A Few easy Tips To Make You a Faster Cyclist

You start on a century and just a few miles into it you feel as though your bike gained 10lbs. Perhaps you are just commuting by bicycle and need to shave a couple minutes to get to your destination on time. Maybe you're a competitive cyclist in need of a more podium results. Either way you need to go a bit faster on your bike. While your local bike shop may propose a list of expensive Bike Parts sporting names such as Shimano Dura-ace, or Sram X0 to help you lose that excessive time that plagues you, there are a few simple tips that will save you time on the bike and money in your wallet. First and foremost, make yourself aero. Remember even at low speed aerodynamcy makes a huge difference when you are the motor. Imagine curling yourself up into a ball while riding. Keep your elbows tucked in and leave over as much as possible to ensure you are not acting as your own parachute. Keep your bike fly. Start with the basics, make sure your drive train is clean and your chain is in good shape. A dirty or worn out bike chain causes extra friction which eats away at the power you put you to the ground. Get a bottle of Clean-streak to clean your drive train. It's best to remove the chain and clean in detail the cassette/freewheel, and chain rings. Finish cleaning each part by blowing it with compressed air. After that, take off any unnecessary accessories to shave some weight. Do you really need that Iphone mount on your handlebar. OR what about all those saddle bags. Each item is slowing raising the weight of your bike and biting away at your power to the ground. Stay fueled. You are the motor when on a bicycle, and the motor cannot run without fuel. Start with water. Carry an adequate water supply to stay hydrated. Even on days that you don't ride, dirnk lots of water to maintain hydration. With hydration squared away, possibly add some electrolyte supplement such as Nuun Tablets to your water. Alternatively there are many other supplements on the market to help you stay fueled, reduce fatigue, and optimizing strength. Most popular with the cycling community is are gels such as Hammer Gel or Cliff Shot Blocks. Would you ride you bike with a parachute? I Didn't think so, but the reality is that your are probably riding with a parachute of sorts. Your clothing often acts as a parachute catching your wind and making you work against your self while cycling. The solution is simple, trade in your baggy clothing for some spandex. Cycling Shorts, or jerseys are optimal and have the necessary pads to keep you comfortable on the bike. However, Underamour clothing provides a cheaper and viable alternative. With those tips, get out there and ride your bike. You'll be surprised with how much faster your can go just by keeping your riding position aero. Combine that with the other tips and your are guaranteed to go a bit faster!