This week we have some very good questions for us Hive cyclists. We have quite some experienced cyclists on here, so I'm expecting some input for this one...

These great questions about what's in your cycling closet (if you have one) and your preparations for (longer) rides were submitted by @nozem01.

After seeing the organized closet of @nozem01 I'm skipping mine for now.
As an amateur cyclist that has done many rides in the past years, including some 200+ kilometer ones, I think I do have some tips I can share with you all, so here goes.....

Share with us how you like to prepare for a (long) ride, do you have certain rituals or items you always take with you?

1: Planning the route

When planning a ride I often plan a route first. I'm using Komoot for this. With Komoot you can easily create a route by clicking and dragging lines. You immediately see how long your route is and see the profile of the ride. You can also specify your preferences. For instance what type of bicycle you're riding. This way you won't be sent on muddy offroad tracks with your road bicycle.
But you can also specify if you prefer a short, calm or beautiful ride.

Apart from that I often check the windfinder.com website. Living near the coast in the Netherlands it can be quite windy. I almost always try to start a route with a headwind, so I'll have a tailwind on the way back. It's not funny when you are halfway and then find out there actually is a lot of wind and you have to struggle to get back home.

2: Checking the weather forecast

Apart from checking the wind it's also smart to check the weather forecast. is there a chance you'll be getting rain? I don't have my mud guards on by default, so I have to mount them when there is a chance that it could rain. And I also wear my wind/rain jacket and sometimes my water resistant shoe covers.
And then you also have the temperature. And that is something I find quite difficult. I often go out for a ride early in the morning and around that time it can be really cold. But when you're legs are warmed up and the sun gets stronger it can get quite warm. So you don't want to dress up too warm, but also not too cold.
Some people prefer layers or wear arm/leg pieces, but I always ask myself where you put those when you take them off. I have some merino wool undershirts which are really perfect for both warm as cold conditions.
Merino wool has unique properties for temperature regulation. The wool fibers have tiny pockets of air. In cold conditions this works as insulation. In warm conditions, the same structure allows excess heat to escape.

3: Checking your bicycle

Be sure that your bicycle is in a good shape before you go for a ride. Especially when you go for a longer ride. Check your tires and give them some more air when needed. Regularly check your tires for wear and tear.
When I'm planning longer rides or before I take my bicycle on a cycling weekend of holiday, I'll bring it to the bicycle repair shop for a checkup.
Bring along some necessary gear in a saddle bag like spare inner tubes (at least 2), a pump and tire lifters.
It's also good to practice replacing your inner tube if you have never done this before. You don't want it to be your first time on the side of the road and figure out you cannot do it properly.

4: Food and drinks

Nutrients are very important. Be sure you have eaten enough before your ride. Especially for longer, heavier rides, you can start eating more calories the day before (pasta!!!). On the day of your ride, don't eat too much just before your ride since it might get in the way.
Bring enough food during your ride. Even if I go for a small ride, I always bring at least one nutrient bar with me. You'll never know when you encounter 'the man with the hammer'. It has saved me sometimes...

And bring enough water on your rides as well. It depends on the conditions, but under 'normal circumstances' you have to drink 500–750 ml an hour. If you go for longer rides, be sure you check whether you have points on the route where you can refill your bottles like public water taps, cafés or supermarkets.
I also bring some electrolyte tablets to put in my bottles when I have to refill them.
And finally, when you are like me, set a reminder to eat/drink at certain intervals. You have to eat before you get hungry and drink every 20-30 minutes. I tend to forget this when I'm riding, so I'm very happy that my Garmin Navigation has an option to give me a reminder to drink and eat at intervals of 30 minutes and 1 hour.

5: Very long rides

There's rides and rides. For longer rides you need to have some extra preparations. But what is considered a longer ride? That depends on the person and also the type of bicycle you're riding.
To prepare for a real long ride (let's say 100+ kilometer) I would advise you to train, train, train! Start training months before your long ride and increase the distance slowly towards the date. You'll get a better fitness and will get used to being on a saddle for a couple of hours. And that is, no matter what saddle you have, not comfortable 😂
Wear good quality bib shorts! You won't regret that when going for a long ride. It can make your ride just a bit less uncomfortable.
Another thing to keep in mind is that riding and under warm conditions can cause you to sweat. The combination of sweat, fabric, skin and movement could cause problems, especially in the groin area. Your skin can get rough by the constant movement of your legs. A simple solution is to applying special chamois cream, but ordinary vaseline also works fine.

Conclusion

A good preparation for a ride is essential, especially when you go for longer rides. I hope these tips are helpful to you. If you have some additions, please add them in the comment section.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about my blog. Feel free to share your perspective in the comments.

Friendlymoose