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14 min read<\/p>\n14 min read<\/p>\n
When was the last time you thought about your road bike skills? We often get so caught up in progressing our fitness<\/a>, we forget about honing our technique. But riding a bike is not as simple as pedaling<\/a> in a straight line\u2014there are skills involved in becoming a better cyclist.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about progression a lot when we talk about fitness: If you follow a training plan<\/a>, you\u2019re going to gradually progress each phase of your fitness,\u201d says Lorri Lee Lown, founder of Velo Girls<\/a> and longtime head coach at Savvy Bike<\/a>. \u201cBut when we look at the \u2018skill\u2019 part of cycling, we don\u2019t do the same thing. If I were to do anything else as an adult learner, I\u2019d take classes and practice, but we don\u2019t do that on the bike. We tend to think about how far or fast<\/a> we can ride, but we don\u2019t think about how precisely we ride.\u201d<\/p>\n New to cycling\u2014or ready to improve? Dial in the core skills that make every ride smoother with our How to Master Riding Technique<\/a> program.<\/p>\n Take climbs<\/a>, for example. \u201cEvery little grade that I go up, I\u2019m climbing, and every little grade that I go down, I\u2019m descending<\/a>,\u201d says Lown. \u201cIt can be the smallest hill, but I still try to think about my position, my shifting<\/a>, my braking<\/a>\u2014I\u2019m reinforcing the skill set. Then, when you\u2019re in a higher-risk situation, like those 10 percent grades and higher, you feel more comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n Let\u2019s dig into a few of the key skills for safe, smooth, and fun road cycling, with help from a few expert coaches and pro riders. Now, all you have to do is practice!<\/p>\n 1. Know Where to Look<\/p>\n As a new rider<\/a>, your natural urge is to look at the road directly in front of you, but doing this means you\u2019re potentially missing an important thing… like that upcoming giant pothole, the turn you need to make, or the unpredictable car in the next lane. It can be dangerous to keep your head down and your eyes focused on the few feet of pavement ahead of you.<\/p>\n \u201cOur bikes and bodies tend to go where we look, so look where you want to go,\u201d says road racer and Olympian Leah Kirchmann<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s smart to always scan the roads ahead to acknowledge the danger zones and obstacles, and then shift your focus on the correct path to take.\u201d<\/p>\n This means not just locking your eyes on one distance. You need to look down to check your time or your map occasionally, you need to scan the immediate area in front of you for obstacles and debris on the road, and you want to look farther ahead to see if there are any upcoming changes in gradient or corners.<\/p>\n Riding in a pack<\/a> makes knowing where to look even more important: It\u2019s so easy to focus on the rear wheel that\u2019s directly in front of you, but, in reality, you want to look farther ahead, paying attention to any changes in pace or riders moving to one side to avoid an obstacle.<\/p>\n The only time you may need to stop looking ahead is when you check for cars behind you, especially if you have an upcoming turn. Before you check behind, make sure that the road ahead is clear and there aren\u2019t any upcoming obstacles. Then, carefully look over your shoulder, keeping both hands on your handlebar. (Some more advanced riders will let go of one side of the handlebar in order to turn around more fully, but that\u2019s rarely necessary.)<\/p>\n Having good neck mobility<\/a> is helpful here, as some cyclists need to turn their entire torso in order to see behind them. Sometimes, standing up helps riders get a better angle to look behind them, so try that if you struggle to turn your neck<\/a> enough. (Also, if you struggle with this, it might be time to check in with a physical therapist for some mobility exercises<\/a>!)<\/p>\n 2. Get Comfortable With Clipped-In Pedals<\/p>\n If you recently swapped your flat pedals for clipless road pedals<\/a>, you likely had a few wobbles as you tried to figure out how to get the bike moving smoothly. Maybe you even toppled over once or twice.<\/p>\n But good news: \u201cEverybody says you have to fall three times to figure out clipping in and getting started,\u201d says Lown. \u201cIf we understand the physics of the bike and how to use our momentum, we\u2019ll stay upright.