5 common mistakes when new to cycling

5 common mistakes when new to cycling 

Preparing the night before - 

A fairly basic one to start off. You will be so better off and less stressed if you have your food, bottles and kit prepared the night before a bike ride. The last thing you want to happen is go out the door and realise you’ve forgotten that extra energy bar or even your spares. 

Under dressing -

You’re about to leave the house and the sun is shining, but remember, this is Ireland and you haven’t checked the weather forecast. Having an extra base layer on or even being able to pull out a lightweight jacket or gilet to protect yourself should the conditions change. Everyone at some point has learned this lesson the hard way.

Underwear under bib shorts -

Underwear with bib shorts is a bad combination, not just because you’ll have a terrible VPL but the point of bib shorts is that the lycra moves with your body and the pad sits next to your skin to protect from chaffing. Wearing underwear creates an extra unnecessary layer of fabric between your skin and the bib shorts which will cause friction in the wrong places. 

Riding without gloves -

Gloves are not a must, but it still makes sense to wear them. They will protect you if you fall, and you’ll have better grip on your handlebars when you work up a sweat. 

Caring what others think –

Cars, other riders, people who don’t cycle. Everyone has an opinion about cycling. You may feel conscious when new to cycling about wearing tight fitting clothing or sweating. The only thing that matters is that you ride your bike, stay safe and have fun.