7 ways to increase your average cycling speed

Every cyclist feels the need for speed. If you are an avid cyclist or a beginner, the urge to increase your cycling speed is common among all. Riding bike at a good speed does not only make a person feel confident, but also promotes good health. While it is true that the speed comes with practice and patience, several other factors can help you to ride your bike faster.
Here are 7 ways you can improve your average cycling speed:

1 Bend and tick elbows
The biggest challenge every new cyclist faces is to handle the wind resistance. Wind direction can make the speed of any person slow. A simple way to overcome this is by lowering your body position on the bike. If you know that the speed of the wind is making you slow, then instead of sitting up straight, slightly lower your body position on the bike. Try to keep your body closer to the bars by bending and tucking your elbows. You will immediately feel the difference.

2 Listen to some good music
Music has a great impact on one’s mood and is known to uplift one’s spirit. This trick even works when you are trying to increase your cycling speed. There is plenty of research that shows that listening to fast-paced music while cycling reduces your effort levels. But whenever you are cycling with your earphone on, be careful about your cycling posture and other safety norms.

3 Ride in group
While riding the bike solo you will be able to spend some quality and peaceful time with yourself, but riding in a group is excellent to increase the speed. Riding with others will encourage you to increase your average speed in several ways. This motivates you to put more effort and energy while riding the bike.

4 Pump up your tyres
Make sure the tyres of your bike are properly inflated. Properly inflated tyres will help you to roll faster and cycling will seem effortless to you. So, check the pressure before every ride. Sometimes, the changes in temperature and slight seeping of air can make them soft.

5 Press the brakes less
Try to press the brake of the cycle less. Unnecessary braking slows you down and you have to pedal faster to accelerate the speed. If the road is clear, there is no obstruction and no reason to slow down, do not press the brakes.

6. Ride in intervals
This is the fastest way to increase your cycling speed. Interval training allows you to cycle at a faster speed for a short interval and then slow down to recover and then go fast again.

7. Wear well-fitted clothes
The clothes you choose to wear while riding a bike also matters a lot. So, it is important to wear tight-fitting cycling clothes. The material is designed to keep you cool and sweat-free. Secondly, baggy or ill-fitted clothes add a lot of drag, which can slow down your speed.