What are some things you had to find out the hard way when you started cycling?
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What are some things you had to find out the hard way when you started cycling?
(Maintenance or on the road) For instance, today I cleaned my chain for the first time with one of Park Tool's chain cleaner. I don't have a work stand so I had my roommate hold my bike while I cranked backwards. I made a huge mess on the floor (some of the citrus cleaner managed to get on my wheels) and the chain kept falling off (I also didn't have the chain in the smallest cog, which I just found out would have made my task easier).
#2
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There are seams between pavement sections on the road that will swallow a 23c tire and turn your racing bike into a slot car that is doomed to crash. Watch out for those.
#3
aka mattio
the worst part about that was that it was his third or fourth day riding after recovering from another injury.
the other broken collarbone.
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(Maintenance or on the road) For instance, today I cleaned my chain for the first time with one of Park Tool's chain cleaner. I don't have a work stand so I had my roommate hold my bike while I cranked backwards. I made a huge mess on the floor (some of the citrus cleaner managed to get on my wheels) and the chain kept falling off (I also didn't have the chain in the smallest cog, which I just found out would have made my task easier).
you used a chain cleaner indoors?
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ALWAYS bring some food or at least a gel.
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Don't reach down and remove that little stick from your spokes while riding. Your hand will get jammed between the fork and the spokes and you'll end up on your %*#.
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Be careful of noobs in front of you; you might be wearing their snot.
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Never ride on a crappy seat. When I first started riding my seat wasn't suited for my butt-bones at all. And it resulted in a constant forward position where most of the pressure was on my junk opposed to butt-bones.
After a long hill climb I felt slight tingly / numb feeling, which concerned me greatly. There are tons of nerves that run through that area that I never really thought about before.
After a long hill climb I felt slight tingly / numb feeling, which concerned me greatly. There are tons of nerves that run through that area that I never really thought about before.
#12
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
When I started cycling the most difficult thing I had to come to terms with was that there would never be enough hours in the day in which to do it.
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I read an article years ago that listed five things you must learn how to do as a cyclist: 1) jump your bike over an object in the road, 2) ride in a straight line, 3) look behind while riding while maintaining a straight line, 4) counter-steer into turns, 5) change a flat.
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This is really important.. especially in city riding. Yesterday I was cruising down riverside drive around 20mph and there is an 18 inch long ditch style pothole that crosses the entire street. Just a little bunny hop (easy while clipped in) got me just over it, otherwise it could have been a rim bender, or just really pissed me off, especially on my new carbon ride.
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When Dad takes the training wheels off and you fall on the grass, don't put your hand out to break your fall because it might land on top of a bee who WILL sting you.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
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Two things I learned:
The easiest way to get reeeaaaalllllly fast up a hill is to get chased by a snarling, frothing Rottweiller. The other is that your labrador retrievers will lick you to death when you fall on your clipless pedals for the first time in your driveway and you've fallen in such a way that your laying on one arm and the other is tethered by your glove to the brake lever and you're laying there, humiliated like a helpless slug.
The easiest way to get reeeaaaalllllly fast up a hill is to get chased by a snarling, frothing Rottweiller. The other is that your labrador retrievers will lick you to death when you fall on your clipless pedals for the first time in your driveway and you've fallen in such a way that your laying on one arm and the other is tethered by your glove to the brake lever and you're laying there, humiliated like a helpless slug.