How to make the most of your road bike

When you’ve chosen your road bike and added your accessories, the next step is to scott road bikes review actually use it all. That much is obvious, but what’s not quite so clear is exactly how.

Sure, kitting up and getting out for a ride is the easy bit, but where do you go? What if you want to ride with other people, and what if you get a competitive urge? This next section will help you transition through this early phase of confusion and take your cycling journey exactly where you want to.

One of the first things we recommend for new cyclists is to join a local cycling club. That’s not to say you should join the first one you see, as in cities and towns especially there will likely be more than one nearby. Some will be more focused on long-distance riding and racing, others on developing youth involvement, while others exist to promote diversity and inclusivity. Use Google and social media to search out clubs in your area, find one that matches you as a person and reach out. One thing that’s true of all cycling clubs is that they are happy to welcome new members.

Conversations with clubmates are a great way to learn. They will often be home to experts on local routes, events to join, coffee shops in the area and any kit recommendations you might need.

For many, making the route is as much fun as riding it, and with the help of apps such as Strava, Komoot, OS Maps and a bit of Google Street View, you can piece together routes as near or far from home as you wish.

For many, there’s no better motivator than an upcoming event to prepare for, and there are so many options in this regard. The best way to find and enter upcoming events depends on the type of event in question.

Sportives/Fondos: If you want to challenge yourself over long distances, then a sportive (also known as a fondo) could be perfect for you. These usually come with a choice of routes of varying distance, and some are predominantly on road, while others are geared more towards gravel riding. They are usually promoted online via their own dedicated websites or via event-ticketing websites, and there are no barriers to entry besides the entry fee. However, they can be quick to sell out so if you’ve got your eye on one, act fast to get your entry in.

Time trials: If you want to compare yourself to yourself as well as others, then time trials are a great option for frequent attempts at chasing personal bests. Time trials are usually run by local clubs, and details of which are often promoted on the club’s own website and social media pages. Entry is usually cheap and paid on the start line, but they might be exclusive to members of the club in question, so it’s worth asking in advance.

Races: If you have a competitive streak, you might want to get stuck into criterium and road racing. In almost all countries, races of this sort will require the rider to have obtained a racing license from the sport’s national governing body, such as British Cycling or USA Cycling. It is also via these governing bodies’ websites that you’ll find and enter the races.