{"id":190891,"date":"2022-10-21T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2022-10-21T07:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=190891"},"modified":"2022-10-21T13:54:16","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T13:54:16","slug":"top-14-cycling-faux-pas-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2022\/10\/21\/top-14-cycling-faux-pas-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 14 Cycling Faux Pas to Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like any other activity or community, road cycling has a set of understood rules of the road. You won\u2019t find them printed in an official rulebook. They are insights that come with experience. The longer you\u2019ve been in the sport, the more obvious they are.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If you are new to the sport, it\u2019s an opportunity to learn them the easy way. As a seasoned rider, don\u2019t be shy in politely pointing them out to new cyclists in your entourage. Someone probably took you under their wing, so pay it forward. Some are for safety reasons, others are pure cycling culture.<\/p>\n

1. No pump or spare, food or water<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Cyclists should be self-sufficient on the road. If you get a flat and you don\u2019t have a pump or a spare, a fellow rider will probably bail you out. Lending you a pump is one thing but giving up a spare? Helping you out means they may be left with none. Don\u2019t put other cyclists in this precarious situation, carry a patch kit and a spare tube.<\/p>\n

You also need to carry sufficient food and water to complete the ride. Riders that bonk, meaning they run out of gas because of poor fuelling and hydration,<\/a> slow down to a fraction of their normal pace or worse, suffer a more serious reaction. If a fellow cyclist comes to your rescue by giving you a gel or bar, be gracious and tell them you\u2019ll replace it the next time you see them.<\/p>\n

2. Littering<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When you flat on your ride and change your tube, don\u2019t leave it as trash on the side of the road. Roll it up and tuck it in your back pocket. Used inter tubes can be put to good use in many useful ways, including being patched for reuse.<\/p>\n

Stuff the wrappers and pull tabs from consumed gel and bars into a rear pocket or tuck them under the band of your short leg or sleeve but don\u2019t litter. A used food wrapper can be used to boot a damaged tyre to get you home. If this happens to you, you\u2019ll be happy to have one handy.<\/p>\n

3. Glasses under your helmet straps<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sunglasses<\/a> should be the last item that goes on as you head out the door. Doing so means you wear them on the exterior of your helmet straps and not underneath them. It\u2019s not just following pro-style, it\u2019s for your safety. In the event of a crash, the glasses will fall away from your face. Having them on the outside also makes it easier to take them off and on as you ride.<\/p>\n

4. Don\u2019t text and ride<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Texting and driving while controlling any vehicle is a bad idea and illegal in most places. Safety comes first<\/a> and your full attention needs to be on the road. There\u2019s plenty of time to check your phone during the coffee or water stop. If it can\u2019t wait, let others know you are moving out of the bunch before pulling safely out of traffic and doing your stuff.<\/p>\n

5. Threadbare shorts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Riding in a group means being in close quarters with your fellow cyclists. The rider behind you doesn\u2019t want to see a full moon in broad daylight. You may be friends but that much detail is too much. Cycling clothing, especially shorts, has a life. If you aren\u2019t sure of the wear factor of your shorts, ask a good friend to give you honest feedback. Don\u2019t forget to be in the cycling position for an accurate assessment.<\/p>\n

\"Group<\/a>
Be mindful of your fellow cyclists. \u00a9 Profimedia, Alamy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Not washing your kit<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Have you ever ridden behind a smelly cyclist? It can be an eye-watering experience. Cycling clothing needs to be washed after every use. This is especially true for shorts, as undesirable bacteria develop down there around the sensitive bits. If your wardrobe is limited, don\u2019t worry, they\u2019ll be dry in time for your next ride. Or maybe it\u2019s time to invest in another pair.<\/p>\n

7. Half-wheeling the person next to you<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When riding next to someone, half-wheeling, or riding half a wheel’s distance in front of them, is bad manners. Are you riding together or being passive aggressive? If you can\u2019t keep yourself in check when riding next to others, maybe it\u2019s best to ride on your own.<\/p>\n

8. Spitting or blowing your nose into the wind<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you need to empty the contents of your mouth or nose, there is a safe way of doing it without putting others at risk of being an unlucky target. The best option is to signal and safely move out of the group and head to the back where no riders are behind you.<\/p>\n

If you absolutely have to expel whatever it is and you can\u2019t get out of your current position, raise your shoulder on the side involved (like an \u201cI don\u2019t know\u201d motion), tip your head and trunk in that direction, bending a bit at the waist and aim below your armpit. This sends your gift to the universe down to the ground and not free-flying into the air towards a random victim.<\/p>\n

9. Wearing underwear under your riding shorts<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Wearing underwear under your riding shorts screams rookie to the more experienced. Cycling shorts are worn directly against the skin. It\u2019s not gross. Everyone does it, and precisely why shorts need to be washed after every use. Wearing something underneath adds bulk and seams, which quickly causes massive irritation due to friction between you and the saddle.<\/p>\n

10. Taking a triathlon bike to a group ride<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Yes, that triathlon bike looks hot and fast but it doesn\u2019t belong in a group ride. They are meant to go fast in a straight line with the rider in a fixed aero position but aren\u2019t great at turning. Their shorter wheelbase means the front wheel may touch the rider\u2019s shoe when deviating from that straight line. It\u2019s a recipe for disaster on a group ride.<\/a> Seasoned triathletes have a road bike for training, so bring it to the group ride and keep the tri bike for when training alone.<\/p>\n

11. Riding clipless pedals for the first time in a group ride<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Getting new gear is fun, especially as you progress in a sport. But don\u2019t show up to a group ride with clipless pedals if you just got them. You are a rolling hazard until you\u2019re proficient in their use. Practice clipping in and out on a patch of grass on your own before using them for a group ride.<\/p>\n

12. Passing on the inside of corners<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As tempting as it may seem, cyclists should never pass another rider on the inside of a corner. It is a very dangerous move, and a crash is almost always the result. Passing should always take place on the outside.<\/p>\n

13. Not saying hello to fellow cyclists on the road<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re on a bike, you\u2019re part of the cycling community.<\/a> When you see another rider on the road, say hello. A nod of the helmet or a quick hand wave will do. If a rider is on the side of the road or looks in distress, check in and see if all is okay. This is not only polite but you may be in a similar position one day and will appreciate the gesture.<\/p>\n

14. Don\u2019t be a knuckle dragger<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Men, seeing a woman riding in front of you is not your cue to pick up the pace and blow past them. Many do but sit up after thinking the job is done. But to your surprise, she caught you, returned the favour and dropped you. Yes, most men are stronger riders, but not all! Show your class and respect for female cyclists<\/a> by not assuming they are automatically the weaker and slower sex.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like any other activity or community, road cycling has a set of understood rules of the road. You won\u2019t find […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":190892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[6709,6710,6707,2668,6708],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-190891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-socialising-and-culture","tag-bicycle-kit","tag-cycling-donts","tag-cycling-faux-pas","tag-cycling-fun","tag-faux-pas","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\nTop 14 Cycling Faux Pas to Avoid - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Like any other activity or community, road cycling has a set of understood rules of the road. You won\u2019t find them printed in an official rulebook. 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