We received some great nuggets of advice in answer to our competition question last week, we thought it only right that we share it!
What’s the best riding advice you’ve ever been given? This was the question for our Veleco competition last week and we received so many wonderful comments and explanations as to how the advice helped each individual to progress. It was rather inspiring to read – we hope it has the same effect for you!
Here’s just a selection of the best top tips. Enjoy!
We would love to hear from you if you’ve got any advice that helped you on your way, please let us know in the comments section below.
Remember – sharing’s caring!
Use the big ring on the flat!
Obvious when you know, but I never did. It made such a big difference to my cycling.
~ Emma T
Make sure you buy a decent pair of cycling shorts and a comfy saddle
It makes the difference between misery after 10 miles and pleasure of being able to ride all day if you want to.
~ Michelle S
Just start, get out on your bike today
I did and it made me remember just how fun it was.
~ Wendy H
Eat and drink before you need to
I’ve spent some miserable long rides where I’ve run out of fuel and only then eaten something. It’s another 10-15 minutes of pain before the food kicks in. I make sure I have a little something every 30 minutes and it makes for a much nicer ride.
~ Dawn S
Be part of the traffic and communicate with it, take prominent lane positions where you can be seen and safe, use hand signals clearly and catch the eye of drivers so you can be sure they’ve seen you at junctions.
Simone Koch, a cycling instructor gave me this advice, she encouraged me to communicate more with motorists. Cycling makes me smile, and I give the thumbs up when motorists acknowledge me and slow down to let me change lanes.
~ Kira O
Always take an inner tube and pump regardless of how short your ride is.
I’m speaking from experience.
~ Rebecca D
Before cycling with your partner, discuss about what kind of ride you’re expecting to have, what you want to get out of it, and pace.
We’ve avoided a number of fights along the way with this advice.
~ Desiree L
Get a women’s specific saddle.
I did, and it changed my bum’s life and mine forever.
~ Liz R
However hard a hill is, dig in, use your lowest gear and keep going.
This advice has got me up many hills – slowly – but every time it gives me a massive sense of achievement.
~ Bridget R
Give clipless pedals a go.
I’m still new to them, but so far they’ve been great!
~ Julia C
Don’t look at your front wheel when off-roading.
~ Lynne E
Look where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go.
~ Cara T
You must wheel suck.
Drafting behind another rider has saved me so much energy, especially when I’ve been out in a headwind.
~ Sue W
Cycling is good for the soul, it makes the world go away
~ Louise B
Never stare at the top of the climb just look in front of you. Before you know it you’re already at the top.
This has helped me up no end of killer climbs.
~ Jo B
Use chamois cream.
Absolutely without doubt the best nugget advice I’ve been give from a fellow girl rider who had an unpleasant experience. It’s not the sort of thing a boy would tell you.
~ Lisa R
Don’t look at them, pretend they’re not there.
That’s the advice someone gave me when I was struggling to ride roots.
~ Beatrice P
Go to a proper bike shop and get a bike fit.
Totally changed cycling for me, I’ve never been so comfortable on my bike.
~ Hannah S
Just keep pedalling.
It’s all in your head, just keep your feet moving and you’ll get there in the end.
~ Jess D
Get a cycling computer.
This helped me watch my cadence and track my RPM while riding. It helped me up my fitness no end.
~ Katie N
Break hills down into smaller sections by riding to markers such as overhanging trees or lampposts.
It’s amazing how much easier it is distracting yourself with smaller goals, it makes you feel like you can tackle any ascent.
~ Fiona T
Headline image by Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious via Flickr.
