7 Tips Beginner Cyclists Should NOT Follow

[@gcn]

What did you spend too long obsessing over when you were a beginner cyclist?!

[@JonCannings]

Spoke tension

[@sportscinematicuniverse]

Technique. Saddle and handlebar height. Proper positioning.

[@songofyesterday]

How to learn clipless pedals without injuring myself. An injury might put me out for weeks. So, bought cheap padding for elbows and knees on Amazon. They took a beating on the opposite side of my dominant leg on falls. Worth the buy though, that could have been my left elbow.

[@jamiebowen7315]

girls...

[@muratmustafa4532]

to cycle on a road with traffic or not.

[@shepshape2585]

Good tips, and I would like to just add two things: 1. If you're just starting out, don't go hard. Just enjoy riding your bike and keep at a pace where you could still have a conversation if there were someone riding next to you. This will build an aerobic base that will come in very handy later on. Most of your riding, whether a newbie or a veteran cyclist should be done in this zone. 2. You don't ever need top spec components. Whether you're brand new or you've been cycling for 20 years, a 105 group set is all you'll ever need. Don't get caught up in all the hype around carbon wheels and Dura Ace and the like, just buy a bike that is well built with reliable components and have at it. You can't buy speed. Minimal gains only matter if you're in the pro peloton, and you're not. None of us are. If you're spending more than $3,000 for a bike, you're overspending. And really it's probably more like $2,000.

[@jamiebowen7315]

Amen. 36 at the back 30 at the front is a god send if you live near any serious hills! Keep on spinning!!!

[@CarhunterVST1]

Good advice, I now do road racing and I run a carbon Scott frame with a 105 groupset, I can easily keep up with Dura ace and aero rims. It's down to the rider, not the bike

[@shepshape2585]

@@CarhunterVST1 Thank you and yes, it’s all about the motor, not the bike. Keep up the good work!

[@ronaldvb3663]

Yeah the speed limitation is on the bike!(at least in my case)

[@fredjohnstone7027]

There are good padded cycling liners that can be worn under standard clothing. That is a fairly good budget alternative to cycling shorts, or bibs. Probably the most important thing is making sure the bike fits well. I think that’s what stalls people out more than anything. The final thing is to find a saddle that works well and to realize that it takes 2-3 weeks for your “butt to get into shape”.

[@a1white]

8/9/10 speed cassettes are a hell of a lot cheaper too than a 12 speed cassette too, when you come to get it serviced. Same goes for fully internal routing. it might look sleek and aero but many bike shops won’t want to bother with your integrated headset when you need a service and if they do you’ll be paying a lot more for the man hours involved with threading the cables and hoses.

[@KILLTHEREDDITOR]

Internal head tube routing looks good until your headset bearing replacement turns into a huge time and money sink because of the hydraulic lines having to be re-bled and reattached with new fittings lol

[@a1white]

@@KILLTHEREDDITOR yes, I just had my headset serviced. Was made simpler by my fully external cabling and rim brakes

[@cruachan1191]

Gym and running clothing will do for most things, wicking socks and tops and I usually wear trail runners on the bike as well. A decent pair of shorts is a must though IMO. I don't wear bibs, prefer loose shorts personally. I bought a pair of cheap cycling shorts from eBay as a beginner, after no more than a dozen rides you can see through the material where it's been in contact with the saddle. Now I wear Endura shorts, huge difference in durability.

[@leightondavies8884]

I’d add the caveat ‘ don’t fudge on a decent pair of bibs - cheap ones are horrid and not comfortable and I guess that’s what a new rider will need - comfort 👍

[@shepshape2585]

I'd like to disagree, but since I've never spent more than $50 for a pair of bibs, and most of the bibs I use are more like $15, I couldn't tell you for sure that a $300 pair of bibs are any better. And I'll never know, because that's just crazy. I ride over 200 miles per week in my Chinese bibs and I've never had a problem. They last for years and I'm plenty comfortable.

