General Cycling Discussion - Give us your tip.

I see that new cyclists come to the forum and ask questions.

Would not it be right if we could give them a tip or two about cycling in the succinct form?

Maybe we also can learn something new.

My tip - do not ride with the screeching chain, oil it.

My tip:

No tires are perfect for everyone. Try a lot of different tires and see which ones work best for your riding style and terrain. Sometimes the $19.99 tires will be a better match than those $49.99 mondo-tires that "the popular people" use.

My tip: Hold your breath under water... :p

Seriously though... My best tip would be to just ride your bike . Sometimes we get too wrapped up in training schedules, heart rates, cadence, average speed, etc., etc., and it eventually becomes too much like work. I ride my bike to get away from work. Just get on your bike and ride, have fun, and never forget what made you love riding in the first place...

Just my $.02.
-Mike

Um, let's see..... How about checking your tire pressure before the ride? It would be a waste of a perfectly good tube if you are to blow the bastard. Think of all the "fun" time (fun=ridig) you will save by not fixing your flat.

Always consult Sheldon Brown, ParkTools.com, or a bike mechanic before trying complicated bike maintenance for the first time, especially if its your only bike.

-Middi-zon

Always consult Sheldon Brown, ParkTools.com, or a bike mechanic before trying complicated bike maintenance for the first time, especially if its your only bike.

Boy! I could have used that one a time or two. But if I may let me add the Bike Forums to the list.

My tip:

Check your cleat screws before riding. Make sure they are snug. Nothing like trying to clip out in a hurry and not being able to.
Can you say:
I've fallen and I can't get up?

My tip: Ride even on the days you don’t feel up to it. It’s all good!

My tip:

Never forget an extra tube, patch kit, and a cell phone!:p
Sometimes you try and try to fix your tire but eventually you may just have to call in reinforsements.
;)

Ride safe, be courteous, and expect the unexpected.

Make a photo copy your drivers license and keep it in your saddle bag. It doesn't hurt to have a name and number of an emergency contact either.

-Dana

Don't ride when you're tired. Listen to talk radio & roll windows down. Have some hot coffee. Pull off to the side of the road or at the next rest stop and take a nap. And the most important tip of all: NEVER OVERLAP WHEELS!!!

- When it comes to clipless: if you haven't fallen, you haven't learned
- Don't wear underwear under those tights. I learned it the hard way.
- RIDE DEFENSIVELY. It doesn't matter who's right or wrong because you gonna get screwed either way if a car hits you.

My tips:
Look both ways before you cross an intersection.
Carry a few Band-Aids.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Mine would be...take all advice with a grain of salt. Everyone has a personal opinion/investment about a product and he/she might not always be right. Take all advice and make your own decision.

Make yourself as visible as possible to motorists but ride as if you were invisible.

Carry a chain tool and extra links when MTBing.

Originally posted by caloso
Make yourself as visible as possible to motorists but ride as if you were invisible.

And my corollary:

Never assume that someone sees you, even if they have looked you in the eye.

Learn to yell loud enough to be heard very well inside a car. You should be able to do this easily if you have kids! :)

keep the rubber side down :D

Otherwise read the above sugestions they are all pretty good

Concentrate on pulling your legs up as much as pushing down. Strengthens your hip flexor muscles and evens out your stroke.

Let me reemphasize the point about not thinking someone sees you even when they look right at you. I've had both a car and a person pull right out in front of me, yet they were apparently looking right at me. What they were probably doing was looking THROUGH me to see if cars were coming. I didn't even register with them.

Bob

Originally posted by TheRCF
Let me reemphasize the point about not thinking someone sees you even when they look right at you. I've had both a car and a person pull right out in front of me, yet they were apparently looking right at me. What they were probably doing was looking THROUGH me to see if cars were coming. I didn't even register with them.

