Biking Advice for Newbies

As for biking advice for a newbie! 

OMG! YES! DOES WRITING IN ALL CAPS MAKE ME SEEM EXCITED?!11!! IS THIS POST ABOUT TO GET UNNECESSARILY LONG?!?!? 

YOU BET IT IS!!!

I ride a Specialized (brand) Dolce (model) road bike which I got for about $400 along with a 5 year service plan for about $80. I have ridden it for about 5 years now, booked two centuries and a host of other events on it, and love it. 

I originally had a very low-end Trek mountain bike, Jazzy, who I still love very much. I still have Jazzy.

When in training, I ride 2-3 times a week based on an actual training plan (that I sort of made up based on science). I am an endurance rider, not a racer, so I will book upwards of 50+ in a single long ride and 25 in a short ride. I mostly ride alone so my advice is all geared toward being safe, fueled and self-sufficient.

I would grade myself a C on accomplishing this but A for looking like I have it together. Ok, D.

I don’t know what will be provided for you on your ride, and depending on how much you want to ride before (or after or again), you will need different things.

Here is a basic list and some prices based on what I get:

Bike 

Duh. Prices and sales vary but a good bike store can find something in your budget and to fit your needs. I visited a couple stores and tested a lot of bikes. I would strongly suggest not buying something at Walmart or something. 

Go to an actually bike shop, they will help you and also fit you for the bike so your body is in the right position – which is SO important.

Helmet 

I think I paid $20 for mine and I have had it forever. I also have a backup because if you have a bad fall, you need to toss it because the integrity is ruined and you want to protect your brain. 

Your brain does a lot of interesting stuff that is important to being alive.

Water Vessel

I use a hydration pack that carries 2 liters of water (and my stuff) because when I am training, I don’t know when I will come across water or food. I think a good hydo-pack runs about $30 minimum. 

If you are doing and even that is fully supported, you can refill a water bottle frequently and probably don’t need this. . .unless you like to carry stuff. 

Bike Gloves

I use Pearl Izumi gel gloves, they are running about $15. If you fall, they will protect your hands and if you ride a lot, they prevent a mostly harmless but annoying condition known as handlebar palsy (I have it RIGHT NOW!). 

My gloves last about a year of hard riding. There are better gloves out there. Once you hit about 10 miles, you want gloves for protection.

Biking Shorts

I have been committed to Canari Cyclewear Women's Gel Cycle Liner Padded Cycling Brief which run about $15.00. However, I bought a pair of Castelli Velocissima Shorts $81.84 and took the plung and got the Women's Black Padded BibsCycling Modest Performance Road Bike Shorts which I am super liking. 

Bike shorts cushion your butt and inner leg area – because, yeah, that’s going to get a little sore. The type I wear is super cheap and there are much better types out there. I just really like them. If you want to know more about your future ouchies, I will tell you everything riding over 5,000 mile has taught me.

Eye Protection

Aka Sunglasses. You want to protect your eyes from anything that might be flying at your face and the sun. I ride a lot, so, I use RIVBOS UnisexPolarized Sports Sunglasses because they have interchangeable lenses from clear to stuff for BRIGHT SUN. 

They cost about $20 and are super hard to break.

Shirts/Other Clothes

You can get away with t-shirt and whatever workout stuff you have. I like anything that has sweat wicking and UV protection for long rides (and a sexy farmers tan) in the summer. 

Cycling specific shirts will be longer in the back and have pockets for stuff, too, which is cool for carrying your phone or whatever. I like a built-in bra, myself. 

I also wear stupid bright colors and never match anything so I stand out like the obnoxious armature I am. You are going to need to layer if the temperature is going to drop below 60. I have ridden in 22 degree weather and I don't recommend that.

Don’t be like me. 

If you need other clothing advice, hit me up. I’m damn cheap.