[@leightondavies8884]

@@shepshape2585 I didn’t put a price point there , just said don’t be cheap and get it right 1st time ( wouldn’t catch me paying those prices either 👍)

[@shepshape2585]

@@leightondavies8884 I didn't mean to imply that you had. I was simply saying that in my 12 years of riding experience, a $15 pair of bibs from Aliexpress are perfectly fine. I would assume that you think $15 is extremely cheap, and I'm here to tell you that anything more than that and you're throwing your money away.

[@tomblackwell4924]

Bear in mind that many people on the planet use cycling to get to work, get groceries, go to school, and in short, just to live. Money buys the worries about how fast, cool, or aero your bike is. One of my greatest regrets about cycling is that I have obsessed about being the fastest. I needed instead to be content to lower my blood pressure, heart rate, increase my overall fitness, and enjoy the mental health benefits, too. Health, both mental and physical, is reason and reward enough.

[@goodcompanycoffee]

Good list. Could relate to all of them esp #7 with drafting. Also, don't overthink your first bike choice even when your mates have a fancier name-brand one. Legs do most of the talking in this sport. Get a bike that fits. Then, enjoy and ride!

[@ChrisWhiteCovers]

Don‘t get caught up in worrying about cross-chaining and gear selection. I used to agonize over whether I was using the 'right‘ chainring-cassette combination. Find a comfortable cadence and just ride. Eventually you‘ll learn when to shift chainrings in anticipation but unless you‘re spinning away at the extremes (52-32 or 36-10) it really doesn‘t make a huge difference. Or just ride 1x and never worry about it!

[@BlendyCat]

For me it was always just about getting out. I found it beneficial to not be involved in any cycling groups or communities when I first started. If you try to do too much research into the hobby it takes a lot away from what you could discover for yourself. Once you finally do join those communities (online or irl) or groups then you'll already have a bit of an established identity as a cyclist. I agree with a lot of the tips from the video. You really don't need that much to enjoy the sport other than a bike that works.

[@noelgibson5956]

For me it's:- keep tyres pumped, belly full and water handy. That way the drag that you can't control (hills and wind), are at least bearable.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

What a wonderful video with truly down to earth, practical advice! Well done Conor, Hank and gcn!!! I couldn't agree more on all these points! I wish the research on flat pedals had come out sooner! One thing I was really worried about as a beginner, joining a no drop bicycle club here in Ontario, even though I didn't need to, was whether or not I could keep up, or if I had the right bike. I bought a 45 year old steel Nishiki road 12 speed, used, for $40 CDN. Best move I ever did because as I went on further, I discovered that what I really wanted to do was bike touring. Eventually I bought my Drop bar, Kona Sutra Touring Bike (2017) and it was just fine for leading easy social rides. Have to say though, that old 12 speed was brutal in our Northumberland Hills! (Much like Si in the Merxx video, I really could have done with easier/ modern gear ratios, but turned out to be great training! What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger eh?) On the food front I found beef jerky/pepperettes/ gruyere cheese triangles, peanut butter and banana wraps all worked well and still do! This is welcome content indeed! Please keep this kind of content gcn! I learn so much and especially in the discussion these videos generate!

[@petek1]

Whilst I’m all for “Just get out & ride” - it’s worth having a think of the route you’ll take. No one likes getting lost then having a stressful ride along a busy A-road to get back home

[@derickcastillo9083]

A very important video. Our sport can be intimidating for new people to get into the sport/activity. Thank you for making it easier for beginners.

[@Gixer750pilot]

Some of my best and most enjoyable rides are when I forgot my Garnin computer . Rather than staring at numbers and pushing for a PB, I was just out riding , looking at the view and in my thoughts . Don’t believe the hype about being pro . Just get out there and find a good cafe !!!!

[@cjreeve79]

The biggest mistake you include here is calling cycling a sport. Sure you can cycle as a sport, but if you are new to cycling the most rewarding element is not that you were the second slowest on Strava but that you just cycled from one city to another and enjoyed every bit. Cycling is the best way of getting about. You don't need advice on how to up your game to enjoy cycling. My best advice is to buy a GPS so that you don't get lost. Find your relaxing rhythm and just ride.

