Published: 20 July 2021

Our team at Serious Injury Law Ltd are recommended as a Top Tier firm by the Legal 500 and work exclusively with clients who have serious injuries. Over the last 30 years, we have dealt with some of the UK’s largest and most complex serious injury cases. Our work has given us great insight into the risks vulnerable road users face, such as cyclists and the importance of road traffic laws and other safety measures on our roads.

This informative article shares a few great tips on how to get the most out of your cycling:

Are you getting bored on your bike rides? Struggling to get out the door, feeling uncomfortable on the bike or not seeing any fitness improvements? You’re not alone. It’s only natural to experience this sort of dip in motivation after a long period of riding. Luckily, you don’t have to make substantial changes to help you get more out of the bike. It’s not about changing who you are, but instead reassessing the time you have in the saddle.

Find the perfect saddle

Comfort is key when it comes to enjoying your bike rides and there’s nothing more impactful on this than your saddle. You don’t need to spend hundreds of pounds on the latest model, but you also don’t necessarily want to settle for the one that comes on your bike. Everyone is built differently, so it’s crucial you find the saddle that matches your sit bones and riding position. Consider investing in a pressure mapping appointment to help you identify the ideal saddle for your riding style. The correct saddle will prevent injury and allow you to ride further pain-free, helping you have more fun on the bike.

Clipless pedals

An easy way to get more out of your riding is switching from flat pedals to clipless. A clipless system means that you can lock your shoe into your pedal via a cleat on the sole. This makes a substantial difference to your cycling as it greatly improves your pedalling efficiency and power output. Converting to being clipped into your pedals may take a little while to get used to, but once you’ve mastered it you will never look back.

Nutrition

When focussing on how to get more out of cycling, some things may inadvertently help you get more out of life in general. Nutrition is one of these areas. You don’t have to go overboard, but learning portion control, on bike hydration, feeding and recovery techniques will substantially improve your life on and off the bike. We all have different goals in cycling, but if one of yours is to get fitter, faster or lose weight, prioritising your nutrition is a great place to start.

Follow a training plan

If you’re interested in progressing physically in the sport, this is a great tip. Having a training plan to follow will help you get out on the bike more frequently and make you a more time-efficient rider. You don’t necessarily have to put in 20 hours a week to see improvements, simply including a bit of structure to your rides will see a boost in your fitness quite quickly.

Stretching

If you cycle regularly you might begin to pick up aches and pains. Not only can these be quite annoying, but they can threaten to keep you off the bike long term if they’re not nipped in the bud. Stretching pre and post-ride will keep you flexible and ready for your next spin. Key areas to focus on include your hamstrings, quads, glutes, groin, and hips, although this isn’t an exhaustive list. By performing targeted stretches you will help to prevent frustrating niggles from developing.

Ride with friends and family

If you often ride solo, it is natural that at some point your rides might feel a little boring. Perhaps you don’t have that many routes to follow or are a little daunted riding on the roads alone. Riding in a group can be extremely beneficial, as you can socialise with mates, learn from one another, stop off at a café and tick off the kilometres without realising it. Even just the one ride partner will motivate you to get out of bed in the morning.

Sportives

Getting fitter and don’t know what to do with your newfound ability? Why not enter a sportive? These rides give you a goal to build towards, helping you to focus your training. Often there are choices of different routes, and as they are not races, you can ride solo or with a group. They’re often quite challenging, and allow you to explore different parts of the world without worrying about creating your own route.

Race

If you find yourself with a competitive itch to scratch, an even bigger thrill is racing on your bike. No matter the discipline, racing is a great way to size yourself up against your fellow rider and use your bike for a slightly different purpose. This country has a huge closed-circuit road race, time trial, MTB and cyclocross scene so the possibilities are endless. Have fun, push yourself, meet new people, and put your skills to the test.

Commute

By commuting by bike, you get a whole lot more out of cycling. Even a short ride every day will make you a better cyclist and fitter person in general. This is another useful bike-life crossover as your mental wellbeing and work productivity can be boosted from a refreshing cycle in.

We wish all cyclists and other vulnerable road users safe travels. However, if you or any of your family or friends are involved in an accident on the roads and require legal assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can also be contacted on 0330 058 0377 for a free, confidential, conversation with an experienced serious injury solicitor. Alternatively, please send us your contact details to enquiry@seriouslaw.co.uk and we’ll call you back or feel free to join the discussion.