Bike Adjustments for Stamina

Bike Adjustments for Stamina
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An endurance sport, cycling's aerobic component builds your stamina and muscles. It requires you to work for extended periods of time exercising your body thoroughly. With the proper adjustments to your bike, you can increase your stamina and decrease your aches and pains.

Trunk And Shoulder Angle

Angling your trunk and shoulder correctly adds more endurance to your ride. A casual rider may allow their upper body to form a more increased angle. However, a rider who wants to build stamina should ride with their trunk between 30 and 40 degrees, and their shoulder angle should be close to a 90-degree angle, according to the American Physical Therapy Association.

Handlebars

The position of your handlebars and hands can improve your stamina as well as efficiency and swiftness. When you want to ride for long period of time, you should be exact with hand placement and place your hands two centimeters wider than your shoulders. This allows for you to handle the bike more efficiently and also improves the comfort of the ride. A casual rider, however, can be less precise with hand placement. Their hands should be just slightly wider than their shoulders.

Pedal

The pedal system affects a cyclist's momentum and can change the stamina factor in your ride cites the American Academy of Family Physicians. When pedaling to build stamina you should aim to pedal approximately 90 turns per minute; this creates a more efficient movement, cites the American Physical Therapy Association. In addition, the angle of your knee should be 35 degrees, which also increases endurance when riding.

Saddle

A few slight adjustments can make your ride that much longer. These adjustments include ensuring that your saddle is straight across. A slant can cause pain, and defeat stamina and endurance in your ride. The saddle should also reside an appropriate distance away from your handlebars. This depends on your height and can be adjusted by you or your bike shop.

References

Article reviewed by Allen Cone Last updated on: May 26, 2011

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