23 Jun 101 Ways to Transform your Cycling
The good folks over at Bicycling.com have an incredible list of “101 Ways to Completely Transform Your Entire Cycling Life.” Do yourself a favour and be sure to read through them all – if you can spare the time. But let’s face it, you’re already thinking of your next ride. So you might as well.
Here are a few choice ones:
NO. 8
Beware of creeping forward on the saddle and hunching your back when you’re tired. Shift to a higher gear and stand to pedal periodically to prevent stiffness in your hips and back.
NO. 18
Be extra cautious during the first 10 minutes of a rainstorm, when oil and dust float to the pavement’s surface but haven’t yet washed away. However: Painted road lines and steel surfaces (manhole covers, grates, railroad tracks, bridge decks, and expansion joints) get slippery right away and stay treacherous until they completely dry.
NO. 37
When you start to feel stressed and overwhelmed by a hard pace, try this breathing technique: Instead of actively drawing air into the lungs then passively letting it out (our normal pattern), push the air out and let it naturally flow back in. Bonus: Because of how you activate your lungs to do this, it also helps you get into a low riding position and maintain a flatter back.
NO. 57
As tempted as you might be, don’t take a day completely off the bike after the week’s hardest effort. The best way to recover is with a short, easy spin—30 to 60 minutes at a pace that always allows effortless talking.
NO. 74
Ride like a jockey to get safely over rough railroad crossings, stretches of pothole-infested roads, or any other surfaces that could cause flats, damage to the rims, or even crashes: Stand slightly, with bent knees and elbows, and let the bike float up and down beneath you to absorb the shocks.
For the entire list, click here.