Bill Strickland of bicycling magazine has some tips for beginners. The first thing we're going to do is make sure your saddle height is right. If you're showing a lot of forehead, the helmet is going to slip and it might not protect you in a fall. And if at first your wrists and hands hurt. You can keep a secure grip but keep your hands loose if you drum your fingers every five minutes or so.
Cycling is a relatively easy sport.
There's no pounding or twisting, but a common beginner's mistake is doing too much, too soon. To get the best workout, watch your pedal cadence. Most people go too slow. Ideally you should pedal at 90-100 rpm. As a beginner aim for 70 rpm.