{"id":588080,"date":"2026-05-16T23:23:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T23:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/588080\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T23:23:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T23:23:36","slug":"forget-race-bikes-here-are-the-6-things-that-will-make-you-a-faster-cyclist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/588080\/","title":{"rendered":"Forget race bikes, here are the 6 things that will make you a faster cyclist"},"content":{"rendered":"

With every product launch, we\u2019re told this new thing \u2013 from helmets to shoes, wheels to handlebars \u2013 will make you a faster cyclist.<\/p>\n

But in my four decades of riding and testing bikes, kit and components, very few have increased my speed significantly. <\/p>\n

Bike brands cite data and testing that \u2018proves\u2019 their products will make you faster.\u00a0But in reality, for the average rider who doesn\u2019t pin on a race number, what do these differences mean?\u00a0<\/p>\n

If we take the recent news in endurance bikes<\/a>, Canyon says its own wind-tunnel data suggests the new Endurace CFR<\/a> is over 10 watts more efficient than the previous bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s with the bike being ridden at 45kph \/ 27mph. How many of us can hold that sort of speed for any significant amount of time?\u00a0<\/p>\n

I accept that aerodynamics help a rider like me, even if the benefit is much smaller than to an elite pro rider \u2013 and if you want an aero bike<\/a>, go for it, enjoy it, love it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the following tips from my time riding bikes are what have really made me faster, more efficient and more capable. And they could work for you, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ride more and ride variety\u00a0\u00a0
\n\"GTVariety makes a big difference to your riding. <\/p>\n

The simplest advice I have is\u00a0more miles on the bike equals more speed.<\/p>\n

On the one hand, this is about fitness. But, on the other, it’s about riding more than just road. Mixing in gravel, mountain biking, commuting, even the occasional skate-park jaunt, will improve your bike skills. If you’re more confident riding, you\u2019ll ride faster.<\/p>\n

Get better tyres
\n\"\"Better tyres make a huge difference. Warren Rossiter \/ Ourmedia<\/p>\n

The single best way to improve any off-the-peg complete bike, especially without spending too much, is the tyres.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Product managers are keener to spend their budget on components, so you\u2019ll often find something such as a carbon seatpost taking priority over good tyres. This is the number one component upgrade I\u2019d make if I was buying a new bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The best road bike tyres<\/a> are not only faster thanks to lower rolling resistance, but they\u2019ll also have better grip and be more comfortable. This will have a big effect on your speed.<\/p>\n

\"Follow<\/a>
\nInvest in good clothing\u00a0
\n\"Q36.5High-quality kit will keep you more comfortable for longer. Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

Investing some extra money in better clothing will keep you more comfortable for longer, which will likely help maintain a higher average speed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I always used to be part of the ‘buy basic shorts’ lobby, recommending that you choose the base model from a quality brand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve come to realise this is a\u00a0 false economy, though. Cheaper basic pads wear sooner, and don\u2019t provide the same level of protection as shorts with a better-quality pad.\u00a0<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t go for the premium models. Often the key features (the pad and comfort) are the same as in the mid-range cycling shorts<\/a>, but the top-shelf models tend to bring in \u2018aero\u2019 textures and similar frills. The benefits of these are likely marginal.<\/p>\n

A well-fitting jersey<\/a> that\u2019s irritation-free is another plus. High-quality fabric, and well-placed seams and zippers will minimise any discomfort.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Buy a bike computer
\n\"\"A bike computer is a great way to gauge your progress and effort. <\/p>\n

The best bike computers<\/a> are a brilliant way to learn what you\u2019re capable of, and they\u2019ll give you a live gauge on your performance as you ride.<\/p>\n

At their most basic, bike computers will tell you your speed, so you\u2019ll be able to monitor your efforts and understand how much you can push yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A\u00a0 bike computer combined with a heart rate monitor<\/a> \u2013 or if you\u2019re serious, a power meter<\/a> \u2013 is also a gateway to proper structured training, and real improvements in your performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fuel and drink properly\u00a0
\n\"TorqFuelling and drinking properly will keep you riding faster for longer. Warren Rossiter \/ Ourmedia<\/p>\n

Imperfect fuelling is something I\u2019m still very much guilty of. The rule of thumb is that you should eat between 30 and 60g of carbs<\/a> for every hour of riding, along with 500ml of fluids.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The number of rides I go on where I\u2019ll get back home after three or four hours with one of my bottles still full, and the gels or bars I took with me still in my jersey pocket, is criminal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Running on empty is never a way to go quicker, and something I\u2019m still trying to get better at.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But getting into the habit of eating and drinking while out cycling, and learning how to do that while you\u2019re moving, will stave off the dreaded bonk<\/a> \u2013 which inevitably slows you down.<\/p>\n

Get a bike fit\u00a0
\n\"CylingA proper bike fit will make you faster than simply buying an aero road bike. Russell Burton \/ Our Media<\/p>\n

A bike fit<\/a> is perhaps the most important thing you can do to unlock more speed, and it doesn\u2019t involve buying anything other than someone\u2019s expertise.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Setting the right saddle height<\/a> is straightforward, but the intricacies and insights from a proper bike fit will work wonders for your riding.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A bike fit isn\u2019t necessarily about immediate speed improvements. It’s more about being able to maintain speed for longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Back when I started working on road bike tech, comfort was a dirty word. Pro cycling was full of the cod-mysticism of \u2018suffering\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A tough mountain pass or your first century ride<\/a> might involve some torment \u2013 that can lead to a huge sense of achievement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the suffering should be because of the distance or topography, not because your back aches, your bum\u2019s numb or you\u2019ve got tingling in your fingers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A bike fit can help you reach your true potential, and revisiting a proper fit every few years should be the norm because our bodies change as we get older.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A poor riding position can limit your performance, and lead to injury and time off the bike \u2013 and that\u2019s the worst thing for your overall speed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With every product launch, we\u2019re told this new thing \u2013 from helmets to shoes, wheels to handlebars \u2013…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":588081,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[4985,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-588080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-cycling","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=588080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/588080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/588081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=588080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=588080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=588080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}