The Rules
tailwindhome
Posts: 19,431
“New York has the haircuts, London has the trousers, but Belfast has the reason!
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Quite a good article, the fact that he has been there and done it clearly allows him to write with some natural authority!Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Never ride more than two abreast and always go into single file when a car approaches from behind. If you're riding in a big bunch, suggest that you split into smaller groups - it makes negotiating traffic that bit easier.
I know there's a long thread about this but I don't agree that you should always single up for every car. Easy enough if there's just 2 of you, but if there's about 4-6 riders then it's easier for cars to pass if you're doubled.
Nice mention of Ferryhill Wheelers! Only a few miles from me
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Well - yes and no -1. Join a local cycling club and learn something about the sport and how to ride. You'll be surrounded by experienced riders who know how to conduct themselves on the road.
a) not everyone wants to be in a club or rides fast or confidently enough to be in the club.
b) a few clubs are not that welcoming
c) if a lot of newbies join a club then you'll be surrounded by other newbies
d) some clubs don't know how to group ride or share the roads anyway.
That's appropriate if you join a club. If not then you're just out on your bike - why worry about it if you're not at all interested in racing?!3. Support local races and get involved as a race marshal. You will meet proper cyclists and learn more about the culture of cycling. Put something back into the sport.
Point made in previous post.4. Never ride more than two abreast and always go into single file when a car approaches from behind. If you're riding in a big bunch, suggest that you split into smaller groups - it makes negotiating traffic that bit easier.
so says someone who doesn't have a lot of money. Who cares what other people ride.7. Ride a bike that reflects your ability, not your ego. Bikes worth £10,000 are only cool when piloted by racing snakes who can ride 25 miles in under 52 minutes. I won my first race on a £150 third-hand Paganini, which changed gear of its own accord.
Shave legs? It hurts pulling plasters off hairy legs if you got that crashing in a race, sportive or off the turbo - personal choice. Numbers? Read the requirements of the sportive organisers.8. Don't shave your legs unless you're a woman, or you actually race. Sportives don't count. While we're on the subject of Sportives, numbers are for the back of the jersey and not the front of the handle bars.
Don't bunch ride and nobody will care.9. Buy some mudguards. I admit I've been guilty of not having these in the past, but I now realise that it's not cool for anyone behind you on a group ride in the wet to have water sprayed in their face. Failure to use mudguards in winter could make you a more hated figure in the bunch than Lance Armstrong.
at last some reasonable advice.10. Always look at the road ahead and not your GPS or the back brake of the person immediately in front of you.
not everyone wants to race.11. Sign up to a bike race early on in your fledgling cycling career. What doesn't kill you will make you stronger.
Better tell the retailers to stop selling them then ...12. Never wear a rainbow jersey, yellow jersey, national jersey or any other type of winner's jersey that you haven't actually won (yes: that basically rules out everyone). This is also another reason to join a local cycling club. They all have their own kit and some of them are pretty cool. My own favourite was Ferryhill Wheelers.
ah ... perhaps he does have some reasonable advice, but to make it a better read he put some jokes into it ...13. Always share water with other cyclists and always wait for riders struggling on a group ride. No matter how strong you think you are, one day you will be the one hoping someone has waited for you.
14. Don't "half wheel" in a group. This means nudging your front wheel slightly ahead of the rider next to you. Learn to ride at a balanced pace. If you want to turn on the gas, agree to a specific target before you set off. Town sign sprints are things of legend in most training groups.
and the jokes continue to bulk out his article....15. Watch any cycling video of Bernard Hinault. The 'Badger' knew how to do it and would give 'Wiggo', Froome and the rest of the pro-peloton a kicking in his day.
16. Smile. It could be much worse - you could be a rugby player!
17. Wear a helmet. Obviously
shame - because most people look to the negative and he had the opportunity to put together some good advice for the newbie cyclists.0 -
Sportives I've been on either don't have numbers (Evans) or require you to have numbers on the front (Wiggle) so that you can easily be picked out on photographs.
Most annoying are those who give you massive numbers you're more likely to see on a marathon, what am I supposed to do with those?0
