Hello all. Been reading the forum for a few weeks, but this is my first post.
I used to bike alot when I was a kid (lived out in the boonies, only way to see my friends miles away) and I never put any thought in to equipment or form (I was a kid after all). All my bikes were from big box stores (walmart/meijer) and always less than $150. I will say there is quite a learning curve here as there is ALOT of foreign terminology, but I have fought my way through hardtails and LBSs etc. However, today I came acrossed a term I am unfamiliar with and that was a "Masher". From what I have been able to gather with searches is that a masher is someone that either pedals in spurts or only applies power in the down stroke vs a contious motion on the pedals.
Like I said I used to bike alot and though I am out of shape since college but my legs have been consistantly large/muscular. The roads that I usually rode on where a mix of loose gravel and very washboard, old crappy paved roads, paved hilly rodes, and some ok flat paved areas. And for as long as I can remember my "form" had been to pump my legs as hard as I could to get up a good speed and then typically coast for a while and then repeat. Also, typically I would also use my arms by pulling/pushing on the handle bars while pedaling.
I am just now starting/thinking about getting back into cycling. From what I have read I have commited a sin as I am currently using a big box store bike that I think I spent $100 on 3-4 years ago.
Not my picture but its the bike I own/use except mine has the vertical handles at the end of the handlebars (you guys have some fancy term for them no doubt). I got it along time ago becasue it has a front and rear suspension and I had never had that before. Its a heavy beast and has totally "knobby" tires with no connected center tread. It takes a lot of work to keep this thing going which I really dont mind as Im used to it (my body hurts before my legs start to complain). Most of my riding is now on paved bike trails. There are a ton around my new apartment and I've never had that before.
So I guess my first question am I defining mashing correctly, and if so is it poor form?