redfooj

once a while during a ride i suddenly become conscious of my breathing... is there a best way to do it? or just go with whats natural? obviousl sometimes (e.g. struggling on climbs) you just go with whats instictive (rapid pulses through mouth).... but going at a decent pace on the flats, should i try to take deep long breaths or something else?

merlinextraligh

There are various strategies. One is to try to synchronize it with your pedal stroke.

Honestly the body
Is pretty good at breathing and I don't think conscious effort changes thingm much.

One easy thing that
Can help
Is to focus
On exhaling. Fully exhale, and your body
Will handle the inhale

Doctor Morbius

I've found in and out to be pretty optimal, whether on the bike or whilst sleeping.

mcours2006

Never thought about it on the bike, but when I'm running I am usually in sync with my footfalls. Tempo runs are two steps in two steps out. Easy pace is three/four in and three/four out.

I'll have to pay close attention the next time I'm on the bike to see if this is true. My cadence falls right in line with my footfalls in running though--92 rpm and 184 steps/minute.

Pendergast

Inhale through the left nostril, exhale through the right nostril.

DrIsotope

/thread.

FeltF2Tarmac

Merlin is correct, I find by fully exhaling it helps a great deal, especially on climbs. There is a coach type video I seen on you tube and the video explains it in terms of making a recover when falling back from a group. Instead of many quick shallow breaths you can regain controled breathing and take in more oxygen. At least this was my take on it and found it works when I need it too.

FullGas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaphragmatic_breathing

dougmon 

Here's something that worked for me, but I did it off of the bike first. Whenever I was walking, I practiced deep breathing. It go so I could breathe without reference to the rhythm of my walking, and when I got on the bike, I was able to breathe without reference to the rhythm of my pedaling. I believe this keeps me pretty well oxygenated.

big john

There is a technique called "breathplay" where you time your breathing, count it against your cadence or some other rythmic method.
mcours reffered to it above.

redfooj

In through nose and out through mouth?

(Control of breathing is a pretty significant factor in combat sports)

Had deviated septum for a long time so I had little choice in the matter until the nose got fixed.

dstrong 

I tend to breath in rhythm with my pedal stroke when riding and my foot fall when running. I've found I can't run with music because it ruins my rhythm. I was running behind someone the other day who had in earbuds...initially he was pulling away from me, then a few minutes later I started gaining on him...then a few minutes later he started pulling away again. I attributed it to song changes.

NYMXer

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. I have learned that when I focus on fully exhaling, the rest takes care of itself. I actually blow out the bad air to let in the good. When I go to the gym and work on my cardio, it has a heart rate monitor, so I use it. Fully exhaling actually lowers my heart rate as compared to just letting my body figure it out unconsciously.

on the path

Coupla things you can take to the bank, all joking aside:

Babies breathe abdominally. Many people somehow end up gravitating towards chest breathing, which is much less efficient.

A full, relaxed inhale begins with expanding the abdomen, followed by expanding the chest and raising the collar bone.

The louder the breathing is, the less efficient it is.

Take a class or 2 in Hatha yoga. You will learn much about correct breathing if you do.