QUESTION: I don't mind riding in the cold weather during the wintertime except for one issue - I can't keep my feet warm! My toes feel like they are going numb after half an hour on rides when the temperatures are under around 35 degrees. How can I keep them warm? - Brian R ANSWER: Cold hands or feet can completely ruin an otherwise enjoyable winter bike ride. Fortunately, … [Read more...] about How Do Cyclists Keep Their Feet Warm?
1Bikes & Gear
Newsletter Issue No. 891
December 5, 2019 PDF version for Premium Members is here. Aging Up and Wising Up: Why Coach Hughes is Thankful He’s 70 By Coach John Hughes I love to cross-country ski in the winter and we’ve had great early season snow in the Colorado mountains. Before we go to bed we check the National Weather Service forecast and in the morning we read the Open Snow … [Read more...] about Newsletter Issue No. 891
Fix for Larry’s Off-Center Rim Brakes (Sidepull Brakes)
Jim’s Tech Talk By Jim Langley A few Tech Talks back, we showed a cool new tool from Hayes for dealing with disc brake rubbing and included some tips. And even before that we went over truing bent rotors - another cause of rubbing. Here are links in case your discs are dragging: Cool Tool for Fixing Rubbing Disc Brakes and How to Straighten Bent Disc Road or Mountain Bike … [Read more...] about Fix for Larry’s Off-Center Rim Brakes (Sidepull Brakes)
Best Frame Packs for Bikepacking
by Stan Purdum Bikepackers view their bike frame’s triangle as a place to carry some of their gear, and several manufacturers have accommodated these riders with bags made to fit that location. There are bags that fill the whole triangle, bags that fill only part of the triangle, bags that work in the cramped triangles of full suspension bicycles. Some bags are even custom … [Read more...] about Best Frame Packs for Bikepacking
Trail Butter Nutrition Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum - depending on the flavor Hot Very tastyAll natural, low sugar and gluten freeLong shelf life even after open No refrigeration even after openingVariety of sizes - jar, resealable pouch or single use packetGreat for cycling, backpacking, hiking … [Read more...] about Trail Butter Nutrition Review
Quick Tip: Choosing a Sports Drink
You check a cycling catalog and find half a dozen brands of sports drink. Same thing when you visit a nearby bike shop or nutrition store. It's a bewildering assortment that isn't helped by the various performance claims of the manufacturers. Which drink should you choose? Marketing people would blanch at this answer but I think most sports drinks work about the same. Most … [Read more...] about Quick Tip: Choosing a Sports Drink
Best Cycling Gear: Our Top Picks
Good, dependable cycling gear makes riding more enjoyable. We've gathered up some of our favorite cycling gear here, as chosen by Road Bike Rider contributors. These are some of our favorite cycling products that are currently available on the market. Some are new products, and some have been around for a while, but they're all worth a look, in our opinion. Do you have a … [Read more...] about Best Cycling Gear: Our Top Picks
7mesh Oro Cycling SHAKEDRY Rain Jacket Review
By Brandon Bilyeu Oro Jacket: Hot! Waterproof and extremely breathableVery light and packable, fits in jersey pocketDoes not wet-out like DWR treated garments, just shake the water offRear vents double as jersey pocket access slotsLong drop tail protects backsideAvailable in men’s and women’s versions … [Read more...] about 7mesh Oro Cycling SHAKEDRY Rain Jacket Review
Safest Road Bicycle Helmets as Tested and Ranked by Virginia Tech
By Lars Hundley Bike helmet technology has rapidly improved over the past five years, but standard helmet testing really hasn't kept up. The regular old CSPC bike helmet safety standard just tells you if a helmet meets the minimum standards to sell into the US market. That's all helmets! Meanwhile, new safety features like MIPS have hit the market for bike helmets, but are … [Read more...] about Safest Road Bicycle Helmets as Tested and Ranked by Virginia Tech
What is a good average wattage cycling?
QUESTION: I've been uploading my rides to Strava for a while now and it gives me estimated wattage, but it's unclear to me if those numbers are any good or not compared to other riders. I'm doing ok with my times on some local segments, but what's a good average wattage cycling in general? -- Kenneth M ANSWER: It's unfortunately a little bit more complicated than giving you … [Read more...] about What is a good average wattage cycling?
A Look at Berd’s Ultralight “String” Spokes
Jim’s Tech Talk By Jim Langley Berd probably won’t appreciate their revolutionary polymer spokes being referred to as “strings.” But, if you get a chance to hold a few, I think you’ll agree that they’re just as flexible and floppy as thick pieces of string - and entirely unlike the stiff stainless-steel spokes that all bicycle wheels have been built with for almost … [Read more...] about A Look at Berd’s Ultralight “String” Spokes
Best Handlebar Bags for Bikepacking
by Stan Purdum In the world of bikepacking — off-road and back-country bicycle touring — the key to being able to carry enough gear for multi-day trips is to use a combination of packs. Typically, those include large seat bags and handlebar bags, smaller frame bags and even smaller peripheral bags and cages wherever they can be fitted on the bike. … [Read more...] about Best Handlebar Bags for Bikepacking
T47 Bottom Bracket to the Rescue
Jim’s Tech Talk by Jim Langley I’m joking with this week’s title, but only a little. I’m poking fun at the bicycle industry, which in my opinion - and many other two-wheeler trade pundits’ views - took an ill-conceived detour about 12 to 14 years ago. That’s when most of the major bike makers started to adopt new designs for frame bottom brackets. … [Read more...] about T47 Bottom Bracket to the Rescue
Bike Nashbar: What Happened to Them?
If you've been a cyclist for a long time, you remember the days of getting the Bike Nashbar catalog in the mail, often because you signed up for a bike racing license. I fondly remember thumbing through the pages in the 1980s and early 1990s, looking at all the great cycling gear that I wish I could afford but couldn't, since I was a broke college student. In the years … [Read more...] about Bike Nashbar: What Happened to Them?
Topeak Shuttle and SKS Airchecker 2 Digital Tire Gauge Comparison and Reviews
by Sheri Rosenbaum Topeak Shuttle Gauge Digital https://www.topeak.com/us/en/products/gauges/1085-shuttle--gauge-digital Hot! For use on its own or with hand/floor pumpSuperb accuracy - digital PSI reading identical to floor pump analog dial Measures PSI, Bar or KG/CM2For use with all types of tires from road to MTB to FatStarts registering at 0.5 PSI, … [Read more...] about Topeak Shuttle and SKS Airchecker 2 Digital Tire Gauge Comparison and Reviews