10 THINGS I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED CYCLING

[@CanyonWanderer]

Plus one on the MTB / SPD pedals: I use them exclusively, both on my MTB/hybrid commute as on my carbon racer... Advantages: dual sided clip-in, "one shoe fits all" You can actually walk normally in the "one shoe that fits all" not much weight difference not expensive (both cleat and shoe)

[@ChrisHallRides]

🙌👌

[@ElrocStone]

Addtonally to number 1, you can wear bib shorts under normal clothes if you feel a bit weird about wearing lycra in public. It will seem normal after a while but when you're new it can be daunting so some baggy shorts or pants will work fine over top of bib shorts.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Very good point there thank you!

[@purklefluff]

i'd add: if you're new to cycling, it really helps to familiarise yourself with how to fix certain things while you're in the comfort of your home or garage. I know lots of people who avoid that sort of preparation and fling themselves into something and come unstuck. It can really give you confidence to be out and about, self-sufficient and without fear of getting stranded. Changing a tyre, an inner tube, being able to take your wheels on and off, tightening and loosening bolts in key areas such as the saddle or handlebars for adjustment if needed, removing installing or fixing a chain (this is probably the trickiest, so worth doing at home when you've got time and can walk away for a cup of coffee or something). Give yourself a proper feeling of freedom rather than always being on the edge of needing to call someone for help due to a simple mechanical issue. It really pays off and allows you to be more adventurous and of course - ask your cycling friends if you have any, for help with this. It can be a social thing too, rather than a frustrating deep dive into how-tos and youtube videos

[@teddgram]

This is how I started. Now I have a pretty good home repair station in the garage. I hate asking people for help, so I love being able to put my bike in the stand and fix it myself. I also fix up a few "curb find" bikes each year and sell them or give them away to people who need a bike (college students for campus life, people who just want a bike, etc).

[@ChrisHallRides]

That’s a fantastic tip. Thank you. Yes I agree reaching out to friends for advice is a great point of call. Thanks for commenting

[@ChrisHallRides]

Fantastic about the curb bikes. Great to being a new lease of life into something

[@cneubert28]

Something I learned for myself is don’t just bike. I have advanced so much with my cycling by adding in running.

[@ChrisHallRides]

totally agree, I go to the gym a few times a week as well and do quite a lot of hiking with the dog.

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

Your introduction on what you can wear was a perfect definition of myself; bib shorts and sloppy-Joe. I’m also in mountain bike cleats. Gotta admit, eating after or enough is a real mental challenge.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Yeah many people underestimate how much you should eat

[@troycollett8540]

One more tip is to support your local bike shop and in turn they tend to help you out a little bit more if you are a regular customer and they get to know you

[@ChrisHallRides]

Great shout

[@PumpkinVillage]

Rule ten is the best. Ride to ride and have fun. Thanks for the video and take care, Al

[@ChrisHallRides]

Thanks, you too!

[@kowalski864]

My beginner tip: knowing things needs experience. You can watch ten Sram vs Shimano videos, but until you have ridden X amount of kilometers you can’t know which you prefer. The same goes with most stuff, you will learn when you ride - what gear ratios you need, what kit, what bike etc. Just start somewhere (use rule no 10) and see how it feels.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Great point there

[@Gufolicious]

100% KZbinrs tend to overcomplicate stuff a lot. Experience is the best teacher.

[@heidijarvis777]

As a British cycling ride leader I love taking out diverse groups of riders out on the road and give them confidence, we even have a couple of deaf ladies that ride with us. I always get people in the group say that their bike is not as good etc and I tell them it doesn’t matter it’s a bike and they are getting out and socialising and having fun. I agree some “clubs” put too much pressure on people to fit the mould

[@ChrisHallRides]

Completely agree with what you're saying here. Awesome that you are a ride leader too.

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

What’s your club mate?

[@kevinlyon9501]

All useful stuff, I'd add if you've never fixed a puncture, learn how to fix one at home first even if it's just taking the tyre on and off.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Great shout there thank you

[@redkeyspoke]

And address whatever issue caused the puncture in the first place before replacing and immediately puncturing the new tube, e.g. bit of glass or wire in tire, exposed spoke hole, torn valve stem (proper placement and inflation prevent this one).

[@pattaweemaneewan8980]

yeah i spent time and sweat doing this more than actually riding when i was preparing my first long ride lol

[@chrisoconnellUK]

Hi Chris, interesting tip re. time as opposed to distance. I have often thought more in terms of achieving distance, so this has given me pause for thought - as I do sometimes find myself anxious/lacking motivation at the prospect of completing say a 50 mile ride. On a related note, though, I've taken lately to setting off with no route/distance in my Wahoo etc, gauging my effort, and then heading for home at a natural point of fatigue. A sort of cycling jazz - which I'm enjoying the freedom of.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Love the analogy of cycling jazz. That’s a great thing to do. Don’t always be a slave to data

[@333wheeler]

Check wind direction. Never fly out in one tail wind direction then find you have to grovel back home into it. As a newbie best stick to local mixed terrain circular circuits of say 20 km . Improve your skills on said circuit increasing laps after a while . Handy if it starts raining as you can veer off directly home quickly.

