You’ve taken the plunge. You’ve bought yourself a road bike!  After buying your road bike you’ve squeezed into that new lycra with the good-looking logos and walked up the hill to get the amazing view for your perfect selfie. Now it’s time to ride down the hill. So put on your helmet and read this list of things you may not expect on your first road bike ride. (Please do not read while you’re riding.)

1: Dress for the weather

image by cyclelicio.us

It can be very tempting to put on all of your biking gear before going out on a cold morning for your ride. However, it is better to be a little cold when you first get on the bike. Keep in mind that the movement from biking will warm your bones and your clothing will be able to which your sweat away from your body. If you have not purchased cycling clothing it is a good idea to wear garments that do not hold the sweat. You will end u being colder in the long run. Polyester is a good bet for a material that will bring the sweat away from your body. However, cycling specific clothing is the best material.

2: Drink water

Water is essential for any workout. The great thing about being a road cyclist is you can easily carry more water. Even in the cold, you should drink 100 milliliters of water for every hour of cycling. On cold mornings especially it may be tempting to load your cycling bottle with coffee. Coffee, however, dehydrates the body. If you want something hot in your bottle green tea is a better option. Remember that you’ll warm up mid-ride though. So it’s a good idea to not get too hot at the beginning.

3: The seat looks more uncomfortable than it is

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Every cyclist knows the feeling. You buy a bike look at the seat and in your head think, “How the heck is my tush going to fit on this skinny rail of a seat?” Don’t worry! It may not be comfortable at first. However, after you break it in you’ll want to spend hours and hours on that seat without ever complaining. The great thing about that skinny seat is it will help you ride out of the saddle, thus helping you get out ahead of your friends from a stop. Try the seat for a few months before looking into something different. However, road bikes are not meant for big cushy seats. We leave those to mountain bikes and cruisers.
If you are still uncomfortable read (How to make your bike more comfortable)- coming soon.

4: You will feel like your hands are close together

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When I first started riding a road bike, it felt like I was squeezing my chest together. In contrast to the wide handlebars of my mountain bike, the road bike handlebars seemed short in length. However, as I continued to ride, I realized that this put me into a more aero position. nd
“Why to be more aero?” you ask. Aero helps you go faster. Also, it feels cool. There is nothing like being in the drops of your handlebars, head down, elbows in, flying down a hill feeling the wind wash over you. Which is a good segway into the next thing you may want to know.

5: The different hand positions are not as scary as you think

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There are three hand positions on road bike handles. There are the tops the drops, and the hoods. Each has advantages and disadvantages. However, the best thing you can do for your riding experience is to try them.

Image by cyclingabout.com

The tops are the section of the handlebars closest to your body. Only ride with your hand here when you don’t need to brake. For instance, when you are on a climb. The tops help you to be in a more upright position to get a better pedal stroke on a climb. However, the brake access is limited.

Image by slowtwitch.com

The drops are the section of the handlebars that dip below the tops. Drops are great for when you want to be aero. Typically the best time to be in the drops of your handlebars is on a straight downhill. Turning is compromised while in the drops. This is due to the fact that your body is bent too far down to make a sharp turn. You can go a lot faster and you can get the most braking power. For this reason, the drops are great for downhill. While going downhill in the drops be sure not to brake too hard. Braking too hard can lock your wheel and cause you to slide out.

Image by bikeromor.com

The hoods are the section of the handlebars that ramp up from the tops and have your brake levers attached to them. This is where you will be doing most of your riding. Rest your palms on the part of the hood that’s closest to you. Wrap your thumb around the inside of the hoods and place your fingers on the top of the brake lever. You only need two fingers to pull the lever to stop. Depending on what kind of shifters you have, you should have the best access from this position as well.

6: Your tires will feel like they have to much air

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On a road bike, the recommended air pressure for a tire is 80 to 130 pounds per square inch. In contrast, mountain bike tires require 25 to 35 pounds per square inch. The reason you want your road bike tires to be inflated to such a high psi is to help with rolling resistance. A smaller surface area contacting the ground means lower rolling resistance. A lower rolling resistance means your wheel will roll faster. Also having the correct tire pressure cuts down on the chance of a pinch flat. A pinch flat is when the tube gets pinched onto itself and causes your tube to blow. This is typically caused by going over a big bump or hitting a deep pothole.

7: You will eventually get a flat tire

Image by road.cc

Going down the road on skinny wheels with high tire pressure means fast rolling. It also means that any sharp object can puncture your tire. If this happens while you’re out on a ride it’s a good idea to be prepared. Other reasons for flats are compromised rim tape, pinch flats, under inflation, and over inflation.
⦁ A spare tube (Typically a 23mm-25mm tube with Presta valve)
⦁ Tire levers (These are very cheap on Amazon, target, or at your local bike shop)
⦁ A mini pump or a CO2 inflator. (CO2 inflators air up your tire in seconds)
Here is a great video to walk you through the steps of changing a flat tire.

8: Where to ride

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Now that you know how to change your tires, preferably before you’re out in the middle of nowhere, you have to decide where to ride.

You are allowed to ride on the road!

I see so many cyclist riding slowly on the sidewalk. As a new cyclist, this may seem comfortable and safer. However, if you are riding at speed on a sidewalk the probability of an accident grows. Sidewalks are meant for walkers and runners. When a car is backing out of a driveway they are not expecting a bike to be coming from either direction at 15 mph. The same goes for crosswalks. Instead of riding on the sidewalk, chose to ride on the road. We suggest riding in the middle of the lane. Cars are more likely to see you from all directions. Don’t worry about being slower than the cars. You’re helping to save the planet! They can wait their turn.

Trails or streets

Thinner tires and aero geometry are great for the open road. But just like you wouldn’t take a sports car on a gravel trail, road bikes are not meant to ride on gravel. Unless you want your teeth rattled out to keep your road bike on the road.

To climb or not to climb?

That is the question. For your first ride, it’s a good idea not attack the Col du Tourmalet. Instead, pick a hill that you can test your skills on. Figure out if you are a slow spinner in a harder gear or a fast spinner in an easier gear. Find a hill that is a steady incline and climb away. Just remember- For every uphill there is a downhill. A great way to find out routes that other people have ridden in your area is mapmyride. You can also track your distance, calories burned, and elevation climbed.

9: Cyclist are nice

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If you have any questions while out on your ride and you see another cyclist feel free to ask them. The majority of cyclist are more than willing to lend a helping hand. You might even make a new friend. There are also a number of cycling groups that meet throughout the week. One great community ride that happens throughout the world is known as critical mass. To see if there is a ride happening near you click here. http://criticalmass.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_rides

CONCLUSION

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Now that you have a good idea of what to expect on your first ride get out and experience it! Biking is one of the best ways to get from point A to B. You’re the first ride might be short. Possibly only a few miles. However, as you get more into riding you’ll want to stretch that distance. Eventually, you’ll ride your first century. For a guide to achieving your first century click here.