At some point, every one that makes the transition from casual/recreational cyclist to fitness/serious cyclist goes through the same moment. “I want to be a better cyclist”. It takes different shapes, but it is all the same core idea, getting better. As a cyclist that has been riding for a long time, and one that is often seen as being a ‘strong’ rider, I get asked for advice a lot. As in almost every ride I do with a group of cyclists.
I am not a coach (yet), so take what I have to say on this subject with a certain grain of salt. That grain of salt is that this is experience of what I have done and what I have seen work for others. Keep in mind, here is the first secret of those ‘strong riders’ you see on the roads; they are looking at stronger riders and working to be those riders. All but the very best always think of themselves as middle of the pack riders at best. We are all our own worst critics.
So about being a better cyclist. Define “Better”? This is ultimately where it all starts. What part of cycling do you need to work on to be better in your mind. Is it speed, distance, technique or just comfort in the environment. Defining what better means to you really gives you something concrete to work on. If you want my answer, it is simply yes. More specifically, it means being comfortable first, having good technique second, and letting distance and speed come from those two.
Being comfortable in the environment, be it on the roads or the trails, really has to be the first order of business. If you aren’t comfortable, you cannot focus on the things you need to focus on to improve technique, speed or distances. If you are afraid, or intimidated by the ride, you won’t be able to put in the time you need to get the other bits in place. Unfortunately, this is also the hardest thing to learn. For most people, being on the road is a terrifying place to be. Cars, trucks and others are just scary to deal with. It has been drilled into the collective conscious that riding a bike on the road without bike lanes is dangerous, and while to a degree it is, we actually make it more so by riding in fear. Making matters worse, in our efforts to ride ‘safely’ in order to overcome that fear, we reinforce the very fears that start the cycle.
What does this mean? First and foremost, it means learning to take to the road, and own the space. Getting comfortable with 3 basic thoughts.
- You do belong on the road
- Your space is what you need to be safe, including space to maneuver
- Cars do not actually want to hit you
The statistics are cut and dried, riding on the edge of the road;
- you are outside the line of vision increasing the risk of not being seen
- you are encouraging close proximity passing by giving enough space to be passed within the lane
- you are encouraging aggressive behaviors by displaying your fear of that car
You want to get better on the bike, you have to eliminate the fear.
As you ride without fear, the other parts of getting better come as natural extensions, but you can accelerate things by working on technique off the roads, using an indoor trainer. Pedal efficiency, strength, cadence can all be gained indoors. What you cannot learn is the feel of the road, and how to shift, adjust, avoid, and truly pleasure of the ride. See this is where, getting out on the road truly leads to being a better cyclist. There is an ebb and flow to the road. No current trainer in the world can replicate that ebb and flow.
Only experience can teach the subtle fell of a road that change gradient from -%1 to flat to 1% gradient, and how to shift efficiently and timely so that you don’t lose power (or drop a chain from shifting late under too much power). Only riding on the road will teach the skills that are needed to avoid and adapt to the road conditions as they change. Little things like moving around nails, rocks, sand and gravel. Hopping potholes and adjusting to bumps and rolls in the road surfaces are all important skills that directly translate into being a better cyclist. All of these things are what make it possible to truly ride farther, faster.
Finally there is the question of how do you learn to ride farther and faster? The answer to this question is by far the easiest. You just have to ride. You may need a plan, but that is dictated by your specific goals, but nothing will allow you do either of these if you do not get out there and ride.
No matter what else you do, nothing beats time in the saddle, and that is the ultimate key to riding.
Just Ride…