Improve Your Cycling Technique with 5 Simple Tips

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Improve Your Cycling Technique with 5 Simple Tips

Improve Your Cycling Technique with 5 Simple Tips – When cycling, many riders often think they’ve mastered the necessary techniques.

However, others admit they still have room to improve their skills. This article offers some suggestions on five areas where cyclists typically fail to effectively enhance their capabilities and cycling efficiency. Here are a few tips to quickly correct those shortcomings.

Table of Contents

You always hold the top of the handlebars

Improve Your Cycling Technique with 5 Simple Tips

You’ll feel more comfortable and find it easier to control your bike when holding the top of the handlebars. This is the preferred position for most riders under normal conditions. However, don’t forget that air resistance significantly reduces your cycling efficiency compared to when you hold the drops (the lower part of the handlebars). Generally, holding the drops allows you to switch to a smaller gear and pedal at a higher cadence with the same effort.

Although holding the drops for long rides can feel uncomfortable for many, this shows the value of regular training. Your body will gradually adapt to that posture, allowing you to ride faster and farther with less effort.

You frequently use the rear brake

The front brake is much more effective when it comes to slowing down or stopping. But many cyclists—especially beginners—tend to rely on the rear brake because they fear flying over the handlebars if they use the front one. This won’t happen unless you’re riding down a steep hill or at very high speed, as long as you keep your butt firmly on the saddle and apply the front brake gently.

Practice using only the front brake on flat roads and small slopes. Do it until you forget that your bike even has a rear brake!

You ride too far behind the cyclist in front

We all know that riding in a group has significant benefits. With reduced wind resistance, it becomes much easier than riding alone. The closer you are to the cyclist in front, the more benefit you gain.

When riding behind someone you know to be “fairplay” (meaning they won’t brake or swerve suddenly), try to keep just a few dozen centimeters between your front wheel and their rear wheel. This requires more concentration, but the benefits are well worth it.

Cycling Technique: Practice sprinting

Take your bike out and try to sprint as fast as possible like Mark Cavendish—grab the lower handlebars and pedal rapidly. It might feel hard at first, but keep at it regularly until you get used to it. Sprinting with your hands on the top handlebars is easier, but your legs have to work harder. Strengthen your leg power and build endurance.

Also, occasionally insert sprints into your regular rides. This will give you useful cycling skills for different situations. No matter where your hands are on the handlebars, try sprinting 100 meters at full effort in the shortest time possible.

You ride too often

To maintain the pedaling strength you’ve built up through hard training, you need to ride regularly, usually at least twice a week. But if you ride too much, it can backfire. Your muscles won’t have enough time to recover, and you’ll start feeling tired from overtraining. Frequent soreness and a decline in motivation may follow.

If you start noticing these symptoms, take a break from your bike for a few days or even weeks.
Find the right balance. Two to four rides per week are plenty for most people. If you want to ride more, make sure it feels easy and enjoyable. That way, you’ll want to keep riding even more.