Cycling Tip Thursday When you are pedaling around town and just riding, you can do it anyway you want. However, if your goal is an endurance event (i.e., lots of miles or hours in the saddle), you really should learn how to ride the bike in the most efficient, comfortable way you can; that means good cycling form. Here is a link to a short and sweet article with 5 basic tips on better cycling form. I shall augment them just a little here. I feel since I have been riding hard for more than 30 years with 20 of them dedicated to teaching newbie cyclists, I can add my own comments. First, I agree with, and kind of like, the ‘square’ method of pedaling, except the part about pulling up on the back stroke. You really shouldn’t be pulling up. The back stroke is sort of a time for recovery. Don’t just dangle the foot, but don’t put a whole lot of effort into pulling up. Doing so is very hard on the knees and the adductors. Something is bound to give. Second, I love the ‘Gumbi’ metaphor; it really says a lot. Knees spewed out are inefficient and very hard on those knees and hips. If you pedal this way, start watching (on a trainer is a good way) and working on tucking those knees in. They should be going up and down parallel to the bike frame. Third is another awesome point that more cyclists should pay attention to. Your core is your anchor on that bike, your first line of defense against fatigue. If you have a saggy one, start working on it. You will pedal much better with a tight, strong core. Fourth – no ‘Vulcan death grip’ as it is affectionately referred to. You shouldn’t be actually holding the bike, but more like guiding it. White knuckling the bar will cause you to over correct when you need to steer clear of something. You will tense up and eventually those shoulders, neck and lower back will start to ache something fearful. Not to mention your hands area going to cramp up. Finally, ya, pay attention to what you are doing. On the bike is no place to be listening to your favorite tunes (no iPods or head phones of any kind) or day dreaming about what you are going to do afterward. There are so many road hazards out there, not to mention the cars AND those other cyclists around you who may not be paying attention. So, the basics; learn them. Become a more efficient, careful rider and no distance is too far. blog.trainingpeaks/posts/2012/1/23/five-tips-on-proper-cycling-form.html Coach Rick
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 02:08:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015