Newsletter Issue No. 853
March 14, 2019
PDF version for Premium Members is here.
6 Kinds of Intensity Training: Why One Is Best for You?
By Coach John Hughes
Intensity training doesn’t mean hammering. It means simply training at the right intensities to improve your performance, i.e., pedaling somewhat harder than normal. Intensity training is like prescription medicine. If you take the right medicine you’ll get better. If you take the wrong medicine you won’t get better and you might even get worse! To get better you need to take the appropriate medicine in the proper doses at the correct times. Read more.
What’s the Cycling Secret to Success in the Wind?
Question: I’m a recreational rider with a decent sprint and above-average climbing ability. However, wind kills me! When I rotate to the front of a paceline, I can’t maintain the group’s pace if it’s even a little breezy. When I drop back, I often can’t hitch onto the end of the line, so I get dropped. Any suggestions? — Richard D. Read more.
Observations on Lower Gearing
by Jim Langley
Recently, RoadBikeRider.com supreme leader Lars Hundley, former head John Marsh and yours truly were trading emails discussing new developments in road bike gearing options. SRAM had just announced their new for 2019 AXS 12-speed parts group with its X-Range gearing. Read more.
Become a Better Cyclist by Learning About the Training Triangle
by Arnie Baker, M.D.
Here’s an important truth about training. When you work on one particular aspect of fitness, others will suffer. The following triangles represent what is happening: The corners of the triangle might represent speed, endurance, and power. The triangle area represents the total amount of fitness. Read more.
Breathing Technique for Long, Hard Hills
by Fred Matheny
Here’s a technique I learned from 1984 Olympic road champion Alexi Grewal. Try it when climbing a long hill. Read more.
Reelight NOVA Dynamo Bike Light System Review
by Brandon Bilyeu
Reelight is a Danish company that specializes in bike lights that don’t require batteries, but instead use friction free eddy currents to generate the electricity needed to power the LED lights. They offer solid and flashing lights as well as different mounting locations including the hub, seat stays/post, fork, and head tube. Read more.
Garneau Edge 2 Jersey Review
by Sheri Rosenbaum
I thought by now I’d be transitioning to reviewing spring gear, but Mother Nature has a different idea here in the Midwest. As I write this review it’s snowing, yet again, so figured I’d go ahead and review Garneau’s Edge 2 jersey (men’s and women’s style). The looser fit gives you room to layer, taking you from cool fall rides through winter and into early spring. Read more.
Improve Your Cycling with Intensity Training
Intensity Training: Using Perceived Exertion, a Heart Rate Monitor or Power Meter to Maximize Training Effectiveness explains in more detail your physiology, which type(s) of intensity training is right for you and how to do intensity training including whether RPE, heart rate or power is best for you. The 41-page Intensity Training is only $4.99.
FDA Proposes New Sunscreen Rules
by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
At last, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing new rules on sunscreen safety. Finalizing these rules and actually making changes on the regulation or labeling of sunscreens will take time, so I advise you to follow their recommendations now by reading the labels and avoiding those products with ingredients that are unlikely to be safe or may be found unsafe. Read more.
Feetures Elite Ultra Light and Merino 10 Cycling Socks Review
by Lars Hundley
I have a large number of different brands of regular socks, running socks and cycling socks in my dresser drawer, but had never tried the Feetures brand. So when they contacted RBR to tell us about their sock brand, I was curious to test two different models that they make. One is a traditional thin cycling sock made from a high tech fabric that they call iWick Fibers, and the other is also a thin cycling sock made from a Merino wool blend. Read more.
Question of the Week
Do you use sunscreen?
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