Newsletter Issue No. 1239
August 27, 2026
Mid-Season Bicycle Check-Up
Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
It’s August, which means some of the best pedaling of the year is ahead for a lot of us. The days start to cool off, the roads get quieter as the summer vacationers pack it in and there are more fun rides on the calendar. But wait! If you’re been knocking out the miles all season long, it’s likely your trusty two-wheeler needs a little attention. To help, here’s a checklist to give a bicycle the once over and make sure it’s ready for action. Read more.
Helpful News About UPFs and Proteins
By Kevin Kolodziejski
On a fall group ride in Pennsylvania some time ago, I heard a story about a less-than-attentive cyclist who rode over a black walnut dropped from a tree onto the side of the road. He crashed and snapped his carbon fork in the process.
Talk about one tough nut, not to mention the need to always be keen-eyed while you ride. But that one tough nut is not nearly as tough as another one: the macadamia nut. Read more.
Good Pacing Starts With Holding Back
By Ric Stern
We all know pacing is important, but it’s more important than you think it is — and I include myself in that. Whether you’re training for an ultra or even a 4 km TT, there’s one universal truth: the fastest way to ride slowly is to start too fast. Read more.
Women’s Cycling Gear Roundup
By Sheri Rosenbaum
In June, SHREDLY, known for women’s MTB clothing, launched its Cadence Gravel and Road collection. This is the company’s first venture into road and gravel, something they say SHREDLY riders have been asking for. The full line comes in extended sizes from XS to 3X, making it inclusive of women of various shapes. Read more.
When Can Cyclists Safely Pass a Road Closed Sign?
By Stan Purdum
Here’s something to file under “stray questions about cycling”: When confronted by an unexpected road closure sign, which you choose to ignore, and proceed, hoping that a bike will be able to get through where motor vehicles cannot, what percentage of the time do you succeed? Read more.
Quick Tip: Make a Training Plan You Can Really Follow
A training plan that looks good on paper is easy to make. A training plan that fits your real life is harder.
It is tempting to start with an ambitious schedule. Ride five days a week. Do intervals on Tuesday and Thursday. Add a long ride Saturday. Strength work twice a week. Stretch every night. Then work gets busy, a child gets sick, the weather turns ugly or you simply need a day off. By Friday, the plan is in pieces and you feel like you failed.
You did not fail. The plan did.
Start with the time you actually have. If you can reliably ride three times a week, make a three-day plan. Put one longer ride on the day that usually gives you the most time. Add one focused workout and one easy ride. If you get a bonus day, use it for a relaxed spin, skills practice or a ride with friends. Do not build your whole program around bonus days.
It also helps to make each ride flexible. If Tuesday’s interval session gets canceled, do not try to cram it into Wednesday on tired legs. Move it, skip it or replace it with an easier ride. One missed workout will not hurt your fitness. A steady pattern of riding, even if it is modest, will do more for you than a perfect plan that lasts two weeks.
Your plan should support your life, not compete with it. A busy rider with three consistent rides each week can make real progress. The key is to use a plan that matches your goals and the time you can give it.
Look at the next month, not just the next week. Put the important rides on the calendar. Leave room for work, family, weather and recovery. Then ride the plan you can follow. Leave a comment.
Other Cool Things to Read
NYC.streetsblog.org: Hit-and-Run Drivers Killed Three Cyclists in Three Days
Bike Radar: Torturous cycling lab tests come at a physical and financial cost, but how useful is the data?
NBC: The mayor of this historic city was hit by a bike. Now he’s banning them from its center
The Independent: The exercise that is at least four times more efficient than walking
Question of the Week
Do you use electrolytes on every ride, or only on long rides and in hot weather?
Most Clicked Last Week
Should You Replace “Old” Carbon Forks?
End Notes
