One good thing about the pandemic is that it has encouraged a lot of people to buy bikes. While The Guadz in general don't believe that every cyclist has to be their friend, they agree that this is, for the most part, a Good Thing.
But buying a bike and making it a sustainable interest are 2 different things. Several of my friends have purchased bikes and are using them to various degrees - some have made it a part of their riding habit, and others have ridden it a few times and then stashed it away.
The motivation for riding has to come from within you. However, there are things you can do which will make getting started in the sport - as well as continuing with it - a lot easier.
Here are a few tips, in no particular order, on what to do once you get a bike.
1) Learn to fix flats yourself: Punctures happen. Unlike car flats, which are a pain in the ass to fix, you can fix a cycle flat very easily and in a few minutes. To do so, you need the following: (1) 2 tire levers (3 is better, in case one snaps), (2) a spare tube and (3) a mini pump. Spend 15 minutes on Youtube watching a video on how to change a flat and you are good to go. It is also recommended you get a patch kit - on the ride, replace the tube and when you are home, use the patch kit to fix the hole on the punctured tube. The patch actually makes it stronger than before.
You can carry all these parts either in a ziplock bag in your cycling jersey pocket - or, if you are just cycling in a regular tee-shirt, put them in a saddle bag that goes underneath your bicycle saddle.
One tip - when replacing a tube in the tire, make sure you find the cause of the puncture and remove it from the tire first. Or your second tube is also going to go flat in no time. Second tip - get a mini pump with a flexible hose It is easier to use on the road.
Punctures are an inevitable part of cycling and should not be something to be feared.
2) Get a track pump for home use: Tires work best if they are regularly pumped. I pump my road bike tires up before every ride, for example. You can use the mini pump to fill up your tires but they are a pain in the ass to use daily. A track pump (or a floor-standing pump) is far easier to use on a daily basis.
3) Padded shorts are your friend: If you just commuting or riding short distances, you can ride wearing what you are comfortable. But if you plan to get into sports riding, consider buying a pair of padded shorts. Padded shorts make your bum feel more comfortable - get them, dont get gel seat covers. Gel seat covers are a horrible idea and actually increase friction on your perineum, which can cause numbness in your groin.
Padded shorts should be snug-to-tight. This is because their other purpose, for male riders, is to keep the boys snug and out of the way. You do not want your privates moving around when you cycle - that hurts. Tight shorts prevent this.
And this is why bib shorts should be black, atleast in the front, unless you want to flaunt it
If you are still getting some friction, feel free to slather some Vaseline on your unders. Also, needless to say, you do NOT wear underwear under padded shorts. They go against skin.
Good padded shorts can actually get very expensive - people that ride a lot of miles each week spend Rs 10k or more for high quality padded shorts from Assos, etc. You dont have to spend so much yet. But get a decent pair of padded shorts from Decathlon or, better yet, Apace or Heini (support local) and you will be a lot more comfortable on the bike. If you are too self-conscious about wearing shorts like this, put on a pair of running shorts over them if you must. If budget allows, get riding-specific baggy shorts. The inseam stitching on the crotch is more comfortable.
PS - cycling jerseys are nice to have - they have pockets in the back where you can stash stuff (food, phone, tools, etc). However, they are not essential. You can get by with any kind of moisture-wicking technical t-shirt or even a singlet, if need be, and stash your goodies in a saddle bag or a small "bento-box" on top of the top tube.
4) Get your bike fit sorted: I have written some articles on this site about how to achieve a good bike fit - read them. Also read other sources online. A bike fit done by an experienced professional will nail your fit down really well - but even as a relative beginner, you can get fairly close to an optimal fit by playing around with parts yourself - adjusting the height and fore-aft of your saddle, the height of your bars and the size of your stem. Fit is an always-evolving thing - so don't feel locked into one position.
Cycling is no-impact sport. You should not finish a ride with hurting knees, hurting lower back, numb hand or a numb crotch. Any of those is typically a sign of a bad bike fit.
If you are not sure, you can always post a video of yourself cycling on BikesZone Reborn on Facebook, and get some feedback from people who know what they are doing.
5) Get a multi-tool: This is really handy thing to have when you need to do some minor work on your bike, be it on the road or at home (although at home, full sized tools are more convenient). There is a trade-off between having too many and too few tools - a multi-tool which tries to cram in every imaginable tool becomes a pain in the ass to use. And obviously, you don't want too spartan a multi-tool either. For road use, I like having a multi-tool that has a Philips screwdriver and #3, #4 and #5 Allen keys: it is small and compact, and easy to carry.
If you want a more feature-rich multi-tool, you can get one which has a spoke key, a chain breaker tool, and maybe even a built-in tire lever.
6) Find other people to ride with: If you are just doing loops around your housing society, it is one thing (a very dull thing, but whatever). But one of the nice benefits of cycling is being able to go explore nicer roads and countryside. When you are starting out, it can be a bit intimidating to think of doing so alone. Find some company to ride with - for one, there is safety in numbers. Second, if you have a problem, a more experienced rider can help you solve it. Thirdly, it is usually more fun. Lastly, it is a great way to stay motivated.
You don't have to do all your rides with others. There is value to riding alone, at your own pace, as well. But when you are starting out, company is a good thing. You can then later decide to go off on your own.
