Do you want to go the speed of a Ferrari GT on a bike and in a comfortable position? Well, not quite literally, but you can actually learn to move it fast, comfortably and stronger. The pro-cyclist you saw in your neighborhood the previous evening didn't have those magical stance before.
They had to learn to train smart when it comes to handling the pedals and steering, and even how to shift gears. Bottom line is this; no cycling skill is impossible to master. We've asked top racers, mechanics, coaches and other experts for useful insights on how to handle a two-wheeler. They had to say a number of things: Let's explore them below:
Stay fresh
Staying fresh in this case has nothing to do with bathing and relaxing in preparation for the next day's riding. Instead, we're talking of exploring new maps every other day. Human beings have a great sense of adventure, so discoveries will always keep you engaged along the way...even possibly more and more discoveries will keep you energized to cycle even more.
Conquering a super-steep climb
Coach Chris Carmichael is a renowned biker. His advice on conquering steep climbs is rather simple when you have the passion to listen and practice. Not unless you're in a race and you're approaching a hill, don't charge into it with all you have.
Instead, start steady as you shift the gears to strike a balance between maintaining a decent cadence of between 75-80rpm while sustaining the intensity. You see, if you start going hard too early, you will likely stay in too big a gear, and this will tire you out soon and affect your speed.
10 more miles
You can always add 10 more miles to your longest ride until you hit the 80 miles mark, asserts coach Frank Overton. In case you finish your ride feeling overly depleted and exhausted, it means you didn't eat and drink properly, so watch on your stomach first. Then there's the issue of getting caught up in the excitement so that you start going too fast too soon. Like we said earlier, you should start at a steady pace with gears being shifted until an ideal of 75-80rpm is reached.
In riding, there are also mental highs and lows that you must be prepared for. Cycling tips that don't tell you about this will mislead you. So above everything else, prepare for a psychological roller coaster to enjoy your journey.
You can fly for cheap
Champion Brian Lopes says that your safest bet would be to free your bike from unnecessary load. He jokingly said that he has never paid more than $50 to fly with his bike in 3 years. Now, to get his two-wheeler to fit, he simply eliminates what bikers call ''clutter''. He removes the folk and keeps it inside his suitcase.
If it's a mountain bike, you can also aim for brake rotors. After you unpack it, you just have a big bag, not some giant bike case that can cost you if you're heading to a tiny hotel room. This is very important for those traveling with their bikes.
One thing is for sure - mastering what the coaches are saying is likely to bring results. Practice is an essential part of biking too, as long as you stay within the parameters of the person coaching you.
Bon Voyage!