\u201d<\/p>\n Here, Lown offers a checklist to keep in mind as you get rolling when riding clipped-in:<\/p>\n Start on a surface conducive to rolling. As you\u2019re learning this skill, avoid starting on an uphill or on soft grass\u2014momentum is your friend. (Yes, it\u2019s tempting to start on a soft surface in case of crashes, but you\u2019ll struggle more to get moving! If you\u2019re truly nervous, opt for more worn-in\/packed-down grass.)Check your gearing. You want to be somewhere in the middle of your range, where you\u2019ll get a bit of momentum from that first strong pedal stroke<\/a>, but it\u2019s not so hard that you\u2019re barely able to get started.Stand over your bike and clip one foot into your pedal. Lown recommends putting the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke to make clipping it in easier\u2014then raise that pedal to almost straight up, but slightly forward so when you press into it, it immediately pushes down.Look to the road, toward the horizon. Focus on where you want to go. Don\u2019t look down! Hands should be on your handlebar, covering your brakes<\/a>.Let go of your brakes and press down with the foot that\u2019s clipped in while lifting your butt up onto the saddle<\/a> and lifting your other foot onto the other pedal. Don\u2019t stress about clipping that other foot in right away, focus on keeping your momentum. Pedal, pedal, pedal!As you\u2019re in motion, think about the rest of your body. Your core should be strong<\/a>, your arms should be loose, your hands should be covering the brakes. You\u2019re ready for anything, but you\u2019re not feeling rigid.If you haven\u2019t managed to get that other foot clipped in, once you\u2019re up to a comfortable cruising speed, you can troubleshoot and coast while you clip in. \u201cToo many people try to [clip in the other foot] while they\u2019re still really unstable,\u201d says Lown. \u201cIt\u2019s so much easier if you just wait.\u201d3. Figure Out How to Corner<\/p>\n From wide, sweeping corners<\/a> to tight U-turns, taking corners on a road bike is something that even the top pros practice regularly. For a new rider, navigating a corner means getting around a turn comfortably and safely, while, for a top pro, zipping around a corner without needing to scrub any speed can be the difference between a win in a criterium race<\/a> or a 10th-place finish.<\/p>\n The advice is usually to take corners as wide as possible, making the angle as gentle as possible so you don\u2019t need to turn as sharply. But when you\u2019re riding on open roads, it\u2019s important to be very aware of opposing traffic and the yellow line in the middle of the road, says Angie Ridgel, PhD, of Stelleri Performance Training<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll want to drop your speed ahead of the corner rather than braking once you\u2019re already turning,\u201d she adds. Trying to slow down while you\u2019re in the corner can cause you to slide out, so use your brakes to come to a comfortable speed before you start to lean into the corner. You can corner while on the tops or in the drops, but don\u2019t try to change hand position while you\u2019re in the turn\u2014making the panicked move from tops to drops or vice versa as you\u2019re leaning into the corner can destabilize you and cause a crash<\/a>.<\/p>\n As you approach a corner, stay on your side of the road but get as wide as you can coming into the corner, then ride toward the apex (the tightest part) of the corner and go wide again on the exit.<\/p>\n Courtesy Molly Hurford<\/p>\n Let your body lean into the corner (tilting toward the tightest part of the corner) and put your inside pedal up to avoid the risk of clipping a curb or debris on the road. Your outside pedal will be down. For more stability<\/a> as you lean, think about pressing your weight into that outside foot.<\/p>\n The tighter the corner, the slower and more upright you\u2019ll have to be, so don\u2019t stress if you feel like a snail while you\u2019re doing a U-turn, says Ridgel. \u201cEven in a U-turn, get as wide as you can in the corner, because even a couple extra feet can make a difference in how smooth a corner is. And remember to keep that inside foot up,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt makes the corner feel smoother, and in a tight U-turn, it\u2019s much safer!\u201d<\/p>\n Want to boost your skills even more? Coach Kevin Simms of Ignite Junior Cycling<\/a> in Canada is a fan of adding more people to a corner, especially if your goal is to race on the road or ride in groups. \u201cYou need to practice all the different variations of corners so you\u2019re ready for anything,\u201d he says. \u201cIncrease pace<\/a>, hit corners with other riders, switch directions\u2014get used to all types of corners, not just the ones on your usual ride route<\/a>!\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re riding in the rain<\/a>, these principles remain the same, but Kirchmann recommends lowering your speed even further, running a slightly lower tire pressure<\/a> for better contact with the ground, and keeping your bike and body slightly more upright to stay in control. You won\u2019t be as speedy, but you\u2019ll be safe!<\/p>\n 4. Smooth Out Your Starts and Stops<\/p>\n Most road bikes<\/a> are now equipped with disc brakes<\/a>, so if you\u2019re returning to riding<\/a> after a long hiatus, you may have a few awkward stops as you get used to the faster, more powerful stopping capability of disc brakes versus cantilever or caliper brakes of the past. Modulating your brakes rather than slamming them is critical.<\/p>\n Think of your brakes like a dimmer switch rather than an on\/off light switch, says Lown. During your next ride, play around with gently squeezing both brakes, learning how to modulate that stopping power so you can easily slow down when you need to. Your goal should always be to proactively brake, rather than need to brake abruptly, whether that\u2019s as you\u2019re going down a hill<\/a>, coming into a corner, or riding up to a stoplight.