What has helped your cycling improve the most?

[Illaveago]

Being able to stay on has been a major factor.

 

[jonny jeez]

In this order;

Joining cyclechat
Buying a road bike
Joining strava.

Before these I was a non serious commuter who used cycling as a utalitarian device.


The most impactful being joining cyclechat.

 

[123456789]

Joining a club and doing 1 season of wednesday night tens (time trials) and the occassional Sunday 10 or 25.

I only get out at weekends but being able to leave work early and adding in those miles midweek made a huge difference

 

[speccy1]

Buying a bike

 

[Postmanhat]

Breathing.

I used to breath at the top of my lungs - sort of keeping them full and only exhaling as much as I thought I needed.

Now I make sure I exhale as much as I can and the inhale looks after itself.

I've started doing this on the few occasions I've been out recently and finding it's really helping with recovery after an effort.

In terms of fitness - hills. Luckily I love 'em as am too lazy to push myself on the flat

Technique - riding in the wind/rain forces me to think more about my position on the bike

 

[montage]

good winter gear

 

[Sittingduck]

Lots of mileage
Going quite hard on most rides, even the daily commute. Use it as interval training.
Ride with faster riders than you at weekends - demoralising to begin with but satisfying as you improve.
Strava.

 

[slowmotion]

Does a double coronary artery bypass graft count?

 

[Mr. P]

Realising that you have to be mentally in the 'right place', otherwise nothing else quite works out.