10 thing I wish I knew when I started cycling
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- Experience is the best teacher and we're all on our own journey. Here's what I'd share with people if you're looking to jump into cycling!
instagram: @bikewithcarolin
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Disclaimer: If you are inexperienced in exercising or considering starting a fresh fitness regimen, it is advisable to consult with your healthcare provider. This video may provide insights into health, fitness, or nutrition, and it is intended solely for educational purposes. It is essential to understand that this information should not be viewed as a substitute for seeking guidance from a qualified medical professional or recommended treatment. Please be aware that engaging in any exercise or program is entirely at your own discretion and risk.
As a _long_ time cyclist, I must say you've compiled an *_excellent_* list. Ride safe & have fun.
Appreciate your comment, thank you for watching!
I am an avid cyclist and Carolin absolutely nailed it. The only other thing I would mention is to always use high protection sun screen as cyclists we are exposed to the sun.
G'day Carolin, that is a great list! One thing I would add for anyone who is riding on the road is to buy a decent set of front and back lights for you bike. Not just for night - but on a daytime flash during the day. Being seen by (increasingly distracted) drivers on our roads - hundreds of metres out from where you are - is one way to avoid being hit!
And if you ride a lot on quiet, country roads, a tail light with an integrated radar to warn you of vehicles approaching behind is another brilliant addition to your bike. Worth the investment!
Great point..Rechargeable lights are great too
Another rule: When trying a new hobby, interest, pursuit, etc., start slow and small and don't go overboard right away. Like, don't go from not riding a bike much if at all to doing 3-5 hour rides regularly. That's bound to lead to injuries, health issues, frustration and burnout. Work your way into it and if it take you'll be doing it for years. You're not looking to prove anything or make up for lost time, but to enjoy yourself and get fitter.
This applies to bike maintenance and repair too, of course. While it's important to understand how your bike works and be able to do basic maintenance and repair work on it, as you won't always be near a bike shop that's open when something goes wrong, you shouldn't try to learn and do too much of it too fast.
Start by learning how to fix a flat, adjust derailleur and brake cable tension (if you have traditional ones, and the corresponding adjustments if not), center brake pads and keep them from rubbing, reattach a chain that's fallen off, clean and lube your chain and parts, replacing a cassette, etc., and work your way up to more difficult tasks (if you so wish) like replacing your cables (or hydraulics and wiring), adjusting play in bearings, truing a wheel, etc.
But, even if you never bother with more complex maintenance and repair tasks (and that's fine), everyone should be able to do the ones that come up during rides, or else you're likely to have to get a ride back home.
Oh, and, of course, take all the tools and parts you might need for these on your rides, e.g. multitool with chain breaker, tire levers, spare tube or two, patch kit, spare quick links, etc., and lights if you get stuck out after dark.
I'm 65 years old and have recently taken up bike riding, I've a lot to learn but sites like this is just what I need, thanks
A couple more: 1. Take a little bit of $ + travel card with you in case you run out of food or maybe need to get public transport if you have a mechanical 2. Don't let your bike sit in the garage wet after a rainy ride, wipe it down, wipe the chain and relube to prevent rust, 3. If you are out and about and need to lay your bike down, do so on the none derailleur side.
Also, it's amazing how many people you see with the seat way too low- your knees shouldn't come up round your ears! I like the seat as high as is comfortable to stretch out the legs properly
Last one, helmets need to be on properly and tight enough round your chin so it doesn't fall off your head if you crash!
Actually this is the last one- Cars might not see you- be careful and assume they can't if you are passing intersections where they pull out. At night have lights!
💯
I never thought of wiping my bike down. That's great advice.
A properly adjusted helmet should stay on your head without a strap, that is not to say you don't do the strap up, just make sure the helmet fits properly. You should be able to have the helmet on comfortably but if you bend to touch your toes then it stays on your head without straps.
Also, if you have an accident and the helmet takes an impact, buy a new one, regardless of if it looks ok, the integrity will be compromised. Finally, helmets only last so long, they should have a date stamped inside. A 10 year old helmet will give zero protection.
Soreness tends to be from muscles; pain tends to be from joints. Nice breakdown, Carolin, especially the chapterization!
You are so great! Your voice is so needed. Thank you.
Excellent presentation Carolin. Agree that people should make good use of their local community bike repairers.
4:14 YES. FINALLY finally, someone else, AGAIN , said something on How to Fix a Flat! Thank you very much.
