Newsletter Issue No. 863

May 23, 2019

PDF version for Premium Members is here.

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13 Ways to Improve Your Climbing

By Coach John Hughes

My client Ted is going to the Alps later this month with a buddy to climb some of the classic climbs of the Tour de France including Alpe d’Huez, the Col de la Madeleine, and the Glandon.  Their rides will take from 3:00 – 4:30 hours and the daily rides range from 149 feet / mile to 189 feet / mile.  Ted is training for the long course of the Maratona dles Dolomites, 85.7 miles with 13,900 feet of climbing, 162 feet per mile.  Here’s what you can learn from Ted’s training. Read more.

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Unboxing ICAN Cycling’s Aero 40 Chinese Carbon Road Wheelset

By Jim Langley

A couple of weeks ago, we received an interesting request from a new company to us. It was from Rita Müller, the COO of ICAN Cycling. ICAN is located in Shenzhen, China. They sell carbon bicycles, frames, components and wheels. Rita asked if we’d like to test and review their new superlight tubeless-ready carbon Aero 40 clincher wheelset (rim brake model – they also make a disc model). Read more.

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New Research on Intense Exercise

by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

The more intensely you exercise, the less likely you are to suffer a heart attack, even though heart attacks can be caused by intense exercise in some people who already have irregular heartbeats or blocked arteries leading to their hearts. Read more.

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More from Coach Hughes

To learn how to ride better as an older roadie get my eBook Anti-Aging: 12 Ways to Slow the Aging Process. Anti-Aging explains how best to use endurance riding, intensity workouts and strength training to improve. It describes how to integrate these into your personal year-round plan. The 107-page eBook Anti-Aging is $15.00 ($12.74) for our Premium Members.

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Topeak Defender iGLOW and Planet Bike Big Buck Fender Reviews

by Sheri Rosenbaum

Last week Jim Langley’s article on Top Tips for Road Cycling in the Rain was perfect timing, as I have been testing a couple of rear fenders. Chicagoland has had a cold and rainy Spring requiring us to ride in less than ideal conditions. Fenders are nice no matter what bike you’re on as it prevents spray from coating your backside, plus it reduces rooster tails affecting riders behind you. Read more.

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How Should I Warm Up for Group Rides?

QUESTION: I ride mostly alone due to my hectic schedule. When I join a group they start too fast. I expend so much energy trying to keep up in the first few miles that the rest of the ride is a struggle. Also, I seem to be a “tweener”– too fast for slow groups, but too slow for fast ones. How can I remedy these problems? — Jeffrey S. Read more.

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Win Against Wind: Cycling in Windy Conditions

By Fred Matheny

To many cyclists, wind is the enemy. We grimace when flags whip, stoplights sway above intersections and litter blows in whirlwinds around street corners. A windy weather forecast can scuttle a whole weekend’s riding plans. Read more.

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Kate’s Real Food Energy Bar Review

by Lars Hundley

If you’ve been cycling since the 1980s or earlier, you probably remember the very first Powerbars, which were almost like chewing through rawhide. Even today, decades later, many energy bars are hard to chew and not exactly what you’d call tasty. So I was intrigued when someone from Kate’s Real Food contacted Road Bike Rider about reviewing their bars. They mailed me a sample pack that included all six of their different flavor options. Read more.

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Protein For Recovery: A Detailed Look at the Studies

by Arnie Baker, M.D.

Most sports drinks, fruit juices, and sodas contain carbohydrates as their almost exclusive source of calories. Some coaches and nutritionists advocate adding protein to recovery drinks, generally to speed glycogen replacement. Is the addition of protein to sports drinks helpful in promoting recovery? Read more.

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Question of the Week

Which type of wheels are your primary wheels on your road bike?

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More Cycling Stuff to Read

Science Direct: Drivers pass cyclists even closer when there is a painted bike lane.
Forbes: Study shows cyclists break fewer road rules than car drivers.
Quartz: Why every cyclist needs a pool noodle?
VeloNews: Surprising! What’s more efficient, a 1X or 2X drivetrain?

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End Note

Thanks for reading another issue! Did you enjoy reading the totally free, weekly Road Bike Rider newsletter? If so, consider forwarding this newsletter to a fellow roadie with a note and suggest that they sign up too. The RBR newsletter is made possible by the support of our awesome premium members and supporting members. This support allows us to turn off the ads on newsletter articles for everyone for the first three days after each newsletter goes out. We appreciate them, and you should too.