{"id":198432,"date":"2025-04-22T18:29:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T18:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=198432"},"modified":"2025-04-22T18:29:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T18:29:04","slug":"8-cycling-superstitions-why-cyclists-trust-in-lycra-watts-and-witchcraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2025\/04\/22\/8-cycling-superstitions-why-cyclists-trust-in-lycra-watts-and-witchcraft\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Cycling Superstitions: Why Cyclists Trust in Lycra, Watts\u2026 and Witchcraft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s get one thing straight: cyclists are some of the most disciplined, data-driven, heart-rate-monitoring, FTP-obsessed people on the planet. We count grams, we worship Strava segments, and we know exactly<\/em> how much beetroot juice to chug before a time trial.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But peel back the layers of lycra and what you\u2019ll find underneath isn\u2019t just a chiseled calf\u2014it\u2019s a full-blown, borderline-magical belief system. Welcome to the wonderfully weird world of cycling superstitions, where carbon fibre meets crystal ball, and your ride depends not just on your watts, but whether you kissed your bike goodnight.<\/p>\n

1. The sacred socks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ask any seasoned cyclist and they\u2019ll tell you: Not all socks are created equal<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Some swear their polka-dot pair from the 2018 Gran Fondo in Girona<\/a> brings them luck on climbs. Others won\u2019t dare race without the \u201ccompression-cursed\u201d ones that definitely<\/em> helped them beat Dave from accounting that one time. Dirty? Slightly. Washed? Rarely. Lucky? Always.<\/p>\n

2. Mounting matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019d think which side you swing your leg over wouldn\u2019t matter. Think again.<\/p>\n

A surprising number of riders won\u2019t mount from the left\u2014\u201cThat\u2019s the non-drive<\/em> side, Greg, do you WANT a mechanical?\u201d\u2014and others do a quick two-pedal backspin before clipping in, just to \u201cwake the drivetrain.\u201d Science? No. Vibes? Impeccable.<\/p>\n

3. Rain dances (that work too well)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Leave your rain jacket at home \u201cjust in case,\u201d and you will<\/em> summon a storm. Pack it, and the sun will beat down like you\u2019re riding through the Sahara. Riders have developed complex systems of reverse psychology with their gear to control the weather. Meteorology be damned\u2014if Dave brings arm warmers, it\u2019s definitely<\/em> going to rain.<\/p>\n

\"Cyclist<\/a>
Leave your rain jacket at home \u201cjust in case,\u201d and you will summon a storm. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. The pre-ride ritual<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Skipping your ritualistic espresso before a ride is not just risky\u2014it’s downright blasphemous. You know that perfect crema depicting (or sort of depicting) a bicycle wheel is more than just caffeine\u2014it’s pure cycling magic, warding off mechanical gremlins and summoning fair winds.<\/p>\n

5. Never say \u201cgood legs\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Possibly the most sacred rule of them all. Saying \u201cI\u2019ve got good legs today\u201d is tantamount to cursing yourself with bonking, cramping, and probably being chased by an aggressive goose. The only safe time to acknowledge your legs are firing is 48 hours later, while still in recovery socks, eating pasta<\/a> directly from the pot.<\/p>\n

6. The saddle adjustment dance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Admit it\u2014you’ve fiddled with your saddle height and angle a thousand times, always ending up precisely where you started. But it\u2019s part of the ritual. That tiny millimetre adjustment, even when imaginary, is the difference between comfort and chaos in your cycling universe.<\/p>\n

7. Helmet taps & handlebar pats
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019re at the line, poised for the sprint or ready to tackle that steep descent. Your hand instinctively taps your helmet, then pats your handlebars. It’s subtle, maybe even subconscious, but every tap is your personal handshake with the cycling gods, securing their favour.<\/p>\n

8. Post-ride tale-telling<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Every ride concludes with an essential storytelling session. The headwinds were stronger, the hills steeper, and that dog chasing you? Practically a wolf. Embellishing these tales isn’t just fun\u2014it’s a cyclist’s rite of passage, ensuring luck and favour for future adventures.<\/p>\n

Embrace your quirks proudly, fellow rider. Remember, it feels right, therefore it’s definitely necessary. Ride on!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s get one thing straight: cyclists are some of the most disciplined, data-driven, heart-rate-monitoring, FTP-obsessed people on the planet. We […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":192844,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[2668,8473],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-198432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-socialising-and-culture","tag-cycling-fun","tag-cycling-superstitions","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\n8 Cycling Superstitions: Why Cyclists Trust in Lycra and Watts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Let\u2019s get one thing straight: cyclists are some of the most disciplined, data-driven, heart-rate-monitoring, FTP-obsessed people on the planet. 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