Road bikes, referred to as “road bikes”. Road bicycles, mountain bicycles and recreational bicycles constitute the three major categories of bicycles. Road cycling in China started late, with the mountain bike market taking the top spot. However, with the popularity of road cycling, the market continues to expand. When road bicycles are used as bicycles, they refer to bicycles used on road pavements (or artificially hardened roads, or gravel roads), which can be used in road bicycle competitions. In order to achieve high-speed riding, the body weight is lighter and the wind resistance is small. As a sporting event, it refers to road cycling.
Vehicle characteristics：
1. The tires are narrower than ordinary bicycle tires, and the tire pressure can reach more than 100-200psi (pounds per square inch), so the rolling resistance during driving is much smaller than that of mountain bikes.
2. The gear ratio between the crankset and the flywheel (that is, the gear ratio) is very large, and the gear ratio of general road bicycles can reach 53:11 or even higher.
3. Today’s road bikes widely use new materials, such as titanium alloy, carbon fiber, high-grade aluminum alloy materials, etc., so the weight of road bikes is very light, which can reach 5kg or less, but the IAAF stipulates that the participating vehicles shall not be less than 6.8 kg.
Road race
Road race
4. The tires are generally made of very hard materials, which are easy for athletes to exert force. This is very different from mountain bikes. Because road bikes are all riding on roads with better road conditions, there is no need to think too much about absorbing vibration like the latter.
Riding knowledge：
The best grip position when riding on the road is 90-110 degrees
The resistance of the air in road racing is a factor that cannot be ignored, especially when the speed exceeds 40km per hour, more than half of the 200-350 watts of energy generated by the human “motor” is consumed in the resistance to the air.
When running first in a group competition, or when practicing alone, you can most feel that tilting your neck and holding your head down will greatly reduce the air resistance. When the speed is further improved, the abdomen is compressed and it becomes difficult to breathe. At the same time, the burden on the muscles around the waist increases. At this time, the rider will want to lower the handle to reduce the air resistance to run. The standard of its posture is generally 110-120 degrees.
Riders who run according to their own conditions, or who have health goals such as aerobic exercise, are recommended to take a posture that breathes comfortably and reduces the burden on the waist, and adjust the bracket until the angle of the shoulder joint is 90- when the back and wrist are straightened. Within 110 degrees. Although the handle has been adjusted, it is also possible to pedal at full torque when going uphill. When you want to step on the car slowly, you can push the bracket to support your upper body and step on the car easily. This method is often used in the course of the competition.
Adjust the height of the cushion
The height of the seat cushion is the most important part of the bicycle setting, especially related to knee injuries and pedaling force. If the cushion is too high, the knee will be easily injured, and if the center of gravity is too high, it is also easy to cause accidents; if it is too low, the pedal will not be able to step on, and long-term use of incorrect posture will also have a bad effect on the knees and legs. Only the correct height of the seat cushion can truly exert the pedaling efficiency and have the most correct and healthy pedaling posture that does not harm the body. Not only will it not be able to turn legs, but it can also modify the shape of the legs.
The knee joint is the most frequently used body part during cycling, but it is also the most vulnerable and most vulnerable part. When our legs step on each circle, the knee joint will move once. Such frequent movement, if the method, direction or position of the force is not correct, it is easy to cause the knee joint to be injured, or even to be unable to ride a bicycle ( Many knee injuries are difficult to recover), so you must be careful. When setting the height of the cushion, it is most taboo to pull the cushion too high (many middle school students on the road like to play cool, deliberately pull the cushion very high, pretending that their feet are very long), such a cushion height will make you step on Knee hitting straight is a very dangerous action! Cycling requires frequent pedaling and turning movements of the legs. If the knees are straightened at this time, not only will the pedaling “pause”, which will affect the continuity of the pedaling, and the knees will also be injured when the knees are straightened. Knee joints and leg ligaments. Although there is an illusion that the pedaling force will be “straight out” after raising the cushion, it seems that this posture can be used to step out, but in fact it is not, whether it is the muscles or the knee joints, it is easy to wear at this time (knee hits straight). Injured. So remember one thing! Remember not to straighten your knees when riding a bicycle.
The front and rear position of the cushion
The setting of the front and back positions of the seat cushion is actually quite simple: first sit on the seat cushion, place the soles of your feet on the pedals in the correct position, step on the pedals a few times, and then place the pedals horizontally. At this time, the “point below the knees” of the front feet hang down. The vertical line must pass through the center of the pedal (that is, the pedal axis), and this is done. If the vertical line does not pass the center position of the pedal, the position of the cushion should be adjusted in turn. The position of the seat cushion is too front, while Figure C4 is too behind. The position of the seat cushion too front or back will affect the pedaling force of the legs, which is also closely related to the abrasion of the knees, so be careful.
The most common mistake that most riders make is to put the seat cushion too far behind. This seems to make the car look more handsome and cool. It seems that it is easier to have a solid pedaling feeling when pedaling, but it is hard work. As a result, the knee will actually be damaged in the long run.
Cushion angle
Time Trail Bike (TT road time racing car)
Time Trail Bike (TT road time racing car)
First adjust the simplest cushion angle first. The angle of the cushion should be kept roughly horizontal. Since most cushions on the market have curved surfaces, visual inspection may not be accurate, so you can put a long ruler on the cushion first, and then visually grasp the level with your eyes. This is much easier.
But the angle of the cushion is by no means rigid. For example, some people often complain of pain under the crotch after riding a bicycle. This may be caused by the excessive pressure on the front of the seat cushion. This is to adjust the nose of the seat cushion slightly downwards, which can reduce the sub-crotch area. Pressure, especially when going uphill. On the contrary, some people do not ride uphill for a long time, but prefer the fun of rushing downhill. When rushing downhill, because of the center of gravity, the rider will often move around behind the cushion and cushion. It is best to raise the nose of the seat cushion a few degrees upwards and lower the height of the seat tube at the same time. This will help the body’s flexibility on the seat cushion when going downhill.