Beginner Cycling: What You Actually Need to Know Before You Start Riding

I loved riding my bike as a kid.

Like a lot of people, though, somewhere along the way life happened. I grew up, got busy, and went many years without really riding.

Then, at 39, I decided to get back on a bike.

I remembered how to ride, of course. But I quickly discovered that riding a bike and knowing anything about cycling are two very different things.

I was lost.

What kind of bike did I need? How far should I ride? What was I supposed to carry? Did I need padded shorts? Special shoes? What exactly were all those gears for?

And apparently there were pedals you had to attach your feet to?

I had a lot to learn.

Starting cycling—or coming back to it after decades away—can feel way more complicated than it needs to be.

Spend ten minutes in a bike shop or watching cycling videos online and suddenly it seems like you need an expensive bike, special shoes, matching clothes, a bike computer, a training plan, and legs made out of carbon fiber.

You don’t.

I learned a lot by riding, making mistakes, buying a few things I probably didn’t need, and slowly figuring out what kind of cyclist I actually wanted to be.

So if you are starting from scratch or returning to cycling after a long break, this is the article I wish I had when I started.

1. Figure Out How You Want to Ride Before You Buy a Bike

This was my first big beginner mistake.

I bought a road bike.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the bike. The problem was that I didn’t yet know what kind of riding I would enjoy.

As I started riding more, I realized I wasn’t really interested in riding as light and fast as possible.

I like to explore.

I like longer rides.

I like carrying stuff with me.

I like rail trails, backroads, gravel, and the idea of touring and bikepacking.

In other words, my riding style is much better suited to a gravel, touring, or all-road type of bike.

I just didn’t know that yet.

Before buying your first bike, spend some time thinking about what you actually want to do with it.

Do you want to:

• Ride mostly paved roads?
• Explore rail trails and greenways?
• Ride gravel roads?
• Carry bags and gear?
• Eventually try bikepacking or touring?
• Ride mountain bike trails?
• Mostly ride casually around town?

The answers will help you narrow down the type of bike that makes sense for you.

A road bike can be fantastic for pavement and speed. A hybrid can work well for recreational riding and bike paths. Mountain bikes are designed for trails. Gravel and touring bikes offer more versatility for riders who want to explore and carry gear.

There isn’t one “best” beginner bike.

There is a bike that best fits your kind of riding.

And sometimes you have to ride for a while before you even know what that is.

2. You Do Not Need Every Piece of Cycling Gear on Day One

When I bought my first bike, I was also sold clipless pedals and cycling shoes.

For anyone new to cycling, let me save you some confusion:

Despite the name, clipless pedals are the pedals you actually clip into.

I know.

I didn’t name them.

So there I was, getting back into cycling at 39, trying to learn the bike, the gears, the road, and everything else—and now I was also supposed to attach my feet to the pedals.

I could not figure them out.

And looking back, I didn’t need to.

There is nothing wrong with starting on regular flat pedals with comfortable shoes.

You can always try clipless pedals later if you decide they make sense for the way you ride.

That lesson applies to a lot of cycling equipment.

You do not have to buy everything immediately.

Start riding.

Then let your actual riding tell you what you need.

3. Bike Fit Matters More Than Fancy Equipment

A bike that does not fit you well can make cycling unnecessarily uncomfortable.

You do not necessarily need an expensive professional bike fitting when you are starting out, but your seat height, reach to the handlebars, and overall riding position should feel reasonably comfortable.

One of the things I learned was how much small adjustments can change the way a bike feels.

Sometimes what feels like:

“Maybe I’m just bad at this.”

is really:

“Maybe my seat needs adjusting.”

If you constantly feel cramped, overly stretched out, or uncomfortable, do not assume that cycling just is not for you.

Your bike may need some adjustments.

4. Your First Rides Should Feel Almost Too Easy

You do not have to prove anything on your first few rides.

This can be especially hard when you remember flying around on a bike as a kid.

Your brain remembers that freedom.

Your adult legs may have some opinions about it.

Start easy.

Your first ride might be twenty minutes.

It might be five miles.

It might be less.

That is completely fine.

Ideally, finish thinking:

“I probably could have done a little more.”

That makes it much easier to get back on the bike again.

Getting back into cycling taught me that getting fitter is not about destroying yourself every time you exercise.

Consistency matters much more.

5. Learn to Use Your Gears

When you are new to modern cycling, shifting can feel surprisingly confusing.

Your gears are there to help you.

Use them.

Shift into an easier gear before you are halfway up a hill fighting for your life.

Try to pedal smoothly rather than pushing an extremely hard gear.

Many beginners think pushing a big gear means they are working harder and therefore doing better.

Mostly it just makes your legs tired.

Smooth is good.

6. Hills Are Hard

When you are new, hills can feel like a personal insult.

They are not.

Shift down.

Slow down.

Keep breathing.

And if you need to get off the bike and walk?

Walk.

There is no cycling police hiding behind a tree waiting to revoke your membership.

Climbing gets easier as your fitness improves.

You do not have to conquer every hill immediately.

7. Yes, Your Butt May Hurt

Here is something we should probably tell new cyclists sooner.

Your butt may hurt at first.

Even with a good saddle, your body needs time to get used to sitting on a bicycle.

Padded cycling shorts can help a lot as your rides get longer.

And here is another thing beginners are not always told:

Cycling shorts are generally designed to be worn without underwear.

