Getting Started in Cycling
Getting started is often the hardest part of any new activity and cycling is no exception. All sorts of questions arise, below are some of the most common questions and answer to help get you started.
If you know someone who already cycles it can be a help. They can give you some tips and maybe even bring you out cycling. If you have not cycled before it’s advisable that you go with somebody who has some experience of cycling. Even if you cycled in the past and are returning to cycling, being with another cyclist can be reassuring and make the experience more enjoyable.
One option would be to get in touch with your local cycling club and see if they have a beginners group. Cycling clubs in Ireland are affiliated to Cycling Ireland which is the national governing body for the sport of cycling in Ireland. You will find a Cycling Ireland club locator here.
Another option which is intended specifically for people new to cycling is to join a beginners cycling group. There is a programme called AXA Community Bike Rides which is run in partnership with Cycling Ireland. AXA Community Bike rides are free social leisure rides for adults of all ages. Find more details and a ride near you here.
Where can I cycle?
One of the questions which concerns people most when they think about taking up cycling is “Where can I cycle?” The answer is – there are lots of places to cycle! In fact for many people there are lots of places right beside where they live or within a very short distance. This is especially true for people living in a rural area or even in a provincial town. Within a short time they can be on quiet country roads which are great for cycling. Almost everywhere in Ireland there are quiet country roads.
Even for city dwellers, within a few miles of the city there are places to cycle. Obviously you have to get out of the city, but for anyone with a little cycling experience and with the help of cycle lanes – this is not such a big problem.
What if I don’t know the area where I live?
For most people the most usual place to go when getting used to cycling is somewhere close to home. If you are not familiar with the road network near where you live, get yourself a Discovery Series Ordnance Survey map which covers your area and plan out a simple route to get you started. These maps are available from www.osi.ie or from many book shops.
How far should I go?
Don’t be too ambitions at first and try maybe a 5km loop or an out and back route of 2.5km. Stick a map in your pocket when heading out in case you need it to find your way. As with any new activity – build up gradually and keep the distance you cycle to something manageable. Setting out on a marathon cycle at the early stages will only discourage you if you find it tough and may turn you off the idea of cycling altogether. Within a short while you will build up your fitness and get used to cycling.
Cycling 20 or 30km within a month of taking up cycling is not unusual. Covering such distances you can see quite a lot. This is one of the benefits of cycling – you can explore quite a large area by bike, which you would never consider doing on foot.
If you are a complete novice to cycling it may be best to start in completely traffic free cycling environment. This may be a Greenway or other location not used by motorised vehicles. However, if that’s not possible there are quiet roads all over the country with very little traffic that can be a joy to cycle on.
Getting a Bike
Probably the first thing you’ll need to think about is getting a bike. Before investing in a new bike there are a few options you might consider.
If you’re a lapsed cyclist you may already have an old bike that’s perfectly adequate. If you decide to use an old bike it’s important that you make sure that it’s in good working order before getting out on it. However, if your bike is very old it may be less user friendly than a modern bike (e.g. heavy or with no gears) and may not be worth considering. Other options are to rent a bike to see how you like cycling or simply borrow a bike just to get you going. If renting or borrowing you should make sure you get a bike that’s the correct size for you and adjusted to suit you – a bike which is too big or too small will be uncomfortable and may discourage you.
While these options may get you going there’s nothing like a new bike to get you motivated and enjoying cycling.
Types of Bikes
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Top Tips
- Make sure the bike you use is the correct size. A bike that is too big or too small will be uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst. Also, riding a bike that it the wrong size may give you a disappointing experience and put you off the idea of cycling.
- Always make sure the bike you are using is safe for use and road worthy. In particular check that the tyres are correctly inflated and that the brakes work correctly.
