8 Essential Road Cycling Tips For Beginners Around The UK

Thinking of trying out road cycling? Becoming a pro at cycling on the road presents a great opportunity to improve your general fitness levels, whilst giving you the chance to cover greater distances, without the obstacles you face with off-road cycling. Road cycling presents its own set of challenges, however with the right guidance it’s easy to adapt to the roads safely and expertly. These are our top 8 road cycling tips for beginners who are looking to try out their skills for the first time:

Choose The Right Bike 

Finding your first road bike can be a bit mind-boggling. There are plenty of models to choose from, made from different materials and at vastly different price points. In order to narrow down your options it’s important to ask yourself two key questions - What type of cycling will I be doing? (i.e racing, commuting etc.) and what is my budget? Most entry level bikes will have an aluminium frame, whilst higher end bikes are likely to be made of carbon, making them lighter and faster. A specialist will be able to assist you in choosing the right size model for your requirements.

Always Wear A Helmet

It might seem like an obvious point, however the importance of wearing a helmet for keeping you safe can’t be stressed firmly enough. Wearing a helmet is essential whenever you step on a bike, however it’s particularly important when you’re faced with the added hazard of fast moving vehicles and traffic. It’s best to choose a mid to high end range helmet as this will help keep you comfortable and cool as well as safe. 

Make Yourself Visible

Another one of the most important road cycling tips for beginners is to always make yourself visible. The Highway Code advises that you should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and poor light conditions. You should also wear reflective clothing and/or accessories in the dark. The highway code also states that you must have a white front and red rear light fitted at night, as well as a red rear reflector. If the bike was manufactured after 10/10/1985 it must also be fitted with amber pedal reflectors.

Be Aware & Anticipate

The key to cycling on the road safely is staying alert and anticipating the movements of vehicles and pedestrians. Always be aware of what is happening around you, including vehicles on the opposite side of the road, vehicles waiting to pull out of junctions and pedestrians looking to cross the road. You also want to make sure that you’re leaving enough distance between yourself and the vehicle in front in case they brake suddenly.