[@youtubechangemynamewhy]

Phone can navigate, GPS ?

[@cjreeve79]

@@youtubechangemynamewhy that's true, smart phones are usually bundled with a GPS receiver. Just need a phone holder and battery pack then. My experience is that it is best to plan a nice route on a big screen and then move track to your device. That way you can easily use Google Street view to check how safe a road looks. It makes all the difference finding quiet roads where you are not constantly being close passed by impatient drivers.

[@Andy_ATB]

Agree - far too much performance orientated advice for newcomers. Ignore most of it. Get out, ride, and enjoy - take in the scenery, stop for lunch/ cafe.......be more like Jack Thurston's Slow cycling.....

[@Richarddraper]

Absolutely right there. It's only a sport for a small minority of cyclists.

[@johnnyblue4799]

Nothing wrong with getting lost, on purpose, from time to time!

[@derekevans1932]

Cycling is also for all types of bikes. I have a hybrid with flat handlebars. With more time available to me shortly I am looking forward to using training and learning to look after the bike better than previously, so that I can ride better, further and hopefully do a multi-day bikepacking/touring trip as well. I would suggest looking after the chain and mech is important, and not everyone has indoor training capabilities.

[@reecedawson6113]

Talking about tyres, make sure your setup is easy to take on and off for your first puncture. I remember my first puncture, it was 1 degree and me and a friend struggled for 20 just to get the tyre off

[@noelgibson5956]

I live in Australia. I often use dedicated cycle paths to keep myself out of the path of possibly inattentive drivers. To my irritation, I instead find myself always having to dodge pedestrians using the cycleways. I must constantly slow down, avoid dogs, sound my bell and tiptoe around unpredictable toddlers walking with their parents. Pedestrians can walk anywhere they want; the beach, forest, along a street, through a shopping mall, etc. Why do they also need the bike path? I was yelled at recently by a woman on a cycleway after I passed her. She accused me of not sounding my bell. I did sound it, but she just didn't hear it for whatever reason.

[@andypierce6593]

Glad to hear y’all saying this. So much of cycling equipment is geared towards racing, where the cost is justified by winnings. For those of us who aren’t winning though, getting out there is more important than having pro gear.

[@TravelWithLinAndBilly]

I completely disregarded everything you said! In fact, I went the extra mile and wrapped up the video with a mere 3 seconds remaining. 8:07

[@madmick9205]

Ah! I had a felt bike with Caris and felt the need to go all carbon and Ultegra. I was certainly disappointed. OK. The new bike is great, not doubt about it. But not the spectacular wow factor I was expecting. I reckon that some fancy new wheels, tyre's and tubes will do it though!! ha ha! It is a lesson learned to be honest. I only usually give advice if asked to. But. The right size bike, the right saddle and handle bars should be the very first thing on the list. I also think a shop should offer a bike fit before a customer buys a bike. I wanted a particular bike from a shop, and was told that it wouldn't fit. Although it was close. They lost a sale but saved me a lot of money. So I also would advise buying from a shop. Well, a good shop at least. That could save you a lot more money than an on-line bike that needs more money spent in order to get it to fit you. I would have saved about £500 at least, if I knew this when I bought my bike.

[@Ianane2]

Take home message, you don't need sponsored pruducts to enjoy cycling, just yourself and a bike will do it, but we're a sponsored channel so we'll plug the sponsored products anyway

[@davidfoster4212]

Best cycling food ever - dates.

[@chrisjohnson6401]

Fantastic product placement 👌

[@songofyesterday]

I got into clipless pedals. Fell five times. Glad I bought a used frame. Even more scratches on it now, but it does feel better, smoother, than flat pedals once I’m used to it.

[@HabaneroTi]

It's a bit of an adjustment at first but if you have them adjusted properly, once you get the hang of them, clipless pedals are perfectly safe and in some ways safer as there's no chance of slipping on the pedals when it's wet or with slick soles. Plus they just feel right.