[@ChrisHallRides]

That’s some great suggestions thank you!

[@boxsterpontus]

I live in a very windy area near the sea. It's a very good idea to check the wind direction before you head out. You can modify your route to take the headwind in forested areas and tailwind on the plains. Or make sure you have the headwind on the way out. It's good training with a head wind, you are forced to learn to sit in an aero tuck position. But it is no fun.

[@redauwg911]

Thank you for the video Chris... The only rule i follow is sun glasses over helmet straps.. lol

[@ChrisHallRides]

There’s a good safety reason to that too

[@iacobp]

I dont understand this. And when doing it like that i always loose my sunglasses if I take off my helmet.

[@redauwg911]

@@iacobp for safety reasons they should be worn over the straps. In the event of an accident, sunglasses will fly off upon impact if their arms are over the straps, preventing them from hurting your face. You don't want them to crack and slice up your face

[@justsomedude7556]

I actually converted all my road bikes to Time ATAC pedals as I really like them, but got tired of dealing with different shoes , cleat systems. Been using ATAC for almost 20 years now.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Yeah it’s so useful just having one system right?

[@ellipticalsoul]

Some good tips here. I was very hesitant getting back on a bike a couple of years ago because I hadn't ridden since I was a kid and worried about wearing non-cycling clothes etc but I've kind of worked my way up to proper kit haha. In hindsight, I think you are right about bib shorts being the best investment you can make to start with. If you are a bit self conscious about tight clothing because you're on the heavier side like me, mountain bike tops or underarmour type tshirts are good because they don't soak up sweat like a cotton tshirt which can be really uncomfortable.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Great tips there thank you. Also you can always wear shorts over bib shorts if that helps too

[@ShawnIsBatman]

A helpful video, especially for beginners. To expand on a couple of your points: 1) With regard to eating while riding. If your ride is going to be 60-90 minutes, especially if it is not very intense, you won't need to worry about eating on the bike (assuming you are not fully depleted at the start of the ride), however, as you mentioned, you should replenish calories soon after the ride to help recovery. At most, some liquid calories during the ride would be sufficient. 2) Regarding cycling shorts/bibs. If you are purchasing your first pair, you do not need to spend a huge amount on them! If possible, ask friends (or club members) for their recommendations. Before purchasing, if purchasing online, search for buyer reviews from several different sources. In general, cycling shorts will be less expensive than bibs, bibs vs. shorts is a preference, try both if you are just starting. Also, shop the sale/closeout section of the online shop or local bike store and get a deal vs. paying full price! Just because something is more expensive does not necessarily mean that it will be better for you.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Great additional points there. Thank you for adding to them. Appreciated

[@ncc1107]

I first bought padded shorts from my local shop and just wear them under a pair of Specialized shorts (unless it's cold). My first bibs (thanks for the eBay sale, Chris lol) took some getting used to because the straps felt weird, so I'd definitely recommend trying both if possible.

[@grahamriley8124]

All my shorts were bought second hand! I have gotten months and years of further wear out of them for far less than half price. And proper padded shorts really do make riding more comfortable.

[@ncc1107]

Re: Tip 1. Someone thought I was crazy for wearing jeans while on a ride last week while wearing my clip in shoes. It was the only way I felt like I could comfortably ride that day since the thermal base layer and the bib shorts alone definitely couldn't cut 3 Degrees C alone. Also, Gravel shoes are a nice middle ground to offroad and road shoes. SPD cleats are easier for clipping and walking in, and the soles are still as stiff as the road version (for my Shimano shoes at least)

[@ChrisHallRides]

I used to ride in jeans and cleats all the time in London.

[@teddgram]

Do not compare yourself to others - UNLESS.... You start getting into a friendly rivalry with a friend, in which case have at it. One of my better years of staying in shape was a year when a co-worker of mine got a new bike and we were competing to see who could get the most miles in for the year. Good times, good times.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Oh yeah for sure that’s a great point there. A friendly rivalry is a great thing for motivation

[@patrickmcfeeney413]

Thank you

[@ChrisHallRides]

You're welcome

[@malcontent_1]

Haha, Franny says "base layers are a lie, promoted by Big Base Layer"

[@ChrisHallRides]

For me as someone who’s quite self conscious, it helps me a lot with confidence

[@malcontent_1]

@@ChrisHallRides I am the same way. I don't mind / prefer the extra lightweight layer. Once again Franny is 50% crazy. 🙃

[@ncc1107]

Both Francis and Chris are correct for different reasons lol. I like base layers for similar reasons to Chris, but riding in 30 C and 80%+ humidity with one is a no go for me.

