Newsletter Issue No. 1023
June 30, 2022
Anti-Aging: Preventing Bonking with Daily Nutrition
By Coach John Hughes
Last week I responded to a question by RBR reader Brian W., “I have been riding on and off for about 35 years. I am 54. I frequently “bonk” after about an hour. It doesn’t matter if I am doing a moderate or higher intensity ride. What can I do to increase my endurance and be able to ride 75 plus miles without bonking?” Read more.
Help Fixieguy with His Pinhole Punctures
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
While I was helping reader “Fixieguy” with this week’s topic, which we’ll get to in a minute, I heard back from Stephen Weeks. You’ll remember that Steve had switched to trekking handlebars and he was having shifting issues with his new lever and triple chainring shifting. Read more.
Kuat Transfer v2 Hitch Rack for 1, 2, 3, or 4 Bikes – Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
In January 2019, I reviewed the Kuat Transfer hitch rack. I liked the rack then but felt the company could improve on a few features. Fast forward, and Kuat addresses many of my suggested improvements, plus more in version 2. Read more.
Topeak Smartgauge D2X Electronic Tire Press Gauge Review
By Stan Purdum
In 1995, when I was pedaling across America, the tubes in my tires had Schrader valves, which should have made it easy to top them up with air at gas stations, since motor vehicles also use Schraders in their tires. But because the pump I carried on the bike had no gauge, and because I had no separate air gauge, I usually just squeezed my tires between my thumb and forefinger. It took a great deal of effort to achieve high pressure in the tires with my on-bike pump, so if the tires felt reasonably firm, I didn’t do anything further, and I just occasionally used a gas station pump. Read more.
UDOG Cima Cycling Shoes Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
UDOG (short for Underdog) is based in Italy and hit the direct-to-consumer market in 2021 with the mid-level Tensione shoes that boast unique external mid-foot support straps. They followed up in 2022 with the top-level Cima shoes that are stiff and light for climbing (Cima translates to summit or mountain top). Both shoes are available exclusively with laces, no ratchet straps or twisty dials to be seen. Read more.
KASK Valegro Helmet – Limited TdF Edition
By Sheri Rosenbaum
I reviewed the KASK Valegro helmet two years ago, which you can read here. In honor of the Tour de France, KASK came out with a 3,328-piece limited edition version, one for every kilometer of the race. The graphics have special meaning: the seven parallel yellow lines follow one another across a white helmet, forming a road representing the seven historic TdF victories achieved by riders wearing KASK. And each helmet is numbered so every person can have their own kilometer of the race. Read more.
Lack of Fitness is Worse Than Prolonged Sitting
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
A recent study followed 105,677 participants from 21 countries for an average of 11 years, and found that those who sat for 6-8 hours a day had a 13 percent increased risk for early death and heart disease, while those who sat for more than eight hours a day had a 20 percent increased risk. Furthermore, those who sat the most and exercised the least had a 50 percent increased risk, while those who sat the most and exercised the most had only a 17 per cent increased risk. Read more.
Eating & Drinking Like the Pros
Coach John Hughes researched what the former Team Sky, Garmin-Cervélo and RadioShack riders consume before, during and after a stage and discussed the results with cycling nutrition experts. We all require energy and replenishment of lost minerals and nutrients when we ride. Eating & Drinking Like the Pros offers us the same nutritional benefits, which we can customize to our own needs – typically at a fraction of the cost of commercial sports food and drink, if we choose to make our own. Hughes worked with a professor of nutrition and an expert on hydration and electrolytes (both experts are cyclists) in creating recipes for both sports drinks and food. They’re easy to make, with known, unprocessed ingredients, and can be tailored to your specific taste and needs.
Question of the Week
Do you use a bike rack on your vehicle?
Cool Stuff to Read
Cycling Industry News: Clif Bar bought in $2.9 Billion deal with Mondelēz
Road.cc: 9,000 training miles since January! Strava reveals what it takes to prepare for the Tour
VeloNews: Strava adds video uploads in latest platform updates
Canadian MTB: World record set at 169 mph on a mountain bike
End Notes
Sad to hear Clif Bar was bought out by parent of Cadbury and Oreo. Hopefully there won’t be any quality compromises i.e. Try our new Oreo Clif Bars!