Riding a road bike regularly will keep you in shape. Many people now join the green movement by using a road bike for commuting. Riding a road bike is fun as well. However, if you don’t know how to ride a road bike correctly, you will experience pain in your neck, back and even on the leg area.
How to Ride a Road Bike Correctly?
You should learn the techniques to ride a road bike. If you know how to pedal, climb and brake properly, you will be able to have a smooth riding experience.
You will find various types of bikes on the market. Some bikes are meant for use in particular road conditions. Bike beach cruisers, for example, will let you ride comfortably on any road, even on the beach. Another type of bikes are hybrid bikes. Here are some tips for riding a road bike correctly.
Correct Body Position
You must be in the correct body position while riding. Otherwise, you might experience pain in many parts of your body and feel uncomfortable. Here are some tips for you.
Saddle Height
The saddle height is the distance from the top of the seat to the pedal at the bottom position. Your leg should not be fully stretched out when the pedal is in the bottom position. You should form an angle of 25 degrees. As a rule of thumb, you should set the saddle height at 109% of the distance between your crotch and ground when you are standing on bare feet.
Reach
Reach is the distance between the shoulders and top brake levers. You should sit an angle of 45 degrees to the cycle’s top tube. You can adjust the reach by changing the handlebar stem’s length.
Pedaling
If you pull up on the pedal, it will not increase the maximal power output. It also exerts a lot of pressure on the hamstrings. So, the best pedaling technique will be to apply a downward stroke. You should start your stroke at 12 o’clock and finish at 6 o’clock.
Gearing
New cyclists often struggle with changing gears. You should always keep in mind that the pedaling rate should be steady at 80rpm to 90rpm, and so you need to change the gear accordingly. You should anticipate what’s ahead of you and then change your gear. For example, if you notice a climb approaching, you should change the gear so that you can ride comfortably on the slope.
Cornering
When you descend, keep your fingers on the brakes. You should look beyond the corner and look for obstacles that are coming up at speed. You should try to keep your body in line with your bike. You should keep your inside leg up and the outside leg straight. You should apply brake before entering a corner. This way the speed will be reduced, and you won’t have to break hard when you reach the corner.
Braking
There are brakes on the front and back of the bike. The front brake helps you to stop. When you are riding in wet conditions, applying the front brake can be risky as you may skid. In such a case, you should use your back brake.
You should learn how the pedal, gear, and brake smoothly. You should always be on the right position, set up your bike in the correct height and practice riding uphill, downhill and around the corners. The more you practice, the better you will get riding a road bike.
