4 Basic Skills For Beginner Cyclists

If you're new to cycling and don't know where to start, these simple and easy beginner skills are a good place to begin. Chris and James talk you through some easy bike skills that will develop your confidence and ability.
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Leave us a comment below!

[@gcn]

What skill do you think is important for new cyclists to learn?

[@dominicsarmen]

step 5 : stop and get some coffee

[@georgelee5299]

To streach eat the right food and how to be effeicent on the bike, have a great day😊😎

[@michellsmorgcycle4161]

Keeping their thumbs hooked around the handlebar when riding. That should save a few from unnecessary spills. :)

[@koalatouring2754]

Learning a trackstand. Very important if your spd shoes won’t come off on time.

[@djpalmer31]

You showed us how to get on the bike, but not how to dismount safely. Massive omission!

[@HeroGenix]

quarantine is really bringing me to places I never thought I'd go

[@allisonfast5791]

yep

[@rxeey]

@@allisonfast5791 frr lol

[@turbomunch]

The vegetable isle?

[@twocansams6335]

Just admit it your gay, you have been staring at his buldge since he sat on the bike.

[@biggussniffus5537]

@@turbomunch bob marley

[@Nathan-tg4gu]

Oh god, I cannot even stress how important out of saddle riding is. It makes you miles faster going up hills, able to accelerate to full speed in far less time after reaching a red light, and often stops you from needing to switch to extremely low gears. Everyone who plans on taking biking seriously should learn it, that's not even a question.

[@joellebrodeur1015]

If you're totally new to riding a bike, that is a skill that takes time to develop. I'm not quite there yet, but with practice, I'll master it.

[@davidb2885]

Once you generate more force with your legs than with your weight, I don't find it that important anymore.

[@ashleyyy15]

Oh my god! so that was a biking strategy?? I honestly didn't knew the stand up biking was a professional technique. Because I used to do it every single time I rode my bike. Easy way to learn: Remove the saddle, so the steel part will hurt your ass if u try to sit. Try balancing (like standing) while free-riding without pedaling. u did it?

[@AlacrityJones]

@@davidb2885 disagree, you will always be well served to use the passive force of gravity when hill climbing rather than using the energy in your muscles, the force when standing comes more from your quads than your hamstrings when sitting, so you can develop more force when standing just like you can train to use more force when sitting

[@sladewilson9741]

Honestly, I'm just impressed by the filming. I want to see the how to on that. The camera in front maintained perfect distance.

[@4dderal53]

Slade Wilson btw the cameraman is running

[@sladewilson9741]

@@4dderal53 Is he the Flash?

[@sabrinanicoara4797]

Slade Wilson you can hear a motor so he’s probably on a dirt bike or four wheeler or something

[@geraldpalma1218]

@@sabrinanicoara4797 r/wooosh

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

saaaaame ! I want to know how that's done to create my own cycling videos here in Los Angeles

[@elonmush4793]

Oof those guys are serious about cycling. I'm just a joe messing around with his bike.

[@lailaday4244]

Me too, lmao

[@masonnoodles2801]

Same.

[@nabranestwistypuzzler7019]

More like an Elon

[@labuenavida3051]

Same🤣

[@jameslapthorn8829]

U mean a tesla

[@declanfaughey8471]

If you cycle on the roads, having a good knowledge of the rules of the road and what each road sign or road markings means,Is a fantastic way of helping you to be a safe and confident cyclist.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

As well as when to GTFO of the tarmac and onto the sidewalk, even if only for braking safely.

[@FathimaFazna-zb6rq]

Go lovers

[@malcolmhutchison]

Always wear gloves - when you fall-off, your hands will appreciate them.

[@ScoutJoe]

good advice I once had a crash and my gloves saved me some possible nasty palm scrapes I never ride my bike without my helmet and my gloves

[@s3ntin4ls73]

@@ScoutJoe I somehow read Crush and not Crash

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

wait .. fall off ? ... falling is a part of cycling ?

[@nessapie23]

T.K. Yes it's apart of the learning. I working on going around curves at faster speeds and how to properly break and I fell off my bike.

[@purplefabian]

I know It’s probably inevitable that one day I will fall off my bike but I hope it never happens

[@redgar6467]

As a recent beginner, you may want to mention how difficult it set off in a hard gear.

[@markstevens8571]

Bought my first bike less than two weeks ago, and the only piece of advice the seller gave me was to finish in a low gear so I would be able to start again next time. Wise words.

