Finally starting to cycle
- Thread starter Furina
- Start date
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Re knees, keep them covered in cold weather.
Check your saddle height, plenty of guides online.
But if 5km is your maximum distance per day, you're only going to be riding for no more than 20 mins, so I doubt if you will have any difficulties and if you have a mechanical, you can probably complete your journey in less than an hour on foot, so again no real problem.
Check your saddle height, plenty of guides online.
But if 5km is your maximum distance per day, you're only going to be riding for no more than 20 mins, so I doubt if you will have any difficulties and if you have a mechanical, you can probably complete your journey in less than an hour on foot, so again no real problem.
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Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
To avoid sore knees use a lower gear when pedalling. That means your legs go round faster for same speed, which is easier on the knees, particularly uphill.
N0bodyOfTheGoat
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
Shoe heel on pedal method for setting saddle height...
Pedal at 6 o'clock, wear your normal cycling shoes and set height so heel can reach pedal without tilting hips and leg is reasonable striaght but not locked.
When cyclig with ball of foot on pedal, you should be in ballpark.
For a long time I thought this method put pedal furthest away from seat tube, not 6 o'clock!
Pedal at 6 o'clock, wear your normal cycling shoes and set height so heel can reach pedal without tilting hips and leg is reasonable striaght but not locked.
When cyclig with ball of foot on pedal, you should be in ballpark.
For a long time I thought this method put pedal furthest away from seat tube, not 6 o'clock!
N0bodyOfTheGoat
Über Member
- Location
- Hampshire, UK
Recently my left hamstring has been aching a bit on the turbo, especially when being lazy and cycling in slippers.
Turns out that saddle height by measurement should be to line between the two peaks of a Selle SMP saddle, not the dip height.
Dropped saddle ~0.5cm yesterday, no more hamstring niggles!
Turns out that saddle height by measurement should be to line between the two peaks of a Selle SMP saddle, not the dip height.
Dropped saddle ~0.5cm yesterday, no more hamstring niggles!
wiggydiggy
Legendary Member
Try cycling the routes you want at a quiet time, helps you get familiar with the layouts without as much traffic (and note where the pot holes are!).
Big John
Legendary Member
Which city, if you don't mind me asking? I couldn't imagine city cycling. I live in Stafford and that's bad enough for traffic. Are you planning to get out into country lanes, if that's possible? I've cycled all my life and commuted on my bike for 35 years but wouldn't do it now. Too dangerous. Even cycling into town scares the bejesus out of me. I'm a roadie but off road looks more attractive to me with each passing year. If you're stuck with city roads wear whatever gets you seen e.g. hi viz, flashing lights everywhere, whatever it takes.
midlandsgrimpeur
Senior Member
With regards cities. Know your routes, and if possible try and find less congested roads. If you have flexibility i.e. the 3-5km ride is a leisure ride and not a commute, then pick times of the day when roads will potentially be quieter. Know the Highway Code and follow it, knowing things like how to enter and exit a roundabout are very important. Try not to ride defensively i.e. don't get pushed too close to the curb or do things that encourage drivers to pass you too closely or put you at risk. Most importantly, don't assume drivers will all follow the rules of the road, pay very close attention at junctions, turning, side roads etc. These are when you are most vulnerable to cars pulling out/across you without warning or due care.
Have a read of some of the pinned threads at the top of this beginners section.
Are you intending to commute? Does where you live have a lot of segregated cycle paths or will you be mainly on road, or a mix?
I would first familiarise yourself with the traffic laws where you live.
Second, there may be organisations or charities that run lessons on introducing people to cycling on the roads. A few years back as I hadn't been on a bike in 35 years and wanted to start commuting I took some free lessons from City Connect, which really helped. Apart from that it's a case of getting out there.
Go for some short rides near you to get used to it, and explore, find some routes. Try planning some routes online, and then use google street view to scope them out before you ride, to identify places in advance where you might not be confident (big traffic junctions, major roads). Cycle.travel is a great free website for this and tends to be much better than Google at planning bicycle friendly rides.
Are you intending to commute? Does where you live have a lot of segregated cycle paths or will you be mainly on road, or a mix?
I would first familiarise yourself with the traffic laws where you live.
Second, there may be organisations or charities that run lessons on introducing people to cycling on the roads. A few years back as I hadn't been on a bike in 35 years and wanted to start commuting I took some free lessons from City Connect, which really helped. Apart from that it's a case of getting out there.
Go for some short rides near you to get used to it, and explore, find some routes. Try planning some routes online, and then use google street view to scope them out before you ride, to identify places in advance where you might not be confident (big traffic junctions, major roads). Cycle.travel is a great free website for this and tends to be much better than Google at planning bicycle friendly rides.
As the op posted at 2 in the morning they might not be UK based. Unless they had a puncture on their first ride and had to walk home.😉
Dogtrousers
Lefty tighty. Get it righty.
Were you wearing a dressing gown too?
Profpointy
Legendary Member
1) Sore knees: make sure saddle is at the right height. Easy method is to have the pedal in it's lowest position such that with a straight leg your heel is on it when sitting comfortably. Another method involves 1.09 x inside leg measurement but can't quite remember what this corresponds to. This is a good start for +/- 5mm at a time fine adjustments according to preference.
A great many beginners have their saddles too low or far too low.
2) Staying safe. I think maybe the biggest thing for safety is road positioning.
Stay out of the gutter to discourage drivers squeezing past or cutting you off when there's a parked car. Maybe 3' out from curb for riding along but get in the centre of the lane if there is a pinch point, parked cars, and especially if turning LEFT or if going straight on past a left turn with a car about pull ou. Sounds odd to pull out to turn left but id you don't there's a significant chance that some clown will turn left beside you which is scary.
A great many beginners have their saddles too low or far too low.
2) Staying safe. I think maybe the biggest thing for safety is road positioning.
Stay out of the gutter to discourage drivers squeezing past or cutting you off when there's a parked car. Maybe 3' out from curb for riding along but get in the centre of the lane if there is a pinch point, parked cars, and especially if turning LEFT or if going straight on past a left turn with a car about pull ou. Sounds odd to pull out to turn left but id you don't there's a significant chance that some clown will turn left beside you which is scary.
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roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
I don't think there's any evidence cycling has become more dangerous over recent decades.
Quite the opposite AFAICT
https://www.gov.uk/government/stati...tsheet-2023#casualty-rates-per-mile-travelled
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
