Cycling is a lower body sport. It is easier to master than swimming because it does not take as much time to become proficienft.

The technical aspects of cycling evolve around body position and pedaling efficiency.   Given the same power output, a rider sitting tall will be slower than a crouched rider.

The wind acts as a resistance to forward movement which slows the cyclist down.  To minimize the wind
resistance, the cyclist must become as aerodynamic as possible by keeping the body low with knees and elbows tucked in.

Pedaling efficiency provides the power to cut through the wind resistance.   To maximize that power over a long period of time, the cyclist must develop a smooth stroke concentrating on maintaining a steady circular pattern with a cadence of 70 to 90 revolutions per minute.

This is different from the technique used by sprinters who pump the pedals in an upldown piston-like action. Although the motion is circular, the main forces acting on the pedal occur, on the downstroke while the upstroke is used as a short recovery phase.

Filed under: Cycling

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!