Seven basic skills every cyclist should have (and what's new)
So you’ve got a new bike—or you’re about to. That’s the perfect time to revisit the timeless basics that make cycling safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.
But there’s another layer most riders don’t think about.
There are a handful of essential cycling skills that make riding easier. And then there’s how easy cycling is to fit into your daily life. That’s the thinking behind convenient cycling.
Many people don’t stop riding because they lack skill. They stop because small inconveniences start stacking up. Storage becomes awkward. Transport takes effort. Getting ready feels like a process.
When cycling feels complicated, you do it less.
When it feels simple, you do it more.
And that consistency is what leads to the long-term health benefits of cycling.
Key Takeaways
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Essential cycling skills make riding safer, smoother, and more predictable
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Small maintenance and handling skills prevent disruptions and keep rides consistent
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Many common skills exist because bikes can be awkward to store and transport
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Width—especially from handlebars and pedals—is a hidden source of everyday difficulty
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Reducing friction makes it easier to ride more often and stay consistent
Did you know? Many everyday bike challenges come from width, not overall size.
1. How to Ride Safely Around Traffic (Car or Pedestrian)
I recently got an email from someone who said drivers pay more attention when he rides against traffic.
Of course they do. You’re riding straight at them.
Riding safely around traffic doesn’t mean forcing drivers to react to you. It means putting yourself in predictable, safer situations from the start.
That begins with route choice.
Even if the fastest way through town is a busy road, ask yourself: is it the safest? Are there quieter streets, bike lanes, or alternative routes that reduce exposure to fast-moving traffic?
And when you are on the road, follow traffic rules just like a car would—except in places where cyclists are treated as pedestrians.
One important note about sidewalks and trails: once you’re away from cars, you become the risk.
When passing pedestrians, slow down. A quick “on your left” isn’t always heard the way you expect—and surprises are where accidents happen.
What’s new: “Greenways” are quieter residential streets designated for safer cycling. They often exist without major infrastructure—just awareness and better route planning.
2. How to Lock Up Your Bike
Bike theft is often about opportunity.
The easiest bike to steal is the one that isn’t locked at all. Even a “just for a minute” stop can look like a free bike to someone passing by.
At a minimum, use a cable lock through both wheels. It won’t stop determined theft, but it removes the easiest opportunity.
Stronger locks increase protection, but habits matter just as much.
If you have removable accessories like lights or a bike computer, take them with you. Those are quick wins for opportunistic theft.
Where you store your bike also matters.
If it’s easy to bring inside, you reduce both theft risk and daily friction. If it’s difficult, you’re more likely to leave it outside and use it less often. Learn more about how to store a bike in a small space.
What’s new: Bikes that are easier to flatten and bring indoors make theft prevention simpler, because riders are more likely to store them inside instead of leaving them outside.
3. How to Pump Up Your Tires
This is one of the simplest habits—and one of the most overlooked.
Proper tire pressure:
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makes pedaling easier
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improves efficiency
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reduces the risk of flats
Low pressure increases the chance of “pinch flats,” where the tube gets caught between the rim and the road.
A quick pressure check before riding can prevent that entirely.
A floor pump with a gauge makes this fast and consistent.
When your tires are properly inflated, everything feels smoother—and that alone can make riding more enjoyable.
What’s new: Most bikes now use either Schrader valves (like car tires) or Presta valves. Presta valves require unscrewing the tip before inflating.
4. How to Remove and Reinstall Your Wheel
This skill is essential for fixing a flat—but it’s also commonly used for transport or storage.
There are a few different axle systems:
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threaded axles
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quick-release
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thru-axles
Each works a bit differently, so it’s worth knowing what your bike uses.
But it’s also worth stepping back for a second.
Why do people remove wheels so often?
Usually, it’s not because they want to—it’s because the bike doesn’t fit otherwise.
Removing a wheel works, but it adds time and repetition to every ride.
There’s another way to approach the same problem.
Instead of repeatedly disassembling the bike, you can reduce the parts that make it difficult to fit in the first place.
Flatbike Pop-Off Pedals remove one of the widest points on the bike in seconds, with one-handed removal and a redundant latching mechanism that keeps them secure during riding.
Flatbike THINstem allows handlebars to rotate and align with the frame, reducing overall width without affecting how the bike rides.
That means less disassembly, less setup, and a smoother process every time you ride.
What’s new: With disc brakes, proper rotor alignment is now part of reinstalling a wheel.
5. When and How to Shift
Shifting is what makes cycling feel efficient instead of exhausting.
Lower gears make climbing easier by increasing torque. Higher gears help maintain speed without excessive pedaling.
The goal is simple: keep a steady, comfortable cadence.
Once you get the feel for it, shifting becomes automatic. You start anticipating terrain instead of reacting to it.
That’s when riding starts to feel smooth and controlled instead of effortful.
What’s new: Modern bikes use indexed shifting and often combine brake and shift controls into one system.
6. How to Tighten Your Brakes
Stopping matters just as much as going.
Brake cables can stretch over time, which reduces braking performance.
If your brakes feel loose, small adjustments to the barrel adjuster can restore proper tension.
A slight turn can make a noticeable difference.
Reliable braking improves confidence. When your bike responds exactly how you expect, everything feels safer and more controlled.
What’s new: Many bikes now use hydraulic brakes, which offer stronger performance but require a different maintenance approach.
7. How to Fix Your Shifting
When shifting isn’t working properly, it’s usually one of two things:
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cable tension
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limit screw adjustment
Understanding the basics of both lets you make small fixes instead of dealing with ongoing frustration.
Shifting problems can feel complicated—but most are minor adjustments.
And when your bike shifts smoothly again, the difference is immediate.
It’s Not All Maintenance…
This might seem like a long list—but in practice, you’ll use only a few of these regularly.
Many of these skills exist because bikes can be awkward to manage off the road. Removing wheels, adjusting components, and carefully maneuvering the bike are often workarounds for space and handling limitations.
When a bike takes up less space and is easier to handle, many of these tasks become simpler or less frequent. You spend less time adjusting and more time riding.
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Pump your tires
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Ride safely
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Shift efficiently
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Lock your bike when needed
Everything else comes up occasionally.
The bigger picture is this:
When your bike is easier to store, move, and manage, it becomes easier to ride.
And when it’s easier to ride, you ride more often.
Final Thoughts
These essential cycling skills make riding safer, smoother, and more enjoyable.
But there’s another layer that matters just as much.
When cycling fits easily into your daily life, it becomes something you do consistently—not something you have to plan around.
Reduce the friction, and the habit follows.
And once the habit sticks, everything else gets easier.
Bob Forgrave is president of Flatbike, an
ecommerce company offering full-size folding bikes
and kits to make any bike take up half the space.
425-985-6219