Quick guide for new cyclists

							                          QUICK GUIDE FOR NEW CYCLISTS

The club has detailed protocols that cover all aspects of club spins. These can be viewed
on our web site www.clonmelcc.com

Below are some tips that might help you in the first few spins.

Food

Eat a healthy breakfast 30/60 mins before the start of your cycle

• Porridge and a slice of toast/ Oat or wholegrain cereals are a good option.

• Light cereals such as cornflakes do not provide the slow release energy you will need for
a cycle lasting a few hours. Carry additional food and drink

• Some bananas or cereal bars (Kellogg’s Nutrigrain) are ideal.

• Take two water bottles. Add fruit juice to improve the taste or use an energy drink if going
on a longer cycle. Try to drink/eat small amounts often.

• If you are nervous eating while on the move, wait until you are at the back of the group
to eat.

Carry a tube, tyre levers, pump, mobile phone and cash for tea break or emergencies.

• The standard tube size 700 x 23 (700mm= Diameter / 23mm = width).

• Be careful not to pinch the tube when replacing it if using metal tyre levers.

Calls

Alerting the group to hazards such as pot holes / parked cars / debris on the road / traffic
approaching is very important.

• The cyclists at the front of the group should clearly and loudly announce hazards on the
road ahead. These are announced early so the group is aware of potential dangers and
can smoothly and safely take evasive action. Cyclists at the front of the group call the
hazard and people behind repeat the call so the message gets passed through the group.

• Example of calls

o “Hole on left” = Pothole on the left hand side.

o “Stones on the right” = Stones on the right hand side.

o “Gravel in middle” = Loose gravel in the middle of the groups path.



Moving cars approaching the group
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• If a car is approaching from behind (or a car following the group is beginning to overtake
the group) “Car up” is called. The last person in the group should be aware of traffic
following/approaching the group from behind.
• If a car is approaching the group from in front on a narrow road: “Car down” is called.

Puncture
• The person who gets the puncture should call “puncture”. Repeat the call so the
message gets passed through the group. This alerts the group that someone has a
puncture so the group can stop.
• The call also alerts people who are cycling behind the person that has suffered the
puncture that there is someone in the group who may need to stop immediately and that
they need to be alert.



Cycle two by two / don’t overlap the rear wheel of the cyclist in front

• Cyclist in front cannot see the position of cyclist following behind.

• If your front wheel overlaps the rear wheel of the person in front, any movement left or
right could result in wheels touching and a loss of balance and a large number or people
could be involved in a crash.

• Never pass another cyclist on the inside (left), always pass on the outside (right).

Avoid freewheeling when at the front of the group

• It usually requires more effort to cycle at the front of the group.

• If a cyclist at the front of the group freewheels the following cyclists could easily run into
the back of the cyclist at the front, causing an accident. Always keep pedaling when at
the front of the group.

A rear mud guard is a good idea during winter

• Keeps your back dry and warm (even if it does not rain during the cycle a wet road
could have your back wet and
cold in a few minutes).

• Your fellow cyclist will appreciate your mudguard as it reduces the amount of water and
grit thrown into the face of the cyclist behind.

Keep your tyres inflated reasonably high

• This will allow the tyre to roll easier over the road and reduce effort needed to maintain
your speed (100-120psi).

Clothing

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                          QUICK GUIDE FOR NEW CYCLISTS

• Always wear a helmet. Ensure the straps are tight and the helmet does not move easily.
As a guide, the front of the helmet should sit just above your eyebrows.

• Shorts/Tights. Cycling shorts/tights have a special padded area in the seat designed
specifically for cycling which is necessary for comfort. Both are worn without underwear.

• Runners or Bike Shoes. This is a personal choice. Most club members wear some type of
bike shoe. If using clipless pedals check the cleats regularly for wear. Worn cleats can
cause the shoes to release from the pedal without warning. Cycling Overshoes are useful
for cold or wet weather.

Glasses with clear lenses

• Keeps wind, insects, stones & dirt from entering your eyes.

• These can be quite inexpensive (or expensive!), try them for size so they suit the shape of
your face. Ensure they don’t slip off your nose. Glasses with multiple lenses to suit different
light conditions are useful.

Gears and Cadence (Pedaling Speed)

Lower gears make the pedals easy to turn, so it becomes easier to spin to a fast cadence
and cycle for longer distances. Pedal faster in a low gear, rather than ‘harder’ in a high
gear, you’ll last longer! Find a comfortable cadence and try to maintain this during the
cycle by moving up or down gears as road incline changes. Over time you should
gradually try to increase your cadence.

Most new riders think they are getting a better workout if every pedal stoke is a strain and
the quads are burning.

Although there's a place for low-cadence workouts, during a normal ride, aim for a smooth
spin at between 80-100 rpm (pedal revolutions per minute) which is much more efficient --
and easier on the legs, especially the knees.

Handlebar grip

Always keep a good grip of your handlebars using you thumbs. Don’t rest your hands on
top of the bars

Enjoy your cycle

• Build up the distance of your cycles gradually. If you are comfortable with 20 miles try 25
then 30 miles and so on in small increments.

