5 Cycling Skills Every Bike Rider Needs

Here are 5 skills that every bike rider could use.

Road cycling, and road racing, isn't just about fitness – it's also about your skills. Look at the best pros – especially the sprinters like Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan – they are all highly skilled athletes and incredible at bike handling.

While you're not going to be wheelie-ing like Sagan straight away, there are some more basic skills that it will help to know:
- Hopping up curbs
- Riding one handed
- The emergency stop
- Slow, tight corners
- Riding out of the saddle

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Music - licensed by Cue Songs

[BombedNevada]

What about gaining the courage to wear the speed suit in public?

[flyingiosandroid]

Skill 6: Servicing the bottom bracket to prevent insanity.

[brownmullins]

You champs are my heros...I am an 'infant' cyclist with the goal of work transportation. I am an 'old fat lady' and determined. I love cycling all my life, and now returned. I have learned so much from you. Thank you for the GCN.

[Orgakoyd]

3:59, It's just personal preference, I usually do it with my rear handlebars.

[TheAegisClaw]

"try to pull up on your front handlebars..." As opposed to my rear handlebars?

[jayflash]

When doing tight corners, look where you want to bike to go, the most important piece of advice imo.

[efb]

The skill before all others is being able to look behind you without wobbling off your line and, next, holding your line with a hand off the bars and looking back. Great video!

[Slowcalcones]

Don't forget how to ride slowly. Holding the brakes and pedaling slowly will allow you to ride in crowds, coming up to a stop light or sign, down handicap ramps, etc. It's pretty useful depending on the environment you're in. Especially if you have a red light, you can slowly pedal/semi track stand until the light changes. Keeps you from constantly clipping and unclipping.

[ToThePointCT]

It's amazing how when I was a child, riding out the saddle felt so natural. Now I'm back into cycling all these years later, its a skill I need to aquire! I'm terrible at it :'(

[bobsta]

Emergency braking is still quite tricky even after years of cycling. I apply my back brake a fraction before my front brake to try and eliminate any possibility in flying over the front of the bike. It works every time.

[Toastybear]

i can't work out who it is, but can you fix your bottom bracket please!! also, simon just crashes into the pavement in this :P

[hawkeye]

Hey Simon... Creaky, creaky!! There are some pretty good bike maintenance videos on the YouTube channel called the Global Cycling Network...

[BaconBaconBaconable]

I want to see Nibali's version of this video: 1) Throwing bottles at random people after crashes 2) Holding on to the back of cars 3) Descending like an absolute nutcase

[gamrkidd]

Being an ex-mountain biker, I've been told my road bike handling skills are superior. This is coming from my one hardcore roadie friend, who coincidentally became my friend as he rescued me as I was flatted and stranded a city away from mine years ago. Slow speed ability is enhanced and more useful when you're riding up switchbacks on a trail.

[williamshepherd]

The 5th skill is a very well practised thing that me and my group do in my triathlete group. We play a game called the circle of doom where we spin in an inclosing circle to see who can last the longest with out putting the foot on the ground. Great video love the channel

[DrewLevitt]

1. Emergency stop
2. Riding one handed
3. Riding out of the saddle
4. Riding up curbs
5. Tight, slow speed corners

I actually agree with all of these. With the possible exception of #4, these are critical, fundamental skills.

[triathlonclubtwente]

skill number 6: Know when to change your bottom bracket:)

[TheEverymanReview]

lets add in track stands!  effective at lights and stop signs and bonus points it just looks cool

[skilzeyyy]

That dog walker was like wtf when you guys where riding in a circle 😂

[SwedishHouseFifa]

6th skill would be how to fix your bike lol