 (whooshing)

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