4 Reasons Why Cyclists Should Learn to Relax

Being able to relax on a set of tires 23 millimeters wide while reaching speeds nearing those of a car is a trait that may be easier for some than others. Regardless of which side of the coin you fall on, being relaxed on the bike is a critical element in getting faster, becoming more comfortable and being safe on the bike.

Here are four ways how learning to relax on the bike will help you become a better cyclist.

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You'll Burn Less Energy

When you're racing or out on a long ride, you want to conserve as much energy as possible for the times when you'll need it most. Believe it or not, most cyclists spend a significant amount of their energy stores by tensing the upper body, even though it is the lower half doing most of the work.

Descending, climbing or other hard efforts are common times when cyclists are likely to tense up and waste energy.

Tip: Work on your breathing to relax. Be mindful of the times when you notice your shoulders tense and your hands squeeze the handlebars. Taking several deep breaths (concentrating on relaxing the upper half of your body on the exhale) will help to relax the body and focus the majority of your energy on pushing the pedals.

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Descending

A tense cyclist is a cyclist that is more likely to crash. At no time is this more important than when going downhill, when one mistake can mean the difference between sliding on the asphalt or not.

A common mistake that occurs when you're tense is over-steering (or overreacting) to an obstacle. Any bump or pothole that comes your way will transmit your tense energy to the bike, making it more difficult to steer and more likely to result in accident. And if you crash, a relaxed body will likely end up with fewer injuries than a tense one.

Tip: When on long descents, relax your lower lip. You'll be surprised how the rest of the body will follow.

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Be a Better Climber

Our shoulders become stiff and our hands grab at the bars when the tough climbs come. But in reality, this may hinder our performance and make climbing more difficult than it already is.

Tensing the upper body and pulling hard on the bars when climbing may make you mash the pedals in the push phase more than you would if you were relaxed.

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When climbing it is important to feel loose on the bike so that you can get more power out of all the phases of your pedal stroke. You want to pedal in circles, especially when your cadence is down, and the best way to do that is to stay relaxed.

Tip: Since you're going uphill, you'll be less likely to feel like you need that death grip on the handlebars. Rest your hands on top of the bars so that they are barely touching, and concentrate on nice rounded pedal strokes.

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Less Shoulder and Neck Pain

Not only will tensing the upper body lead to decreased performance, but it can also lead to injury, and this has nothing to do with falling.

One of the more common overuse injuries for cyclists is neck and shoulder pain. More times than not, these injuries are related to improperly fitting bikes and tensing of the muscles of the upper shoulder and neck for long periods of time.

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The trapezius muscles in particular are easy to fatigue when tensed for moderate amounts of time. Add this to the fact that they are also supporting 8 pounds of weight and it's easy to figure out why so many cyclists complain of neck pain.

Tip: Alternate squeezing the muscles at the top of the shoulder and relaxing them. This will remind you what it feels like to be relaxed on the bike, and is also a good way to keep the blood circulating and from depriving muscles of much needed oxygen.

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