The best cycling tips in the world...ever!
- Thread starter Vo2
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Powerbars get really stiff in the cold and will be hard to chew. You can warm them up by taking them out of the jersey pocket and slipping them in your shorts for 5 minutes. I like to slip them up past the leg band of my cycling shorts. You could also put one down the top of a leg warmer. If you're wearing tights, you might be able to put one down the waistband if you can get through all your layers.
When mounting a bicycle tire, always mount the valve stem directly in the center of the logo on a tire. The reason for this is when you get a flat, you can find the puncture in the tube and then find the corresponding place in the tire much faster. Then you can eliminate any thorns, glass, ect.. from the tire.
Wear a bandana or other cotton "head wrap" under your helmet when mountain biking. It absorbs sweat and keeps it from dripping on your glasses. Make sure your helmet is adjusted properly, but beware, it won't fit correctly without the head wrap.
Always train with 2 full large watter bottles. Ditch them in the race (use a camelbak) and your bike just got lighter.
Wear a bandana or other cotton "head wrap" under your helmet when mountain biking. It absorbs sweat and keeps it from dripping on your glasses. Make sure your helmet is adjusted properly, but beware, it won't fit correctly without the head wrap.
Always train with 2 full large watter bottles. Ditch them in the race (use a camelbak) and your bike just got lighter.
The formula for attire I've used in hikeing, and long cycling, though not necessarily applicable to racing is: A wicking fabric next to the skin, a polypropalene shirt for example (wool wicks too but itches) followed by a soaking fabric, cotton being perfect. Depending on how cold it is the more layers the better, each layer alternated. Jerzies are made from wicking fabric, so I say keep it next to your bod.
To keep a good mind set whisling or humming distracts the negative part of your brain and can keep your outlook positive. The only problem with that is you may not want to spare the breath, but it could be disconcerting to other riders if you are humming away on a climb and they're totally winded
Josh.
To keep a good mind set whisling or humming distracts the negative part of your brain and can keep your outlook positive. The only problem with that is you may not want to spare the breath, but it could be disconcerting to other riders if you are humming away on a climb and they're totally winded
Josh.
If you feel pain find out if it is related to position or overtraining. If it is related to riding position make needed corrections as soon as possible. I almost ended my cycling life early on by thinking that pain in my hip and knee were just the "price" for moving up the "Cat." ladder of racing. What I found out instead was that I had a leg length difference that needed correcting by using two different crank lengths (I now use two different pedals). [/B][/QUOTE]
Thats interesting. I have occasional pains in my knees when running or cycling and was told by the physio that it was due to my left leg being 1 inch longer than the right.
So how much shorter does the crank need to be.
Thats interesting. I have occasional pains in my knees when running or cycling and was told by the physio that it was due to my left leg being 1 inch longer than the right.
So how much shorter does the crank need to be.
I just bought some new SPD shoes
Fitted the cleat
Got on the bike
Clipped in great
got to a point where I had to stop and you guessed it could not get out!
Fell on my side no harm done as it was a quiet road but looked a right lemon!
So I think making sure you can get of clipless pedals out as well as in is important!
Fitted the cleat
Got on the bike
Clipped in great
got to a point where I had to stop and you guessed it could not get out!
Fell on my side no harm done as it was a quiet road but looked a right lemon!
So I think making sure you can get of clipless pedals out as well as in is important!
In response to Diddyman,
I am the one who posted the quote that you are referring to.
I nearly had to quit racing because I didn't know that I had a leg length difference. At the time I found this out I didn't have access to a sports doctor, so I had to go by trial and error to see what would suit me best. At the time I was using 175mm cranks so I tried a 172.5mm on the left (short) side and felt that wasn't enough, so I tried a 170mm on the short-leg side and that worked wonders.
Since then I have tried using different pedals on each side to make up the difference, but have now gone back to just using different crank lengths since this is much easier.
Try looking at the High Sierra Cycle Center website, they specialize in fitting people who have this very problem. A 1 inch difference is significant and I can see why running would be a problem. But once you sort this out on your bicycle you won't notice anything being out of the ordinary!! It's wonderful, it is as if the leg length difference doesn't exist.
Good luck and keep working on your position on the bike until you get it sorted out.
I am the one who posted the quote that you are referring to.
I nearly had to quit racing because I didn't know that I had a leg length difference. At the time I found this out I didn't have access to a sports doctor, so I had to go by trial and error to see what would suit me best. At the time I was using 175mm cranks so I tried a 172.5mm on the left (short) side and felt that wasn't enough, so I tried a 170mm on the short-leg side and that worked wonders.
Since then I have tried using different pedals on each side to make up the difference, but have now gone back to just using different crank lengths since this is much easier.
Try looking at the High Sierra Cycle Center website, they specialize in fitting people who have this very problem. A 1 inch difference is significant and I can see why running would be a problem. But once you sort this out on your bicycle you won't notice anything being out of the ordinary!! It's wonderful, it is as if the leg length difference doesn't exist.
Good luck and keep working on your position on the bike until you get it sorted out.
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