My Top Ten Tips for Beginner Cyclists

There are so many tips for beginner cyclists floating around the internet that to cover them all could be a complete website unto itself (and probably is!). This list is the top ten things that I think every beginner cyclist should know (assuming you’ve already got a bike). Please leave your own beginner cyclist tips in the comments!

1. Wear a helmet! No matter how much your parents may have said, “You’ve got a hard head.”, you don’t. The ground is harder and will win every time.
2. Learn to signal! Even if your signals are just pointing in the direction you’re going rather than the formal hand/arm signals that we’re taught in driver’s education, USE THEM. This will make you and everyone around you that much safer.
3. Hold your line! This is part of a larger discussion on bike handling, but for now I’ll leave it at hold your line. What this means is to not make erratic turns which could put yourself and those around you in danger. Biggest mistake; turning the bike when you turn your head.
4. Use your voice! Do not be afraid to say, “On your left/right!”. Even if it sounds too loud and forceful, you can always say, “thanks” as you pass to take the sting off. There’s nothing quite like coming up fast on someone and scaring them half to death because you’ve said nothing and then having them turn right into you.
5. Carry a toolkit! There are varying degrees of preparedness, but in my opinion the bare minimum is: spare tube, 2 tire levers, pump or CO2, multitool. Many people will also carry a patch kit, but usually the spare tube is enough.
6. Learn to change a tire! This is a biggie. A few weeks ago, I came across a guy who was about 60 miles into a ride. He was on a beautiful $4000 bike that was quite obviously brand new. He had his bike upside down and was looking at it as though he was trying to make it move with his mind. He stopped me and asked if I knew how to change a tire, which I do. I changed his tire for him while trying to walk him through the steps as I went. This is annoying. If you have a bike, please know how to change a tire. It’s really not that hard.
7. Clean! This means clean the entire bike. This will prolong the life of your sweet new ride and all of it’s more consumable components. Probably the most important thing is the chain. After each ride, take some chain lube (in addition to being a lubricant, most good lubes have detergents in them also) give your chain a light coating and let it soak in for a bit. After about 30 minutes or so, wipe down your chain and the excess lube with a clean rag. This process will get out most of the small grit and garbage that gets into a chain and can mess up your entire drive chain.
8. Spin, don’t mash! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve come up behind someone who is laboring furiously in a huge gear to get up a hill. Do yourself a favor and GEAR DOWN! The smaller the gear the easier it is to climb. Basically, learn to use your gears more efficiently. All those gears and cogs are there for a reason and it’s not just to look cool. Practice makes perfect.
9. Pump up your tires! Cycling tires are NOT car tires. I pump my tires to 120 psi. This will decrease rolling resistance and result in more speed and in turn, less work for said speed. The psi limit on your tires will be on the sidewall and a good floor pump will have a pressure gauge to tell you right where you are. (Side note: have the right tires on your bike! If you’re riding mainly on the road, trade in those knobby mountain bike tires for some slick, commuter tires. Trust me, they’re  a LOT easier to push.)
10. When it comes to clothing, you get what you pay for! I’m not going to go into this too much but, suffice it to say, do NOT skimp when buying shorts and tights. A good pair of shorts will prevent chaffing and will keep your crotchal region in working order (and yes, I just made up the word “crotchal”).

Again, this list is by no means comprehensive. Please leave your tips in the comments!