If you could give one piece of advice to a beginner...

[michaelcycle]

what would it be?

Does anything stand out in your mind which helped you more than anything else to progress?

 

[Spinney]

Don't ride in the gutter...

 

[Dayvo]

Use your eyes and ears at all times.

 

[michaelcycle]

Don't ride in the gutter...

What about passing HGV vehicles - is there a good way to do this?

 

[Rustybucket]

assume all drivers cant see you and/or want to knock you off, I learnt that the hard way...

basically be on the ball at all times...

 

[Spinney]

What about passing HGV vehicles - is there a good way to do this?

They are usually passing me!!

You need one of the commuters to give you a better answer. I would say don't overtake them unless you KNOW (not think, but know) they will not move off before you are well in front of them. Better a bit of a delay than a coffin.

 

[michaelcycle]

assume all drivers cant see you and/or want to knock you off, I learnt that the hard way...

basically be on the ball at all times...

So make yourself as visible as possible and leave yourself as much room and time as you can because you never know what a driver will do?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Get your saddle height right.

 

[michaelcycle]

They are usually passing me!!

You need one of the commuters to give you a better answer. I would say don't overtake them unless you KNOW (not think, but know) they will not move off before you are well in front of them. Better a bit of a delay than a coffin.

Yes, that sounds like a good plan. There seems to have been an upsurge in construction lately in London and the damn things are literally everywhere...

 

[michaelcycle]

Get your saddle height right.

Nice one and from what I gather you get the seat height / position determined first by reference to its position in relation to the pedals before concerning yourself with reach to the handlebars.

 

[Rob3rt]

Use the search function.

 

[michaelcycle]

Use the search function.

Where can I find the search function to do a search? I am searching...but nothing.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Nice one and from what I gather you get the seat height / position determined first by reference to its position in relation to the pedals before concerning yourself with reach to the handlebars.

In general I'd say yes. If you're into performance cycling there are recognised methods of setting up the bike from scratch, which I don't have links to but someone else will oblige I'm sure.

Where can I find the search function to do a search? I am searching...but nothing.

The search function is at the top right of the page under your username. It's a useful feature coz most questions have been asked at some time or other.

 

[ayceejay]

If you arrive at a T-junction and there is cloud to your right but blue sky to the left turn left.

 

[slowmotion]

Make sure you ride so that every part of your bike is at least a door's width from parked cars.