By Kevin Kolodziejski For the sake of your cycling companions, I hope you’re not a squirrel. But even if you never swerve while in a paceline and always pull at a steady and suitable speed, your pedaling partners — and more importantly you — need to know you actually are a far less likable rodent. You, my friend, are a rat. No, this is not some … [Read more...] about Hungry Is Too Often Hangry and Not a Good Thing
1Training & Health
Why Are My Bowels So Active Before Hard Rides?
QUESTION: I'm 51 and a strong recreational cyclist who does about 250 miles a week, including two hard 40-milers with local racers (who seem to look younger every year). Recently, my body began "helping" me prepare for each week's two competitive rides by sending me to the bathroom several times on those days. I worry that I'll have diarrhea while riding, though I … [Read more...] about Why Are My Bowels So Active Before Hard Rides?
Anti-Aging: Why “Drink Before You’re Thirsty” is Dangerous
By Coach John Hughes This column is about hydration during rides not throughout the day. My client Jack was on a fast cross-country tour: 2750 miles in just 20 days. Seven days into the tour he started riding poorly although he had plenty of training miles in his legs. His buddies noticed he wasn’t urinating at the rest stops and said he was getting dehydrated. Even … [Read more...] about Anti-Aging: Why “Drink Before You’re Thirsty” is Dangerous
All Exercise is Good, and Vigorous Exercise is Better
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D. An analysis of more than 36,861 deaths in a study of 403,681 participants found that the greater the proportion of vigorous exercise to total exercise, the less likely a person was to die from a heart attack, die from cancer, or die from any cause during the 10 study years (JAMA Intern Med, 2021;181(2):203–211). The U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines … [Read more...] about All Exercise is Good, and Vigorous Exercise is Better
Anti-Aging Ask the Coach: How to Train for Endurance
By Coach John Hughes Joe Lowry writes, “I’m 64 years old, in good health and have been physically active including riding bikes off and on my entire adult life. I have been riding for about two months and built up to riding 28 miles at an average speed of 14.5 mph. I ride the long ride 1 time per week with shorter rides of 15 to 20 miles 2 times per week at the … [Read more...] about Anti-Aging Ask the Coach: How to Train for Endurance