Back when I first started cycling, I wish someone had told me about essential yet very easy things to overlook. From my personal experience, I can tell you that paying attention to a few important factors can make your cycling debut a lot easier than mine was. So, if you are about to join the world of cycling, don’t make the same mistakes that I did.
I Jumped Into It Too Quickly
Ever been too eager to start doing something? I surely was. As a result, I stormed into the world of amateur cycling without the right preparation. First, I hadn’t spent much time looking for the right bike. I can’t emphasise enough how important the choice of your bike is.
It goes without saying that you have to decide where to ride your bike. Once you do that, you can choose the bike that fits a certain terrain most. For instance, you can choose a road bike with small tires for asphalt.
Having the needed equipment is also crucial for your first cycling experience. Besides the bike itself, you should have tools like tyre levers, mini pumps, etc. You never know when you’ll need them, right?
Even though many of you may think that it’s not important to care about your diet when cycling, there’s more to it than you think. More specifically, you should avoid types of food that will give your stomach a hard time. Instead, you can eat more lightly.
Another thing to look into is how often you eat. Many experienced cyclists tend to have a couple of breaks during their long rides. Each time they start feeling like they need fueling, they stop for a while and have a bite or two.
Lastly, before you go out there and do your best, ask yourself, “what is my goal?”. In other words, you don’t want to go all in and push yourself to the limits if you plan on cycling every once in a while.
On the other hand, if you want to gradually build up your form and become more than an amateur cyclist one day, you can approach it with more caution and be more serious about it.
I Left Some Things Unnoticed
There were also several things here and there that I took for granted. Firstly, I should have known about gear shifting. You need to learn how to adjust your gears depending on what you’re facing.
In fact, all the terrain types (steep, uphill, and flat) require different gear adjustments. Finally, I failed to notice the difference between riding alone and riding in groups. If you prefer riding alone, you should also have a phone by your side in case of an emergency.
When riding in groups, it is necessary to go at a pace that is not too fast for you. This further means that you should not position yourself in front of everyone else and dictate the speed of your group. Instead, you can agree upon your average speed and, as a beginner, may want to stay back in the crowd.
