Are you you new to cycling or returning to it after a few years?

At Viva Velo we are experts in taking our clients from beginners to accomplished cyclists. So we thought with so many people looking to start cycling maybe for the first time, or for the first time in a while it would be good to produce a beginner’s guide to a few of the things you might want to know, to get you on the road safely and confidently. Below is a summary of the topics we will cover at more length in our weekly blogs.

CYCLING - WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE?

Since the 2012 Olympics and the success of the British cycling team people have been inspired to cycle. Not just for sport or leisure but as a convenient and healthy way to get about. The current Covid 19 crisis has seen a further boost in cycling as many people have taken the option of using a bike for their daily exercise or commuting to work in the place of public transport. Whatever your reasons for getting on a bike - welcome to the family! But we know the world of cycling can be a bewildering place, seemingly peopled by lycra-clad mamils talking a strange language about ‘FTPs’ and ‘Headsets’, ‘Group sets’ and ‘Power to weight ratios’. Rest assured you are not alone if you are feeling that it is all a bit daunting. Everyone who has ever cast a leg over a cross bar (or what you will learn to call a top tube!) will have felt the same at some point. Our guide is designed as an introduction to a few of the basics to get you started and feeling a bit more confident. Unfortunately we can’t cram everything into this blog so if you want to learn more, simply click the button below and we’ll send you our free guide which will give you much more detail.

WHICH BIKE?

Before we start we thought you might want some advice on which bike might best suit your needs. If you have fished an old bike out of your shed in the last few weeks you should probably skip this section and move onto our tips about bike basics and checks. If you have bought a new bike, likewise you can probably move on BUT if you are thinking about investing in a bike whether second hand or new, then this little section should be useful. We’ll run you through the basic options you have depending on your budget and needs and whether to buy second hand or new.

BIKE BASICS - WHICH BITS GO WHERE

You’ve probably heard a few of the terms we have marked on the illustration above and some of them are obvious but the names for the various bits of a bike can be confusing when you first start cycling.  If you’ve ever popped in to your local bike shop and asked them to look at ‘the thing with the big cogs at the front of the bike’ because it is squeaking then the following will help you look like a pro next time you visit.  But never be ashamed to ask if there is something you don’t know - that is how we all learned.

BASIC MECHANICS - WHICH BITS TO CHECK BEFORE YOU RIDE

Once you have got the hang of which bits of your bike go where and what they are called then the next step is to make sure those bits are functioning properly.  A bicycle is a simple bit of machinery but as with learning all the names for its various parts it can be daunting knowing where you start when checking it out for basic road-worthiness.  In this section of our week by week guide we’ll run through the various things you should be checking on a regular basis to keep you cycling safely.  The main areas are:

Brakes:

Stopping is important and if you’ve pulled your old bike out of the shed to start cycling again then checking them is vital.  It takes less than five minutes and we can show you how to make sure you’ll stop when you need to!

Tyres:

Even if you’ve brought a brand new bike to start cycling you’ll need to check these for signs of wear every once in a while.  You can pick up a cut in the rubber from your first ride as easily as your hundredth so checking your tyres and ensuring they are inflated correctly is important as well as knowing what pump or pumps you need to help you do this. A potential tyre failure can mean a long walk back home!

Wheels:

Again if your bike is brand new its wheels should rotate perfectly but a visit to a local pothole can change all that in a second.  Checking your wheels are running ‘true’ is essential for while a small ‘kink’ won’t hurt – and in fact these will almost certainly develop as you ride your bike more – a larger ‘buckle’ can cause problems with braking and, in the absolute most extreme cases, spoke failure - again it can be a long walk home!

Chain and Gears:

Probably the most complicated bit of kit on a bike but it’s the bit that keeps you rolling and with some basic tips you can ensure that the chances of encountering a problem out on the road are minimised.  We’ll cover when, how and with what to keep your chain running smoothly and try and demystify adjusting your gears.

CYCLING SAFETY - RULES OF THE ROAD AND HOW TO RIDE SAFE

One of the biggest issues stopping people from cycling is the fear of riding on busy roads.  During the current crisis obviously traffic levels have decreased although there are some alarming reports of a few careless drivers speeding on otherwise largely empty roads!  We hope when things begin to return to normal that more people will see cycling as an effective way to get to work as well as keeping themselves fit so armed with a few of our tips on how to keep yourselves as safe as possible we hope you will overcome some of those fears.  The tips will range from some basic ‘rules of the road’ to how to ensure you can be seen – and it isn’t all about wearing hi-vis clothing!  If you are fearful of riding in traffic then hopefully these tips will give you the confidence to do so safely.  And the more confident you are, the more likely you are to ride in a way that keeps you safe.

KIT- EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KEEP YOURSELVES ROLLING WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK

Whoever said cycling is a cheap sport probably never cycled but you can enjoy the pleasure of pedal power without getting a second mortgage.  In this section we’ll run through some ‘essential’ items that you should invest in as well as outlining some ‘nice to haves’ and the difference they’ll make to your cycling.  We’ll also point out where to spend your money for the biggest bang for your buck and where not to waste it.

CYCLING TECHNIQUES - BIKE FIT, PEDALING, CLIMBING AND CORNERING

If you are new to cycling or have just returned to it after a few years then making sure your bike is set up to be comfortable is vitally important.  There are plenty of online videos you can watch but our essential tips should get you started and avoid unnecessary back and knee pain - the two most common issues new cyclists suffer from.  Beyond that there are some simple tips to help you cycle more efficiently on the flat as well as when going uphill as well as ensuring that you carry your momentum through corners and on rolling roads.  These tips often seem so obvious once you know them, and take no effort or time to learn but can improve your cycling enormously.  We’ll also let you in on a few things that’ll help you stop your bike getting stolen!

GETTING FITTER - SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU GO FURTHER AND FASTER

At Viva Velo we specialise in providing cycle tours, trips and camps for everyone from absolute beginner to hardened racer.  Our experience means that we can pass on some tips on how you can get that little bit fitter without being a slave to the gym or exercise bike!  Our Training Tips Guide for Time Poor Cyclists is designed to show you some basic principles if you feel you want to take your fitness up a level or two and we can even send you a free seven week training programme if you wish.

THE NEXT STEP - JOIN A CLUB or TAKE ON A CYCLING CHALLENGE

Most people will usually start cycling because they want a cheap and healthy way to get to work or because they want to get a bit fitter or because they want to raise money for charity by doing something like the London to Brighton ride.  Very few cyclists start off with the intention of winning the Tour de France or an Olympic medal but for whatever reason they start cycling many people find it is fun and then want to take it further.  Joining a cycle club can be intimidating though as many newbie cyclists feel they will be ‘too slow’ or ‘not fit enough’.  Everybody who has ever pushed a pedal will know this feeling so you are not alone.  At Viva Velo we have found that the principle of ‘show not tell’ often works best.  We have taken people who had only ever cycled on a spin bike from learning how to use clipless pedals to riding up the famous sa Calobra climb in Mallorca in just one week.  Passing on our knowledge to new cyclists and seeing them grow in confidence is one of the things we enjoy most about our job.  In this section we’ll give you a few pointers of how to maybe join a sympathetic club or simply connect with other cyclists in your area once social distancing measures allow!

But there is no time like the present to start expanding your knowledge ready for that day.  Simply click the link below to sign up to our 5 week email course covering each of the areas highlighted above and take a big step to improving your cycling experience today.