[@itisicountolaf.yournewguar6111]

Well..

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Part of the gear game is to lower the gear as you slow to a stop. Exactly like a motor vehicle.

[@fightingyaks2.0j77]

I forget about this all the time, thankfully I have a super light bike so it’s not too bad, but still

[@danielweatherspoon2642]

genuinely a hard vid to make I imagine... especially for anyone like 2 ex pros where all of this comes as naturally as breathing... well done

[@gcn]

Thanks Daniel, you're not wrong there!

[@chuckmaddison2924]

Just back on my bike .when I was a kid it seemed to be a case of getting on and peddling. Now it seems to be more of a science. I did 17 kilometres the other day, so happy. Ok It's not the Tour de France. Also running on dyno at home to help. Thanks for the great videos.

[@nickw6175]

number 5/ don't assume the bloke with the top end expensive bike and all the gear actually knows what he is talking about

[@walkingskin2920]

The guys making the video have top end expensive bikes and equipment.

[@jfareilla]

Perpetually Mad yeah but they are ex pros so they know why they’re doing

[@walkingskin2920]

@@jfareilla I know, I was commenting on the "expensive stuff doesn't mean extensive knowledge" stereotype

[@nickw6175]

@@jfareilla I didn't mean the presenters !!! I meant the " experts" you sometimes meet out and about !

[@grover9187]

These are all the answers I wanted to know. Everybody says just get on and ride. Experienced riders think cornering and breaking comes naturally. Great explanation.

[@fen0221]

Why is his front brake on the right?? Oh wait. The uk of course🤦🏻‍♂️

[@psychobotLoL]

rly? I didn't noticed it, haha

[@rainZSlayer]

That's interesting. We follow the right side driving of UK but the brake setup for my road bike is that of the US 🤔

[@fen0221]

I noticed it after 1:17. My front brake is at my left side. I actually meant it as a joke but it seems like everything in the uk is mirrored.

[@devinsdsm]

It's preference. They talk about it in one of the tech videos, some of the presenters prefer a motorcycle setup.

[@miicha55]

I bought my bike when I lived in UK and it have front brake on the right. Now I live on the Continent again and I really like this setup because I can effectively brake and indicate I'm going to turn to left at the same time.

[@kuyaDos]

Thanks guys for the tips it helped me a lot while riding.

[@claudiapenaranda7023]

I love hearing you guys talk! Great vid.

[@hogdog567]

I'd like to know how to blow my nose whilst in my aero bars. Thanks, Chris.

[@gcn]

😬

[@saturnioowens6546]

oof

[@BurnDuration]

Too soon. Bad form.

[@ifthebeltiscrackedor]

Thx! Just built a gravel bike from my 10 yrs old commuter. Shimano 105, drop down bar, 2x9 instead of former 3x7 ans tyres from Dpecialized. I have a lot of experience biking and driving a motorbike (even in the army. I have 105 complete gtoupsrt on an Omnium cargo but biking with drop down bars is still completrly new to me. I took a first test outside tonight without brake fluid so I just went slow. I have been waiting so long for this.

[@derrwolf]

definitely scraped up my 2 week old bike hitting a U-turn the other day. also it was expensive problem as well🤦🏾‍♂️. HOWEVER i think im gonna enjoy this cycling thing

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

One thing you've missed on braking which would be appreciated; how to shift your weight to A) not go over the handlebars if most of your braking comes from the front wheel, and B) compensate for any fishtailing.

[@fightingyaks2.0j77]

Too true, I usually pump the brakes like on a car, or A.B.S

[@tracyDoo]

Very confident video, thank you! 😊 I just can't get the "out of the saddle" ride correctly yet, but you gave me some good tips :)!

[@rsvp1792]

Very well explained for beginners

[@wholemilk153]

The pull on Chris' brakes!

[@treyquattro]

IKR. How does he manage to stop without crushing the bars?!

[@AveryAbbott]

@@treyquattro Hydraulic brakes. Levers don't move nearly as much during modulation as they do with cable-actuated brakes.

[@speedyjongman]

i like this video it can help a lot of people who uses bicycle for thier leasure time or bike to work.. this can give some good guides to think about. next week i apply some tips i watched in this vid brother.

[@leblak1]

I have been riding bikes since I was a kid but I still have love for "fundamentals" videos.

