Best bit of cycling advice you've received from others

lennymc

ROK ON wrote: »

Pace yourself, chef.

The sage advice of Capt. Havoc & LennyMc.

It works.

after 15 hours in the saddle

oh, and spin!

fixie fox

Pedal like fuc£

Thargor

fat bloke wrote: »

Pedal down the hill.

What is this supposed to do for you?

eeeee

daragh_ wrote: »

Take that plastic peak off your helmet, you look like a truffle hunter.

But it keeps the rain off my glasses ……..





*runs and hides, stroking peak of helmet*

ryan101

gadetra wrote: »

But it keeps the rain off my glasses ……..

*runs and hides, stroking peak of helmet*

You mean your ray-bans

eeeee

ryan101 wrote: »

You mean your ray-bans

Yeah sure….*looks around shiftily*….
*cough*

...the Ray-Bans yeah… ……:o

detones

Stop half-wheeling me D1ckhead.

ryan101

nasty

Wishbone Ash

Thargor wrote: »

What is this supposed to do for you?

Prevents cold, stiffness and relieves lactic acid build-up. We don't really have long descents in this country compared to elsewhere. A 50km descent with no pedaling will leave you very cold and stiff.

daragh_

Friend of a friend who is in A2, on hearing I was about to enter the heady world of A4. 'Keep the rubber side down and go wide'.

12 sprocket

detones wrote: »

Stop half-wheeling me D1ckhead.

best bit of advice the cyclist with aero helmet could have got from someone.. look where you are going, the back of stopped cars / vans are very hard and make an awful mess of your face.

rich.d.berry

07Lapierre wrote: »

Learn to love a headwind!

"When training on a windy day, head out into the wind so that the home journey is easier. Head out with the wind at your back and you may battle to get home."

This was advice I received when I first started and it has stood me in good stead on the exposed Curragh plains.

Wishbone Ash

rich.d.berry wrote: »

"When training on a windy day, head out into the wind so that the home journey is easier. Head out with the wind at your back and you may battle to get home."

If you head out into a headwind there's a chance you'll get browned off and cut the ride short. I'd prefer to go out with a headwind and enjoy it safe in the knowledge that I'll have to ride home regardless.

Ole Rodrigo

" get off that internet and ride your bike '"

RonanP77

I've only been cycling a few months and have only been on the bike 9 times so haven't a notion what I'm at. I was very stiff and sore after a Duathlon last weekend and one of the lads at work told me to go for a cycle on Tuesday evening and stay in the low gears, don't go near the big cog at all. It was the most enjoyable and relaxing cycle I've had so far and I wasn't really much slower than if I had been pushing it.

Cookie_Monster

Everyone on the roads apart from you is a moron and will try and kill you

CramCycle wrote: »

You burn up a lot more energy getting out of the saddle.

that's a good thing though

coolbeans

When riding in traffic don't be meek.

Statler

'You've 3 points of contact with the bike, your hands, arse and feet. Spend money on these areas first, shorts/saddle, shoes/pedals etc, then worry about the rest.'
Wise advice given to a young Statler when he turned up for a training spin with a new pair of Rudy Projects many years ago. (Very nice Rudy Projects I might add, but the man had a very good point...)

Idleater

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Everyone on the roads apart from you is a moron and will try and kill you

The natural corollary to this is not to overestimate your own abilities. Not to be confused with not pushing yourself.

From my advanced driving instructor: as soon as you think you are a good driver you are wrong, you should never stop learning.

The same can be applied to cycling, work, and life in general.

monkeyslayer

"no matter how steep the hill, no matter how slow or long it takes, never ever stop, and never ever contemplate walking " Me, to me myself, all the time.

slap/dash

Sing stupid songs in your head when the pain sets in

Avoid the hard shoulder unless its completely necessary

Pedal on descents especially in crosswinds

morana

do 2 sprints every training session

pprendeville

funkyjebus wrote: »

When on a long climb, don't keep looking up the road.

Obviously keep looking where you are going for safety sake.

So true especially when on a bad day.

pprendeville

sbs2010 wrote: »

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0330267663?pc_redir=1399784499&robot_redir=1

The maintenance parts are probably mostly out of date but the sections on cycling are brilliant.

This section sounds interesting: How to 'deal' with a dog that's attacking you. He must have cycled in the wild in Africa or something.

Weepsie

I decided to cycle along the canal following a coming together with a transit last year, deeming it safer. My mother's advice was to not do it, or be very very careful as the canal is filthy and dangerous.


It was rather prophetic as I somehow managed to skid on a small patch last week and go in to it. Back to the roads for my commute when I've recovered.

Other than that, most of the advice I've received here as been pretty useful

tomasrojo

pprendeville wrote: »

This section sounds interesting: How to 'deal' with a dog that's attacking you. He must have cycled in the wild in Africa or something.

That section was removed from subsequent editions. Rather OTT it was.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=74538649&postcount=10

I didn't know he'd died until months after the event. Very much enjoyed his books. Didn't agree with all his points, but he always wrote well.

BailMeOut

Do not tighten your cycling shoes too much. As you feet swell the blood starts to get cut off, your feet go numb get really cold.

jimm

1. Keep your arms slightly bent at the elbows. On rough roads this prevents the vibrations travelling up into your shoulders and neck.

