Planning bad cycling routes? Keep getting caught out by the weather? Not finding cycling enjoyable? Follow these top tips to turn any mediocre bike ride, into one for the history books!
00:00 Intro
00:30 Clean your bike properly
01:16 Plan your cycle route
01:57 Check the weather forecast
02:37 Remember all your cycling kit
03:16 Cycle with friends
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Pretty much every bike rid is a good ride just being out on your bike means it’s going to be a good day but every now and again we can get those not so enjoyable rides where things they just go wrong no lift so to limit those rides
We’ve put together a list of things to make sure you do before you go out on every single ride to make sure it’s going to be a good one one thing that is going to stop you having a bluming good ride is your bike not playing ball your gears jumping all
Around the place your brakes rubbing it’s a sure way to have an absolutely rubbish ride so I would highly suggest you keep on top of your bike maintenance and washing it I know it can be a big ask and we can’t be bothered half the
Time to clean a bike after we we’ve been out but when you weigh up the options of going out on your bike ride and having a bike that doesn’t work properly and just spending 10 minutes cleaning it and having a bike that does surely it’s worth it it’s also worth getting some
Professional eyes on your bike now and again so head down to your local bike shop let them have a once over it maybe give it a quick service and then you know it’s in tiptop condition and you can have a great Ride next up you want to choose your route wisely because a route can make or break your ride and there’s a few different things you want to factor in when choosing a route you want to factor in the terrain the scenery the graphic is also a big one you want to also have
Lots of what you enjoy so are you a rider that loves smashing it up the hills if you are make sure to add lots of hills to your ride or if you’re someone who prefers really quiet country roads have a lot of that in it the worst
Thing is when you head on your bike and you’re expecting a nice quiet peaceful road but you end up riding in a busy City not enjoyable the weather can be unpredict predictable but don’t let it ruin your rout make sure you invest in some good quality cycling kit to protect you from
The elements and with the right clothing I believe you can enjoy cycling come wind rain shine or snow but if you are like us and aren’t the biggest fan of riding in the rain then make sure to plan your ride around the weather so if there’s a window say an hour or two
Where it’s not raining make sure to go out then if you don’t have the flexibility to do that still go out embrace the element but maybe just be senseful about it shorten your ride and choose good roads there is a lot of admin when it comes to heading out on the ride there’s
A lot of things to remember you need your bottles your spares your gloves your head unit there is a lot and one way to RN your ride is to forget one of those key items and I hate to admit it I did actually go out with just the one
Glove on a winter ride and it’s fair to say I had one very cold hand but if you are for forgetful like me it’s worth having a checklist on your phone but if you don’t just run through everything before you head out the door to ensure
You have everything for a great ride and also no matter how short the ride always takes snacks one thing I absolutely love about cycling is the social sign getting to ride with your mates so if you want to make your next ride an absolutely great ride make sure to invite your favorite
Riding birdies along but do be careful to invite the right ones the wrong one it can make for a terrible ride as I’m about to find out oh yeah oh oh yeah yeah woohoo let’s go fight riding and my very last tip would be for every single ride to have a good old
Cafe stop but hopefully those tips are going to help you make every single ride a good ride if I’ve missed tips please drop them in the comment section below make sure to like And subscribe
38 Comments
How do you get the most out of every ride? π΄
#6: Ride with Manon.
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Always great to have friends ππ
Dressing for cold weather riding is tricky. Usually I dress for 5 degrees colder than it is forecast (e.g. dress for 5C if the forecast says 10C) because of the wind chill effect. A convenient way to figure this out is to do a few "clothing test rides" where you don't go very far but ride for only 10 minutes or so, looping back to your house to pick up or drop off the clothing you want to test out. Such rides are perfect for bad weather days, when you would not otherwise go out riding, because it is too cold.
My tips: Having wind resistant outer clothing that is a bit loose will create an air pocket that will be comfortable. Placing a piece of ethafoam (the sheet of foam that is used to package flat screen monitors and other devices) between the headgear and the helmet or under the MIPS liner is also a great way to block the incursion of cold air at the front of your head. It weighs nothing, insulates and can easily be rolled up when not needed. Shoe covers that cover the whole foot and ankle, will definitely make a difference at 10C and below!
Manon
I have a question, I have a flat handled road bike and it seems like I canβt get aerodynamic. When Iβm cycling with the headwind, It feels like I canβt get through the wind and I start to slow down a lot. How do you fix this? Also when im climbing, I get really tired and have no energy. How do you fix this? Thanks!
I love riding on quiet country roads but they are impossible to find around Austin, Texas. The city is unaffordable so everyone moves out to the suburbs and that means people are constantly using the country roads to get in and out of town. Don't get me started on the giant pickup trucks zooming by every two minutes.
Forgetting something is like a vaccination against doing it again for me. One day I got back, unzipped my top and found that I hadn't moved the suspenders up onto my shoulders. I think about that every time I dress now.
