Dear Fit,
Due to a chronic ankle injury, I have been forced to give up running. So I am looking to start cycling, which I have never really done for fitness. I am just looking for a few pointers and/or things you think I should know, and just basically looking for some inspiration. Thanks!
— Cycling Newbie
Sorry to hear about the ankle, that is a bummer, but great that you're looking to biking for exercise. While both forms of exercise work your legs, biking tends to build the quads while running works the hamstrings more. Biking is not considered weight-bearing the way running is, so you should add walking or weight lifting to your fitness routine to make sure your bones are getting stimulated so they stay strong and dense. While nothing makes me feel more free than riding my bike, it can be a gear-heavy sport. To see what I mean, read more.
First of all, you need a bike, and good road bikes can cost a pretty penny. If you live in a major metropolitan area, chances are quite high you can find yourself a great used bike. With the economy the way it is, folks are selling off gear they don't use regularly. Before you start shopping, you should go to a bike store and get sized so you know what size bike you're looking for. A pair of padded shorts will make your ride more comfy. Add to those shorts a set of clipless pedals and cleats (shoes that attach to pedals), which make you much more efficient at pedaling and work all the muscles in your legs more evenly. It is one sport where I have found that good and appropriate gear really make a difference in my enjoyment. I hope I don't even need to say this, but always wear a helmet, and if you're biking at night wear lights. Be conspicuous on the road!
Find a cycling club (here is a directory of clubs) in your area; riding is so much fun in a group and you can learn so much from experienced riders. A great way to meet other cyclists is spinning class. Many serious riders move their workouts indoors for Winter, plus these classes will help you get comfy in the saddle as well as provide a place to work on maximizing your pedal stroke.
I could go on and on, and now I really want to hop on my bike. If you have any tips for a cycling newbie, leave them in the comments section below.
Finesse
Early 20
Rag and Bone
Yes! I'm excited to start cycling! After watching the last leg of the Tour of California, I was totally amazed by those guys! I hate that I can't run anymore, but as much as I want to, it's just a bad idea. This just might be what I use that tax refund towards!
1That is a bummer, Rennee.
My doctor recommended I give up running because of a chronic injury
issue too. I told him he was going to have to give me advice on how to work around it, because I can't imagine not running. I dream about running.
2I tried that for a while (trying to run through it) and ended up with even worse problems, so I've given in to the doctors. Hopefully cycling will be just as good
3Some tips:
Gloves... A good pair of gloves with padding makes the ride SO much better! Go for the ones with open fingers! They're much easier to get off and your hands won't get so sweaty!
DO NOT wear clothing that easily catches the wind!! I wore a windbreaker once (for golf, you know?)... and while it was a good workout, the parachute-on-a-bike thing isn't really my style. After that I bought a really great, light jacket made specifically for biking (the back is longer).
You'll most likely want to replace the standard seat on your bike with one of those fancy ones that relieve the pressure on your lady parts. Try it out first, but most people I know swear by it.
I tend to pull muscles in my back more often when I bike more (I'm a runner too and the biking position is just different) so you might want to try stretching out your back and shoulders before and after you bike.
Have fun and be safe... hope this helped!
4My comment...make sure your brakes work well, but not too well! I bought a new bike last year with brakes that worked very well, and I ended up going over the handlebars when I put the brakes on to avoid a collision. I broke my wrist on impact (but it could have been worse, I guess). Since then, folks keep telling me to only brake with my back brake. I'm going to try that this year if I can muster up the courage to ride again.
5I'm getting a new bike fore this summer. I can't wait.
6If you are a beginning rider, I'd see if your city or bike store has a rules of the road type thing for cyclists. Although bikes are considered vehicles and you obey the same laws as cars, these guides will remind you about signaling and give you tips for what to do in certain situations. Reading a book on Urban Cycling really helped me out since the cars where I live don't notice you (drive in the bike lane, don't signal turns, turn right in front of you, open doors in front of you, don't give you your right of way at stop signs, etc.) so I need to ride defensively when in traffic.
7i love biking. and i'd recomment not leaving your bike outside for long time, because i see so many people do this in London (all winter long), they just rust... yes, gloves are amazing. i swear by them. and make sure your seat is the right height, most people have it too high or too low, the same for the handlebars. and get the bike with shock-absorbers:) it's amazing... used to have a bike with front and back sock-absorbers, and my booty stayed bruise free, then i went and wrecked it
was hilarious, didn't break anything, but the bike is done. got a new one from freecycle website just plane british bike and it's a bit too much
on my bum.
and light reflectors. don't forget them, even at day. as goatimpact mentioned, some drivers are obliviuos to your existence.
8and get speedometer, it's such a vanity thing, but i just love knowing how fast i'm going.
9My dad was a cyclist
Country roads may seem a great place to ride, but they usually aren't. They wind about and around a lot with hills and that's just a recipe for collision with a driver. Stick to staying within a housing development/trails. Oh and only break with your back wheel! As in, don't break with both hands unless its an absolute emergency. As posted above, you'd just go flying over your handlebars. Not fun!
10I'm an avid road biker these days. I got back into it a few years ago after a long hiatus, and have a few tidbits of advice that may help you enjoy the transition to this new sport.
1) Try a few different types of riding before you buy an expensive bike. Some people love to ride fast on the road, others prefer touring and camping, while others hate traffic and cars and love to ride recklessly on dirt trails. I would get a cheap used bike at first that can do a little bit of everything. Like an old mountain bike with no suspension. You can put knobby tires on it and try out trail riding, or put higher-pressure slick-type tires on it and see how you like riding on the road, etc.
2) Don't push too hard for the first month or so. To get your heart rate higher when running, you mostly just move your legs faster and push harder. When I used to run, my aerobic ability was the primary limiting factor in my distance performance. It takes more time to build-up your cycling-specific muscles to go really hard on the bike. Give it time at first.
2) Definitely test ride lots of bikes at bike shops before you get even a cheap used bike, and get a used one that fits the closest to what felt right (brand, size, type of handlebars, etc.).
How comfortable you are on your bike can make a HUGE difference in how much you enjoy it, so I would also make sure to wear padded shorts, gloves (protect those hands, you WILL eventually do a face-plant), and adjust your bike so that it is comfortable for longer periods of time. Where you come into contact with the bike, is the most important.
I would also suggest trying out a few different types of saddle as well. Most bike shops have extra saddles laying around that are left over from situations like returns, or when someone switches out the stock saddle for a new fancy one. If you promise to buy a saddle from them, they will usually let you try out different types that they have laying around.
The more you like it, the more you will keep doing it. Have fun!
11I also want to add that you should have a bike fitting done. If the bike doesn't fit properly, or you're not fitted properly to the bike, you can end up with injuries as well. Ask me how I know!
Learn how to pump your tires, and also learn how to fix a flat.
Invest in a good pair of sunglasses (preferably specific for cycling, not the huge fashion ones that you would wear every day). Reason being, if you end up falling you can protect your eyes this way. My friend flew off her bike when she hit a patch of gravel going down a steep canyon road, and if it weren't for those glasses, she'd be missing an eye.
Learn road etiquette.
Get Road I.D.
12i'm over thirty, and never tried to ride a bike! is it too late to learn? how do i begin?
13I want to know too soosixty, I think it's kind of scary!
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