Any cyclists out there?

[veggiemeggie]

So I just started cycling this week and I absolutely love it! I'm already getting better, I just got back from a bike ride today and it was amazing. I barely had to coast (earlier this week I was struggling to continuously pedal hard - but not today!) :bobo:

Any experienced cyclists out there with tips for a newbie?

[yally]

Aw, I love cycling but I'm too scared to do it in London :( I'm jealous! x

[das_nut]

Take it slow.

Don't worry about the quality of the bike at first -- ride it for a year, you'll discover what you want in a bike then.

A U-lock is a must if there is any bicycle crime in the area. Learn how to lock up a bike properly.

Messenger bags may look hipsterish, but they are quite useful.

Fenders are nice if you want to ride in all sorts of weather.

[Delano]

I just started cycling again too, after a seven year lapse. :)

Had to dust down the old girl, but it's working out all right. Riding on Edinburgh roads scare me, though. Too many cars.

[froggythefrog]

Ack!!! Must get my gears fixed, which is disappointing since I've gone through almost a month of not much biking and really wanting to get back.

[Nessus]

+1 on Das Nut's comments. (You may also want to consider a rack and panniers or trunk instead of a messenger bag, depending on your situation and personal preferences. You may also be able to get away with a backpack on fairly short trips, depending on your posture and tolerance for back sweat... but it wouldn't be my first choice.)

With respect to coasting... A lot of people tend to pedal in a difficult gear and then have to spend half their time coasting because they get worn out right away. It's more effective to pick an easier gear and spin at a fairly high cadence that you can maintain.

If you ride in traffic, ride on the correct side of the road (with traffic) and follow the traffic laws. Also, while you don't want to ride in the middle of the lane (except for some rare exceptions) don't ride too close to the curb either. It may seem counterintuitive, but if you're too timid it can actually be more dangerous as you'll tend to get pushed off of the road or forced to ride over sewer grates, road debris, potholes, etc. If you ride predictably and with confidence drivers will tend to give you a bit more respect. (If you ride in traffic a lot, do some google searches on the topic, check out the commuter forum on bikeforums.net, and chat with other cyclists in your area for tips.)

Also along those lines: we all have a tendency to steer towards whatever we're looking at. That means that when people look around they tend to start weaving and become unpredictable to drivers and other cyclists. So, take a few minutes sometime and practice looking over your shoulder while riding a straight line. Similarly, don't stare too intently at that pebble or pothole in front of you or you might find yourself running right over it. Instead, focus your attention on where you do want to go.

If you're wearing regular shoes, double knot them and tuck the loops into the laced up part so that they can't flop around and get caught in the chain.

Happy cycling.

[reynaldlance]

Wow I love cycling! advise, well I believe I'm a newbie myself, but if I may suggest; you do this activity with your friends this way, you don't feel the alone and the best thing is that you will be surprised on how far you have traveled because as you were continuously having fun chatting!