5 typical rookie mistakes

Falling over with cleats, wrong brakes, puncturing, to be overdressed or getting motivated with a too hard climb, typical rookie mistakes.

Whatever your background in the world of cycling, there is no doubt that you were also a rookie and made each of the mistakes mentioned below:

1. Falling over with cleats
2. Wrong brakes
3. Puncture
4. To be over- or underdressed
5. Getting motivated with a too hard climb

Some of us take longer than others to master them and stop engaging them, although we are not worse for it as our skills are further improved in other aspects of cycling. Don’t ask which ones.

1. Falling over with cleats

Can’t wait to meet someone who wears clipless pedals and has never eaten the floor. If you exist, I have to verify that you are not a ghost.

Thinking we’re at Eddy Merckx’s level, sooner or later it’s time to take advantage of the tarmac or mud when we leave our usual pedals behind and screw in the new calipers. Our recommendation is that before you start a bike tour, you know very well how your cleats work, to reduce the risk of injury and annoying cycling vacations. Otherwise, the only path you can take is from your bed to the bathroom.

2. Wrong brakes

It takes a while to figure out that the left lever is the front brake and the right hand is the rear brake, how many mini heart attacks have you already had? Oh, and beware, if the bike is owned by a foreigner, everything works the other way around!

3. Puncture

Flat tires are by far the most common cycling mistake. This failure leads to the stopwatch breaking, loading the bicycle and all manual work, in addition, the need to purchase spare parts. How lazy to write it!

To save you all that hassle, we recommend using tubeless and directly inflated tires with sealant that sticks the tire to the rim, covering all holes. If your budget does not reach, we have another solution … the anti-puncture repair liquid; a liquid that gets inside the chamber and when punctured, it exits through the hole, sealing it immediately.

4. To be over- or underdressed

The key here is to be a zipper style onion. We recommend that you zip the layers, especially the outer layers, so that you can unzip them without having to remove them.

The first layer that covers you should function like a second skin, a tight-fitting shirt in technical fabric that wicks away sweat but maintains the heat you generate with exercise. The rest of the layers will depend on the weather, I guess we won’t be Einstein if we tell you to use a jacket with a waterproof membrane in wind, cold or rain.

5. Getting motivated with a too hard climb 

Have you ever bonked on a ride? This feeling of fatigue, no energy, tunnel vision, of losing your soul along the way … more or less the same thing that happens when you finish reading “The Being and Nothingness” by Sartre. Well, if you haven’t suffered it, we confirm that you’re a full-fledged newbie.

The horrible feeling of bonking happens for two reasons. The first is because your energy levels drop and you need food or drink. The second is because you have made the typical mistake of taking a route that your body cannot. In life everything is trial and error, so if you survive, put it back on, one day you will cycle without bonking.

And remember… WE have ALL been once a rookie. Anyone who laughs at you exposes themselves … And unfortunately there are people who enjoy emphasizing the negative qualities of others. No f *** case, keep cycling so we will see you soon in the top 10 of the Strava ranking.