7 Tips For Riding With Faster Cyclists
Since moving to Victoria I've had to accept that I'm no longer able to call myself one of the "fast cyclists". Admittedly when I first got out here I wasn't incredibly fit. Since then I've regained most of my fitness from last year, which allows me to at least ride with the faster locals. Here are some of the tricks I use to keep up.
Sag Climbing
The Greater Victoria area is best described as rolling terrain. There are very few flat areas and very few long climbs, so rolling into the bottom of the kickers with more momentum gets you up faster. Attacking the group just before you hit the bottom gives you more momentum and puts you at the front of the group. Starting at the front means that when your ride buddies inevitably go up the hill faster than you, they'll be passing you instead of dropping you.
Get Aero
If you're strong enough to be pulling through, try to poke as small a hole into the wind as you can. Riding in the drops, or better yet, on the hoods but with your forearms horizontal, drastically decreases how much power is needed to hold the pace. I find that I'll often save 50-100 watts, a rather substantial saving.
Token Pulls
If getting aero isn't quite enough but still want to pull through, perform a token pull. This is when you simply roll through. You still poke a hole in the wind as you go to the front of the group, but only stay for 15 seconds (or no seconds, depends on how you're feeling) and pull off right away. The person behind will appreciate a couple extra seconds of rest.
Save Watts
If you're struggling to hold on to a group, you want all the energy you put into the pedals to go to the ground. Cleaning your bike and applying the proper chain lube can both save weight (depending on how dirty your bike is) and watts. This is a good, low-cost way to get a bit of extra speed. If you have disposable income, getting ceramic bearings, a waxed chain, oversized pulley wheels, carbon wheels, a lighter bike... I could do an entire post on this, the point is, save a watt here, two watts there, it can become substantial.
Just Sit On
At the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with just sitting on. Everybody was slow at some point, we've all been dropped, and will (...should) understand that every time you ride with someone faster than you, you also get faster, and you'll be able to pull through eventually. If they don't understand, you're saving them up to 4% power by sitting on.
Ride An E-Bike
That's right, I said it, an e-bike. If you simply can't keep up on the hills but want to ride with a faster group of riders, and you have understanding friends, an e-bike will give you some extra power on the way up the hills and gives you some extra momentum on the downhills. You will need to brake a bit harder going into corners, but that's why disc brakes exist.
Look Good
When you do get dropped (it happens to the best of us) just look good. If you're on a drop ride (the group won't wait for you), take a good look at the scenery. I noticed a particularly nice looking mountain range yesterday because I'd sat up, that's right, an entire mountain range. If you're in a race go for style points. Make it look like you're off the front in a solo break, put on your best pain face, and hope there's a photographer.
I hope that this helps you on your next ride. May the wind be ever at your back and legs be fresher than a pillow with a mint on it.
Stay Cool Internet ;)
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| Getting On pc: Rod Colwell |
Sag Climbing
The Greater Victoria area is best described as rolling terrain. There are very few flat areas and very few long climbs, so rolling into the bottom of the kickers with more momentum gets you up faster. Attacking the group just before you hit the bottom gives you more momentum and puts you at the front of the group. Starting at the front means that when your ride buddies inevitably go up the hill faster than you, they'll be passing you instead of dropping you.
Get Aero
If you're strong enough to be pulling through, try to poke as small a hole into the wind as you can. Riding in the drops, or better yet, on the hoods but with your forearms horizontal, drastically decreases how much power is needed to hold the pace. I find that I'll often save 50-100 watts, a rather substantial saving.
Token Pulls
If getting aero isn't quite enough but still want to pull through, perform a token pull. This is when you simply roll through. You still poke a hole in the wind as you go to the front of the group, but only stay for 15 seconds (or no seconds, depends on how you're feeling) and pull off right away. The person behind will appreciate a couple extra seconds of rest.
Save Watts
If you're struggling to hold on to a group, you want all the energy you put into the pedals to go to the ground. Cleaning your bike and applying the proper chain lube can both save weight (depending on how dirty your bike is) and watts. This is a good, low-cost way to get a bit of extra speed. If you have disposable income, getting ceramic bearings, a waxed chain, oversized pulley wheels, carbon wheels, a lighter bike... I could do an entire post on this, the point is, save a watt here, two watts there, it can become substantial.
 |
| A fresh set of tires can help too. |
Just Sit On
At the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with just sitting on. Everybody was slow at some point, we've all been dropped, and will (...should) understand that every time you ride with someone faster than you, you also get faster, and you'll be able to pull through eventually. If they don't understand, you're saving them up to 4% power by sitting on.
Ride An E-Bike
That's right, I said it, an e-bike. If you simply can't keep up on the hills but want to ride with a faster group of riders, and you have understanding friends, an e-bike will give you some extra power on the way up the hills and gives you some extra momentum on the downhills. You will need to brake a bit harder going into corners, but that's why disc brakes exist.
Look Good
When you do get dropped (it happens to the best of us) just look good. If you're on a drop ride (the group won't wait for you), take a good look at the scenery. I noticed a particularly nice looking mountain range yesterday because I'd sat up, that's right, an entire mountain range. If you're in a race go for style points. Make it look like you're off the front in a solo break, put on your best pain face, and hope there's a photographer.
I hope that this helps you on your next ride. May the wind be ever at your back and legs be fresher than a pillow with a mint on it.
Stay Cool Internet ;)
cycling is really a good exercise and thanks for sharing the information
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