Cycling Q&A

Question: How do you keep your bike seat from hurting your butt so much? Answer: Keep riding. You might not like the answer, but it’s the truth. Another truth is that a good bike seat is not supposed to be soft. This might seem like a lot of bad news but take heart. If you keep reading, you’ll learn what it takes to pick the best bike seat, and why soft seats aren’t necessarily a good thing.

Why isn’t a bike seat soft? A firm bike seat or saddle provides better support than a softer one. Bike seats aren’t designed for lounging as you would while binge-watching TV shows. You need to have a full range of movement while riding, and a proper bike seat should let you do that.

One of the biggest mistakes new bike riders make is to use a soft, mushy seat or saddle that squishes like a pancake when you sit on it. Be assured that a soft saddle is not in your best interest. A firm saddle is better for you for many reasons.

Why You Want a Firm—Not Soft—Bike Seat (Saddle)

First, let’s talk about seats versus saddles. Seats are for resting whereas saddles are for moving. A seat is supposed to support your butt and thighs when you are at rest. You straddle a saddle so that your legs have the full range of motion, like when you’re on a horse or a bicycle. What all this means is that bikes don’t have seats; they have saddles.

The saddle needs to accommodate your perineum, which is the space between your genitals and anus. The perineum is the part of your anatomy that your saddle supports, but it has to leave enough room for movement as you power your bike through a sprint or climb. The saddle can’t be too soft; otherwise, you’ll lose that much-needed support.

A firm saddle prevents pelvic numbness, which happens when the nerves and blood vessels in the perineum get compressed. As counterintuitive as this might seem, a soft, squishy saddle is more likely to give you “numb bum” than a firm saddle. Numbness can occur on all types of saddles, but inadequate perennial support is a common culprit.

With a firm saddle, you’ll experience less pain in the long run. Not only do firm saddles provide the proper support for the perennial area, but they also cause less chafing than big saddles because they don’t interfere as much with pedaling. Also, soft saddles flatten and compress, putting more pressure on your groin and other soft tissues.

Firm saddles provide better pelvic support, especially after long hours on the bike. If you ride aggressively or climb hills, … Read More

If you have ever seen a pair of cycling shoes, then you will know that they run a little bit narrower than standard shoes. Ever wondered why this is? Want to know whether the narrow shoes have an impact on your cycling ability? Let our experts explain absolutely everything that you need to know.

So, why are cycling shoes so narrow? Well, it is because if they weren’t narrow, your feet would be bouncing around in the shoe. This expends extra energy and means that you are not able to put as much force down onto the pedal. The result will be far more inefficient cycling. 

Of course, this doesn’t tell the whole story about why it is so important to get the right fit for your feet when you are cycling. Let our experts go into things in a bit more depth for you. This way, you can be sure that you will end up with the pair of shoes that complement your cycling rather than works against it. 

Why Are Cycling Shoes So Narrow?

There are a couple of reasons why cycling shoes are so narrow in comparison to other shoes.

The main reason is because when you are cycling, you do not want your feet to be moving around too much. This will be expending energy that would be better place into the actual cycling.

If your feet move around, then you will also be putting uneven pressure on the pedal. This could slow you down. It may only slow you down a little bit, but the result is having to put more effort into your cycling in order to maintain a fairly consistent speed. 

While you can cycle in wider shoes, it isn’t something that we would recommend if you are doing a lot of cycling. It will require too much energy, and you really will be traveling far too slowly.

Some people also believe that cycling shoes are narrow due to their manufacturers. There is some evidence that people living in Europe have narrower feet than those living in the United States. Since many of the best cycling shoe manufacturers are located in Europe, then the shoes are going to be naturally narrower. This is especially true with shoes that have been manufactured in Italy.

In recent years, more and more American cycling shoe manufacturers have started to appear. If you are looking for shoes that have a bit more width to them, then you should be picking up cycling shoes from an American manufacturer. However, do bear in mind that you still need that ‘snug’ feel to the shoes, otherwise you really won’t be helping yourself.

Why Is Fit So Important With Cycling

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It’s true that cycling may be done in an old pair of sneakers or clogs. However, if you take it as a sport and wish to feel the adrenalin rush of biking on rough terrains then you need well-fitting cycling shoes. They are one of the essential gears each cyclist must have to deliver optimum performance and prevent any injuries while riding.

