How to get faster at cycling?
It’s a natural urge as soon as you start pedalling a bike to wonder how fast you are going. A simple bike computer will allow you to see your max, current and average speed for each ride. Once you have that information the questions start to roll — how do I compare to other riders? How much faster can I go? Keeping an eye on your average is a good indicator of your fitness and development.
We’ve come up with a few ways that you can instantly go faster and a few that need a bit more practice and dedication.
Bend And Tuck Elbows
One of the biggest factors that can slow you down when you’re cycling is wind resistance. There are a few different ways that you can reduce your drag and make it easier to pedal through the wind. One of the simplest ways is to lower your body position on the bike. Instead of sitting up straight in the saddle, try bending and tucking in your elbows to bring your body closer to the bars. You’ll feel a difference right away. Another way to reduce your wind resistance is to make sure your bike is in good condition. Make sure the tires are inflated properly and that there’s no debris or mud buildup on the bike. Keeping your bike clean and in good working order will help you pedal faster and with less effort.
Pump Up Your Tyres
If you want to get faster at cycling, one of the things you can do is to make sure your tyres are correctly inflated. Most tyres will have a recommended pressure on the side-wall, and it’s important to check this before every ride. Changes in temperature can cause tyres to go soft, even if they’re not punctured, so it’s important to keep an eye on the pressure.
Investing in a track pump will make it easier to get the right pressure, and a mini-pump is best kept for emergencies when you’re out on the road. Making sure your tyres are correctly inflated can help you roll faster and improve your cycling performance.
Cycling routes with varied terrain can help improve your speed.
If you’re looking to get faster on the bike, one of the best things you can do is mix up your riding terrain. By cycling on routes with varied terrain, you can improve your speed and become a more efficient rider.
Why it’s important to have varied terrain when cycling.
One of the benefits of varied terrain is that it can help you work on your climbing. If you live in a flat area, it can be difficult to find hills to train on. However, if you have varied terrain, you’ll be able to find hills to ride on, which will help you become a better climber.
Another benefit of varied terrain is that it can help you work on your bike handling skills. When you’re riding on different types of terrain, you’ll have to deal with different types of obstacles. This will help you become a better bike handler and make you more confident on the bike.
So, if you’re looking to get faster at cycling, one of the best things you can do is to ride on varied terrain. It’ll help you become a better climber and bike handler, and make you more confident on the bike.
Brake Less
If you want to get faster at cycling, one of the best things you can do is reduce your braking. Braking slows you down and makes it harder to accelerate back up to speed. So, if you can avoid unnecessary braking, you’ll save energy and momentum, and you’ll be able to ride faster.
One way to reduce your braking is to try to eliminate “comfort” braking. This happens when you’re rolling along a fast road or downhill and you start to go a little bit quicker than you’re used to. If you can stay relaxed and trust your bike, you’ll be less likely to brake unnecessarily.
Of course, there are times when you do need to brake, but if you can be more conscious of when you’re braking and why, you can start to reduce your braking and ride faster.
Lose Weight
Losing weight will allow you to go faster for the same amount of effort put in. Less weight will obviously help uphill as you have less to move against the force of gravity. Similarly, losing weight will help you punch a smaller hole in the air and reduce the drag you cause when cycling on the flat.
There are a few ways to go about losing weight if you’re interested in getting faster on your bike. One way is to simply eat less and make sure you’re eating healthy, nutrient-rich foods. Another way is to increase your activity level so that you’re burning more calories than you’re taking in. And lastly, you can try a combination of the two.
Whichever route you decide to go, just know that losing even a few pounds can make a big difference in your cycling speed. So if you’re looking to get faster, go ahead and give it a try!
Build Muscle
You can gain strength with specific gym training – but building up your cycling muscles and developing your efficiency as a bike rider takes place over a long period of time, there is no substitute for time on the bike when it comes to improving cycling fitness.