Bob

Be a defensive driver and go for eye contact make sure they see you, presume they don't

Originally posted by Mike_XR650L
My tip: Hold your breath under water... :p

Seriously though... My best tip would be to just ride your bike . Sometimes we get too wrapped up in training schedules, heart rates, cadence, average speed, etc., etc., and it eventually becomes too much like work. I ride my bike to get away from work. Just get on your bike and ride, have fun, and never forget what made you love riding in the first place...

Just my $.02.
-Mike

I couldn't agree more.

I will add this. For a while, I got caught up into the hype of bicycles. I spent way too much money just to find out that very few things are as advertised. The most important thing is to get a bike that fits right, get the right kind of bike for the riding you want to do, and go out and ride it.

I will also add that there is no such thing as the perfect bike.

Don't shy away from hills, if you worry about being a bad climber then avoiding the climbs will make it a fact.

SamDaBikinMan, I thought for sure you would recommend a 50 Calibre Smith and Wesson handgun.

Good call Gordon. I stand corrected ;)

Of course firing that cannon from a bike could get interesting. I have been contemplating buying one. It would be nice if someone would come out with a lever action western style rifle for the same cartridge so you could get a matching long gun/ revolver set.

Originally posted by Gordon P
SamDaBikinMan, I thought for sure you would recommend a 50 Calibre Smith and Wesson handgun.

I would have opted for a Magnum Research Mark XIX over the S&W but both are quite big pieces of ordinance to be carrying while riding.

Originally posted by SamDaBikinMan
Good call Gordon. I stand corrected ;)

Of course firing that cannon from a bike could get interesting. I have been contemplating buying one. It would be nice if someone would come out with a lever action western style rifle for the same cartridge so you could get a matching long gun/ revolver set.

Wouldn't you get some pretty horrible ballistics out of firing that particular round through a longer barrel?

Originally posted by khuon
Wouldn't you get some pretty horrible ballistics out of firing that particular round through a longer barrel?

There would need to be some controlled testing done of course to see what affect the longer rifle barrel would have. If it is similar to the .44 then it would be an extension of its effective range which is an improvement. But it is perhaps possible the increased velocity exiting the muzzle may have an adverse affect on the bullet. I personally doubt it though. If anything there is room for a bit more heat behind that round than is being loaded at the factory. I've loaded some pretty hot .41's and .44's that did not affect accuracy.

Of course even fired from a rifle it will be a close range cartidge. 100-150 yards max IMO for an average shooter. But oh what a brush buster. Don't have to worry about that round being deflected by a twig.

A few of mine:

If you ride an MTB, get slicks if you ride strictly on the road, such as during the commute hour. You'd be surprised as to how much faster and easier you ride.

Use a credit card or a business card to help you set the toe-in for your brake pads. Please the card on the rear 1/3 of the pad and tighten it. This will toe the pad in approximately 1 degree, helping you get rid of your squeaky brakes.

Oil your clipless pedals every time you oil your chain to help your shoes to easily click in and prevent squeaking. A teflon-based lubricant is good for me.

If your water supply is low on a long, hot ride, breathe through your nose and not through your mouth. This will help you maintain your body moisture and save you from having to drink all the time.

Never get involved in a land war in Asia.

Seriously though... there seems to be quite a few of these "helpful hints" threads along with people requesting help on various recurring topics. Perhaps it's time for a FAQ? Maybe even a special forum that just includes FAQs, tips and suggestions... one with living posts each devoted to a particular topic such as "How to buy a bike", "Bike fitting", "Best Common Practices for Riding Teeters", etc... People with enough freetime could volunteer as editors who would collect/compile and then submit final drafts to be placed in that section.

Ack!!! This is starting to sound like IETF. Sorry...

Remember to do an all around check of the bike before you go for a ride, you would be suprised as to what you haven't noticed before.

Originally posted by danka24
Remember to do an all around check of the bike before you go for a ride, you would be suprised as to what you haven't noticed before.

:lol: Like a chain link that's halfway out of its rivet slot? :crash:

My Tip: To easily center your wheel when putting it back on the bike squeeze the appropriate brake lever and then tighten the skewer. This works for the front and rear wheel.

