How to Start Cycling

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By Scott Place
eHow Contributing Writer

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Start Cycling

Cycling is one of the best ways to exercise, build stamina as well as burn calories and lose weight. Many people are interested, but don't start because they think it's the domain of riders with shaved legs (yes, guys too) loud clothes and blinding speed. While that is certainly part of cycling it is by no means all of the sport. At its heart cycling is a recreation sport that you can participate in up to and through very late in life. Getting started is not difficult and accelerating your fitness can happen as fast as you are comfortable.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A bicycle, fitted for you
Cycling specific clothes-at a minimum shorts or bibs
Cycling gloves
Cycling shoes or regular athletic shoes depending on the pedals of your bicycle.
Heart rate monitor (optional)

Step 1

Riding is fun so just get started

The best place to start is with a new bicycle. Nothing will inspire you more than a shiny new bicycle. There are entry level bicycles for as little as a couple of hundred dollars and there are new bicycle seasons like cars, so deals are possible if you time it right. Working with a local bicycle shop is a good idea, but try more than one and ride more than a few bicycles to see which one feels right. Comfort is important and the best way to feel that is to ride. Don't worry if you haven't ridden in years or many years, you'll be fine. Make sure your seat or saddle is comfortable. The bicycle shop will work with you on recommended saddles and allow you to test ride them.
Step 2

Cycling clothes and equipment

The next step is equipment and clothes. You can ride with any shirt, jersey or T-shirt you like, but make sure you buy cycling specific shorts. These have padding in the seat called a chamois and are essential for comfort. Ride 4 or 5 miles with regular shorts if you don't believe it. The reason to buy cycling jerseys is because of the rear pockets that allow you to easily carry things on your ride such as food you might eat while riding. Helmets are important and do not ride without one. Fit and comfort are important. You can wear regular athletic shoes are fine if you have pedals that will accommodate them. Cycling specific shoes can be more comfortable in time especially if you ride longer distances.
Step 3

Confidence comes with time

Start riding at a pace and distance that is comfortable to start. Get used to your new bicycle. Work up to longer distances and in the saddle time and log your progress. There are calculators to help you with logging your miles and calculating your calories burned. Links to both are below. The most important things are to have fun and to get fit. One optional piece of equipment you might consider is a heart rate monitor to help track your fitness and monitor where you pedal comfortably and an anaerobic state. You will want to map your rides as you add distance and ride in areas you might not be familiar with. A mapping tool is attached to this article.
Step 4

LiveSTRONG!

Riding in charity events is an excellent way to have fun with family and friends as well as to help worthy causes. Lance Armstrong's LiveSTRONG organization is an example. If you want to take it to the next level, the Leukemia an Lymphoma Society combines fund raising with professional training that can take you to serious performance levels. The key is to have fun.

Comments

huzzam said

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on 10/27/2009 Cycling is also the most efficient means of transport ever devised by humans! Nothing else gets you farther with less energy expended! (Of course, the energy comes from YOU instead of dinosaurs, but dinosaurs don't need to stay in shape, do they? ;)