10 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Cycling

There are many things I wish I knew before I started cycling.

I started cycling because I was out of shape and needed a change in my life. I bought and bike and just winged it in. I didn’t ask for any advice and because of that, I made a lot of mistakes in the process.

But that was nearly 15 years ago, and I’ve learned a lot about cycling since then.

Now I want to share all the things I wish I knew before I started cycling with you so that cycling can be easier and more enjoyable for you.

1: You Don’t Need the Most Expensive Gear to Get Started

Cycling isn’t just for the wealthy, well-off people with plenty of money to spend.

Now, it’s a good idea not to get the cheapest possible bike and gear you can get because you will get what you pay for. But you also don’t need to get the most expensive bike and gear out there, either. Meet a budget in the middle that you’re comfortable with, and just make sure you ask around and read reviews.

My first bike was $400. I bought a comfortable cycling kit for $50 (jersey and bib shorts) and got a helmet for $20. I rode with that bike, hit, and helmet for many years before upgrading. You might even find used items that are just as good and fit your budget better.

Whoever says cycling is for the rich doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

2: The Saddle Isn’t Supposed to Feel Like a Couch

Your bike seat is supposed to be small, with very little padding, and initially somewhat uncomfortable.

The bike seat (often called a saddle) isn’t meant to be a couch cushion. Your butt and body need to adjust and adapt to the saddle shape to get comfortable on your bike. Most riders want minimal to no padding on their saddle for the most comfort.

Instead of adding a really padded seat, try wearing padded cycling shorts or bib shorts. Tight spandex shorts are best for many different reasons, and they’re most common among cyclists. You might eventually need to change saddles, though, as not everyone is meant for every rider.

In most cases, a properly fitted bike and padded cycling shorts will solve all of your saddle-sore issues.

3: Bike Fit Matters More Than You Think

If you have a bike that doesn’t fit you, you’ll likely have a bad experience each time you ride it.

Bike fit is important. It allows you to enjoy a bike ride safely and pain-free, save money, and have the best bike for your fit.

The best way to get a bike fit is to go to a reputable local bike shop and ask for a bike fit so that they can tell you what bike to get. Most of the time, this is a free service, but you should buy your bike from them to help you if you can.

Get a bike fit if you want to enjoy cycling.

4: You Will Get a Flat Tire – Learn How to Fix It

We all get flat tires at some point, and we all have to fix them on the side of the road or trail.

The best thing for you to do is learn how to change your innertube, patch a tube, and use the tools needed to do so. You can do this at home so that you know what to do when it happens on your ride. Not knowing how to do this will certainly ruin your ride.

Make sure you carry the right tools with you, too. You need to have a spare tube, tire levers, a mini pump, and a multi-tool made for cyclists. I suggest all of these things even if you’re riding tubeless because a big hole won’t work with tubeless.

Every cyclist should know how to fix a flat tire before they start riding.

5: Nutrition and Hydration Aren’t Just for Pros

If you want to enjoy your whole bike ride without crashing, you need to stay hydrated and fueled.

Bonking occurs when you’re too tired to keep riding. It happens to a lot of cyclists, even professionals and those who have been riding for years. The best way to prevent bonking is to stay hydrated and fueled.

Drink water with electrolytes mixed in at least a few times every half hour. Eat a bit of your trail bar, some gel, or a few chews, and then take a few big swigs of your hydration. It also helps to hydrate before and after your ride.

6: Hills Will Hurt… But You’ll Love Conquering Them

Biking uphill is one of the most struggling things you’ll do as a cyclist but once you accomplish it, you’ll thank yourself.

It’s normal to have a hard time getting up hills at first. Hills are tough to walk up and even drive up for some motor vehicles, let alone riding a bike up them. It’s okay to struggle when riding up a hill.

Climbing becomes easier when you learn how to utilize all your gears, change your pace, practice better breathing, and motivate yourself to get up. Start with smaller and easier hills and keep practicing until they’re easy for you to complete, and then attack bigger ones. Hills will make you a better cyclist and make remarkable efforts for your fitness level.

Don’t let hills stop you from being the best cyclist you can be because you got this.

7: Cycling Etiquette is a Real Thing

You must learn cycling etiquette and use it when you’re on your bike.

Cycling etiquette is like the unofficial rules (and sometimes official rules) of cycling. It’s meant to keep you and other people safe. It’s also there to help make us more desirable on the road since a lot of other users tend to dislike us being on the road.

You should call out to other cyclists and pedestrians when you’re coming up behind them to warn them. You should also use hand signals while biking on the road or the trail. Please share the road and abide by ALL of the traffic rules, too.

Together we can make cycling more acceptable to non-cyclists by simply practicing proper etiquette.

8: There’s a Community Waiting for You

Once you become a cyclist, you should go all out and get involved in the cycling community.

Cyclists are good at forming communities and support networks. These communities will not only help you improve as a cyclist but also raise awareness of cycling and aid in improving the cycling infrastructure. Most regions will also have some kind of cycling community.

Talk to your local bike shops to see if there are any bike clubs you can join and start riding with. Join social media communities, online forums, and chat rooms, and follow cyclists to be a part of the online community. If you feel bold enough, consider starting your own club or online community for riders.

The cycling community will only better your cycling abilities and help make cycling more acceptable for everyone.

9: Not Every Ride Has to Be a Workout

Training on your bike is important and should be done, but having fun and enjoying a ride is equally important to keep you motivated.

When not training, try to use your bike to have enjoyable rides. Biking lets you be a kid again and feel young. If you keep some of your bike rides light, you’ll be able to prevent burnout and keep enjoying being a cyclist.

Plan some fun rides a few times a month or even a few times a week. Ride just to explore new routes and see different areas where you live. You should also plan rides with friends and family who also ride and enjoy the social aspects of it.

Cycling should be all about training and riding your best each time because it needs to be about fun and games, as well.

10: Confidence Comes with Time and Miles

Give yourself a break and know that in order to get better at cycling, you need to give yourself plenty of time and keep riding more to get better.

No one has ever been able to jump on a bicycle for the first time and immediately be awesome at cycling. It takes time, training, and miles to be the best you can be, and even after that, you’ll still need more work to get better. Cycling is the kind of activity where learning and skill development will never stop.

You have to be patient and willing to learn from others and from your own mistakes. You’ll be slow at first, but the more you focus on being fast, the faster you’ll get. The best thing to do is find a cycling club, join it, and start riding with them to get better because other cyclists know exactly what you need to do to get better.

Give yourself plenty of time to improve your cycling so that you can enjoy it like the rest of us.

Now, Over to You!

If you’re just starting out, I hope these tips help smooth your journey. These are definitely things I wish I knew before I started cycling,

Comment below and tell me some things you wish you knew before you got into cycling. I’m really interested in hearing from you.

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