Newsletter Issue No. 1247
October 22, 2026
My New Bike
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
A little over a year ago, I wrote about upgrading my racing bike to lower gearing. It’s a 2007 Cervelo Soloist Carbon aero road bike. In the story, I explained why I was upgrading an old bike instead of buying a new one. The photo shows the bike before any changes. Read more.
Who Wouldn’t Benefit From Eating More Fiber?
By Kevin Kolodziejski
If you saw the Tour de France this July and paid special attention to the bikes, you’re aware that 100 percent of them were made of carbon fiber. If you know anything at all about the trickle-down effect in consumerism, you know that’s as good a stat as any to illustrate the ubiquity of carbon fiber bikes at every level of road riding. Read more.
Trek Charge WaveCel Helmet – Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
Visibility, protection, and comfort are the three key features of Trek’s new Charge WaveCel helmet, launched last month. Visibility is a cyclist’s top concern when riding in traffic. This redesigned model comes standard with a removable, rechargeable Trek Flare rear light that helps drivers see you up to 400 meters away during the day and lasts up to 10 hours (depending on mode). With four flash modes – high, low, daytime flash, and nighttime flash – you select the light’s lumens and runtime. Read more.
Are electrolyte tablets helpful for recreational cycling?
Question: I usually ride for one or two hours and have started adding electrolytes to my water bottles because I see many other cyclists using them. I do not have a regular cramping problem though. The only time I cramped badly was near the end of a century ride in very hot weather, after I had been riding much longer than usual. I am not sure whether electrolyte tablets are helpful for my normal rides, or whether I am just spending money and adding more salt than I need. How can a recreational rider decide when electrolytes are useful, how much to use, and when plain water is enough? —Kevin B. Read more.
Quick Tip: When Did You Last Check Your Bike Bag?
Your saddlebag can become a junk drawer over time. When was the last time you opened yours and checked to see what’s actually in it? If you don’t get a lot of flats, it might have been quite a while.
Maybe you put a punctured tube back in the bag, meaning to replace it when you got home. Or you used your last CO₂ cartridge and forgot to add a new one. Your tubeless repair tool might be out of plugs or darts. And those tire levers? They could still be on the workbench.
Before your next ride, empty the bag and check each item. Is the spare tube ready to use and the right size for your tires? Does its valve fit your rims? Do you have the supplies needed to fix a flat and inflate the tire afterward?
Check your multitool against your bike, too. Several Allen keys will not help if the bolt you need to turn has a star-shaped Torx head. Make sure you have the correct types and sizes for the repairs you know how to make.
Remove trash and replace anything used, damaged, or missing. Pack everything so you can find it easily.
A bike bag is easy to forget about until you need it. A few minutes checking it at home can prevent a much longer stop beside the road, or having to borrow tire tools or a tube from your riding buddy who hopefully came more prepared.
When was the last time you got burned by not having the right thing in your bag? Share your answer.
Other Cool Things to Read
Bike Radar: “Silent revolution” strength training has swept through pro cycling
Road.cc: Big wheels, new tires, boutique brands, and a 14-speed groupset: gravel tech is more fun
Educated Patient: Explosive exercise may be the key to bone health
Question of the Week
What’s usually in your water bottles?
Most Clicked Last Week
Tech Q & As: Pete’s Pulleys and More
End Notes
