In fact, he did the math to see just how much speed a cyclist can save with a lighter bike. Even at the steepest grade he tested (7 percent), a one-pound difference between bikes only saves about 2.5 seconds—and the lightest bike only reaches the top 7.5 seconds faster than the heaviest one.

Hence why cyclists who are heavier can go faster,’ Fonda says. So for the heavier rider the pull of gravity is greater than the air resistance, because the difference in weight between the two will be cubed while the difference in surface area is squared. The latter will generally be smaller.

​Adjust Your Position With your hands on the lower part of the handlebar, your center of gravity is closer to the ground, like a race car. Also, your weight will be more evenly distributed between the front and rear wheels, which helps maintain traction, especially during braking and turning.

When we stop pedaling, the bicycle begins to slow down. The reason is friction starts acting opposite to direction of motion which leads to slowing down the bicycle.

When riding uphill or into a headwind, it’s best to use the small or middle front chainring and bigger rear cogs. When riding downhill, it’s best to use the bigger front chainring and a range of the smaller rear cogs.

Bikes generally have 1, 3, 18, 21, 24, or 27 speeds. (10- and 15-speeds are obsolete and you don’t see them on new bikes anymore.) Lower numbers are the low gears, and higher numbers are the high gears. First gear is a low gear.

The 7-speed bike is suitable for riding on high altitudes, and the 21-speed bike is best for riding on flat surfaces. A 7-speed bike will prove to be more efficient when riding on a high terrain than a 21-speed bike because to ride on high terrain, less speed is needed and more able to ride on a steep platform.

Many people are drawn to single speed bikes because of their simplicity, but a single speed bike may not be the best option if your commute involves hills. A 3-speed bike offers enough versatility to help you navigate through uneven landscapes or rougher terrains without exerting too much energy.

Gear Ranges on Bikes Broadly speaking, mountain bikes have lots of low gears so you can climb steep hills more easily, while road bikes have more higher gears to boost top-end speed. More gears means more choices, but also more complexity for riders (and shop techs).

For most people, a 3-speed bicycle will offer enough — particularly if you’re looking for versatility. A 3-speed will handle your everyday city streets, and they can make inclines and descents easier. If you’re looking for extra speed or off-roading capability, higher-speed options are a better fit.

On a 7-speed bike, the lower gears make it easier to pedal and the higher gears allow for better movement going downhill. Compared to a 3-speed bike, a 7-speed is preferable for a rider who travels on varying terrain.

3-speed bikes cost more because the internal hub system costs more than the 7-speed derailleur system. The advantage of a 7-speed, along costing a little less, is that it gives you a wider range of gears. This means that you will have both easier gears for getting up hills as well as higher gears for going faster.

High Gear = Hard = Good for Descending: The “highest” gear on your bike is the largest chain ring in the front and the smallest cog on your cassette (rear gears). In this position, the pedaling will be the hardest and you’ll be able to accelerate while traveling downhill.

Riding a single speed requires cadences in a huge range, from 20 revolutions per minute (rpm) to over 130 rpm. Because of this, riding a single-speed bike will put you out of your cadence comfort zone and stimulate new abilities.

– Single speeds are best suited to few steep hills or strong legs or a suitable longer way round. Flat, smooth terrain is always better for single speed bikes and they can be just as quick and effective as geared bikes in these circumstances. – Try climbing hills of various gradients before purchasing a single speed.

A single speed bicycle is much easier to ride and allows you to focus on enjoying the ride rather than shifting your gears. Low Maintenance. Single speed bikes are very low maintenance because there aren’t as many moving parts compared to multispeed bicycles.

30mph is a fast speed for a bike. It can definitely be achieved with a decent hill on a road but is tough to obtain purely on flat. Below is a Strava speed graph from one of my MTB rides and a ride on a commuter path. Note that on both my max speed was around 25mph.

25-28 mph

Today, elite athletes will just poop their pants and continue on. Keep in mind what’s happening when cyclists are forced to poop their pants.