Very well done video! Clearly articulated and you hit all the salient points a beginner needs. Kudos!
being single for 30's+ 😂 i don't know what life ahead about and I just ride my bike for me to be happy😅
X2
Same here bro
You guys too? This made my day
Same here😂😂😂😂 but sad part can’t afford to buy bike too🥹
I just do fentanyI
Agree with all. Well said. I do wear a seamless undershort. This allows the layers a bit of slide without binding.
Great video. I've just taken up cycling again after some years away and these tips will really help. Thank you and happy cycling 🤗
You are right about a flat, it's a skill that needs practice. Good technique is a real help.
Fantastic advice, Carolin! great job! be safe and I hope to see you around the roads near SF!
Along with eating on a regular basis drinking water at the same pace or sooner is mandatory. I carry two bottles and always start out with both of them full. You have put together an excellent list, I really enjoy your channel.
Very useful tips either as a reminder, validation or just additional technical information all bikers need to do every ride.. tfs!
Thanks so much for this video, just bought my first proper bike and surely I am adding some of the advice to my to-do list!
Carolin -- I have been road bike riding for 40 years, you have made a good list that will help beginners,
Just today i was talking to an avid cyclist i work woth that i was going to look into getting a bike and your video popped later in the day. Thanks for the good advice
Glad I could help!
Wow some really good advice and things I never thought off. I only have mountain bike but thought about getting into road bike riding.
Hey, thanks for that refreshing advise. Many of us bypass those simple but important things. I think that I will go that way. Thanks again happy cycling.❤
Thanks the info on the video is so good for beginners been riding since the end of pandemic but started on bmx when i was in grade school
Fantastic tips for a new rider such as myself. Thank you!
You nailed it!! Great tips!!! Also always inspect your bike before and after a ride. Use bike lights too.
Join a friendly club, forget your ego, ask questions, ride your bike as much as possible :)
What if there are no friendly clubs or any clubs at all
@@methylmercury thats a shame :( hope the cycling is fun nonetheless.
I don’t enjoy people
Fantastic tips. Thank you for this!
Well done. You certainly hit a half dozen points that I learned the hard way. Your video should help new cyclists avoid some pitfalls. Good public service. Thank you.
Thanks you described me perfectly I did all of those
Congratulations! Excellent video.
Amazing tips thank you🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤
Love the night and day effect.
Super useful material !!! Best from Poland !!!
Well done on the list! I started competitive cycling when I was about 14 many moons ago ( LONG before the Internet) and just ate up everything I could on how to be better. Your list is pretty much the basics I learned back then. Not much has really changed. But let me make a few comments:
1) Fit. Yes. Bike fit may be the most important item when starting cycling. It leads to a more comfortable ride on top of preventing injury and lessening fatigue. And when you get advanced and know more how your body works, you can tinker with crank arm length and seat positioning.
2) Group rides are super great. Not only is a great social thing to do and learn what others do, but teaches you so many bike handling techniques. Like being comfortable riding within inches side by side with another rider. Or teaching you what lines to take in corners. So many great things. The biggest difference between lower and upper ranked racers IS NOT fitness. It's bike handling technique. Seriously.
Well done on your cycling journey. I hope to get back into cycling and revisit the joy of riding and taking little adventures.
Well said, thank you!
All good pointers, Carolin. When I first started cycling, I had a flat and didn't know how to fix and was an hour away from my car. Luckily, I encountered a LBS owner who changed out my flat and got me going again. When I got home, I started watching UA-cam videos on how to change a flat and now can do it with ease even though it's the last thing I want to be a pro at lol. Also, I just wanted to mention about your repair kit, make sure to carry a tire pump and not just CO pump and cartridge. I've ran into people stranded on the side of the road with CO pump and spent cartridges. All it took was a tire pump to get them going again. It doesn't have to be expensive, just one with the correct valve head.
My dad taught me how to patch a tube when I was 8. Thanks dad.
Thx for the info! Nice bike!
Fantastic advice, you are awesome .........
Good job Carolin!!!!!! Loved watching this, the list is great, and your editing is really good too!
Glad you liked it!!
100 % great advice listen and learn thank you.
verey good topic that helped me a bit . Thanks 😊🚲
Really great list! I knew about recovering from muscle soreness but had to learn tendon recovery the hard way.
Last autumn I bought a hardtail MTB (not new to cycling) and rode it through the winter. I pushed through so much snow on the lowest gear... often in -15°c.
My left biceps femoris tendon started to ache on every ride. Though that has mostly recovered, the right side is lightly snapping. Will have it checked soon but for now it isn't happening while riding. Give tendons 3 days of recovery after intense efforts.
Awesome info, so glad you are a cyclist! Happy riding!
Nice video !!! Very clear and well thought out.
