An expert’s tips on road cycling for beginners!

People who are just starting out on cycling always freak out about what they should be doing. They always want tips to get that perfect start on their journey. They are so prioritized in their perfect run that they forget to enjoy the ride.

I have many years of experience riding bicycles. I ride my road bike about 4 times a week, mostly whenever I get the chance.

I have faced some issues too like all you beginners out there. Back then I didn’t know who to seek help from. But now you guys have me on the internet.

Just relax and read on my blog. I will share my tips on road cycling for beginners and hopefully they will help.

Advice for beginner road cyclists

I am going to give you some tips and tricks I wish I knew when I first started on my cycling journey. These are going to help you become acquainted with road cycling and get better at it faster.

Tip #1 Know which route you are taking

Know the route you are taking. Is there any place to stop or rest on that route? Do all the other riders in my local take that route? Is that route safe? Ask these questions to yourself and plan what you will need to take with you.

Take things like small energy refills or snacks and for hydration take water or sports drink with you. This planning will give you a better understanding of the route and will form a routine for you. You will soon start to feel like a pro rider.

Tip #2 Understanding your bicycle

You must understand your bicycle, its body parts, all the gears and equipment. Understanding your bike will help you make quick decisions.

In cases of emergency you will be able to fix your own bike if you have better knowledge about it. Also knowing the gears and equipment of your bike will help you take advantage of them. Most newbie riders don’t use their bike gears effectively.

Tip #3 Maintaining your bike

You need to learn how to fix your own bike. I have said that in the previous tip, but it is important so I am mentioning it again.

Learn to fix a tire puncture by yourself. You never know when your bike tire will betray you. So, carry a portable bike pump machine, a puncture fix, and some handy tools.

Speaking of tools, sometimes you might need to fix the position of your saddle, handlebar, gears or shifters. Keep a pocket wrench with you. You won’t have to keep them in your pants pocket. Most bike saddles come with a small pouch like bag. You can keep them there.

Tip #4 Saddle and handlebar position

Your saddle and handlebar position is very important. These two will affect your cycling posture and I have written a blog about cycling posture.

To fix your saddle position, you need to sit on your saddle. Put your feet on the pedals and bring them in at the 6 o’clock line. Now put your hands on the handlebars and check your posture.

Make sure your posture is not leaning forward or have an arch on your back. Make sure your back is straight when you start pedaling. Get off your bike and change your saddle height and position if you feel like changing it.

Tip #5 Wear a bike helmet

You must wear a helmet when you are bike riding. Helmets will protect you from any sort of crashes and injuries. Even small crashes can be deadly if you get hit on the head.

Trust me on this. I have experience with small accidents and I can tell you that my helmet protected me in those days.

Your bike has no seatbelts, so there is nothing to stop you from flying away. So, wear a helmet to protect your head.

Tip #6 Wear cycling shorts

Wear cycling shorts. They will be your best investment. If you want to go faster and have that smooth run that pro cyclers have, you need to have cycling shorts. They are skin tight which makes them aerodynamic.

Not only that. Cycling shorts also reduce sweat in your lower body by letting air flow. It can also cushion your seat giving you the most comfort during a bike ride. So why won’t you have one?

Now you could ask what about cold days or winter? Well no worries. There are cycling pants out there that provide the same benefits of cycling shorts, but they are for winter.

Just make sure not to wear any underwear if you are wearing a cycling short for your ride. Cycling shorts work like underwear.

By the way, check out this bike LRHD Unisex Road Bicycle if you want to get started with road cycling. Kind of expensive but it is really a good investment.

How long should newbies ride their bike?

For most average cyclists who are just getting started, they have a cycling speed of 12 m/hr. This is the average speed for beginners. With this speed most beginners can cross up to 2 mile in a week.

For beginners this distance is enough.  Days per week training and an hour of cycling every time is enough to get anyone in the cycling routine.

My advice is that you start with the 50 minutes ride 4 days a week routine. From there, ramp it up to 60 minutes ride 5 days a week. And from that you keep increasing your ride time if you want to get to an advanced level.

Just cycling won’t be enough, so make sure to get a good diet as well. Try following my blog on “cycling food plan” to get a meal list and schedule. 

Tips for beginners to get better at road cycling

I am going to give you guys a few tips on getting better at road cycling. I followed these tips when I wanted to get competitive, but that only lasted a few months. But I got better at cycling. So hopefully they will help you too.

1. Give yourself time

Great things take time to happen. So give yourself that time. Don’t rush yourself. Week by week, month by month you will improve. So be patient.

2. Lose the Ego

You need to let go of your ego. You can’t expect to be the best. You need to realize that you are not special. You have a lot to learn.

So be patient and focus on your routine. You will get better slowly.

3. Follow a routine

You must follow a food plan and a cycling routine. In order to improve you must be strategic and follow a strategy.

4. Invest in good gears

Good bike gears are going to make a lot of difference in your performance. It can dramatically improve your performance and speed. So invest in high quality bike gears and equipment.

5. Keep your bike in top shape

Regular maintenance of your bike is absolutely mandatory. Keeping your bike in top shape is going to help you in your performance. You don’t want to stop during your training. So keep your bike in daily check up.

6. Eat hard

Eating the right food is the one thing that is going to create the real difference. Just cycling alone cannot improve you. In fact all the tips above are kind of useless if you are not eating properly.

7. Rest harder

The most important thing is resting. No one can improve if they don’t get a good night’s sleep. Sleeping, massaging and cold showers are the best recovery tools.

So work hard, eat hard but rest harder to get the maximum benefit of your training. You will see great results in no time.

F.A.Q.s

How long should a beginner cyclist ride?

A beginner cyclist who wants to take cycling seriously should ride 4-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes.

How long will it take to increase my cycling speed?

This question is hard to answer as everyone’s progress is different and unique. For beginners to increase their cycling speed, they must train with high intensity.

How to increase my pedaling strength?

Doing leg exercises with heavy weight will help in increasing pedaling speed. Not to mention the high intensity cycling training. 

Will the leg press machine increase my cycling speed?

The leg press machine is designed to help build lower body muscles. Since cycling requires lower body muscular endurance, the leg press machine will surely help in increasing cycling speed.

Conclusion

Alright, there you have it. Tips on road cycling for beginners are given as you have asked. Still, there are more tips to give you, because I know that as a beginner you will need more tips.

When I started my journey on my first bike, there was no one to give me tips. I just rode my bike and went wherever I wanted. I have made many mistakes on my cycling journey and I have learned from my mistakes.

I couldn’t ask a giant community online like we can do right now. So, it was rough for me, but luckily you have me and the whole internet to give you tips and advice. So, don’t worry.

I will write a bigger post in the future with more tips, just make sure to come and check it out.