Pedaling Technique

[robz400]

When I'm cruising I don't really think about my pedaling but once I hit a hill I start to concentrate on not only pushing and pulling the pedals but also the horizontal bit at the top of the stroke,

I find that this gives a very smooth feeling spin but causes my legs to tense up...

Is there a specific technique to stop this or do I just have to get used to it??

 

[RSV_Ecosse]

Hi,

I read someone on here saying that a good technique can be gleaned from kinda moving your feet backwards as if you were trying to wipe mud off the bottom of your shoe, do this at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Seems to work quite well, but only when I hit a climb and actually consciously remember to do it, I'm like you m8, I just don't think about it till I'm climbing or something like that.

 

[ColinJ]

Hi,

I read someone on here saying that a good technique can be gleaned from kinda moving your feet backwards as if you were trying to wipe mud off the bottom of your shoe, do this at the bottom of the pedal stroke.

Someone else suggested imagining trying to hit the handlebars with your knees on the upstrokes. I found that worked better for me. I've been trying to employ both techniques recently on tough climbs since there are hundreds of the buggers round here and my back tends to go after a while. The problem is that my technique goes to pieces when I'm tired, I start alternately mashing down with each leg and that puts an enormous strain on my lower back. The smooth pedal stroke really seems to help, but I can feel that some different leg muscles come into play and they aren't really strong enough yet for me to pedal like that all the time.

 

[theboytaylor]

I try to imagine my feet are making smaller circles than they actually are, if that makes any sense, and I try to slide them round as if I was skating in socks on a wooden floor.

But, like you say, I find it uses up quite a lot of energy and your legs tense up....

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Best tip I was given was on no account look to the top of the hill and to concentrate on a smooth rounded pedalling style. Seems to work for me, though it doesn't make the hills any flatter!

 

[BentMikey]

Get a fixed wheel and learn to spin a small gear.

 

[itchyrider]

Oh yes, great minds think alike!..........

Get a fixed wheel and learn to spin a small gear.

 

[itchyrider]

Tell tell the truth peeps
i went out on sunday the 19th and i was having a really nice ride untill got to my half way point 8 miles, and i started heading south (AGAINST THE WIND) and thats when i started to think about my pedal stroke as i was getting tired, excuse me as i am single speed on a ratio 3-1. So you other guys must be pushing too far of your capabilities???