[@Sutlore007]

Conti Ultra Sport III is my go to tire no matter what where and how I ride. Good bang for the buck, for me as a beginner.

[@feralearthworm3044]

Bingo

[@kge420]

How’s the flat protection? That’s number one for me.

[@Sutlore007]

@@kge420 I think it is alright. The tire does not contain any that said to be a protective layer but in the real world it is held up quite well. I used to ride on the side road that has fragmented of glasses and it was fine.

[@feralearthworm3044]

@@kge420 yeah its average, good enough. The continental grand sport has an layer of puncture protection and I think it is still faster rolling than thd ultra sport, at an increased but still reasonable cost, so it may be better. If you REALLY want puncture protection you can get continental gatorskins, but they are pricier, slower, and feel worse than the ultra sport and grand sport, but are still much better than most commuter tires in my experience.

[@davidparry1982]

A really good option for beginner road bike pedals are dual purpose- so clip less one side and flat the other. - allows you to progress at your own pace.These are typically Shimano SPD which is pretty benign when you’re clipped in - then just a flat pedal the other side so you ac use normal footwear. I use these on all my bikes as I’m racer - they can look pretty good and I’d recommend the Sonder Jekyll or you want you bike to still look sexy 😘 I love that GCN is focusing on real world cycling as well as high end much lately❤️

[@SebBrosig]

With 50 years on the road I'm still a beginner heeding this advice... except for the drafting, I suck up to a back wheel whenever I can!

[@vapyd3999]

I used an alloy bike with 3x8 Sora for 12 years before I moved up to carbon and 2x11 105, and I mainly only got carbon because it was on sale. Always used clipless, but only started wearing knicks when I started riding longer than an hour. About to invest in my first indoor trainer though, I think workouts will help fitness, not sure whats going on when I did a 60km ride, felt fine, didn't bonk, but it was the first time I tracked my heart rate and was avg 170...

[@romanluu]

Totally ignored the 'stick with the flat pedals until you're ready ' advice this year when I started my road cycling journey and I have two big scars on my knees to show for it 😅.

[@ivandean1]

I've been riding for 40 years now. There is one rule I always follow, pedal between 90-110 rpm and change gears to keep pedaling in that range. Go out and enjoy the ride.

[@bensmith4563]

I doubt i could even pedal that fast at all

[@lawrencewinter]

Continental Gatorskins for tires. Bombproof. Shimano sora components are perfectly good. I toured around Europe over 6000miles and commuted 5 years and it never missed a beat. Any aluminium frame is perfectly good. Just get out there!

[@b2284]

It's funny even as a beginner I went and did several of these things immediately... Got clipppess pretty early on and even a head unit and power meter, some gels and upgrades my tires to some faster slicks because I knew I would be mostly riding on flat terrain 😅

[@ZachTheExcitedViper]

I would add that although you dont need expensive kit, investing in proper cold weather gear will get you mentally more motivated to go out there. Watch Strava and see how many people start dropping out/complaining that its just too cold for them (something a pair of softshell tights can resolve). You wont improve if you're not on the bike, so if you find yourself reducing your training load because you're cold, it might be worth the investment even as a newbie.

[@BOONERBOYO]

flat pedals for life!

[@realvaughnfelix]

😝😝😝 same here

[@marcushaysom4059]

Right about most things except the clothing and pedals.

[@TTTJJJLLL]

I would not ignore advice to upgrade your tires when you get your beginner level bike. Easy and cheap upgrade which makes large difference.

[@АндрейКомиссаров-ц1д]

I will note about drafting that it is useful to be able to sit on a partner’s wheel, but the constant use of someone else’s back as protection from the wind coddles the young rider. Moreover, the leader in the pair must ride evenly and spit carefully downwind to the side so as not to hit the wingman.

[@권용대-b5v]

I’d suggest for beginners not to buy a speedometer. I have never used one because I don’t want to care about numbers. Just enjoy the speed and wind with your body. That’s the sport.