So, if you are planning to get a new pair of cycling shoes to improve your control on the pedals and ride with enhanced authority on any type of road then you have come to the right place. In today’s post, we will tell you how cycling shoes should fit to add more power to your performance and fuel up your races or just make casual cycling more enjoyable.

Let’s discuss the important parameters to consider when looking for the right fit.

Shoe Length

Unlike the running shoes that have some extra space to bend and prevent your toes from hitting the front, the cycling shoes are more compact and well-fitting. Just a little bit of space to ensure that your toes do not get cramped inside is enough. We suggest a few millimeters in between the big toe and the insole.

A quick tip is to match your shoe against the insole to get a perfect fit as cycling does not involve any rolling motion. Put the back end area of the insole lined to the back of your heel to see how much space is available in the front.

Shoe Width

You will need to check the front area of your feet where the toes fan out to check the fitting of the shoes. The top half of your feet is the main portion that connects to the pedal to exert force and propel the cycle forward. This is also the widest area of your feet.

When trying out the fitting of cycling shoes, make a pedaling motion to check if you can feel any kind of abnormal pressure in this area. The inner sole should hold your feet compactly without any extra spaces remaining on the sides. Your feet should not be allowed to make any side-to-side motion inside the shoe to prevent potential injuries.

Heel Support

The best cycling shoes will offer a firm and snug fit particularly in the heel area. Do a simple walk test – as you walk, the heel should not slip out the shoes nor should it pinch you or cause any kind of discomfort. When the heel is perfectly seated inside the shoe, there should not be any movement inside. 

The back portion of the shoe should provide support to the entire heel and keep it snugly in … Read More

You may notice that bicycle seat heights can vary greatly, from the ultra-bottom style of casual low-riders up to the seemingly impossible height of road racers. Which raises the question: Why are road bike seats so high?

Seats on road bikes are set very high to allow for the most leverage possible from a rider’s legs, therefore generating the most power possible to move bicycles faster. It’s about pedaling efficiency, and to a lesser extent avoiding pain in the knees.

Known as saddle height, the elevation of a road bike’s seat is usually too low for beginning road bikers — and for almost all bicyclists for that matter. It’s a trend that starts when young while riding tricycles, progressing as a person grows and gets used to the sense of safety to feel the feet touch the ground.

However, eventually road bike riders need to learn how to properly mount and dismount, which eliminates the hesitancy to raise the bike seat. Higher road bike seats are optimal for leg extension and power-pedaling, to get the most energy possible from each pedal stroke.

Bicycle Enthusiasts Shed Light into Seat Height

While some bicycling experts claim there are formulas to determine optimal bike seat heights, in reality it depends mostly on the rider and comfort. When a road bike seat is too low, typically your thighs and other parts of the legs will let you know relatively quickly.

Some cycling experts suggest raising a road bike seat a little at a time, maybe a half-inch to start, and then ride a bit to test it out and get used to it. Keep doing it until you get to a point where you know it’s probably just right, or even at that point maybe a little too high.

Need verification? Check online cycling forums, and you’re bound to see statements like these:

• You want the legs to be nearly fully extended at the bottom point of the pedal stroke, because this generates more power and helps reduce pain in the knees.

• No serious road bikers have saddles they can sit on and, when not moving, still touch the ground. If they do, they do so barely, with just the toes.

• When stopped, get used to sliding forward to get off the saddle and plant your feet when needed.

• You will be pedaling much, much more than stopping and standing. Remember this and set the seat high for maximum power and pedaling efficiency. Learn to stand over the top tube when stopped.

More Information

Road Bikes 101

Road bikes are slim and sleek bicycles designed with a focus on taking riders fast and far. In the old days they might have been called simply … Read More

Biking is one of the best outdoor activities for anyone out there. If you’re someone who cycles often, you likely have encountered several bicycle problems that often get in the way of a peaceful bike ride, one of the main problems being a slipped bike chain.

Several things can cause a bike chain to slip. The most common reason for a slipped chain is the natural stretching of cables that comes with frequent usage of your bicycle.

Other reasons for your bike chain slipping can be having a relatively long chain that comes off too often or having a damaged derailleur that needs to be replaced. However, fixing a bike chain is not very hard.

