Newsletter Issue No. 1108

February 15, 2024

More On Gearing And Crankarm Length

Jim’s Tech Talk

By Jim Langley

It was so nice of many of you to weigh in on our discussion regarding whether bicycle gearing is affected by crankarm length, which was the technical question we attempted to provide help with last week. Thank you for the helpful and interesting comments, some of which we’re sharing today. Here’s last week’s column in case you missed it. Read more.

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Bad Food Begets Bad Food and Why

By Kevin Kolodziejski

It doesn’t matter if it’s a really good one or a really grim one.  Far East philosophy explains there are three things you can do in any situation to put it into proper perspective and obtain peace of mind. Read more.

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Pedla RideFLASH Reflective Vest (Men’s and Women’s Versions) – Quick Review

By Sheri Rosenbaum

The RideFLASH Reflective Vest comes in men’s or women’s versions and is ideal for safety-conscious commuters. Designed by Pedla, this new design provides visibility, comfort, functionality, durability, and versatility.

One of the standout features of this vest is its exceptional visibility. Read more.

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How much muscle soreness from strength training is too much to train again?

QUESTION: This goes back to the discussion a while back about strength training for older cyclists. My question is, how long to recover between strength training sessions, and how that varies with soreness. I am 63, and have been an off-and-on athlete since I was a teenager, so I understand most of the practicalities of next-day (or, as I have gotten older, 2nd-day) soreness, avoiding injuries, etc, but I am wondering if I should wait until my DOMS is completely gone before doing another workout, or wait until most of the soreness is gone, or is it ok to workout again after two or three recovery days even if I’m still pretty sore? Which plan will give me the quickest gains (assuming I don’t go so hard that I injure myself)? – Dave Read more.

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How can I keep chamois cream from bleeding through my shorts?

QUESTION: How can I keep my chamois cream from bleeding through my shorts onto my saddle — and onto my car seat when driving to ride starting points? —Chuck D.

RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: It’s not much talked about, but it is a fact that some chamois creams or general skin lubricants can bleed through bicycle shorts. In their sales copy, bike clothing makers routinely mention the breathability of their shorts, which is a useful feature for conveying sweat away from your body, but that also means that other substances may be able to pass through them as well. Read more.

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Question of the Week

Do you use chamois cream?

Other Cool Things to Read

Bike Radar: 7 aero trends that will define cycling tech in 2024 and beyond
Road.cc: Five cool things coming soon from Look, Hunt, Fourth Frontier, Flextail and Vallon
Electrek: Get ready – California’s electric bicycle driver’s license bill is here
Cycling Weekly: What it feels like to ride along the ‘worst cycle lane in the world’

Most Clicked Last Week

Does Crankarm Length Affect Gearing?

End Notes