2 – Road kill does not smell nearly as bad as it looks. I have no idea how it tastes.
3 – Seeing pets that have been hit it the road is sad.
4 – For every hill you get to coast down, there always seems to be an evil twin that you have to climb.
5 – Learning your gears will make climbing those hills much easier and your legs will thank you. (note – if your legs or any other body part speaks to you during a ride, pull over and call a cab because you have obviously ridden too far.)
6 – Check your bike before and after each ride for any mechanical issues.
7 – Carry a spare tube and know how to change it. Having to call home for a ride is embarrassing.
8 – Most dogs will only bark at you as you ride by their yards. As long as you don't make faces at them, they probably won't bother you.
9 – For that one mean dog you will eventually ride past, a good squirt of water from one of your bottles seems to work well and is safe for the dog.
10 – Always have plenty of water. Better to have a bottle that does not get used than to run out. This is a lesson learned the hard way. Being dehydrated is no fun.
11 – Don't ride too close to the white line on the edge of the road. Cars will try to pass without moving over and the road edge is usually the roughest part.
12 – Don't ride too close to the center line. You will get cursed at by little old ladies who are late for church services. (The has actually happened to me.)
13 – If your toes keep going to sleep then your shoes might be to tight.
14 – Always take a day or two each week to rest. The body needs to rebuild muscle after working out.
15 – Always use a rear view mirror. Not only can you see cars coming up from behind but you can usually see if they are going to wait for a good time to pass or if they are going to zoom right by.
16 – Find a good local bike shop and get to know the people who work there. Ask LOTS of questions and listen to them when they give you advice. They tend to know what they are doing.
17 – Get a bike fitting. No amount of money or cool equipment will make a bad fit into a fun ride.
18 – Find buddies to ride with. It is much more fun than riding alone.
19 – Ride in organized rides. There is usually one somewhere nearby every weekend during the summer. You'll meet new riders and the money raised goes to a good cause.
20 – Some rides are for fun and some rides are for training. If it's a training ride, then ride hard and push yourself past your comfort zone. If it is a fun ride then have fun.
21 – You will, at some time or another, swallow a bug. The smaller they are the less yucky they taste.
22 – Pretty clothes and fancy gadgets will not make you faster.
23 – Most of the drivers on the roads are polite and respectful of cyclists, but there will always be the few who pass too close, pull out in front of you, or honk their horns. Just be ready.
24 – Headwinds are like campfire smoke. Regardless of the direction you are riding in, it seems to always blow right in your face.
25 – Always wash out your water bottles after each ride. Water should not be green and chunky.
26 – If it is not a timed event then you do not need to worry about where you finish.
27 – There are miles and miles of back roads in Randolph County that are great for cycling.
28 – EVERY road in Randolph County has at least one hill on it. Some are worse than others.
29 – Use sunscreen. Unless you enjoy looking like a backwards raccoon with tan arms and non-tan hands.
30 – I still have much, much more to learn...
Life is not a race. Enjoy the ride.
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