This article will help you discover why your bike chain often slips while pedaling hard. Let’s get started!

Why Does a Bike Chain Slip While Pedaling Hard?

While many scenarios can lead to your bike chain slipping off as soon as you pedal hard, especially in situations likes when you’re switching gears while riding or pedaling hard, you can typically diagnose the problem very quickly.

The most common reason this will happen is when your bike’s cables are stretched too much due to natural usage. It’s just simple wear and tear of the wires after the cable has gotten old and has been used multiple times.

Listed below are some of the common reasons why your bike chain comes off while riding or pedaling hard. Most of them can be resolved quite easily. If you’re unable to repair it though, you can always contact a mechanic.

A Worn Chain

This is one of the most frequently occurring reasons for the chain to slip on the cassette. With regular use of a bicycle enduring high-intensity pedaling, the chain is subjected to higher levels of everyday wear and tear, having issues such as getting damaged or becoming stretched.

This wear causes the rollers to loosen their standard shape, and the plates get elongated. Eventually, the chain loses its mechanical contact with the sprocket teeth and starts causing frequent slipping to occur.

You can test the health or functioning of your chain by using a specific tool often referred to as a “chain wear checker” or a “chain checker.” These are available in multiple shapes and sizes, and each one is used in a particular way to help you gauge the amount of wear occurring on your chain.

Misalignment of Parts

This issue commonly occurs due to incorrect installation after switching to a new chain or a new cassette without correctly following the manufacturer’s directions.

It is advisable to pick any new drivetrain parts after becoming well informed about their compatibility with your bike and pre-existing parts. Not … Read More

You finally decided to go for it and purchased a Peloton. Congratulations! Welcome to the clan! Now, you’re asking yourself: “So, what else do I require? What shoes should I get for this? Is it possible to use my old cycling shoes with the new Peloton bicycle?” 

Take a deep breath – all of your Peloton shoe concerns will be addressed below.

To answer your question, you do require special shoes for riding a Peloton. The Peloton bike is equipped with clipless pedals, necessitating the use of suitable cycling shoes.

The pedals are best utilized with three-hole cleat shoes with either SPD-SL or Look Delta cleat systems. For Peloton pedals, you only have the SPD-SL and Look Delta cleat models, thus the fact that you’ll need specific shoes for riding the bike.

Continue reading this article if you would like to learn more about why you require special Peloton cycling shoes.

Special Shoes for Peloton Bikes: Reasons to Buy 

Peloton riders are well acquainted with the fact that there are special Peloton bike shoes widely available in the market. However, new users worry, “Would I Need Special Peloton Shoes?” when using or buying a Peloton cycle. 

To maximize energy and durability while riding, your shoes would have to snugly fit around your foot’s edges and the heel region. The shoes, in particular, must be perfectly fastened to the pedal. 

When it comes to the Peloton cycle, the pedals are delta-compatible cleats connected to the base of the shoes using a three-screw hole configuration.

As a result, after you’ve clipped the delta cleats into the pedal’s toe cage, there’s no way you’ll fall off or have your feet slide off. In reality, clipping your shoes to the Peloton’s pedals provides the safest and most enjoyable exercise experience.

So, in terms of security, convenience, and an efficient ride, we believe Peloton bike shoes are the best option for you. Peloton shoes can also assist you in having the most rigorous training sessions. 

The power gradually moves from your legs and up with these shoes rather than buffering the stress and pushing it back down to your ankles and knees. You will experience less pain and will avoid injuring yourself in this manner.

Peloton shoes will assist you in maintaining proper posture, allowing you to reap the full benefits of biking. They also shield your toes from shocks produced by toe cages while riding.

What Kind of Special Shoes are Required for Riding a Peloton Bike? 

It’s important to remember that your shoes’ rubber soles should be non-slippery. Although you will lose some steadiness due to this, it is much better than slipping and crashing while pedaling hard. 

Any bicycle shoe with a … Read More

There’s a lot of debate over choosing electronic shifting over mechanical shifting in current times. While both give great results have their respective pros and cons, electronic shifting is gradually becoming a crowd favorite with bike lovers. The current favorite, Shimano Di2, is making heads turn for all the right reasons!

Shimano’s bike models have been refined over the last three generations, packed with the latest technology and gearing options with 12 speeds, making the cycles of this Japanese brand a highly demanded one among users. All the hype around these electric cycles is real and definitely worth it!

