Top Cycling Rules Part 1: #1-10 (bicycling.com)

The 50 Golden Rules of Cycling

 (bicycling.com)

1. To corner, enter wide and exit wide.

2. Brake Less
 It sounds counter-intuitive, but the harder you yank on the brakes, the less control you have over your bike. The best riders brake well before a corner. Plus, laying off the stoppers force you to focus on key bike cornering skills such as weight distribution, body position, and line choice.

3. Look Where you Want to Go
"When riding a tricky or dangerous section of trail (or road), focus on the path you want your bike to follow, not the rock, tree, or other obstacle you're trying to avoid," says globe-trotting mountain biker Hans Rey.

4. Avoid Helmet Hair
"For God's sake, make sure your hair is under your helmet and not poking out the front," advises Garmin-Cervelo pro Christian Vande Velde

5. Take the Lane
You have a right to the road, so use it! It's safer than riding on the shoulder which is often cracked, covered in gravel, or worse. But don't be a road hog either.

6. Ride with the Best 
Before he built his first mountain bike, GARY FISHER was an aspiring road racer. But his decision to stay in America rather than train in Europe derailed his chances of joining the pro peloton. "To be the best at the sport, you need to go where the best are riding," Fisher says. "If you're a mountain biker, spend a couple weeks at Whistler and you will be changed forever. If you're a road rider and want to be a better climber, go to Colorado. Find the best, train with them, watch what they do, and learn their secrets.

7. Set your Suspension — And Check It Often
It's frightening how many riders hit the trail with poorly adjusted forks and shocks. Not only will droopy suspension make your bike feel like a wet noodle, it can also be downright dangerous. A few simple adjustments are all it takes to have your suspension smoothly sucking up bumps. Check online or in your owners manual to get specific instructions on how to set your suspension.

8. Clean Your Shoes Monthly. Also, Wash Your Gloves

9. Warm Up
A slow start primes your engine by directing oxygen from your blood cells to your muscles. Spin easy for 20 to 30 minutes before you begin to hammer.

10. Always Carry Cash
Money can't buy love, but it can buy food, water, a phone call, or a spare tube.


Watch out for the rest of the tips in this five part series - every Tuesday right here on our blog.

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