Starting out with outdoor cycling. How do i begin?

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Comment by sankalp mandvikar on February 16, 2010 at 11:13am

hi
do you want some bike?.....i have a gud collection within your range....
do contact 9967443306 for bike info.agency name is Sh0ck-In pvt ltd bye. take care.

Comment by Gautam Deshmukh on February 3, 2010 at 9:08pm

http://www.cyclists.in/photo/bicyclepartslabeled1-1?context=latest

1st list out the parts as mentioned in this picture & then decide what you want out of it ...the choices available .....cost ...& most important is why do you prefer it to another type available ....put these parts on a excel sheet & make your check list

Comment by Gautam Deshmukh on February 3, 2010 at 8:54pm

There are many posts related to selecting a cycle , pl refer to them & read all that you can , before taking a decision to buy a cycle .....Warning ....never buy when you are most exicted about it :)))) .

Buying a cycle is like a small project ...so make your own chart & start with it ....will send you some info soon ...dont hurry ...take as many trial rides U can ...small things matter in a long way ..so be patient & work on your individual requirements .

Comment by Ashwini Bansod on February 3, 2010 at 8:38pm

Great Divya. Those Suggestions are neat. Thanks.

Comment by Divya Tate on February 3, 2010 at 7:57pm

hi ashwini
my suggestion is that you start small, with respect to everything.... budget, distance etc.... baby steps is the way to go!
shopping.... i do not advise imported bikes to beginners, they are expensive, if efficient, but need a lot more time on maintenance, and just adds to newbie stress, indian bikes can be handed over to the street corner cyclewala for repair and maintenance! also if you don't continue, then it is a lot less money down the drain! if you take to the activity there is a lot of room of upgrading! if it is possible i suggest borrowing someones bike and giving the whole thing a shot before investing.
look at a bike with a straight handle bar, at least 6 gears, and most importantly... make sure you do not buy a bike with rear shockers/suspension!! ladies cycle or not is a personal choice. hero has aluminium bikes for about 6500/- plenty of other options from hercules also!

starting out.... plan on a short ride to start, do as much as you can but stop before failure. keep a note of how many kms or how long you could ride comfortably. start with alternate days on the first week, and once a week push the previous limit by 10-20 percent depending on how much you can do. carry water! cycling is easy... with persistence you can go from 5 to 50 kms in a couple of months

safety issues..... before getting out into traffic make sure you can look over your shoulder, and give indications of turning left or right, with both hands, wear a helmet, obey the rules, be aware of traffic, give clear indications.