It's sometimes unfortunate, but experienced cyclists are often pretty tough on newcomers. It may be intentional because of the risks that an unskilled bike handler creates for everyone, but more often it happens because we forget how much a novice cyclist doesn't know. If you think about it, riding a bike isn't all that easy. There is a lot to learn for a newcomer to the sport.

I know when I started racing I had the experience of my husband talking me through it before hand. But because he was not in the grade I was racing in it didn't help me much until after about the first season of racing. After some racing experience I could then discuss my racing encounters with him.

What also helped me was the people I was racing against. I was in the lowest grade that club had and most of the guys I was racing with had been at the top of the sport in their younger days. This is one of the benefits of racing with the Australian Vets clubs. They gave me advice and encouraged me. I am not in the same grade as these guys now but every time I see them at a race we still say g'day and they still encourage me.

Here is some advise for anyone when riding with a newcomer. If you're a beginning rider, these tips can also help you have a more positive experience as you learn the sport, by helping you asking the appropriate questions.

  • Tell the rider if they are in the wrong gear.
  • Avoid the use of cycling jargon or explain what it means, like 'rolling a Turn' or 'upshift one cog'. A new rider may not understand and may be too embarrassed to ask.
  • Let the rider know how often you train and how long it takes to get on top of cycling (normally about 3yrs).
  • Let the person evolve. If they are interested only in casual cycling, let them be. If interested in fast recreational riding or racing, encourage them - but explain the dangers of trying to advance too fast before developing a foundation of skills and fitness.
  • Be polite. Even if made in jest, negative actions or comments can have a long-lasting impact.

Helping new riders get started in a way that ensures they'll have a great time and they will come back for more.

A portion of this material was adapted from "The Crucial First Ride": www.roadbikerider.com