7 tips for new cyclists
Here are 7 of my favourite tips from last weeks Zalando Competition where people submitted their tips for new cyclists. I’ve included the winning entry at the end.
Ben Broomfield
Don’t ride without protection! Always carry a puncture repair kit and pump.
- I waswondering how this post was going to end and I was pleased with a great and simple suggestion that is so often ignored.
mick allan
It feels counter-intuitive at first but spinning the pedals fast in a low gear promotes excellent cardiovascular health, reduces strain on your joints and on your bike, allows you to accelerate quicker and you get quicker gear changes. But the bottom line really is a bottom line, spinning gives you a well defined rear-end and lovely lean legs.
- Love this suggestion by Mick! An excellent entry – who doesn’t like having a well defined rear – a great side benefit of cycling.
ramblor
Scope out your cycle route when it’s quiet, say on a Sunday afternoon. This way you’re not navigating around unfamiliar junctions in rush hour. And also don’t always look for the gap – I see so many cyclists who seem oblivious of danger because they’ve seen a gap they can cycle through. If you’re unsure just slow down and assess your options in exactly the same way as if you were driving.
- I’ve given this tip many a time after I’ve my bad first experience of commuting into work. A great tip!
Lizzy
My tip is to take a cycle training course, regardless of how good you already think you are! A lot of local councils will offer free training, so make the most of it! I took level 2 and 3 Bikeability (just a hour or two each) and learnt things I would never have thought of, including many of the tips people have already given here.
- A few people recommended cycle training and I couldn’t agree more about how useful it is. Yet, still most people will read this and keep riding without ever contacting them!
Hannah
My advice would be – persist! It’s bloomin’ cold out today, your bum will hurt for the first week or so (mine hurt the week before last just after having not ridden for a few weeks over Christmas) and you will forget your towel/a change of pants/your shirt [delete as appropriate] a few times. I have worn a hot pink sports bra under a white blouse for a complete working day, so I feel your pain.
Soon the bum pain will be in the past, you will have a finely-tuned routine and will be thankful you persisted. You will get to work for free, get your exercise for free and in otherwise-redundant time you would spend commuting anyway. Plus you will see and get to know so much more of the city by cycling.
Persist!!
- Well summed up! I’m sure many new cyclists go through the exact same experience.
Jon
Keep £20 in your bike bag. If you get a flat at night, in the cold, in the dark, when late or in somewhere unsafe, black taxis are surprisingly friendly about picking up cyclists in distress.
Learn to change flats at a time and place of your choosing. And if you get kevlar belts in your tyres, you may not even get a flat.
- I’ve heard lots of great stories of black cabs stopping for cyclists and allowing them to put their bike in the taxi. Keep that emergency £20 with you!
Our winning entry
I loved all the tips but Julie’s stood out for me:
Julie
Hold a confident, consistent line in traffic. I got back on my bike to start cycling to work last year through Central London traffic, and that was the thing that made the biggest difference to me. My instinct had been to hug the curb, or dip back into spaces where there weren’t any parked cars, but holding a firm line a sensible distance out from the curb, and staying out if there’s anything less than a good long gap in parked cars, makes it much easier for other traffic to see you and to know what you’re going to do next. Oh, and enjoy it! Even if it’s chilly or windy or drizzly, it’s still better than being stuck on public transport.
Thanks everyone and keep your eyes open for future competitions!
See also: 10 lessons learned from cycle commuting for a year