Today's Quick Tip comes to us from octogenarian Hildegarde Bender, whose QT arrived under the Subject line: Biking Into Your 80s. Here's what she wrote: I have biked ever since I was a child, but in my 50th year did my first long-distance cycling. At the time, I rode a 10-speed, but then was introduced to a “granny gear” so that winter I rebuilt my 10- speed, adding … [Read more...] about Change Your Equipment As You Age to Keep Cycling
Use a Spare Wheel and Beater Tire on the Trainer
By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher I bought a new trainer recently. When making the purchase online, I noticed that – like many others – the company offers a "trainer tire" for sale. (Their bread and butter are "old school" back wheel-on trainers.) I did not buy one of the trainer tires. When setting up the trainerfor the first time, and getting my bike ready for … [Read more...] about Use a Spare Wheel and Beater Tire on the Trainer
Inactivity Increases Risk for Knee Pain
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. Eighty percent of North Americans have X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis by age 65, and 60 percent have significant joint pain. More than 700,000 people in the United Stateshave their knees replaced each year. It now looks like inflammation, lack of exercise and being overweight are the major causes of knee joint pain. A study following more than … [Read more...] about Inactivity Increases Risk for Knee Pain
The Bicycle is Efficient, Economical and Environmentally Friendly
By John Yoder During a northern Indiana mid-winter cold snap, when the county roads are salted or slick, when my nose drips outrageously just walking 30 feet to the mailbox, when the cold and snow keep my bike hanging on the wall in the garage more than I’d like, and when my motivation for riding the indoor trainer has headed south, I find that I can tolerate the gloominess of … [Read more...] about The Bicycle is Efficient, Economical and Environmentally Friendly
How Exercise Helps Prevent Diabetes and Heart Attacks
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. Everyone should try to exercise every day because exercise helps to prevent diabetes and heart attacks by lowering high blood sugar and stabilizing plaques. A review of 12 studies shows that exercising within three hours after eating lowers blood sugar levels significantly because contracting muscles remove sugar from the bloodstream at a very high … [Read more...] about How Exercise Helps Prevent Diabetes and Heart Attacks
The Great Helmet Debate – Revisited
Editor's Note: Last Wednesday, I had surgery to remove the plate and eight screws inserted nearly two years ago after a bad crash that left my clavicle in five pieces. I was told at the time the hardware could stay in forever, if tolerated, but that some people just don't tolerate it well. I turned out to be in the latter group and finally decided on the removal surgery. A … [Read more...] about The Great Helmet Debate – Revisited
Anatomy of Cycling: 22 Bike Culture Postcards
By John Marsh, Editor & Publisher I'll be the first to admit that I'm sometimes a harsh critic of some of the cycling products that show up unannounced in my mail, or via delivery service. So when one arrives that brings a little bit of joy to my day when I unpack it, that seems a good enough measure to warrant telling you about it, too. What I first thought was yet … [Read more...] about Anatomy of Cycling: 22 Bike Culture Postcards
Winter Cycling In Florida: More Traffic, Yet More Trails
By Stan Purdum This winter, and for the past few, my wife and I have been able to escape the northern cold and spend January and February in Florida. And so, of course, I bring my bicycle along. Our place is in central Florida, not far from Disney World, but far enough away that I have some feasible options for road riding. … [Read more...] about Winter Cycling In Florida: More Traffic, Yet More Trails
Lowering Gearing Tip for SRAM eTap Roadies
By Jim Langley A few newsletters back, RBR author and contributor Coach Rick Schultz offered tips on expanding your gearing with WolfTooth’s Road Link (his article is in the form of a downloadable PDF, in case you missed it). This week, we’re very pleased to add a related gearing tip from RBR founder Ed Pavelka. While he was recovering from hip replacement surgery, Ed … [Read more...] about Lowering Gearing Tip for SRAM eTap Roadies
Correcting the False Equivalencies in the Cars vs. Cyclists Debate
Editor's Note: A buddy and I were riding last weekend when he mentioned that, while on a recent trip to Singapore, he read about a cyclist (a bike courier) getting charged for murder after running down a pedestrian. My mind immediately went to the two well-publicized instances I could recall of cyclists killing pedestrians in the U.S. – and then, later, I thought of an article … [Read more...] about Correcting the False Equivalencies in the Cars vs. Cyclists Debate
An Alternative Way to Carry Your Spare Tube
Today's QT comes to us from Premium Member Greg Titus, who offers a unique tip that addresses a fundamental item that we roadies need to take along on every ride as part of our flat-repair kit – a spare tube. Of course, you also need to tote something to inflate that tube; in Greg's case, that's a mini-pump. What makes his tip unique is that he has devised a way that … [Read more...] about An Alternative Way to Carry Your Spare Tube
Being Overweight Increases Cancer Risk
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. A new study from Spain of 54,446 people (Prev Med, Jan 17, 2018) shows that: Overweight women are 12 times more likely to develop cancer and five times more likely to suffer a heart attack than women of normal weight; overweight men are two times more likely to develop cancer than those of normal weight. The study also showed that only 26 percent of … [Read more...] about Being Overweight Increases Cancer Risk
Please Support RBR
My Simple Request: Please consider supporting RBR by becoming a Premium Member. Premium Members are our primary financial support — we honestly could not exist with them. If you are already a Premium Member, or simply don't wish to support RBR directly, then please consider supporting our long-time advertisers, Bicycling Art and Tailwind Nutrition, who also play a role in … [Read more...] about Please Support RBR
Plumbing the Depths for a 2-Pack of QTs
Today's QT comes to us from Premium Member Russ Starke, who offers a couple of QTs that he has gleaned from personal experience. Both of them have something to do with plumbers, the second a bit "cheekier" than the first. Here's what Russ wrote: A couple of Quick Tips ideas: 1) I have a set of wheels that the little nut on the tube's valve stem kept loosening … [Read more...] about Plumbing the Depths for a 2-Pack of QTs
Warning Signs During Cold-Weather Exercise
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. You feel cold most in your fingers, ears and toes. During World War II, gunners on the bombers complained bitterly about frozen hands, ears and toes. The Army Air Force added special insulation to their gloves, hats and boots, and the flyers stopped complaining, even though they still suffered frostbite on the skin of their necks and front of their chests. … [Read more...] about Warning Signs During Cold-Weather Exercise