1. Choose the proper seat height
Do you feel like your pedaling is weak, or do you have soreness in the front of your knee? You can underextend during your pedal stroke because your seat is too low. Beginners frequently make this error because they believe that they will feel more secure and at ease if their feet are on the ground. However, riding with the incorrect saddle height may put you in danger of harm.
Fix: Raise your saddle. Your knee should be randomly bent at the down of your pedal stroke when your seat is at the proper height to prevent pelvic swaying. The space between the bottom bracket and the top of the seat should be measured. Your seat height is as shown. It ought to be good close to the result of multiplying your inseam (in cm) by 0.883. Go to your neighborhood bike store if you need assistance. Your ideal saddle height should be determined by the staff, who should be pleased to do so. Once comfortable doing so, climb off the seat and straddle the top tube so you can stop by touching your feet to the ground. Leaning the handlebars in the direction of the foot you wish to plant will help.
2. Complete a bike fit
One of the most crucial components of cycling is how your bike fits you. No matter how eager you are to ride that new bike, you won’t spend much time in the saddle if the fit hurts.
Seat height and reach are two essential factors in attaining the ideal fit. When your foot is at the down of the pedal stroke, as previously mentioned, the seat height should allow you to bend your knee very slightly. A 45-degree angle between your arms and body over the bike is considered a proper reach. Reaching for the handlebar will hurt your back if it’s too long; if it’s too short, your knees will be too near to your arms.
Take a bike for a test ride before purchasing it to ensure that the frame size is appropriate for you. Then, have a complete professional bike fit performed at a nearby bike shop to determine the ideal seat height, reach, and other factors.
3. Calm Down About the Equipment
To become a cyclist, you don’t need designer clothing, high-end equipment, or clipless cycling shoes (which, despite their name, actually clip into the pedals). There’s nothing like smoking a bunch of expensive carbon bikes on a climb when riding an old beater, even though slick equipment can be a lot of fun. The most crucial thing is to get on a bike and ride; worry about any potential equipment upgrades later. A bike and a helmet are two items you’ll need to get started, but don’t worry about investing a lot of money in expensive new equipment.
4. Maintain Your Bicycle
To take care of the fundamentals, you don’t need to be an expert mechanic. Regular maintenance, such as lubricating your chain, will save you money at the bike shop and increase the lifespan of your bike and its parts. Maintaining the proper tire pressure also simplifies riding and increases tire longevity. To check the optimum tire pressure range, glance over your tire.
5. Refrain from taking on too much at once.
Trying to take on too much mileage before you’re ready is one of the leading causes of injury. Bring your body time to get used to longer distances by building up gradually and easing into them. On a training ride, avoid getting off to a fast start to avoid being tired and burned out later. The first third of the passage should be spent warming up, the second should be spent finding your rhythm, and the final third should be spent giving it your all.
6. Carry a patch kit or spare tube.
The party is over when the distinctive sound of air hissing out of your tires interrupts your peaceful reverie while you’re out there on the path, cruising along with the perfect tailwind. Take a few minutes to patch or change a tube if your backup flat tire plan is to call a friend. If you have the suitable bike tire repair kit on hand—a spare tube, a patch kit, tire levers, and a mini-pump—and the know-how to get yourself back on the road in 15 minutes, you won’t believe how much more independent you’ll feel.
7. Use your tools.
Gears are your most good allies on a climb, and on a long, rolling stretch of road, gears are your most significant source of speed. But learning when and how to change into your most efficient gear does require some experience.
8. Acquire group riding skills
Group rides have their protocol and etiquette for a reason—if your riding is unpredictable, it’s simple to cause a crash. When riding with a new group for the first time, stay out at the back, take notes, and ask for assistance if you need it. There are no stupid questions when your and the group’s safety are at risk.
9. Never Forget to Refuel
You shouldn’t need to eat on the bike if you’re only going for an hour of riding, but you should drink water. Bring food with you if your ride will last two hours or more, and start eating 45 to an hour into your ride. Continue to consume small meals roughly every 15 to 20 minutes. Your body can become depleted if you forget to eat, resulting in a hypoglycemic episode or a bonk. It’s not a good way to end a ride to be exhausted, irritable, queasy, sick, or confused.