Second Wind Leisure Perspectives
Fun, Fitness & Photography
5 Tips for a Successful Bicycle Ride
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle… I want to ride my bicycle…Queen
To end Fantastic February, my hubbie and I went on a bicycle ride on a rather blustery, cloudy afternoon. As I watched my husband’s back most of the ride, I enjoyed the critters and birds along the trail. We saw a herd of 15 deer run through one area. I almost hit a gray squirrel as it chased another one across the road. At some vantage points along the river we saw snowy egrets, seagulls bobbing along the river, and several wild turkeys very close to the road. There were several fishermen standing knee-deep in the river, likely angling for salmon.
Our ride was 23.5 miles—longest one yet for me. I consider myself a recreational rider, only having just purchased my new bike last August. I have ridden around my neighborhood and the access road to the bike trail is just 10 minutes away.
Not only is cycling a great form of exercise, it provides an option to be outdoors and view nature’s beauty, and socialize with others.
I want to share some BASIC bicycle riding tips. If you are looking for a new sport or hobby with which to get you outdoors and moving, think about road cycling.
Bicycle
First and foremost, you will need to get a bicycle. This is where you will have to decide on what kind of riding you plan to do. If you just want to enjoy some recreational riding, a cruiser (comfort bike) may be a good fit. There are road bikes, mountain bikes and elite racing bikes, and a variety of hybrids. Mine is a road/cruiser hybrid that works great for me. See this website which shows examples of bicycles that may appeal to you. If you are looking for something new but reasonable, visit this website.
If you are on a budget, and don’t want to spend much money, consider renting a bicycle and trying it out. You can also visit retail stores like REI and test drive them. Once you get an idea of what works, try Craig’s list, swap meets (flea markets), or garage sales for cheap deals (but not something poorly made). My advice is to do some research and don’t make a hasty decision.
If you already own a bicycle and it hasn’t been out of the garage in a while, go dust it off and take a good look at it. If it has been sitting awhile, it will need new tires. Rubber ages and breaks down. To give your old bike new life, take it to a retail store or bike shop for a tune up. Most tune-ups are under $100. The safety factor alone is worth the price, not to mention the long term health of your bike! If you are a DIY fixer, then simply google Bicycle tune up. Here is a webpage with some good advice.
Safe Place to Ride
Check your community for maintained bike paths and trails. I am fortunate to live near the American River Bike Trail, maintained by Sacramento County Parks and Recreation Department. The trails runs 32 miles along the American River from Old Sacramento to Beals’ Point on Folsom Lake. The trail is well-maintained offering two lanes for riders and small unpaved shoulders for walkers and runners.
Buddy
Although having a buddy to ride with is not mandatory, it does make your bicycling journey fun, especially if you take longer rides. If you do not have a biking buddy available, check your community for local bicycling clubs. Riding alone is fine if you use the advice in Tip 4 below.
Equipment/Safety Items
Although laws vary, buy a bicycle helmet. Period. If you are riding and you fall, the trauma to your brain can be catastrophic. Ironically, the very people who should be wearing bike helmets that aren’t, are the new riders! Helmets can range in price from about $25 to $150+. Walmart actually has great helmets in the lower price range.
Invest in a good pair of bike shorts. These have the padded crotch and if you ride for more than 20 minutes, you will wish you had a pair. I bought shin-length capris with built-in padding for riding in cooler weather, as well as cargo shorts with removable, padded bike short for warm days.
On any ride, whether it is a short ride to the store or a long road trip, bring a bottle of water! And always carry your ID, some cash, your house keys (if riding from home) and your cell phone. Your bicycle should come equipped with some safety items, like an extra tube, a tire pump, and a small road kit. For longer rides, bring along a snack that can be carried in a fanny pack. Check your retailers for ideas.
Many retail stores have sales on sports and recreation equipment. If you are serious about getting started cycling, visit the sales to pick up key pieces now.
Appropriate Fitness Level
With any new sport or hobby, make sure your fitness level is appropriate for the activity. If you just want to cruise along the beach boardwalk, or ride to your yoga class or the grocery store, then a reasonable fitness level should be sufficient. However, if you want to tackle 60-minute or longer road treks, then be sure to visit your doctor (disclaimer), to get a clean bill of health. If you belong to a gym, try using the stationary bikes to get an idea of how a ride might feel.
