Common Beginner Cycling Mistakes To Avoid

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

00:00Whether you're a cycling newbie or seasoned pro, we all make mistakes. And while it's

00:12believed that we learn best from the errors we make, at the time it never quite feels

00:16like that.

00:17So to save you the time, hassle and embarrassment of making silly cycling mistakes, we've gone

00:22to the effort of making them for you.

00:26Here's our top cycling mistakes to avoid.

00:32We'll forgive you for this one because it's an easy and common mistake to make. Positioning

00:36your saddle too high or too low could lead to a loss of power as well as injury.

00:43While bike fit is unique to each rider, there are some guides to follow when it comes down

00:47to saddle height. As a guide, ride along with your heel on the pedal. When your leg is at

00:52the very bottom of the pedal stroke, it should be almost fully extended, but not quite. If

00:58this doesn't feel quite right, feel free to change it slightly until you are comfortable.

01:06Hitting the wall, or bonking as it's commonly referred to among cyclists, is when the body

01:10quite simply runs out of fuel. In most cases, you come to an almost grinding halt, and things

01:15will only get worse until you refuel. It's an error everybody has made, but it can easily

01:20be avoided. Before each ride, make sure you are sufficiently fuelled. In other words,

01:25have something to eat. Porridge and bananas or toast with honey are great to help fuel

01:29the body over a few hours. Out on your ride, take with you more than enough food. A few

01:33gels or bars and a couple of bottles. Heck, even a sandwich will all provide energy and

01:38keep your tank topped up. Trust us, you'd much rather have too much food in your jersey

01:42pocket than not enough.

01:46Yeah, there's no mechanic van coming, and for most of us mere mortals, we've got to

01:52be self-sufficient, because not everyone's going to stop and help, clearly. So to get

01:57yourself up and running back on the road quickly after a puncture or a double puncture, you'll

02:02need at least two spare inner tubes, a mini pump or gas canisters, and to make your life

02:08easier, pack a couple of tyre levers and a multi-tool into your saddle pack.

02:14In colder conditions, it's always better to slightly overdress than underdress, and

02:19remember, you can always take layers off. But even in warmer climes, never leave the

02:23house without a rain cape or a gilet, because it could really cause your body temperature

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

02:32And if you're heading out up hilly terrain, remember, the higher you go, the colder it

02:36will become. Wearing a windproof cape will prevent wind chill and keep in body heat.

02:45Get into the habit of regularly checking and keeping your bike well maintained. Not only

02:50will this make it perform better, but it'll be nicer, easier and safer to ride too. Pay

02:55special attention to the brakes, gears and tyres, and make sure that you're regularly

02:59lubing and cleaning your chain to prolong the life of that too. Now, if you're not confident

03:03doing all this by yourself at home, then most bike shops do offer servicing now, so make

03:08sure you're taking it in every now and again.

03:13We've all done it. The adrenaline is coursing throughout our veins, and we just can't help

03:17ourselves from firing out the gates. Cycling is a tough sport at the best of times, and

03:21while there's nothing wrong in wanting to go faster than ever, or beating a PB, it's

03:26important that you know your limits and ride within it. Going too hard too soon could ruin

03:31your ride, not to mention your morale too.

03:37It's common for those of you who are new to cycling to rely on your brakes too much. When

03:41needing to slow down, it can be tempting to grab the brakes hard, but braking must

03:45be done in a controlled manner. Braking extremely hard could lead to a loss of control and stability,

03:51and in extreme cases could see you flying directly over the handlebars, not to mention

03:56it doesn't do any favours to your mates behind. Instead, keep your eyes on the road ahead,

04:01anticipate and brake gradually using a combination of front and rear.

04:08Your gears are there for a reason, to allow you to ride comfortably over a range of terrains.

04:13They're there to make your life on the bike easier and more enjoyable. There's no need

04:18to grind a hard gear at 40 RPM, all you're likely to do is injure your knees. Likewise,

04:23there's very little point spinning 140 RPM in easy gears all the time, you'll just make

04:28yourself dizzy. Lastly, make sure you know which part of the lever moves the gear in

04:33the directions you want. There's nothing worse than grinding up a steep hill, only to make

04:37matters worse by shifting into a harder gear.

04:40No one likes a visible panty line, not least cyclists. The chamois in your cycling shorts

04:45is designed to be worn directly against your skin and it'll make things much comfier too.

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