Road Cycling is the most popular cycling discipline. Both in terms of amount of recreational cyclist and the professional scene’s popularity. While cycling is not the most adopted sport in the world, everyone has heard of the Tour de France.

If you want to get into cycling, the road is the most accessible way to do so. Millions of people ride their bike to work everyday. Simply taking your commute bike for a recreational spin, is a good way to see if cycling as a sport or mean of more than just transportation is for you.

The road has the widest appeal, because it doesn’t require anything specific other than a bike. From people who ride their bike once a month to do grocery shopping to professional riders riding many hours every day and everyone in between. In this article we’ll focus on why you should get into road cycling as a sport.

Why road cycling

Road cycling is great for several reasons. It offers a fantastic cardiovascular workout and helps build stamina while putting very little strain on the body compared to something like running. It provides a sense of freedom as you explore different routes and discover new areas. Everything feels different compared to driving the same route in a car. The thrill of speed also contribute to its appeal. Riders of different levels can easily ride together.

The social aspect of road cycling

Road cycling is the most social cycling discipline. At least while the ride is on. Mountain bike is more technical and happens on trails where you can’t ride next to each other. Gravel is very social, but the gravel roads doesn’t always allow riders next to each other. Depending on the route, hadling skills can have a big impact of people’s ability to ride with the group. You can spend a lot of power catching up, if you can’t ride the corners and challenges as effective as others. It has a narrower appeal. On the road you can easily ride in a group with many levels of riders. The higher speed means drafting is more effective, and riding on the front is way harder. The nature of the road allows riders to ride next to each other or in a bunch. And the long rides mean you can talk to many people during the ride.

Getting started

The world of cycling can be a big mysterious box. It can take years to uncover just a fraction. On the Cycling Bible our mission is to provide you with all the content of the mysterious box. So you can reach the level of knowledge you desire, while only having to look in one place.

Choosing the right bike

Cycling is not a cheap sport. You will need some gear to get started, and the most important one is your bike. It’s also the most expensive piece. Therefore, getting the right one is important. It can be tricky to know your preferences and how they develop over time when you are just about to start. Do you just want ride for an hour or two every sunday when the sun is out? Or do you want to go racing? Is endurance challenges your kick? You can use any type of road bike for any type of riding, but there’s a big difference in comfort vs. speed vs. ease-of-repair and so on.

Check out our buyer’s guide to help you buy the right bike in the first attempt.

Essential gear

When you’ve chosen your bike, you will need some additional gear to get you started. You will need:

• A pedal system like Shimano SPD.
• Cycling shoes.
• Helmet.
• Clothes. At least a pair of cycling shorts called bibs, a jersey, socks and gloves.
• Water cages and bottles.
• Spare tube and tools to change tubes in case of a puncture. And then a pump, regular or with co2 cartridges.

Safety tips

First of all, we recommend wearing a helmet on every ride. It provides essential protection for your head. In 2009 British Medical Journal reviewed several studies and concluded that wearing a helmet while cycling was associated with a 63-88% reduction in the risk of head, brain, and severe brain injury.

On a road bike you ride with clipless pedals, which mean your cycling shoes are fixed to the pedals. In order to disengage from the pedal, you need to twist your heel outwards. You should practice clipping in and out of your pedals before heading out. Most riders have tried crashing while rolling up to a red light, and forgot they were clipped in, and that sudden panic has caused an embarassing-looking fall.

Lights on your bike is needed in the dark. It lets cars, cyclists and pedestrians see you in good time. A good headlight will also let you see holes and other things on the road.

Tips for beginners

Gradual progression

Riding a bike is not a natural position for the body. Even though cycling is a low impact sport, you can’t ride for hours every day, when you are first getting started. You will experience a bit of pain in the butt until you get used to the saddle. You will also have fatigue in various parts of your body when you push for longer distances than you are used to. Particularly fatigue in the back and neck, as these are responsible for holding your body in the unnatural forward tilted position cycling requires. Building the strenght to overcome this takes time. But you can accelerate the process with a cycling specific weight lifting program.

In your first season, the focus should be on riding as often as you can. Short rides are fine, but frequency is really the key. Try to ride at least three times a week.

In the second season, you should start focusing on the distance of you rides. Bump up the average, and aim for a record distance ride every now and then. As your cycling specific strenght increases, so will your ability to go long.

In the third season, you can start focusing on a dedicated training plan, and really push the limits of whan you can do. It takes time to build the strength in your supporting muscles and joints to ride for 3 hours many times a week. In your third season, you should be ready for that if you have riden with passion and motivation in your first years.

Seeking guidance

While we at the Cycling Bible strive to be your one-stop-shop for the knowledge you need about cycling, you should seek as much information as you can. Whether online, from fellow riders or local bike shops. Specially other riders. If you ride with friends, in a local group ride or club, it’s always good to hear other rider’s experience with products, training methods and routes. But you should also keep your natural scepticism. Just because someone else thinks something is a wonder or crap, it doesn’t mean it will be the same to you.

Celebrate milestones

Your journey as a cyclist is full of milestones. If you celebrate them, it will be much more enjoyful, and eyeing new milestones if a fantastic training motivator. Celebrate your first 50 km ride, your first century, your first +30 kph average speed ride, your first 1000 watt sprint and so on.

Conclusion

Road cycling stands out as the most popular and accessible discipline, capturing the hearts of both recreational cyclists and professionals alike. Its broad appeal lies in the simplicity of requirements – all you need is a bike. Whether you’re commuting to work or embarking on long rides for sport, the road provides a platform for riders of all levels to come together.

The allure of road cycling extends beyond the physical benefits, offering a cardiovascular workout with minimal strain on the body. The sense of freedom, exploration, and the thrill of speed contribute to its widespread appeal. The social aspect of road cycling is unparalleled, providing an environment where riders can easily join together, share experiences, and form lasting connections.

Getting started in road cycling may seem daunting, but our mission at the Cycling Bible is to demystify the world of cycling, offering guidance and knowledge in one comprehensive place. From choosing the right bike to essential gear and safety tips, we aim to simplify the process for beginners.