I'm sure most of you watched Paris Roubaix over the weekend. Did you notice how fluid they look over what are seriously rough roads, trust me they are about the worse roads out there.

OK, so most of us don't have cobbled sectors on our regular training route, but some sections of rough roads can literally be a pain in the ass.
Think of those great little back roads that haven't been resurfaced since the donkey and cart and you get the idea.

So how do you ride over rough roads comfortably?
The secret is, relax. Simple right? Well, for some it is, but if you're new to the sport and you're getting bounced around, instinct says to hold tight. That's exactly what makes it even worse, gripping the bars tight allows the shock to go straight into the hands and transfer through the body causing discomfort and lack of control.

The best way to tackle these roads is to relax the grip on the bars. Still wrap your hands round the bar so your hands aren't going to get bounced off, but relax the grip so the bar can almost float within your grip. This goes whether you hold the tops, drops, or hoods, its all the same.
What you'll find is your upper body will be able to stay loose and relaxed which is also going to give you more control of the bike.
To test this next time you're out, ride with your arms and upper body tensed compared to riding with the arms and upper body relaxed. Which way allows you to control the bike like Joe the pro carving through the bunch?

The other area to think of is the saddle. Allow yourself to float on top of the saddle rather than putting all your weight on the seat.
To do this put pressure on the feet over uneven surfaces and allow the weight to be lifted off the seat slightly. Again this allows the body to relax and the bike to float underneath you instead of your weight taking the brunt of every bump you hit.
If you do a 500 meter stretch of bumpy road and come out with a raw rump, take the weight off next time.

To summarise, your bike should be a floating connection that works with the body over the bumps allowing you to move like liquid.
Release the death grip, and relax. Once you do that you'll be visualising your attack over the Arrenberg forest section and heading for victory!

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Tags: Rough Roads