Road Cycling Tips - Nobody talks about this.

You want to be safe, clean, healthy and not broke, Check out these cycling tips.
How to look back without weaving into traffic - How to get your chain back on - Group ride etiquette. Not every cycling tip should be about "How to get faster".

About me:

[carelvdm]

"Best bike for you is the one you already own". Love that! So true!!!!

[kathleenkeeler]

Learned "turning your head" the hard way. Put new front/back lights on the bike to be able to cycle in the winter (no snow in Houston generally) and kept twisting to see if the rear light was working. Long story short, ran into a curb at speed, body went forward into the handlebar and the gearshift lever punctured my groin through fleece sweatpants. Lot's of blood and a trip to the ER where they determined the lever knicked the artery in my right leg. Funniest part was the instructions from the ER to stop on the way home & pick-up a 10 lb bag of potting soil to use as a compress on the abdomen while the artery healed. Was really drugged and my son told me I loudly kept asking if these were medieval times and were going to send me home with a bottle of leaches as well.

[fozfactor]

I remember dropping my chain to the inside going up a low grade climb in one of my early Cat5 races many years ago, one of the more experienced riders put his hand behind my butt pushing me along and said "pedal slowly and upshift". The guy saved my race and taught me your valuable tip #2.

[roshi]

Being a year-round cyclist in the Adirondacks, the head-turn is probably the single most important tip to follow when on the road. I know when I'm driving a cyclist with their head on a swivel is much more noticeable than one with their eyes laser-focused ahead. And since it's a form of communication/recognition of surroundings I think it creates some appreciation from all parties involved. Plus, it's just safer!

[blacktelescope]

Friends don't let friends buy bikes on credit. Love it! Top advice!

[molon___labe]

Absolutely solid advice! I’m an introvert so I prefer to do all my cycling on myself however being able to turn your head without your bike moving is a MUST to learn! Also who cares about brand new 10k+ bikes I tend to look more at the old frames those are what catch my eye! Although a new aero frame with deep wheels does look amazing can’t lie haha! Great video!

[thegeneral]

I’ve been riding with bar end mirrors for 25 years. Best investment I’ve ever made. Love your chain tips. Keep on riding!!😊

[kramnam]

Turning your head really helps us drivers too because we know you are engaged with us. Love tip 3! 😂

[Machoman]

Wow, Tip 1 might be the best safety tip I've heard in a long time. Completely agree!

[ElSantoLuchador]

The look-behind is a good thing for recreational cyclists to practice before testing it out in traffic.

[ccid]

Love your article. I did see that a couple of people did note that you said, " you can't have a mirror on your helmut or your bars". Absolutely, you don't put a mirror on you bars. But, I've ridden over 125, 000 miles on roads, and I would never ride without my small mirror attached to my sunglasses. I don't even have to move my head, to be able to see perfectly behind me. Just like driving a car...I spend just as much time looking back, as I do looking forward. Thanks for your Appreciate it.

[juliocesarpereira]

Great tips. I'll try them next time I'm on the road. A great tip nobody talks about is to signal for the person behind if there is a pot hole, a cone, or any obstacle instead of just avoiding it. When this happens, the cyclist in front is hiding a cone and the one behind cannot see it and may not be able to avoid it. In general, tips like these when people are riding in groups.

[ghostdog]

The head-turning tip was excellent. The other two I had learned over time. Thank you for sharing.
P.s. I love my old bike!

[JugglinJellyTake]

1) relax and drop shoulder
2) move opposite hand towards centre of handlebars
3) I'd add stop or slow down on the pedals and practice it somewhere safe. The tendency to swerve could increase in a more tense situation so certainly one to practice straight away and compare turning with and without peddling.

I've just started cycling again after a 4 or 5 year break and the difference in confidence and competence over that time is surprising in particular, for me, flexibility when looking back so maybe some kind of stretching is in order too.

That chain tip is a useful one too.

Thanks for this.

[adamweb]

I've actually never heard about the downshift/upshift trick to fix a dropped chain, brilliant!

[lonegroover]

Your third chance of getting the chain on without getting your hands dirty - keep a pair of disposable nitrile gloves in the saddle bag.

[dave]

I really enjoy your video style mate. Also the statement 'The best bike is the one you own' is so true. I'm just getting back into cycling after some bad injuries and my bike is a Giant SCR 3.0 from 2005 with a broken front derailleur (i just ride in the center ring - yes its a triple :) ) I look forward to more from you :)

[imagistatheimagista]

Some of the best no-BS advice ever!

You’re so right about expensive bikes! Here in NYC, as I’m sure I’m other parts of the world too, there’s so much pressure to ride an expensive bike. After playing into that game and spending over 10K on a bike I ask myself “am I really enjoying myself more?”. My honest answer is “no”. As a weekend non-racer the bike only gave me some bragging rights but didn’t make cycling more fun to be honest.

[MrAudioBill]

While in Panama during the early 80's, I cleared my nose, and it hit the ground with a SPLAT. A local rider exclaimed "Cuarto de Libra con queso". (Quarter Pounder With Cheese). Everyone cracked up. I was stationed there for 3 years. Every weekend there usually was a race on the Pacific side on Saturday and the Atlantic on Sunday. The races were "open" shall we say. Riding etiquette can cross language barriers. Glad I came across your channel.

[David-ysxb]

Favorite part about riding bikes is the awesome snot rockets that you produce. Simple things in life.