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7 On-the-Bike Skills to Crush Your Next Ride
Written by
Greg Kaplan,
Having superior skills on the bike not only puts you in a better position to dominate at your next race but also means you're riding safer and more predictably by yourself and with others. Improve your on-the-bike skills with these seven drills, gain confidence on two wheels and dominate your next ride.
Grab a Snack Using Either Hand
Skill Level: Beginner
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Being able to grab a snack from your jersey pocket or your bottle from a cage with either hand is not only useful, it allows you to be safe as well.
How To: Keep your right hand on your brake hood so you can safely modulate your speed, and use your left hand to grab your bottle or a snack from your cycling jersey pocket. Control your speed with your front brake by "feathering" it (short, light taps to slow yourself so you don't lock up your front wheel).
How To: Keep your right hand on your brake hood so you can safely modulate your speed, and use your left hand to grab your bottle or a snack from your cycling jersey pocket. Control your speed with your front brake by "feathering" it (short, light taps to slow yourself so you don't lock up your front wheel).
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Cycling EventsCorner Smoothly at Speed in a Group
Skill Level: Intermediate
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When cycling side-by-side and executing a turn, the rider on the inside dictates the distance from the gutter; the riders to the center of the road should allow the rider to the inside enough space.
How To: When cornering on your bike, remember to adjust your speed before initiating the turn, and don't to brake while in or exiting the turn. Keep your eyes up the road, not focused directly in front of you, so you can see and react to changes in the group's speed. Practice this skill with a friend on grass or dirt.
How To: When cornering on your bike, remember to adjust your speed before initiating the turn, and don't to brake while in or exiting the turn. Keep your eyes up the road, not focused directly in front of you, so you can see and react to changes in the group's speed. Practice this skill with a friend on grass or dirt.
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Cycling EventsScream Down Hills Under Control
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Practice your braking response times and distances. At first, get comfortable making quick and controlled decelerations on straight, flat roads and in dry conditions. Then, graduate to taking on small descents on your bike, and feel how much pressure you need to make a full, controlled stop. Work your way up to slightly larger descents, and always retain control of your bike.
How To: Keep your weight on your rear wheel, relax your upper body and firmly squeeze—not grab—your brakes. You'll want to control your speed with primarily your rear wheel so you don't lock up your front wheel and flip over your bars.
How To: Keep your weight on your rear wheel, relax your upper body and firmly squeeze—not grab—your brakes. You'll want to control your speed with primarily your rear wheel so you don't lock up your front wheel and flip over your bars.
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Cycling EventsStay Steady in the Wind
Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate
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Riding in the wind can be frustrating and even intimidating. Headwinds are challenging, and a buffeting crosswind can unexpectedly push your front wheel around, throwing you off your line.
How To: Shift into a lower ("harder") gear, relax your grip and don't jerk your bars to fight the wind—you could wind up oversteering and losing control. If you're cycling with a group, ride in an echelon formation to share the work—and take shelter from—the wind. Find a friend or two, and practice riding side-by-side on grass or dirt while taking turns being in different relative positions to each other.
How To: Shift into a lower ("harder") gear, relax your grip and don't jerk your bars to fight the wind—you could wind up oversteering and losing control. If you're cycling with a group, ride in an echelon formation to share the work—and take shelter from—the wind. Find a friend or two, and practice riding side-by-side on grass or dirt while taking turns being in different relative positions to each other.
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Cycling EventsFloat Over Road Obstacles With a Bunnyhop
Skill Level: Advanced
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Sometimes you have little time to react to road obstacles, such as potholes, sticks or even a dropped water bottle. If you're riding in a group, swerving to avoid an obstacle is not a great option, as it could cause a crash. If you're solo, you don't want to risk swerving into the center of the road or getting too close to the gutter. A better alternative is to sail over an obstacle in your way.
How To: Relax and stand up, leaving your knees slightly bent. Set your pedals at 3 and 9 o'clock. In a springing motion, simultaneously lift your handlebars underneath you, pulling the front end of your bike vertically while pulling up on your heels with your hamstrings and core to lift the rear end of your bike, bringing it up to meet the height of your front wheel. The resulting composite motion is a jump from the pedals, snapping the bike up vertically underneath your momentarily weightless body. If you're in a group, shout out to let others know about the obstacle.
How To: Relax and stand up, leaving your knees slightly bent. Set your pedals at 3 and 9 o'clock. In a springing motion, simultaneously lift your handlebars underneath you, pulling the front end of your bike vertically while pulling up on your heels with your hamstrings and core to lift the rear end of your bike, bringing it up to meet the height of your front wheel. The resulting composite motion is a jump from the pedals, snapping the bike up vertically underneath your momentarily weightless body. If you're in a group, shout out to let others know about the obstacle.
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Cycling EventsStay Effortlessly Upright on Wet Roads
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Whether a sudden downpour takes you by surprise, or you just can't bear another trainer session, don't let cycling on wet roads intimidate you. If you're starting out when roads are wet, consider dropping tire pressure by five psi to increase the surface area of your bike tire on the ground and get a little more traction. Do your best to stay off potentially slick roadway indicator paint, and have a healthy respect for wet metal—it can be as slippery as ice.
How To: If you're riding on carbon wheels in wet conditions, give yourself additional stopping/slowing distance. When turning on wet roads, stay relaxed, and "sit heavy" on your saddle, using your bodyweight to initiate turns. Keep your orientation upright; don't lean into turns when the road surface is wet. Guide your bike with your hips so as not to over-steer with your hands.
How To: If you're riding on carbon wheels in wet conditions, give yourself additional stopping/slowing distance. When turning on wet roads, stay relaxed, and "sit heavy" on your saddle, using your bodyweight to initiate turns. Keep your orientation upright; don't lean into turns when the road surface is wet. Guide your bike with your hips so as not to over-steer with your hands.
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Cycling EventsHow to Fall Gracefully
Skill Level: All
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It's better to control a fall on your bike than to bail and hope for the best. If you think you're going to go over your bars, prepare yourself by starting to sit up and using your hands and arms to absorb impact while keeping your head tucked. As you land, stay tucked, and roll to safety.
How To: If you start to slide and are likely to go down on your side, pull your inside foot free from the pedal, and try to get it underneath you. Use your inside hand to help absorb the fall. You can practice this skill on soft grass, taking care not to damage your bike's drivetrain while practicing falling to your right.
How To: If you start to slide and are likely to go down on your side, pull your inside foot free from the pedal, and try to get it underneath you. Use your inside hand to help absorb the fall. You can practice this skill on soft grass, taking care not to damage your bike's drivetrain while practicing falling to your right.
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Cycling EventsAbout the Author
A lifelong endurance sports athlete, Greg raced bikes on the road as a junior prior to changing his athletic focus to rowing. Upon retiring from elite rowing competition, Greg revisited his passion for racing bikes and also added some swimming and running into the mix, competing at the ITU Age Group World Championships on multiple occasions. He and his wife Shannon—also a rower, bike-racer, and triathlete—enjoy traveling, learning about wine and keeping up with their rescue cats when they are not training or racing.