Newsletter Issue No. 1119
May 2, 2024
Muc-Off Nano Tech Bike Cleaner Product Review
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
The reason I’m reviewing Muc-Off’s Nano Tech Bike Cleaner is because of another cyclist who was tent camping at a pretty cool little campground we were at in Southern California. The campground is just a few miles up the road from Dan Blocker Beach (Blocker played “Hoss” on the TV show Bonanza). It’s called Malibu Creek State Park and its notoriety comes from the fact that the area was formerly used for making movies and television shows. Read more.
More Noteworthy Finds at Sea Otter Classic 2024
By Sheri Rosenbaum
In April, I had the opportunity to attend my first Sea Otter Classic, a remarkable cycling industry event that rivaled my previous experience at Interbike in Las Vegas. However, Sea Otter stood out for its unique outdoor setting, with the expo situated within the infield of the Laguna Seca Raceway. With an impressive lineup of over 1100 vendors, attracting a staggering 80,000 attendees, and hosting a diverse range of bike races over four days, Sea Otter truly offered an experience for industry members and consumers alike. Read more.
How to Avoid Getting Dropped on Fast Cycling Club Rides
The major activity of any cycling club, racing or touring, is the group ride. As a result, it’s important to know how to hang tough on a given ride and make yourself welcome on the next one. Success is often due to more than fitness.
Here’s a club cycling primer! Read more.
Pas Normal Studios x Oakley Radar EV Path Sunglasses Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
PNS and Oakley have joined forces on a limited-edition release of cycling kit and sunglasses. Both companies are well known for performance and style which makes for a natural partnership. The kit includes the PNS Mechanism Jersey and Bib Shorts with Oakley accents. The sunglasses are classic Oakleys with PNS custom frame and lens color combos: Radar EV Path and Encoder Strike. There are also some off-bike casual clothes and sunglasses available. Read more.
Does the peloton ever stop?
QUESTION: I’ve been cycling for years, but I never paid any attention to bike racing. But recently, a friend invited me to watch a race called La Flèche Wallonne on TV with him. The weather at the race was terrible, and the riders rode in a cold, drenching downpour. I watched as some riders took their hands off their handlebars to put on rain jackets while continuing to race. One rider had a hard time getting his on and rode for several minutes with one arm in the sleeve while the rest of the jacket flapped in the wind. I held my breath, expecting him to crash, but he didn’t. Many couldn’t get their jackets zipped. Wouldn’t it be safer if the race just called a halt for a minute and let everyone get their jacket on before resuming? —Anne S. Read more.
Closing the Gender Gap: Encouraging Women’s Participation in Gravel
By Sheri Rosenbaum
With distracted and aggressive driving becoming commonplace, many cyclists in the Chicagoland area have shifted from road riding to gravel. However, there is a noticeable gender disparity, with significantly more men than women participating in gravel racing. This was evident at the recent Rough Road 100 (RR100) gravel race in Morris, Illinois. The event offered two course options: a 100k or 64k route consisting of 60% paved roads, 40% gravel, and scenic rural farm roads, with a few punchy hills thrown in as you crisscross the Illinois River a couple of times. Read more.
Use “Stress and Recover” Workouts, Even If You Exercise Just For Health
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Competitive athletes train by “stressing and recovering,” and healthy people who do not compete in sports can gain greater benefits from their exercise programs by using this same training principle. You have to damage muscles to gain strength and enlarge muscles. You become more fit if on one day, you stress your muscles by taking a hard workout, and then letting your muscles recover by exercising at a very slow and relaxed pace with reduced force on your muscles, for as many days as it takes for your muscles to feel ready for another hard workout. Read more.
Question of the Week
What kind of tubes do you run?
Other Cool Things to Read
CBS News: Cousins to make 1,600-mile bike trip from Minnesota to Maine for World Bicycle Relief
Bike Rumor: High Fives & Good Rides with Jamis Bike’s New Redesigned Renegade V2 Gravel Bikes
Cycling Weekly: Why do coffee and cycling go together so well? An investigation
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End Notes
