CYCLING newbie - hit me up with tips, tricks what to get what to avoid!

[justrestinginmybankaccount]

OOH my second thread of the day :)

I'd LOVE some pointers!

I have bitten the bullet and with good guidance I've bought an endurance bike and will start heading out with a group that trains on weekends. WHOOHOO!

Now the hard bit starts. Lordy help me - - -
Pedals & cleats - should I get mountain cleats as they fit into the bikes in my spin class? Or is that a no no on your nice road bike?

I'm looking on wiggle for shorts, and the price band is wide, what do I look out for and what is a good comfortable brand? (don't mind spending a bit of money)

Same for helmet?

And socks, do I need particular socks?

My biggest mental blocker right now is getting used to cleats.

Anything else I should be aware of, but may not even think of to ask?!

Also - and I asked this on another thread and got nowhere really with an answer - are cycling shorts designed to be worn with underwear or not?

Thank you!!

[ivykaty44]

Yeoldtrout I’m averaging 110 miles a week at present, but it’s more about enjoying cycling. I don’t do subscription strava, power meters cadence etc

I just wanna ride my bike 😊

[YeOldeTrout]

Ah, I do 130-150/week, lately. Mine is almost all commuting, though. Maybe CMOT does more in total with her pootling. My main work commutes are up to 17 miles each way. I get bored cycling for leisure unless it's a new place to explore.

So I guess (back to OP): what gear suits you also depends on cycling purposes.

[noodlmcdoodl]

I do at least 10 hours a week - mileage is low (110ish) as it’s super hilly where I live (typically 1,000ft climbing per 10 miles), I also do at least a third of that towing DS (age 2.5) in his trailer.

I LOVE smashing myself to bits when I’m on my own, going for QOMs on Strava and geeking out over my power data... I find that deeply enjoyable and huge amounts of fun. I used to road race pre-DS and plan to return to it next year.

[ivykaty44]

Bikeskirun liv do a shoe that will take either cleats, infact I think all their ladies shoes take either

[ivykaty44]

www.cyclestore.co.uk/giant_liv_regalo_womens_road_shoes_2018-ID_73675
I have these and they have both three and two points for attaching cleats so you can have either and if you don’t like one it’s not expensive to swap - but you’d need to change pedals aswell

[LolaSmiles]

I second the use of arm warmers if you have short sleeved jersey.

I don't do much road cycling but use SPDs for road and mountain biking because I like them and they're easy. Shall we say no roadie is going to be fawning over my cycling attire though as it's a mix of mountain biking gear and general active clothing.

It's trial and error on what works for you. What you buy will also depend on how hot you run.

YeOldeTrout
I mountain bike in the autumn/spring and reluctantly do some road in summer as long as DH plans routes with the option of a cafe stop for longer rides. I do neither discipline very well, but can clock up usually around 10-15 miles mountain biking and up to 30/40 on the road at a time. I'm a fair weather cyclist.

[justrestinginmybankaccount]

@YeOldeTrout I’m literally starting out so I’ve to buy gear from scratch and I’d rather get it right first time and not go trial and error with purchases! I’ll get one ‘set’ to get me out and then I’ll have a gander at everyone else and see what I like the look of. I want to ride for fitness/exercise fun alone and with a local group so I pick up etiquette and safety stuff. That’s about it. I’m very limited time wise as I’ve two small kids and am a single mum working FT. But I’ll make it work. I need the release from exercise to switch off from the constant juggling of balls in the air, such is my life now and for the foreseeable. I’m ready to get into something again.

I have spent the last fifteen years emerged in horses. No time for that anymore at all, horses sold and I’ve loved the buzz in bike classes, so I thought why not try this in the outdoors as that’s what I miss most. And bad weather doesn’t seem to bother me. Hope that’s not famous last words.

[BikeTart]

I have a gravel bike which I think has very similar geometry to endurance bikes. I use Shimano PD A520 pedals with multi-release cleats on Shimano SPD shoes. They work fine and tbh I'd put them on a road bike if I buy one. Dial the tension right down to the minimum, lean against a wall or doorway and practice clipping in and out lots (and lots and lots) and then go to park and ride around just clipping in and out.

Agree with others who say padded bottoms, I buy stuff from Findra, and Stolen Goat and I've got a pair of cycling pants from VeloVixen.

I think the thing to do first and most importantly is just ride your bike get to know it and enjoy it. I wouldn't worry about whether you're wearing the correct clothes but flappy jeans or bottoms probs not a good idea.

[BikeRunSki]

That's interesting about the shoes @ivykaty44. I've got size 9 feet, so ladies shoes are not an option. It's been a couple of years since I bought any road shoes.

