The joys of riding a bicycle for beginners
Life is like riding a bicycle; it has its up and downs, it can be hard, but it is also fun. Riding a bicycle is probably one of the most fun things you had ever done when you were a kid. However, it is no secret that there are people who have never ridden a bike before. If you are one of those people, this is your sign to get a bike and learn how to ride one. As a beginner set out on the adventure of riding a bike, below are some tips that you will find useful.
Cycling clothing you should have
The first thing in order would be what you need to wear when you decide to go cycling so that it is going to take less toll on you. After all, there are so many different things available online, but you do not need to buy everything. When it comes down to it, you want to have only the essential things, and these are some of those.
Cycling shorts
Forget about your backside hurting when you can get yourself some padded cycling shorts that will help ease the pain. You will be able to have a good time and not worry about your body being stressed because of the extended time you spend riding your bike. By wearing padded cycling shorts, you will be able to enjoy long rides and not have to come home to your butt and your backside feeling sore. This is a quick and easy solution, and the best part is that it is available online and in your local stores. Of course, it would also be great if you could adjust your saddle to be most comfortable for you.
Clipless pedals
You might think you do not need this until you try it out. It is highly efficient and allows you to exert all your effort into pedaling into your bike. Surely, you will understand just how useful they are once you try them out. Try getting yourself some of these so that you get to see how it makes all the difference.
Helmet
Now, this is a no-brainer, but many people think that they do not need one. The truth is that you need a helmet to stay as safe as you can. Just like people in motorcycle ride helmets, wearing a cycling helmet ensures that you will be able to protect your head on the ride. If you are uncomfortable wearing one, you can opt for the lighter versions that feel like you are not wearing anything. Also, you do not have to spend big bucks for a helmet as you can easily get more than affordable ones.
Protection set
Especially if you cycle in the mountains or do mountain biking, you want to get yourself protection set just in case. This would include a handy pair of gloves, knee pads, elbow pads, etc. However, if you want the bare minimum, the knee pads and gloves should suffice. You can buy sets online, but you might as well pick the things that you think will be useful. This is because mountain biking can be pretty risky, and wearing a protection set will keep you safe. Should anything happen,
Sunglasses
Your regular sunglasses will just fall off your face when you are cycling, which is why you need to buy cycling glasses. It does not need to cost a lot; you just need it to be as functional as it should be so that you would not have to worry about going out and having the sun glaring at you.
Bike accessories you must have
After all the cycling clothing, it is now time to move on to the star of the show: your bike. Below are some of the bike accessories that would certainly be useful for you and can help you make your ride more enjoyable and comfortable.
Lights
If you happen to ride your bike after work when the sun has already set, it might be good to buy some lights for your bike. Buy something bright enough for you to see the road and some tail lights so that people behind you will see that you are in front of them. This helps prevent an accident as much as it helps you see ahead of you. Try to get yourself a waterproof one to not have to worry about it breaking down the moment it starts to pour.
Phone mount
Sometimes, you want to bike in places you are not familiar with, and having GPS access will truly be a game-changer. Get a phone mount for your bike to put your phone on it and be able to get directions. Never get lost again, and have a place to put your phone when you are riding. This is unnecessary, but it would be a great upgrade for your bike, so you might want to consider buying one. It will securely hold your phone in place to ensure that you do not have to worry about it falling.
Wheel lights
If you want to upgrade your bike looks, why not buy some wheel lights that you can use to make a statement? Not only will you be able to let everyone know that you are there, but it also accentuates your bike nicely so that you can ride it as much as you can without having to worry about night travels on your bike. This will also improve your mood and allow you to relax whenever you ride.
Water bottle holder
As much as your phone holder seems like a nice addition to your bike, having a water bottle holder would surely be essential. Biking can get pretty tiring as you get down sweaty, and this is where your water bottle comes in to save the day. You ought to get one to always have your water accessible to you. This saves you a lot of money since you would not have to go to the store to buy water when you already have some with you.
Locks
It would be in your best interest to buy a bicycle lock meant to put your bike securely in place. With so many bike theft cases, it would be best to be safe than sorry. Having a bike lock allows you to leave your bike with ease of mind knowing that it will not be ridden away. The best part is that there are a lot of bike locks available these days, so you would not have a problem finding one.
Horn or bells
Since most bikes do not have bells, you can opt to buy one and install it on your bike. This would be a nice addition to your ride since it can easily signal cars when you are right next to them. It would also be good for emergency situations, so it would be quite handy to have one installed.
Mini pumps
There are times when you cannot avoid but have a flat tire. In cases like this, a mini pump that you can clip on your bike for future use is going to come in handy. This will help you put some air on your tire so that it is good to use again. You can easily buy some of this online, so you might as well check it out.
Tips on riding a bike
When it comes to riding a bike, you might not know some essential things as a beginner, and here are some that you might find useful.
Dress for the weather
One of the most useful tips that you can get is that you always should dress for the weather. If it is too hot and you are wearing too many layers of clothes, you are bound to fall off your bike due to heatstroke. On the other hand, if it is winter and you decide to wear too little, the chances are that you are going to get frostbite or chills. Dressing matters appropriately when it comes to cycling, too, so you ought to keep that in mind.
Bring food and water
Always bring food and water whenever you go out to ride your bike. This is because you are going to be sweating a lot as you cycle, so having water back in your system will be useful. At the same time, having food will give you the energy to pedal faster and better so you can reach where you need to be.
Start small
When you are just starting out, you do not need to rush things and suddenly cover a lot of space on your first ride. Remember that it is okay to start small and not to pressure yourself too much. If you can find riding buddies, it would even be more fun to cycle for the long term.
Riding a bike is more fun than you think it is, and that is definitely why you ought to give it a try today!