Introduction to Cycling by

GETTING STARTED CYCLING

Introduction to Cycling by

From Passion Talk on LIVINGITPresented by Divya Tate India’s first woman Super Randonneur as well as India’s first woman to ever qualify

for the 1200 km ride “Paris-Brest-Paris” in 2011. Divya Tate cycles for fitness, environmental and social causes, commuting as well as personal fulfillment. Working within a newly developing ecosystem of Cycling

as a sport in India she has seen an exponential growth of cycling in India and is happy to help others get started! She spends her time expanding her passion for long distance cycling, organizing and romoting her own Ultra cycling events like the Spice Route and Deccan Cliffhanger through her company ‘Inspire India’.

BENEFITS OF CYCLING

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Bike Shopping

Introduction to Cycling by

Equipment – The bike - Choose wisely! Consider renting to start with, many rentals also arrange group rides, which is good way to begin the activity. Buying - Huge variety, understand the topic before you go shopping. Most importantly, decide a budget and think about what kind of riding you plan to do. Find the closest store to you – LBS (Local Bike Shop) which will be important to sustain your activity!And don’t worry about the brand!

Basic Parts of a Bicycle

Introduction to Cycling by

Introduction to Cycling by

Important things to understand –Bike types

Introduction to Cycling by

Important things to understand –Left - Handle Bars, Below– Frame Suspension/Rigid

MTB

Road Bike

Introduction to Cycling by

Important things to understand –Left – Brakes, Below - Gears

Finally…. Choose by Look and Feel of your Bike!

Introduction to Cycling by

Accessories

Introduction to Cycling by

Essentials and then someEssential – Helmet, Gloves, Reflective vest and lights if you plan to ride in the twilight or night time. You can also add a bike lock, whistle to your kit. As you do more regularly, you may want to get more gear like padded shorts or tights, jerseys, sipper bottle, small seat or handle bar bag.

Tools and Spares

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The Basics- Spare tube, Bike Tool, Puncture repair kit and pump.

Maintenance - What you need to know to sustain your cycling

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It is not Rocket Science!

Introduction to Cycling by

Bike maintenance – Is about building a relationship with your bike! Basic maintenance is necessary to remain safe and to sustain your cycling. Doing a quick check saves time on the road –Check tires for foreign particles, check brakes for wear and tear, check that rims are clean. Cleaning your bike, especially in the monsoon, clean chain, oil it, clean brake pads and rims. Learn how to replace a tube, adjust brakes, seat position to begin with.

Heightened Awareness

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Essential to staying safe, fit and injury free Most people who cycle, enter a whole new level of awareness. This happens quite naturally as you engage with your surrounding and yourself in a completely new way. And this is essential to sustenance and safety.

Cycling and Brain function

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Inner Awareness

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Learn to observe and listen to your body, and learn how to address these. Satisfy your body’s basic needs like hydration and nutrition to take into account the new activity and the demands you make on it. Start stretching and strengthening once you start cycling for an hour or more. Yoga, core strengthening. Chronic pain, aches, stiffness are usually indications that something is not quite right. Investigate it, like one trouble shoots. It could be an issue with the bike fit or an indication that you need to work on something with yourself.

Outer Awareness

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Your rising awareness will be essential on the road, looking at traffic, becoming aware of all the activity on our roads and their potential to affect you. Be aware and anticipate People, vehicles, dogs, obstacles, every little thing.

Cyclists are all the more aware of the importance of traffic rules and how they are broken. For your own safety follow the rules absolutely! And that includes giving signals.

Introduction to Cycling by

Divya Tate - Cycling for 25 years! For fun,

adventure and fitness for 18 years &

as an endurance sport for 7!

Introduction to Cycling by

A glimpse at the world of Cycling -Different strokes for different folks

Introduction to Cycling by

There are a lot of different paths to choose within cycling itself. Deciding what is right for you, will depend on your other activities, interests, time constraints and convenience. And most importantly on your motive for cycling.People ride for many reasons, each personal. Leisure, enjoyment and basic fitness are the most common. Then commuting and environment reasons, and finally touring. Only a small number of cyclists pursue it as a sport.

Cycling for Adventure, Leisure

or Environment

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Leisure – Low intensity, low investment, no agenda, no specific equipment requirement.Commuting – any bike will do, depending on distance, perhaps a foldie or event the ordinary ghoda which a large no. of people use to work and for load bearing.Maintenance is important, and some planning at workplace.Touring – solo or with a group, self planned or supported by an operator. You need some training, carry loads, learn more about repairing the bike, learn about equipment, efficiency and packing!

Road Racing

Long Distance

Mountain Biking

Track Racing

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Cycling as a Sport

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Connect with the communityAcross the city, the country and internationally, cyclists form communities and are happy to assist new entrants! You will need to find support, guidance and the right equipment. You will need to seek Input of tracks, routes, events, how to train at basic level, improve performance. Depending on what specifically you choose to do, the equipment begins to get specialized and more expensive. It is a good idea to understand what is right before making purchases. Finding Support groups and events, through your local bike shop, group rides, social media like facebook and platforms like Livingit will help you make progress.

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Set a Goal and Start TrainingTraining – If you decide to participate in sports events, you will want to start training. Set a target, or a goal, personal or an event towards which you focus. Again solo or in a group, you will need to understand the basics of Hydration, Nutrition and Training. Once you have engaged with cycling as a sport, to improve and maximize your performance in your specific sport, you should consider coaching.

Introduction to Cycling by

Introduction to Cycling by

No Looking back!