1. Waterproofs are a good idea
We live in a country with notoriously sometimes-ish weather. Get ahead of the elements with gear designed (for lack of a better phrase) to weather it. Young recommends a good waterproof cycling jacket as a place to start. There's not much worse than being wet and cold, miles from home. Trust us.
2. Be prepared for punctures
At some point, you're going to get a puncture. It might not be today or tomorrow but it will happen. The upside is that with a little preparation, a puncture isn't the end of the world.
'You may also want to consider buying a puncture repair kit and pump. It doesn’t happen often but fixing a flat tyre on the side of the road is much easier than you may think. It also makes ensures that you and your bike always make it home,' says Young.
3. Double check sizes
'Where possible, try things on,' advises Young. 'The sizing in cycling brands can be very different to what you are used to buying for your casual wear, and often varies slightly from brand to brand.'
4. Get your pre-ride check done
The same way you wouldn't start driving without checking your wing mirrors, you shouldn't set off without doing a quick pre-cycle tire MOT.'Before embarking on your bike ride, check your tyres for punctures and make sure they are pumped to the right pressure,' Flynn says. It could save you a chilly wait by the road for rescue.
Not sure what the 'right pressure' is? Pump up anything softer than a firm orange.
5. Lean into the community
'Plenty of people are really intimidated by the fancy bikes and lycra and worry they need to be super speedy to go out and join people for group rides,' says Young. 'In reality, it’s a really inclusive community filled with people willing to help. To let you into a secret, most of my rides are focused around the social cafe stops!'
A post-ride flat white you say – well, that sounds just up our street.
6. Increase your distance by 10% per week
With consistency being the name of the improvement game, challenging yourself within reason is part of getting fitter and stronger too. Young recommends building up your mileage slowly, to reduce the risk of injury – aiming for an increase in distance of no more than 10% per week.
So, if you cycled 5k this week, try to go up to but not over 5.5k next.
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