Do note - do try to make sure you ride with a group with a pace and interests that are similar to yours. If you want a leisurely Sunday ride with chai and samosas on the way, you may not want to join a group of speed-focused roadies who are looking for a suffer-fest. That won't be fun for you, and it won't be fun for them.
7) Progress sensibly: Everyone wants to get a 100km ride or a 30kph ride or whatever. That's all well and good. But really, riding 100km at a very slow speed and then ending up sore for the next 5 days isn't really that great an achievement. It may impress your non-cycling friends and it may even be a big achievement to you initially, but the reality is that it is better to build your fitness up to the point where you can ride 100km regularly without it feeling like an achievement.
So if you have just started cycling, refrain from focusing on social media adulation and instead, develop your fitness. Start out slow, build up your weekly volume. Do atleast one long ride on the weekend (how long that is depends on your fitness - it should tire you out nicely, but should not break you) and do a few rides on weekdays. In fact, it is better if you stop worrying about distance and just focus on time when you are starting out - that will avoid an excessive emphasis on distance and allow you to focus more on volume.
Use this time to do things like learning to improve your cycling cadence (you should be cycling at a relatively easier gear and spinning your legs more), figuring out your gearing, getting comfortable on the bike
8) Be safe on the road: If you are in India, you know what the traffic is like. Be careful. The helmet is there for protection if you fall off the bike - it is not there to protect you if you get smooshed by a car.
Be visible - lights are your friend: bright light in the front, flashing red light at the back, even in daytime. Be predictable. Keep an alert eye on your surroundings. Slow down in traffic or congested areas. If you are in doubt, stop entirely rather than risk getting pasted.
A few tips:
- Always ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic. For running and walking, it is recommended that you run into traffic. Not for cycling. The relative speeds get too high if you are riding into traffic.
- As far as possible, stay out of the way of motorists. If there is a shoulder, use that. If there is a lane with more 2-wheelers, stay there.
- Sometimes, you have to share a lane with cars. Your natural tendency will be to stay to the edge of the lane. However, what this does is encourage some jackass in a car - most likely an Innova with commerical plates - to pass you very closely in the same lane. That can be very dangerous. In such cases, it may be better for you to be more assertive about "taking the lane" (ie, occupying the middle) - or finding safety in numbers with 2-wheelers. If you are unsure, consider avoiding such roads as much as possible
- If you ARE going to take the lane, make sure it is clear before you move out. Suddenly swerving into the lane is recipe for getting creamed.
- Also, if you are occupying a lane, signal to the car behind you - I generally give them a hand sign to ask for patience, and then I try to get out of the way as soon as it is safe (or maybe the road opens up and they have room to pass me safely)
- If you are going to stay towards the edge of the lane, atleast stay far out enough that you have room to swerve towards the SIDE of the lane if some unexpected pothole comes up.
- Never, EVER swerve into the traffic side unless you are 100% clear it is safe - hit the pothole or stop if you must, instead.
Roads vary. Traffic conditions vary. These are not rules, but some ideas to keep in mind - feel free to adapt them to your specific riding conditions.
9) Learn more about your bike, maintenance and upgrade options: Properly maintained bikes go years without issues. I lived by the seaside for 17 years and rode in the rain and on broken roads, and never had a mechanical. Park Tools is a great website for learning maintenance. Specifically, focus on keeping your drive train (chainrings, chain and cogs) clean and well-lubed, and give your bike some TLA once a week with soapy water and a sponge/cloth. Your bike will love you back.
Also, while not essential - upgrades are fun and can give your bike a new life. New bar tape to add a pop of color. New tires are almost always a big improvement over the stock heavy POSes that come with the bike. New wheels can glam up your bike and shave as much as 500gm off the weight. Will these necessarily help you go faster? Not at all. But a bling bike is a bike you are excited about - and that only makes you more excited about riding it.
10) Dont waste money on fancy nutrition: If you are riding for 60- 90 minutes, you don't need electrolytes or nutrition. Water is fine. Maybe a banana, tops. For longer rides, you can get pre-packaged gels, bars, etc. Or you can just take a couple of bananas and a Snickers bar. After 2.5 hours on a hot day, nothing beats a cold Coke for that extra kick to take you home.
I used to ride 100km in the middle east - with the temperature in the mid 40s at the start - with just water and bananas, and a Cola + snack after 2 hours. That's how I still ride. Gels and stuff are saved for race-day and maybe a few trial rides before. Your mileage may vary, but don't feel the need to overdo nutrition. Like I said, 60-90 minutes should be absolutely fine with just 1-2 bottles of water - and if you are starting out, that is likely the duration of your rides anyway.
The most important thing to do, however, is ride. Sounds obvious, but many people are too busy looking for the perfect opportunity to go riding, or always have excuses for why they cannot do so. Work, family, etc. Rubbish. You can always find a way to make a few hours a week to ride - all you need to do is prioritize the cycling. Set up your bike and clothes the night before, get up and go.
For all the obsessing we do about bicycles, gear, training, etc, remember that this is a very simple sport - get out and ride. Eddy Merckx, when asked about how to get better at cycling, came up with a very pithy and very appropriate answer: Ride More. That still holds.
