May 18, 2023
Anti-Aging: Training in Your 50s, 60s and Beyond
By Coach John Hughes
In the past, I’ve described the physical changes with aging in your 50s — both true aging and pathological aging. By training effectively you can slow (and even reverse in some cases) true aging. Exercise along with life style changes can significantly reduce the risk of pathological aging. Read more.
Fixing Rubbing Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Rubbing hydraulic discs can drive you crazy. Sometimes, it’s just a slight chirp or brushing sound only heard when walking your bike. Or it could be bad enough that you actually feel a brake dragging making it harder to pedal! Either way, it’s annoying and something to fix ASAP. Read more.
Velocio Ultralight Mesh Jersey, SE Wind Vest, and Signature Bibs Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
For those who don’t know, Velocio was acquired by SRAM in March 2022. It was SRAM’s first venture into soft goods, and they’ve maintained the brand’s high-quality standards.
Velocio’s new summer line boasts several items for both men and women. I tested their Ultralight Mesh jersey, SE wind vest, and Signature bib shorts. All the pieces I tested were the women’s versions, and Brandon is trying some of the men’s gear which he’ll review when the weather warms up in his region. Read more.
Review of Specialized Turbo Creo SL Comp E5 Road Ebike
By Stan Purdum
While I am at the age where an ebike allows me to keep riding the distances and the hills I did when I was younger, I wasn’t planning to purchase a new one. I had converted my trusty Trek 520 touring bike to an ebike and I was pretty happy with it. But after several hundred miles the e-motor on that bike stopped providing pedal assist. While I can fix most things on a regular bike, I don’t have the knowledge to work on e-motors, and since bike shops only work on the electronics of the ebike brands they sell, I had to contact the seller of the motor. The motor was out of the short warranty period. Read more.
Ask the Coach: What Should a Beginning Cyclist Eat and Drink, pt. 1?
By Coach John Hughes
Mike W.: Thanks for the column on How Can a Beginning Cyclist Improve? It was very helpful. I have a related question. I see lots of ads for bars, gels and drinks. The guys I ride with each recommend something different. What should I eat? Does it matter?
Mike, this is a great question! You’re right to be confused. There are so many different products on the market with competing claims. Cycling nutrition is really pretty simple. Read more.
Chargel Energy Gel Drink – Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
In Jim Langley’s Sea Otter report, he mentioned coming across the Chargel booth and liking the instant energy the product gave him. So I contacted the company’s rep to get a few samples to test for myself. Read more.
What If My Training Zones Are Too Hard?
QUESTION: I calculate training zones by percent of max heart rate. I’ve started a new program, and I’m not sure how much longer I can endure the daily pain.
For instance, I’m doing 20-minute intervals at 90-93% of max heart rate. That’s higher than I time trial in competition. So I’m wondering if my training zones are calculated incorrectly. Help! — Tom M. Read more.
Quick Tip: Pocket a Punctured Tube
Today’s quick tip comes to us from Kerry Irons, whose informative comments you’ve probably noticed on many RBR newsletter articles. It’s a follow-on to another recent tip. Here’s what Kerry wrote:
As a follow up to Quick Tip Keep Your Repair Kit Up to Date, I have gotten into the habit of stuffing my punctured inner tube into my jersey pocket rather than putting it back into the seat bag. Read more.
PeopleForBikes Launches First-of-its-Kind E-Bike Battery Recycling Initiative
PeopleForBikes, a leading US bicycle industry trade association and advocacy organization, has launched a pioneering electric bicycle battery recycling campaign in collaboration with battery recycling specialists Call2Recycle and creative consultancy InGoodTaste. The “Hungry for Batteries” initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage e-bike riders to recycle their batteries at one of the 1,800 retail drop-off locations across the country. Read more.
Skratch Labs Introduces Mango + Tangerine Hydration Sport Drink Mix
Skratch Labs, the well known performance nutrition brand, has announced the release of a limited-time Mango + Tangerine flavor of their Hydration Sport Drink Mix. This new flavor offers a tropical twist for athletes during their workouts, made with real fruit, sugar, and an optimal electrolyte profile to replace what is lost through sweat. Read more.
Cycling Past 50, 60 and Beyond Bundle
In this 3-article series, Cycling Past 50, 60 and Beyond Bundle, Coach John Hughes shares his personal insight and the current research into how different physiological systems worsen with age. In Fit for Life, he shows you that by exercising in different ways you can stay fitter than if you just ride your road bike. In Peak Fitness, he provides specific week-by-week workouts designed to make any rider a better, fitter cyclist. And in Training with Intensity, he explains the physiological benefits of riding with intensity; doing some hard riding slows the aging process and delivers an array of benefits at any age.
Question of the Week
Do you carry food and energy drinks on your rides?
Cool Stuff to Read
CycleTechReview: What makes a gravel race shoe?
Bicycle Retailer: The Year of Good Deals for Consumers? 2023 is shaping up to be the year of the double whammy
YouTube: Coach Shultz, What Are the Best Bibs for Indoor Cycling?
Road.cc: Could this new budget electronic shift system shake up the road bike market?
Canadian Cycling: A Taco Bell Century sounds like the most amazingly horrible thing to do
Most Clicked Last Week
What is the 75 rule in cycling?
End Notes
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