Wearing your helmet back to front
You’ve got your new bike, you’ve bought your new kit, you’ve purchased a helmet.
Please, please, PLEASE, don’t make the mistake of putting it on back to front, you’ll never
live it down.
Wearing underpants underneath your cycling shorts
However you call them, underwear, pants, briefs, knickers, they should NEVER be worn underneath
your cycling shorts.
The chamois should be next to your skin.
Using a top tube or frame bag
The less that’s on your bike, the better.
However, if you MUST have a bag to carry spares on your bike, make it a small saddle bag,
NOT a top tube or frame bag.
Not taking enough food and drink out with you
It’s happened to all of us, and it’s the worst feeling in the world.
Running out of fuel, hitting the wall, bonking, whatever you want to call it, is something
you don’t want to happen often, so make sure you take out adequate supplies, or money!
Not being prepared for mechanical failure.
You’re out on a lovely ride, a long way from home, enjoying the scenery and the sense
of achievement, then all of a sudden, a loud hissing noise comes from your wheel - it’s
a puncture?
Got a spare inner tube and a pump?
No, got money for a taxi?
No.
Got a phone - yes, lets hope you’ve got some good friends of family!
Remember, always take out two spare tubes, a pump, tyre levers, an allen key set and
a chain tool, that should cover most emergencies.
Overeating before a big event
You’ve done all the training - months of hard work, organisation and preparation has
done into your big event, the longest you’ve ever ridden.
Right, better fuel up for it - PASTA!!
And a bit more, AND a bit more, actually probably better have that 4th plate too, it’s a long
old ride tomorrow.
WRONG - don’t eat too much before your big event, you’ll feel bloated and could get
the feeling of having blocked legs.
Eat enough, but not too much.
Getting lost
The great thing about cycling is the sense of exploration, riding somewhere you’ve
never been before, even from your own home.
Don’t make the mistake of getting lost, though, or underestimating how long a route
is going to take, or you could be riding home in the dark.
Doing too much, too soon.
Cycling is an easy sport to get obsessed with.
The more you do, the better you get, right?
Wrong.
There comes a point when your body needs rest to absorb the training you’ve done, if you
don’t take it, or if you ignore the signs of overtraining and fatigue, then you can
quickly dig yourself a very big hole.
Not drinking enough
No, we don’t mean at the bar, we mean on the bike.
Long rides result in a lot of fluid loss, and it can be easy to forget to drink enough,
especially if you’re on a big event.
If it’s hot, by the time you’re really feeling thirsty, it’s probably too late,
and you’re going to pay for it at the end of the ride.
Failing to unclip when you come to a stop.
Shiney new bike, shiney new pedals and shoes, first time with clipless pedals?
When you come to a stop, DON’T forget to twist your foot out, otherwise you’ll do
an embarrassing, slow motion fall to the floor.