November 10, 2022
Anti-Aging: The 80 / 20 Principle
By Coach John Hughes
Getting fitter follows an arc, whether a roadie is exercising for health and fitness or a pro contending to win the Tour de France. As a roadie rides more he gets fitter and he can handle a greater training load, i.e., more miles. As a rider gets fitter, he can also handle a harder training load, i.e., more hills and more intensity. At some point a rider plateaus, either he can’t handle more training or he doesn’t improve from more training. When a rider plateaus, with age the rider’s capacity to train may decline and his capacity to improve from training may decrease. Read more.
Please Share Your CO2 Inflator Expertise
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Early this week I answered a question from a roadie wondering about the tire inflation capacity of his and his friend’s CO2 inflators. Since I only rarely use them, I’m hoping you CO2 aficionados will read the question and my answer and weigh in with your advice. Please share your favorite CO2 inflator, too. Read more.
When It’s Good to Get Your Bell Rung
By Kevin Kolodziejski
Whether you have a PhD in pedaling or only a GED in the oh-so-enjoyable undertaking, I’m sure you’ve spent a few formative seasons on the racing squad sponsored by the School of Hard Knocks. What’s not so sure is if your time with them lead to medals draped around your neck or bandages wound around your head. Read more.
Zwift Hub Direct Drive Smart Trainer Unboxing
By Rick Schultz
I own two trainers — one dedicated to bike fitting, the other dedicated to training. I have had several Elite trainers in the past and all three had failed in different ways. At that point, I decided to go with Wahoo. Choosing the top end KICKR, after about four months, it developed a squeaking sound. They immediately replaced it, no questions asked and have been happy with the current KICKR for the past 1 1/2 years. Read more.
Can I use WD-40 to lube my bicycle chain?
QUESTION: Can I use WD-40 to lube my bicycle chain? I’ve heard pros and cons. —Larry R.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: WD-40 now makes a bicycle-specific chain lube, so if that’s what you are asking about, the answer is yes. But I’m assuming your question is about the original WD-40 product, which for years was the only formula by that name on the market, and many of us have a can of it in our garage or shop. Read more.
Learning the Art of Drafting
You’ve ridden by yourself and feel your fitness increasing. You want to join group rides and jump into pacelines. But you’re uncertain how to learn to draft, and you feel intimidated by more experienced cyclists. (This is also good info if you’re a seasoned rider asked to teach a newbie how to draft.)
Learning to ride with others is relatively easy, although picking up the nuances may take several years of experience. The trick is to learn in sequence, starting with simple drafting on one other rider. Read more.
Cycling in Your 60s: Activities in the Fall
By Coach John Hughes
Note that I titled this “Activities” not “Working Out” or “Training.” The latter two sound more purposeful and may imply something you must do. For 60-year-olds fall is the time to kick back and enjoy other activities in addition to training for cycling. Read more.
Cycling Past 50 Bundle
In this 4-article series, Cycling Past 50 Bundle, Coach John Hughes shares what you need to do as you age into your 50s and beyond – using cycling and other exercises – to increase your longevity and improve your enjoyment of life! These articles apply whether you are just taking up cycling and exercise or you’ve been a cyclist for years and intend never to stop.
Includes the eArticles:
- Healthy Cycling Past 50;
- Off-Season Conditioning Past 50;
- Healthy Nutrition Past 50;
- Performance Cycling Past 50
Question of the Week
Year to date have you ridden more or fewer miles than last year?
Cool Stuff to Read
Ergo Log: Cyclists do just as well on bananas as on sports drinks
Bicycle Retailer: Giro releases two commuter helmets with lights and turn signals
Wattkg.com: 5 power boosting principles from 18 years of cycling science
Endurance Bike and Run: Stop negative thoughts with STOP-CLAP technique
Outside: Racing My E-Bike Helped Me Fall in Love with the Sport I Lost
End Notes
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