That was definitely information I did not return to cycling already knowing.

The extra seams and fabric can cause rubbing and discomfort, which is exactly what padded shorts are designed to help prevent.

You also do not need to immediately replace your saddle just because you are sore after your first couple of rides.

Give your body a little time to adapt.

If the discomfort continues, then it may be worth looking at your saddle position, bike fit, or a different saddle.

8. Wear a Helmet

A properly fitted bicycle helmet is one piece of gear I do consider essential.

It should sit level on your head rather than tilted far back, and the straps should be adjusted so the helmet stays secure.

Cycling is supposed to be fun, but basic safety matters.

9. You Need Water Sooner Than You Think

When I started riding again, hydration was another one of those things I had to learn through experience.

It is easy to think:

“I’m only going for a bike ride. I’ll be fine.”

Maybe.

But as your rides get longer or the weather gets hotter, hydration becomes much more important.

For shorter rides, a bottle of water may be enough.

For longer or hotter rides, you may also want electrolytes.

The biggest thing is not waiting until you feel completely dried out before you drink.

Take small drinks throughout your ride.

And if you are planning a longer ride, think about the weather before you leave.

How hot is it going to get?

Where can you refill water?

Will you be in the sun most of the time?

A little planning can make the difference between a great ride and a miserable one.

10. Longer Rides Usually Require Food

As your rides get longer, your body needs fuel too.

You do not have to eat special cycling food.

Bananas, crackers, granola bars, dried fruit, sandwiches, or whatever is easy to carry and works well for you can be perfectly fine.

Gels and chews are convenient, but they are optional.

One important lesson I learned is that you do not always have to feel hungry before your body needs energy.

If you wait until you feel completely drained, you waited too long.

11. Learn a Few Basic Bike Skills

Before you start riding farther from home, learn a few simple things.

Know how to check your tire pressure.

Know how your brakes feel.

Practice shifting.

Practice looking over your shoulder without swerving halfway across the road.

Learn basic hand signals.

Know how to stop smoothly.

None of this is complicated, but it can make you feel much more confident.

12. Pick Routes That Make You Want to Ride Again

When you are new, you do not have to start with busy roads.

In fact, you may enjoy cycling a lot more if you do not.

Rail trails, bike paths, greenways, quiet neighborhoods, and low-traffic backroads can be great places to build confidence.

One thing I learned about myself is that I enjoy exploring much more than I enjoy dealing with heavy traffic.

That has helped shape the kind of cyclist I am.

Your route should fit your personality just as much as your bike does.

13. Carry a Few Basic Items

I learned fairly quickly that I am not exactly a minimalist cyclist.

I like taking stuff with me.

Water.

Snacks.

Tools.

Extra layers.

Whatever I think I might need.

That is another reason I eventually realized a bike designed to carry bags and gear suits me better.

You do not need to take your entire garage with you, but a few basic items are smart once you start riding farther.

A simple beginner ride kit might include:

• Water
• Phone
• ID
• Credit card or a little cash
• Spare tube
• Tire levers
• Small pump or inflator
• Basic multitool
• Snack
• Sunscreen

You will eventually figure out what you actually use and what you prefer to carry.

14. Do Not Obsess Over Speed

This one can be hard because cycling gives us so many numbers.

Average speed.

Distance.

Heart rate.

Cadence.

Elevation.

Personal records.

It is very easy to turn every ride into a test.

You do not have to.

Your average speed can change because of hills, wind, surface, traffic, your bike, how tired you are, or a dozen other things.

There is no speed you are supposed to ride as a beginner.

Ride at a pace that allows you to keep going and enjoy yourself.

The speed will come.

15. Rest Is Part of Getting Better

More riding is not always better.

Your body needs time to recover.

If your legs are tired, take a rest day.

If you are sore, give yourself a little time.

You are not losing progress by recovering.

You are allowing your body to adapt to the work you already did.

16. Do Not Compare Your Beginning to Someone Else’s Middle

Someone will always be faster.

Someone will ride farther.

Someone will climb a hill while having a full conversation and somehow look completely relaxed.

Good for them.

That has nothing to do with your ride.

When I got back into cycling at 39, there was a lot I did not know.

I bought a bike that turned out not to be the best match for the kind of riding I enjoyed.

I bought pedals and shoes I was not ready for.

I had to learn what gear I needed, how to ride farther, what to carry, and what kind of cycling actually made me happy.

None of that meant I was doing it wrong.

It meant I was learning.

And that is what being a beginner is.

Start With the Bike Ride

Looking back, I think beginners can get so caught up in doing cycling “right” that they forget why most of us got on a bike in the first place.

Because riding a bike is fun.

That is what I remembered from being a kid.

The freedom.

The exploring.

The feeling that you could just keep going and see what was around the next corner.

I lost that for a lot of years.

Then I found it again.

So if you are thinking about getting on a bike, do not wait until you know everything.

You will not.

Do not wait until you have all the perfect equipment.

You do not need it.

And do not worry if you make a few wrong purchases or beginner mistakes along the way.

I certainly did.

Start with the bike ride.

You can figure out the rest as you go.

At Two Wheel Wild, that is really what cycling is about for us.

Ride. Explore. Grow.

Recommended gear when getting started: https://www.amazon.com/shop/twowheelwild/list/2TRU9FDGGZZCE?ref_=aipsflist

The link above is for my Amazon storefront. If you purchase using the link I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. The items listed are items I actually use and recommend.