<\/p>\n \u201cOur panic response is typically to slam on the brakes, whether it\u2019s in our car or on our bike,\u201d says Lown. \u201cAvoid that. But if you do need to come to a fast, abrupt stop, pull on both your front and rear brake, and shift your weight as far back on the bike as possible to counteract the force of your front wheel stopping. Otherwise, you may find yourself flying over your handlebar.\u201d<\/p>\n As you get more comfortable using your brakes, you can play with using your front brake and your rear brake separately from each other. The front brake will stop you more abruptly, while the rear brake, when fully applied at speed, can cause you to skid or fishtail.<\/p>\n 5. Work on Drafting<\/p>\n Drafting<\/a>\u2014the art of tucking behind another rider and using them to block the wind and save you energy\u2014is important for any road rider who wants to ride in a group<\/a>. And it can be scary, especially at first. \u201cDrafting is a high-level skill and should be taken seriously,\u201d says Lown. \u201cA race or charity ride shouldn\u2019t be the first place you\u2019re trying it!\u201d<\/p>\n Practice being in front and in back for better drafting.<\/p>\n A few rules to keep in mind:<\/p>\n Practice with a friend who\u2019s already a good cyclist or go to a clinic or group ride targeted at beginners<\/a>. This is a skill that\u2019s going to be harder to learn if you\u2019re both new to it!Maintain a distance between your front wheel and the rear wheel of the rider in front of you that makes you feel comfortable. At first, this might be a meter. Pro road riders will be within inches (sometimes even closer) of each other, but that\u2019s dangerous for a first-timer. As you get used to drafting, you will naturally get closer and closer to the rider ahead of you. \u201cIt\u2019s better to still leave enough space to react to any movements from the rider in front of you,\u201d says Kirchmann. \u201cIt isn\u2019t necessary to be directly on the wheel.\u201dPay attention to your surroundings. Listen to the rider in front of you, because they may call out an obstacle before steering around it. You can also listen for shifting, which would indicate a change in gradient (a climb or descent) that\u2019s coming up, and thanks to the screechy nature of disc brakes, you can often hear when the front of the group is slowing down.Modulate your speed carefully whether you\u2019re in the front or in the middle of a pack. Try to avoid sudden changes in pace<\/a>, both when speeding up and slowing down.Don\u2019t be afraid to speak up! If you need to go slower, let the person in front of you know. If you see a stick in the road and you have a rider drafting behind you, call it out.6. Perfect Your Climbing Skills<\/p>\n Climbing may not seem like a skill you need to practice (or that you want to practice), but it\u2019s an important part of being a strong cyclist<\/a>.<\/p>\n First of all, stay on the hoods or the tops of your handlebar when you climb: Bending over to reach the drops will limit your breathing<\/a> and slow you down, explains Phil Gaimon<\/a>, a pro cyclist who\u2019s arguably best known for his quests to take the toughest King of the Mountain Strava segments in the world.<\/p>\n Focus on having a relaxed upper body, too\u2014tension in your shoulders<\/a> and neck<\/a> is just wasted energy.<\/p>\n For the most part, Gaimon recommends staying seated. \u201cUnless it\u2019s a short, steep climb where the top is in sight, stay seated if you can,\u201d he says. You may want to stand just to change things up and give your body a break for a few pedal strokes, but don\u2019t stay standing for long\u2014it costs too much energy.<\/p>\n Gaimon also suggests not stressing about your cadence<\/a>\u2014how fast or slow you\u2019re spinning the pedals. \u201cObviously, you don\u2019t want to do a long climb in your hardest gear where you\u2019re barely turning the pedals. But at the same time, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a certain number of pedal strokes<\/a> you need to be taking in a minute,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Instead, focus on the feel of smooth pedal strokes, pulling up and pressing down in an even motion. \u201cThis helps you utilize all of your muscles<\/a>,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n Also, stop the urge to go out as hard as you possibly can. \u201cFor longer climbs, pacing is everything,\u201d he says. \u201cI divide a climb into thirds and try to ride the first part so it feels easy, the second part so it feels moderate, and the final part so it feels hard. The pace and power<\/a> tend to stay steady when I pace myself this way, and it always ends with me finishing much better than if I had started out going hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Practicing your climbing skill<\/a> is similar to cornering: You want to mix up your stimuli, says Simms. \u201cClimbing is an art form or skill that is developed over time,\u201d he notes. \u201cYou need to climb lots to actually get good at climbing!\u201d This means riding long, short, gradual, and steep climbs, rather than sticking to the same two-minute climb near your house.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t know where other climbs are? Check an app like Strava<\/a>, which shows elevation profiles of routes<\/a>, or ask your local cycling club for recommendations.