How to Improve Your Bike Riding Performance

Whether you are cycling for exercise or training, there are a few age old practices that can help one tune up their bike riding performance immensely. 1. Be Proactive in Your Thinking It is ten times easier to be reactive and not proactive in our thinking, however being proactive is what actually puts you ahead of the pack, and this counts with cycling as well. Being proactive means you are taking responsibility for your riding. You are NOT doing it because you have to, need to lose some extra pounds, feel guilty about driving a car, feel you should really get some fresh air. No. These are all reactive ways of thinking and they can lead to a dark hole inside your mind that swallows up your motivation and enthusiasm. Proactivity means you do it because you WANT to do it and you take responsibly for that. You don't just talk about it, you don't just read about it, you do it because you choose to do it. And good on you for doing it! I don't like when people complain about the number of cars on the road or the lack of bike lanes. That is negative way of thinking. Proactive people tell others about the benefits of biking, make a schedule on how to improve their cycling training, help others to learn about bike lanes. The world should be run by proactive people, and it would be even better if they were all cyclists! :-) 2. Ride with Purpose There are two ways to ride. The first way involves you sitting on the bike seat, peddling your legs and going somewhere. The second involves you doing it with a purpose. You've chosen to ride, now understand what your purpose is in riding. There may be several. Are you hoping to get in better shape? Then slowly lengthen the time of your rides and begin to incorporate hills into your training. Are you training for a race? Then make sure you train well and effective. Are you riding for pleasure? Then gosh darn it have fun and go where you want to go! This may sound simple, but a little purpose into your riding will enrich the overall experience and quality. Don't just pedal, ride with purpose! Get Proper Rest I find it is becoming harder and harder for people to do this in our day and age. We are all so busy and have a million things to do. When it comes time to turn it off, turn it off and get a good night sleep. Lack of proper rest will cause fatigue and will not allow you to recover properly from your days riding. 3. Eat Healthy and Regular Getting in healthy excercise while eating garbage will not give you the results you want. Learn to eat properly. Avoid deep fried, overly sweet and refined food and drinks. What you eat after a good ride will help or hurt your body's recovery and building of muscle. Your body is like a machine that needs energy. Energy comes from good whole food. Also make sure to drink enough water, especially after a long ride. 4. Add Some Structure To Your Cyling The best way to improve your riding is to add some structure to your cycling. Don't jusr ride when you feel like it. Make a plan and a schedule to meet your goals, and if it doesn't work, adjust it until it does. Following and sticking to a training plan is a simple but effective approach and it pays off quickly. Structure will make you feel like you are accomplishing something, and given enough time, you will. You want to achieve goals that you set for yourself. It will feel good and will keep you motivated. No goals mean you float, and eventually your enthusiasim for cycling will die off. 5. Do More Then the Average Person Average people get just that, the average. In my experience, the norm is never the best alternative. Do a little extra to get the results you want. A little extra each day will add up to a mountain of extra at the end of the year. Add in an extra hill, or go a little further. No pain, no gain. With that said, make sure you stay in touch with your health and seek professional advice if you have any concerns. 6. Take Care of Your Bike Your bike is your vehicle of choice. If you look after your bicycle, your bicycle will look after you and give you many years of good service. Put together a tire replacement kit. Learn how to replace a chain. Invest in a few tools and keep your bike clean. If you enjoy bicycle maintenance, check out a good quality bike repair stand that will hold your bike elevated and solid while you fix it. Much better then turning it upside down and putting pressure on your bike's components. The above six tips are all simple but effective methods that will help you to not only improve your biking, but get the very most out of your time. Cycling is one of the best sports on earth. It is a privilege to ride, so make the most of it!