Bike Pump

The less flat your tires are, the easier your ride. You should check your tires before every ride. You will lose about 2lbs of pressure every day and that can add up. If you ride in a group, someone probably has one. You can really get by without it for a little bit. . .but, if you are going to be biking a lot, you should get one.

I am an endurance rider and I will book up to 50+ miles unsupported so I do things differently when training. 

On an actual supported ride you don’t need as much as I carry with me.

Bike multi-tool, bike pump, extra tube, tire patches, Co2...

No idea how to use this stuff, I just hope if I do, someone will be there. I bike on hope more than raw skill. I bought Kevlar lining stuff for my tires to prevent getting flats. I also keep my bike well services. 

*fingers crossed*

Hydration Tablets

Sometimes called salt tablets. I use NUNN brand tablets. You drop them in your water and they will give you electrolytes, salts and all the stuff you will sweat out. It’s like Gatorade but better. 

If you are going to be sweating (or hungover) these things make a HUGE difference. 

One of the things you might not notice if you are biking is how much water your body is processing because you are sort of self-cooling as you ride. If it’s a hot day and you are working out, get some hydration tablets.

Lights

Light are for the right time, not just for night time. Not that I ride at night. It’s about being visible – you can get real invisible real fast outside. 

On the front of my bike, I have a Cateye HL ($18) which does a direct light and strobe thing. It is less for me to see and more to be seen, again. I buy a rear light every year and promptly destroy it ($20) because I never secure it right. I had a light that attached to the frame of my bike and lights up the road under me with colors. 

Anyhow, pretty much once 3-4pm hits, you want to have something flashing on your bike if you are going to be around cars. 

You can probably get a light set for $20-30.

Bike Fanny-Pack

I don’t know what they are called. I have a little pouch under my seat to carry junk. I think actually only my metals are in there and my multi-tool right now because I am unprepared for the future. 

It’s not bad to have one because you can fit an emergency sandwich in there.

Energy

You need a lot of energy (calories) to ride a lot and prevent something called “bonking” - when you don’t have enough sugar in your system and you get real dumb and pass out. I happen to like Clif Gel Shots and I get a box of like a million for like $100.

I also pack have a spice cake.

Previously, I use PopTarts. You can get all sorts of fuel to carry. And yes, you are going to be eating while on a ride. 

By the time you hit 15-20 miles or have been riding for an hour you need to start taking in fuel (calories). If not, you’ll suddenly feel dizzy, forget what your name is and then be on the ground.

Odometer

I use a Sigma brand thing that has wires and stuff to tell me my speed and distance based on my tire size. I don’t use something that attaches to GPS or my phone because. . .the one I have is like $17 rather than $50 for other technology. 

This does help with pacing and if you know the next rest stop is 10 miles away and you just rode 20 miles, it helps prove you took a wrong turn.

Identification

I wear my emergency information on a set of dog tags or on a wrist band EVERY RIDE. 

I use Road ID brand stuff because it’s an awesome company and fantastic product. 

Emergency information is any drug allergies, phone number of someone who can make medical decisions for you (or who cares if you die), year of your birth, name, and any health conditions you have. EMTs are trained to look for these things in the event of an emergency and that is what they want to know. If you want to see what I got – pop on over. 

Headphones

I can speak highly of Dislot Wired Earphones In ear Headphones ($15). I actually used them once on a ride and I don’t like them because I like to have my ears open to hear stuff around me. 

If you do want to listen to music while you ride outside, they are pretty good. I use them on the treadmill which is far more bouncy then biking. They are tougher than normal headphones and work with a lot of devices and even in rain (IDK actually, I was out in the rain with them and they still work).

Plastic Bags

I ride in all weather conditions. I always have a couple Ziplock type plastic bags on me for my phone and medication bottle (because I dope). 

Also for other people who are freaking out that their phone is getting wet. 

Sharing is caring.

Mace

I carry mace on the strap of my hydration pack where I can get at it. Can’t be too careful. 

