ActiveCycling7 bike skills you need to master if you want to be seen as a serious cyclistNo, doing a wheelie is not one of themWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveCycling7 bike skills you need to master if you want to be seen as a serious cyclistNo, doing a wheelie is not one of themWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
No, doing a wheelie is not one of them
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty/iStock)
(Image credit: Getty/iStock)
I don’t like to blow my own horn, but I am quite an expert cyclist. I’ve written books about it and everything –publishedbooks. Over the years I’ve acquired many of the advanced skills needed to survive and thrive on the road, be it commuting, touring, in competitive events, or cycling just for the hell of it.
There are certainmistakes everyone makes with bikes, a topic I wrote about previously on T3.com. More usefully, there are also 7skillsevery cyclist should master and I am going to reveal them to you today. After all, you can buy thebest road bikein the world and bolt a state-of-the-artbike computerto it, but if you have all the gear and no idea, you’re never going to cut it in cycling circles.
1. Riding in a group/holding a wheel
Maybe start with a slightly smaller group than this(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Maybe start with a slightly smaller group than this
Maybe start with a slightly smaller group than this
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
This is one of the first skills to master as a rider and one that can be quite nerve wracking at first. Being able to ride in a group, nice and neat, just inches behind the rider in front is a accomplishment that grows with time. Riding like this keeps the bunch tidy on the road and will also saves energy as you will be sitting tight in the slipstream of the rider in front.
Key things to remember are these: don’t make sudden movements, keep your eyes ahead to look for changes in pace and your hands on the brakes to react in good time. Never grab the brakes too hard or this can cause a chain reaction behind just stay relaxed, alert and as close the wheel in front without overlapping or touching it.
2. Riding out of the saddle
You can even practice this at home with the right kit(Image credit: Wahoo)
You can even practice this at home with the right kit
You can even practice this at home with the right kit
(Image credit: Wahoo)
This is a skill that will really help when tacking extreme gradients, or launching a sprint. Again, like riding in a bunch the key is practice although this is a technique you can practice solo. Find a nice steep hill, engage a slightly larger gear than normal so there is more resistance when you push down, stand up on the pedals and then swing the bike rhythmically from side to side. Rock left when your right legs pushes down and rock right when your left leg pushes down. It may help to watch how pro riders do this; then you can mimic their movement to help you perfect your swing.
3. Cornering
Textbook stuff, marvellous(Image credit: Getty/iStock)
Textbook stuff, marvellous
Textbook stuff, marvellous
(Image credit: Getty/iStock)
When it comes to taking corners like a pro, there are a few key things to consider, to get you off on the right foot. Most important of these are entry speed and when to brake.
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You want to enter the corner at the speed you feel comfortable rounding it – you don’t want to be braking on the bend itself as this is where you are more likely to loose traction.
The good news is that your cornering skills will grow as your confidence does.
4. Taking your hands off the bars
Top of the world, ma! Top of the world!(Image credit: Getty/iStock)
Top of the world, ma! Top of the world!
Top of the world, ma! Top of the world!
(Image credit: Getty/iStock)
There will come a time once you’ve started riding that you will need to take your hands off the bars. Perhaps just one at first in order to take a drink or retrieve some food from your pockets. Or, if you are old school, to make a hand signal that you are turning left or right. Or that one where you flap your arm to indicate you’re braking.
Once you’ve cracked one hand, you’ll want to try no hands, but this takes a bit more practice. In an ideal world you will have mastered this as a fearless 8 year old but if you haven’t, your main obstacle will be nerves.
The first time you sit upright – and it does help to sit up bolt upright, right above the pedals– it will feel very disconcerting. You will have to use your legs, feet and torso to balance and adjust the bike instead of your arms. The keys is to trust yourself, trust your bike, try and make slight gentle movements and learn how it feels; how the bike reacts under you. Stay calm, stay confident and before long you’ll be able to pedal while you remove your jacket, fold it up and probably even iron it, with practice. Maybe.
5. Riding in cycling shoes
(Image credit: Fizik)
(Image credit: Fizik)
Progressing from a standard flat pedal is a big moment in any rider’s progression. I recommend you sit on your bike at home, lent against a wall and practice the twist of the foot required to nail the release. Clip in, twist out, clip in, twist out again and again to get a feel for the pressure needed to trigger the release. Then take it to the road and repeat.
The action needs to be instinctive and totally natural because when faced with a sudden stop or obstacle, unclipping needs to be subconscious and automatic. If not, you’ll be on your back side in the grass!
Advanced information: confusingly, clip-incycling shoesare used with ‘clipless pedals’ – as in ones that don’t have toe clips and straps attached to them, to hold your foot in place.
6. The track stand
No, not like this(Image credit: Getty)
No, not like this
No, not like this
(Image credit: Getty)
More popularly known as ‘balancing on the spot’, this is called the track stand’ because it’s what pursuit sprinters racing in velodromes do during a race to force their opponent into moving first. It is essentially the skill of balancing your bike on the spot with both feet still clipped in.
The track stand is most useful at traffic lights and looks pretty impressive. Although obviously if you lose balance and topple over, that will look the exact opposite if impressive, so master the skill in private first.
7. Fixing punctured tyres
This is a fun job that all riders love(Image credit: Getty)
This is a fun job that all riders love
This is a fun job that all riders love
(Image credit: Getty)
Although there is the option of tubeless, self sealing tyres now, one fundamental cycling skill is to be able to fix a puncture – the number one pitfall of riding.
Once you have checked the inside, check the outside too, to make sure there is nothing embedded in the rubber. You could use a patch at this point if you are old school but believe me, replacing the entire tube is much easier.
Place the tyre back on the rim, pump a little air into the tube to give it form and insert it. Starting from the valve now pull on the other side of the tyre working round, making sure the tube is not getting trapped between the tyre and rim and try if you can to fully pull the tyre on without using the levers. If you have to use levers to get the tyre on the rim there is a high chance of pinching the tube, resulting inanotherpuncture so be very careful.
Once the tyre is on double check the tube is completely inside it and not sticking out anywhere then inflate to the required pressure. Job done.
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