Road Rider

The best thing about the Spring is that I get to bring out Easton! I just love riding my bike. Yes, it is a great workout, but more then that it makes me feel so care free. I really more then anything just enjoy getting on and riding for pleasure, more then for the workout.

So if you’re a more serious cyclist, training for a tri (I will talk more about this soon) or looking for extra speed here are just a few of my "Road Rider" tips.

Ideal Wheals:

I purchased my road bike from a friend who is really into cycling. It’s a really great bike and she sold it for a great price. You can find some great deals on bikes on Craigs List, but you have to be careful. You want to make sure that it is the right size for you. My advice is to go to a local bike shop and get fitted on a bike to see what size you are, that way you know what to look for. A great bike if the Trek 1.2 WSD(need to save) it’s great for long rides and is super light weight. It also ahs 27 speed, so you can climb some steep hills, stay in control down hill and coast easy on flats.

Always Have Your Helmet ON:

The pony-tail friendly Giro Sklay($40) has a quick adjustment and rear knob that lets you easily fine-tune a snug fit  🙂

Find Friends to Ride With: 

Obviously friends always make things more fun, but finding cycling buddies is also a lot safer!

Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate:

Sometimes when you are riding it is easy to forget to drink water. You need to get used to reaching down on your bike for your water bottle while you ride, it takes practice.

Shoes: 

I know a lot of you are still afraid to buy clip in petals and clip into your bike, but you gotta do it. I got my Specialized shoes from my Mama last year for my Birthday and I love them. Another great shoe is the Pearl Izumi Quest II Road Shoe. They are great for beginners!

I also like my cute cycling socks 😉

Gloves:

Seriously these have saved ME! I know no one wants to fall, but it happens and for some reason your hands are one of the first things to get jacked up! Plus they have some great cushion an shock absorption on the palms to help while out on long rides!

Shorts and a Jersey

The chamois padding in bike shorts serves a purpose! It protects soft tissues so you ride FREE of pain. Not attractive, but so worth every penny. The great thing about Jerseys is ht handy elastic back pockets that come in handy when you want to store food! I have YET to find a super cute Jersey worth the money!

Here are some  tips I have learned so far about bike maintenance:

A chain is only good for 3000-4000 miles

Your chain gets stretched. It should be one inch between each notch.

You will need a new casests (the thing your chain is on) eventually

Best thing to have with you is a  tool pod or Alan wrench

Tubes: Make sure the stem long enough

Tires wear out : The more tread the more road resistance (not lite)

Michelin pro grip 3 is a great tire

Break pads will wear out over time you can tell my the a minimum line on it. You can buy replacements there cheap

Should make sure your tires are pumped before every ride.

———————————————————————————————————

I have so much more to learn and to share. Stay tuned for more cycling tips 🙂

Question: What is your favorite thing about riding a bike?