Zack

Zack. That's too easy. Why didn't I think of that? Especially yesterday as I was fighting my rear wheel?

A Tip?....20% unless the service is bad.

Sock It to Your Water Bottle

Place your water bottle with a cool drink inside in a white cotton sock. This serves as a great insulator, and absorbs the sweating on the outside.

have a good time! When riding ceases to be fun, then the thril is gone and its only work.. and we work enough as it is :)

Drink before you are thirsty.

Go easy on the junk food.

Get lots of sleep.

Good habits serve you. Spend the time required to cultivate a few.

Dan

Khuon,

I love that movie. one of the all time favourites in my
household.


One cannot catch uncle gravity sleeping and walk
up walls - the Cozmik Kid ca. 1971

seriously, I can't think of any that haven't been said
but maybe "be safe out there"

Marty

Another tip from experience:

Check the pivot screw of your front derailleur and make sure it is tight.

I just happened to do a walk around check of my bike before a ride a while back and noticed the fr. der. pivot screw sticking about 1/4 of an inch out. I tightened it and since have had to tighten it again.

A few weeks later on an organized ride a friends fr. der. quit working. At the next rest stop I checked all the normal stuff, cable, shifter, etc. The shifter wouldn't move the tension on the cable was so tight. I looked at the der. and noticed it looked funny. A closer inspection revealed that the pivot screw had fallen out. Three bike shops supported the ride, but it was still hard to find a replacement.

To cure annoying seat post/tube creaking, spray WD-40 down the seat tube.

On the first half of your ride if you are feeling particularly strong and setting personal speed records, remember you'll be riding into a strong head wind on the way home.

Originally posted by ZackJones
My Tip: To easily center your wheel when putting it back on the bike squeeze the appropriate brake lever and then tighten the skewer. This works for the front and rear wheel.

Zack

This tip rocks!

Check your wheel magnet screws. I had one back out slightly and it ripped the computer sensor off the bracket!

Maintenance Tips:

Grease your seatpost!

Learn how to use a torque wrench and do so on a regular basis.

When cutting a steerer tube, Measure twice, cut once!

Support your LBS's as much as possible. Spend your money locally, or the small shops will dissappear!

Tip your mechanic at the shop with Pizza and/or Micro Brews. They'll always remember you and you'll always get top notch service!

Riding Tips (Mostly Mtn Biking):

Look 10' in front of your wheel, not 1'. The further ahead you look, the faster you'll go.

Don't ride with a "Death Grip", grip the bars enough to hold on, but don't clinch them.

Stay loose, don't lock out any of your joints, keep your legs and your arms flexed, use your bodies built-in suspension.

Turn like a snow skiier. Outside leg straight out and weight the outside pedal. Inside leg bent.

When learning to bunny-hop, place a cup or a 2x4 on the ground to hop over. Having something to miss will improve your skills.

Take a poop before your ride!

Stay hydrated. It's better to drink what's left all at once, then to try to conserve your water by drinking a little at a time.

Pack it in, Pack it out!

Yield to everyone, and most importantly, be friendly and say, "Hello" and "Thank You" to other trail users. If everyone did this it would change their perspective about us!

That's it for now!

L8R

Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Maintenance Tips:

Grease your seatpost!

Unless its a carbon seatpost.



Originally posted by a2psyklnut
When cutting a steerer tube, Measure twice, cut once!

And don't forget to take into account all associated stack heights (stem, headset, spacers).


Originally posted by a2psyklnut
Take a poop before your ride!
...
Pack it in, Pack it out!

Following the former advice helps in avoiding problems when attempting to follow the latter advice. :D

So true, so true!

L8R

Originally posted by khuon
Unless its a carbon seatpost.


Is it bad or simply not necessary?

Originally posted by firebolt
Is it bad or simply not necessary?

Both. It's unnecessary since galling won't accur with a carbon post and applying grease to a carbon post will often result in it slipping.

This is one of the best threads I've ever seen.