Tips for a newbie cyclist?

[Tannerm]

I just use an app called runkeeper... Allows me to log my miles and route plus click on music. And its free. I use to at work too to log my miles and calories I burn on bike patrols. I don't road ride. I mtn bike. I'd love to road bike but I don't know anyone who bikes in my area.

[no4njnk]

Try to keep your cadence around 85-92, burn more fat and it is much easier on your body. There are a few people that can get away with 75rpm but it is rare.

[black2002ls]

Try to keep your cadence around 85-92, burn more fat and it is much easier on your body. There are a few people that can get away with 75rpm but it is rare.

I don't have any fat to burn!

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[Beej]

for you guys trying to track rides with your phone look into strava. it has a friend network which allows you to share rides with friends and has other features that you might find useful the more you get into cycling.

[black2002ls]

for you guys trying to track rides with your phone look into strava. it has a friend network which allows you to share rides with friends and has other features that you might find useful the more you get into cycling.

I track all of mine with Strava. Was hoping there were more here so we could share rides. What other features does it have?

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[Shorty]

My endurance is pretty bad. I would still like to ride the cotton patch challenge in September. The short course is 21 miles. Not sure if I will be able to pull it off or not being a month and a half away

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I don't think 21 miles is out of the question. Just keep pushing your trips farther. I think you'll be surprised how far you can go. I rode 45 miles earlier this month and my longest trip prior to that was only 17. I've only been riding a road bike for a month and a half. I will add the disclaimer that I'm very active aside from cycling.

TCU doesn't have a game that weekend so I might have to come out for that cotton patch ride and knock out my metric century.

[black2002ls]

I don't think 21 miles is out of the question. Just keep pushing your trips farther. I think you'll be surprised how far you can go. I rode 45 miles earlier this month and my longest trip prior to that was only 17. I've only been riding a road bike for a month and a half. I will add the disclaimer that I'm very active aside from cycling.

TCU doesn't have a game that weekend so I might have to come out for that cotton patch ride and knock out my metric century.

My plan is to double distance every week.

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[samuel642000]

My endurance is pretty bad. I would still like to ride the cotton patch challenge in September. The short course is 21 miles. Not sure if I will be able to pull it off or not being a month and a half away

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I think I'd like to try it. But need to get out on the road more often.

I just use an app called runkeeper... Allows me to log my miles and route plus click on music. And its free. I use to at work too to log my miles and calories I burn on bike patrols. I don't road ride. I mtn bike. I'd love to road bike but I don't know anyone who bikes in my area.

Yeah you're a little ways away.

Try to keep your cadence around 85-92, burn more fat and it is much easier on your body. There are a few people that can get away with 75rpm but it is rare.

I need to get a computer then, I just pedal until I'm tired then coast, repeat.

for you guys trying to track rides with your phone look into strava. it has a friend network which allows you to share rides with friends and has other features that you might find useful the more you get into cycling.

I think I'll look into that.

[black2002ls]

Anyone interested in the cotton patch challenge, let me know. There are events downtown all day. I live right down the street from downtown. The final stretch actually passes right in front of my house

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[Beej]

I track all of mine with Strava. Was hoping there were more here so we could share rides. What other features does it have?

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You can find me on strava "William Bonnette"

[AnthonyS]

I'm game if anyone wants to do a DFWmustang cotton patch challenge get together. I'll ride any distance anyone wants to ride. If anyone ever wants to ride with me I'm in North Dallas near the White Rock Creek trail.

My first rides were only around 6 miles or so three years ago. I can ride much farther than that now. I've done a few 56 milers with a swim and run afterwards. I'm not fast by any stretch nor do I have great endurance... yet.

I'd be happy to assist anyone that needs my help.

Try lots of saddles until you find what you like! I tried a pile of used saddles of various forums and ebay. You can buy a used one, try it and resell it until you find what works for you.

Invest in good bike shorts, bibs..... good ones cost money but they are lifesavers. I still hate my bike and shorts after long rides, but going without them would leave me a cripple.

Hydrate like a mo fo too. If you don't have at least two bottle cages on your bike and aren't drinking every 5-10 minutes you won't last very long. Learning to eat on the bike is a whole new game too. Once you ride past about 60 minutes, you better start taking calories in too.

