Cycling Amateur!!!?

I am really interested in taking cycling as a hobby. It looks like fun and seems like a great workout. The problem is...I am not sure where to start. For example...they type of road bike, helmet, shoes...If someone can please let me know the basics so that I can familiarize myself more with cycling. Also, how many miles should i start off with? It's something that I've thinking alot about, I think i have come to that point of actually taking action and doing it :^) so please help!

Tour your local bike shops and "feel 'em out" for staff that's friendly and willing to take time with you. They should be able to help you find the kind of beginner bike you're looking for. There's a lot to consider: budget, road bike, mountain bike, utility bike, etc. What kind of riding to you want to do? How far do you eventually want to go?

Your shoes will be determined by the type of riding you decide to do. You may want to start off with "masher" pedals till you gain some confidence and get some miles in your shorts before moving up to using cleats. It's a leap, but you'll learn to apprecite cleats in fairly short order.

Helmets: get what you can afford and shop around. It's your head and it's worth protecting. Some on-line places offer the high end helmets (last years stock) at great prices! Roadies can be fashion hounds, so that's why "last years" stuff goes cheep.

Get good gloves. All that's between you and the road is what you've got on. I just had hand surgery thanks to a bike wreck last fall.... my gloves saved my hands, my helmet saved my LIFE and my cycling glasses saved my eye. No kidding. Wear the gear.... it's not there for looks.

When I started out I could barely get around my "block" of 3 miles. Cycling is highly rewarding and you'll be increasing your distance in no time flat. Right before my wreck I was riding close to 300 miles per week.

Welcome to cycling! You'll love it.
Psst!! If you're going to be buying lots of stuff, it's worth it buy the $20 membership to Performance Bike.

hi i started cycling about 8 months ago the best way i found was to go to a specialist cycle shop who will put in the right direction E.G. size of bike type of riding you want to do etc
i started doing an hours cycling graduly increasing the distance as i found it getting easier to do. also look on the net for local clubs there a great help aswell

don't worry about the equipment just yet. you can spend thousands on you gear. i mean really. my wife would probably divorce me if she looked at how much money is mixed up in frames components clothing ect.

first decide if you want to ride roads or trails. go to a couple of bike shops and decide how much you're willing to invest (yes, this is an investment in your health).


the best place to start, is with a helmet and a bike that you're comfortable on. ride as much as you are comfortable with. the more you ride the farther you'll be able to go.

maybe it won't stick, you won't have an expensive unused bike in your garage.

if it does, you can upgrade!

remember, the great mystery of life is why i want to ride over the mountain, and why my daughter thinks that i'm dumb.

First, decide how much money you want to invest in cycling. Go to your local bike shop and tell them where and how you want to ride. They will match you up with the best bike for your purposes that fits your budget. Test ride the bike. Then go to other bike shops and test ride what they have to offer. Once you get past the big box store junk, bikes at the same price are very likely to be equivalent values because the business is so competitive. After test riding as many bikes as possible, pick the one that fits and feels the best to you. That is the one you will enjoy the most.

At first, invest in a helmet but don't go for special shoes and pedals yet. They can be added later. Do get a pair of padded shorts. That makes a significant difference.

HTH

i would start with an inexpensive bike, until you know if you like it. you dont want to spend a grand on a bike to end up collecting dust. for basic equipment, i would buy a pair of cycling shorts. spend a little money here, as this is one area you get what you pay for, and getting sore could put you off the sport, so buy something good. as for helmet, again, dont spend a lot. even the cheaper ones meet basic safey tests, and if you dont like it, you dont want an expensive helmet collecting dust. buy a pair of gloves, as again, comfort will either make it fun or torture. as for pedals and shoes, i would try to start off with something touring. you can get into fancier set-ups if you like it and take it more serious later. a good quill pedal will work with any shoe, and you will find a stiff sole helps, so if you have the money to spend, buy a pair of cycling shoes.

starting off, i would do whatever you can do in about 30minutes. cyclist often train by time instead of miles, because the weather can make a given distance that was easy one day into a challenge the next. be sure and spin, this is where you use a light gear so you can turn your legs over quickly. you are looking to use a gear that allows your legs to turn 85+ rpms. you can figure this by counting how many times your legs go around in a minute, or with a computer that has a cadence function.

go 4 it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...