“ON YOUR LEFT!”
Don't be timid.
You're in a heavily congested, chaotic city where everyone has somewhere to be and they ned to be there now, now, now, goddammit. You're gonna have to fight for your space on the road, and swerving around the bike lane in fear of traffic is only going to make things more dangerous for the cyclists behind you. Confident riding means you'll just keep pedalin' in harmony with the flow of traffic.
Pass other cyclists on the far edge of the lane.
Ahhhhh, there's nothing like being caught off-guard by another rider zooming past you. The automobile-inclined (tend) to pass on the left, and consider the same etiquette when on two wheels. Of course, if the bike lane is to the left of car traffic, pass on the right.
Learn how to lock your damn bike.
Let's make one thing clear: theft is never, ever the fault of the victim. But big cities are full of opportunists, and reselling bike parts is a quick way to turn a profit. Unless you've secured most components with skewers or a chain, don't just toss a lock around the top tube. Here's a really comprehensive guide to securing your bike while you have brunch.
A light, zippy road bike is your friend.
Pretty cruiser bikes are really nice for sprawling beach towns or short rides around residential cities. Unfortunately, they're heavy and will not only slow you down, but omg don't your legs hurt? A single-speed will help you save a bit of weight and a lot of maintenance, but you will probably miss the gears when you're going up (or down!) hills.
!["I'll start the [insert ridiculous juice cleanse and/or diet] tomorrow."](http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-06/27/13/enhanced/webdr06/anigif_enhanced-10147-1403889721-1.gif)
