| 1.Not choosing a budget and sticking to it. | | | | restrict your breathing due to your hands and arms |
| Some people make the basic mistake of spending | | | | are closer together. If they are too wide then your |
| too much for their bike then not having enough to | | | | control over the bike will be poor. Please look at the |
| buy the basic accessories associated with most | | | | websites in section 2 to achieve your perfect riding |
| bikes. | | | | position. |
| Think about the extra items you will need to buy, | | | | To ride a racing bike uphill you will need to be out of |
| puncture repair kits, basic tools, clothing, shoes and | | | | the saddle, your weight on the pedals and hands |
| gloves also a good quality pump. Allow these into | | | | pulling hard on the bars. It is therefore critical that |
| your budget. Expect to pay from £250.00 to | | | | your handlebars are the correct width or this will |
| £8,000.00 for a road racing bike. | | | | cause unstable control, inability to pull hard on the |
| 2.choosing a bike because you like the colour and | | | | bars and so causing poor position and lack of |
| your friend has one so you want the same. Just | | | | confidence on the bike. |
| because the colour of the frame may match the | | | | This can be easily resolved by ensuring your bar |
| colour of your favourite cycling team doesn't mean | | | | width are roughly the same width from shoulder to |
| you'll be able to ride like a pro. The bike may well | | | | shoulder, If this is not clear just take a look at the |
| have been poorly manufactured parts or could be | | | | websites above on the correct position on the bike. |
| assembled using just a set of pliers. | | | | 6.not asking for discounts on accessories such as |
| The sales and marketing for all bike manufacturers | | | | pumps, puncture repair kits, clothes, helmets, gloves. |
| is to make the bike appealing to the eye and to fulfill | | | | Most bicycle suppliers want to keep you as a |
| a dream of being able to ride as fast as their heroes | | | | customer for as long as possible. They realise that |
| in the Tour de France. | | | | you will need accessories, clothing and shoes, so, |
| Avoid this mistake by choosing a racing bike that has | | | | always be a little cheeky and ask for discounts or |
| a good mix of quality components and a smart paint | | | | even free items. |
| job that is pleasing to your eye. | | | | 7.Not setting up a regular maintenance regime for |
| Here are a few pointers in choice of frame: | | | | your bike. |
| Just be very aware of the material of the frame | | | | |
| which normally has a sticker on the frame between | | | | Either do this with your dealer or on a regular basis |
| the pedals. This sticker will state the steel type, | | | | yourself. |
| carbon, aluminium or titanium. | | | | Depending on how often you ride your bike, |
| With some manufacturers they offer a lifetime | | | | maintenance is a crucial part of keeping your bike |
| warranty on the paintwork, so, if you have a few | | | | from breaking down whilst out on a ride. You don't |
| stone chips then take it in to the dealer where you | | | | want to be stuck out in the middle of know where |
| bought the bike and get it resprayed or they will | | | | with your bike because you didn't spot your chain |
| exchange the frame. | | | | was worn out and was due to snap. Or traveling at |
| | | | | 40 miles per hour and realising your brake blocks |
| Its possible to choose an “off the peg” | | | | needed to be changed. |
| frame which is already painted to the manufacturers | | | | Even if you start racing you may not be able to start |
| colours, or, you have a custom paint job. Take a look | | | | the race if your bike is seen to be unclean, not |
| at posh bikes .com they have a fantastic range of | | | | maintained and could cause an accident to yourself |
| limited edition paint applications for both racing and | | | | and other fellow competitors. |
| mountain bike frames. This company also airbrush an | | | | Getting into good habit of cleaning your bike after |
| image of a ghostly face on the frame that is not | | | | each ride not only reflects on you as a responsible |
| reproduced on any other frame. | | | | and safe cyclist but also you can spot potential worn |
| Carefully think about what you are using your bike | | | | parts such as brake bocks, tyres and lose cables etc. |
| for. Just because your mate has a great looking bike | | | | Don't leave your bike to rust after a ride, if you have |
| and you want one the same doesn't mean that it will | | | | ridden in the wet then spray all the moving parts like |
| be suitable for you. | | | | the chain, brakes, gears and exposed cables with a |
| 3.wrong choice of size of frame | | | | good lubricant like GT88 or WD40. Leave for a few |
| Probably the most important aspect of choosing a | | | | hours then wash off with warm soapy water. Its |
| racing bike is the correct frame size. This can have | | | | easier to do this than trying to wash off rust or mud |
| physiological effects both in the short and long term | | | | and road dirt from your bike. Apply a litle car polish to |
| if you have a bike that does not fit you. Please keep | | | | the frame and buff to a shine, this will protect the |
| in mind that when buying a bike for a child that have | | | | frame and make washing off the mud and road dirt. |
| a few more years growth and development. This | | | | Also think about your future use of the bike, you |
| means they will outgrow their bike within a matter of | | | | may want to sell it, part exchange for a new model |
| 6 to 12 months. | | | | or keep it as a second training bike. |
| It may well be worth considering buying a racing bike | | | | If you are unsure of how to clean and maintain your |