If you decide to carry self-protection stuff, you do need to know how to use it and be able to get at it when under duress. 

I test out my mace once a year and often grab it during a ride so I know where it is. Yes, my father was the head of the Secret Service in Philadelphia.

Sunblock and Bug Spray

I hose myself down before a ride but often do not have room to carry these things. It is better to cover up skin that might get sunburned than reapply a product.

Things you should care about but not panic about:

Etiquette

When biking, you need to know how to use hand signals and how to call out to other bikers. I don’t ride with cars that much anymore, but, it’s good to know basic road signals and how to operate around cars and not panic. It’s also good to learn how to “talk” to other bikers on a ride and listen to them. I can teach you or you will learn on a ride with other bikers. The best place to get “car sound” is Manayunk because the locals tend to know how to behave around bikers.

Falling

As an avid crasher, it’s not THAT bad. I have clip-petals so I am attached to my bike – unless I have time to unclip from it, I go where the bike goes. I don’t recommend clips unless you are like “biking is my THING!” So, if you don’t have clips, you can put your feet down if you are in trouble. Really, the key to not falling is recognizing trouble.

Mechanical

I have been shown how to change a tire like 500 times and I never did it once so I forget. On a supported ride, someone will help you. If not, you  just got to walk back. I also have a bike rack, so, I don’t have to take off my front tire to load my bike. It’s good to know how to take care of your bike or at least know where to go to get it taken care of.

Training

Fully-supported bike events are cool because you can be as in shape or out of shape as you want. Someone will pick you up if you don’t want to ride anymore. Being conditioned to ride can make it much more fun even if you don’t want to ride every single mile. Training should encompass muscle, cardio and how to shift gears on the bike.

Food

Eating the right foods at the right time can make a huge difference on a ride. What you eat the day before can make a difference. This is coming from someone who once hangerily ate a jar of peanut butter in the back of a car on the way to Shady Maple.

Things you should not care about but people sometimes do but you should not:

Leg shaving

Don’t matter. Trust me. You’re on a bike and that’s super cool. Take it to the next level and dye that leg hair American colors because #murcia.

Gear tattoo

Chain grease has a magical way of semi-tattooing your skin. You might get some on your leg in this three or four dot pattern from the gear. Don’t even worry about it. It goes away and it also looks real cool.

Hair

Nothing is sexier than bike-helmet hair. Carry some hair ties. I have found for longer hair, pig-tails work best when riding because it won’t be a mass being pressed into your head by your helmet but will also be off your neck.

Makeup

 No one needs that sh** in their eye. I rode over 20 miles with mascara in my contact once. ONCE. No vanity is worth that torture. Don’t even pack it unless you want to apply it directly into your eyes and mouth. Ick.

Stench

After a certain amount of miles, you are going to smell . . .it’s called being FREAKING AWESOME and everyone knows it. I once blamed my stench on New Jersey, so I get it.

I look fat: My legs also look like stuffed sausage in bike shorts because they are supposed to be tight. Biking shirts and stuff run super small. What of it? You’re on a bike and there’s nothing better. ‘Cept eating and sleeping. Your equipment is there to protect and support you. You’re riding in Tour DaVita – you’re a rockstar.

Quitting

Yep. There will come a point where you’re all alone and you hear “Hello, darkness my old friend. . .” play in your mind. You will want to stop and quit. You will get mad at mother nature when the wind blows really hard or it starts to rain or you get a bug stuck in your nose. 

You’ll see people with better bikes, better gear, better conditioning and better attitudes flying past you while you start to calculate if the devil will get you out of this for the price of your soul (he won’t). 

But there are few greater privileges than facing all of that on a bike. 

At the end of a bad ride or even a ride that you quit, you get to get back on a bike and try again. You get to go home. On a charity event, you are literally riding for millions of people who don’t have the ability to quit their situation or go home. 

On a bike, I have faced my greatest demons and found my greatest peace.