5 Beginner Tips for Newbie Road Cyclists: Bike Setup By Dax Neech

5 beginner tips for newbie road cyclists: Bike setup

By Dax Neech

 

If you are new to road cycling, an experienced cyclist has five important tips you should to embrace to enhance your riding enjoyment. This article by Dax Neech offers very practical advice for the beginning rider that assures that you get back home safely even when unexpected events take over your ride.

The article discusses such basic, yet important matters such as tire pressure, bike set up, spare items to carry with you, chain lubrication and keeping your bike sparkling clean. Your bike’s handling and performance as well as your comfort on the bike will be maximized when you maintain the correct tire pressure. You will find the manufacturer’s recommended pressure on the tire sidewall. The author recommends that you set the pressure at the higher end of the range, likely around 100psi. It is important to set up your bike by adjusting seat height, handlebar angle and everything else recommended by your local bike shop where you purchased you bike.

Nothing will ruin a invigorating bike ride faster than a roadside emergency. While such occurrences might be rare, you must be prepared to deal with them. Thus, on every ride you should carry along one spare tube, two tire levers, one mini pump. Also you should carry enough  cash for an emergency lift home as well as your cell phone to call for assistance. Keep your chain well lubricated to give you a smooth ride and prevent corrosion. Once corrosion takes hold, your chain is in danger of snapping. Finally, wash your bike frequently so that looks as shiny as the day you brought it home. When a bike becomes dirty changing gears will not operate smoothly and the brakes likely will begin to squeak. Use a bike wash to remove accumulated grime and degrease your chain. After drying the bike with a clean cloth, re-lubricate the chain and check your tire pressure and reinflate if necessary.

When you have read the full article and have taken the steps recommended by this article you can relax on your ride and enjoy the journey without worrying about getting stranded on the road.

We at Wishing Well Outdoors hope that you enjoyed this article by Dax Neech. You may read the full article by clicking here or on the article’s title below the featured image. If you are in the market for cycling equipment, apparel or accessories, please browse the cycling section of our storefront.