How to ride efficiently

Ways to lighten the load:

• Water - One of the most effective ways to ditch some weight and improve your ride efficiency is to minimize the fluid you have in your water bottles.
• Nutrition and fueling - Plan carefully so you know where on a ride feed stations are and how long any climbs are likely to take. You can easily shed a kilogram in this way but be careful not to leave yourself short. Do not shed weight to the detriment of your hydration / fueling.
• Kit - Be ruthless about the kit and spares you carry although you should never skimp so much as to potentially leave yourself stranded.
• Clothing - There aren’t necessarily significant weight savings to be made from clothing but, from an energy saving perspective over a long ride, baggy or flapping kit is important to avoid. For example, if you have unzipped your cycling top to keep cool on a climb, fasten it up for the descent and any flat sections.