<\/p>\n 7. Learn How to Descend<\/p>\n Going downhill<\/a> is all about staying loose and relaxed, while modulating your speed and keeping your eyes on the road\u2014and where you want to go. Awareness is key, so even if you\u2019ve been listening to music for the rest of your ride, consider descending in silence so you can be better aware of your surroundings.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, you\u2019ll want to be in the drops on a descent, with your fingers still covering your brakes so you\u2019re ready to modulate your speed as needed. The lower you are, the more stable you are\u2014but riding in the drops<\/a> does take some getting used to! \u201cIt can feel scary at first, but really, it\u2019s safer,\u201d Gaimon notes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want your weight centered between your two wheels,\u201d says Gaimon. \u201cI also like having one pedal down, and I\u2019m pushing into that pedal\u2014that adds a lot of stability<\/a>. You\u2019ll switch which foot is down depending on if there\u2019s a corner coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n At the same time, you also want to be relaxed: Your goal is to \u201cfloat\u201d over bumps in the road rather than trying to fight them. This means keeping your core<\/a> engaged, but leaving a bit of laxity to your limbs, letting them act as suspension.<\/p>\n When you do encounter a corner while riding downhill, safety<\/a> is absolutely critical. \u201cIf it\u2019s a blind turn, assume that there\u2019s a car coming in the other direction, possibly over the line,\u201d says Gaimon. \u201cAdjust your speed early so you\u2019re not braking while in the corner. It\u2019s even more important to do this on a downhill because you\u2019ll have more speed as you enter the turn.\u201d<\/p>\n You might assume that a former World Tour rider and top pro would relish the idea of racing downhills, but Gaimon is actually incredibly safety conscious while descending. \u201cAlways remember that you\u2019re not on closed roads. Have fun on descents, but don\u2019t have too much fun. It\u2019s not worth ripping around the corner if there might be a UPS truck turning into a driveway,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n 8. Rehearse Your Eating and Drinking While Riding<\/p>\n Eating and drinking on the bike<\/a> is a skill that often gets ignored outside of nutritional recommendations of how much to eat and drink per hour (a bottle of water and 200 to 400 calories\u2019 worth of carbs<\/a>, in case you were wondering). But learning to remove your water bottle<\/a> and successfully return it to its holder can be tricky when you\u2019re new to riding, as can getting that bar or gel out of your jersey pocket.<\/p>\n Here are a few quick tips to mastering both skills:<\/p>\n Take advantage of every stop. This will make it the most seamless. Rolled up to a red light? Use this chance to grab a gel or swig a few sips of water<\/a> before you\u2019re rolling again.Always keep your eyes where you want to go. This is the biggest mistake riders make when trying to grab a gel or their bottle, but looking ahead rather than down is going to keep you moving forward versus riding erratically. It takes some practice.Try it inside. When you\u2019re riding on your trainer, don\u2019t put your bottle and snacks<\/a> on a nearby table. Instead, pull gels out of your pocket and pull your water bottle in and out of the holder. While you\u2019re doing this, practice keeping your head up, paying attention to what\u2019s in front of you, not the water bottle cage. Do this often enough and your muscle memory will start to kick in even when riding outside.Keep your gels in the easiest pocket to access, especially when you\u2019re new to riding. This is usually the pocket on your dominant hand side.Remember that speed is a good thing. As Lown said earlier, momentum is your friend, and if you slow down too much, you\u2019ll start to wobble. You can\u2019t necessarily pedal the entire time you\u2019re reaching for your bottle or putting it back, but you can make sure you\u2019re only drinking when you\u2019re moving fast enough to coast comfortably for a few pedal strokes.Practice makes perfect! Eating and drinking on the bike is tricky, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Even on short rides<\/a>, practice drinking from your bottle and after a few rides, it\u2019ll start to feel more natural.Get Exclusive Training Programs and Digital Issues Molly writes about cycling, nutrition and training with an emphasis on bringing more women into sport. She’s the author of nine books including the Shred Girls series and is the founder of Strong Girl Publishing<\/a>. She co-hosts The Consummate Athlete Podcast<\/a> and spends most of her free time biking and running on trails, occasionally joined by her mini-dachshund.<\/p>\n![\"graphic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/molly-hurford-cornering-graphic-1675120428.jpg\" "\\"graphic")
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Trevor Raab<\/p>\n![\"Chevron](\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/arrow-left-regular.dc4f48a.svg?primary=%2523D4D4D4\"){kind=icon}
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