Starting to Cycle - Where to begin?

Pho3nix

Pho3nix

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Hi all,

Got the green light to start some light exercise and hoping cycling might be my go-to-exercise.
Thing is I don't know where to start?

What bike, are specific shoes important and is there anything else I should know.

Alternative to this is running but that I might only take up in the new year.
Any and all advice would be appreciated.
 
Pho3nix said:
Hi all,

Got the green light to start some light exercise and hoping cycling might be my go-to-exercise.
Thing is I don't know where to start?

What bike, are specific shoes important and is there anything else I should know.

Alternative to this is running but that I might only take up in the new year.
Any and all advice would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Cycling really isn't a cheap sport. It's a 10k investment for kit + a starter bike + bike rack etc.

Running, while cheaper is worse on your knees and well I find it boring as sin.

Every considered skipping? It's a great cardio workout, can be done anywhere and the investment is minimal - you only need a cheap rope to start. There's a reason boxers do it.
 
It is expensive but you could get a second hand bike or start cheap and trade up.

You can get a 5k mountain bike that will do the job... are you more interested in road or mountain ?
 
jsheed_sa said:
Cycling really isn't a cheap sport. It's a 10k investment for kit + a starter bike + bike rack etc.

Running, while cheaper is worse on your knees and well I find it boring as sin.

Every considered skipping? It's a great cardio workout, can be done anywhere and the investment is minimal - you only need a cheap rope to start. There's a reason boxers do it.
Click to expand...

I hear you. Knees are a bit of a worry thus only possibly next year when I get the thumbs up from Physio.
Heard it wasn't cheap but 10k :erm: Just need a Bike and maybe the kit. Rack isn't needed for the moment.

Skipping.. Don't have the co-ordination for it :o
 
Nerfherder said:
It is expensive but you could get a second hand bike or start cheap and trade up.

You can get a 5k mountain bike that will do the job... are you more interested in road or mountain ?
Click to expand...

Only road conditions. Let me do a little googling..
 
What kind of cycling?

No you dont need anything specific like cleats but it does make life much easier.
 
Pho3nix said:
I hear you. Knees are a bit of a worry thus only possibly next year when I get the thumbs up from Physio.
Heard it wasn't cheap but 10k :erm: Just need a Bike and maybe the kit. Rack isn't needed for the moment.

Skipping.. Don't have the co-ordination for it :o
Click to expand...

I'm very uncordinated, but you'd be surprised what you can do with some practice.

I couldn't skip more than 10 revolutions without tangling up my feet. Now I can proceed to skip for 10+ minutes if I need to with ease. Practice, practice and practice. Great exercise none the less and I FAR prefer it to doing road work or even using the bike.
 
Pho3nix said:
Just cycling on the main roads and some cliffs near the area(all roads though).
Click to expand...

Then almost anything will do but it is much more fun when you like what you are riding so get something you like.
If your budget is small then go secondhand you really get much more value like that especially now that everyone is upgrading for the year. Dont forget a good quality helmet our roads are crazy.
 
jsheed_sa said:
I'm very uncordinated, but you'd be surprised what you can do with some practice.

I couldn't skip more than 10 revolutions without tangling up my feet. Now I can proceed to skip for 10+ minutes if I need to with ease. Practice, practice and practice. Great exercise none the less and I FAR prefer it to doing road work or even using the bike.
Click to expand...

Where could I get a decent skipping rope?
 
Beachless said:
Then almost anything will do but it is much more fun when you like what you are riding so get something you like.
If your budget is small then go secondhand you really get much more value like that especially now that everyone is upgrading for the year. Dont forget a good quality helmet our roads are crazy.
Click to expand...

Links to some decent forums where I could did second hand?
 
thehubsa.co.za/ is the biggest I think but you can search all the usual places. You will probably get better advice there too as there are more serious riders on there.
 
Make sure you cycle in and around Honeydew.. its apparently very safe.
 
Beachless said:
thehubsa.co.za/ is the biggest I think but you can search all the usual places. You will probably get better advice there too as there are more serious riders on there.
Click to expand...

+1 for thehubsa.co.za
You'll find good advice there, and there are also people who's able to understand that you're not going to take up the sport as seriously as they do (thus not suggesting top of the range gear for you).

From the sound of it you're recovering from an injury or something? A road bike will be a more bumpy ride. For someone who's not interested in racing, but merely in cycling for exercise, I'd recommend a MTB with only front suspension. It will be much cheaper than a full-suspension bike, but an easier and softer to ride than a road bike.

You can get away with normal training shoes - if you start cycling more seriously you'll probably change to something that can clip in. A helmet is critical - both common sense and required by law. No matter how ugly they look, cycling pants really makes a major difference. If the look bother you too much, wear something over it. I don't cycle without glasses, both for the sun and to keep dust, wind and bugs out of my eyes.
 
jsheed_sa said:
...
Running, while cheaper is worse on your knees and well I find it boring as sin.
...
Click to expand...

Running is only worse on you knees if you don't start slow. Very few long term and fit runners have knee problems. (Admittedly, there is a chicken-and-egg-relationship here!)

As for boring - you are doing it wrong. Go faster, or try a parkrun.
 
Last edited:
Skerminkel said:
Running is only worse on you knees if you don't start slow. Very few long term and fit runners have knee problems. (Admittedly, there is a chicken-and-egg-relationship here!)

As for boring - you are doing it wrong. Go faster, or try a parkrun.
Click to expand...

I like the parkrun's no commitment no club fees just wake up and if you feel like going you go.
 
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