[@jonathansapier7574]

Whoever said cycling was cheap, wasn’t a cyclist! 😁

[@fabianbinder3681]

Well, if you buy second hand and use your bike for your commute, it actually is, even if you spend the former gasoline money on upgrades.

[@vihuelamig]

Cycling is cheap, it's race or road cycling and all it's associations that tends to be expensive.

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

Try golfing. 1-2K USD for clubs and 30 to 150 USD per round. I know someone who spent as much as I did for a top end bicycle.

[@fandydiadline]

Nah it's cheap

[@robertcatuara5118]

Alliexpress: Hold my beer.

[@jamiebowen7315]

Just done an ace 40 mile ride. Stopped for a coffee and a flapjack after 30 miles. No need for gel bars and all that stuff unless you’re doing silly miles!!!

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Even doing silly miles, I've found that I can do real food and not Ultra Processed Industrially Produced Edible Substances.

[@jamiebowen7315]

@@geoffreyhoney122 Absolutely! No need for anything you can't make at home!

[@geoffreyhoney122]

@@jamiebowen7315 👍

[@dalericher404]

These are all EXCELLENT tips! I think most of the commenters who reply in argument against one or more of these tips, forget that you are talking about BEGINNERS! People who are buying a bike for the first time to ride DO NOT need to follow any of these tips when factoring in WHAT to buy along with their new bike! In fact, I'd go so far as to say they SHOULD NOT follow them! I've been a serious bicycle rider for over 40 years, and I love the great tips you find in the GCN videos, as well as what many other people put out. But as stated in this video, beginners should not worry about these things until such a time as they are looking to improve their performance...especially as they begin riding in group rides. I will however, offer the folks who produce these GCN videos one tip....Be a little more careful when reviewing/editing these shows, because you used the WRONG WORD in the very opening intro to this video! When the words "THESE ARE A FEW BITS OF ADVICE THAT IF YOUR A BEGINNER CYCLIST....." splashed across my screen, I noticed that you should have used the word "YOU'RE" (the conjunction of two words...YOU & ARE), in place of "YOUR" (a possesive pronoun). High quality programming should not be degraded by poor quality English! (Even if that is the trend, these days!) 😉

[@charlesdufour9276]

I think mountain bikes are a good starting point for cyclists. The wide, treaded tires give increased traction and stability in corners and wet weather over road and gravel bikes. This is important when starting to learn about handling a bike. Also, entry level mountain bikes tend to be less expensive than road and gravel bikes (at least in North America).

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

This is one thing I'd say entry level road bikes lack, namely a decent hill climb gear. I've just swapped my Claris 8 speed to 105 12 speed 1:1 ratio what a difference on the hills!

[@SignorLuigi]

Fuel of the People -> DATES!!! 🙌🙌🙌😋😋😋

[@raybarber9837]

Dextrosol tablets and fig rolls. That's all the you need. Half a fig roll an hour and a dextrolsol hit before the big climb. Add a hobnob for a bit of lift when your feeling down.

[@miniac60]

Can someone translate this to American English please!😂

[@raybarber9837]

Google is your friend :) @@miniac60

[@calmprn7165]

Haha, That's half a fig newton every hour and some meth before the big climb

[@michaelw7438]

Sports nutrition: fig rolls; nuts & raisins; bidon with orange squash, maybe a pinch of salt. Done.

[@biketrybe7071]

Even advanced cyclists can ignore some of those tips.

[@АндрейКомиссаров-ц1д]

I think a beginner should be given criteria by which he can determine whether he has received a work load of 95-100 percent, so as not to over train and not do too little during training.

[@martindirkzimmer]

What is Connor using on his grey Canyon Grizl to extend the front mudguard?

[@gc641]

Now you tell me…..I went down that rabbit hole 😂😂😂😂

[@Przemo-c]

One tip is stop calling it a sport. It's a fun activity. It can be a sport if you want it to be but it doesn't have to.

[@jaydibernardo4320]

I'd also add no need to slam the stem.

[@willmo1725]

Yeah I agree. Just getting out is the best thing. You kinda have to evolve to shoes and clothes.

