My advice to newbies.

[antnee]

Just found this, probably been posted before, but will no doubt be useful to somebody and worth psoting again

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/commuting/article/trav20111121-Effective-Traffic-Riding-pt-1-0

Interesting item.
I see this item and having read it I now seem to think that this is an approach I have adopted while riding around town. As the article states you must be seen (not to sure if some vehicle drivers are even aware of the cycle rider) so why can't we take our place on the highway prominently. After all we are as much entitled too?

Ok I always wear a high visibility top and to date don’t have to travel after dark so am cutting down the odds of an accident (collision?)

Oh and while I’m just up here on my little soapbox.

Everyone who takes a driving test should have a weeks cycling course as part of the test what does anybody think about this I know it’s a bit of a minefield type of subject and probably someone must have posted this type of thing before?
If the moderators think it should have a separate thread, please move it
Regards Antnee

 

[squeeze321]

Very helpful advice Andy.

I have not ridden a bike for about 28 years and I am about to purchase one within the next few months. Apparantly, once you learn to ride a bike you never forget and with a very expensive insulin pump attached to me I am hoping to stay on the dry side of the canal banking for as long as possible.

 

[antnee]

No you don't forget Squeeze. But just take it easy when you start I did​

​

As I was a non rider for years then just started again about four years ago and used to dismount just to turn right if you have any traffic free cycle paths near by use them first perhaps.​

Ok I realise you probably worked all this out for yourself so don't take it the wrong way.​

I hope you have many happy hours on your bike​

Regards antnee​

 

[squeeze321]

Thanks for your your advice antnee,

I live about 7 miles out of Greater Manchester and I am quite lucky to live here really, seem to be in a good location for Country parks and canals I am a little nervous of traffic but in time I think it will be fine. I am sure that a little 'road nerves' are probably normal and I am cautious by nature so I am sure everything will be fine.

 

[SWSteve]

I am a little nervous of traffic but in time I think it will be fine. I am sure that a little 'road nerves' are probably normal and I am cautious by nature so I am sure everything will be fine.

I wasn't massively comfortable when traveling through traffic at first, confidence has grown with time...it's just a battle to be confident and not get cocky as my parts will break before a cars do. Just go and do some road miles when they are quiet, don't jump straight into rush hour traffic

 

[fatalbert]

This is great advice, thanks very much

 

[chernij]

Good stuff - thanks!

 

[Louch]

I had my first fully confident roads run today. Until now have stuck to a lot of cycle paths . Came to a t junction today and went along road instead of path and stayed on it rest of the way. Now more concerned re dogs on paths than cars on roads. Made my ride a lot better

 

[chernij]

I had my first fully confident roads run today. Until now have stuck to a lot of cycle paths . Came to a t junction today and went along road instead of path and stayed on it rest of the way. Now more concerned re dogs on paths than cars on roads. Made my ride a lot better

Congrats, always good to hear there's confidence! The worst thing to do is hesitate at T-junctions and you did great!

 

[ethics58]

Very good post. I love your tips and advices. I am just a newbie and this is the very first thing I need. Thanks!

 

[Bill Soens]

Hello each.

I read with interest all the missives from those who are newcomers - more or less- to those who are considering moving on to competing in various types of events, whether this be road racing, track (velodrome) etc. Quite a big step really but one that is helped on by joining a suitable and well established club. I learned to ride a two-wheeler (so I was told by my mother) when I was just under three years old. That would have been 1940 !!! To this end I enjoyed what was probably quite the finest time for cycling and bike-racing - when roads were fairly empty of traffic and we saw the change across to the Continental type of road racing, not without some Luddites kicking and screaming about it ! Now in my dotage I have been contributing to a new website www.outdoor-expert.co.uk in an attempt to advise those who are looking at the onward step of actually competing. I think the beauty of bike-racing is that it caters for all abilities with a sensible category system; you're not going to get your legs torn off by some Olympian every week.

May I wish all of you all the best for the future. Bill Soens.

 

[NealM]

Great advice from the OP, many thanks for taking the time to put this together .

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Having looked through this thread there doesn't appear to be much about setting up the bike when you have it.

I gave this advice a few days ago which has received some favourable comments, so thought I'd share here too:

Just a thought, I don't think anyone has mentioned saddle height yet. If it is too low (very common with newbies) it will make the legs ache quite badly, especially around the knees.

An easy way to get it about right is to set the height so that with the heel on the pedal your leg is straight at the bottom of the pedal stroke. The leg will then have roughly the right amount of bend when the ball of the foot is on the pedal and you can fine tune it from there.

I hope this is of use.

For context, the thread it came from is here: link.

For complete beginners you might feel uncertain, as with the saddle at the right height you are likely to be unable to touch the ground when seated except on tiptoe. The trick here is when coming to a halt, transfer your weight onto the pedals and step down to the ground as you stop - very easy and once done 3 or 4 times it'll become natural.

 

[Roadrider48]

Hi all. I did post this elsewhere, but here seems more appropriate. I am currently speeding around good ol' London town on a Lombardo MTB. And have been for a good few months now. Before that, I had a real cheap MTB from Halfords (Trax I think....£80 all in). Anyway, I'm digressing slightly. The point of this post is that I'm now about to buy a road bike. My budget is modest (£400). But I have seen in Halfords the "Carrera Zelos" for 3 or 4 hundred quid. I was wondering if anyone could give me their opinion or guide me to another bike perhaps. (£400 is not a lot I know, but at the moment that's the best I can do and I am desperate for a lighter more agile bike) thanks in advance for any advice anyone may offer.

 

[themosquitoking]

A mate of mine got the carrera virtuoso a few weeks back and is having a lot of fun on it.