And please wear an f'n helmet. Figure out how much your skull is worth and then recalculate.

On the Irving trail that runs along the trinity I watched a guy run off the trail, get hung up on the edge and wad up a $5K bike (Cervelo R5 with electronic Di2 shifting), and his expensive wheels. He was probably going 18-22 mph and dang near knocked himself into the hospital. He had busted glasses, cuts on his face, and his helmet was all smashed up. He tried telling me he was okay when he came too. I told him to take off his helmet and look at it. I then followed him back to his place about 10 minutes later. Wear a helmet.

Get a bike that fits. Don't worry about how cool it is, what it looks like or how much it costs. You can get plenty of good cheap bikes that fit. I've spent a small fortune on my bikes, but that doesn't make you any faster. Only you can make your bike go faster. I have less $$$ in my four bikes than many have one of their bikes though.

1) time trial bike (still not very comfortable with this one)
2) one road bike (my favorite)
3) one cyclocross bike with wide tires (damn this thing is comfy)
4) and one hybrid bike to putz around my neighborhood on and run errands

If Dallas ever really becomes a bicycle friendly town, I'll commute by bike. Until then I'll keep rolling my 5.0 with all of the morons that would run over cyclists just to do it.

[black2002ls]

Anything in particular you guys swear by for nutrition? Pre, during, post ride.

I have been looking for the cheapest place for powerbars. I have a food related tax ID, but haven't found a source to get them any cheaper yet

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[samuel642000]

I'm game if anyone wants to do a DFWmustang cotton patch challenge get together. I'll ride any distance anyone wants to ride. If anyone ever wants to ride with me I'm in North Dallas near the White Rock Creek trail.

My first rides were only around 6 miles or so three years ago. I can ride much farther than that now. I've done a few 56 milers with a swim and run afterwards. I'm not fast by any stretch nor do I have great endurance... yet.

I'd be happy to assist anyone that needs my help.

Try lots of saddles until you find what you like! I tried a pile of used saddles of various forums and ebay. You can buy a used one, try it and resell it until you find what works for you.

Invest in good bike shorts, bibs..... good ones cost money but they are lifesavers. I still hate my bike and shorts after long rides, but going without them would leave me a cripple.

Hydrate like a mo fo too. If you don't have at least two bottle cages on your bike and aren't drinking every 5-10 minutes you won't last very long. Learning to eat on the bike is a whole new game too. Once you ride past about 60 minutes, you better start taking calories in too.

And please wear an f'n helmet. Figure out how much your skull is worth and then recalculate.

On the Irving trail that runs along the trinity I watched a guy run off the trail, get hung up on the edge and wad up a $5K bike (Cervelo R5 with electronic Di2 shifting), and his expensive wheels. He was probably going 18-22 mph and dang near knocked himself into the hospital. He had busted glasses, cuts on his face, and his helmet was all smashed up. He tried telling me he was okay when he came too. I told him to take off his helmet and look at it. I then followed him back to his place about 10 minutes later. Wear a helmet.

Get a bike that fits. Don't worry about how cool it is, what it looks like or how much it costs. You can get plenty of good cheap bikes that fit. I've spent a small fortune on my bikes, but that doesn't make you any faster. Only you can make your bike go faster. I have less $$$ in my four bikes than many have one of their bikes though.

1) time trial bike (still not very comfortable with this one)
2) one road bike (my favorite)
3) one cyclocross bike with wide tires (damn this thing is comfy)
4) and one hybrid bike to putz around my neighborhood on and run errands

If Dallas ever really becomes a bicycle friendly town, I'll commute by bike. Until then I'll keep rolling my 5.0 with all of the morons that would run over cyclists just to do it.

Solid advice man, I plan to take a bunch to heart. Actually got out and hit 12 miles last night. Felt pretty good but my legs were on fire on my final stretch of road.

[black2002ls]

My goal in the morning is 10 miles. My average ride during the week the last week (4 rides) has been 3-3.5 miles.

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[Shorty]

Solid advice man, I plan to take a bunch to heart. Actually got out and hit 12 miles last night. Felt pretty good but my legs were on fire on my final stretch of road.

Try a lower gear with a little higher cadence if your legs start getting too pumped. "Spin to win."