4 Cycling Mistakes To Avoid

 1、Not Fuelling For A Ride Correctly

For runners the commonly used phrase ‘hitting the wall’ refers to the point when the body runs out of fuel/energy and grinds to a halt. Cyclists generally refer to this occurrence as the ‘bonk’ and it is something that will have happened to most riders at some point, even the pros. When heading out on a ride, take a bit more food than you actually need and perhaps two bottles, especially if riding in more remote areas where there’s little chance of finding somewhere to get supplies. Plan ahead as having some food/drink in reserve is better than running the risk of bonking.


2、Braking In Corners

This is very common cycling error, especially amongst new cyclists. The safest, most efficient technique is to brake before the corner, not actually braking as you are on the corner, as doing this with your bike banked over at an angle can result in the bike locking up and you losing control and crashing.


3、No Spares Or Tools

When heading off on a ride you need to ensure that you’ve packed a few essential spares and tools that could get you home should you have a problem. As a guide I always take with me the following items that can be stashed in a saddlebag under your saddle or distributed in your pockets:


2 x inner tubes

Tyre levers

Patches (instant stick on type are best)

Mini Pump (or CO2 inflator)

Multi tool (ideally with chain link extractor)


4、Grabbing Hard On The Brakes

When needing to slow don’t just ‘grab’ the brakes hard. Braking should be done in a controlled manner so the weight distribution of you on the bike remains as stable as possible. The dangers of sudden braking include loss of control and stability and in some cases can result in you going flying over the handlebars. To ensure safe braking you should look well ahead, anticipate and brake steadily using both front and rear simultaneously, with slightly more emphasis on the front brake.

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