My bicycle is getting harder to peddle. Does anyone know why?

Question

I am cycling on the same route that I always use, but my bicycle is getting harder to peddle. Does anyone know why this could be?

Answer 1

Your legs are getting tired?

Actually, I need more information to help answer you better. Do you ride every day, what is your age, how many miles are we talking about? etc.

It could be you need to rest your legs (do they feel like lead?) Take a few days off.

When you ride a lot, it really works the muscles, but they get stronger. Before they get stronger, they have to break down first and rebuild. Your legs might be in the process of rebuilding now. Ride a little easier for a few days, less miles, then try your ride again.

Other possibilities could be there is more headwind, or plate tectonics is lifting your road slightly to make a steeper angle, or like the first person said, check your tire pressure.

Have fun!

Answer 2

many here have mentioned "oiling the chain" by that I think we all know we mean cleaning the power train properly and using a quality bike lube product. Do not use oil, WD40, car care products on your bike. But your bike needs simple and easy to do standard maintenance.

Pump the tires to the proper pressure before each ride, use a bike floor pump not at the gas station. If you're not sure what the right pressure is it's imprinted on the tire.

Talk to a local bike shop or club and have them show you how to do all this.

Also the tired thing. If you're riding often you may be tired, if you're new to cycling pay attention to nutrition are you getting enough water, rest and generally quality good food/fuel.

Getting slicks will help but since you're noticing it's getting more difficult I'm thinking maintenance/equipment or tired/dehydrated.

Answer 3

I believe you may have encountered a similar problem the French pro cyclists were having - brake pad rubbing against the rim. The French haven't won the Tour de France in over 10 years, and now local mechanics have traced the problem to the brake pads (they're uncertain whether it is just the rear pads, or it might have migrated to the front pads to).

Tour organizers believe the French teams may have the problem corrected before next year's Tour (tentatively re-named Tour de Testosterone...free beer and whiskey at all feed zones!)

C'est la vie.

Answer 4

There r two main things,one is it could be there is no much or exact air in the tyre and other is the chain is quite rusted,please do apply greece...then it will be smooth.It also happened with me...

Answer 5

it hapened to me, i ride a bmx, and when i land, sometimes the back wheel tends to go foward then the chain goes loose, you can litteraly put it to the ground, what i do is take off my back wheel's nuts that holds em in place then pull it as far back as you can go then tight 'em up again. the trick should be done, if thats the problem

Answer 6

Also try changing to narrower and/or higher pressure, less grip tyres. Slick tyres will roll easiest, but semi slicks are safer.

Answer 7

it could have one of the following problems:
*tyres have less air
*break wires are tightened hard
*problem with the chain
*ur bicycle need oiling
if its not all these then change the route...

Answer 8

gee there could be heaps of reasons, your tyres could be going flat, your wheel might not be in correctly and your brakes could be rubbing, your bottom bracket could be on its way out, your seat post may be to low for your leg extension, your freehub body could be seizes, your hub on the rear could be cracked, your wheels might be out of true and are rubbing on your brakes, your brakes could be out of adjustment, your crank arm could be bent which makes peddaling hard. I hope you find the problem!

Answer 9

Another possibility is that the brake pads may be rubbing against the rims.

Answer 10

If you've done all of the above and it's still hard to peddle, then you need to lose weight and ride more.

'nuff said?