Poll: Best advice

[emily_in_nc]

Ride with cyclists who are stronger than you are...it will make you a stronger cyclist.

It works!

~Emily

[Trek420]

commute advice:

get everything ready the night before, tires pumped, clothes laid out. nothing spoils your resolve to ride as "I can't find my helmet, oh s***, I'll drive".

If you're ready to go you'll go.

charity rides/centuries:
have a routine to get into and outa the rest stop quickly. mine is: keep spare cliff bars etc in jersey pocket I ride in, park the bike, try to remember where it is, doff the gloves, rotate my water bottles, get into the porta pottie line

eat, drink, stretch in line. Exit porta pottie stage right, wash hands *then* go get food. Eat if I'm still hungry and get an extra bar or two for the same routine next stop.

for our TE ALC'ers-inflate your tires on your way OUT each day. Many ALC riders try to save time by pumping the tires full when they come into camp. I tried to remind them to top it off in the morning.

Remember HS science class? Hot air expands, cold deflates. You come in from the ride your tires are hot, your bike stays outside all night that air you put in? Gone and you're more likely to get flats.

So when you get into camp park the bike and enjoy a good meal, hot shower, massage, concentrate on recovery. Leave the floor pump for the morning.

latest I learned from jobob:
need a break on a hill? The best place is right before a switchback. Likely it's flat, visible and best place to get going before the turn.

[limewave]

Never let on how much you're suffering (especially important when riding with men)

Bring a snack

Don't wear cotton underwear

[SalsaMTB]

Hmmm....so many of these are great.

Couple of different ones that really helped me...

1) In the sand...keep your speed, shift down and pedal like mad to get through. Do not turn the handle bars to change direction. I used to be really cautious at sandy bottom hills and would fall all the time!

2) First started mountain biking...SHIFT!!! Shift all the time

[runnergirl]

Ride with people who are faster and will drop you. I find that when rides that regroup I don't push as hard to stay with them. And, depending on the group, think like a guy-otherwise you'll drive yourself crazy.

[SnappyPix]

Great thread!

From my D.H.: "We don't stop on hills, we just slow right down and slog away 'til we get to the top".
Second the advice about sitting back in the saddle.

[bikerchick68]

1. eat every 15-20 miles on any ride over 20...and drink in small sips continuously... taking big gulps doesn't give your body time to absorb the fluid... resulting in the need to pee frequently

2. put your extra tube in a ziploc with some baby powder... the tube then slips into the tire easily and reduces the chance of a pinch flat!

3. always keep your core covered as that is where your power comes from... will reduce the risk of injury, and always cover your knees in temps below 60 degrees (these two from John Howard!)

[Irulan]

"the saddle is not a sofa. Get off the sofa" (mountain biking)