What I'd Tell My Younger Self About Riding Road Bikes

At one time or another, many cyclists reflect on their experiences and consider what they could have done differently.

While some riders look back and regret not splurging on a new bike or a cycling vacation, others may regret the last race they did, in which they missed the winning move or even crashed out.

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When I look back at my cycling, which started when Greg LeMond was already a Tour de France champion, here are a few things I'd tell my younger self.

Listen to the wise cyclists who always offer advice

Some of the most impactful memories I have are the advice I received about riding bikes and who gave it. Many of the tips were how to comport myself in a paceline — to stay safe and keep others safe when riding together.

'Don't buy upgrades; ride upgrades'

Attributed to Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx, this suggests that time in the saddle pays greater dividends than buying the latest and greatest tech. (Maybe Eddy said this before he sold bikes with his name on them?)

Before I was fit and skilled enough to realize the advantages of a premium race bike, I needed to develop the legs, lungs, and skills to propel it. Along the way, I bought a few enhancements—got a professional bike fit, a more comfy saddle, and eventually a set of race-only wheels—as rewards for achieving improvement benchmarks.

Buy the new bike, or the computer head unit, or the cycling shoes

The converse of the previous is: If you want a new bike and it will make you happy, buy it. When buying new cycling gear, I'd tell my younger self to 1)make and stick to a budget, and 2)prioritize purchases in order of most to least impactful to try to limit too many frivolous purchases.

High-quality cycling bib shorts: there are no substitutes

Bib shorts won't fall as regular cycling shorts, and well-made chamois allow for hours of riding (especially when anti-chafe balm is used). Only after riding in bargain-bin Lycra with a pad sewn in as an afterthought and then riding in some of the best cycling shorts available, could I reflect: splurge on top-notch cycling kit. My wife, also an avid cyclist, agrees.

Practice clipping out and in more

I didn't do this enough as a young teenager, and, memorably and embarrassingly, paid for it a few times later in life. Find a flat, dry, firm, grassy patch (this hurts less when you topple over) and practice slowly coming to a stop, putting a toe down, then rolling away while clipping in. Be aware of where the chain is on the cassette so pedaling is smooth and easy. Repeat, a lot.

Eat and drink more on the bike

I failed at this more than a few times. Sports nutrition science has come a long way since I started riding bikes, but the advice has not changed. Bonking is a preventable fueling failure. The current thinking for top pro cyclists is to consume between 100g and 130g of carbohydrates per hour (depending on many factors) when racing for four to six hours. Mere mortals may need less. And finish those bottles of electrolytes.

Work hard, rest harder

I still fail at this from time to time. Easy days should be really easy. Hard days—two to three hard sessions on the bike per week—should be very hard. And medium days should not leave one shattered. I've always used a heart rate monitor—and then a power meter when they became accessible and affordable—to guide training.

Learn basic bike maintenance skills and practice them

Working in bike shops as a teen, I practiced changing tubes—and other valuable maintenance skills—a lot. Knowing how to change a tube (or plug a flat tubeless tire) can be a life-saving skill, depending on the weather and/or time of day. I told myself: practice crucial skills until I could teach them at a clinic (and so I did). Refreshing bar tape and swapping rim brake pads are easy-to-learn maintenance skills, too. Bleeding the hydraulic brake lines is a little more challenging and requires specific bike tools.

Do different things

While I have favorite routes, I change things up on the bike frequently. Do different rides on different bikes (if you have this option) with different groups on different routes. The motivation to ride will never wane.

Stop and smell the roses

I'm guilty of not appreciating every ride. Even the best athletes on two wheels (not me!) take time to soak up the grueling training days, ride—and enjoy coffee—with friends, and celebrate the smallest victories. Savor and appreciate time in the saddle, enjoy the process and journey, and learn to love the bike even more.