Without a doubt, cycling is not just a fun sport, but also a wonderful way to get some exercise. But, if you have found yourself in a rut fitness-wise, or are just wondering how to take your skills to the next level, we have some advice for you. Here are some tips on improving your cycling performance and becoming the athlete you want to be.
Increase your riding speed. The first thing that you will want to is increase your riding speed. You can easily do this by just pushing to go only a mile an hour faster than you usually do. You can just increase your overall efficiency. You can do this by avoiding braking when it is not necessary. If you break going around a corner, for example, you will lose all of your momentum when you come out of it. Instead, you should avoid going into the corner too hot. Hills are another area where you might lost momentum. If you can avoid braking, safely of course, when you go down a hill, you will not lose speed when you come out of the hill. Of course, wind drag is what slows cyclists down the most, so consider where your body is on the cycle to reduce wind drag and increase speed.
Wear the right gear. Another thing that you can do is wear the right gear. This means wearing gear that is made to fit your body and is comfortable. For example, if you have wide feet, you should be looking for the most recommended wide cycling shoes. Your shirt should be snug to reduce wind resistance. If you have lost weight, you will likely need to get new gear that fits your body better rather than try to carry on in gear that does not fit you well.
Ride more often. Like any sport, the more that you do it, the better you will be. It can be hard to find the time to get out on your bike, but if you set a schedule for yourself and set aside time, then the workout is already built into your life. You can sneak in rides in ways you might not have thought about before. Can you cycle to work? Can you cycle to the store? Where can you slip in workouts? The more often you are able to ride, the better performance you will have.
Strengthen your body. Another thing to try is to strengthen your body. You need to condition your body to hold the cycling posture for long periods of time. Doing yoga and Pilates will help strengthen your core muscles, allowing you to keep your upper body stable and prevent you from slouching. You should also stretch before and after each ride to help prevent aches and help you be ready to hop back on your bike for your next ride.
Make sure your bike fits you. This is often taken for granted, but when was the last time you looked at how your bike actually fits you? It is common for cyclists to suffer from aches and pains, but some of that is avoidable if you use a bike that fits you. Take your bike into a pro shop and have it fit by a professional. The pros will be able to adjust the bike to meet your physical needs or even suggest a better bike.
Watch your diet. The types of foods that you are eating will help improve your performance as well. You do not need to invest in anything fancy to help your nutrition, so do not worry. You won’t need special drinks or bars. Instead, you can look at fruits, like bananas, peanut butter sandwiches, and even cereal bars. All of these can boost your carbohydrates and are usually portable enough for you to carry them wherever you need to.
Ultimately, you do not need to settle for your performance level with cycling. If you are interested in improving your performance, you can do it. Review your habits and cycling choices and see if you can determine which areas can be slightly altered to enhance your performance.
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