7 bits of advice new cyclists should ignore - for now

The cycling community can be a wonderful and welcoming place and a great resource when you are new to the sport. More seasoned riders will happily share top tips and advice on how to get the most out of yourself, your bike, and the sport.

But there are some pieces of advice you'll receive that, whilst not necessarily wrong, are just not relevant for new cyclists.

People can talk for days about training, nutrition and equipment, but a lot of it simply isn't relevant at the start of your cycling journey. Here are seven bits of advice that we think you don’t need to worry about if you are finding your feet in the cycling world.

Ignore: 'You need a training plan'

Having a specific training methodology is essential for people who want to win races. A training plan is designed to eke every last bit of performance from a rider, and they're usually planned around specific events or races in the year. We are certainly not saying that training or training methodology isn’t worthwhile, however it is a leap too far for a brand new rider.

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When starting out the only training you need to worry about is riding your bike, specific training can come later

If you have just found the sport of cycling, you are going to see leaps in your fitness simply by going out and riding your bike. The more you do this the more adapted your muscles and cardiovascular system will become to the demands of cycling.

• Read more: How to make your own training plan

The main aim when you start is to enjoy riding and with this, you will find yourself riding further or faster naturally. When you feel like you have reached a bit of a plateau then you can start to look at specific training to take you to the next level.

Ignore: 'Tyre choice is really important'

Experienced riders are very particular about which tyres they use. As a new rider, you really shouldn't worry about it. Just find a tyre that is durable, grippy, and offers a good level of puncture resistance. Beyond this, any tyre will be fine. The likelihood is that you won’t be pushing the limits of your tyres to start with and the gains you make in fitness will far exceed any benefit that a different tyre could provide.

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Finding the right tyre for you as a beginner should be based more on grip and puncture resistance than speed

• Read more: Are you using the wrong tyres? Comparing summer, winter, and all-season rubber

Ignore: 'Expensive cycling clothing makes a big difference'

Compared to regular clothes or sportswear, cycling kit will make a noticeable difference to your comfort and enjoyment of a ride. Shorts and jerseys are cut for the demands and body position of riding a bike, and perhaps most importantly, cycling-specific shorts have padding to prevent any chafing and make your saddle way more comfortable.

Even so, a lot of riders will say you need to 'invest' in cycling kit. In fact, we've said just that in the past. But that can be prohibitive. Any cycling kit is better than no cycling kit, and if you're just getting into the sport, it can feel like a commitment to spend a lot of money on lycra.

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Cycling-specific clothing will make riding more comfortable but their is no need to splash out on top spec kit

Generally speaking, new cyclists tend to go for rides of about two hours or less, and for that kind of time period, budget cycling kit will perform similarly to premium kit. This is especially true in the past few years, because budget kit has started to borrow many of the fabrics and technologies from higher end kit.

• Read more: The true cost of cycling: What gear should you buy to get started?

Ignore: 'Top spec components perform better'

There are plenty of reasons why top-spec components are better than lower-tier ones, especially when it comes to groupsets. Not only will you get more gears in some cases, but they will also shift smother, weigh less and feel stiffer.

• Read more: The bike you want versus the bike you need

These advantages are only noticeable for an experienced rider. If you head straight to the top spec gear when you are getting started you have nowhere to upgrade to as you develop and progress as a rider. We recommend leaving premium gear until you feel like you can really appreciate what it gives you as you get a feel for the subtleties of riding.

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When you are new to riding top tier components are not worth the investment, wait until you can really appreciate the benefits further in to your riding career

When you are starting, the main thing that you want to make sure you have are functional components that allow you to ride on the terrain you want to ride. This might mean using a wider ratio cassette or smaller chainrings whilst you get started on your cycling journey.

Ignore: 'Sports nutrition is essential'

We have taken a deeper look at specific sports nutrition in a separate article and the benefits are certainly there for the taking. Once again though, as a new rider, you don't need to get caught up in the world of sports nutrition.

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On regular rides there is no need to use specific nutrition products above regular food

Taking some gels or energy bars out on a ride can be an easy and convenient way to take fuel with you on a ride, however so too are sandwiches and other regular snacks. For normal riding out on the roads, real food will do just as good of a job at keeping you fuelled as bespoke sports nutrition, and it'll cost a lot less.

Save the sports nutrition for events, races, or super hard training sessions whenever you progress to doing them. By doing this not only will you get more of a benefit but also save yourself a small fortune in specific nutritional products.

Ignore: 'Clipless pedals are more efficient'

There is one upgrade to your bike that can feel like the ultimate rite of passage to be able to call yourself a true cyclist: clipless pedals. These pedals allow you to attach yourself to the bike with specially fitted cleats that screw into the sole of a cycling-specific shoe. Any cyclist will tell you they allow for more control, better power delivery and improved pedalling dynamics.

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The idea of mechanically fixing yourself in to the bike is an extra level of complication that isn't necessary when starting out

Although it might seem like this is something you need to get right away to look and feel like a cyclist, there is no need to rush to get clipless pedals and cycling-specific shoes. In fact, in every test we've done, we've found that clipless pedals are no faster than flat pedals, provided you use a stiff shoe.

If you want to move to clipless pedals, wait until you feel comfortable on the bike and confident with your handling skills. Jumping onto clipless pedals too soon can take away from that confidence and control.

Ignore: 'Drafting saves energy'

Drafting is brilliant. By hiding from the wind behind another rider, cyclists can ride much faster in groups than they can alone. In fact, sitting as close as you can to the rider in front can reduce the amount of energy it takes to ride by an incredible 30%.

However, drafting is a skill that needs to be learnt and refined over time. It can be daunting to ride in close proximity to other riders and the potential to cause a crash is high.

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Drafting in a group will save you lots of energy but only when it feels comfortable and not scary. Build up to sitting on the wheel of the rider in front gradually

When you first begin riding in a group, allow about a bike length or so between your front wheel and the rear wheel of the rider in front. At this distance, you'll still get some aerodynamic benefit, but if they brake, slow down or swerve around an obstacle, you'll have time to react. Over time, as your confidence in your own skill and trust in the group grows, you can start to close in that gap and get an even bigger aerodynamic saving.

As a new rider cycling can seem like a daunting sport to get involved in. To help out, we have a huge library of how-to articles that aim to help you develop your cycling skills that will have you riding in a more controlled and confident way. If you are in any doubt of anything more specific, we also have the GCN Tech Clinic where you can submit your questions for the team to take a look at.

Don't forget to check out our how-to pages and buying advice section for all the information you need whilst getting started as a cyclist.