[@Florislaurens]

I'd advise any new to cycling beginner to buy some kind of heart rate measuring System. Find out what your personal "green zone" is and stick to it most of the time during your ride. You'll see that you'll enjoy your trips and still have a decent work out without emptying yourself in no time. Cycling will stay enjoyable that way and you will look forward to your next ride! 🤩

[@stevec8243]

Rubbish. I cycled competitively for years and now cycle purely for fun. I have never used a HRM.

[@Florislaurens]

@@stevec8243 Ah! You didn't need a HRM? Well good for you. I only pointed out that it helped me a lot in keeping a pace that extends my rides while keeping up the fun by not starting too eager and emptying the tank too soon. Every beginner can decide for him/herself if that would be beneficial to them. So don't call it rubbish.

[@stevec8243]

@@Florislaurens that's called knowing your own pace. The same can be achieved using a computer/GPS unit and monitoring your av speed and distance. The difference being a computer/GPS is actually useful to a beginner, an HRM is not.

[@Florislaurens]

@@stevec8243 Knowing your own pace.....how should a beginner, new to the sport know his pace? I myself discovered my pace, and being able to stick to it, by using the heart beat meter on my Garmin. TO ME it proved to be very useful. And I only wish someone more experienced had tipped me to use it as a helpful tool before I started biking and beating myself up almost untill the point that I stopped liking bike riding. Yes, maybe there are other ways to discover and maintain your pace but TO ME this was a game changer. So if anyone new to cycling would ask me what to do, this would be my strong recomendation. What the -beep- is wrong with that?

[@reoencarcelado5904]

“If it didn’t get recorded on Strava, it does-not exist / it didn’t happen.” “You should-worry about the-numbers: Keep-a-focus on your speed, GPS, etc etc.” “Every gram matters.” “[Expensive] energy-gels beats young-coconut-water every time.” “Spaghetti-bolognese should be eaten before the day of a Gran-Fondo, for dinner. *NOT* for Breakfast.” etcetera.

[@zauliuz]

Don't chase PR on routes where you cycling, and don't try to be 1st in those segments. That was one of mistakes what i did this year. :)

[@wuzihuzi]

Why was it a mistake?

[@SystemParanoia]

I still hold Koms from when I used to commute 10 years ago! Chasing PR's on the commute is the best part, as you learn where the segments you want to attack are without even thinking... And you get 5 chances per week to hit em!

[@gcn]

True - Andrew Feather keeps pinching them from us!

[@SystemParanoia]

@@gcn "Uh oh! You just lost your KOM on (segment name) by (rider name)" Are one of The worst emails you can get 😭😭😭😭

[@333wheeler]

Buy an Ordnance survey map of your area with the bike and study the thing a little before investing in any geeky computers .

[@jm19592011]

Mercx: Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.

[@realvaughnfelix]

Forever flat pedals :)

[@SY-ve5qm]

Expensive kits are on the list but not the expensive aero helmets?

[@Larscrona]

It's more fun with a garmin or wahoo computer on your bike! And you don't need to buying all the stuff at once 😅

[@anouar8759]

What bike is he riding? Like what Orbea model is that

[@lauren-thomas]

The only real advantage of clipless pedals is some of them can have an aerodynamic advantage over some flat pedals. Negatives: worse injuries, mechanical complexity/reliability, require dedicated shoes that are bad for your feet, prevent changing foot reposition, expense, promote poor technique (lifting up), et cetera. Contrary to popular unsubstantiated belief, attaching feet to pedals provides no efficiency advantage. There is no reason for anyone other than a brakeless fixie rider or a professional competitive cyclist to buy clipless pedals (and even then you'd probably have a sponsor).

[@RazzFazz-Race]

My advice is: Don’t go fore ultra light bikes/bikeparts. Often they are not as tough as standard bikeparts and very expensive.

