Common Beginner Cycling Mistakes To Avoid

Whether you're a cycling newbie or season pro, we all make mistakes

And while it is to believe that we learn best from the errors we make, at the time, it never quite feels like that

So to save you the time hassle and embarrassment of making silly cycling mistakes, we've gone to the effort of making them for you

Here's our top cycling mistakes to avoid. We'll forgive you for this one because it's an easy and common mistake to make

Positioning your saddle too high or too low could lead to a loss of power as well as injury

While bike fit is unique to each rider, there are some guides to follow when it comes down to saddle height

As a guide, ride along with your heel on the pedal. When your leg is at the very bottom of the pedal stroke, it should be almost fully extended, but not quite

If this doesn't feel quite right, feel free to change it slightly until you are comfortable

Hitting the wall or bonking as it commonly referred to among cyclists is when the body quite simply runs out of fuel In most cases you come to an almost grinding halt and things will only get worse until you refuel It an error everybody has made but it can easily be avoided

Before each ride, make sure you are sufficiently fueled. In other words, have something to eat

Porridge and bananas or toast with honey are great to help fuel the body over a few hours

Out on your ride take with you more than enough food, a few gels or bars and a couple of bottles

Heck, even a sandwich will all provide energy and keep you. energy and keep your tank topped up. Trust us, you'd much rather have too much food in your jersey pocket than not enough

Yeah, there's no mechanic van coming and for most of us, me immortals, we've got to be self-sufficient because not everyone's going to stop and help, clearly

So to get yourself up and running back on the road quickly after a puncture or a double puncture, you'll need at least two spare inner tubes, a mini pump or gas canisters and to

make your life easier, pack a couple of tire levers and a multi-tool into your subtle pack

In colder conditions it's always better to slightly overdress than underdress and remember you can always take layers off

But even in warmer climes never leave the house without a rain cape or a jillet because it could really cause your body temperature to plummet if there a sudden downpour

And if you're heading out up hilly terrain, remember the higher you go, the colder it will become

Wearing a windproof cape will prevent wind chill and keeping body heat

Get into the habit of regularly checking and keeping your bike well maintained

Not only will this make it perform better, but it will be nicer, easier and safer to ride too

Pay special attention to the brakes, gears and tyres and make sure that you're regularly lubing and cleaning your chain to prolong the life of that too

Now, if you're not confident doing all this by yourself at home, then most bike shops do offer servicing now, so make sure you're taking it in every now and again

We've all done it. The adrenaline is courting throughout our veins, and we just can't help ourselves from firing out the gates

is a tough sport at the best of times and while there's nothing wrong in wanting to go faster than ever

or beating a PB, it's important that you know your limits and ride within it. Going too hard too

soon could ruin your ride, not to mention your morale too. It common for those of you who are new to cycling to align your brakes too much When needing to slow down it can be tempting to grab the brakes hard But braking must be done in a controlled manner

Breaking extremely hard could lead to a loss of control and stability

and in extreme cases could see you flying directly over the handlebars. Not to mention, it doesn't do any favours to your mate's behind

Instead, keep your eyes on the road ahead, anticipate and break gradually using a combination of front and rear

front and rear. Your gears are there for a reason to allow you to ride comfortably over a range of terrains

They're there to make your life on the bike easier and more enjoyable

There's no need to grind a hard gear at 40 RPM. All you're likely to do is injure your knees

Likewise, there's very little point spinning 140 RPM in easy gears all the time

You'll just make yourself dizzy. Lastly, make sure you know which part of the lever moves the gear in the directions you want

There's nothing worse than grinding up a steep hill only to make matters worse by shifting into a harder gear

No one likes a visible panty line, not least cyclists. The chamois in your cycling shorts is designed to be worn directly against your skin and it will make things much comfier too