Start Riding: A Beginner’s Guide to Road Cycling
If you’re new to cycling, welcome. You’re exactly who we built Hosking Bikes for.
My own journey in this sport started a long way from where it eventually took me. I didn’t grow up thinking I’d become a professional cyclist, race the world’s biggest events, or spend more than a decade navigating the high-performance bubble. What I remember most from the early days isn’t the podiums — it’s the early morning rides with my dad on the roads of Canberra, the feeling of freedom riding with friends at the weekend, the confidence I built through riding my bike, and the possibility a bike gave me.
When I retired and stepped into building Hosking Bikes, I realised something: the sport still makes it far too hard for new riders, especially women, to get started.
Intimidating shops. Confusing jargon. Bikes designed without women in mind. A culture that can feel closed unless you already “know the rules.” So we set out to build something deliberately different.
Hosking Bikes exists to open the doors wider. To make world-class road bikes accessible, comfortable, and confidence-building for the everyday rider, not just the professionals. To create a brand that represents riders who’ve historically been overlooked. And to build a community that helps more women feel like they belong in this sport.
This guide is your entry point. Whether you’re buying your first bike, getting back on after years away, or just curious, here’s a simple, honest starting place.
1. You Don’t Need to Be Fit to Start Cycling
Here’s the truth, from someone who has trained harder than is probably healthy:
You don’t start cycling because you’re fit — you get fit because you start cycling.
Your first rides can be small and simple:
- 10 minutes around the neighbourhood
- A lake loop with a friend
- A gentle spin between cafés
- A short commute
There is no minimum speed, body type, or fitness level required. The sport is for you as you are, right now.
2. Choosing Your First Bike: Keep It Simple
After years of riding at the highest level, I can tell you: bike tech is often over-complicated for no reason. For new riders, here’s what actually matters:
Fit: A bike should feel like an extension of your body, not too stretched, not too cramped, not too heavy. Fit is everything.
Comfort and Confidence: Women have historically made up a much smaller percentage of people riding bikes than men. Even in 2025, the number has stagnated around 25%. It's a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg problem, but ultimately this has meant that women have been ignored in bike design for decades. Oversized handlebars, long cranks, huge gear ratios, harsh geometry. Women have been forced onto bikes that are just too big for them which ultimately impacts their comfort, confidence and their control. That’s why we design our bikes with:
- Thoughtful geometry;
- Better handlebar width options;
- Rider-friendly positioning;
- Gear ratios that suit you;
- Saddles that make sense
This is why we created The Perfect First Bike. It’s a bike that rides like a high-performance machine, delivers a bunch of pro-level features like electronic shifting, but doesn't break the bank.
3. What You Actually Need (and What You Don’t)
The early barrier for many women is the feeling that you need all the gear before you can start. You don’t. Start with the essentials, and add things as you go:
What You Actually Need Now
- A bike that fits
- A helmet
- Padded shorts (life changing)
- Lights
- A small multitool and puncture repair kit
What You Don't Need Yet
- Clip-in cycling shoes and pedals (a flat pedal and sneakers work great!)
- A cycling computer
- The full cycling kit (jersey, gloves, fancy socks)
- Aero wheels
- Fancy upgrades
Start simple. Build as you go. You’re not joining the WorldTour — you’re starting a new habit.
4. Your First Rides: Make Them Enjoyable
A few small things will help you feel more confident:
- Choose routes you enjoy. Strava is a great tool for new riders — it can help you find maps for popular routes in your area.
- Keep your shoulders relaxed and maintain a small bend in your arms.
- Change gears often and keep spinning your legs.
