Newsletter Issue No. 1066

April 27, 2023

Ask the Coach: Losing Fitness in Your 60s

By Coach John Hughes

Last week my former client June wrote me, “Hi Coach Hughes! I enjoyed so much working with you to train to ride my first century when I turned 60 in 2018. Time flies, doesn’t it? Each winter I lose more fitness. As I age, my low point seems lower!

I live in Seattle and it’s dark and rainy when I get off work. Although I have a trainer, indoor cycling is so boring that the trainer is dusty. I’ve tried spin classes but they’re too hard. Read more.

2023 Sea Otter Classic Photo Gallery Part 1

Jim’s Tech Talk

By Jim Langley

Last week on April 17 – 21 the Sea Otter Classic bicycle expo and competition took place in Monterey, California. The event’s been happening for 40 years and has become one of the largest cycling festivals in the world and most-important early season competitions with races of almost all bike types and disciplines held. While at the Expo companies showcase their latest and greatest new goodies for the first time in the USA every year. Read more.

Kinekt Suspension Stem Review

By Rick Schultz

Years ago, I tested the suspension seat post, and it is still on my titanium mountain bike. Love it!

So, when Kinekt sent me a stem to test, I immediately took them up on the offer. I have a friend who was a die-hard triathlete and has had several road bikes converted into triathlon bikes by adding aero bars. Last year he finally took the plunge and bought a Cervelo P3. Now retired, all of his triathlete friends have moved onto gravel bikes, so he found a great deal on a Turner titanium gravel bike. Riding off pavement presents a whole new sensation from rough roads, compared to the silky-smooth roads he has been training on with his triathlon bikes. Read more.

Wabi Woolens Sport Long Sleeve Jersey

By Brandon Bilyeu & Sheri Rosenbaum

Harth Huffman lives in Portland, Oregon and by day works as a teacher at a local high school. On the side he runs Wabi Woolens, a one-person company/passion project. Since 2008 Harth has been producing wool cycling jerseys and continually making improvements to his product. This review will cover the just launched fourth version of the Sport long sleeve jersey and Wabi Woolens’ first ever Women’s jersey. Read more.

Not Sleeping Enough? Exercise Enough and Live to Tell About It

By Kevin Kolodziejski

If you’re not into bicycle racing, you could see the comment as cruel. At the time it was made, however, my singular cycling focus was to ascend the podium anytime I affixed a number to my jersey, so I took it as a compliment. Read more.

Showers Pass Cloudburst Hoodie Jacket (men’s and women’s versions) – Quick Review

By Sheri Rosenbaum

Showers Pass took their popular Cloudburst packable rain jacket and added a hood. I reviewed the Cloudburst jacket back in early 2021 when the company released it. I gave the jacket 4.5 stars back then and reacted similarly to the new hoodie version. Read more.

Are you a cyclist or a biker?

QUESTION: Is there any difference between biking and cycling? I’ve heard it both ways, but I’ve also heard a guy in a group ride say something about he’s not a biker, he’s a cyclist. What gives? —Leo R.

RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: In the bicycling world, biking and cycling, as well as the related terms, biker and cyclist, are, to a large degree, interchangeable, though participants in various bicycling activities seem to prefer one over the other. Where some confusion is possible is when including motorcyclists in the discussion. Read more.

Quick Tip: Learn to Ride a Straight Line

When you ride solo, wavering puts you at risk in traffic. With a companion, you can’t ride side-by-side if you aren’t steady and comfortable. And the fastest way to draw unwanted attention from experienced roadies is to wobble in the middle of a group.

You can quickly improve your ability to ride a steady line. These tips will put you on the straight and narrow. Read more.

Anti-Aging E-Book: 12 Ways You Can Slow the Aging Process

Anti-Aging: 12 Ways You Can Slow the Aging Process includes:

4-month plan to increase riding volume. The plan is written for January – April but could be used for other four-month periods or adapted to shorter or long periods.
8-week plans to train for 100K and 100-mile rides.
An annual plan to meet all of the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine on these activities: aerobic, intensity, strength, flexibility and weight-bearing.

Hughes provides sample endurance, intensity and strength workouts. The book includes 53 photos illustrating different exercises.

Anti-Aging: 12 Ways You Can Slow the Aging Process incorporates the latest research and most of it is new material not published in his previous eArticles on cycling past 50, 60 and beyond. It’s your comprehensive guide to continuing to ride well into your 80s and even your 90s.

Learn more.

Newsletter Issue No. 1066

Ask the Coach: Losing Fitness in Your 60s