For those who are new to cycling, it’s quite easy to get intimidated by road cyclists in clipless pedals and professional cycling outfits. But, fear not as cycling is for everyone and you don’t need fancy equipment to get started.
In fact, if you have taken up cycling as a hobby, you should feel proud that you’ve taken a step toward your health or improving your fitness level.
If you feel nervous about cycling on the road, you are not alone. From speeding vehicles, blaring horns, impatient drivers, and tight small roads, it’s a lot to handle when you’re trying to maneuver traffic safely especially being a beginner cyclist.
In this article, we will dive into the tips for teaching you how to gain confidence riding a bike so you can ride it freely and with more ease.
1. Get your gear ready
Cycling on open roads can be stressful enough and you wouldn’t want to worry about your gear when you ride. Keep in mind to be safe, prepared, and confident in your equipment before you start your ride.
i） Do a pre-ride bike check, such as inspecting your tires, checking your brakes, and ensuring your bike is in good condition.
ii） Helmet, is crucial for your safety when you’re out on the open road.
iii) Bike lights & reflective gears, if you are riding out at night it is best to prepare and use this equipment so other riders and vehicles are aware of you.
Image via :Road Cycling UK
2. Acknowledge your fears
Every cyclist has their fears and demons, it may be falling behind on group rides or picking up too much speed downhill. These cycling fears shouldn’t stop you from cycling out on the road, but it’s a good idea to acknowledge them and create strategies to dissolve these fears.
3. Build your confidence with small, measured steps
Create small, measurable, and realistic steps to build your confidence in cycling on the open road. Here’s what measured steps might look like;
i) Get comfortable starting and stopping outside on a dedicated bike path.
ii) Get familiar with the path and traffic of the road
iii) Cycle on busier roads during off-peak traffic times
4. Celebrate your win
Have you been recording your cycling accomplishments? If you don’t, now is the time to start. Keeping track of your accomplishment helps you to absorb your cycling progress and successes. It can be as simple as taking your first open road ride or when you wore reflective gear out.
A glance through this list of accomplishments may boost your confidence and motivation.
Image via : Health Central
5. Be consistent
Consistent is key to getting better. As with all the other things in life, you will need to be consistent to become the master of your game. You don’t need to wake up at 6 am to ride or ride 100km within the first week of riding. The aim is to stay consistent and get comfortable riding out in the open.
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