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Bicycle tips for the beginner

                                                                                                                                                                           I just arrived at Cartel Coffee Lab

When my husband and I moved to Tempe‚ Arizona‚ it was popular to ride  bicycles around town or commuting. I never was into riding bikes before. Fighting tooth and nail to coax me out of a comfort zone‚ my husband would beg  and plead to go biking. For whatever reason I had this fear of the road and that ; hence‚ I would get hit by a car one day.

Fast forward to 6 years later‚ moving to Tempe‚ I  woke up one day and wanted to go  bicycling. My husband and I started off slow. We could do two miles to Cartel Coffee Lab and take the back roads. Then‚ after a little practice‚ began to build up my confidence to get out on the main road. Of course I  emulated a frightened child trying to get my bearings. I knocked over my bicycle a couple of times. I wore makeup and kept getting sunblock in  my eyes. It was all in the name of vanity. I was struggling to get up a steep hill the first time. I almost fell over ten times trying to maneuver sharp turns. My glasses kept falling off because I didn’t have the right ones on.

These are things not do if one is going to try and bicycle around town.

Here are some tips that I learned from my husband and by trial and error:

# Obviously drink plenty of water and bring  water on the road trip. Even though we went at  seven AM‚ in Arizona heat the sun is beating down on with hate in it’s heart. I got dehydrated and had a headache all day.

# Always look for cars because more than … times then not they aren’t looking for you. Make sure to look the driver in the eye so they see you and; then‚ you won’t get hit.

# When you have to come to a stop at a cross street get off the bike and plant  both feet on the ground. That way you have control of the bike and don’t have a potential spill.

# I would Bicycle like the wind if  a dog  is chasing you. You can outrun them if you go fast enough. Its not worth getting bit. Do not panic like me and freak out. I panicked when a dog was chasing me the other day  and my significant other was shouting at me to calm down.

# Challenge yourself with something new everyday. My husband threw in steep hills‚ maneuvering the main road‚ and rocky valleys for a goal to strive for each day. Everyday there was one goal to conquer. He knows if he pushes it with me I will draw a line in the sand and veto it forever.

# My husband says lose your cool card and wear a helmet. The helmet I wear is ugly and I still put it on. I even get “you’re a total nerd”looks from the young college kids. However‚  I like my head and I don’t want to see it splattered on the pavement.

As I continue on my biking extravaganza‚ more than … challenges to face and overcome will come up. Coming from a girl who was scared of  everything‚ I would recommend biking even if one is afraid of the main road. There is nothing like the wind in your face and new sights to explore.

Are you into bicycling? Do you have any tips to add?