[BikeRunSki]

@ivykaty44, you sound just like my kind of rider

[ivykaty44]

Bikeskirun I found out yesterday as I went to buy a new pair & realised in the shop I could just swap the cleats 🤣 saved me some money

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'm fascinated by this thread cos I'll often do a 30 mile+ bike ride at weekends on my hybrid, with just pedal pedals wearing leggings and a t shirt. I've wondered what difference a proper bike and cleats would make. But about half my riding is trail riding going slowly and half is on the road going as fast as I can, running out of gears.

[ivykaty44]

Kitten - you do have a proper bike 😊
I don’t find t shirts comfortable as they don’t wick away sweat, so prefer cycling tops & put things in the pockets at back
It’s your gearing that’s small, but you can choose gearing - up to a point- this you would go faster and not run out of gears
Cleats attach your feet to pedals so you use your legs to complete a full rotation rather than just pushing downwards

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

So I could get different cogs for my bike Ivy? that would be fab, I do love my bikes versatility.

I used to have cage type cleats for my racer a million years ago. I'm a bit scared of clip on cleats.

I guess I could wear my running tops? You are right, the sweat is a bit much! I do look with envy at those on road bikes with nice tops and stuff.

[BikeRunSki]

You could definitely get different gearing for your bike @OhYouBadBadKitten. Go and speak to a local bike shop and tell them what the problem is. It may just be a case of changing one of the big front cogs, (chainrings).

[PinPon]

Reading along with interest before my morning cycle commute...

I wear my running tops to cycle. Planning on investing in a cycle jersey at some point but haven’t yet got round to it.

[Nonstop1]

I used to cycle a lot but two small children have hindered that. I try to Zwift. Could do loads with my first but it’s more of a struggle with my second as they have not slept as well.
Anyway, a decent bike fit is really worth it. I see many road cyclists over/under-stretched. At the very least make sure your seat height is correct. I’m probably preaching to the converted but thought I’d just say. It might save you a few extra aches and pains you don’t want. Enjoy!!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I'll definitely do that BikeRunSki, it just hadn't occurred to me at all.
Mind you, when I go too fast I get a bit frightened.

[lljkk]

This thread intrigued me so I did some research.
Just writing this to help me remember. Maybe useful for others.

"Wicking" clothes were developed to specifically cool better during exercise. The idea was that people were under-performing due to over-heating. The objective was to produce more watts/better sports performance.

Actual test of wicking fabric found that they didn't improve sports performance.

Other claims are that wicking materials, because of leaving less moisture on the skin, reduce chafing, reduce rashes, are less "heavy", reduce chills post-exercise, makes you feel less wet, reduce chills if working very hard in very cold places (eg Antarctica). I can't find any properly set up experiments that address those claims.

Synthetic fabrics stink more after becoming sweaty, but the counter-argument is that they wash & dry very quickly so extra smell no problem. Synthetics also tend to be lighter weight than natural fabrics. My parents travel with almost all synthetic wardrobe b/c of the fast drying.

[ivykaty44]

I have a favourite pair of cycling shorts “ funkier” something, they are more comfortable than my other cycling shorts. I use three/four cycling tops and they do dry quickly which is idea on cycling holidays when I can wash them in the shower in the evening and they will be dry by morning enough to wear again the the heat.
I wouldn’t wear cotton t shirts to cycle, I did this in India cycling and I didn’t find it very pleasant, the material wasn’t comfortable.

Wear what you find comfortable and try different styles, I wouldn’t buy dhb shorts again as they are fine but prefere shorts with many panels rather than just a front and back
www.wiggle.co.uk/funkier-force-10-panel-active-shorts/
www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-womens-short-1/

I won’t buy light blue cycling top again as it allows nipples to be seen even with sports top underneath

I shall stick to red where I can,as it’s better than hi viz as a colour to be seen, especially in the countryside in daylight. I avoid yellow as it attracts bugs 🐜

I like full zip tops with three pockets for “stuff” phone, key purse, inhaler & bar/snack

www.wiggle.co.uk/jerseys/red/short-sleeve-length/

I want the back to have a longer length so it doesn’t ride up ( pun unintended) whilst cycling on a road bike etc

[lljkk]

I cycled 16 miles this (30 degree?) evening in a cotton tank top.
I stopped part way to soak my shirt in the river & ride home still wet, which helped keep me cool for rest of journey.

Wore Padded lycra shorts this evening but that's for the padding, really, relieved to peel them off to better cool down when I got home.

TdF viewing finally over so Off soon for overdue shower.

[RitmoRatmo]

I didn’t realise so many fellow cyclists wear normal t-shirts etc to ride in.
I’m fairly new to cycling but would only ever ride in bib shorts/bib tights, cycle jersey (prefer half-zip ones) with multiple pockets on back for my essentials, arm/leg warmers (when necessary), buff, protective eyewear, bike socks, wind-proof gilet, helmet, cycle gloves/mitts etc.
I’m starting to think maybe I’ve overdone it a bit