Getting in gear with basic bike riding tips 

 Tip # 1 - Make sure you have a bike that fits.
"If you have a bike that fits you correctly, as in seat height and bar width, you'll enjoy your bike so much more and you'll want to be on it more. Bike fit is the most important."

Tip # 2 - The right seat.
"For women in particular it's always a battle to find a really good road saddle. I use the terry butterfly saddle right now. It's good for me because I only do 90-minute rides right now because we're in the season. If I were doing more intense stuff, I would use a stiffer saddle, because the gel tends to create friction over two hours, so you don't want that. That's defeating your purpose. The terry butterfly, for right now, is what I completely endorse."

Tip # 3 - Bike paths.
"Make sure you have a good place to ride it too. If you have to find a park … for some people it's really hard … if you live in New York, you can't just take it out on the road because you might as well be a delivery person. I always find a nice park. Look for that spot to ride, because you'll be able to enjoy it that much more.

Tip # 4 - First race ever.
"I'd say bring somebody experienced with you or make friends with someone experienced there to help you take you through it. If you see a big name that you recognized in the results before, maybe not huge, but someone who has been consistently in the results, go up and introduce yourself. In the cycling community we realize that we're a family.

Tip # 5 - Have fun.
"The basic thing is relax and have fun and that's still what it's about today. I was a little rushed for warm-up. We have a lot of people and it's hot and that tends to make people cranky and anxious. And I got out on the track and I went, 'I'm on my bike.' What more could I ask for? This is what I love. I'm out in the outdoors, beautiful country … yeah, relax and enjoy it."