Newsletter Issue No. 1059

March 9, 2023

Anti-Aging: How to Improve Your Diet and Performance This Winter

By Coach John Hughes

Healthy nutrition increases longevity and performance. Eating a good diet reduces your risks of the most common health conditions as you age: heart disease including stroke; diabetes; being overweight, which increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes; osteoporosis; and some kinds of cancer. Research suggests what you eat may reduce the risk of dementia; however, no causal link has been established. Read more.


Getting Dropped Chains Back On When Your Bike Has a Chain Keeper

Jim’s Tech Talk

By Jim Langley

A chain keeper, also called a chain catcher is a device added to bicycles with double-chainring derailleur drivetrains to prevent the chain from falling off. Chain keepers can be mounted to the front derailleur as with the popular K Edge model shown in the package here. Or as you’ll see in the photo here of my gravel bike, it can be mounted to the frame. Notice how close the chain keeper’s tip/tooth is to the chain. Read more.


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BiKASE Fireproof eBike Battery Storage Bags – Quick Review

By Sheri Rosenbaum

Unfortunately, it’s become all too common to hear about eBike batteries catching fire and burning down a home or even a bike shop. Lithium-ion battery fires burn extremely hot, exude toxic black smoke, are often accompanied by explosions, and are difficult to extinguish. New York City last year reported 200 fires and six deaths caused by lithium-ion batteries, as reported by The Guardian. In November, an e-bike fire in a Manhattan high-rise apartment building left 40 people injured. There was even a report of a bike shop burning down after eBike batteries were left overnight unattended. Read more.


Exercise Better Than Calorie Restriction to Control a Fatty Liver

By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

Both exercise and calorie restriction reduced liver fat in overweight and obese adults, but only exercise had a dose-dependent effect in reducing liver fat and reducing belly fat (Br J Spots Med, Jan 20, 2023). Read more.


SQlab Saddles Review

By Brandon Bilyeu

Living and riding in Germany I noticed that many road cyclists were using a saddle with a very distinct shape. I finally asked someone and was introduced to SQlab, a Germany based company with a wide range of cycling products including saddles, pedals, clothing, stems, and handlebars. Given the saddle’s popularity I reached out for a sample and SQlab kindly sent over a couple 612 series saddles. The 612 R is an aggressive racing saddle while the 612 active adds more cushion and a suspension system. Read more.


What is a False Flat in Cycling?

QUESTION: What is a false flat in cycling? I’m new to cycling but I’ve heard experienced riders moaning about these. —Alan R.

RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: A false flat is a section of road that looks to an approaching cyclist to be flat or nearly so, but is an optical illusion, because it actually… Read more.


Quick Tip: Let Your Weather App Choose Your Next Ride

Let your favorite weather app choose your route.

In lots of places (especially flat places), wind direction should be the number one factor in deciding which roads to ride. I was reminded of this during a recent week with lots of wind. Read more.


Cycling Past 50 Bundle

Cycling Past 50 bundle includes the eArticles:

  • Healthy Nutrition Past 50 – what to eat and drink to support both a healthy lifestyle and continuing performance.
  • Healthy Cycling Past 50 – what happens as we age and how to incorporate cycling and other exercise activities into our daily lives to stay healthy and active for many years.
  • Performance Cycling Past 50 – how to train to achieve more specific cycling goals given the physiological changes of aging.
  • Off-Season Conditioning Past 50 – how to best work on your off-season conditioning given the physiological changes of aging.

Learn more.


Question of the Week

Do you own an ebike?

Cool Stuff to Read

BikeRadar: Simon says: Press-fit bottom brackets are better than threaded
Bikepacking.com: New Shimano Cues 9, 10 and 11-speed Drivetrains Are Cross-Compatible
Bicycle Retailer: NY City Council passes lithium-ion battery safety package requiring UL listing
Endurance Sportswire: PeopleForBikes Supports NYC Council Legislation on Electric Bicycles and Lithium Ion Batteries

Most Clicked Last Week

My Gravel Bike Videos & 6 Observations So Far on Trek’s Checkpoint SL 5

End Notes

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