Newsletter Issue No. 1237
August 13, 2026
Tech Q & A: “I’ve Been Afraid of Carbon Forks”
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
You may have noticed that we’ve added a nice feature to the end of a few of our columns recently: a form that makes it easy to submit questions to the writer. A reader named “Keith K.” used it to send in this week’s technical question. He has another query about forks, which were the topic of our last Jim’s Tech Talk, too: Will Changing The Fork Ruin Jo’s Ride? But Keith’s has to do with whether all fork materials are equally safe, which is a great question and one that some of you might have too. Read more.
Durability: The Quality That Wins the Last Hour
By Ric Stern
Last week’s column discussed how having the same FTP as another rider can lead to a different outcome — where, for example, you could be dropped on a hill mid-ride. But we also touched on another aspect, and this one is incredibly important too: durability. Read more.
SIDI Genius X Wyve Road Shoes – Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
When I started seriously cycling over 30 years ago, my first pair of clipless shoes was from SIDI. Remember SIDI’s signature ratchet upper strap and the Velcro lower straps? Learning to ride with clipless pedals and even falling while trying to clip out? We’ve all been there. Read more.
How do I talk to my longtime riding buddy about his scary riding?
Question: I’ve ridden with the same friend for almost 30 years, and in the past year he’s become genuinely scary to ride with. He drifts toward the center line when he’s talking, and he’s rolled through two intersections lately without so much as a glance. Last month a pickup missed him by a couple of feet, and he laughed it off before I could even say anything. He’s always been the stronger rider of the two of us, which somehow makes this harder to bring up. I don’t want to insult him, and I really don’t want to lose my riding partner. But I also don’t want to be there the day it goes wrong. How do I have this conversation? —Anonymous Read more.
Never Forget All Facets of Health Are Interconnected
By Kevin Kolodziejski
When a deep-thinking, laid-back dude says, “Enjoy the ride, my friend,” he’s doing more than just ending a conversation. He’s sharing his life philosophy.
That holds true even if he says it while you’re standing in an airport terminal, amusement park, or velodrome parking lot. Read more.
Other Cool Things to Read
Los Angeles Times: One man rode all 5,840 miles of Los Angeles streets to settle whether it’s a great cycling city
Cyclingnews: Riders called them “hot burning knife blades on our wheels,” and this oral history tracks how disc brakes won over a furious peloton
Cycling Weekly: Is it time we rethink our kit choices to help combat skin cancer?
road.cc: Schwalbe says hookless safety standards need tightening, while Cadex argues tire beads are the real issue
Question of the Week
Do you use a torque wrench when you work on your bike?
Most Clicked Last Week
How should we handle the guy who’s late to every group ride?
End Notes