Thanks for the awesome info
Check the weather before your ride so you can layer accordingly. I also recommend reviewing your route ahead of time so you can plan for the hills. Oh, also get a tire bead jack. It will save you a lot of time when installing a tire.
Great list, easy to listen to. Just had my first bike fit!
nice!
Great advice!
This is a great list.
Great top ten of things to learn and do as a cyclist. Especially # 5! Show respect for your group and know how to fix a flat quickly.
Perfect tips! One tip if I may, get yourself a nice pair of rear lights. Those ones aren't safe enough!
Thank you for sharing
Great advice. Thanks!
Good stuff. Thanks for this video
Good vid hope to see more
So great. Thank you!!!
Great video!
Great insights for new cycling enthusiasts. I've been aware of all of these things, but a bike fit and bibs are something that I have still avoided.
great list and lovely smile
your bike, or that bike in the background, looks nice do you have many reviews on your equipment? this was an interesting video, normally when i go on long mountain bike trips i just take a bike bottle of Ribena, and some granola bars. not done any road biking but interested after seeing all these educational and interesting cycling channels now on utube. its all about getting the time to put in the training, i focus on swimming and rock climbing, plus yoga, not enough biking in the last few years. your channel is a boost of inspiration. thank you for your time to make such informative and interesting videos. if you can make a video purely about diet, nutrition that would be interesting. thank you.
Great vid!
My best advice is listen to Carolin! I've always said the the two most important things are what holds you and your bike to the road; that's your saddle fitting your sit bones and your chamois pad fitting your bits! Rubber side down-
Excellent information, especially about the undies part, thank you. I’m in the Bay also, maybe I’ll see you on the GG sometime, lol! Namaste!
Thanks for the great video! Would you recommend any online resources and/or tips on how to learn to fix a flat? I feel my local bike shop will not be necessarily interested in spending time with me on this.
Re the eating - not necessary to eat continuously if you’re fat adapted . I routinely do 20-30 mile bike rides early in the day before eating.
I’m 71 years old.
Keto for the win.
Great information! Can you please tell me the make and model of the bike in the background? Thank you!
Excellent advice! 👏👏👏
Thanks!
Good tips. Hello from the bay
Thank you very helpful! I kept admiring your bike in the background. Tell us about your bike.
:) ua-cam.com/video/2YlIgGqwIt4/v-deo.html
Interesting video!
Nice video and useful tips...I'd like to ask you when it is recommended to do stretching? when you finish your ride, before it or just simply every single day to keep fit and feel less soreness???
I’ve just started cycling so this is really useful for me
I’ve also joined a local bike club ( Seacroft wheelers in Leeds U.K) who are so friendly and helpful
Just had minor hand surgery ( trigger finger release) so unfortunately no cycling this week
How tall are you/ what bike do you have ?
Different bikes have a different feel and each is a unique experience. I enjoy my mountain bike just as much as my hybrid bike , cruiser bike or road bike .
nice to have those options to satisfy different cycling moods :)
Very smaaaart!!!
Enjoyed that thanks
Along with frequently eating I would suggest taking more water than you think you will need for the ride. Also be sure to keep a constant intake of electrolytes because your body loses them through sweat 😅. At the end of the day just remember to have fun. Happy trails 👣!
I've been riding as adult for about 10 years now and have yet to get a bike fit, for me I don't think I need it, but I would recommend. I would imagine a new rider could learn a lot.
more props to ya! it takes a lot of experimenting and research to get dialed in. Agreed, a new rider would learn a ton. I was a sponge asking all the questions to the bike fitter :D
I suspect you got lucky. I purchased a new bike for bikepacking. Felt OK for say 30 miles but when starting to think about 50-60 miles potentially with another 20-30 lbs on that steel frame I started to get a bit worried. Ended up with a shorter stem, spacers to bring up the bars, changing the angle of the hoods, spacers on my pedals, some adjustment to my SPD cleats to true up my stroke and a longer seat post and a new seat. Still not ideal but at 65 I don’t have the time to experiment (though am going for a smaller chainring after climbing with half my load). Pain probably stops more people from regularly cycling than anything else.
what handlebar do you have on your bicycle and what is the drop? thanks in advance. :-)
Great list, I would add...
1. Get bike bright lights; front and back
2. Wear at least one bright clothing on you.
3. Ride as if you are going to get run over by drivers. You see them but they dont, remember that.
4. In time, you are going to see and hear horrible bike crashes and even death. At some point in your life, you will stop riding or you will keep going until you die.
5. There are two types of riders; one who fell and one who is going to fall.
Bonus
1. Dont apply bengay cream on your lower back before your long ride. Its going to sting. 😂
2. Try triathlon bike short with minimum padding. Get bike seat/saddle cushion.
Boy oh boy .....number 5 really resonated with me.
bonus: wear a helmet
FACTS!
