Newsletter Issue No. 857
April 11, 2019
PDF version for Premium Members is here.
Cycling Aches & Pains, Part 1: A Pain in the Butt
By Coach John Hughes
I went to the ER at Mercy Medical in Durango, Colorado, less than 1,000 miles into the 1996 Race Across AMerica. They peeled down my shorts, looked at my butt and said, “Your race is over. You have second-degree burns on your buttocks.” Read more.
Follow These Top Tips for Success On Your Next Bicycle Century Ride
By Arnie Baker, M.D.
Riding 100 miles — also known as a century — in one day is a terrific challenge and a landmark event in the career of any cyclist. Here are some tips to make your next bike century event easier and more fun. Read more.
How to Ride Home After Shifting Into Your Spokes
By Jim Langley
I’ve written in the past that shifting into the spokes and damaging your frame’s derailleur hanger is a very common accident. I also gave some examples of what could cause it to happen and explained what to do to fix the problem. This week, I thought I’d provide some slightly MacGyver-like tips for what you can do after shifting into your rear wheel so that you can ride home. Read more.
Silca Viaggio Travel Pump Review
by Sheri Rosenbaum
I recently flew to Tucson for a week of cycling. Not wanting to haul a full-size floor pump in our luggage, nor wanting to use a small hand-held pump, we opted on Silca’s Viaggio Travel pump (Viaggio is Italian for travel). Weighing in at 2.95 lbs, it isn’t the lightest option but it sure was a great one. Having a sturdy, floor pump to quickly top off 4 tires every morning was invaluable. Read more.
A Guide to Overtraining and Recovery for Cyclists
by Fred Matheny
Hard training doesn’t always lead to better performances. Combine it with inadequate recovery and you’ll almost certainly get worse instead of better. How can you avoid this depressing phenomenon, known as overtraining? How can you recover better? Read more.
Eat Right and Ride Strong Longer!
The principles and recommendations for eating before, during and after a ride apply to all roadies. These are explained in the eArticle from Coach Hughes, Nutrition for 100K and Beyond. Although written for roadies riding 100K and farther, all roadies can learn from it. Coach Hughes shows you how to calculate how many calories per hour you burn. He compares the nutritional value of bars, cookies and candy. Both Peppermint Patty candy and Fig Newton cookies have a higher percentage of carbs than any of the sports bars! He also discusses hydration and electrolytes. He concludes by discussing what you should eat every day to ride your best. The 17-page Nutrition for 100K and Beyond is just $4.99.
A Primer on UV Protection with UPF Cycling Apparel
By Coach Rick Schultz
Now that spring is here and the sun it starting to shine again, it’s time to think about sun protection. When in the sun, you want to protect yourself against the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that can cause skin and related damage across a range up to and including cancer. Read more.
Bontrager XXX WaveCel Helmet First Impressions Review
By Lars Hundley
I’ve been riding the new Bontrager road aero XXX helmet with WaveCel technology for several weeks now, after purchasing it at full retail price at a local bike shop. WaveCel is claimed to be up to 48 times more effective at preventing concussion, according to Trek. Here are my first impressions of the helmet. Read more.
Quick Tip: Clunking Noises in Front on Your Road Bike
PROBLEM: You’re noticing a knocking, clunking, shuddering in the front of the bike when you ride over something rough.
SOLUTION: Check the bike’s headset because it’s probably loose. Read more.
Question of the Week
Which style of bicycle saddle do you use?
Don’t miss our article where RBR readers told us about their favorite saddles.
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