Newsletter Issue No. 1097
November 30, 2023
10 Mental Tips on Coming Back from Time Off the Bike
By Coach John Hughes
One of my favorite quotes is from the baseball great Yogi Berra, “Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”
Last week’s column was 8 Tips for Coming Back From Time Off the Bike. Following Berra’s insight here are ten mental tips: Grieving comes from an important loss. We typically associate grieving with the loss of a family member or important friend. Your cycling is important and grief is also a normal reaction to not being able to ride or not riding nearly as much or as well. Read more.
Your Comments on Tubeless Tire Sealant
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Orange Seal’s line of sealants for tubeless bicycle tires was the big story last week. If you missed it, here’s the link: Orange Seal’s Line of Bike Tubeless Tire Sealants now Includes Subzero.
As far as I can tell, tubeless tires haven’t caught on for road bicycles the way they have for mountain bikes. But what does seem to be catching on is road riders getting and using gravel bikes. And tubeless tires are almost as common on G bikes as they are on MTBs. Read more.
Velocio Zero+ Gloves – Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
Personally, I’ve always struggled with keeping my fingers and toes warm enough to ride comfortably in the winter. I was eager to try Velocio’s new Zero+ gloves as Chicago’s weather turned cooler. These gloves have a temperature rating of 30-50 degrees F and feature a windproof and water-resistant outer shell, providing excellent protection against the elements. Read more.
VentaPak Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
When commuting by bike or hiking in the woods, carrying a backpack is synonymous with a sweaty and achey back. However, Ventapak has come up with a solution to these problems with their innovative device that can be attached to almost any backpack or hydration pack. Read more.
How can I regain confidence to ride again after a crash?
QUESTION: I’ve had a bike crash. I wasn’t hurt too badly, but now I’m nervous about riding again. How can I get over that? —J.J.
RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: What you are feeling is not uncommon. But many riders find that in cases where they can see in retrospect that the accident was caused by operator error, figuring out what they did wrong and deciding how they will avoid that mistake in the future is a big help toward getting back on the bike. Read more.
How Do I Equate Indoor Training Time with Riding Outside?
Question: When I can’t get outside to ride, what is the percentage of indoor riding that would match the time outside? Also, if I use an elliptical trainer, what is that percentage for riding outside? – Peggy J.
RBR Replies: That’s a hard question to answer because riding indoors is quite a bit different from riding outside due to wind, hills and accelerations out of corners when you’re outside on the road. Then there’s the mental factor. Most riders find it much more difficult psychologically to maintain intensity, not to mention duration, inside. Read more.
Averse to Weightlifting or Just Need Something New This Off-Season? Try 1 1/2 Reps
By Kevin Kolodziejski
Can Singing Get the Unwilling to Weight Train?
You’ve read it from me before. Twice. That cycling doesn’t stress the upper-body muscles enough to stave off sarcopenia, the inevitable loss of muscle mass, strength, and function that usually begins well before you hit the big four-oh, and — oh, no! — eradicates on average about 30 percent of all muscle between the ages of 50 and 70. Nor does it stimulate muscle growth in the legs of longtime cyclists. Read more.
Off-Season Bundle: Productive Off-Season, Year Round Cycling, Gaining a Mental Edge
In Off-Season Bundle, Coach John Hughes explains in detail what you can do in the off-season to improve your summer riding. The bundle totals 60 pages and includes these three articles:
- Productive Off-Season Training for Health and Recreational Riders
- Year Round Cycling: How to Extend Your Cycling Season
- Gaining a Mental Edge: Using Sports Psychology to Improve Your Cycling
Question of the Week
When was your last bicycle crash?
Most Clicked Last Week
8 Tips for Coming Back From Time Off the Bike
End Notes
