New rider tips
12-24-20, 06:02 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
New rider tips
Hello everyone,
I am a BMX rider that has recently turned to road biking. I just bought a Specialized Allez and would appreciate any tips on road biking. Any little tips help and I would love them.
I am a BMX rider that has recently turned to road biking. I just bought a Specialized Allez and would appreciate any tips on road biking. Any little tips help and I would love them.
12-24-20, 06:12 PM
#2
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,493
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3646 Post(s)
Liked 5,378 Times
in
2,730 Posts
Welcome! Wear a helmet. For encouragement and learning skills and etiquette, find a group to ride with. Read the old posts in the forum.
Likes For shelbyfv:
12-24-20, 06:14 PM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Likes For Ctmcycling:
12-24-20, 08:03 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,479
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7648 Post(s)
Liked 3,464 Times
in
1,830 Posts
Just like anything else on the road, Don't have accidents, don't cause accidents, and enjoy the ride.
More than that I cannot say .... specific advice in a general situation......
More than that I cannot say .... specific advice in a general situation......
Likes For Maelochs:
12-24-20, 08:14 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,100
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 821 Post(s)
Liked 1,955 Times
in
941 Posts
Keep your DL/ID and Medical card w/u on your rides.
Always assume drivers DO NOT see you.
Happy Trails. . .
Always assume drivers DO NOT see you.
Happy Trails. . .
12-24-20, 09:30 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,799
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1942 Post(s)
Liked 2,162 Times
in
1,321 Posts
When I decided to take cycling a little more seriously decades ago, the one thing that was drilled into me was cadence; getting my rpm’s at 90 or more. Today, I’m more in the camp of both spinning and low cadence power.
John
John
12-24-20, 10:02 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,893
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1062 Post(s)
Liked 665 Times
in
421 Posts
You're not exactly a new cyclist, but I always tell people that gaining confidence and self sufficiency at basic maintenance greatly improves both the practicality and enjoyment of cycling.
Likes For Gresp15C:
12-25-20, 08:22 AM
#8
For The Fun of It
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisissippi Coast
Posts: 5,845
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2134 Post(s)
Liked 1,643 Times
in
825 Posts
This is the best basic safety read I have encountered. After you have read it, let me know what you think.
https://bicyclesafe.com/
https://bicyclesafe.com/
Likes For Paul Barnard:
12-26-20, 09:24 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times
in
569 Posts
Here's another safety read:
https://www.marinbike.org/wp-content...ls-Handout.pdf
Take some space on the road. Hugging the right pavement edge encourages drivers to ignore you and leaves little room for safety maneuvers. A foot or so out is good or more for car door zones.
https://www.marinbike.org/wp-content...ls-Handout.pdf
Take some space on the road. Hugging the right pavement edge encourages drivers to ignore you and leaves little room for safety maneuvers. A foot or so out is good or more for car door zones.
12-28-20, 08:12 AM
#11
Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Interested in feedback for riding on two lane roads with no available shoulder, not in a residential area, or multiple cross roads? I've read and follow tips suggesting to make yourself observed ...lights front and rear, bright clothing. I basically stay close to the white line when no traffic in either direction. However, when I see oncoming traffic, I will drift into the lane I'm riding to be more observed after looking for vehicles. This is done with speed and distance awareness to allow the car ample time to reduce speed. My thoughts are that I want to avoid the car from squeezing between me and oncoming car by taking up more of the lane. Thoughts?
Likes For gar4403:
12-28-20, 08:57 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,479
Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7648 Post(s)
Liked 3,464 Times
in
1,830 Posts
From the thread title, I thought the guy was falling over a lot ... was going to suggest more practice unclipping .....
12-28-20, 09:05 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
With that I will add wear bright clothing (reflective at night), bright lights on your bike for both day and night, use a mirror either on your helmet or handlebars to see traffic behind you, and with that still assume that drivers don't see you.
12-28-20, 09:35 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bristol, R. I.
Posts: 4,340
Bikes: Specialized Secteur, old Peugeot
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 663 Post(s)
Liked 496 Times
in
299 Posts
It has been said that experience is the best teacher. But it does not always have to be your experience. It works as well to observe how others have screwed up. Read this forum frequently and the trouble have got into.
12-28-20, 10:59 AM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,100
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 821 Post(s)
Liked 1,955 Times
in
941 Posts
^^^^ It may seem obvious, but always cross railroad tracks at a perpendicular angle.
Sage advice, unless you want to upgrade your grupo after the crash.
Sage advice, unless you want to upgrade your grupo after the crash.
12-28-20, 11:19 AM
#16
Drip, Drip.
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 1,575
Bikes: Trek Verve E bike, Felt Doctrine 4 XC, Opus Horizon Apex 1
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1034 Post(s)
Liked 193 Times
in
163 Posts
Take a look at my first post here, it may be of some use to you-
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...rgy-leaks.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...rgy-leaks.html
Likes For Sismologue:
12-31-20, 05:27 PM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
01-01-21, 03:49 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,832
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6929 Post(s)
Liked 10,931 Times
in
4,668 Posts
Here's another safety read:
https://www.marinbike.org/wp-content...ls-Handout.pdf
Take some space on the road. Hugging the right pavement edge encourages drivers to ignore you and leaves little room for safety maneuvers. A foot or so out is good or more for car door zones.
https://www.marinbike.org/wp-content...ls-Handout.pdf
Take some space on the road. Hugging the right pavement edge encourages drivers to ignore you and leaves little room for safety maneuvers. A foot or so out is good or more for car door zones.
01-01-21, 03:52 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,832
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6929 Post(s)
Liked 10,931 Times
in
4,668 Posts
Take a look at my first post here, it may be of some use to you-
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...rgy-leaks.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...rgy-leaks.html
01-01-21, 05:14 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,917
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1813 Post(s)
Liked 1,692 Times
in
973 Posts
I was an experienced rider with over 20 years on the road when I joined a cycling club 25 years ago. I learned as much in my first 2 years with the club as I had in all my earlier years on my bike. A good cycling club with a welcoming attitude for newcomers can be a very good learning experience
Likes For alcjphil:
01-01-21, 05:22 PM
#22
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I can’t emphasize enough what others have already said. A group to ride with is great. I got into cycling at the same time as a friend and I don’t think I would have stuck with it if I just rode solo. Still ride to this day 6 years later.
01-01-21, 06:08 PM
#23
Senior Member
My methodology does not have to be your methodology, but.. 1) I ride only with my fiance, never with a group or even another couple. We may consider riding with a couple, but not a group. 2) We ride extremely rural roads, with mirrors and Garmin Varia radar blinky rear lights. And also front facing lights. 3) We don't have earbuds and music playing. I almost always hear a car before it shows up on the Garmin display, but the wind can obscure the sound of approaching cars. 4) I almost always ride hugging the white line. Never been sorry I did that. There's times when I zone out and am not aware of cars overtaking me, but because I'm riding as Far Right As Possible as my default position, I don't need to adjust my location on the road.
01-04-21, 01:41 PM
#24
Newbie
