About the Great Balkini

YOU NEVER FORGET HOW TO RIDE A BIKE

That’s not entirely true. What you don’t forget is how to balance and pedal at the same time. As a skill this simultaneous activity is no greater an accomplishment than walking and chewing gum and not a whole lot harder to do. And most who ride bikes were self-taught and never very good at it in the first place. Fortunately, learning a few easy tricks will immediately make anyone a much better rider.

First, Wear that Helmet

A good bike rider -- by my definition -- is one who gets to intended places comfortably and without incident. So wear a helmet. By itself the helmet is no guarantee of safety but it serves as a constant reminder that this game is played at speed and in traffic, something your mother told you never to do.

Finding Your Form

Sitting on a bike the rider is locked into the perfect position to deliver his or her available power. Muscle memory takes over from there. The constant repetitive movement creates an automatic technique that develops muscle strength and ultimately comfort with every turn of the pedals.

Most recreational riders don’t think about form because pedaling is allegedly too simple to do wrong. But astride that bike, you still have leeway for error. Most riders, for example, waste precious energy with extraneous body motion. While pedaling is virtually automatic, and getting where you’re going is the desired outcome, bad form wastes power, drains limited energy reserves, and makes the experience far more difficult than it needs to be. But these errors are unnecessary because riding is far easier to do correctly than any other sport. Concentrating on form brings with it a level of comfort that few riders experience or even imagine.

Legs are Pistons

All relevant movement is only from the hips down, north-to-south. The next time you see a bike rider take a closer look. Chances are excellent the legs are also going east-west. Legs are pistons and wandering pistons are a disaster in all motors. The solution? Just look down as you ride and correct any erratic leg movement. Keep looking and correcting until you get it right. Your evolving strength will eventually make the right way the only way. Anyone who does just that will immediately begin to improve.

One other thing, if you’re an adult on a bike, think like a kid. Forget who you are and whatever world of concerns may be swirling through your mind. It is not good for the motor to be troubled. Enjoy the sights, smells, and your freedom. Then, every now and then, look down and check the piston motion.

Now Find Your Pace

It doesn’t take long to find a rhythm and compatible gear ratio that’s in your comfort zone and propels the machine along. Reserve all huffing and puffing for hills. If hills are intimidating then find flat places to ride.

As a sport without boundaries, it is easy to take on too much and that leads to suffering. Suffering is something that most well-fed successful people won’t tolerate. Riders who push too hard too early may mistakenly believe that riding is always going to be this way. Painful recreation is counter culture, which is why garages all across this great land are cluttered with good intentions.

Move Around

Sitting on any seat has its hard moments and slightly repositioning yourself throughout the ride relieves pressure and discomfort. Whether the handlebars are upright or drop they are not meant to be held onto for dear life. They are there to be rested on. There is no single right position and the idea is to change hand position whenever the one you’re using is no longer comfortable. Just make sure you’re always able to quickly apply the brakes.

Outride Discomfort

But even riding within your zone and doing all the right things may lead to moments of discomfort. If you’re thinking like a kid your brain will process that discomfort until it’s little more than a distraction that, in time, magically disappears. That is not exactly magic, since muscles develop with every repetition. Every ride is a deposit in the strength bank that never leaves you. Ride enough and it becomes part of your DNA.

Copyright (c) 2005 by David Balkin. All rights reserved.