Newsletter Issue No. 808
May 3, 2018
PDF version for Premium Members is here.
By Lars Hundley Readers are not very excited about their cycling jerseys, according to how few responses I got last week! I got a vote each for the pricey Rapha and Assos brands, along with one for Primal Wear, and feedback from a reader who wasn’t a fan of Pactimo, related to the elastic hem on the women’s version. I guess I’m going to have to keep buying more brands until I find a favorite.
The top Facebook post of the week was a Jim Langley article about how to properly take care of carbon fiber frames and other parts. While on Pinterest, people were most interested during the changing weather about which temperature is best to wear knee or leg warmers.
I feel frustrated by the theme that keeps returning to the newsletter. This week, both Jim and Stan independently wrote about different aspects of the danger of riding on the road these days and the potential consequences. I usually ride a 10 mile loop in Dallas at 5:30 a.m. with a headlight and blinkers. It’s around a lake where the speed limit is 25. Cars never expect to go fast there and often avoid it, and there’s no traffic at all that early. Although I sometimes find it boring to ride laps and difficult to wake up so early, at least I feel safe. I don’t really feel so safe anymore when I’m on most other road rides.
It’s Time for Change: Hit and Run Deaths Hit Record High
By Jim Langley In case you missed it, road cyclists and pedestrians received grim news last week courtesy of the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety. In a widely reported article titled Hit-and-Run Deaths Hit Record High, the AAA gave some shocking and worrying stats including,
- More than one hit-and-run crash occurs every minute on US roads
- These resulted in 2,049 deaths in 2016, the highest number on record
- Which is a 60% increase since 2009 or 7.2% increase per year
And then, there’s this,
- NEARLY 65% of PEOPLE KILLED IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASHES WERE PEDESTRIANS OR BICYCLISTS
The only thing I find surprising about this news is that it took so long for an organization like AAA to take notice. Here in Northern California we’ve seen the fatalities and serious crashes escalate for years – not all hit-and-runs, but the outcomes are the same. Read more.
Assos Mille GT Clima Jacket Review
By Brandon Bilyeu For keeping your core protected, many riders smartly carry ’emergency shells’ on rides where changing weather could be an issue. Assos’ Mille GT Clima Jacket falls into this category by providing inclement weather protection in a lightweight and easily portable package. The key to a great emergency shell jacket design requires both protection while being worn but also excellent portability so it is easy to take along on every ride. After many hours of both wearing and carrying the Clima Jacket I can say it is a pretty good companion on rides with variable weather. Read more.
Freshness and Tapering: Part 2 of My Advice for 72 Year Old Attempting to Break Multiple Records
By John Hughes My longtime friend Gerry Eddlemon will attempt to break his age 70+ world records for the 100K, 100-Mile, 6-Hour, 200K, 200-Mile, 12-Hour, and 24-Hour records and may also go for the 500-Mile and 1000K. The record attempts will probably be this weekend, May 5. The 100K record is smoking 3:35:21 / 17.31 mph and even the 200-mile record is a tough 13:41:07 / 14.61 mph. The records are at the end of this column. Read more.
The Bot on the Bicycle
By Stan Purdum While reading a research report having nothing to do with cycling, I saw a connection to cycling nonetheless.
The report, titled, “Why good people turn bad online,” was about viciousness and harassment on social media and how to reduce it. Researchers studying that bad conduct have concluded that abusive language is not just the work of sociopaths online, whom we call trolls. Rather, much of it is from ordinary people engaging in antisocial behavior. Read more.
Keep it Clean: Muc-Off Bike Cleaner Product Review Roundup
By Sheri Rosenbaum Spring is here and that means wet weather and dirty bikes. There’s a family of products I’ve relied on for the last couple of years to clean, protect and lube my four bicycles. Initially my local bike shop introduced me to this UK-based company, and now I continue to touch base with their reps at Interbike and CABDA.
Muc-Off carries a range of cycling and motorcycle products. The products covered in this article are a combination of items I’ve purchased myself and samples from the company. You can find these at your bike shop or online. Read more.
Don’t Crash! How to Approach the Most Common Road Hazards on a Bicycle
By Fred Matheny Cycling is a unique sport because its arena is the open road. That’s the same place frequented by traffic, potholes, snarling dogs and absent-minded pedestrians. But sometimes we’re our own worst enemy. Inattention and poor technique can put us on the pavement as fast as any hazard. Use these tips and you’ll be less likely to take a tumble. Read more.
Question of the Week
It’s May! How’s your fitness doing so far this year? Time for a poll to see how we’re all doing.
Comment on jerseys. Voler is one of my favorites for jersey for club or event
My kit is mainly Endura [made in scotland] but some useful jerseys from Funkier.
Lars, I’ve not noticed in my 15 years riding the road in South Georgia that things have gotten worse. In fact they’ve gotten a little better. If anything, I’ve become more cautions as I got older and that my be happening to a lot of us. I read once that statistically 6% of wrecks that put us in the hospital were from getting hit from behind by a motorized vehicle. By far more injuries are caused by ourselves and by T-boning vehicles coming from the side.
Fred’s article, “Don’t Crash! How to Approach the Most Common Road Hazards on a Bicycle” makes a number of good points. Recently I stopped mounting my cycling computer on the stem as it is simply a distraction I don’t need. The computer now rides in my jersey pocket. I’ve found riding much more relaxing and enjoyable now that I am not constantly be told how far and fast I am going.