Today’s QTs come to us from Mark Riordan of the Harrisburg Bicycle Club. Here’s what he writes:
My first tip is about anticipation. Every action on a bicycle is where you anticipate being two seconds down the road… shifting, lane positioning, signaling, standing / seated, etc. Any action you take on a bicycle for “now” is too late. Anticipate your moves for better results.
Two shifting tips I use:
Shifting, too, is anticipation. You don’t shift gears for “now.” You shift gears for where the bicycle will be “two seconds up the road.”
Shifting doesn’t make hills easier. Shifting is to help you maintain 60 – 70 rpm cadence (faster for more experienced riders). When you anticipate that your cadence is going to drop below 60 RPM’s (at the bottom of a climb), downshift. When you anticipate it will climb above 70 RPM’s (as you crest a hill), shift up.
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