By Ric Stern I don’t know how long you’ve been cycling, but for me, this is my 43rd season, having started when I was 14. Realistically, this is totally unimportant, so why am I mentioning this? The answer is nutrition, and it’s our third column in our ultra series. Back in 1984, there were no…
By Kevin Kolodziejski When a deep-thinking, laid-back dude says, “Enjoy the ride, my friend,” he’s doing more than just ending a conversation. He’s sharing his life philosophy. That holds true even if he says it while you’re standing in an airport terminal, amusement park, or velodrome parking lot. When a very cerebral and mellow fellow named Ryan…
By Ric Stern Last week’s column discussed how having the same FTP as another rider can lead to a different outcome — where, for example, you could be dropped on a hill mid-ride. But we also touched on another aspect, and this one is incredibly important too: durability. So what do I mean by durability?…
Question: I’ve ridden with the same friend for almost 30 years, and in the past year he’s become genuinely scary to ride with. He drifts toward the center line when he’s talking, and he’s rolled through two intersections lately without so much as a glance. Last month a pickup missed him by a couple of…
When riding starts to feel like another chore, pay attention and look out. It might be time to skip the numbers for a day. Take the scenic route. Ride with a friend who doesn’t care about average speed. Stop for coffee. Cyclists are a goal-oriented bunch. That’s fine, until every ride becomes a test. We…