Shimano’s Di2 bikes are an excellent choice for bike lovers because:

• You get reliable and smooth-shifting gears
• They come with 12 speeds
• They have wireless controls
• They can be easily charged

What does Di2 Stand for?

The Japanese cycling brand Shimano has gathered some appreciation over the years for its high-performing series of electric bikes – the Di2 series. But what exactly does Di2 stand for?

Di2 bikes don’t usually have a manual, which leaves users baffled by the abbreviation.

Di2 stands for “Digital Integrated Intelligence,” Shimano’s electronic shifting. Di2 bikes are swift, lightning-fast, and operate at the push of a button. The controlling and shifting are precise and run smoothly on the roughest of terrains.

What makes Di2 bikes even more remarkable is that it allows you to shift gears under the heaviest load while climbing uphill or to accelerate. Once you’ve set up the system of the bike, it runs all the time smoothly. Charging the cycle is an easy and convenient process.

Advantages of Using Electronic Shifting

The growing technological advancements and trends have made electronic gears a popular choice over mechanical gears. Electronic gear shifting was invented to provide easy access and control, increasing compatibility on rough and hilly terrains.

When buying a bike, it’s essential to jot down and consider some factors. Doing so will help you decide what the bike offers and which features meet your needs. The needs and requirements differ, so it’s essential to go through the features.

This section will help you understand the advantages of using Shimano Di2, the much-acclaimed bike.

·      Low-Effort Shifting

One of the top-most features of using an electronic shifting bike is that they operate with the push of a button, and you don’t have to keep pushing a mechanical lever. It also increases the bike’s chain security.

While modern mechanical shifting is excellent, electronic shifting is a step ahead in making rear and front shifting smooth and swift for you.

·      Simple Setup

Electric bikes operate with a wireless system. It is particularly helpful in setting up the bike as fewer wires make the process a … Read More

Introduced to reduce bicycle accidents at night and improve the cycle’s visibility, Revolights was born in 2011. It works with a battery-operated LED lighting system attached to the bicycle wheels.

The lights in the front-wheel act as the headlight, and the lights on the rear wheel make the brake light. This product was super-hit when it launched and garnered a lot of customers.

Sadly, in 2019, the company made the hard decision of shutting down. The main trigger for this decision was a lack of resources. The company met with very high demand in the market and took on an enormous number of orders even though they did not have the resources to fulfill them.

The Mission and Product of Revolights

The idea of Revolights was birthed in the founder’s mind, Kent Frankovich, when he faced trouble while riding his bicycle in the dark. That led him to the mission of lowering bicycle accidents due to low visibility at night.

Guided by this mission, he, along with his team, designed a prototype and launched the company with a Kickstarter campaign.

The LED lighting system of this product clips onto the wheel’s spokes. With the help of magnets, these lights remain in a fixed position. The batteries can be recharged using a removable USB charger, and the power unit is placed in the hub of the bicycle wheel.

Revolights Kickstarter Funding

• The first Kickstarter campaign in 2011 was successful and raised almost $215,000
• In 2013, they ran a second Kickstarter campaign and received funding worth $94,000

With the money from the initial round of funding, they got their patents and funded tooling, manufacturing, and evolved design.

Initially, Revolight’s product fit only 27″ wheel rims. They also started selling wheels with pre-installed lighting systems. They even drew plans to scale this up to different sizes and develop an integrated self-charging battery system.

Revolight’s started selling online primarily, and this unique product was successful within a year. Revolights’ founder Kent, applied to appear for Shark Tank for the following reasons:

• To grow more
• Reduce production costs
• Make meaningful, beneficial connections

Revolights on Shark Tank

Revolights initially pitched to the sharks on the show Shark Tank for an investment of $150,000 with a 10% share. Some of the sharks were impressed with the product and believed they had undervalued the company.

After receiving offers from all of them and thoughtful consideration, Kent finalized the deal with Robert Herjavec. Robert’s offer was an investment of $300,000 for 10%.

This winning deal at Shark Tank helped Kent get an additional investment of $1,000,000 from “Angel” investors in 2014. The valuation of RevoLights skyrocketed after Shark Tank and the investments from “Angel” investors.

