Wish I'd known that!

[Easytigers]

Decent pair of bib shorts and a saddle that fits! Before that had many cheese grater moments!

 

[numbnuts]

Forgot about clipless

 

[XRHYSX]

A helmet, they save lives they do

 

[XRHYSX]

For months I rode the bike with under inflated tyres, It does make a big difference when they have the correct pressure.

Ive got a MTB and for a few years just used the knobbly tyres it came with.. when it was time to change them I fitted hybrid tyres, WOW what a driffence and now use the bike more then ever

 

[AndyPeace]

Drink water! around every 15-20mins whilst riding. +1 to padded shorts, which are made to wear comando style for true comfort!

 

[PaulSecteur]

More one for the winter....

When cycling in low sun, remember that your shadow points to where people are being dazzled by the low sun. (through a dirty windscreen)

If the sun is behind you, casting a shadow in front of you then on coming traffic will have a hard time seeing you and may do a right turn in front of you.

 

[MaxInc]

Get a road bike

 

[youngoldbloke]

Merino socks, and shoe covers.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Whilst riding eat often and keep drinking , especially in cold weather when you just don't feel like it.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

A helmet, they save lives they do

I wear one to stop my big baldy head burning in the sun , Oh and yea to save lives

 

[GrasB]

As a beginner what was the best piece of advice or tip have you ever had?

When tweaking nipples, overshoot by about 50% before returning to the desired position... I'm talking wheel truing

What's the best bit of kit that you ever bought that you cant be without now?

Thermal skin suit. Warm & good fitting over a massive temp range without movement restriction...

 

[summerdays]

Be careful around lorries - I hadn't realised just how large their blind spot was.

 

[Helidoc]

Bib shorts AND leg warmers.

If you are going to put the warmers on before the shorts then make sure you have privacy, otherwise you look like you're in the Rocky Horror Show!


David

 

[redcard]

Keep your toes, fingers and ears warm throughout the winter. Everything else will be just fine.

 

[swansonj]

I don't mean this in any way to be disparaging of the much good advice that is available, but I'm very glad that when I started cycling, no one gave me any advice. So I just started pedalling and got on with it. I cycled round my university town in whatever clothes I happened to be wearing ... then I started cycling longer distances on the same bike wearing the same clothes ... then when a mate and I decided to do LeJog, I just wore pretty much the same clothes, and I didn't even have toe clips let alone clipless. No one had told me it was complicated or technical, so it wasn't. I'm pleased to benefit from lots of good advice now, not least from some of you, but I'm even more pleased that my introduction to cycling was as uncomplicated as possible - just get on and cycle somewhere, anywhere, anywhere that takes your fancy.