50 Simple rules every cyclist should know
Out of the dark mist by John D Kelly
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Own at least one really good pair of cycling shorts
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Pump your tyres !
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Know how to change a tube
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Wash your bike
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Wash your bike before bringing it to the bikeshop
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Wash yourself
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Wash your helmet and shoes
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Don’t over lubricate your chain
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Bring home your rubbish
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Don’t fight with cars or trucks, there can be only 1 looser if it gets physical
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Even if it doesn’t it will stress you out and ruin your spin
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Check your tyres for glass
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Know who won the most recent Grand tour and Classic
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Never underestimate the guy in runners
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If you shave your legs don’t leave hair behind your knees
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Ladies shave all the way up, Old school men shave to just above the shorts line
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Cycle no handed for 10 seconds on every spin
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This builds the skill to take off or put on a rain cape whilst moving
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Don’t be too quick to judge
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Don’t be too quick to attack
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But don’t miss the break either
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Use energy gels sparingly
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Know how many gears your bike has
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Don’t judge a person with a Granny Ring
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Never, ever wear anything under your shorts
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Base layers go under the straps of your bib-shorts
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Always put your chain on the outside sprocket when removing the rear wheel
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Climbing hurts, get used to it
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Don’t try to ‘save’ a gear for when it gets hard, use your gears and save your legs instead
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If you eat regularly in McDonalds and own a ten grand lightweight bike there’s something very wrong someplace
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Learn how to sprint
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When cornering look where you want to go, not where you don’t
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Disc brakes are better, end of story
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To be able to ride a race or a sportive in the rain, you must train in the rain
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It’s never as wet as it looks
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Pointing the saddle down at the front does not make you feel like you are going downhill
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If the sight of people with beards shaving their legs for aerodynamics confuses you, you are not alone.
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Know at least one good Ras story
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Tan lines are earned, not bought
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If you wear trade team clothing, don’t mix and match
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Mountain bikers wear peaks on their helmets. Road cyclists don’t
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The only bike ride you’ll ever regret is the one that you did not do
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Always help the new guy, we were all new once
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Change your bar tape at least once per year
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Strava KOM’s are not the equivalent of winning a race, or even finishing top 10
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You won’t always be the fastest or the fittest but you can be the toughest
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Learn to see the human side of the professional end of the sport
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Everyone should see the Tour in the flesh at least once
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Don’t take it personally if someone shouts at you when they are under pressure
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Notice one new thing on every spin.
Barry
4 COMMENTS
ragtimecyclist
Seems reasonable. Can I add one more…?
51. Don’t turn up for a ride and THEN start carrying out repairs/making bike adjustments.
Richie Magnier
52. If you talk the talk you gotta walk the walk
(I had a friend of a friend give a lengthy monologue on the pros & cons of Speedplay vs Look pedals, amongst many other things he had clear opinions on, before being dropped like a stone as soon as our first climb hit just 3%)
the drunken cyclist
While on a group ride, if you do not know where you are going, stay off the front.
Sandra Rogers
No. 50 think that should be a bit further up then 50! ” Notice one new thing on every spin’