How can you ride a bicycle without getting tired?

Cycling will not be so tiring if you are able to eliminate the issues you faced. I share here some reasons why you will feel more tired than you should while cycling:

1) You are cycling on a bicycle with the wrong frame size for your height.
2) It could also be that the handlebar reach is either too near or too far for you.
3) Or you may have set your seatpost too low.
4) Your tyres are not fully inflated to run efficiently.
5) You are not using your gears right.
6) The gradient of the roads you chose to cycle on are too steep.
7) You are trying to catch up with fellow riders who have better stamina or who are more efficient cyclists.

If you are cycling on a bicycle with the wrong frame size and you do not intend to replace it, here are minor changes you can make to it that will ease the strains of cycling which will make you tired.
Most stems come in length of 32mm right up to 80mm. If the handlebar reach is too far for you, you can use a stem with shorter length as it will bring the handlebar closer to you.



If you would like to remove the strains on your shoulders and arms which can tire you out, you can consider installing an adjustable handlebar stem as it will also allow you to sit in a more upright position.

However, if you are cycling on an old bike that uses quill stem, there are extra long models in the market which will increase the height of the handlebar for easy reach so that you can sit in a more upright position.


Your seatpost height must be adjusted so that when you sit on the saddle, your knee is slightly bent while the ball of your foot is resting on the pedal at its lowest position.

Try to inflate your tyres to the maximum PSI shown on its sidewall for a smoother ride.



Make sure that you use tyres with the correct threads for the right terrain you are cycling on. For urban ride, slick tyres like the one shown in the above photo will be more efficient.

Knobby tyres that are usually installed on MTB will be more suitable for rougher terrain.



Learn how to change your gears efficiently so that you will not have to struggle uphill. Avoid cycling over bridges or through routes that are hilly which can tire you out faster than you should. Routes with lower gradients will also put less strains on your body.

If you plan to cycle in a group, check to see if fellow riders are cycling on MTB or roadbike or Hybrid or Fatbike or folding bikes. Try to match what they are cycling on as different types of bicycles have different wheel sizes and tyre threads for different terrains.

Frankly speaking, whatever exercise you do, unless you are doing it half halfheartedly, you should feel some form of fatigue and tiredness. You should feel tired as some exertions in strength is involved in moving your bicycle.

The weather can also wear you out if you are cycling under the hot sun or under a heavy shower without the proper attire and protection. The stress of keeping yourself safe on the road while cycling can also tire you out. If you don’t want to feel tired at all, stop your bicycle for a rest more often and avoid routes that will stress you.

Fuel price going up? Start a bike train.

In USA, some parents are running bike trains so that older children who can cycle can get to school safely with their guidance.



In 2014, I paid the bus transport service provider RM180.00 per month to send my daughter to school.  This year, I am paying RM220.00.  With price of fuel increasing, bike train could be one way we can reduce the cost of transporting our children to school.

According to "Safe Routes", it is recommended that there is one adult to manage every three to six children cycling.

The thing is, will it be possible to run a bike train in Malaysia for children living near their schools?

Stay safe. Lights up!

If you are out riding your bicycle at night, make sure that you can be seen by fellow road users.

You should have a tail light or rear bike light like the following which comes with a USB adaptor for recharging the Lithium polymer battery.  It has two types of mount so that you can decide if you would like to locate it at the saddle or seat post.

You will also require a headlight or front bike light.  

There are models that also come with helmet mount.  What is the point of mounting your headlight on your helmet?  Without moving your bicycle, you can shine the light in the direction you are looking at.  

Paper pulp helmet? Safe and trendy.

In your efforts to go green, you have decided to join a bike sharing scheme.  So, how green will you go?  When you don't have your own helmet with you, are you willing to share that too?

Stop!  Don't bother cracking your head over that issue.  Tom Gottelier, Bobby Petersen and Ed Thomas has a solution for you with their creation of the "Paper Pulp Helmet".  How safe is that?  Very safe I would say, since it is developed according to the European safety standards.

Will it cost you a bomb?  At £1 each, it is cheap enough to be recycled even after each use so that new ones can be created.  But how fashionable can one be wearing a helmet made out of paper pulp?  Decide for yourself.


Paper Pulp Helmet from Tom Gottelier on Vimeo.

Since this creation helps to clear newspapers discarded in buses and trains, that should make you a trendy green owner of one, that's for sure.