Doing It Right
The look isn’t everything. Of course. You know that. Still, if you’re going to put in the time, it can’t hurt to get it right.
When someone whips past you on a ride, pimped out in a team jersey on a somewhat excellent bike, and you can see they don’t just ride, they take the road, how do you know if they’re a wanna-be or a pro?
OK, the legs for one thing. You don’t get those hard-cut sinews from eating chips and watching TV. But even when you haven’t caught a glimpse of a pro’s steely calves, you know. So what is that? And how can you get it?
Some of it’s pure mystique. But here are a few other elements. Imitate these well and you might just start to look like the real thing…
Ignore the World
Watch out for red lights, pedestrians and truckers with an evil gleam in their eyes. But after that, it’s ruthless, relentless focus. You’re not out for an afternoon stroll, you’re burning up the road. Pour everything you’ve got into your legs and watch the world just melt away.
Lighten Up
Needless tension is a time bomb. If you keep your shoulders tense while you ride, you’ll pay for it later. Pro racers have learned to relax without even thinking. You, for now, might have to notice. If you ride with a scowl, clenched teeth, locked elbows or tight jaw, stop doing that. Remind yourself the whole ride, if you have to, but break the habit.
Pedal like a Pro
Amateurs pedal erratically. You can feel their effort and lack of control at a glance – the jerky movements, the sudden, earnest push as they climb a hill, the way they wag their whole bodies just to move their legs. The smooth pedal stroke of a pro is unmistakable. It’s a language all its own. Pedal all the way through the stroke, pulling up to knee the bar, then controlling the motion all the way through. Keep the rest of your body still.
None of these things will set you apart from Floyd Landis or Jan Ullrich and give you a shot at winning the Tour. But if you keep doing things right, you might just end up with those sinewy calves!