In every ride, short or long, document, collect and share them by pin it in the maps like Google and take photos-videos-reels on every places (cafe stops, tourist spots, views, etc) to make it more memorable for solo and group rides too! π
Especially when you discover something new on every ride that maybe other riders wanted to explore too! Like for example here in South Korea, our beautiful and lovely people of @gcn #globalcyclingnetwork can try the Incheon-Seoul-Busan 4-River bike trail course, Donghae Bike Trail and Jeju Island Bike Trail too! Where in each course, you can collect stamps and certificates once you complete them! π
Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance…… I actually enjoy doing maintenance. So making sure the bike is set up and running correctly is fun for me – but it sure as heck makes for a better ride. And you will notice the instant something is not right and can fix it with a well planned spares kit – or at least mitigate it till you get home. Wind direction – including learning about weather. You can get days – as a front goes through – that you can get tailwinds all the way – out and back. Ride the same route the wrong way and it can be headwinds all the way. And a checklist – YES. We use them in aviation and if you are riding a bike with a lot of bells and whistles and computing and are planning a long ride with nutrition and hydration and clothing change needs – a checklist with a "pre-ride check, on ride checks and post ride check" can make things much more pleasant.
Blazing a J, and having a coffee before the ride, makes it pretty greatβ¦.
My three ride priorities: 1) Safety-the right route considering current traffic conditions. 2) Enjoyment- If it doesn't feel like the day for hill grinding , ride elsewhere and smell the roses. 3) Performance – At 72 there are only personal bests. If someone older than yourself riding a beater while wearing flip-flops and jeans blows by you , refer to rule #2.
Thanks Manon , her ride partners , and crew .. I agree , that bike is a "Super Nice " , spotless and everything shines !
Check the direction of the wind. It sucks to have head wind all the time. It's a pleasure to have tail wind. It makes a huge difference, so that's one thing I always pay attention to. It even matters on round trips. To have the tail wind at the end of your tour is better.
Doesn't apply to commutes. Sometimes you just have to ride through 10+ cm layers of snow (and walk over the unridable sections).
Try to find a one way ride, preferably out and back where you can get there by public transport or a driving pal. Check the weather for a tail wind and go. Great video Manon.
Manon has an Orange Stealth Orbera how cool is that!
so I didn't understand where the wheels from elite wheels are?)
Keep all of the tech stuff you need for the ride in the helmet.
I keep lights, headunit, buff, gloves, bike key in the helmet.
Spares, tools, pump, PU gloves, some spare change, powerbank – in bottle-shaped tool case.
Cycling clothes in easiest to reach and see place of the closet – so every time I get dressed I think of going for a ride, and don't spend time searching for them.
Can't say my work schedule allows for much cycling, but I make every ride count!
Plan it so you have a headwind on the way out and a tailwind on the way home.
Biggest ingredient to a great ride is your mental perspective. Bring a positive attitude or at least finding a few positive things about every ride and try lots of different routes and places
Cafe stop is the best
I'm a simple man, I see Manon, I hit like and comment!
A couple nights ago I found myself on a long stretch of empty, slightly uphill road, very well maintained and with no traffic lights. I wasn't really thinking about where I was, until I noticed the central reservation. And then the odd car whizzing past. And then the national speed limit signs. And from that moment I cycled as fast as I could, up an increasingly steep incline, for what felt like forever, until I finally came off the dual carriageway… onto a massive busy roundabout, as if all the nation's motorists had just decided to congregate at this particular roundabout, to have a go at going round it. Shortly after escaping the roundabout, it started PISSING down from the sky, and for the remainder of my ride I couldn't even see because my glasses had become goggles. It was oddly enjoyable, in a masochistic kind of way.
For fellow forgetful people: I keep everything I absolutely need together and always put those items back in the same spot. Bike on rack, gloves and shades in helmet, helmet on bike/rack. If the lights or computer or derailleur batteries need charged I bring them ALL in and charge them. I might forget a battery or light but I won't forget all of them. Hopefully
whats up with that cloth around her stem?
Helpful tips! Manon never disappoints me. As for being forgetful, I almost always begin my recreational rides at home, so I don't have to worry about leaving anything at home.
Deliver a reasonably clean bike to the mechanic. Respect for your bike and your trusted mechanics. Thanks!
Old quote adjusted for bikes, βMy worst day biking is better than my best day at work."
i wish i could ride again. come on rotator cuff. heal already
In the next video: "how to feel better after the ride?" – step 1, take a shower, you'll feel the difference.
Puncture resistant tires (I'm not a tubeless tire guy too messy). Take all that is necessary to fix a puncture by the roadside. I had two punctures on my last ride π΅
Liking the non-black more colourful riding kit – more visible π
That orange color is super cool.. not as cool as Manon π₯°.. but cool nonetheless..
Plan a ride around the weather? Noooooooβ¦..As Sean Kelly said β"I go out on my bike, I do my ride, and when I get back home I decide if it's too wet or not."
The best rides end at the pub.
My buddy lives opposite the station, and his ride home averages 3.49 km. The ride out from the station to the pub averages between 60 and 160km. Maybe his navigation is better than mine.
Cafe stop β€