[@gcn]

You can always pick up something!

[@arulvelk]

Awesome tips. Thanks a lot 👍👍👍

[@gunslinger68]

We just took our old road bikes to the shop to get tuned up and we are going to start reading out again

[@stephchef7856]

I wish i have a bike, that's my childhood dream to have one. When my friends are out for the ride, i am the only one that doesn't belong there because i don't have one.

[@kyle9362]

In my case all of my friends doesn't have a bike or they can't use it. So i have to go alone everytime......

[@TrevorNet]

Have you thought about free running or parkour? You can practice anywhere and eventually get yourself into professional trail running with the ultimate style.

[@bathcitytv5859]

I would highly recommend getting one, start of with a less expensive one to learn on

[@hiteshkaushik4563]

I also don't had any bike in the past, i recently bought one. Its a cheap one( with no gears, shocker and damper) but it does the job. You can also purchase used bikes they are not that costly. The good thing about cycles is every part is replaceable. So buy a cheap one and get it fixed.

[@fionnog6003]

Tobias E123 Any bike recommendations for a beginner?

[@kaseyingham395]

just started road biking - i was coming looking for tips like “here’s the arm signals to learn” and “here’s how to ensure your seat is at the right height” LOL. You guys rock though and i’ll come back for some of these tips once I figure out a good height for my seat. hahaha!

[@kamucho]

Great advice lads!

[@liuduqiao]

thank you for sharing this video. 感谢分享

[@bhaskar2ndacc230]

Thanks. This would help me

[@SolarBlackShine]

As simple as these suggestions were...they were important indeed.

[@marianomenconi264]

Great video, its not simple to ride for the first time, for “entry level” peopole like me!

[@chunhungmok3474]

Counter steering is the most important to know

[@tammyshui]

Thank you!

[@OmaBrianHasya]

He he, nice video, it makes me wants to practice in cycling again like I was at primary school

[@thenomadcoder]

i feel wiser thanks to this video

[@sarapfeifer1386]

Ive been training for my 1st triathlon, and i have a 24 inch mtn bike keep in mind in 5 ft 6 ik its small but anyways i am hard on the bike and the 1st gear has broken and i have it set on 6 but this makes it rly hard to go up a hill i donagree that standing in pedals helps i have learned how to mount and dismount on my bike foing fast and slow and the breaking yeah only my front break works and i pump it to come to a slow complete stop

[@FathimaFazna-zb6rq]

Nice work for the kids

[@247MS1]

Love this video, cycling should aim to be as inclusive as possible, and you guys doing this sort of content really helps that

[@gcn]

Thanks - we totally agree. Wish we could ❤️ this twice!

[@radicalrab4356]

Brilliant guys, I've been looking for a good informative video like this for my 3 year old daughter. Cheers...

[@gcn]

Awesome, thanks Rab!

[@binatangmakata4525]

Hey sir thank you for sharing your vedio I'm a new subscriber her watching from Philippines thank you

[@HenningGu]

I know that this video may seem silly for most people but I know that there are people out there who will appreciate any content like this. I mean... I can't do 2:04 so my saddle height is sub optimal. And I can't ride out of the saddle and I can only confidently remove my right hand from the handlebar.

[@parisayousefi2237]

that was useful. thank you

[@infiniteunknown188]

great idea

[@zoelefevre4920]

Very informative.. I would like to know about types of bike suitable for road please

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

Backwards British Brakes!!! Front brake is on the LEFT side.

[@grumpynerd]

Looking over your shoulder without steering. Riding around a piece of debris or pothole in your path at speed. Crossing a railroad or streetcar track. Riding over unavoidable rough pavement, cobblestones, potholes, etc.

[@jajamn2359]

Arghh.. perfect track, very good traffic. In my country indonesia is bad traffic, always

[@cool_mat99]

Good advice for beginners like myself 👍 happy cycling I'm lovein it so far Caint believe how fast you can get on these bikes

[@gcn]

Cheers mat! Glad to hear it!

[@goranilincic2644]

Nice video.Btw for the price of that Orbea you could buy some modest country homestead here in Serbia. 😄 Great work. 💪🙂

[@georgelee5299]

Love your videos and keep up the great work and great tips that have helped me so much😎😊👍🏻👍🏻

[@hueguy]

He makes standing up looks so easy

[@sqdtnz]

I have a lot of experience cycling, but not on roadbikes. I'm currently restoring a vintage one with some new components, and maybe next week I'll make my first ride. I'm a little bit concerned about it, it can feel so weird to cycle on different types of bikes, and when sitting on the one I'm working on, I'm really surprised at how low I have to lean forward.

