stapfam

Easy way to ride in circles is to Practice. I went to spinning classes and learnt more about pulling up on the pedals than I realised. The gym bikes had toe clips and straps that I really had to keep very tight to do the exercise. Out on the bike a few days after and I found I was pulling the feet off the pedals- on the up stroke. Tightened the pedals and cured it for a month or so- then it was tighten again. Every now and then- I loosen the pedals to see what happens. Surprising how many times I pull out on the upstroke and that is with my normal pedalling stroke.

Now Up severe hills- I lose every thing. I do concentrate on some of the steeper parts of the hill on pulling up on the pedals- as I know that I start putting power in on the Downstroke only. This gets worse by the 3rd hill of the morning- but a couple of years more practice and I might get it right.

Daft thing is that on a flattish ride- I do not think about the pedalling- it is just work the pedals and enjoy the scenery- Couple of times just recently these have been my fastest rides for a while. Couple of rides like this and I start on the hills again. It pays off- No hammering up them- Look around- don't bother about the computer and at the end of the ride- Or at least by the time I get to the cafe-I could go for another 20 miles or so. Just a pity about the Butt ache occasionally.(But even that is getting less.)