• Ask the group leader (or another club member) for advice if you have any questions.
Members are always delighted to advise new members.



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                            QUICK GUIDE FOR NEW CYCLISTS


Meeting

We meet, subject to weather and road conditions, at the Tesco car park at 10.00 on
Sunday mornings.

This group covers about 40 – 50 Km at a fairly leisurely pace, and some of the fitter group
member’s go on to do an extra loop of 30 t0 40 km.

Positioning in the group

Below is a dangerous cycling positioning.                  Below is ideal positioning for the group
The positioning of the cyclist in pink is dangerous.




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                          QUICK GUIDE FOR NEW CYCLISTS

Taking a turn at the front (“Up and over”)
When ‘Up and over’ is called, the outside line should increase the pace very slightly,
moving up without significantly increasing speed. Cyclist at the front of the outside line
should only move inside when a safe distance ahead of inside cyclist, to avoid touching
wheels and causing an accident. Everyone moves up on the outside. Outside line should
ease pace back to normal group pace.


       Step 1                    Step 2                    Step3                 Step 4




A quick pre-ride bicycle check can make your ride more enjoyable and much safer
A checklist is a good way to make sure you have what you need for a safe and enjoyable
ride. These are items you should consider taking on a long bike ride.
Most emergency gear will fit easily in a special bag that attaches under your bicycle seat.
These bags are sold at bike shops and come in a variety of sizes and styles.

Safety and Emergency Repair Checklist

_ Properly fitting helmet (can only get 2 fingers under straps)

_ Sunglasses or other eye protection

_ Pump (consider a pump frame that attaches to bike)

_ Patch kit or spare tube


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_ Toolkit for basic repairs, including wrenches that fit your bicycle

_ Rain gear

_ Your driver's license or other ID, plus an emergency contact person and medical
information

_ First aid kit _ Mobile phone

_ Reflectors and flashing rear safety light

_ Brightly-colored clothing to improve visibility

_ A few Euros for emergencies

Comfort and Clothing Checklist

_ Padded gloves to reduce pressure and "road shock," which can cause numb or tingling
fingers

_ Bike shoes with firm soles make pedaling more efficient

_ Bike shorts with a padded lining eliminate seams and make cycling more comfortable.

_ Cyclists typically wear shorts made without seams — and no underwear — to eliminate
sources of chafing and pressure points

_ Anatomic bike seat. Bicycle seats (saddles) come in a variety of shapes and sizes. To find
the best one for you, try several types.

_ Jacket to block wind and rain.

_ Arm warmers, leg warmers, extra clothing as appropriate

_ Clothing that wicks moisture will keep you dry and comfortable

_ Sunscreen / lip balm with sun protection

Clipless Pedals

Many cyclists use clipless pedals that allow cycling shoes to lock into place. A simple twist
of the foot releases the shoe from the pedal. Clipless pedals allow cyclists to pull up as well
as push down on the pedals and create a much more efficient pedal stroke and faster
speeds.

_ Ensure that the cleats on you shoes are not worn beyond the recommended limits
Other Essentials Checklist


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                           QUICK GUIDE FOR NEW CYCLISTS

_ Map or cue sheet or good directions

_ Energy foods, snacks or extra cash

_ Adequate water and water bottle cage or hydration pack

Pre-Ride Safety Inspection

Before each ride; perform a safety check of your bicycle. This only needs to take a minute
or two, but will help prevent avoidable accidents.

Check the tires for proper inflation (marked on the side
of the tire).

• One of the simplest things you can do is the one that can have the greatest effect, and
that surprisingly, people most often overlook.

• Paying attention to keeping the proper level of air pressure in your tires accomplishes
many things:

• Makes pedalling easier

• Protects your rims from damage

• Prolongs the life of your tires

• Makes it much less likely that you'll get flats.

• Checking for proper air pressure in your tires before every ride is quick and easy to do.

• Check the tire treads for excessive wear or other damage, such as embedded glass or
other objects.

Check the brakes.

Spin the wheels to check for rubbing and then apply the brakes to ensure they stop the
bike smoothly and evenly.

Check the brake pads for excessive wear.

Check the cables and housing to make sure there is no fraying or splitting.

Check the wheel quick release levers to ensure they are secure.

Check for any loose parts or other mechanical problems.

Do a slow-speed ride and inspect bicycle, brakes, and shifting before you leave your
driveway.


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                          QUICK GUIDE FOR NEW CYCLISTS

Following these guidelines will go a long way to enjoying your bike rides and will often help
you prevent unexpected incidents or a long walk home.

Clean Your Bike

After the ride, if the moving parts have got muddy or picked up road salt, give the bike a
quick hose down. It's much easier doing it now than after it has dried! (washing with a bike
cleaner helps get rid of dried on and hard to get off grime.)

_ Keep wheel rims free of oil

_ Keep drive train, derailleur, jockey wheels and other moving parts moving freely
Good time to check for loose parts, rough or loose bearing, tyre condition etc




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