The Rules

THE RULES

(for newbie cyclists)

Advanced cyclists, please refer to your rules here!

 

It's not all about the bike, but damn, isn't she beautiful?!

1. THERE ARE NO RULES - JUST HAVE FUN! As a cyclist, you should do what feels good and makes you happy! The image above shows a road bike with skinny tires that decided to go for a ride down a dirt road! It wanted to get dirty and it was happy! And I was happy with it! Really, there are no rules! Your goal as a cyclist should always be happiness! The following are all just mere suggestions!

2. DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU - BUT KEEP AN OPEN MIND! Everyone is different and everyone has different goals on the bike. Techniques and tricks that might work for one cyclist might not work as well for another, or worse, it might prevent you from following Rule #1 above. The key is to keep an open mind - many proven and tested cycling techniques and suggested may seem bizarre or downright silly at first, but once you give them a try, it might open a whole new world!

3. MAKE SURE THE BIKE FITS - YOU DON'T WEAR A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SHOE, DO YOU?  Human beings come in all sizes, and so do bikes. Getting the right size bike, and then getting it adjusted to your body dimensions is the most important requirement for your life as a cyclist! When you are ready to purchase your bike, make sure the Local Bike Shop will perform a basic "bike fit" with the purchase (you will want to frequent the shops that will do it free of charge!)

4. LOOK FOR THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED - cycling is also about exploring new places, discovering different worlds sometimes hidden in your own backyard. Riding on quieter smaller roads will also avoid car traffic and provides you a calmer more relaxed atmosphere as you escape the rush of every day's life. As you continue to grow as a cyclist, this rule takes another meaning: mix up your rides, your roads, destinations - don't let your bike rides become routine!

5. RIDE WITH FRIENDS - IT'S SAFER, IT'S FASTER, IT'S MORE FUN! And you get to learn more too! The camaraderie formed in a cycling pack extends way beyond the bike. Riding in a group does require a little more technique and it can be a bit intimidating at first, but it becomes natural with time. Being part of a group of friends who ride, or a local cycling club, can take you further than you could ever imagine! (fyi: riding solo is pretty great too!)

6. LOOK GOOD - WHATEVER LOOKING GOOD MEANS TO YOU, STRIVE FOR IT! It's not about vanity - the real point is: if you look good, you feel good! and if you feel good, you will ride better (or further, or faster, or whatever you are into!) If or when you are ready for it, cycling specific clothing will enable you to be much more comfortable on the bike and are available with all sorts of graphics and designs. Above all, refer to Rules #1 and #2, be creative and have fun!

This Macchiato and Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake consumed
during a Coffee Ride perfectly reflect rules #1, #2 and errr #7?!

7. EAT, DRINK, SLEEP! TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY - YOU ONLY GET ONE, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT LAST FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! What you eat and drink (on and off the bike) are crucial to your performance (on and off the bike). That does not mean your life as a cyclist will revolve around salads, oatmeal, and energy gels - much to the contrary, cycling enables you to eat more of what you want, just don't be stupid - if you eat crap, you will ride like crap. Oh, yeah, rest and sleep are important too...

8. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY - BUT YOU CAN PUSH IT QUITE A BIT! The human body is simply amazing. We are all almost certainly using it below its potential and the bike is a perfect tool to unleash your hidden powers! But there are limits, and being able to communicate with your body is crucial. If you learn to listen to it, it will tell you when and how much to eat and drink, when to rest or when to stop. If you learn to speak to it, you will tell it that it can go further and faster than you ever thought!
 
9. WHEN IN DOUBT, RIDE! Too cold!? Too windy!? Not enough time!? It might rain!? There are always excuses when motivation is running a bit low, but more often than not, going out for a bike ride, even for a few minutes in not-so-great weather will make you feel better and happier! Just do it! Now! Go ride your bike!

10. CARS - THEY ARE BIGGER, FASTER, AND REALLY FRIENDLY (most of the time!) Once you get faster you may want to race them, but that is incredibly dangerous and they can always go faster than you. And once you get buzzed by a car, you may want to chase them down, or flip them off, or gently educate the driver. Don't - if they buzzed you, they are not willing to learn anything. The quicker they are off your life, the better off everyone will be! It's best to keep your distance and leave them alone, unless you want to give them a Thank You wave (I highly recommend it!).

11. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BIKE - AND IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. Last year, I rode almost 10,000km (over 6,000 miles) without using a single drop of gasoline! But putting any machine through that type of use does require some maintenance. For someone as mechanically challenged as yours truly, even basic bike maintenance seemed challenging, but keeping your bike clean, its tires inflated and its chain lubricated will take you a long way. But it may require a bit more attention, which leads me to the Rule #12:

12. SUPPORT YOUR "LBS" - THAT'S YOUR "LOCAL BIKE SHOP"! Your "LBS" is much more than the place you bought your bike or take it for maintenance or repair. Once you find the bike shop you feel comfortable with, you will develop a relationship which may include your first group ride, going behind the service counter to learn how to take care of your bike, catching up on the local cycling news, bribing staff with brownies (or beer), and even discounts (if you ask for it nicely!)

13. BE FRIENDLY - BE A GENTLEMAN OR GENTLEWOMAN CYCLIST. When riding, be courteous! Wave "hi" to other cyclists, to kids of their bikes, to joggers, to pedestrians, heck, even to cars! Offer to help other cyclists with their flat tire, or offer a little extra water on a hot day. Drop back and help the new cyclist who may be struggling on his first group ride! It's not only about spreading the joy, or being an ambassador of our sport - I can guarantee, that what goes around, comes around!  


If you have a personal "rule" that has helped you become a better happier cyclist and you would like to see it here, feel free to leave a comment below!