What Did You Want To Know As a New Rider?

[PamNY]

Crankin, it's really good that you do this. I'm sure your work is valuable to the attendees.

I wonder how many people give up (or don't try) cycling, when just a little help would have made all the difference?

[GLC1968]

When I was new - I needed someone to tell me that a saddle didn't have to be a torture advice. Lots of people (women in particular) give up cycling because 'the seat hurts too much' and that shouldn't be the case. It's particularly true of women who ride with men because it's really not something many guys can really understand.

Thank goodness for TE - I learned a wealth of info about choosing the right saddle and the difference between sit bone soreness and soft-tissue pain or nerve numbness! It was also very helpful to understand that body shape has nothing to do with proper saddle shape. Being a pear with a big butt, I assumed that I needed a big saddle. I was dead wrong. Turns out I have narrow sit bones and those wide saddles were torture! Thanks to TE, I was able to figure this out before I gave up on cycling (not that that was a real danger for me, but it is for many women and men).

[Crankin]

I do talk about saddles, i.e., even if you have a certain shape, it doesn't mean you need a certain saddle. We bring one of my bikes and one of DH's to show the difference in the cut out.
Again, there is a separate flat fixing session. It is hands on, but not for taking the wheel on/off. The church where we do this doesn't want 50 people bringing their bikes in the building, so they just bring a wheel.
I think the idea that "it shouldn't hurt to ride," is key.

[indysteel]

I wanted to know everything when I first started riding. With the assumption that you won't be able to tell them everything a new cyclist would want to know, you might provide them with a list of trustworthy resources on where to get more information. I, personally, turned to TE, Roadbikereview's forums, Sheldon Brown, and Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance. I also had a handful of of books: Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100 and Bicycle Magazine's New Cyclist Handbook. Certainly, there are a lot more resources out there, but you might give your attendees a starting place to learn more on their own.

[Seajay]

These days road, hybrid and mountain segments are so split up into sub categories... simply saying there is a hybrid catagory that splits road and moutain is insufficient.
I would think you could spend all your time just clarifying what bikes are best for what use and what rider. (horses for courses) so your new riders are not overwelmed by details when they walk into the IBD.

[Crankin]

Seajay, that is true. We explain that. They get to see an example of a "racing" road bike and a hybrid that is steel, good for commuting, but lighter than a lot of hybrids. Since we sold our mountain bikes, someone else is donating their bike for us to show.
Actually, we talk about what bike is good for what type of riding you want to do. Most of the participants don't really even know a lot about the differences in tire size, shifters, etc.
I do give them a list of recommended books and shopping sites, local stores, etc.

[soprano]

I would have liked to have had help choosing good routes. My city has a bicycle map, but I didn't know about it for the first 6 or 8 months when I started riding here.

Also would have liked to get an explanation of how racks and panniers fit together.

[AZchick]

Everything that Muirenn said above... its like she read my mind!