Most common beginner cycling mistakes

[Shawn Gossman]

What is the most common beginner cycling mistakes you see riders making?

Why do you think they make these mistakes so often?

How would you suggest they fix these mistakes?

 

[scottrod]

Riding in opposition to traffic flow.
I just try and educate them that doing that is more dangerous than riding with the flow of traffic.

Ignoring stop signs and stop lights.....oh wait, that is nearly every cyclist I know! Guess I am a law and order old man, but that is just stupid and will end up in an accident. I try and educate the new riders that doing so is dangerous ( and stupid)
I try not to punch the " experienced " riders.

 

[Square Wheels]

Eating too much after a ride.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Ignoring stop signs and stop lights.....oh wait, that is nearly every cyclist I know! Guess I am a law and order old man, but that is just stupid and will end up in an accident. I try and educate the new riders that doing so is dangerous ( and stupid)
I try not to punch the " experienced " riders.

I stop at stop signs and lights unless absolutely no one is coming.

I'd rather not get ran over. If I survive, it'll put in debt to pay for it. I'd rather have that money for more bikes. LOL

 

[Rom]

Not finding a routine. Make time for your health, if you don't 50+ is going to be rough.

Eating too much after a ride.

This is a big one, especially for people on a weight loss journey. It's better to fuel on the ride, than after the ride. Just keep eating, log your calories and keep working.

Riding in opposition to traffic flow.
I just try and educate them that doing that is more dangerous than riding with the flow of traffic.

Ignoring stop signs and stop lights.....oh wait, that is nearly every cyclist I know! Guess I am a law and order old man, but that is just stupid and will end up in an accident. I try and educate the new riders that doing so is dangerous ( and stupid)
I try not to punch the " experienced " riders.

I see this all the time, unfortunately, most from commuters. I feel like this stems from, at least when I was a kid, all the adults telling us to walk opposite the traffic flow to prevent getting kidnapped. Does it work, IDK, but it's not the play for riding a bike.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I see this all the time, unfortunately, most from commuters. I feel like this stems from, at least when I was a kid, all the adults telling us to walk opposite the traffic flow to prevent getting kidnapped. Does it work, IDK, but it's not the play for riding a bike.

I would walk/run opposite to traffic, personally. Your reaction time on foot is easier than on bike.

 

[Rom]

I would walk/run opposite to traffic, personally. Your reaction time on foot is easier than on bike.

Yeah, of course, i still run with traffic a lot of the time, but i run on back roads where the speed limit is 20mph.