Bonus Tip: Apps
As technology creeps into our leisure time, more people are using apps on their mobile phones as tools to help with their fitness choices. I recommend a free app called “Map My Ride,” part of the Map My Fitness series. The app charts your route with a map, keeps time, mileage, miles-per-hour and calories burned. You can pause the workout and resume. It will save your workout so if you see a photo op, you can take photos without the app closing. The app also lets you share your workout on social media. For long rides, be sure your phone is fully charged.
Bicycling is a wonderful leisure pastime, whether you bike for a workout, a short trip, or a long ride—there is nothing like riding in the fresh air!
I would love to hear of your bicycling adventures!
25 Comments on “5 Tips for a Successful Bicycle Ride”
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All good tips! Both my husband and I love to cycle – although his rides with his bike buddies are much longer than mine. I try to avoid riding in traffic as much as possible… I just don’t trust cars or their distracted drivers.
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Thanks! Hubbie is off on his own 30-mile ride as we speak! I don’t trust cars and traffic either, or squirrels now 🙂
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Is that still in the San Diego area?
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No, this photo was taken two weeks ago in Sacramento.
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These are perfect ideas and great advice for riders of any age or experience… I actually have a bike but it’s in storage until the weather warms up… I appreciate the reminder about a fanny pack and the bike shorts… I’ve suffered too many sore spots! And a fanny pack is great to hold all the important items!
Your ride amongst the animals in nature sounds lovely!!!!
Here’s to more fun rides!
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Thanks, Lia! Good to hear you have a bike! Here’s to quick healing and quick sun for you!!
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Thank you! I appreciate your well-wishes!
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Great tips! We bought new bikes in September…… And happily discovered that we still know how to ride! 🙂 I think I’ll look into investing in some bike shorts this summer. And the Map My Ride looks very interesting. Now….. To get the snow to melt…….Can’t be long now, can it? Thanks for helping to focus our attention in the right direction.
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Thank you Janet, glad I could be of service! Melt, snow, melt!!
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This is almost interesting and helpful post, Terri.
My husband and I are into racing bikes. We can’t wait to start racing again when the weather improves.
I couldn’t think of anything else to add to your complete list. Great tips!
And you had a wonderful ride!
Thank you!
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I didn’t know you rode! I’m glad the tips were thorough enough! I wish I could send you some of this warm sunny weather we are having. Thanks for the kind comments 🙂
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Good ideas. I love riding too and have done a few cycling tours overseas which are great way to see the countryside. I enjoy riding on the flat but where I live are a number of hills which test me every time!
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We have a lot of bikes around. My Significant Other rescues them from landfills, fixes them up or chops them up to build new ones. I’m a late learner on a bike but getting better on one. Hope summer comes soon. We still have tons of snow.
Lily
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I am a commuter cyclist and I ride an Electra which is a cruiser style bike. It’s a joy to ride. Previously I just had a cheap mountain bike which was functional but not as comfortable.
I also vote for helmet. I fell off and fractured my jaw. My helmet saved my nose and face as well as likely my brain, though I still had concussion.
I love the Yakkay helmets – they are cute with their fabric covers and also protect me from sunburn.
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I really enjoyed your post! I definitely wear a helmet on my cruiser/road hybrid. Cheers that you can ride to your work!!
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Knee pads, Elbow pads, good studded finger gloves are what I’ve discovered I need after god knows how I ever went head over the handle bars (full somersault holding the bike) whist going up hill at a crawl. lol Was funny my man wasn’t quick enough to record it. I have a knack of falling off it. It was probably cause the bike was brand new, the last bike was 15years old and I didn’t change the brakes once. My accidents I put down to keen braking. So if anyone has bought a new bike after having an old one, go lightly with your trigger finger lol Good tips! Keep enjoying the cycling
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Great advice! Many thanks! Just did a 13 mile ride today (one hour). Loving it!
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Yes. I can see (!) that all the riders in the San Francisco Naked Ride were following your advice. I looked closely and did not see too many fanny packs, but did see many buddies riding together. :o)
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Har-de har har!!
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Thank you for your like Julia has been someone who I started out with,great soul, good friend
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I am such a newbie when it comes to bike riding. It is very strange when you live in Belgium to be like that.
I only learned how to ride a bike at the age of 12 and it is not something natural to me.
Thank you so much for these tips on #TipTuesday. I am going to learn a lot from them.
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Thank you! Bicycling is wonderful exercise and I live close to an amazing urban bike trail.
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