Newsletter Issue No. 1246
October 15, 2026
Tech Q & As: Pete’s Pulleys and More
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Today’s topic comes from Pete Royer who reached out to me while I was on vacation in coastal Oregon a few weeks back (nice cycling!). Since I was busy sightseeing, I gave Pete some tips to get him started and he did the rest and kept me in the loop via email.
I’m sharing our back and forth – and to help I’ve included a link, a photo, along with a few thoughts on things that should help, if like Pete, you’re getting ready to tackle annual maintenance on your baby. As always, feel free to chime in with a comment to Pete with your tips for him! Read more.
Why Your Winter Training Stops Working After 6 Weeks
By Ric Stern
You’ve had a short break or some easy riding, and now you’re getting back into things. You want to be fitter next year, and you’re sick of being dropped by the younger riders on the group ride. You come up with a plan, and after a few weeks your initial progress starts to stall. Six weeks in and nothing seems to be happening. Read more.
FIDLOCK PINCLIP Medium Saddle Bag + Base – Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
I recently started testing a new saddle, and when I tried to attach my old Topeak saddlebag, it didn’t fit. The seat was too far forward, leaving too little room to attach the bag to the rails and seat post.
Then I remembered that FIDLOCK had recently sent me their PINCLIP saddlebag to review. It took no time to unpackage everything, screw the mount to the rails, and attach the saddlebag. Read more.
Fizik Kyros Helmet Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
The Fizik Kyros performs the helmet basics very well; namely comfort and protection. Comfort is obtained with multiple adjustment positions for the retention system, a reasonable 335-gram weight for a size Large (claimed and measured), and effective ventilation. Protection is comprised of a polycarbonate shell, an eps liner, a rear reflector that can be swapped out for a rear light (additional purchase), and MIPS’ Evolve Core. There is currently no Virginia Tech score for the Kyros, but it’s more expensive sibling the Kudos scored a reasonable four out of five stars. Read more.
How do I make peace with getting slower every year?
Question: I’ve kept a riding log since 1998, and I can tell you the exact problem: my average speed has dropped five years in a row. Nothing dramatic, a couple tenths here, a couple tenths there, but the direction never changes. I still love the riding itself. What I’ve come to dread is the download afterward, watching a number I spent decades building slip away a little at a time. I’m not looking for a miracle training plan. I’m asking a different question: How do longtime riders stop measuring themselves by a number that’s only going one way? What do you measure instead? —Steve H. Read more.
Quick Tip: Do You Know This Grumpy Sign of Overtraining?
Most riders expect overtraining to announce itself in the legs: power falls, climbing gets harder, and familiar routes feel slow. Those signs matter. But sometimes the first warning appears somewhere else.
You become unusually irritable. Small problems feel large. You do not look forward to rides you normally enjoy. Friends or family may notice that you are tired, quiet, or short-tempered before you recognize it yourself.
That does not prove you are overtrained. Work stress, poor sleep, illness, and ordinary life can affect mood, too. But when a change in mood appears with persistent fatigue, poor sleep, declining performance, or a loss of interest in riding, treat it as useful information.
Don’t answer every bad day with another hard workout. Look at the previous two weeks. Have you added intensity, volume, travel, or stress without enough recovery? If so, reduce the load for several days. Ride easily or rest. Eat well and make sleep a priority.
If the problem persists, worsens, or comes with medical symptoms, check with a qualified health professional. Training should make your life better, not steadily make you feel worse.
Your mood is part of your training feedback. Pay attention to it. Leave comment.
Other Cool Things to Read
Cycling Weekly: ‘Your saddle should be level, unless you’re a triathlete, time triallist or some other kind of weirdo’
Bike Radar: 5 underrated upgrades that will transform your cycling
Road.cc: Particle GCX45 Hyperlight wheelset
Deseret News: Inside this 60-something couple’s bike ride across the United States
Question of the Week
Compared with summer, how much do you ride in the fall?
Most Clicked Last Week
1X vs. 2X: My Response Is Classified! by Charles Wells
End Notes
