7 Free Hacks To Ride Your Bike Faster for Beginner Cyclists

[@owensnicholas]

Here’s a free tip for riding faster: ride with others. You’ll be surprised what you can do when pushed, and they may have motivation on a day you don’t. :)

[@davidarthur]

Good tip!

[@kentao4]

Yep.

[@jmurphy3350]

Completely agree.

[@A.N.Z.]

Also the reduced wind resistant when riding in a group helps a lot.

[@JohnJohn-fp5gj]

Very good tip

[@twatts4436]

I hate to say it, but training! You don't need training aids to train (although they do help), but having a bit of structure once or twice a week will help bring your speeds up. I spoke to a coach who suggested 'max attack' on any incline, no matter how small. You then rest easy for the rest of the ride - the idea is to build up your high intensity efforts without getting too fatigued - it also forces you to work at high intensity for variable lengths of time (which intervals often don't)

[@elmerrichardson6413]

Weight training, especially legs! I started doing this last month and my speed changed immediately. Also I don't cramp as much now as I use to. My cycling chums have noticed as well. Ride on.

[@sbccbc7471]

As in lifting weights or strapping weights to your legs?

[@elmerrichardson6413]

@@sbccbc7471 Using weights for exercises such as lunges, squats, dead lifts, etc.

[@theojpofficial7770]

I just started doing this too! It also adds confidence while riding I think 😎

[@elmerrichardson6413]

@@theojpofficial7770 I do it twice a week for 1-1.5 hours. Just be consistent, it'll pay off when you're riding. 😉

[@RossTheNinja]

Deadlifts and squats ftw

[@buster.keaton]

Also... - Only ride downhill - Only motor-pace your spouse or friend's vehicle or ebike - Only wheel-suck, never take a pull in group rides

[@danfresca8033]

Make sure you’re keeping hydrated and drink water is the best advice I ever got.

[@aluminati9918]

Oohh, Castelli espresso cups. Have to stop video now and search for those instead! Great video as always David!

[@mikespadafora9077]

Best you have done in ages. Most realistic information on aero that has real work impact.

[@graemesadd6971]

Well done David, another informative video, we all like free speed. I do think however you should perhaps have clarified on the music tip. Using in ear loud music can no only be a distraction, but also stop you hearing potential danger. Try using bone earphones, they clip round the back of the ear and transmit the sound to your ear through the bone, leaving you safer to hear danger. Keep the great work coming 👍

[@NavyChief1999]

I'm incorporating all of those tips in pursuit of getting out of the slow lane...free is me. Thanks, David!

[@prasanjit83]

Love following your videos - viewer from India

[@falcoperegrinus82]

I've just come to accept that no matter what direction I happen to be riding, it will always be into the wind.

[@Markbell73]

Don't forget those Shimano GRX stickers on your downtube, at crisp and precise 45° angle to the geodesic plane. A guaranteed extra 30 kilowatts of power 🔋 💪 output on your ride!

[@tcrwild8422]

2 best things to make ya faster overall.. Fitness level is #1 rim brakes #2 😄

[@MisterE331]

You can go faster with disc brakes! Decreased stopping distance = Go faster

[@monochromebluess]

David. Good idea and suggestions. But hardly for free. Clean your bike and BUY lots of products and especially the very best of chain lubes. Caffeine- drink lots of coffee so BUY more. Clothing - get rid of your loose clothing and go out and BUY more expensive skin tight clothing. I think I might have spotted a trend ... Keep the videos coming.

[@gregmorrison7320]

I'm same weight, you have the tire pressure bang on, although I tend to run a little less in the front.

[@davidcole6893]

Great video as usual. Personally I wouldn't listen to music as like to be 100 p.c. aware of all vehicles approaching.

[@deuce9624]

That is a awesome coffee cup

[@wahyaohni]

Ride with the tailwind.. No matter what I plan and do, somehow I always ride with the headwind 🤣👍🤷‍♂️

[@rayF4rio]

Since I'm bald, it takes a lot more effort to get that feeling of speed in my hair. 😀 Flip side, when I ride slower, it still feels the same.

[@davidarthur]

😂

[@dorcashaslam4864]

A bald head saves watts and therefore makes you faster … for free 😉

[@user-hu9ms8sq2r]

what’s the tyre pressure app you’re using?

[@Kamiudalan1489]

Yeah +1

[@davidarthur]

SRAM is my go to but Silca is good too axs.sram.com/guides/tire/pressure

[@911Sam]

Have you swapped Enve 45 to ZIPP or just testing a new pair of wheels? Certainly not free, but I’m looking for new rims and so they always catch my attention 😄

[@fabianirsara9846]

The coffee advice is a bit of a double sided sword…. If you always do it it’s basically just your baseline. It you overdo it regularly your body will just feel COMPLETELY slugglish on any day without the added caffeine. So be careful with how and how much caffeine you consume. Only consume more than usual on special occasions(!)

