Newsletter Issue No. 1241
September 10, 2026
“Jim’s” Hitch Rack Recommendation and Will it Work for You
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
In last week’s Tech Talk, we reviewed an excellent new hitch rack from the company Saris called the Cycle-On. If you missed the story, here’s the link: Saris Cycle-On 2 Bike Hitch Rack – E-bike Ready.
In response to the article, a reader named Jim Kemper was kind enough to leave a comment recommending a rack he uses. Read more.
The Time to Pedal in Pain: It’s Relatively Brief and Certainly Good for Your Health
By Kevin Kolodziejski
Humor me for a moment if you might and picture a famous man who never once rode a bike. But rest assured that’s only because he died 70 years before they were invented. He did, however, and on more than one occasion, fly a kite. Read more.
Ornot’s New Mission Shorts for Women – Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
In late July, Ornot launched its new Mission Short, and they quickly became my favorite new summer shorts! From the four-way stretch fabric to the flattering cut through the hips and thighs to the perfect 7.5” inseam, these shorts are comfortable, stylish, and figure-flattering. Read more.
When should we single up instead of riding two abreast?
Question: My buddy and I ride side by side so we can talk. Honestly, the conversation is the whole reason we ride. It’s legal in our state. But when I glance back and see four or five cars stacked up on a road with no good place to pass, I feel guilty and single up. My buddy says I’m being a pushover, that we’re traffic too, and cars can wait 30 seconds. He’s right on the law. I still feel like a jerk. Where’s the line between our right to the road and plain courtesy? And does singling up actually help drivers pass, or does it just invite a closer pass? —Marty F. Read more.
Quick Tip: Avoid Training in No-Man’s-Land
Many riders spend too much time in the space between easy and hard. They ride recovery days too fast to recover well, but not hard enough to gain much from the effort. That middle ground is often called no-man’s-land.
An easy ride should usually leave you feeling better, not more tired. A hard workout should have a clear purpose and enough recovery around it to make the effort worthwhile. The trouble begins when every ride becomes moderately hard simply because that pace feels productive.
It can feel productive. You are breathing harder than on an easy ride. The average speed looks respectable. But day after day, that pace can leave you too tired for quality work and too stressed to recover fully.
This does not mean moderate riding is always wrong. A long steady tempo effort can be useful when it is planned. A hard group ride may put you there for good reason. The problem is doing it by accident on nearly every ride.
Before you leave, decide which kind of day it is. If it is easy, keep it easy. If it is hard, make the hard work count. Giving your rides different jobs is one of the simplest ways to make training more effective. Leave a comment.
Other Cool Things to Read
Globe & Mail: Mining billionaire Ivan Glasenberg adds Italy’s iconic Campagnolo brand to racing bike empire
Minnesota Star Tribune: Filmmaker turns bikepacking odyssey into a love letter to the Midwest
Velo: Stromer unveils the first solid-state battery in the e-bike industry. Here’s why it matters
Cycling Weekly: If you tried to invent pro cycling today, it wouldn’t get past the risk assessment
Question of the Week
How often do you ride?
Most Clicked Last Week
Review: Saris Cycle-On 2 Bike Hitch Rack – E-bike Ready
End Notes
