Newsletter Issue No. 1221

April 23, 2026

New Products From The Sea Otter Classic and Other Shows Part 1

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Jim’s Tech Talk

By Jim Langley

With March and April each year, come some big bike shows, such as the Sea Otter Classic, which takes place in Monterey, California and the Taipei Show in Taiwan. For these shows bike companies roll out their new products at the actual events by attending and displaying their latest and greatest to the crowds, while other companies choose to stay home but still take advantage of all the season’s grand opening energy by showing their newest products at races, such as Paris Roubaix and other cycling events. Read more.

What Makes Crashing Even Worse? Consuming Too Many Ultra-Processed Foods

By Kevin Kolodziejski

A bad food or a bad dude.

Which of these two are you writing about if, instead of a cyclist, you’re a songwriter for a rock-and-roll band looking for that first big hit?

If you’re back in 1982 and George Thorogood, you chose the latter — and it’s an astute move. It leads to a song so well-known it’s now considered a staple of classic rock-and-roll radio. But it’s not 1982, and you’re not Lonesome George. You are, however, as convinced as Lenny Kravitz that eating ultra-processed food is really bad for you. Kravitz, whose “Greatest Hits” album has sold over 10 million copies, by the way, still has six-pack abs as he approaches 62.) Read more.

2026 Sea Otter Highlights – Day 1

By Sheri Rosenbaum

Known as the “World’s Premier Cycling Festival,” Sea Otter Classic is a four-day celebration of cycling featuring over 1,000 brands, 6,000 athletes, and 70,000 attendees. The 36th annual edition is taking place this week, April 16–19, 2026, at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. Read more.

2026 Sea Otter Highlights – Day 2

Day 2 at Sea Otter Classic brought some major footwear launches from Liv and Giant, bold new apparel from Pearl Izumi, expanded tire options from Bontrager, and an impressive new aero road helmet from Sweet Protection. Read more about Day 2.

More 2026 Sea Otter Classic Highlights

As we bid farewell to the 2026 Sea Otter Classic, I want to showcase a few more brands from the event. Read more.

Why can’t we have puncture-resistant bike tires?

Question: I haven’t paid much attention to bicycle races before, but at a friend’s suggestion, I recently watched the Paris-Roubaix men’s race, which included several sectors with cobblestone surfaces.I found it surprisingly exciting. But the race favorite, Mathieu van der Poel, who the commentators said had won the race the three previous years, was sunk by a flat tire on one of the cobbled stretches. Why can’t we have bike tires that are more puncture resistant? —Arnie F.

RBR’S STAN PURDUM REPLIES: Actually, van der Poel’s puncture wasn’t merely in “one of the cobbled stretches”; it was in the notorious Arenberg Trench, considered the most brutal sector of the Paris-Roubaix race due to a combination of uneven, ancient cobbles with irregular gaps between them, a high-speed, slightly downhill approach, and a treacherous, narrow, forest-bound environment that generally stays damp even when the rest of the race is dry. Read more.

How Can I Get in Shape Fast for an Upcoming Cycling Event?

QUESTION: I confess – I didn’t ride very much during the winter and early spring. But I want to get in shape for a metric century coming up this summer. Is there any hope? – Calvin R.

RBR REPLIES: Don’t panic, Calvin. You and everyone who had a less-than-productive off-season can gain sufficient fitness for an event. Read more.

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Newsletter Issue No. 1221

New Products From The Sea Otter Classic and Other Shows Part 1