Biking down a mountainous trail is nothing short of an adventure sport. For those who love to get on that saddle and get their adrenaline pumping, there is virtually nothing that can stop them from achieving their goal. However, biking unprepared can be quite dangerous. You may think that as long as you have your helmet, it will all be okay, but in reality, there are many other safety concerns that rookie cyclists often overlook.
Today, we will discuss some of the common mistakes that rookie cyclists make and propose measures to correct them. This guide lets you go from rookie biker to pro cyclist quickly!
Overtraining
Amidst the thrill of riding your bicycle, what you may overlook is how much you are exerting yourself. Overtraining is a serious problem for many athletes and sports enthusiasts because they believe there is no end to training properly. Unfortunately, the body can only take so much stress, and after a point, you risk muscle fatigue and other serious health issues.
Just like any other sports activity, biking would require you to have specific recovery days in your schedule too. Make sure you rest up and perform lower body exercises on these recovery days. If anything, this will only improve your performance.
Skipping Bike Fitting
This is something even many pros are guilty of. Usually, if you purchase a bicycle, you get it online or from the store and fix the saddle as per your height. You eyeball it, and everything looks good. But then every part of your body hurts after just one session with your new bike. Ever wondered why?
This is a bit hit-and-miss, but it is worthwhile to note anyway. It is always better to see a professional fitter before you get a bike- especially if you are looking to bike across uneven terrain. A fitter will consider aerodynamics and give you the best of both comfort and performance. This way, you will be able to avoid some of the most common injuries cyclists face.
Riding Without Hand Gloves
Hand gloves are more than just a protective feature for cyclists. Professional cyclists never leave their homes without hand gloves. Wearing these allows you to have a good and proper grip on the handlebars, which improves your performance. Moreover, they also make you far
more comfortable by absorbing sweat and keeping your hands dry. And of course, in case you fall, they shield your hands.
Not Wearing Sunglasses
It sounds like something you usually won’t forget, right? Believe it or not, many cyclists often forget to take their sunglasses with them. Firstly, these protect against harmful UV rays from the Sun while cycling in hot and sunny weather. Cyclists can also experience irritation in their eyes from dust, insects, small particles, or even sweat or rain. Having the right pair of sunglasses will shield your eyes against all this and help you perform better.
Not Adjusting The Saddle
Something many cyclists fail to do is adjust the saddle on their bikes to their height. The height of the saddle will depend on the height of the cyclist. The right saddle will allow for greater efficiency and help you maintain your balance, while the wrong saddle will make you exert more force, tiring you quickly.
Make sure that the saddle is at length with your hip when you stand straight next to your bicycle. Your toes should touch the ground while you are on your saddle. This is the ideal cycling position.
If you want to improve your performance without overexerting yourself, make sure you have made a note of all these points. After all, it is all about enjoying the ride and making memories as you go by.
A gracious thank you to our author Michael Singleton, the Content Editor at BarBend.