How to Ride a Road Bike

Cycling is not only fun, but it is also good for your health, as many studies show that it is very beneficial in controlling overweight, obesity, coronary heart disease and, in some cases, can even prevent cancer risks.

Now we all like getting insider tips and tricks. It can be a speedy way to go from being a novice to a relative expert in a reasonably short space of time. If you are new to cycling, the right advice can help you get off to a good start and help you progress and improve, and even if you have been cycling for many years, it is sometimes good to get back to basics, because it is easy to fall into bad habits and miss the obvious.

What we are going to talk about today is clearly aimed at beginners who are new to cycling and who do not even have the slightest idea of how to ride a road bike.

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1. Positioning

Positioning

In cycling, there are two main fundamental positions available to you.

1. In the saddle

2. Out of the saddle

In the saddle is where you will be spending most of your time riding your bike while above the saddle is suitable for short climbs and accelerating.

A prerequisite for a comfortable ride is right saddle height. Keep in mind that the saddle height varies from one person to another and depends mainly on the height of the rider.

It is generally suggested that your saddle should be at your hip level. To do this, stand straight beside your road bike and adjust the seat to the appropriate level.

2. Peddling

Peddling

When you learn to ride a bike, pedaling quickly becomes instinctive. But if you are an absolute beginner, you may not even know what this phrase means! Here’s what you have to do.

Make sure your pedals are positioned horizontally before getting on your bike. The position is considered beneficial because it allows you to drive smoothly forward by exerting downward pressure on the pedals.

It is also quite common to position the pedals diagonally, and in almost all cases, the driving experience will be the same.

3. Always look forward

Always look forward

Looking and leaning forward serves two main purposes. The first is linked to safety while the second is related to the aerodynamic effect.

4. Braking

Braking

It is always a good idea to apply the brakes before making a turn. If it is an emergency braking, remember that your front brakes are your friends. It is more effective and can help you slow down much faster than your read brakes.

Unfortunately, it has some repercussions and to avoid them, always make sure to secure your weight backward when applying the front brake.

5. Gear sifting

Gear sifting

Gear selection can be quite complicated. There are so many other different things to think about that if it’s not second nature to you, it can be very easy to get it wrong, or not to bother at all.

First of all, you need to understand that gears are there to help you gain momentum. To start, remember that you are supposed to change gears when you accelerate. You must also shift gears depending on the terrain and environment you are riding in.

Finally, please keep in mind that by pressing the right shifter, you will change the smaller cogs while the left shifter will change the larger cogs.

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21496106