I learned a lot of things while racing bikes, but I’ll narrow it down to my top ten. And yes, most of these lessons were learned the hard way.

1. Always check your tires before a race. I once had a tire blowout mid-race because I hadn’t checked the pressure before starting. It was a painful and embarrassing lesson to learn.
2. Don’t skimp on the gear. I once wore a cheap pair of cycling shoes that gave me blisters the size of golf balls. Trust me, it’s worth it to invest in quality gear.
3. Stay hydrated. I once forgot to bring enough water on a long race and ended up dehydrated and cramping up. It was a miserable experience.
4. Know the course. I once took a wrong turn in a race because I didn’t familiarize myself with the course beforehand. It cost me valuable time and energy.
5. Don’t get too cocky. I once overestimated my abilities and ended up crashing on a particularly difficult section of the course. It was a humbling experience.
6. Always warm up before a race. I once skipped my warm-up routine and ended up with tight muscles that hindered my performance.
7. Don’t get too excited at the start. I once burned myself out by going out too hard at the beginning of a race. It’s important to pace yourself.
8. Know how to fix a flat tire. I once had a flat tire on a race and didn’t know how to fix it, which cost me valuable time and a potential podium finish.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I once had a mechanical issue in a race and didn’t know how to fix it. I was too proud to ask for help, and it ended up costing me the race.
10. Always have fun. Racing bikes is supposed to be enjoyable, so don’t take it too seriously. It’s just a bike race, after all.

So there you have it, the top ten things I learned while racing bikes (most of them the hard way). Hopefully, these lessons will save you some pain and frustration on the course. Happy riding!