5 common mistakes cyclists make

1. Sit too low

Many novice cyclists, and even those who have been riding for several years, set the seat to such a height that you can reach the ground from the saddle with two feet. Low landing is explained simply: “what if I don't have time to jump”, “if I sit higher, I will definitely fall”.

With an incorrect fit, there is a large load on the knees, since when pedaling, the stronger muscles of the hips are almost not involved in any way. As a result, you get tired faster, your knees begin to hurt, and it is difficult for you to keep pace and speed.

A correct seating position assumes that your leg is almost fully extended with the pedal position as low as possible.

Of course, in this case, you will not reach the ground with your feet. What if you feel sorry for your knees, but it's scary to lift the saddle higher? Raise the seat gradually! We skated half an hour - raised it by half a centimeter, another half hour - another half a centimeter up. This will gradually bring you to the correct height.

We'll have to learn to get off the bike in a new way. Determine which jogging leg you have. Snowboarders already know which leg is more important for them, for the rest we advise you to jump on one leg, then on the other. The lead leg is stronger, you can jump on it for longer.

Now, to get off the bike, you will need to roll it up a little towards the kick leg. And that's all - you easily got off of it.

2. Do not change gears

One of the most frequently asked questions about a bicycle: "How many speeds do you have?" The number of speeds depends on the number of stars. For example, you have 3 stars in the front, and there could be 7, 8, 9, or even 10 stars on the back of the wheel.

It is believed that the higher the speeds, the cooler the bike. But even the most expensive bike with a lot of speeds won't make you the fastest if you don't know how to shift gears.

Find the most convenient combination of numbers for yourself and use these speeds when driving on a straight and more or less flat road.

If you meet a hill or any other rise on the way - reduce the speed enough to make it easy to go up the hill.

Have you seen how some reckless driver twisted up the hill while standing? So, this person simply does not know about the existence of gears in his bicycle. (And here we are not talking about the Tour de France or any other competition.) This method is wrong, following this example, you will greatly overload your knees. It is completely normal and not ashamed to climb on combinations 2–3, 1–2, and in especially difficult cases - even 1–1.

Once you get up, you can enjoy the descent, and if you tune the gears to a heavier mode, you will help the momentum drive you to the next hill. For the start, it is more convenient to use a gear of level 2-3 or 2-4, gears 3-6 and higher are really used only when driving downhill or in a strong tailwind.

It is not recommended to set gears to extreme positions, such as 1-7 (if you have 21 speeds), 1-8 (at 24 speeds) or 3-1: in such cases, the chain overlaps, which leads to faster wear of the entire transmission.

Regardless of whether you are driving on a flat road, panting uphill or racing downhill - in all cases, you should be able to pedal easily.

Always shift gears on the move and slightly until pedaling becomes difficult. Switch speeds sequentially. There is no need to jump over the number: set it to 4 - and make a full turn with the pedals, set it to 5 - and make a turn.

If, after switching, an extraneous sound is heard, it means that the switching did not occur, although you can see the following number on the handle. In this case, simply return to the previous gear reading, release pressure on the pedals and shift again.

3. Didn't find your rhythm

If you have ever ridden in a group, you will notice a simple thing - some of them were rushing forward, some were lagging behind, and the middle was hopelessly stretched. Why is this happening?

Each person has their own individual pedaling rhythm.

You first need to understand which gears are comfortable to drive on a straight road, and then - to maintain a convenient speed for you. Modern cycling computers or mobile apps allow you to track cadence (cadence) in numbers, but you can just rely on personal sensations. If the ride is comfortable, then this is your rhythm.

The correct cadence is one and a half full pedal revolutions per second and faster, which is unattainable for beginners, but this should be strived for.

4. Ignore traffic rules

The cyclist is a road user, albeit less protected than the same motorists. Stick to the following rules.

When driving on the road, a helmet and bright clothing are required. In the dark, there are lanterns.
Move as far to the right as possible in the direction of traffic. Driving against the stream is strictly prohibited. Watch out for cars parked at the curb. A driver who stops to smoke can suddenly open the door and run over a cyclist.
Since April 2015, you have every right to move along the dedicated lanes for public transport, if you do not interfere with the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.
Cyclists are prohibited from driving on highways, take detours.
It is forbidden to turn left or turn around on roads with tramway traffic or more than one lane width. In such cases, dismount, turn into a pedestrian and cross the intersection on the "zebra".
Be extremely predictable. Be sure to signal the drivers who are following you about possible maneuvers: turns (an outstretched hand points in the direction of a turn) or a stop (a raised hand).
At an intersection, if you plan to drive further in a straight line, stand in the far right lane, but slightly in front of the cars. Thus, you insure yourself against a possible turn of the car to the right, to your side, and demonstrate your intention to continue moving in a straight line, without turning anywhere.
Let pedestrians pass at crossings! If a cyclist crosses the road on a "zebra" on horseback, then he is automatically considered a driver and in the event of an accident, most likely, he will be guilty.

5. Forgetting to eat and drink

If your trip is limited to the road to the nearest supermarket where you went for bread, then you can do without additional food.

If the trip assumes that you will spend several hours on the road, then stock up on water or isotonic and a simple snack. Nuts and dried fruits perfectly satisfy hunger; bananas, bagels and gingerbread are also great for these purposes.

From lack of water, joints first of all begin to suffer, even before you feel thirst.

It is recommended to drink every 20 minutes.

On a cycling trip, in addition to organized breakfasts, lunches and dinners, participants should be given a package with a snack, which everyone will spend based on their needs.