[@9090Glenn]

there is a MINIMUM investment you need to make to actually get into road cycling at a level that makes it REAL - if you are driving on an F1 track - sure you MIGHT save money buying an Audi and driving around the track to see if you like F1 or not - but let's face it - until you actually get something NEAR to an F1 car - it will NOT be the same - not even close - so if your entry-level budget is 200£ and you find out after 3 rides its NOT for you - guess what - you bought a milk-cart bike so not too surprised at your outcome - it is not until you actually ride a purpose-built road bicycle that you will begin to become engaged with the sport - seeing how FAST you can travel with relative minimum effort will make you want to do MORE - and if you do NOT look sick - why bother ? - sure you do not have to be decked out but dressing like a lumberjack for road cycling simply DEFEATS you from the OFF - so do not be a cheap BASTURD - spend a bit more than you expect to get at least base line EVERYTHING essential to START - otherwise you will NOT enjoy it - if you LOOK the part you will FEEL the part - so make sure you are prepared to spend BEFORE you decided to ride - otherwise just WAIT until you can afford it rather than destroying what might have been - I would say BOTTOM entry-level cost is 500-1000£ for bike + gear - otherwise PLEASE DO NOT EVEN BOTHER you cheap basturd - less than that - you should just stay a corner store milk grabber

[@kge420]

Mr Gatekeeper has spoken.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Exactly! This guy and his ilk are why so many are dis invited before they even start!!@@kge420

[@jamiebowen7315]

Buy a comfortable bike, not a bike that you think will make you fast, but is uncomfortable. Don’t be convinced to buy a bike that is too large for you because there are no small bikes in the country right now.!!!

[@aj1575]

Buy a used bike; 3-4 year old bikes can be had for 1/3 of the price of a new one. I got a Simplon Pavo Granfondo 4years old with 3000km on it (full carbon, discbrake, Ultegra, 7.7kg) for 1600€; list price new 4500.-€ This bike will last another 10years.

[@wuzihuzi]

Look I rate nice kit. It's part of the fun for me. I guess I've been riding for quite a while and only just starting to ride with other people so that's why I have nice kit now. That's the thing I'm not following

[@rayw5289]

💯

[@ravennexusmh]

For the people who think they need clipless pedals. For 99.999999% of people mountain bike pedals and good shoes will be better for them. And stop you looking like bambi on ice when you do need to walk off the bike. Or stay on flats, i know a very good enduranfe /tri person who rides on flats only.

[@DarrenX9]

Nah. For a casual person riding on a multi use path with their kids at 15kmh, sure, flat pedals are fine. If you're a little more serious and are doing 80-100km rides, you want to be clipped in. SPD pedals are fine for me on my road bike, they are meant for walking around off the bike. A pro rider doesn't have to worry about that but I do. As for the fear of falling over, just set the pedals loose and you'll quickly get used to it. I'm the clumsiest person ever and I've had no problems.

[@pjbell007]

I don't like the way this video is framed. I have cycled over 6000 km a year for the last decade on flat pedals, normal clothes, eating normal food, on industrial strength squishy tyres and never thinking about training. That doesn't make me a beginner, just a different type of cyclist!

[@gcn]

that's a very good point! Different needs for different cyclists. Happy riding!

[@MrErtugerdem]

but need good underwear or get chafting and rash i got 1 time. if you got rash, walk like a cowboy 😅

[@richardstoner866]

You’re

[@gcn]

You are... (better at grammar than us)

[@richardstoner866]

@@gcn😉👏🤣

[@narisevansangynriivaama9903]

The clickbait-style and the "goofy" thumbnails aren't a good look. Do better.

[@kabbourelkhamissi8994]

Asian, the best, or danger?

[@kabbourelkhamissi8994]

🤨🤨🤨

[@anotherscandinavian]

"Any bike is a bikepacking (or touring) bike" Stop lying and be honest with people; that an old granny bike, or a heavy ass e-bike, aren't good bikes for touring or bikepacking. I get that they're trying to be "inclusive" but the amount of people I've met that went out on shitty bikes and packed way too much ("yeah ofc I should bring this camping chair and the skillet!") just because some asshole told them that "you don't need any of that "fancy stuff".