[@kyleragudo3657]

Nice thanksm

[@christopherleeofficial7572]

Great video and thanks and I have to ask, what cameras were used? Great quality

[@fareedwarmeli2593]

Great ✨

[@yusufabdulloh]

Good job...

[@livininchains4788]

Yeah I've learned how to sit on my bike🚲👍😁

[@leedorney]

And those people, can get you right to the very top of this activity/sport ! btw ill add one - don't make it more difficult/confusing than it needs to be...

[@v1d300]

About braking, you said to slow down one should master front braking but I think to slow down you only really need the back brake the front brake is very essential when want to come to a full stop or a urgent stop.

[@v1d300]

@@archetypex65 So much hate towards roadie. Calm down. I do ride a MTB so braking is essentially the first skill I had to learn. There is absolutely no way I would use front brake to slow down, its a recipe for disaster. Use back brake aggressively and learn to modulate the front brake is my advice unless and until you want to come to a full stop then both brakes and ready to bail as quickly as you can.

[@jullianmiguelcajurao7249]

thank you man now i know how to balance a bike

[@GoKats76]

I would add unclipping shoes to the braking/stopping skillset.

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

most beginners have regular pedals & wear regular sneakers . I've been having and using my bike for almost two years and have yet to upgrade to clipping in

[@ajadventure2516]

Interesting ☺️

[@antoninkasik5255]

Guys could you make video about using Apple Watch for your data from your ride? I love using my Apple Watch so it would be nice to have some tips for apps or sensors that could be synced to it (if any). Thank you!

[@hawkli3690]

I’m planning to get a Poseidon X cause of its versatility cause I bike on multiple surfaces and reasonable price

[@watwizards]

You could also have included: 1. Clipping in the other foot (altho that's a skill even the veterans struggle with at times :-p) 2. Preparing for junctions by unclipping.

[@nayjames123]

People who have never cycled before probably aren't going to be riding clipless pedals

[@watwizards]

@@nayjames123 agreed but the video shows them

[@ooldmka]

*matt stephens*

[@TC-mk3zx]

Oh there’s gears too! And not being able to unclip your pedal when caught by surprise at a stop light! And don’t forget your chainring tattoo!! Simple!❤️

[@helendale7668]

Unclipping is very important ! I got caught out yesterday, despite nearly 30 years of Look pedals ! Luckily the only damage was to my dignity :-)

[@owenchuarbx]

Nice one

[@sugithakumara894]

Nice

[@TitusPublius]

Thanks for this video! Just awaiting my C2W voucher before getting my first proper bike. Given that it's been about 15 years (at least!) since I last was on a bike. This is appreciated! Question though, how do you approach and deal with roundabouts on a bike?

[@gcn]

Awesome, cheers David! Follow your local highway code, if you're nervous at first you can always dismount on the pavement and cross as a pedestrian away from the traffic.

[@dddgtsd]

I'm in exactly the same position now, just got my first bike since I was a kid and even then I wasn't a big cycler. I'm currently dismounting and using the pavement to walk when unsure, I'm hoping to gain more confidence as I go along.

[@DinnerForkTongue]

Think of yourself as a slow motorcycle that will never have the right of way until proven otherwise, and go from there. Stop if you're unsure, get off and hike if you need to. No shame in it.

[@panjo40]

Here is a suggestion ,could you explain how to use the gearing on a road bike ;by that I maen the front gears to the rear gears

[@josephkozachek848]

A very nice beginners video but as noted by others you’ve used U.K. style shifter set up for the brakes without a warning for beginners in other parts of the world to check how their brakes are set. Would encourage a quick edit asap. That said a very friendly clip and good work by the team

[@jacekwaasiewicz716]

good video... good tips.

[@gcn]

Thanks Jacek, glad you agree

[@justalazer7485]

The camera man is a superhero lol

[@JMcLeodKC711]

You're not wrong by calling this video 4 basic skills... I would say that the next set of basic skills should be 1. Ride no handed 2. Take a drink 3. Change a flat tire 4. Find your way home if you're lost Have you ever waived at someone and they don't waive back? It's not that they're rude, it's that they can't take their hands off the bars

[@jasonmcgrody9472]

I think they have videos for the first three things you've mentioned. The Matt/Dan video on how to drink from a water bottle is hysterical.

