Wed 3 Jun 2020
Our #BackToBasics Series comes to a conclusion today with the celebration of World Bicycle Day and what better way to go out than by encouraging everyone to get involved and join our love of the bike.
Our pros have come together to you their best tips for getting started; whether it be for the very first time, for a return the bike after years of it resting in the garage, or if you want to step it up to racing.
Revisit the full #BackToBasics series In celebration of our return to training outdoors and in the lead up to today – World Bicycle Day. Previous releases:
Part 6a: Advice for the first timers:
Alex Konychev: Attention! This sport makes you addicted. Don’t push the limits the first time but if you want to start, just follow your instinct. It’s never too late!
Annemiek van Vleuten: WEAR ALWAYS A HELMET. If you don’t love it the first time, just give it 10 or 20 rides before you ask yourself if this sport is something for you. The more you do it, the more options you discover the bike can offer you. And you get more fit, which makes it more and more fun!
Sam Bewley: Start somewhere safe, nothing that requires too many extra skills and is away from things like traffic.
Grace Brown: Trust the physics and you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
Luka Mezgec: Don’t start too fast, don’t go too far and take some food.
Cam Meyer: Take your bike to a place that is quiet and safe so you can enjoy your first experience.
Sarah Roy: Make sure you can reach the brakes and put your foot down on the ground. Pedal and look where you want to go.
Kaden Groves: Keep pedalling and look where you’re going.
Jessica Allen: Try to ride with someone who you trust and are confident in teaching you to ride a bike. Trust is a powerful tool when learning a new activity or skill.
Edoardo Affini: Pick up your bike, be confident, go on it, start riding and don’t be afraid to fail/fall
Jack Haig: Have fun, learn to play on the bike and handle a bike.
Lucy Kennedy: Have fun and be safe!
Nick Schultz: Look ahead and let the bike do the rest.
Brent Bookwalter: It gets easier and more fun! But, don’t forget that feeling of the moment of doing it for the first time.
Moniek Tenniglo: The biggest step is the step going outside.
Part 6b: Advice for those returning to the bike after an extended leave
Edoardo Affini: It’s probably is better to check that everything on the bike is still working well! 😉
But jokes aside, if you have spent so much time without riding and now you suddenly want to start again, there must be a specific reason, so the advice is to follow that inspiration that gets you motivated, pick up your bike and go enjoy it all.
Jack Haig: Dedicate some time to learning how to ride again and push through the uncomfortable week or so when you are starting again because it will get easier and more fun once you get the hang of riding again.
Grace Brown: Don’t put pressure on yourself to be any good straight away, just enjoy it and take small steps to challenge yourself.
Sam Bewley: Start slow and let your skill levels grow with your fitness levels, this won’t take long and you’ll be able to enjoy it all that much more.
Nick Schultz: Get ready for the bug you’re about to catch. A new bike is calling.
Sarah Roy: Wear lycra. Don’t wear undies.
Brent Bookwalter: You’ll remember how…
Jessica Allen: Find a quiet place like a park or safe cycle path where you can practise riding again. It’s also a bonus if you can stop halfway on your ride for a coffee to recover before riding back.
Kaden Groves: Enjoy it, invite a friend to join you.
Moniek Tenniglo: Don’t overreach your goals. Step by step.
Lucy Kennedy: Don’t be disheartened if it’s not “like riding a bike”. If it’s been a while it will feel weird and unnatural. Go with the flow, don’t put pressure on yourself and it will all come flooding back.
Cam Meyer: Start slowly with your distances and speed then work your way up.
Part 6c: Advice for those wanting to start racing
Annemiek van Vleuten: First start with local club racing. Join a club, get used to riding in a group and go from there!
Edoardo Affini: I think it depends on the age, but generally I would say to take it seriously but without rushing things. It’s a long process that needs to be taken step by step, asking help to experts in the many sectors that are involved cycling, like coaches.
Jack Haig: Find a local club, learn from the people around you there and have fun with racing.
Sam Bewley: Go for it! Start with your local club and club races. Every club has someone with experience and wants to help, so talk with them and get some pointers. Make sure your bike is safe and old parts have been replaced. Then pin the number on and go give it a crack!
Grace Brown: Before jumping into racing make sure you’ve practiced riding in bunches and test your skills on your own so you’re confident in your abilities.
Luka Mezgec: First thing you learn is riding in the bunch. Once you know how to do this, life as a cyclist can be much easier.
Esteban Chaves: Make a plan for your goals.
Lucy Kennedy: Have fun and be safe!
Nick Schultz: Go for it. I don’t think you’ll find many sports with a community as tight knit as cycling. The people involved in this sport are simply incredible and it’s what makes it so good. You’ll be hard pressed to find anybody who doesn’t want to help. Go down to your local club race, get a three-day licence and give it a try. You have nothing to lose and it could change your life.
Sarah Roy: Join your local club and talk to all your new friends on how to get started.
Kaden Groves: Join your local club, meet like-minded people who you can do some group rides with. Just enjoy the racing, don’t take it to seriously in the beginning.
Jessica Allen: Reach out to someone who does cycle or to a cycle club. Get involved in some group ride and smaller local races first then build your way up.
Brent Bookwalter: Keep it fun!
Cam Meyer: Join a cycling club to get some advice on where you should start your racing.
Moniek Tenniglo: Joining a local cycling club.
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