Newsletter Issue No. 1132

August 1, 2024

Finding and Fixing a Ticking Noise

Jim’s Tech Talk

By Jim Langley

Noises, like ticking coming from somewhere on the bike can ruin even the nicest ride. First it’s annoying, then you wonder if it’s going to cause a bigger problem or worse, something’s going to break. Read more.

---

Pro Cyclist Gains 45 Pounds, Gets Better

By Kevin Kolodziejski 

A Story to Open Your Mind and Better Battle Mental Stress

It’s hard to argue against the benefits of being open-minded. But it’s just as hard to be that way if you’re asked to reconsider something you’ve long since closed your mind to. And the difficulty of doing that probably doubles when the requested reconsideration seemingly defies logic. Read more.

---

BRANWYN Essential Racerback Sports Bra

By Sheri Rosenbaum

BRANWYN has introduced its first Merino wool racerback sports bra. It is highly compressive and keeps the “girls” in place. The seamless construction virtually guarantees no chaffing, even after wearing it all day. Read more.

---

Why Your “Junk Miles” Aren’t Necessarily Junk at All

By Lars Hundley

In the world of cycling, we often hear about structured training, power zones, and targeted workouts. But today, I want to talk about a much-maligned concept in our sport: the so-called “junk miles.” Read more.

---

How often should I clean the pads inside my helmet?

QUESTION: I’d like to know how often to clean the pads inside the helmet, which is probably “never” for most people. I wash my gloves after every ride, but helmet pads are out of sight and out of mind. —DWilliams (DWilliams was a commenter on last week’s question “How often should I replace my helmet?” Some other commenters also expressed opinions about helmet cleaning, so I’ve chosen that for this week’s question.)

RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: To tell the truth, until you asked about cleaning the helmet pads, I don’t recall thinking about it since my first helmet, which I purposely didn’t clean. Read more.

---

Question of the Week

Do you clean your helmet?

Other Cool Things to Read

Cycling Weekly: Lifetime guarantees are pointless – but they sound good on marketing material
YouTube: How Much Does Age Affect Your Cycling Performance and What Can You Do About It?
Our World in Data: Cycling High on the List of Enjoyable Activities
Canadian Cycling: 5 Tips on Locking Up Your Bike Properly

Most Clicked Last Week

Do “1X” (1-by) Drivetrains Speed Chain Wear?

End Notes