Newsletter Issue No. 1014
April 28, 2022
Dealing with Numb Hands, or Hands that Hurt
By Coach John Hughes
Do your hands go numb when you’re cycling? In the RBR reader survey a few weeks ago, painful or numb hands was the third most frequent problem cited – afflicting 16% of you as your main physical issue on the bike. (While it may not be main issue for most of us, hand pain or, especially, numbness, happens to almost all of us from time to time.) Read more.
Recommended Podcast on Tom Ritchey
By Jim Langley
This weekend I listened to a great episode of the From the Top podcast by Wade Wallace. It’s titled Building Ritchey, as in Tom Ritchey, one of the founders of the mountain bike, a prolific framebuilder and cycling inventor and a former star road racer on the USA team both as a Junior and Senior. Read more.
How do I stop cycling bonking?
QUESTION: I have been riding on and off for about 35 years. I am 54 now. My problem is I frequently “bonk” after about an hour. It doesn’t seem to matter if I am doing moderate or higher intensity ride. I can do 20 miles flat riding at about 15 MPH, my heart rate stays above 150 the whole time, after about an hour I just run out of gas. Read more.
Trek Bicycles Sustainability Program – Interview with Haley Ludwick
By Sheri Rosenbaum
While cycling is good for the environment, for example, one less car ride, the bike, and clothing manufacturers leave a substantial carbon footprint. But with the calls for companies to move towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, the tides are slowly changing. As a result, brands like Trek are starting to make changes to reduce their environmental impact. Read more.
Less Zzz’s Equals More Lb’s, So Say 2 Studies
By Kevin Kolodziejski
If the group-ride slight in the following story strikes you as far-fetched, that’s a good thing for you. If it doesn’t, that’s not so good — but great for your two best buddies. Either way, it leads to an important point. Read more.
Smith Engage MTB Helmet with MIPS
By Sheri Rosenbaum
All too often, MTB helmets come in subdued colors like black, khaki, and grey. But Smith’s new Engage MTB helmet offers six fun color options for all genders. Nope, no boring here. I opted for the matte merlot and aloe in a size small helmet for testing. Read more.
GOREWEAR Long Distance (Premium) Bib Shorts Review
By Rick Schultz
I wrote a review a little while back of a pair of VOLER bib shorts in which I got a full 26 months of use out of them. This included 6-days/week, 1.5-2 hours/ride, with daily washings and dryings. That makes around 680 rides (and washings). Just recently, the chamois padding is finally starting to bunch up, so the timing couldn’t be better for a bib replacement. Read more.
Exercisers – Know the Side Effects of Your Medications
by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Seventy percent of North American adults take prescription drugs and 54 percent take aspirin. Of those who take prescription drugs, 27 percent take statins to help lower cholesterol, 18 percent take medication to lower high blood sugar levels and 43 percent take drugs to lower high blood pressure, such as beta blockers, ACE inhibitors or diuretics. If you are an exerciser, make sure you know about the side effects of any medications or over-the-counter drugs you take. They may hinder your exercise program or cause harm if you fall. Read more.
Preventing Cycling Ailments Bundle
Preventing Cycling Ailments Bundle includes in-depth information about: 1) Butt, Hands & Feet; 2) Preventing and Treating Cramps; 3) Nutrition for 100K and Beyond; 4) Gaining a Mental Edge. Coach John Hughes will teach you how to prevent problems that could make a ride less enjoyable and how to deal with them to avoid DNFing.
Question of the Week
Do you feel safe riding on the road?
Cool Stuff to Read
Peaks Coaching: The Maximum and the Minimum. The contrast between training and racing.
VeloNews: How to train for long events with short workouts
NY Times: Riding a Bike in America Should Not Be This Dangerous
YouTube: What Happens When You Turn Up To A Race On A Gigantic Bike?
Bicycle Retailer: Shimano says boom shows signs of cooling
I ordered a book from you several weeks ago. The charge went through but the book never arrived. Please assessed.