Newsletter Issue No. 1192
September 25, 2025
One More Disc Brake Tip for Beginners – and Why We Share These Tips
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Let’s start with why last week’s Tech Talk was for beginners traveling with bikes with disc brakes (here’s that article) and then we’ll share an additional tip.
It seems important to explain the “why,” because there were multiple anti disc-brake comments to last week’s article. It’s completely understandable why disc brakes – especially hydraulic discs aren’t popular with roadies – and several of you elegantly made the case in your remarks – thank you. But there’s an excellent reason for us (“us” as in we editors of RBR and you readers who ride disc brake road bikes) to provide help with disc brakes anyway. Read more.
A Simple Thing That Helps You Do Anything — Even Clean Your Bicycle
By Kevin Kolodziejski
The two stories that follow do not come from Jack Webb. They are not culled from an old transcript of “Dragnet.” This article, however, begins as if they do, for as Webb wrote and “Dragnet” began, the stories you are about to hear are true.
Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent . . . and keep me on good terms with them. Read more.
Fizik Vega Carbon Shoes Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
The Vega is Fizik’s newest top-of-the-line road racing shoe and is a marked departure from the Fiziks of old. The Vega incorporates several new features to improve fit, comfort, and performance. As a race-oriented shoe, it may not appeal to everyone, but the changes offer a glimpse of Fizik’s design philosophy going forward, so hopefully we will see some of these new features trickle down to lower tier shoes. Read more.
Why don’t I feel like cycling in the afternoon anymore?
Question: I’ve been cycling since my 40s and I love it Before I retired, I worked an early shift and then rode for a few hours most afternoons. But now that I’m in my upper 70s, I find that by afternoon, I don’t seem to have the “umph” to get out on my bike. That’s especially annoying when bad weather in the morning keeps me from riding, but when the skies clear in the afternoon, I no longer feel like riding. Is there anything I can do about this? —Larry J. Read more.
Other Cool Things to Read
Singletracks.com: Can you land a gap jump on your MTB?
Mirror.co.uk: Chris Froome speaks for first time since life-saving operation after horror crash
CNN: To protect your brain against dementia, start pedaling, study suggests
Question of the Week
Do you use a bike rack on your vehicle when you travel with your bike?
Most Clicked Last Week
A Few Beginners Tips for Traveling with Disc Brake Bikes
End Notes
Have you considered increasing the font size on the emailed version of the newsletter, and perhaps reverting to black type instead of grey? As it is, the newsletter is at the limit of legibility on my phone. Considering the demographic of your writers, I would have assumed that legibility of the words would have been a higher priority.
Do you have the option of reading on a device with a larger screen? I’ll read news content or other text on an iPhone (small screen SE) when I have absolutely no other choice, but to limit oneself to a phone screen, compromises legibility, and I particularly disfavor it for imagery – but then I’m a photographer and appreciate others viewing my work where the composition and image quality can be appreciated. Viewing on a phone is like going to a museum, and deciding to just visit the gift shop and buying postcards, rather than the exhibits themselves.