Small correction..Spare "tube" , not "tire" ...all great tipe though! I recently got a bike fit after complaining about the cost but ill never regret it, helped with back pain (from being hunched over) and knee pain too.
I just came across Carolin's channel and after watching I subscribe. She doesn't come across as a cycling ego-maniacal goof.
Have two bikes. One will be down with slow flat and it will prevent you from messing up your routine. Ride the same path if you can on normal routine rides. Different route on casual less intense workout long distance rides. Always wear helmet. If I didn't I would have been dead at least half dozen times in the past 30 years or so. I only ride with Brooks leather saddles now. I've had them all. Air, Gel, you name it. They all will fail in no time. Most comfortable Brooks saddle; the B17 and Swift. I have both. Once they are broken in, you will never go back to conventional saddle. Group rides are nice but it will not give you a good workout. Have fun! BTW, I've been a road cyclist for over 45 years. I now only have Litespeed Ultimate and Bike Friday's Pocket Rocket single speed.
Beauty, intelligence, and maturity; a fine and rare mix!!
good stuff...
Be ur own bike mechanic.
Ok. And how do I learn? Any recommendations on helpful UA-cam channels etc?
Or dont. As you like
Thanks for the video! How you dealt with this knee pain you mentioned?
Think it was through her bike fit and parts adjustments that were recommended then.
yep, the bike fit was the primary factor to address the most of the knee pain. I actually have a routine for pain management involving a handful of other things like foam rolling, resistance bands, etc.
Thanks. I have fallen into some of those points…on the wrong side
thanks for watching! we live and learn :)
about to change my outertires for the first time! any recommendations for a road cyclist? Live in a city
Yeah, downhill has its own challenges 😮
Thank yoouuu
This list it for a hardcore ride-all-day kind of person. If you only go a few times a week and only for 1 hr or less, you can skip a lot of these
For prep for a flat, to carry with you on a ride, you need a tube, not a tire. Even if you use tubeless, a tube will be needed for a flat that the sealant won't handle. Otherwise, excellent list!
Is that a steel Niner RLT in the background? Fine choice...
;)
And here i am buying all my bikes online
EBay is great for buying new warranty frames that are being cleared out. Wrenching your bike, upgrading and experimenting with fits is, initially, more fun than the ride. (Once I have dial-in my ride, I would rather be out riding.)
1. I wish I would have learned to true wheels
2. I wish I would have splurged and bought better quality stuff when I was younger and physically able to appreciate it*
3. I wish I had never stopped riding regularly/daily**
*I remember about 20 years ago in a store, they had a classic Bianchi road bike- steel frame in celeste green, Campagnolo components- just stunning. And at a good price as I recall. I was tempted, and my wife said yes, buy it, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger. I wish now that I had bought it.
**Alas, about 15 years ago, moved for 5 years to the South. Where I lived, bicycling was just not a thing. It was dangerous on our road, impractical due to climate. Hardly anyone road bikes there.
What about cleaning the bike?
Couple of years ago I post “still learning even after 20 years of riding. “ I was doing a solo ride up the blue ridge parkway and that would involve serval of tunnels through the mountains which I was excited about but the devil is in the details we all gone through tunnels in our cars where it’s lite up n our cars interior lights automatically turn on. Now imagine you been riding for hours in the sun n you riding into a tunnel of darkness where you can t even see your hand in front of your face and disorient. Umm yea the tunnels r not lite in the mtn after I pick myself off the ground. The i remember what the park rangers said to be careful in the tunnels bc bears find temporary comfort I started running out as bast as I can w my cleats even though I was like only 20 yards in felt like a mile w fear of being attacked. Moral of the story bring lights when going to the mountains
thanks for sharing, good to know!
Triple bypass? Colorado
You forgot to mention, learn to use toe clips, or cleeted shoes.
Pullup on the pedals harder than the push down sensation. Push and pull every stroke and keep your foot level with the ground. (Svoid ankling at the top and bottom). This will save your knees. And will more than double the power you can put down.
I was just recently experimenting with that. From experience, not keeping the foot level would cause some knee discomfort.
It can also be done on flat pedals as well with some practice.
A lot of us are quad dominant. Doing the pedal technique correctly should make the hamstrings sore after a ride.
The loss of power are caused by "dead spots" in the pedal stroke. Using the entire pedal stroke awakens the posterior chain which sends some crazy power to the crank.
No, she did at the end: what’s one advice you would give to new cyclists. Hence her Top 10, and you get to add your own. I’d edit out the phrase “you forgot to mention” !