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

Caffeine accelerates glucose transporter however, eventually it affects just like exercise would. So, the only pure benefit is 30 minutes before exercise, no benefit during it.

[@gislasson]

hi sir great video great advices i wanna ask your opinnion on basso bike brand personally for you cheers from southamerica sir!

[@LoaforDie]

I use one jay bird 2 vista earbud on my left ear only and one song on repeat “danger zone” by Kenny loggins and I’m all set

[@unklestu]

My zipp 303s front wheel is making a noise as if there’s a loose particle rattling around the inside of the body of the rim. Anyone know what this could be? They were new in January and have been very carefully used.

[@davidarthur]

Best take it back to where you bought it from to be checked out, never heard of that happening before

[@charliedillon1400]

I have some Mavic wheels that had the same thing. There was a loose piece of alloy inside the wheel. It was explained to me that is a piece which sole purpose is to temporarily hold two layers of alloy together during the manufacturing layup, acting as a piece of tape, essentially. After the bonding process the piece is useless but stays in the wheel, sometime breaking loose and rattling around. At any speed faster than walking the centrifugal force keeps it quiet and you don't hear it. Your issue may be similar. You can find the spot and remove the nearest spoke and put a drop of glue inside the rim to trap the piece and dry it into place, if it's worth the effort. My wheels are alloy though, not carbon.

[@unklestu]

@@charliedillon1400 this is exactly it! Thanks Charlie. I’ve emailed sigma sports with a video. We’ll see what they say. It is loud. Thank you David as well!

[@rdr33]

I can attest that listening to upbeat music really does help, but I make sure to use earphones that have ambient sound or hear-through feature, so I can still have road awareness 🙂

[@jaslueasi]

4:38 what if I have flat bars?

[@fetizsrami]

When you saw the word Free and you immediately click on the video. Let's all be honest we all came for that.,😃😃😁😁

[@greengrass9572]

Caffine has been proven to constrict blood vessels , so no it won't make you go faster at all. It's a cheap quick boost that turns into a crash later , a loan that you pay back - with interest.

[@bonn1771]

you forgot wheel suck behind a former pro... wait nevermind just kidding great video David

[@TimothyTakemoto]

I have my bars down low but I don't do my back in. It seems to me that it is largely governed by the size of ones stomach. If you have a big gut then you have to arch your back to get around it. That can do your back in. If you can get as thin as this gentleman (and I am not) then you don't need to arch your back, and it will not do your back in. This gentleman could use a bike with a much shorter head tube and get much more aero, imho, or purchase a stem with much more drop (possibly a variable angle stem turned downwards).

[@markcavandish1295]

This needs a sub title… FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS.

[@jopsjosef9414]

Where'd you get the Castelli demitasse?! :)

[@thepanfam_]

hi, i“m not a coffee drinker. what other option can I take? thanks

[@trevorharrison2581]

Matcha powder and milk

[@dpgrenfree]

Top tips based on 'always ride with a tailwind'... :) 1. Always cycle downhill 2. Get your friend to drive a camper van directly in front of you at a few km/h faster than you can normally manage alone 3. Ride an eBike

[@spyder_man]

Thanks David, the 62psi really surprised me, can you recommend any apps you use to calculate? Also does it matter (aero) if the tyre sits a little wider than the rim (1mm each side) ?

[@davidarthur]

SRAM and Silca pressure apps/websites are good

[@spyder_man]

@@davidarthur Thank you, SRAM one came out 73psi front and 77psi rear. Lower than i currently run at 85 and 90. Will give it a try.

[@emanuelpradera9717]

Just did the SRAM calculation, very low compared to my current setup, front/rear 80/85 Vs 98/105. Curious to try this.

[@Geshmaal]

Yeah people seem to just assume maxing out what's written on their tyre sidewall is most appropriate. Going at the low end of the recommended range actually isn't a bad starting point in reality.

[@BabyisFood]

The Golden Age of Chain Lube!

[@stevekelly6544]

What app do you recommend for tyre pressure?

[@davidarthur]

SRAM or Silca both give good results

[@jacksonfellowes9226]

Wouldn't use the same brush to clean your chain and cassette to clean your whole bike

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

What is your opinion on paraffin as chain lube and gasoline as chain cleaner? A very reputable youtube bike reviewer has come to this conclusion and personally I tried paraffin and give my recommendation based on its nonstick property to debris.

[@drayy8]

I saw another study done where if you drop your elbows and rest them on your bars while having your hands on your hoods; is just as effective as riding on the drops. Because the former position is more comfortable, you’re essentially able to ride this way for much longer without discomfort, effectively making you way faster over time. Equal parts aero and comfort.