(Bent arms = natural shock absorber)

2. Start a climb like a young man and you'll reach the summit like an old man. Start a climb like an old man and you'll reach the summit like a young man.

outfox

I tend to start climbs as an old man, but reach the summit as a total geriatric.

equivariant

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

Everyone on the roads apart from you is a moron and will try and kill you..

I find in life and in cycling that its best to treat myself as a moron as well

pprendeville

Weepsie wrote: »

I decided to cycle along the canal following a coming together with a transit last year, deeming it safer. My mother's advice was to not do it, or be very very careful as the canal is filthy and dangerous.


It was rather prophetic as I somehow managed to skid on a small patch last week and go in to it. Back to the roads for my commute when I've recovered.

Other than that, most of the advice I've received here as been pretty useful

:eek: Tell us more. Did you and the bike both go in? Did the bike sink? Hope you're ok.

mathie

pprendeville wrote: »

:eek: Tell us more. Did you and the bike both go in? Did the bike sink? Hope you're ok.

He's typing from a waterproof laptop.

Bloggsie

mathie wrote: »

He's typing from a waterproof laptop.

his real name is nemo!

Weepsie

pprendeville wrote: »

:eek: Tell us more. Did you and the bike both go in? Did the bike sink? Hope you're ok.

nope the bike remained on the bank, i got soaked and needed a few stitches and am on something to ward off some nasty sounding illness. Stitches are just at the knee though so not cycled since which is annoying. I wouldn't advise it, its filthy

Thargor

That should have had its own thread, did anyone try to help? (Or laugh)

Weepsie

Thargor wrote: »

That should have had its own thread, did anyone try to help? (Or laugh)

I thought about having one. Noone was about as it happened, though many strange looks came my way as it was a beautiful sunny morning as i carried onward to town.

many have since laughed, and in using it as an excuse to buy another bike i think

Bloggsie

mrs brown on the high nelly looks like she just been passed by an ailen!

WAPAIC

"You need a new bike"

"Lock the frame, not the wheel"

"The brakes on french bikes are backwards"

"Get a track pump"

"The best cyclist is the one having the most fun"

Hauki

"As long as you live in Dublin don't bother with anything expensive (bike related) as it's going to get stolen".

Should have listened, lol.

tomdempsey200

what's the reason for not cycling on a hard shoulder?
prob something obvious..debris?

pprendeville

Here's a bit of advice I forgot to mention from Frankie Andreu. Always wash your hands. A few boys in The RAS will testify to this.

Pez: What’s the biggest lesson or secret or tip you learned as a pro rider, something you have passed along to your riders or even something that mortal beings could benefit from?
Wash your hands! I swear…it makes a difference. All the travelling, moving around, shaking hands, there’s lots of chances to get sick. Washing your hands constantly really helps keep you healthy, and not missing the time off the bike. If you can avoid getting ill over the season that means you won’t miss weeks of training or racing, and that’s an advantage.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Thargor wrote: »

Why do people say stay in the saddle when climbing when sometimes it seems you get a second wind by standing for a while then back into the saddle? In my own amateur experience there are hills around Wicklow that I wouldnt make it a 1/3 of the way up if I didnt stand at some points.

I'm physically unable to get out of the saddle on climbs, I literally don't have the legs for it on long climbs yet I can spin comfortably up them. Getting out if the saddle takes a lot more energy (with me at least)

rollingscone

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

what's the reason for not cycling on a hard shoulder?
prob something obvious..debris?

The fact that it creates the needs to merge with traffic when the hard shoulder ends springs to mind.

That and the probability that cars are unaware of your presence and might just swing in on you.

pelevin

fat bloke wrote: »

Pedal down the hill.

Pedal up the hill.

SMacX

SMacX wrote: »

I also remember him saying always wear gloves. Because he says, "If you fall and tear your hands, you won't be able to walk for weeks".

I was a young fella taking all these words of wisdom in. I didn't get it until the place erupted.

Damnation, that was meant to be "****" not "walk". Is there a decency bot on here????

Kinet1c

dave_o_brien wrote: »

The best bit of advice I got was from a very seasoned member of a former club when we were out on a cold miserable day in the hills. I said that we could be at home, having a lie in followed by a late breakfast. His response was:

"I've had a few lie ins in my time. I've often regretted not getting out for a spin. Never have I regretted getting out on my bike."

Thank that chap if you ever meet him again. This post has been great motivation for me for the past 3 months. I started back commuting in March. I read this post in May and with a possible charity cycle in work looming in July, thought f*ck it I'm in. I jumped on the strava bandwagon in early July and since then have done just over 1000k (all on my little single speed 48/16 - not a hipster btw). Dropped over a stone (can do with losing a few more) and the weight is continuing to drop. Looking forward to winter commutes and will definitely be along to a few sportives before the year is out and hopefully do at least one per month next year.

xxyyzz

daragh_ wrote: »

Take that plastic peak off your helmet, you look like a truffle hunter.

Unless you're a mountainbiker in which case put the peak back on your helmet or you'll look like a roadie.

morana

never drink the water in Kilkenny was a bit of advice I got when doing my first ras.

a148pro

assos bib shorts

Boscoirl

Practice repairing a puncture /replacing a tube at home, don't leave it until you are at the side of the road

(Advice, I should have heeded, got my first puncture this evening, managed ok, but it probably took me 5-10min longer than it should have, then it started raining 10min from home)