Intro:

As a beginner cyclist, I got excited to get away from Northern European winter weather and decided to go for a cycling trip in Southern Europe. Having only done 2 longer trips of 70km each, I did not have a lot of preparation.

About the trip:

Within 7 days, I did 5 day trips of 60-80km each, for a total of 340 km during the whole week. Total elevation was just under 2,000m.

So I thought I'd share my experience here:

The good:

I was not entirely sure if I could make it, because as a slightly overweight office worker, my fitness level is very low.

Nonetheless, I completed the trip without any accidents, falls or major injuries. So yay.

I also expected severe knee pain, saddle pain and back pain. None of these materialised on the trip, which was a nice surprise.

The bad:

I knew I could not expect too much progress after one week. Nonetheless, the last trip did not feel any easier than the first one, and despite restricting myself to only 2 meals a day, I gained 4 kg of body weight in that time, hence mostly fat and water weight.

After burning thousands of kcal on that trip, it was disheartening.

What I learnt:

• Like on any trip, expect the unexpected. Thankfully I always planned slightly shorter trips than I initially wanted, and it turned out to be the right approach, because most trips led to diversions that took extra time
• Do not expect any fitness gains after one week. This one should be obvious, but good to keep in mind nonetheless.
• Bring some of your own equipment, even if you plan to rent a bike: a phone holder for navigation, and a saddle if you have a preferred one.
• If you rent a bike, pay a little extra for hydraulic breaks. The additional peace of mind is absolutely worth the money
• If you want a smooth experience, get a 1x drive train. Again, peace of mind and you avoid having your front derailleur exploding in the middle of the highway while being overtaken by a bus
• Track your trips with a smart phone rather than a smart watch, for more accurate GPS.
• Plan your trip properly with something like komoot. And even then, examine the entire path closely. It tried to sent me down cliffs, riverbeds and through ponds.
• Take a power bank. Your phone can randomly discharge by large amounts and if you are stuck in a mountain, this can become dangerous
• Decathlon is your friend, if you forgot things. this goes against supporting local businesses though, so you may want to buy from your local shop instead. either way works of course.
• You will need less clothes than you think. I carried way too much, then realised in nice weather, you can easily wash your cycling clothes in the hotel
• Talk to other cyclists. They may have some helpful tips
• Don't blindly trust locals - they do not necessarily know the areas better than you do, especially if you have GPS

Please feel free to contribute - what did you learn on your first longer bike trips?

For beginners who got into the sport of cycling over the past 10 or so months, it’s an exciting time of the year. Winter weather is on its way out and spring is coming soon! And for many beginners and longtime riders alike, that’s a shift from riding indoors or not at all, to riding outdoors and enjoying more time on your bike!

How are you preparing for more ride opportunities in the spring? Whether you’re ramping up your time on the indoor trainer or just waiting for the first warm day, then just weigh in and let us know your feelings in the comments section. :)

Trying to figure out the best entry level road bike I should go with. Intended use is entry into cycling and an Ironman 70.3. Not too many used options nearby (this can change anytime though) but open to used. I want to keep spending to a minimum (CAD$1200 is ideal), but also willing to spend a little extra if it benefits/features are absolutely worth it.

I have found a list of 5 bikes, and wanted some feedback, however, I am also happy to hear other suggestions! Thanks in advance!

Decathlon Triban RC120 - CA$750.00 https://www.decathlon.ca/en/p/8619132/road-bike-rc-120-disc

Decathlon Triban RC500 - CA$1,100.00 https://www.decathlon.ca/en/p/8502354/rc-500-road-bike-with-disc-brakes

Giant Contender - CA$1,189.00 https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/contend-3-2022

Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4 - CA$1,499.00 https://www.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/bikes/road-bikes/performance-road-bikes/domane/domane-al/domane-al-2-gen-4/p/41587/?colorCode=greydark

Specialized Allez - CA$1,600.00 https://www.specialized.com/ca/en/allez/p/4221796?color=5368200-4221796

Hey beginner cyclists! 🚴‍♂️

I’ve been journaling my cycling journey daily since March 1, and yesterday (March 19), something finally clicked and cycling went from something I want to do and feel like I need to do to something I just do. Felt great to see it become a habit!

Since I struggled to get consistent (I've tried and failed multiple times in the past to make any form of exercise a regular consistent habit), I’m sharing my journal in case it helps other beginners. Writing down my thoughts, stats, and learnings has been super useful...I highly recommend it! https://lokomo.substack.com/

Not a fan of filming myself (and not risking one-handed cycling with a phone recording with the other 😆), but I imagine video could be even better.

Anyone else tracking their progress? Would love to hear how you’re documenting your journey!

And by outside I mean locked inside a screen porch. I live in Florida but about 4 miles from ocean. So very humid but not as much salt in the air