RoadBikeRider.com, will NEVER sell, rent, trade or give your name or address to any other company for any reason without your written permission. Yes, our newsletter and website will promote the road cycling publications and other products we and our advertisers sell, and we may on occasion bring to your attention special offers from cycling companies (for which you … [Read more...] about Subscribe to the Road Bike Rider Newsletter
blog
What is Cyclocross? The Ultimate 101 Guide to CX Riding
By Darren Cope By now you've most certainly heard of it. You have maybe even seen it, and some of you probably have friends who do it. What is it? Cyclocross of course! It's also the fastest growing segment of the sport of cycling, and a whole lot of fun! If you've come this far, hopefully you're prepared to learn a bit more about what cyclocross is, how it can benefit you … [Read more...] about What is Cyclocross? The Ultimate 101 Guide to CX Riding
Newsletter Issue No. 840
December 13, 2018 PDF version for Premium Members is here. 5 Ways to Improve Your Riding This Winter By Coach John Hughes The top contenders in the pro peloton are all very fit and winning races requires more than fitness. Team Sky uses a strategy called “the aggregation of marginal gains.” The coaches identify different ways riders can improve slightly, which when … [Read more...] about Newsletter Issue No. 840
5 Ways to Improve Your Riding This Winter
By Coach John Hughes The top contenders in the pro peloton are all very fit and winning races requires more than fitness. Team Sky uses a strategy called “the aggregation of marginal gains.” The coaches identify different ways riders can improve slightly, which when taken together produce better performance and more wins. Here are five simple things you can do this winter … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Improve Your Riding This Winter
Will Halo Sport’s Neurostimulation Device Help You?
By Coach John Hughes Last week’s newsletter included an interview with Mark Mastalir: Can This Set of Headphones Make You a Faster Cyclist? Interview with Halo Neuroscience. Halo sells headphones that are purported to increase athletic performance and improve endurance. I’m generally skeptical of products that are alleged to improve performance, but in this case I was … [Read more...] about Will Halo Sport’s Neurostimulation Device Help You?
Can Breathing Through Your Nose Make You a Faster Cyclist? An Interview with Tom Piszkin
by Lars Hundley Recently, I read a book called The Oxygen Advantage: Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques to Help You Become Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter. (https://amzn.to/2rvYpGe) The gist of the book is that nasal breathing is substantially more efficient. You can train yourself to breathe through your nose even during most levels of exercise, which … [Read more...] about Can Breathing Through Your Nose Make You a Faster Cyclist? An Interview with Tom Piszkin
Are You Making These Two Common Mistakes Adjusting Shimano Front Derailleurs?
Jim’s Tech Talk By Jim Langley When you work as a quality control engineer for a company that specializes in making cranksets, as I do - you get a lot of front derailleur adjustment practice. It comes from testing new product and also from maintaining bikes built elsewhere and already on the road. I’ve been seeing two issues with modern Shimano “braze-on” front … [Read more...] about Are You Making These Two Common Mistakes Adjusting Shimano Front Derailleurs?
What’s the Optimal Cycling Cadence?
by Gabe Mirkin, M.D. Cycling is a power sport. The stronger you are, the faster you can go on a bike. Power = [force that your feet apply to the pedals] x [cadence, or how fast you spin your pedals]. Cadence is the number of pedal revolutions per minute (RPMs). Bicycle computers that show your cadence are available in bike shops and online bicycle catalogs. Fatigue for … [Read more...] about What’s the Optimal Cycling Cadence?
Newsletter Issue No. 839
December 6, 2018 PDF version for Premium Members is here. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cycling Endurance. Interview with Halo Neuroscience by Lars Hundley A few weeks ago, I came across a Facebook post about a product called Halo Sport that looked like a set of headphones that was purported to increase athletic performance and improve endurance. … [Read more...] about Newsletter Issue No. 839
Topeak JoeBlow Twin Turbo Bicycle Floor Pump Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum Topeak Web Site Price: $189.95 Head: SmartHead™ DX1 full metal pump head w/ air release button How obtained: Company sample RBR advertiser: No Valve: Presta and Schrader Volume/stroke: 858 cc Weight: 6.61 lb/ 3 kg Max Pressure: 200 PSI … [Read more...] about Topeak JoeBlow Twin Turbo Bicycle Floor Pump Review
Tools for Fine-Tuning Tire Pressure
Jim’s Tech Talk By Jim Langley This week’s technical topic is in response to a reader named Paul’s question. He read our review of the Silca Pista floor pump, which has a bleed valve built into the chuck… (a pressure release button). He asked, “Just to clarify, in regards to the Presta bleed valve on the Pista’s pump head, if I was to say, pump my tires to 120 … [Read more...] about Tools for Fine-Tuning Tire Pressure
Avoiding Weight Gain During the Holidays
By Coach John Hughes The holidays are filled with temptations! A friend of mine with a Ph.D. in nutrition once told me, “I never met a calorie I didn’t like.” Put differently anything in moderation is okay. Enjoy that piece of pie, fruitcake or a couple of holiday cookies. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Each decade past the age … [Read more...] about Avoiding Weight Gain During the Holidays
Another Sort of Bicycle Adventure
By Stan Purdum I noticed three things almost simultaneously about the mountain bicycle leaning against the earthen bank: It was a Cannondale, it was an adult-sized bike and it had a sign on it reading “FREE.” I’m primarily a road cyclist and have all the bikes I need for that pursuit, but I’ve been looking for a mountain bike to use on the 70-mile-long Delaware and … [Read more...] about Another Sort of Bicycle Adventure
Ask the Bike Fitter: Common Bike Fit Questions
By Rick Schultz, MBA, DBA Here are several questions I get asked quite often related to bike fitting. 1) "Should I get a bike fit when I get… " a. New Shoes? If you are getting the same shoes and the bike fitter marked your cleats, and the cleats are in the correct position, then probably not. But, if these are different shoes, then YES. Different shoes have different … [Read more...] about Ask the Bike Fitter: Common Bike Fit Questions
Headsweats Super Duty Shorty Cycling Cap and Ultra Band Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum I find it interesting to learn how certain businesses come about. The Headsweats story is like many…it came about from a need. Headsweats was founded in 1998 by shoe industry veteran and obsessed cyclist, Alan Romick. Frustrated by heavy sweat blindness, migrating sunscreen, and odd sunburn pattern on his head through his helmet, he set out to develop … [Read more...] about Headsweats Super Duty Shorty Cycling Cap and Ultra Band Review
Can This Set of Headphones Make You a Faster Cyclist? Interview with Halo Neuroscience
by Lars Hundley A few weeks ago, I came across a Facebook post about a product called Halo Sport that looked like a set of headphones that was purported to increase athletic performance and improve endurance. When I clicked through out of curiosity to read more about it, I saw that it had been used by USA Cycling, former pro cyclist Andrew Talansky, the US Ski Team, as well … [Read more...] about Can This Set of Headphones Make You a Faster Cyclist? Interview with Halo Neuroscience