[@pappanalab]

I just figured out how to do most of this stuff instinctually. Am I the strange one?

[@txy2276]

John McLeod a

[@sunnyleone-fk4mv]

@@pappanalab ofc me too...I mean come on!! You don't need youtube videos for these things..atleast most of us don't!

[@floijd]

And here I was, always crashing into things with my bike, because I never thought of cornering ;)

[@franfb7934]

Props to the camera man running at those speeds

[@fiix7026]

Next is how to countersteer and trackstand. Stay hydrated.

[@Agent-vj3ns]

Si and Ollie already covered that

[@albr4]

@@Agent-vj3ns how to do a wheelie and then how to win the tour de france

[@CulturalCats]

Personally I'm looking forward to How To Wheely #6

[@ForeverLumoz]

I'd still love a Matt video about clipping ind and out of pedals 👍🏻😂😂

[@natalielawyerchick]

I’m just starting to figure this out and I’m so scared to put the clipless pedals on. How do you start without toppling over? How are you guys getting into and out of the pedals without falling over?? Help

[@hellobastard1883]

natalielawyerchick what I did to get into clipless pedals was go on some grass and just practice clipping in and out, on your first ride you might fall of like I did 😂 but it doesn’t matter as long as you can eventually do it without having to think about it👍

[@simonairey7700]

Whereabouts are these latest videos filmed? Looks like a nice area

[@SnedzTheBricklayer]

Nice video! Sadly it didnt contain a syllable of the info i was hoping to find 😐

[@kumarmurari6400]

It is for learning

[@jaydesimone4297]

Standing while pedaling is something I did a lot as a kid but the feel of it on my road bike seems awkward to me. I need to practice.

[@Expertzero6Dingley]

A lot of recycled videos have been posted in the last few weeks. Don’t feel pressured to release new videos almost every day. But nice video anyways.

[@minervali631]

They need the ad money to survive m8

[@normadicn5700]

Well for me even if it's been done in the past redoing it brings new light and perspective to the topic.

[@moi7748]

I was thinking just the other day that I seem to have a few déjà vu moments while watching some recent GCN videos

[@deadbugengineering3330]

These vids would be much better without the noise of the motor cycle. Would it be possible to use a tandem bike for the camera vehicle? Or maybe suppressing the noise with some nifty audio filtering. Or increasing the distance between the motor cycle and the microphone. It might be even possible to use a vehicle that produces noise that is easier to characterize, like an electric vehicle. That way it should be much easier to suppress the motor noise with a DSP-filter. Anyway, love your vids.

[@misun2809]

This is a good course for beginners. Thank you...^^😍😍😍

[@gcn]

Glad we could help :)

[@DaanHoogland]

@Chris, I notice you press your break leavers all the way to the drop. As a triathlon officials we tell people they have to be able to fully break with a finger still between the lever and the drop. What are your thoughts on that?

[@prestachuck2867]

Daan Hoogland Brake. A break will either require braking to a stop in order to relax, or taking your broken bike to the shop.

[@DaanHoogland]

@@prestachuck2867 and how about a broken finger?

[@magdalenagrzelak3134]

Always use the right brake because if you go fast it will throw you off. Also use the right one always to get used to it and for no accident

[@gusparera3440]

I just wana ride really long wheelies since i failed to master them on my motorcycle

[@reeennneee]

I feel like gcn has made like 20 of these

[@elisabarranco6197]

Why are there no riding courses ? There should be . You guys are scrumptious! Would you be my instructors ? 🤓

[@ELTarTree]

I've ridden motorcycles for 40 years. Is the ratio of braking, front and back combo, 60/40 the same? So we don't lean into corners or counter steer like motorcycles? Thanks for any advice

[@thecarindustry9357]

Dang you make getting on a bicycle look complex

[@veronicatomas4621]

Sorry I didn’t quite understand how to brake properly. Should you just hit the front wheel brake and leave the back wheel break alone? Vice versa? Use both?

[@luminous5583]

Camera man: I am speed

[@mahsashalileh8601]

useful but short

[@AndroidCyclist]

How do you hook your sunglasses on?

[@RyanPage-ym7oy]

I want to start cycling but the prospect of cars and buses seems quite daunting. Have to got any tips for this?