ADVICE - Beginner’s Guide: How to Start Road Cycling 🚴🏻

New to cycling and looking for a beginner’s guide to road cycling? 🚴🏻 This video is the perfect starting point! Whether you’re gearing up for fitness, adventure, or a new hobby, road cycling can be an exciting and rewarding activity. We’ll cover the essentials to help you hit the road with confidence and ease.

What you’ll learn in this video:
✅ Choosing the right road bike and gear for beginners.
✅ Essential tips for your first rides, including safety and techniques.
✅ How to plan routes, maintain your bike, and build confidence on the road.

Road cycling doesn’t have to be intimidating! With the right guidance and preparation, you’ll enjoy every moment of the journey—whether you’re cruising through scenic routes or building endurance for longer rides.

👉 Subscribe to our channel for more cycling tips and advice. 🔔
👉 Explore Decathlon’s range of road bikes, helmets, and accessories at https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sports/road-cycling

Have questions about beginners guide to road cycling? Drop them in the comments below! Or share your experiences as a new cyclist—we’d love to hear how you’re starting your road cycling adventure. 💬

Why Decathlon?
At Decathlon, we’re committed to making cycling accessible and enjoyable for everyone. With beginner-friendly gear, expert advice, and a passion for sport, we’re here to support your road cycling journey from day one.

🛒 Discover beginner road bikes, cycling clothing, and tools here: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/sports/road-cycling

Start your cycling journey today with this beginner’s guide to road cycling. Let’s ride together and make every mile count! 🚴🏻✨

00:00 – Introduction
00:28 – Choosing and adjusting your road bike
03:51 – The equipment : the starter kit
06:28 – Essential accessories
08:36 – On the road!
09:11 – Conclusion

