Cycling Tips

Place a scented dryer sheet in your shoes to prevent odors.

Carrying a large police whistle will help you if you encounter any large dogs during your ride. The loud noise of the whistle will surprise the animal allowing you to ride away from danger.

Use the air exchanger at the bottom of your refrigerator to dry those wet cycling shoes.

To treat the irate skin in your groin area after a long day of cycling, you should use a diaper rash cream, as it will sooth the pain.

Safety first. Always be sure to wear your helmet as it will protect your noggin during a crash. If riding at night, make sure to wear bright colors and that your bike has reflectors.

Keep yourself hydrated. Drink excess water two days before a big event. Be sure to drink at least one bottle of water per hour that you are cycling.

Always make sure that your tires have the proper amount of air before riding. Tires low in air will create a more difficult ride forcing you to use more energy and effort to peddle the bike.

Mark your seat position. That way if you have to change the height of the seat you can easily return it to the most comfortable position.

Make sure to check your bike before setting out. All the bolts and clamps should be tight; the brakes should be functioning properly. Riding an unsafe bike can lead to a dangerous situation.

Choose a bike that will suit your intended use. Each bike is set-up differently to handle the rigors of each application such as Mountain biking, tour cycling, or off roading. Often, bikes suited to on aspect of biking will not be suitable for other uses.

When street riding, remember that you are to follow the same rules as those driving a car. Stay on the right side of the road, and stop at stop lights and stop signs.

In order to reduce the stress of cycling on your knees, stay down in the lower gears as much as possible because they create more revolutions per minute which applies less pressure to your knees. The longer you pedal in the higher gears the more you increase the stress and pressure on your knees which can lead to injury. So it is recommended never to stay in the high gears for any long period of time.

Don't forget to use hand signals to alert cars behind you that you are turning. Hold your left arm straight out if you are making a left turn. If you are making a right turn, stick your right arm straight out from your right side.

While going downhill, don't grind your brakes. It could overheat the tire's rim and cause a blowout. It's best to "feather brake" (tap the brakes), applying intermittent pressure. This is a good idea for rainy weather, too.

When riding your bike in windy weather, lower your gear setting and duck down. Lowering yourself closer to your bike and tucking your elbows in streamlines you and causes less wind resistance as you battling the headwind.

To dry wet cycling shoes, use the air exchanger at the bottom of the fridge. The air is warm so it won't hurt the shoes, but it will do a fine job of drying them overnight.

While riding, don't lock your elbows. Keeping your arms relaxed helps you absorb bumps from the road better.

Don't forget to lube your bike chain so your bike can function properly. If you do it every 300 miles your bike will be in good shape.

The best way to brake is to brake with your hands at the ends of the levers. To brake quickly, as you brake with the handlebars, slide towards the back of the seat so you don't flip.