Getting Started Cycling

Three years ago we signed up for our first Tour de Cure and decided to ride the 50 miler. While I have always loved biking, we weren't prepared with road bikes and didn't have the budget to just jump in.

We trained and built up our mountain bikes. I packed up my camelbak with a liter of water and snacks in addition to having a water bottle.

The first Tour de Cure was in a very mountainous area in North Western PA in the middle of July - hot and humid. We unfortunately got off track and after completing 40 miles, realized we were not going to make it to the finish line. While pretty bummed and not feeling too well from the heat, we called the people to come and get us.

This could have been the end of the Cycling journey; however, while being tired and after rehydrating, I felt the best I ever had. We still completed 40 miles on mountain bikes!! Which truly was a huge accomplishment. Being the first time ever doing an event like this, we learned so much in terms of what to expect - rest stops, courses/routes, and additional training needed.

Deciding to start is half the battle. There are plenty of people willing to help you along the way!

The following spring we purchased our first road bikes. Trained more and tweaked our bikes. This was a learning experience as we purchased clip in pedals and shoes, which comes along with other training adventures.

The second Tour de Cure we finished 30 miles! I still over packed my camelbak with water and snacks along with having a water bottle. Going through the finish line was a great experience. We enjoyed the camaraderie of the post event meal and checking out the merchant tents.

Year three brought along additional bike events and training which really honed in on what we actually need for an event. I tweaked my bike to have 2 water bottles and had just what I needed in terms of energy bars and snacks. The rest stops have proven to provide most of the needed nutrition along the way, however, it is still imperative to have water on your bike as well as some quick energy options.

Anything you start is a journey. The fun is in learning along the way. If you put your mind to it, anything is possible!

Resources for Getting Started Cycling:

My suggested GEAR to START out with:

(pictures below)

A bike - whatever you have will work!

Bike tools/tire pump

Bike bag

Helmet

Water bottle

Camelbak

Plastic bag for ID and credit/insurance card

Snacks - check out my snack blog

Optional:

Bike jersey

Bike shorts

You can of course dive into other items, but the above items will get you started on your journey without breaking the bank or being worried you don't have everything you need.

Many items I bought at first were from Target or Amazon. While it can seem scary to go to a local bike shop when you're first starting out, they can be a great place for information and workers are super nice - they love biking! My local bike shop was the best place to find local rides, maps, and bike clubs. Internet is of course a wealth of information, but bike shops can get the local information that can be hard to find online. The cycling community is pretty awesome and has wonderful events all year long!

Rides:

While we were overzealous deciding to do a 50miler our first time out; most rides offer different lengths - typically 10, 30, 60 +. You can decide what is best for you and your fitness level for your first event. Local events are held that offer beginner rides as well as shorter rides that you can go at your own pace. These rides can be found at the local bike shop, online, and Facebook.

Tour de Cure is the American Diabetes Association’s largest fundraiser and offered in most cities. Many fundraisers will do event rides, which is just one option in terms of starting out riding.

Cities, local bike shops, as well as bike clubs may also offer rides as well. For example, Bike Cleveland and Bike Pittsburgh both provide rides throughout the year. For more informal rides you can check out Open Streets Pittsburgh, where certain streets in Pittsburgh are closed down typically from 9am - 1pm and you can ride through the streets and find local vendors along the way (which can also give you more options of what is around your local area). These are just the rides I am familiar with in my area - check out your local city to find out what they may offer.

Of course you can always ride around your neighborhood or local park/trail. In Cleveland/Akron, the Metroparks offer many miles of scenic trails. In Pittsburgh, the Montour Trail, Gap Trail, and there are also trails within the city itself. Check out your local National Park for more options.