Proper cycling

Bike is a popular means of transportation both among sports people and among lovers of measured trips around the city. A proper fit ensures no health problems. In this article we will discuss how to sit while riding mountain, highway and city bicycles.

In addition to the factors associated with the person, the correct fit is also affected by those that depend on the bicycle, namely: the frame, saddle and steering wheel.

Buying a bike with a high frame is not recommended due to the inconvenience of steering control. He will have to reach out, which will affect his posture. Also, with a steep descent, you will need to break away from the saddle. The optimal height frame should be determined before purchase, since then you can no longer change it. It is best if you choose a bike in the shoes in which you have to ride.

To configure it, you can use the following method. Sit on a bicycle and, with your knees bent almost completely, choose a suitable height. The saddle can be secured with a key. The type of saddle and its height affect the pelvic organs, so it should be comfortable.

When scrolling pedals the hips should not go to the sides, the foot should freely, effortlessly depress the pedals. The saddle tilt is set individually, most cyclists do not change it. After the first trip, you will feel in which position your back will be more comfortable.

Its geometry and location are necessary for a correct fit, as it plays an important role in the distribution of weight. Too much to lower the steering wheel is not good for posture. However, it should not be higher than the saddle. Otherwise, the control will be fuzzy.Steering wheels are straight, suitable for quiet or short trips, or curved - for athletes, mountain lovers. Also, curved handlebars are placed on some road bikes, they are well suited for people with osteochondrosis.

When traveling on a bicycle at any distance, it is desirable to have certain attributes.

• Helmet. Protects you from injuries. He should not hang on his head or squeeze it. Before riding, make sure you adjust it to fit your head.
• Cycling shorts. Clothing of this or similar type is indispensable when traveling long distances.
• Gloves. Help to avoid the appearance of corns. Closed gloves will warm additionally in cold weather. For the summer you can buy fingerless gloves.
• Glasses. Protect not only from the sun, but also from the wind.
• The call. So you can quickly and without screaming warn pedestrians that you need to drive.

The correct position for cycling is the key to good posture. Let’s take a closer look at how to sit on a bicycle.

• Arms. Put them on the shifters. If you have a speed switch, then your fingers should easily reach it. The approximate angle between the arms and the body is 90 degrees.
• Taz. In order to avoid injuries and problems with posture, this issue should be given enough attention. Sitting on a bicycle should be comfortable. A leather saddle is best modified for its owner. At first it may be a little uncomfortable, but over time this feeling will pass.
• Knee and elbows. They must not touch. Otherwise, your arms and legs will be bruised. The greater the speed a cyclist develops, the more he bends his arms at his elbows. This can be clearly seen in cycling when the participants are almost lying on the steering wheel.

For a comfortable fit, athletes, like all men, due to their anatomical features, acquire narrow saddles. Female gender chooses wide saddlessince they are more comfortable for girls.

For a more complete understanding of correct posture, we turn to the scheme.

• When riding a bike, it is important to be able to pedal properly, softening the bumps in the road.
• The back needs to be bent a little, however it should not sag. Strong bending will lead to stiffness and muscle strain.
• Bend your elbows a bit and hold in that position.
• If you slightly forward the shoulders, the weight will be evenly distributed between the upper and lower parts of the body.

Of course, at first landing will be unusual, for a long time in this position you will not ride. But over time, if the bike is picked up and adjusted correctly, you will get used to it, and a trip with the correct posture will be a pleasure.

A road bike is chosen for trips around a city or highway, while developing the highest possible speeds. Landing on such a bike has a number of features, which include tuning it. Only by doing this correctly, you can comfortably sit on the road bike, revealing all its charms.

Do not be surprised that the steering wheel of a road bike is set lower than that of a conventional one. At the initial stages, you can slightly raise it to quickly get used to the bike.

When riding on a highway and racing bikes, the body is tilted forward (closer to the horizontal position), while riding a city bike, road bike, the back is almost upright.

When riding on a mountain (cross-country) bike redistribute the weight between the wheels. This is necessary for comfortable overcoming all sorts of obstacles: mud, ravines, puddles. By moving the body back and forth, weight can be effectively distributed. For example, during the descent it is better to lean back a little, and, conversely, when climbing, you should bend to the steering wheel.

With a low landing against the wind and when descending from the mountain, riding is easier - the body is tilted forward at an angle of 45 degrees. A direct steering wheel can interfere - it is not very suitable for maneuvers.

Overcoming obstacles such as curbs, roots, hollows and other bumps in the road, you should separate from the saddle. This is necessary not only in order not to break the bike, but also in order not to harm your health and not cause injuries.

A folding bike is a lightweight bike that can be folded compactly. The foldable is usually large low frame and small wheels, some models even have a motor. With such a transport easier to travel in the subway. They sit on a folding bike mainly in the same way as on a road bike.

The landing of riders is characterized by the desire to reduce air resistance as much as possible and, accordingly, develop maximum speed. Especially for them were created special curved steering wheels. The driver looks a little sneakily at the road. The greater the speed, the more the body approaches the horizontal position. And vice versa. With low speed associated with the adoption of a vertical position.

The chopping bike was created specifically for participation in cycling and differs from the usual road bike in the following parameters:

• frame geometry;
• pipe shape;
• large gears;
• driving.

The difference between landing on a cutting bike is a smaller slope, that is, the cyclist sits closer to the vertical axis.

On some Cruiser road bikes and bikes, the steering wheel is bent upward. This is done so that the back can take a vertical position.

At low speeds, the back muscles do not get tired. With a vertical landing, problems begin if a day you drive distances of 50 km.

An excessively high landing is associated with pain in the legs. However, they may appear with a low landing. All of the above tips are general in nature. Knowing these basic principles, it will be easier for you to customize your bike individually. Do not be afraid to experiment - comfort is very important when driving.

Improper landing on a bicycle causes stress, exhausts and harms health. Consider several options for mistakes that are made most often.

• Among people starting to learn a new type of transport, you can often find cyclists with the wrong grip. For example, do not twist your wrists forward or back and down.
• With a shift in the center of gravity of the body to the steering wheel, your hands may become numb. This is due to their overload. To avoid this, you can replace the steering wheel or move the saddle back.
• Leakage of the legs occurs due to an incorrectly selected saddle. Too narrow squeezes blood flow in the muscles and leads to numbness of the limbs. Pain in the knees can occur with a too high fit.
• Do not keep arms or legs straight when passing obstacles. One wrong move - and the problems are provided.
• Do not focus your eyes on the front wheel. It’s better to always look ahead. Even if at first it is difficult to do, you need to try to control this moment. A good fit increases your horizons.

So, we found out that proper fit while riding a bicycle plays an important role. For each type of bike, it has its own differences. Do not forget about your health, and cycling will bring benefits and pleasure.

See how to properly adjust your bike ride in the next video.