Beginner's Guide to Cycling

Video Transcript

KEVIN LIVINGSTON: Hi, my name is Kevin Livingston. I'm a former professional cyclist. I raced professionally for eight years. I've participated and completed six times the Tour de France. Now my focus is on training and coaching through my company Pedal Hard Training Services. We're here at Mellow Johnny's in Austin, Texas, and we're going to talk about getting started in cycling. One tip would be to get out and get into your local bike shop to get some professional help in getting you started. They can help you with finding the proper bike, the proper bike fit, and then on to the proper equipment. This doesn't mean you have to go to the very upper end. Let them know your goals, what your ambitions or what you want to do in cycling and they'll help you get set up properly. The next step would be talking to them, asking if there are any group events or any clubs you could join. This way you can get out, get with some more experienced people. This will help you with developing the proper habits because these are habits that you'll continue to develop and keep with you as you continue to cycle. Let's touch on cycling for fitness as well. Cycling is a great sport for fitness. Great cardiovascular benefits with strengthening your heart, your lungs, burning calories, keeping your weight in check, maybe even losing a little weight, and then your muscular development of your legs. But cycling isn't only legs. You can engage the upper body when you do some standing and some core also through standing. So cycling can be a little bit more full body than just thinking about using your legs. Cycling can be above all, it has to be for fun or else you're not going to want to do it. But it's great. It can be for fitness and then on to the other levels of competition or even just competing against yourself picking some more challenging rides or events to participate in. Again, get out to a shop, seek out some professionals to help you. We all start from the beginning. I started from the beginning from when I was 11-12 years old when I got my first bike for really sport or let's say or for fitness and get out there and get active.