by Maynard Hershon

Opinion

Basic Stuff — Relax

Learning the stuff mentioned in this column will help you become a genuine cyclist, not merely a pedaler. You can remain a pedaler for years, no doubt, or you can acquire a few basic skills and, hey, you’re a bike rider. You don’t need a Cervelo; you need some skills. And you can practice them while you ride — how cool is that?

None of this requires sketchy, scary riding. You don’t need to learn how to ride a wire strung across the Grand Canyon. You do need to learn how to ride in a straight line. Not that you hear much about that. We cyclists mostly talk about gear. In a perfect world, cyclists would talk about things to learn instead of things to buy. But I read in the paper this morning that this is not, after all, a perfect world.

So I thought I’d remind you about the practices listed below. They’re in no particular order, except the first one. It’s rule number one, “The Uno.”

Relax on your bike. Everything else about the dynamic physical aspects of cycling begins here. If you are stiff on your bike — tense — you will over-control it. Your bike doesn’t like to be micromanaged. Subtle control inputs work best. Practice relaxing when riding.

Your bike will steer itself into and out of corners if you relax. It will glide down the road in a straight line if you relax. It will continue to go straight as you change gears, look back over your shoulder or grab a water bottle from its cage — if you relax.

Imagine how that will reassure your riding friends, especially those close behind you. If you’ve been riding a while and can’t get a bottle out and drink from it without looking down or changing direction or speed, start practicing today before you hurt someone.

If you relax, your arms and legs will absorb road irregularities and bumps so they do not disturb your smooth progress. Your bicycle will stick to the road in bumpy corners — if you relax. A bumpy road won’t beat you up — if you relax. Your bicycle will behave and respond like a thoroughbred — if you relax and don’t over-control it. Easy does it. There’s hardly any strength necessary.

If you ride tense you slow the blood flow to your muscles; you’ll tire sooner and feel that burn earlier. So relax your arms and legs.

You can’t think about this stuff enough. In the old days, we did think about it more. New riders would hang a loop of something soft, a toe-strap maybe, from their handlebars. As they pedaled they’d watch the loop to see if it was swaying or bouncing. They’d watch their shadow when the sun was behind them to see if their upper bodies or heads were swaying or bobbing uselessly, wasting energy and sending unwanted disruptive inputs to the bars and frame.

A few old-timers even rode fixed-gear bicycles (imagine that!) because the always-turning cranks instantly revealed rough spots in their pedaling — times when they were not relaxed. A tense rider on a fixed-gear bike will bounce in the saddle, especially if the gear chosen is low enough for fast pedaling which help build leg-speed and smoothness.

If you resolve to become a better rider this year, focus on loosening your muscles and working with your bike, not bossing it down the bike path.

Learn about pedal speed and cadence. In my view faster is better but only within limits. Slow pedaling in big gears is inefficient and can hurt your legs. Watch good riders; try to match their cadence. If you do a whole club ride in your granny ring, ask yourself if you’re passive-aggressive.

Learn to unclip a foot just before you come to a stop. Learn to get your second foot clicked into the pedal right after you begin rolling. Notice your leg extension. Are you sitting too high and rocking in the saddle? Are you sitting too low and over-bending your legs?

Ride to the ride. If you get out with good riders and tell them you’re learning about cycling, someone will point out your mistakes. Oh yes they will. Occasionally, they will be right. 

Learn to be self-sufficient on your bike. Learn to get your wheels off and back on. Learn to fix a flat. Learn how to lightly brush your tires (safely) with your fingertips to shed thorns and bits of glass before the road grinds them into your tires (and tubes). Learn to pack your under-seat bag so it stays tucked up close under your saddle rails and doesn’t rattle. Please. You may look like “Joe Euro-Pro” on your bike but if your spare bag sways, bounces or rattles, you’re a dork. Don’t get defensive.

Learn to look back over your shoulder without losing control. Learn how to alert riders behind you to road hazards or threatening traffic without screaming every time you see a pothole. Learn to be predictable and considerate to drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists. Stay off sidewalks.

Ride relaxed, smooth, predictable and watchful. If you ride on narrow bike paths, ride to the right. Don’t scare anyone. Pick your places to pass. If you encounter daddies towing kiddie trailers passing one another, make your move when they’re done for chrissakes.

Learn that you’re another road user, not the road user. Look around. Save the inner focus for meditation sessions. You’re out in the world; notice what’s happening. Note that there are other folks around. Acknowledge their presence and worth. Give them a break. They may be fighting battles of which you have no clue. Don’t automatically think of them as threats — until they prove they are. If they are, get away from them.

Keep your bike clean. You’re proud of it, right? You like to look it over every so often and make sure everything’s okay — bike-washing day is a good opportunity for this. If you take your bike to the shop for service, wash it before you do so. You don’t have to bring a six-pack to your mechanic if he works for real-world wages, but don’t deliver him a dirty bike.