Newsletter Issue No. 1104
January 18, 2024
Anti-Aging: What’s Your Fitness Age?
By Coach John Hughes
I’m almost 75 and have the fitness of a 53-year-old (although I felt older shoveling the foot of snow in the driveway this morning). This column explains the importance of your fitness age and how to estimate it. 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.
Keep Sleep Times Consistent
By Kevin Kolodziejski
It’s a Promise You Can — and Need — to Keep
Nike and Nietzsche.
It would be a really cool name for a law firm, but neither’s a member of the bar. The one’s an athletic footwear and apparel corporation whose value, according to Statista, is $31 billion. The other’s a German philosopher whose work is valued, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, for its uncompromising criticism of convention. Both crossed my mind the other day even though I wasn’t in need of sports attire or experiencing an Existential crisis. Read more.
Paka Apparel Everyday Base Layer and Crew Socks– Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
If it’s winter, I reach for alpaca
Winter in Chicago doesn’t have to mean hunkering down in your house until the groundhog predicts the end of winter—the key to braving the cold lies in choosing the proper clothing. Natural fibers are a must, offering warmth, moisture management, and breathability, to name a few benefits. My favorite are alpaca tops, socks, and hats. Read more.
Fizik Tempo Decos Carbon Wide Shoe Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
Fizik has been making cycling shoes since 2010 with a reputation for high-quality footwear. They are also known for their Italian styling and, depending on your foot size and shape, famous/infamous for their shoe last. Historically, Fizik shoes have been low-volume, narrow, and pointy-toed. For many, this was a stylish torture device. Read more.
How to Stop Getting So Many Flats
QUESTION: It seems like I’m constantly getting flats on my road bike. I’m pretty good about avoiding glass and potholes, and I have decent tires and tubes. I’ve even had the bike shop check my wheels to make sure there’s nothing wrong. How can I fix this problem? —Leroy S. Read more.
Anti-Aging Ebook
Anti-Aging: 12 Ways You Can Slow the Aging Process, by Coach John Hughes, incorporates the latest research and most of it is new material not published.
The book explains how to get the most benefit from your endurance rides and the importance of strength training. It has sample training plans to increase your annual riding miles and to build up to rides of 25-, 50-, 100- and 200-miles. The book explains why intensity training is important, the pros and cons of gauging intensity using rate of perceived exertion, heart rate and power. It includes how to do intensity exercise and different intensity workouts. It integrates endurance and intensity training into an annual plan for optimal results.
Question of the Week
Does your road bike use hydraulic or rim brakes?
Other Cool Things to Read
Cycling Weekly: 6 things I’d tell my younger self about riding bikes
Cycling News: 2 new ultra-narrow flared road bars hit the market in wake of UCI lever rule
GCN: Industry Myths Busted by Silca CEO Josh Poertner
Momentum Mag: Priority Bicycles Unveils Eight, a Low-Maintenance Belt Drive Sport Hybrid
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End Notes
