All You Need to Know About Bicycle Riding

The list of reasons that the simple act of riding a bicycle continues to enchant, intoxicate, surprise, fulfill, improve, and challenge us goes, like a great road, on and on and on.

The Benefits of Bicycling

Developing strength, balance, and overall fitness Burning up calories Strengthening the heart, lungs, and lower-body muscles and bones Developing and strengthening the muscles surrounding the knees without impact Riding a bike is a proven stress releaser Being out on your bike is good for the people around you as well

Bicycle Riding Tips

Here, introduce some ways for you to improve your performance, safety and comfort when cycling.

1. Wear a Helmet

More than 6,000 cyclists seek emergency care for head injuries each year in the U.S., and head trauma accounts for 75 percent of cycling fatalities. Used properly, bike helmets are nearly 90 percent effective in preventing brain injuries. Pick a bright color and a helmet that fits snugly. 

2. Make Sure It Fits Your Frame

Buying a new bike? To find the right frame size for your body, straddle the bike and stand flat-footed. On a road bike, there should be one to two inches of clearance between your groin and the top tube. On a mountain bike, the clearance should be at least two inches. Your handlebars should be one inch lower than your seat top.

3. Pick the Right Seat

The hard, narrow seats on racing bikes can be particularly uncomfortable for women, who tend to have widely spaced “sit bones.” Special anatomically designed saddles—wider and more cushioned at the back—are easy to install. Gel-filled saddles or pads or sheepskin pads can ease pressure and friction. 

4. Start Slowly

If you are out of shape, it's best to start slowly. Pedal just 30 minutes or so a day on flat terrain for the first three or four weeks. Gradually, you can increase the intensity of your riding and your choice of terrain, adding hills for a better workout.

5. Dress for Comfort

If you cycle a lot, consider wearing a pair of sleek cycling shorts. They have less fabric to wrinkle or bunch up, so there’s less chance of skin irritation. For extra protection, choose cycling shorts with no seams at the crotch and special lining or padding to wick away perspiration.

6.  Go Bright When in Low Light

If you expect to cycle in low-light conditions, wear brightly colored, reflective clothing, and put reflective tape on your helmet and bike . Also, install a strong headlight and a strobe-type, blinking red tail light from Xeccon.

7.  Do Your Best Braking

To exert optimal pressure, brake with your hands at the ends of the levers. For a quick stop, press your bicycle's brakes firmly and slide your buttocks to the very back of the saddle.