Make sure your bike fits. If your bike doesn't fit then get a different one.
Loose 10% to 15% of your body weight.
Get the fastest rolling and best handling tires you can. I recommend Vittoria Rubino G+ Speed. Get light tubes to go with them.
Get light wheels.
Get Dura Ace brake calipers and Koolstop Salmon pads. Learn to brake late and deep into a turn. So deep.
(at)Gresp15C is 138% right about keeping a bike well maintained. I would add that it should be kept clean too. It just runs better/faster, looks better and nobody wants to ride a clunker. Treat your bike like it is an Argon 18 with Bora wheels and Campy Super Record EPS, even if it isn't.
Dress nice. You will feel better even if you aren't faster.
When all else fails, always be ready with a great excuse. Great cyclists have great excuses.
-Tim-
Last edited by TimothyH; 05-01-18 at 09:53 PM.