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Frequently
Asked Questions from beginners
1.
I'm a beginner. What cycling kit should I buy?
2.
What should I wear for a winter cycling training?
3.
Should I get Look or Shimano clipless pedals?
4.
Should I buy a woman's saddle?
5.
Is one water bottle cage enough?
6.
Should I buy one wind & water proof jacket or one windproof
jacket and a spare waterproof jacket to carry with me when
I go cycling in case it rains?
7.
Cycling pants; should they be padded?
8.
Should I get a top specially made for cycling?
9.
Should I buy a portable (hand held) bicycle pump or a larger
floor pump?
10.
What are good training books for triathlon?
11.
What should I pack for a triathlon?
12.
How do I pack my bike for a trip?
1.
I'm a beginner. What cycling kit should I buy?
1. Bike helmet
2. Clipless pedals
3. Cycling glasses to protect your eyes from
flying rocks, bugs and wind.
The best ones have interchangeable lenses so you can use clear
or light coloured lenses in dull weather (most days in this
country) and dark lenses in sunny weather.
4. Cycling gloves
5. Lights if you plan to do any cycling past
4pm in the winter. I have a Cateye LED light for the front
which I highly recommend. A little red flashing light for
the back is fine.
6. Spare inner tubes
and patch kit
7. Bike pump
2.
What should I wear for winter cycling training?
Essentials:
- long-fingered gloves
- long tights
- base layer top (like long underwear) if it's really cold
- long sleeve cycling jersey or sports top
- water-resistant or waterproof jacket with ventilation zippers
under the arms
The jacket will be the most expensive
but well worth the money for a good one if you'll be cycling
much in England. Get one made for cycling that comes down
past your bum so you don't get soaked by the water coming
up from your back wheel. It is for wind and rain protection
more than for warmth. Get one that is big enough so that you
can wear two layers underneath if it is really cold. In warmer
weather, you can wear it over a short-sleeve jersey to keep
the rain off. You can unzip the ventilation holes under the
arms to prevent getting too sweaty and wet on the inside.
A bright, visible color like yellow is the safest.
Also nice but not essential:
- neoprene booties to wear over cycling shoes
- water resistant or waterproof trousers
- thin fleece hat with ear flaps that can be worn under your
helmet if it's really cold
3.
Should I get Look or Shimano clipless pedals?
Look
pedals are slightly easier to get into, but the Shimano fittings
are easier to walk in. It's very nice being able to walk around
in your cycling shoes, especially during the transitions in
a triathlon. Really efficient racers just slip their feet
in and out of their shoes while the shoes are clipped to the
pedals.
4.
Should I buy a woman's saddle?
Women's saddles are a
bit wider and the nose is a bit shorter, so they tend to fit
women's bone structures better. That is a generality and doesn't
work for everyone though.
Terry
and Giro Fizik Vitesse are two recommended brands.
5.
Is one water bottle cage enough?
One
water bottle cage is enough for racing, but I like to have
two water bottles along when I'm training, especially if it's
hot, so I have two water bottle cages my racing and my touring
bike.
6.
Should I buy one wind & water proof jacket or one windproof
jacket and a spare waterproof jacket to carry with me when
I go cycling in case it rains?
Buy one waterproof or highly water-resistant
jacket for the winter. It will serve as protection against
both wind and rain and you can wear it all through the winter
months and most of the spring. Later in the year, if you find
you need protection from the wind but your waterproof jacket
is too hot, you can then buy a light wind shell. By that time,
you will know what features you do and don't like about your
waterproof jacket and you can shop for a jacket with the features
you really like.
7.Cycling
pants; should they be padded?
I
don't know if you mean the American word "pants"
or the British word "pants." I have padded cycling
shorts. I use these in spinning classes, on training rides
and commuting to work in the warmer months. My long cycling
pants (or tights) do not have padding.There are long tights
with padding on the market, but they aren't very common. I
wear my long tights for running in cold weather too, so it's
nice to NOT have the padding in them. If I'm going for a long
ride in cold weather, I wear long tights over the padded cycling
shorts.
8.Should
I get a top specially made for cycling?
You
should definitely get something long sleeved that is breathable
and wicks away moisture. You'll work up a sweat climbing hills
and if your clothes stay wet, you'll freeze coasting down
the hills. Whether or not you get a cycling-specific cut depends
on how much money you want to spend on clothes just for cycling.
A cycling top is a bit longer in the back and fitted at the
waist so you stay covered and don't have the wind blowing
up on your stomach when you're in a cycling position. They
usually also have a pocket in the back where you can keep
a spare inner tube and patch kit, keys, sports bar or banana.
They are excellent for cycling, but not very versitile. I
don't wear my cycling jersey when I'm running or at the gym.
9.
Should I buy a portable (hand held) bicycle pump or a larger
floor pump?
You
first must have a hand-held pump that you take with you on
rides in case you get a puncture. Mine straps onto my bike.
Other people carry very small ones that fit in the pocket
of their cycling jersey. Second, you should invest in a floor
pump because you'll need to pump up your tires every few weeks
(even without a puncture) and it's difficult to get them fully
inflated with a hand-held pump. You'll want them fully inflated,
especially for races, because you'll go faster.
10.
What are good training books for triathlon?
'Power
to Perform' (1999) by Jon Ackland sold in the UK under the
title Complete Guide to Endurance Training' through A &
C Black Publishers. Its a bit of a tri bible for kiwis and
is a text for sports science university students. Jon Ackland
runs Performance Lab NZ. The
book focuses on training and the principles of training and
explains how to write you own programmes using peak mileage
weeks with microcycles etc.
11.
What should I pack for a triathlon?
Below is a checklist put
together by John Griffin. For a printable checklist, click
here.
Swim
Goggles
(& Spare pair)
Swim Cap (often supplied by race organisers)
Tri One piece (if pool swim/no wetsuit)
Tri Top (if not wearing one piece)
Tri Shorts (if not wearing one piece)
Wetsuit (if necessary)
Baby Oil/Lubricant for Wetsuit
HRM belt (optional)
Towel (dual purpose, mark transition & shower after if
not too muddy!)
Race Belt (N.B. Not all races allow these)
Stapler (can use safety pins/ some race belts have poppers
& don't require pins)
Safety Pins
Bike
Cycle
Helmet
Cycle Shoes
Talc for Cycle shoes
Water bottle(s), Aero bottle (for all but sprint races)
Mini Pump
Sunglasses (with choice of lenses to allow for light conditions
on the day)
Saddle Pack (with puncture repair kit)
Wind/Rain proof top (cold weather)
Gloves (cold weather)
Track Pump (can early always borrow this at most events)
Run
Running
Shoes
Running Cap (In the unlikely event sunny conditions are forecast!)
Fuel
Carbo
drink (enough for pre-race, race and post race)
Energy bars/Gels
Bananas
General
Race
Pack & Directions
BTA Licence
Money & Credit Cards
Keys
Mobile Phone
Shower Gel
Comb (in the unlikely event I have any hair left)
Sun screen (in the unlikely event hot sunny weather is forecast!)
Waterproof/ Plastic bag (to keep transition gear dryish in
case of rain)
Warmth
Running
Top/Fleece (for pre and post race warmth)
Track Suit Bottoms
Helly Top (cold weather)
Socks (pre and post race or for extreme cold weather/duathlons)
12.
How do I pack my bike for a trip?
Here
are instructions
from Malcolm Hinsley
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