Bad Habits when I'm cream crackered .........

The Running Man

I've got 2 really bad habits that emerge when I'm really knackered.

The first is that I tend to ride with stiff arms instead of bent arms. It's due to holding the bars with my thumbs underneath instead of on top which obviously changes the angles of my elbows.

The second is that for some inexplicable reason I start mashing away in a bigger gear instead of spinning which sounds completely counter intuitive but I know I do it.

I have a numnber of other non-bike related bad habits : none of which are going to get an airing on this forum .....

itsbruce

My bad habit when really knackered is still cycling to work, when I should either go back to bed or at least go via public transport and recover.

asprilla

The Running Man wrote:

The second is that for some inexplicable reason I start mashing away in a bigger gear instead of spinning which sounds completely counter intuitive but I know I do it.

I do that, it means that you move the effort from your glutes to your quads.

mtb-idle

i too lock my elbows when i'm tired and have to consciously force myself not to.

Similarly, i have many other non-cycling related bad habits but you dont want to know about those...

The Running Man

"I do that, it means that you move the effort from your glutes to your quads."

Yep : that makes perfect sense ... and it's consistent with me climbing out of the saddle more than sitting .....

rjsterry

MTB-Idle wrote:

i too lock my elbows when i'm tired and have to consciously force myself not to.

Similarly, i have many other non-cycling related bad habits but you dont want to know about those...

Ditto, Once sat up with arms dead straight, fingers resting lightly over the tops, hit a bump, and nearly snapped my fingers off. Luckily I was pootling and didn't lose control, but it hurt like hell and I haven't done it since.

SimonLyons

I find my right knee starts to cave in and get closer to the crossbar.
Also I seem to start to start to scrunch up my toes.

I have to make a conscious effort to stop doing this and relax.

Roastie

I ride with my head down. Has been proven to be a bad idea. :oops:

Plumby Baby

I tend to lock my shoulders really bad and get a real tense feeling. Its odd, its only when i realise this and relax them that the commute gets easier.

So much to be said for a relaxed posture. Not just on the bike.

Mickey Eye

Oh man, I lock my shoulders too. Doesn't do me any favours. I really have to work to stay relaxed if I've been going too long.

symo

Head/Body bobbing.

will3

I get up off the saddle when riding into wind.

The Rookie

Coasting downhills, really bad form (OK you Londoners will generally not understand the word hill!), if I'm feeling good I spin out in top (circa 40mph), when I'm knackered I'm still peddling but no real torque input....guess I'm doing no more than low 30's.

Simon

cjcp

Riding too big a gear up a slight drag.