How to Ride a Bike Faster
Bicycling is a great way to exercise, commute, or just have fun. But if you’re like most people, you probably want to know how to ride a bike faster.
Luckily, there are a few simple tips and tricks you can follow to start pedaling your way to greater speed.
1. Get a Light Bike
If you’re serious about going fast, get yourself a road bike. Road bikes are designed for speed and are much lighter than other types of bikes. A lighter bike will require less effort to pedal, which means you’ll be able to ride faster with less effort.
2. Get the Right Gear Ratio
The gear ratio is the number of teeth on the front sprocket with the number of teeth. A higher gear ratio means it will take less effort to pedal but you won’t go as fast.
A lower gear ratio means it will take more effort to pedal but you’ll go faster. If you’re not sure what gear ratio is right for you, talk to a bike shop employee or another experienced cyclist.
3. Use Aerodynamic Positioning
When you’re riding a bike, air resistance is one of the biggest factors slowing you down. You can reduce air resistance by tucking in your elbows and knees and keeping your back straight.
You should also experiment with different riding positions to find one that’s comfortable and helps you go fast.
4. Don’t Pedal Too Hard
It may seem counterintuitive, but pedaling too hard can actually make you go slower. When you pedal too hard, your muscles tire quickly and you start to slow down.
Instead of pedaling as hard as you can all the time, try using a higher gear so you don’t have to pedal as quickly but can still maintain a good speed.
5. Practice Drafting
When two cyclists ride close together, the lead cyclist breaks the wind for both riders and makes it easier for the second rider to draft behind them.
This lowers air resistance and allows both cyclists to go faster than they would if they were riding alone. If you’re riding with someone else, try drafting behind them so you can both go faster.
6. Go Downhill Fast
When riding downhill, use your body weight to help push your pedals down so you can get up to speed quickly.
Once you’re going fast, tuck your body in so you’re in an aerodynamic position and coast until the hill levels out or starts heading uphill again.
7. Join a Club or Group Ride
Joining a club or group ride is a great way to meet other cyclists, learn from more experienced riders, and push yourself to ride faster. Most groups will have rides of different speeds so you can find one that’s appropriate for your skill level.
8. Train with Interval Workouts
For example, you might cycle hard for 1 minute and then rest for 2 minutes before repeating. Interval training is a great way to improve your cardiovascular fitness and ride faster.
9. Take Cycling Seriously
If you want to ride faster, treat cycling like it’s an athletic event instead of just recreationally pedaling around town. This means staying hydrated, eating right, getting enough sleep, and strength training in addition to cycling workouts.
10. Have Fun
Remember that cycling is supposed to be enjoyable so don’t take it too seriously and put too much pressure on yourself. Ride at a pace that’s comfortable for you and focus on improving your speed little by little over time.
Conclusion
By following these simple tips, anyone can learn how to ride their bike faster! Just remember that practice makes perfect, so get out there and start pedaling!
