Nothing beats the feeling of being on your bike at the peak of summer. The sun on your skin. The wind in your hair. You know it all too well. But before you go rushing out to hit the streets of Southern California, we have a few tips to pass on to help keep you safe and happy in the summer sunshine. (None of them involve wearing sunscreen, but you should do that too.) It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer, these tips could help in a big way.
Enjoy Cycling Even on Rest Days
We’re starting in reverse here, but you know how it is. You’re afraid of missing the sun, so you don’t rest when you should, and you end up getting even more banged up. Try to resist that impulse. The summer months bring some of the best professional cycling events to your TV screen, allowing you to get your fix while giving your body a chance to recover.
If you’re desperate to add an element of danger to the cycling experience, apps like Betway offer the chance to place wagers on these cycling events. You can bet on the stage winners or the overall champions, it doesn’t matter. Whatever makes it more engaging, provided you always remember to gamble responsibly and to never pedal after your losses.
Beat the Heat with Strategic Timing
The heat can get brutal in SoCal during the summer, especially in the midday hours. Anyone who has lived in the area for at least one summer knows this and should plan their rides around that time slot. We recommend riding in the early morning or the late afternoon, when there’s still plenty of daylight and the sun is making its slow descent. And remember, planning around that forbidden slot doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you get up early enough, you could even catch the sunrise. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Stay Hydrated and Fueled
It sounds obvious, and it is. However, so many cyclists don’t keep themselves hydrated on their long rides. We get that the excitement of the cycle can cause you to forget, but this is your health we’re talking about. If you’re going to cycle much, it’s worth investing in the right gear going forward. That means a high-quality water bottle or a hydration pack. Take note of the spots on your route where you refill your water bottle too. And pack food. It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Explore New Routes and Challenges
Let’s put down the safety queen sceptre for two minutes and get excited about the cycling itself. SoCal has so much to offer cyclists, and unless you’ve made it your business to do this, we doubt you’ve conquered every great cycling route there. Take the Santa Monica Mountains, for example. They are hard to cycle, gruelling even, but the views at the top make it all worth it. Or the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. That’s 22 miles of beautiful cycling entirely along the coastline. It doesn’t get better than that.
Prioritize Safety and Maintenance
Now, where did we put our sceptre? Seriously, though, your bike needs to be maintained if you want it to run properly and safely. Given that you’re planning on cycling it a lot this summer, it’s a good idea to take it for a thorough check-up. Test out your brakes to make sure they’re in good condition. Are your tires properly inflated? Is your chain well-lubricated? Yes, we know that question sounds a little forward, but safety, folks. Safety. Prioritise it, and then enjoy that glorious SoCal bike ride.
