5 essentials for new cyclists

[Cycling_Samurai]

Nope they don't. Get the right size. So what do you do in winter ?

Not sure what you mean by no they don't but in winter I use a trainer. Keep in mind I began riding early last summer. Specifically I was referring to my short fingered cycling gloves. They're medium and I have medium hands. They fit fine but cut off circulation whilst cycling. So it's the glove design. I've motorbike for 23 years and never had a glove do that. I've ridden cruisers and sport bikes. Currently have a psuedo sportbike.

 

[fossyant]

Not sure what you mean by no they don't but in winter I use a trainer. Keep in mind I began riding early last summer. Specifically I was referring to my short fingered cycling gloves. They're medium and I have medium hands. They fit fine but cut off circulation whilst cycling. So it's the glove design. I've motorbike for 23 years and never had a glove do that. I've ridden cruisers and sport bikes. Currently have a psuedo sportbike.

It's your bike fit that's causing an issue, not gloves. They aren't tight around the fingers. You need bigger gloves.

Are you "death" gripping ?

 

[Tripster]

I can understand where you are coming from. I think you need a newer mobile or learn to optimize your usage. My mobile will last me all day with GPS, bluetooth, and mobile data on. I usually put my phone in my seatpost bag for rides over 30 miles and don't often look at it during my ride. I have taken it out at stops to take pictures, messages, and calls. Rides under 35 miles I started keeping it in my Jersey. I'm well over 30 but I'm in the IT field so it may set me apart from most cyclists over 30 in terms of tech knowledge. If you like your Garmin or Wahoo and it works for you then good for you.🙂 I just don't see it being practical when you could use your mobile to do what separate devices do except to count cadence or pulse check. Then separate devices are needed. I got a bike fit and found my cadence so I don't need a device. I simply work on pedaling faster.

I couldnt think of anything worse than a works iphone 7 the size of an ipad strapped to the front of my bike, binging and dinging and ringing throughout my otherwise peaceful enjoyable ride. I switch off my phone and carry it for emergencies and sometimes dont even take it. A garmin is a tiny little device that fits neatly to the stem. Each to there own I guess

 

[contadino]

Isn't the thing about cycling that it has such a low barrier to entry? When I think back to some of the rotten old boneshakers I had as a child, but I went miles on them.

When I started doing longer rides as an adult my knee started giving me gip so I got some clipless pedals and it solved the problem. Then came the chafes so I got some cycle shorts. And so on. We don't *need* all the gadgetry but the products wouldn't be on the market unless people buy them. They make life easier for some people.

 

[Cycling_Samurai]

It's your bike fit that's causing an issue, not gloves. They aren't tight around the fingers. You need bigger gloves.

Are you "death" gripping ?

Do think that someone who has ridden motorcycles for 23 years is prone to death gripping?

Have you had a bike fit?

 

[raleighnut]

I'd put gloves top of my list of essentials after spending a couple of hours scrubbing bits of gravel out of my palms many years ago 😢

 

[chris-suffolk]

The other issues with using a mobile for navigating vs using a Garmin. If battery on Garmin dies, I just replace with another set - it takes AA's. Can't do that with pretty much any modern mobile. Also, in the event of a crash, hopefully my phone in an under saddle bag will stand more chance of surviving than perched on the handle-bars. And then I can use it to call for help.

 

[mudsticks]

When I started cycling again, a friend told me about the importance of gloves. He was an antique restorer and skilled woodworker. He said that if you come off the bike on tarmac, your natural reaction, mid-air, is to put out your hands to break your fall and save your face, teeth and collar bone. When you do that, the tarmac acts like a very coarse abrasive and planes the skin off your palms. As a result, your hands are pretty much out of action for at least a couple of weeks........inconvenient if you use them to earn a living. I never forgot his advice and always wear gloves.

i dont think any cyclist goes out with the intention of falling down , but as you know it does happen and and considering it is instinct to stretch out your arms and try to land hands first , then well made and well fitting gloves prevents a lot of skin loss etc .

Yes a dear freind of mine was horribly incapacitated like this for weeks from going over the handlebars, into the road, downhill ..

Although her poor face took much of the brunt, her hands were pretty mashed up too

She had no gloves on - they might have helped a bit.

As someone who needs her body to be in good working order for both her professions, and being uninsurable (maybe?) for loss of earnings, I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to protective gear worn when cycling ..

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Once any writer mentions gels or electrolyte tablets outside of the context of Elite racing I start laughing.

Buy yourself a sandwich with a tasty filling if you're hungry. The mental lift alone will add miles and MPH to you ride and you'll be happy in the knowledge that it wont rot your teeth too.

 

[tyred]

Why have electrolyte tablets when you can beer? Much tastier

 

[mudsticks]

Once any writer mentions gels or electrolyte tablets outside of the context of Elite racing I start laughing.

Buy yourself a sandwich with a tasty filling if you're hungry. The mental lift alone will add miles and MPH to you ride and you'll be happy in the knowledge that it wont rot your teeth too.

I took one of those gel thingies on several hundred hilly miles of trip, because some kind soul thought I should have it with me.

It came home unbroached.

I mean why would you eat that, when you've got decent chocolate onboard??

I'm also wondering how many extra calories I used up, peddling that extra 50 g (?) of unappetising gloop, up hill and down dale??

 

[Deleted User]

I've motorbike for 23 years and never had a glove do that. I've ridden cruisers and sport bikes. Currently have a psuedo sportbike.

You don't wear gloves on a Motorbike either?

Never fell off then or had a stone hit your fingers or rode in cooler weather?

How about leathers or decent helmet?

What country are you?

 

[PaulSB]

I can understand where you are coming from. I think you need a newer mobile or learn to optimize your usage. My mobile will last me all day with GPS, bluetooth, and mobile data on. I usually put my phone in my seatpost bag for rides over 30 miles and don't often look at it during my ride. I have taken it out at stops to take pictures, messages, and calls. Rides under 35 miles I started keeping it in my Jersey. I'm well over 30 but I'm in the IT field so it may set me apart from most cyclists over 30 in terms of tech knowledge. If you like your Garmin or Wahoo and it works for you then good for you.🙂 I just don't see it being practical when you could use your mobile to do what separate devices do except to count cadence or pulse check. Then separate devices are needed. I got a bike fit and found my cadence so I don't need a device. I simply work on pedaling faster.

How many mobile phone providers do you know who will repair or replace a damaged phone which has just hit the tarmac at 15mph or more? Personally I don't understand why anyone would risk a valuable and expensive device like a mobile in these circumstances. Yes, I do carry my phone with me.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I took one of those gel thingies on several hundred hilly miles of trip, because some kind soul thought I should have it with me.

It came home unbroached.

It's like eating a packet of snot.

 

[Cycling_Samurai]

Once any writer mentions gels or electrolyte tablets outside of the context of Elite racing I start laughing.

Buy yourself a sandwich with a tasty filling if you're hungry. The mental lift alone will add miles and MPH to you ride and you'll be happy in the knowledge that it wont rot your teeth too.

I'm in agreement with you. I started out watching GCN when I began cycling. So I bought gels and did my best on following thier advice on fueling. I found that didn't feel drained on long rides but I wasn't getting slimmer. Stopped following that and went with just carrying water and making stops for a bite at strategic points along my route.