Newsletter Issue No. 969
June 17, 2021
Anti-Aging Muscle Cramps
By Coach John Hughes
You’ve probably been on a ride and all of a sudden your leg cramps. You try to keep pedaling but it gets worse. Or out of a sound sleep you’re rudely awakened by cramps. The affected muscle spasms and squeezes all the nerve endings inside the muscle. This creates the pain. Read more.
How Do You Know When Your Cassette is Worn Out?
By Jim Langley
This is the third Tech Talk about cassettes, that cluster of cogs (gears or sprockets) on the rear wheel of any road bike. I’m keeping the topic going because of the comments to last week’s installment. Read more.
Some Summer Cycling Do’s and Don’ts
By Rick Schultz
- NEVER lay your bike down on the right (drive) side.
- Why not? Because the rear derailleur hanger can be easily bent which will cause all kinds of shifting problems. Read more.
Cycling Book Roundup
By Sheri Rosenbaum
Here are two very different books that recently hit the market. The first is by Garmin, yes Garmin. The company we know for cycling computers that accompany us on our adventures introduced a new children’s book titled “Women of Adventure: Being Brave in a Big World.” The book features six stories from the Garmin Women of Adventure series and shows girls it’s okay to be strong, fearless, curious, selfless, and brave. These positive role models are of different ages, body types, and ethnicities. Hopefully, girls will identify with one or more of these women, head outdoors, and aspire to do something great themselves. Read more.
Is Gravel Riding Harder Than Road Riding?
By Stan Purdum
Reader question: Is gravel riding harder than the road?
Stan Purdum replies: It is harder, but there are some upsides to that. For one, you’ll get more of a workout in the time you spend gravel riding than if you spent that same amount of time road riding. And for another, there’s an adventure bonus: You’ll get to pedal some places where paved roads don’t go. Read more.
This is Cheaper Than an E-Bike
By Greg Conderacci
Let’s suppose you’re a fat, old guy who doesn’t like doing intervals, but hates getting dropped by the pack. (I’m guilty on all counts.) Is an e-bike the only alternative? Read more.
GORE Wear Explore Shirt and C5 Shorts – Women’s and Men’s Versions
By Sheri Rosenbaum
GORE Wear launched their Spring/Summer Explore series for men and women, including shirts, shorts, and bib shorts. As with everything related to cycling, there was limited inventory for media samples, and I could only snag the Explore shirt for testing. Read more.
Summer Riding Bundle
Summer Riding Bundle by Coach John Hughes gives you the info you need to ride better and more comfortably. It includes:
- Cycling in the Heat, Part 1: Ride Management. 20 pages on how to acclimate, how to ride in the heat without overheating, how to stay (relatively) cool, what to wear, what to eat and drink, how to cool down if you overheat and heat related problems
- Cycling in the Heat, Part 2: Hydration Management. 21 pages on assessing your personal sweat rate and composition, how much you should drink, electrolyte replacement and the pros and cons of electrolyte replacement drinks, supplements and foods.
- Preventing and Treating Cramps. Hughes has not cramped in decades. 10 pages on what causes cramps, how to prevent them and what to do to break a cramp so you can keep riding.
- Eating and Drinking Like the Pros: How to Make Your Own Sports Food and Drink — Nutritional Insight from Pro Teams. 15 pages covering what the pros eat and drink, what you can learn from this, how to make your own sports drinks, gels and solid food and what to eat at a minimart.
Question of the Week
How often do you flat?
Other Cool Stuff to Read
Cycling News: New Dura Ace 12 speed is here
Cycling Magazine: Can variable-intensity intervals increase your VO2 max?
Cycling Tips: Tubolito new tube guaranteed for one year against flats
End Note
