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…
Question: What gears are they pushing? They look like they’re flying. —Jack G. Pros often use a 55×11-tooth high gear for time trials. On flat or rolling stages they might have 53/39T chainrings with an 11-21T cassette. In moderate mountains they switch to a large cog of 23T or 25T. These days, they’ve joined the big-gear…
Question: Our local weekend ride attracts several racers and a couple of strong recreational riders. Last Sunday we did 60 miles in rolling terrain at an average speed of 19 mph. It was hard, and here’s the problem: 19 mph sounds so puny compared to the 25+ mph average for pro races of up to…
By Coach John Hughes Ned Overend at age 35 won the first UCI World MTB Championship in 1990 in Durango, CO and won again in 1991. In 2015 at the age of 60 he won the first US Fatbike championship! On training he said, “I do exactly what I have always done; it just takes…
By Coach John Hughes “Act Now.” No, this isn’t a sales pitch on late night television! Even if you’re a young 50-something now is the time to start taking care of all aspects of your physical condition, not just riding your bike! Last week I wrote about the Physiological Changes with Aging. Duke study: Physical…