[@davidarthur]

I tried both these positions in a wind tunnel and the aero performance was the same, but for me riding in the drops is easier and more comfortable than riding on the hoods, and also safer as you have better control of the bars. What I learnt from time in the wind tunnel is that you really need to test positions for yourself and not just adopt a position that works for somebody else. Thankfully you don't need a wind tunnel to do some basic real-world testing

[@gregmorrison7320]

My tip, ride single speed, it's a cheap ride and my rides are always faster when I ride the SS compared to the geared bikes.

[@thebrowns5337]

Riding single speed as a commuter then using the geared bike for speed at weekends works well. Hills, a loaded laptop bag, civies and no gear choice... all great resistance training.

[@lancescarborough1]

Let's take that "r" away. Thank you for your videos!!!

[@davidarthur]

Damn good spot! Thanks :)

[@careymahoney1605]

You forgot to mention to ride rim brakes to save weight...

[@Stevenafoe]

Are those free?

[@spencerfisher4080]

@@Stevenafoe cheaper than disc so technically you make money

[@zulkarnainaziz1347]

Hahaha...lol...yr comments made me laugh.....Rim brakes still e best👍👍👍👍

[@thebrowns5337]

@@spencerfisher4080 now there is a business model. Buy disk braked bikes, swap the brakes for rim brakes (and obvs the wheels too) and you've just 'made' money. Interesting.

[@spencerfisher4080]

@@thebrowns5337 either that or just buy a rim brake model for less 😂

[@KoreaRides]

62psi is too low IMO. Tried 60 on 28mm tyres and it was slower than 80psi.

[@IThee-hw8oj]

Music, don't do it! You are on the public road, you need to hear the traffic. So NEVER ride with music on the public road. That's a NO-NO. Safety first ! Riding with music is the best way to get involved in a accident. Do'nt do it.

[@davidarthur]

How does that work if you're deaf? And have watched my Shokz headphone review?

[@MarkBurghouwt]

@@davidarthur You shouldn’t ride with headphones if you’re deaf 💀💀

[@thebrowns5337]

@@davidarthur i get the shockz headphones thing in principle but isn't the music still a distraction? Depends how into music you are maybe? Also if you are controlling it or just have a playlist going. In my lifetime 4 peoplehave run jnto the back ofmy car down to music (mostly looking at the stereo/changing channels but one jusg 'lost' in his music). It's the way theh even admit it that boils my... pay attention if on the roads folks.

[@charliedillon1400]

Same as driving a car, just maintain a reasonable volume. Should drivers also roll their windows down so they can hear everything?

[@CarbonRacer]

@Thee You're absolutely right! Situational awareness is key for a safe ride. Especially if you're on public roads. I always listen to music and make the experience of time passing by a lot faster. But I only do it indoors on the trainer. Never ever should you do it outdoors. Use each sense possible to be aware of your situation and the situation around you. Cycling is kind of a dangerous business somehow. And getting involved into accidents should be avoided as goog as possible. And to all of you "but-I-dont-care-in-the-car-as-well" guys: sad enough. But wouldn't you agree, that all the metal around you and the visibility to others and the tollerance of cycling haters for other cars are lowering the amount of risk you're faced with, while you're driving a car?

[@chanito_nyc]

No hills

[@cypriano8763]

no 1 best way to get faster for middle aged men= loose some weight son!

[@thebrowns5337]

Good point Dad

[@cypriano8763]

@@thebrowns5337 you just can't buy speed. There are no substitutes for gettin out there and riding your.bike. your welcome

[@martincosby9743]

So The Smiths is not going to work through my headphones then...

[@Aeronwor]

Dogs. Getting chased by big f*ck-off dogs will make you ride faster than even you thought you could. Also a good mullet will act as an aero fairing.

[@tjmondejar5224]

Coffee aint free 😉

[@coolhand_leo]

music so you don't hear the annoying creaks of your bike and your mates bike !

[@tonyd5111]

If your want to go faster uphill get rid of those disc brakes. It is working for Pogacar 🤣

[@cypriano8763]

no 1 best way to get faster for mamils= loose some weight son!

[@kellymckenzie4865]

Great tips but only half of these are free

[@wesleycwagner]

My biker likes to ride slow.

[@georgemichaelides4500]

Wrong the best way to ride faster is into headwinds all the time to build power

[@graemesadd6971]

Also the added airspeed makes it sound faster, even if groundspeed is less!

[@timtaylor9590]

instead of free try saving money to go faster like rim brakes and no helmet

[@BladeBarn]

anabolic steroids

[@scottwistinghausen5026]

Several of these were in no way free