Projo Fitness Blog

Tom Meade has pointed me in the direction of a 2001 article written by then-Journal staff writer Katherine Imbrie -- which I have since republished to the site -- on the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen.

Providence Journal file photo / Bob Thayer 3 Narragansett Wheelmen zoom along Route 12 across the Scituate Reservoir towards western Cranston during a 30-mile ride

In it, she lists tips by Howard Stone, author of Short Bike Rides in Rhode Island, to get the most from your bicycle ride.

They're so great I thought I'd share them here:

1. Even though mountain bikes have become wildly popular in recent years, Stone still prefers a road bike for road-riding. "Mountain bikes are more comfortable for many people, and that's why they've caught on. The handlebars are higher, so you're not riding so hunched over. And the lower gearing makes them easier to ride on hills. But for the average rider, a mountain bike is like driving an SUV on a highway: It doesn't give you the performance and speed that a road bike does."

He adds that for most riders, 21 to 24 gears should be ample. (Stone himself rides an old three-speed on his commutes to work in Providence. That way, he says, he doesn't have to worry about it being stolen.)

2. Basic mistakes that many new riders make include having their seat set too low and riding in too high a gear. "You want your legs to spin quickly and shift your gears frequently. For recreational riding, keep it about 80 to 85 revolutions per minute. If you're having to push too hard, you're just straining your knees. And it's tiring, like trying to go up stairs two at a time."

3. Shift into a lower gear before you get to a hill. "It's harder to shift cleanly if you wait until you're having to push hard."

4. Bring a bottle, and drink plenty of water. "By the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated, and it's harder to make up at that point."

5. As for clothing specifically for cycling, Stone doesn't go in for it much, favoring a simple T shirt over a logo-splashed moisture-wicking cycling jersey. He does wear padded biking shorts, though: "They really are necessary for a comfortable ride."

6. Energy bars? Not for Stone. For an energy boost on the ride, he likes to bring along some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. But don't they melt? he's asked. "They do, but they still taste the same."

 Tags  bicycle Howard Stone Narragansett Bay Wheelmen Short Bike Rides in Rhode Island

Comments

Bike Cycling Reviews said:

Nice Tips. Bike Cycling is one of the exiting sport of all. I am really fond of it since childhood.

Link | September 8, 2009 6:06 AM
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Bike Cycling said:

Now a days Bike Cycling is one of the most admired sports of all. I really like cycling and am fond of it.

Link | September 23, 2009 6:13 AM
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