Newsletter Issue No. 1068
May 11, 2023
Ant-Aging: New Research on Fatigue
By Coach John Hughes
What is fatigue? Seems obvious. When you’re tired after a bike ride.
Fatigability and fatigue: Scientists are parsing this question. They distinguish between fatigability and fatigue. Fatigability is “an objective measurement of a person’s ability to do a physical or cognitive task — can be different from the perception of fatigue — a person’s subjective assessment of the fatigue they feel.” Read more.
Product Review: EliteWheels Carbon Gravel DRIVE G45 Wheelset
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Back in February you may have read the review of my new Trek Checkpoint SL5 gravel bike. I said that one of the upgrades I was looking forward to was a second set of wheels so that I could have one setup for road and the other for gravel. Read more.
Trek Velocis MIPS Road Helmet – Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
In early April, Trek launched their 3rd generation Velocis helmet. A lot has changed with this version. First, the company is phasing out the Bontrager branding and moving to Trek. Second, the helmet is incredibly lightweight and aerodynamic. Third, it now uses the MIPS Air System for protection instead of WaveCel. Read more.
What is the 75 rule in cycling?
QUESTION: What is the 75 rule in cycling? I heard someone telling his buddy to remember that rule on a group ride as the pace started to pick up. What did he mean? —Pete L.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: The 75 rule is a training guideline for riders who are seeking to improve their performance and endurance. Read more.
McDonald’s-Only Dieter Needs to Change His Ways — and Help Change the World
By Kevin Kolodziejski
It’s odd, I know. To receive a compliment after a tough training ride where you and your buddy pull the group about 65 percent of the time and have it injure your cycling ego.
But that’s what happened to me after such a ride a number of years ago. The compliment had nothing to do with the fact that — despite riding at the front for all those miles — I was the first one up all the long climbs. Read more.
How Should a Beginning Cyclist Train?
Training stress + rest = training success
When asked how to improve Eddy “the Cannibal” Merckx put it simply, “Ride more!” Merckx was the most successful professional racer of all time. Merckx achieved 525 victories over his eighteen-year career. He won the Tour de France five times, the Tour of Italy five times, the Tour of Spain, all the spring classics, the World Championship three times and set the hour record. Read more.
Quick Tip: How Should I Test Ride a New Bicycle?
Test rides are usually short, and you have so many things to think about that getting an accurate impression can be difficult.
First, remember that a new bike will feel different from an older bike. These differences are most apparent to your contact points — hands, feet and seat. Read more.
Muscle Loss from Inactivity: 34 Percent in Just Two Weeks
A study from the University of Copenhagen showed that wearing an immobilizing knee brace for just two weeks caused men in their 20s to lose 22 to 34 percent of their leg muscle strength, while men in their 60s lost 20 to 26 percent.
It took them six weeks of exercising on a bicycle 3-4 times a week to restore the leg muscle size and ability to exercise, but even that did not fully restore the leg muscle strength. Read more.
Mips Safety System Gains Popularity Among World Tour Cycling Teams
Cycling helmets featuring the Mips safety system are becoming increasingly popular among World Tour cycling teams, according to Mips, a Sweden-based company. This season, 71% of men’s teams and an impressive 87% of women’s teams are reported to be using helmets equipped with Mips technology. Read more.
Restrap and QUOC Launch Post Ride Bikepacking Sandal
British brands Restrap, a bikepacking gear manufacturer, and QUOC, a leading footwear creator, have teamed up to produce a new sandal tailored to the needs of outdoor enthusiasts and cyclists. Priced at $129.99 USD, the QUOC x Restrap Sandal, available in black and sand colorways in sizes EU38-EU47, released this month on Restrap.cc and quoc.cc, as well as in select retailers worldwide. Read more.
Chris King Launches ARD44 Aero Wheels
Portland-based company Chris King has introduced the ARD44 wheelset, a high-performance road wheel designed for a diverse range of terrains. Developed in collaboration with CSS Composites, a leader in thermoplastic carbon fiber technology, the ARD44 is built with the FusionFiber technology, providing riders with a stable, responsive, and comfortable experience. Read more.
Anti-Aging E-Book: 12 Ways You Can Slow the Aging Process
Anti-Aging: 12 Ways You Can Slow the Aging Process, by Coach John Hughes, has individual chapters on each of the types of exercise the American College of Sports Medicine recommends: cardiovascular both endurance and intensity; upper, lower, and core strength; weight-bearing, flexibility and balance. Hughes includes interviews with Gabe Mirkin (recommendations from an M.D.), Jim Langley (importance of goals), Andy Pruitt (importance of working on your skeleton, posture, balance, muscle mass), Muffy Ritz (recommended activities for older people, especially women), Malcolm Fraser (recommendations from an M.D.), Fred Matheny (importance of strength training), Elizabeth Wicks (motivation) and five other male and female riders ages 55 to 83.
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.
Question of the Week
Do you plan to buy a new bike this year?
Cool Stuff to Read
Pezcyclingnews.com: Fast Ride Survival Tips
YouTube: Coach Schultz explains Stretching for Cyclists
StickyBottle: Sepp Kuss changes batteries of SRAM derailleur while descending
Canadian Cycling: A Beginner’s Guide to Cornering
CNN: New York cyclists gather for the Blessing of the Bikes
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End Notes
