That …

It's never as easy as riding a bike

There is a common belief that pedaling a bike is natural. Just about anyone can get on a bike and turn the pedals in the same circles that Tour de France winners do. Well, not exactly. When you learned to walk you fell on your ass more than a few times, this is known as a failure state. Failure states are what allow us to learn a skill. On a bike, the cranks and pedals control the movement. You can't make the cranks go in anything other than that circle. That your pedals go around doesn't mean it's a natural skill, it means your efficiency is greater than zero.

Everything you've learned (to walk) is wrong (for pedaling)

As an engineer, the concept of pedaling being a natural skill set has always baffled me. If you watch a child learn how to walk, then apply those motor skills to the bike, you realize why so many people suck at pedaling.  There are two problems with using the walking skill set for pedaling. First, in walking, all of the force is at the bottom - you stand on the ground. In pedaling, you can push down as hard as you want at the bottom, it's all wasted effort. Second, generating power in the pedal stroke involves pushing in directions you never learned how to do in walking.

Critical thinking

I've been coaching riders for over 20 years, I've always told my riders to observe themselves pedaling with a critical eye.  Maybe 1 out of 20 actually does, and I always know when they do because they are appalled at what they see. People would rather think they know how to do something than find out they don't. 

Back when I was coaching the Harvard cycling team I learned that coaching meant putting my own performance on the back burner. I've always reached a high level of fitness because that's what's needed to coach riders on the road, but I've always sacrificed my own performance for that of my riders. Last May I turned 60, I have started to question my own fitness, and I'm sick of my riders not listening to me when it comes to watching themselves. So this year my program is literally my program. People are free to join me, Zoom sessions in November and December will be free, but it will be brutally honest about what needs work. If you can't set up a camera and watch yourself pedal with a critical eye, I don't need to waste my time with you. If you are willing to observe yourself, there is a lot to be gained, so read on.