Newsletter Issue No. 1018
May 26, 2022
Anti-Aging: Record Setting Heat
By Coach John Hughes
By the end of the past weekend, more than half of all Americans will have suffered from temperatures of 90 degrees or higher. Blazing heat and humidity toasted states from Texas to Massachusetts. Records fell or were tied: New York City 90F, Washington, DC, 92F; Austin, TX 99F, Richmond, VA, 95F, Philadelphia, PA 95F, Worcester, MA 88F. Read more.
Why Dropped Handlebars are Usually the Best Choice for Road Riding
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Not too long ago in one of our Quick Tips stories, we answered the question, “Are drop bars better?” Here’s a link if you’d like to read the original Q and A: Are drop bars better?
I want to add a little to the original answer because dropped (also called “drop” or “racing”) bars are often misunderstood. For example, people new to them can assume the only way to use the curly bars is to ride on the lowest positions – because that’s where it’s easiest to brake and shift. Then, if they feel uncomfortable down there all the time, they may decide the only solution is to swap out to flat bars. You’ve probably seen people riding with them turned upside down, too! Read more.
Garmin Varia RCT715 Rearview Radar Tail Light With Built-in Camera Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
I’ve been riding with the Garmin Varia RTL515 rear radar for almost two years, and I feel safer on the road when using it. Now Garmin has introduced the Varia RCT715 rear radar with a built-in camera. YES, a camera!!! Read more.
Use the 1% Marginal Gains Rule, Improve Your Diet, Your Riding — and Maybe Win the TdF, Too?
By Kevin Kolodziejski
Between 2012 and 2018, Team Sky won six of the seven Tours de France. Prior to that, similar dominant TdF runs had always featured a single superstar — Jaques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, and Miguel Indurain — but Team Sky achieved theirs with three different winners: Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, and Geraint Thomas. When essentially the same management and cyclists became Team Ineos the following year, they won again — and with a fourth different rider, Egan Bernal. This led many to believe the Team Sky system as much as an utterly on-form GC contender was responsible for their victories and created interest in its most important concept. Read more.
The White Bird of Happiness
By Stan Purdum
Riding during the recent hot days reminded me of a time when experience taught me how to climb steep grades while pedaling a loaded touring bike on high-temperature days. Here’s an excerpt from my book about my cross-country ride, Roll Around Heaven All Day:
“You’re going to ride White Bird, you say? Ho, ho!” The trucker’s laugh wasn’t entirely one of amusement. There was also a note of concern as he shook his head. Read more.
Two Wheel Gear Mamquam Frame Bags Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
Frame bags have become more popular with commuters, bike packers, and gravel riders because it utilizes unused space on your frame. Two Wheel Gear, a Canadian company, puts a lot of thought into the design of their gear, making it highly utilitarian. The company sent me two sizes of their Mamquam frame bags to test and review. Both bags have identical features, with the difference being size, weight, and capacity. Read more.
Fatty Liver Disease Can Often Be Cured With Lifestyle Changes, Not With Drugs
More than 80 million North Americans suffer from Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), and many do not know that they have it because most people with a fatty liver have normal liver function blood tests in the early stages of the disease. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, supported by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, has just issued new guidelines for diagnosing and treating NAFLD. Read more.
Cycling in the Heat Bundle: Ride & Hydration Management
Coach John Hughes has twice won the Furnace Creek 508, racing 508 miles including through Death Valley, one of the hottest places on earth! He has finished the Race Across AMerica across the southern US in August. Cycling in the Heat Bundle shares what he has learned from decades of riding and coaching.
- Cycling in the Heat, Part 1: Ride Management is 19 pages and covers how to acclimatize to hot conditions, how to train in hot months, what to wear, eat and drink, how to cool down if you overheat, and how to deal with heat-related problems.
- Cycling in the Heat, Part 2: Hydration Management is 21 pages and covers how to determine how much you should drink depending on your physiology and sweat rate, how best to replace your fluids and electrolytes, the contents of different sports drinks, how to make your own electrolyte replacement drinks, how to rehydrate after a ride, and how to deal with hydration-related problems.
Redshift Sports Archlight Smart LED Bike Pedals Quick Review
Distracted and aggressive drivers are major hazards for anyone commuting via bicycle. A study conducted by Clemson University shows that bio-motion increases a cyclist’s visibility by up to 57% compared to standard front and rear lights. The pedaling motion on a bike is bio-motion and the premise behind Redshift Sports’ launch of the Arclight Smart LED bike pedals–making commuters more visible and safer on the road. Read more.
Question of the Week
Have you ridden with a Varia rear radar unit yet?
Cool Stuff to Read
Road.cc: Should all cyclists use action cameras?
Cycling Weekly: Is social media ruining your relationship with cycling?
Sticky Bottle: How to make your own energy bars, no oven required for these
End Notes