[@wayneclement7201]

My go to post ride meal is instant noodles, with a tbsp of peanut butter and an egg

[@ChrisHallRides]

That sounds great!

[@wayneclement7201]

@@ChrisHallRides it's just dead easy, when you might not have the energy or inspiration to do something more comforting. Spring onion, radishes, soy sauce, you've instantly jazzed it up a bit

[@cd66061]

Don’t wear underwear under your cycling/bib shorts! And wash shorts after every ride! You don’t want chafing or bacterial issues ‘down there’ 👍🏻

[@ChrisHallRides]

Very good point!

[@ncc1107]

I found out about the underwear thing the hard way… thankfully my thermals haven't chafed with my new bib shorts.

[@edwinpalacios1377]

What happens if you wear underwear under your cycling shorts?

[@ncc1107]

@@edwinpalacios1377 For me at least, it increases chances of chafing if they don't sit properly. Looser boxers are worse at it. Bib shorts are often tight fitting, so anything else under them will affect the fit.

[@floydie9255]

Hi Chris, I need someone to make me a pair of 'Thomas the Tank Engine' Bib Shorts....LOL.

[@ChrisHallRides]

I don’t get it?

[@iacobp]

Spd has the same power. There is nowhere else for the power to go.

[@ChrisHallRides]

SPD SL has a wider platform which allows better power transfer. You can loose power transfer through joints for example so with a smaller platform you are losing power through toe joints. It’s marginal of course but worth noting

[@iacobp]

@@ChrisHallRides Yes, perhaps some energy might be lost to friction and converted to heat, but this would be extremely marginal. Anyway, I believe the sole of the shoe plays a more significant role in the efficiency of power transfer than the pedal system does. Regardless, your point about the practicality of SPD is well taken, and I completely agree. I use it myself for bikepacking. Also, I really enjoy your videos, and I appreciate the work you put into them. Thanks.

[@iacobp]

@@ChrisHallRides Yes, perhaps some energy might be lost to friction and converted to heat, but this would be extremely marginal. Anyway, I believe the sole of the shoe plays a more significant role in the efficiency of power transfer than the pedal system does. Regardless, your point about the practicality of SPD is well taken, and I completely agree. I use it myself for bikepacking. Also, I really enjoy your videos, and I appreciate the work you put into them. Thanks.

[@phoffen3829]

I have gone to road pedals recently. Thankfully I got them and the shoes for half price, because they are, in the words of our colonisers, "pants". Sure your foot is on a slightly bigger platform, but they are so hard to get out of, even on minimum settings and yellow cleats (105's BTW), they are borderline dangerous. Can't wait to switch back to MTB pedals. I am quite sure I won't lose too much speed in the group rides, and I won't wonder if I am going to fly across the shop (literally) when I stop for supplies.

[@scottbates1424]

Love you Chris! But for the life of me, I don’t understand cyclings current obsession with base layers?! No other sports insists on wearing multiple clothing layers to “wick” sweat while adding layers that melt you the high heat? Good modern fabrics wick wonderfully by themselves. No one needed base layers during decades of prior cycling. Come to think of it, no other sports still require suspenders to hold up your shorts either. I just don’t get it…

[@scottbates1424]

Weight weenies will fret over shaving every gram off their bikes…and then put on THREE layers of torso clothing to then melt in 100 F degree heat 😅😊

[@redkeyspoke]

Its just more comfortable, less seams, no zipper against your skin. And lightweight jerseys can be somewhat transparent, so as Chris said in another comment, good option if self-conscious. I wear one even when riding in hot weather, though it's definitely personal preference.

[@scottbates1424]

⁠Believe me, I’ve tried it all…just haven’t experienced much benefit. But I haven’t tried wearing base layers and suspenders while running in the summer either…but maybe I should!? To each their own…whatever works for your comfort, just get out on your bikes…😂 Goooooo Chris!!!

[@ChrisHallRides]

It's massively personal preference. Also for me as a self conscious person it helps a lot with that. I feel like I look better with it. Personally I really like them too as a layer to have and like that it hides modesty with an open jersey as well

[@ChrisHallRides]

I find them really comfortable and great as a self conscious person. I also like that when riding if I want to unzip my jersey, I'm not showing everything to strangers. Everyone likes different things. It's fine if you don't like base layers. I don't like marmite. Not everyone can like everything.

[@redkeyspoke]

There are 'the rules', but they are silly and mostly tongue in cheek, mostly having to do with fashion.

[@ChrisHallRides]

They’re BS in my opinion