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So, have you been thinking
about getting into road cycling ? Road cycling is a really great sport. No matter how old you are, no
matter what your fitness levels are, you can get out there and you can enjoy it. So, whether you cycle for pleasure,
you can cycle for performance, whatever your goals are. My name is Emma, I’m a professional triathlete, and today I’m here to give you some tips
and tricks to get started with road cycling. So, first things first,
you’re going to need a bike. Otherwise, it’s going to be a little tough. Now, when you’re choosing your first bike,
there are lots and lots of options out there. One of the most important things is to be
able to try the bike before you buy it, and also, from experience, that
you actually like the bike. So, if it’s not a colour
that you particularly like, or it doesn’t look nice to you, then you’re
going to have less pleasure riding it. So, choose a bike that’s adapted
to your needs and that you like. So, here are a few points to consider
when you’re choosing your new road bike. So, one of the main things you’re
going to want to consider is the frame, material and geometry. So, when it comes to materials, most bikes nowadays are made
either of aluminium or of carbon. The frame material is going to have
an impact on the weight of the bike, the handling and the performance. There are two main types
of geometry on road bikes. Some are a little more aggressive,
meaning they’re lower at the front, so they put you in a more forward
position, it’s more aerodynamic. It might be a little less comfortable than
frames that are more endurance-oriented, which are a little bit more upright, that
sit you a little bit higher on the front, meaning there’s less tension
in your back, your shoulders and neck might be a bit more relaxed,
and that might be easier on longer rides. So, when it comes to choosing a bike, you will notice that you have
two different brake options. So, traditionally, road bikes had rim brakes, which is basically a caliper that comes
and squeezes the rim when you brake and slows the bike down. Today, we’re moving more and
more towards disc brakes, which have been present in the mountain
bike world for decades already. We’re seeing them more on road bikes today, and that you have a disc rotor on the wheel,
and again, there’s a caliper that’s on the fork, and when you brake, it squeezes
the disc rotor to get you to stop. This type of brake is slightly
more efficient in wet conditions, for example, but it doesn’t
mean that rim brakes don’t work. It’s just whatever brake system
you choose on your new bike, just make sure that it’s always in good condition, and if you have any doubts,
just make sure it’s checked out by a professional so you
can stay safe on the road. The tyres are perhaps not the
first thing you’re going to look at when you’re buying a new bike. However, they are your contact
point between the bike and the road, and they’re going to have quite a big
impact on the comfort of your ride. So, traditionally, road bikes had skinny
tyres, so they’re really quite narrow, and today, as with the disc brakes,
we’re moving more towards wider tyres. This allows us to reduce the inflation pressure, so you’ve got just a little bit
more comfort when you’re riding, and it gives you a little
bit more stability as well, because if you’re choosing a tyre
which is, say, 28 or 30mm wide, you’re going to have just a
little bit more grip on the road and a little bit more reassurance
when you’re going around curves, etc. And that, despite being wider, will not
actually have an impact on your speed. In my personal opinion, finding
the right saddle is one of the most important points when it comes to riding. So, you may buy a bicycle. Chances are that you will be changing
the saddle quite quickly afterwards, simply because saddles come
in all shapes and sizes. There are wider ones, narrower ones,
there are ones that are cut out, some of them are flat, some
of them are a little wavy with a little dip where you sit,
and it’s extremely personal. What fits you will certainly
not fit somebody else, and finding the right saddle
can be a bit of a challenge, but I can assure you, you will
enjoy the ride so much more. So, you’ve got the bike, you’re excited
to ride, but next you need a kit. So, a road cycling kit starts with a helmet. For your own safety on the
roads, make sure you choose a certified model that fits your head. If you want, you can also wear a
little cycling cap under your helmet. It’s very stylish, it’s quite
popular in the world of cycling. You have a little brim that
can protect you from the rain or soak up the sweat if it’s hot. For the top half of your clothing, you’re
looking for a dedicated cycling jersey. Now, again, these come in lots
of different shapes and sizes. It doesn’t have to be skin tight, it
depends entirely on the discipline. What you’re looking for exactly
is your preference of colours. It can be bright, it can
be a little bit more sober. In summer, when it’s hot, you’re
looking for a short-sleeved model, which will evacuate sweat efficiently
so that it keeps you nice and cool. And if you’re riding in colder
climates, depending on where you live, or maybe you’re cycling in the
winter, you probably want to consider a thermal base layer and a
longer-sleeved jersey over the top. One of the most essential pieces of
cycling clothing is the bib short, which is essentially a pair of
shorts, often with straps that go over your shoulders to keep everything in place, and with a special insert that pads your seat and keeps you comfortable when
you’re out for long rides, etc. As with a saddle, it is worth
spending the time to find bib shorts that work for you and that keep you really
comfortable because it’s very personal. As with a cycling jersey, if you’re
cycling in warmer conditions, you’re going to choose a short cycling bib, and if you’re cycling in the
winter or in colder climates, choose a full-leg version which is
going to keep you nice and warm. When it comes to choosing your
shoes, you probably want to start off with a simple pair of trainers and flat pedals so you can get
a feel for how the bike handles, how it reacts, and just get a
little bit more confident cycling. Once you’re confident cycling, you
can progress to a clipless system, which is essentially a cleat under the
shoe that comes in slots into a pedal, and the shoe is attached to the pedal.
It gives you more control over the bike, it gives you better power transfer, and it’s also safer because your
foot basically doesn’t risk slipping off the pedal and you losing
control when you’re riding. One last tip when you’re
choosing your cycling shoes is that you might like to size up just a little. That will give your foot the space to
expand if you’re cycling in hot conditions, and if you’re wearing them
in the winter, you can wear, I think, a pair of socks
just to keep your feet warm. When it comes to cycling accessories, one of the things you want to
consider is a good pair of sunglasses. They will protect your eyes from
UV lights, sunlight, from insects, from dust, and will also stop your eyes
drying out when you’re out for long rides and causing discomfort. And finally, you might like to add a few
accessories to your cycling wardrobe. It really helps if the conditions
deteriorate, for example, arm warmers to pull on if it gets a bit chilly. Leg warmers do the same. A gilet is a really, really
useful piece of clothing which you can just put in a back pocket, and if you’re at the top of
a hill and it’s a bit windy or you’re worried about getting
cold, you can just pull it on. I would recommend a good rain jacket
as well if you live in an area where it rains a lot or for emergency situations. And gloves, last but not least.
Again, personal preference. Not everybody wears cycling gloves, but it can help protect your
hands in case of an accident. Safety is absolutely paramount on the road. You’re sharing the road with other users,
and being seen is absolutely vital. So, lighting on the front
and the rear of your bike, and not only if you’re riding in dark conditions, it really helps with
visibility even during the day. I would also highly recommend
clothing with reflective detailing. That always helps in headlights. And you’re, of course, free to put
a bell on your handlebars as well if you want to warn people that
you’re coming up behind them. So, no matter how long you’re planning to ride, always make sure you’ve got
sufficient food in your pockets and hydration in your water
bottles to see you through the day. Cycling is a physical effort,
and you’d be surprised sometimes how quickly your energy levels drop, so just don’t get caught out. As part of your cycling kit, a
saddle bag is always really useful. It contains usually a spare
inner tube, some tyre levers, maybe a puncture repair kit. You can attach it out of
the way under your saddle. Also take a mini pump with you. Then you’ve got everything
you need to repair a puncture on the side of the road if you need to. And if by any chance you aren’t able
to repair it or need any other kind of assistance, always make sure you
have a mobile phone in your pocket to contact people in case of emergency
and tell them where you’re going. So, there you have it. You have the bike, you have your equipment, you’re ready to ride. All you need to do now is
decide where you’re going, who you’re going with, and how far. So, I would suggest not overstretching
things on the very first try. Maybe go somewhere that isn’t
too stressful, away from traffic, no major hills. Use mobile applications. There are lots of them out there to help you plan. Maybe aim for a distance of 25-30 kilometres, no more than an hour or
two, and you’re ready to go. So, thanks for following. I hope all this advice was useful and
that you’re ready for your first ride. If you need any more tips and tricks, head over to the Decathlon advice website or to our other YouTube videos and enjoy the ride.