| that is a few sizes too big for them, or, just buy a | | | | bike then just ask your local bike shop or the dealer |
| secondhand racing bike from Ebay or Cycling Weekly | | | | that sold your bike to you. You can even set up an |
| magazine. A good quality secondhand race bike will | | | | annual maintenance package. |
| cost around £250.00. | | | | An excellent source of bike maintenance is the |
| To get the correct size either visit your local bike | | | | internet. Who knows there maybe a “How To |
| dealer or look at the websites below for extensive | | | | Clean & Maintain Your Racing Bike” DVD? |
| advice. | | | | 8.One overlooked mistake most people make is to |
| Bike sizing can be a complex procedure with many | | | | not insure their bike for damage and theft. |
| different variables taken into consideration. For this | | | | It doesn't matter if you just use your bike on the |
| reason please view the following websites to obtain | | | | odd sunny day or you train everyday and race on |
| the best information on the correct size frame for | | | | the weekend. To insure your bike is not expensive, |
| you. I would not give any advise to what frame | | | | you could have it as part of your contents insurance |
| would fit your particular height, body size, ability. | | | | at home or take out a separate insurance. If you |
| There are now women specific frames meaning that | | | | store your bike in the garden shed or your garage |
| the geometry of the frame best suited for women | | | | make sure you secure it well. For advice on this issue |
| cyclists. | | | | contact your local crime prevention department. |
| Above all your cycling experience must be enjoyable | | | | 9.Not getting a price comparisons between different |
| and comfortable so the choice of frame size should | | | | bikes. |
| be a cautious one. | | | | Browse the internet and print off price comparisons |
| 4.not knowing the use of your racing bike, are you | | | | and ask for a price match with your local bike dealer. |
| going to be a club rider, racing or time trialling. | | | | They will more than likely want to keep you as a |
| You have chosen to ride a racing bike. At what level | | | | local client, realising the need for every cyclist to |
| do you want to ride? If its to join a local cycling club | | | | constantly buy “bits for their bike or even buy a |
| and to ride the odd Sunday as a group which can be | | | | second racing bike. |
| very sociable as well as improving your fitness | | | | 10.Not taking a specialised approach with your new |
| dramatically. for this purpose an ideal racing bike | | | | sport. |
| would cost between £350.00 to £500.00 which is | | | | Why not build your own bike? Buy the exact frame |
| at he lower end of of the race bikes. The frame will | | | | you want and the other parts. Don't make the major |
| be made from steel and the weight of the bike will | | | | mistake of attempting for the first time to assemble |
| be about 22 pounds. Riding in a club will also provide | | | | the bike yourself. Ask your local bike shop to do this |
| you with alot of knowledge and advise from other | | | | for you, it will cost between £50 and £100, but, |
| club mates. | | | | its well worth the money to get it right first time. |
| You may want to progress to road racing? The need | | | | 11.Not getting the right choice of wheels and tires to |
| for a lighter and more responsive frame is advisable. | | | | be able to road race at a reasonable standard it will |
| Also the moving parts on the bike need to be lighter, | | | | be a good idea to invest in a good set of wheels. |
| work more efficiently and unfortunately are more | | | | Ideally carbon rims and with tubular tires, these are |
| expensive. The weight of a good quality racing bike | | | | tires and inner tubes all in one tube. They are glued |
| will be 15 to 18 pounds. In road racing you get to ride | | | | to the wheel rim with a special adhesive. These tires |
| at speeds up to 30 miles per hour on the flat, 25 on | | | | can be inflated to 200 ponds per square inch. |
| the uphills and 50 miles per hour on descents. | | | | This combination of wheel and tubular set up is |
| If you want to start time trialling. These are raced | | | | expensive. A more cost effective solution is to use |
| alone against the clock over 10,25,50,100 mile | | | | the wheels that have been supplied with your new |
| distances ten for there are 12 hour and 24 hour | | | | racing bike and invest in the best set of racing tires |
| events where you ride as far as you can over those | | | | you can afford. |
| periods of time. You can ride these on a racing bike | | | | The difference between the tires can be significant, |
| or more specialized time trial bikes are available. | | | | from the side walls of the tire being too soft for |
| Take some advice from the British Cycling website or | | | | your weight or not providing a better rolling |
| just ask your local cycling club if they hold any time | | | | resistance. Think about a puncture resistant tape |
| trial events | | | | fitted between the inner tube and tire. Tire pressure |
| Whatever your dreams are of cycling you should just | | | | will have to be checked each time before you go out |
| enjoy and be safe. | | | | on your bike. This will give you the benefit of not |
| 5.Incorrect choice of handlebar width. | | | | only a comfortable ride but also to get the full life |
| Mostly overlooked by first time purchasers of racing | | | | from your tire. Its easy to check the recommended |
| bikes, the width of the handlebars determine the | | | | tire pressure, just look on the side walls, it will state |
| way you breath and also climb on your bike. | | | | the tire size and then the maximum pressure to be |
| If your bars are too narrow for you then you will | | | | inflated. |