Revolights Post Shark Tank

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Savvy bicyclists fully understand the importance of the right handlebars — and their impact on comfort and performance while cycling. That said, have you ever wondered, why are road bike handlebars curved?

Handlebars for road bikes are curved to provide riders with options to relieve pressure on body parts, especially the hands, during long or strenuous rides. Cyclists can choose from at least three different points on road-bike handlebars, depending on how they feel and the type of road, slope or terrain they face.

Road-bike cycling is for long hauls, and as such, riders must deal with pressure and pain points in body parts aside from the constantly churning legs. While the legs pedal away, hands holding the steering bars can get tired, as well as the wrists, forearms, elbows, shoulders and various parts of the back.

There are reasons handlebars look different on various types of bikes. They are installed to serve a purpose beyond merely being a device used to steer. Here’s a closer look.

The Curved Handlebars of Road Bikes

Most everyone is familiar with the rather unusual, overly curved shape of the steering bars for road bikes, or bicycles people once simply called 10-speeds, 15-speeds, etc. (today that can go up to 27-speeds). From the bike’s center stem, the ends of road bike handlebars first curve forward and then downward, like a ram’s horns. Eventually, the ends curve back toward the rider.

Officially they are known as drop handlebars, invented in the 1920s and attached to many bicycles over the decades into the end of the 20th Century. Around then, with the gaining popularity of bicycles other than 10-speeds, such as mountain bikes, kids’ motocross bicycles and triathlon-ready rides, manufacturers began tinkering with handlebar design and implementation.

Drop handlebars are designed mostly for performance, e.g. speed, with a nod to hand, wrist and arm comfort as noted above. These handlebars provide a number of advantages:

• Arm, wrist and hand comfort. As road bicyclists progress on rides, depending on how their extremities feel and the particular part of the course they are on, they can choose to grip drop handlebars at the straight bar at top near the stem; or drop down to hold the very ends underneath. There’s even a middle option, to hold the bending furthest away point in the front. (See below).

• Three hand positions. Classic drop handlebars for speed have three positions for the hands, each with a purpose. These are called reach, drop and width. Reach is simply reaching forward to hold the straight horizontal near the center (before the curving begins). Holding the handlebars at their forward-most point is a drop position, good for pulling and

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For any athlete to get the best performance, it is important to have the best equipment. The same is certainly true for cyclists, and arguably the most important piece of gear is a pair of cycling shoes. This means they can also cost quite a bit of money.

So, why are cycling shoes so expensive? Cycling shoes that are more expensive use high-end materials to maximize comfort, protection, and efficiency. They also minimize the weight to help the rider go as fast as possible for as long as possible. These high-end materials and various options available for cycling shoe customization are the main contributors to the high cost.

Cyclists keen on shoes must think, why are cycling shoes so expensive? Some shoes are pricey for many reasons, such as materials. Read more for details.

Why Are Cycling Shoes Expensive?

A few main materials contribute to the cost of a cycling shoe. They make up the upper, interior, and sole of the shoe, and are a major determinant of the shoe’s overall quality.

In the sole of the shoe, carbon is lighter and stiffer than injected molded plastic. Carbon is also more expensive. A mid-range option would be a blend of plastic and fiberglass.

Cyclists, especially those who compete in races, look for a shoe that is as light as possible to maximize speed and efficiency. Generally, the lightest shoes are the most expensive.

Cycling shoes are so expensive because they are in high demand from cyclists who want to get the most out of their performance. They are willing to pay high prices for the comfort, safety, and competitive advantage that cycling shoes can provide.

Another remarkable difference between the two is the closure system. The cheap varieties use a Velcro system for fastening, while the expensive models will mostly have a ratchet mechanism or Boa-style dial. While both secure well, the later gives more precision and adjustability ease to the biker.

The upper material of both these types of shoes is also a critical point of difference between the two. Entry-level cycling shoes have a mix of PU leather and low quality nylon, while the pro-level ones are made of breathable or pliable materials such as lightweight synthetic microfiber or real leather.

Are Cycling Shoes Worth It?

Whether or not cycling shoes are worth it depends on who you are as a cyclist as well as your goals. Since there are so many options available at different prices, everyone should be able to find a cycling shoe that is worth it for their situation.

For example, an entry-level rider who uses cycling shoes only for spin class may opt for a cheaper pair because they don’t need all of … Read More