Newsletter Issue No. 888 - Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

November 14, 2019

PDF version for Premium Members is here.

What’s the Best Food for Cycling?

By Coach John Hughes

When I started riding in the 1970s sports drinks, bars and gels hadn’t been invented yet so I experimented. Here’s what I’ve learned from almost 50 years of research and experimentation. Read more.

T47 Bottom Bracket to the Rescue

By Jim Langley

I’m joking with this week’s title, but only a little. I’m poking fun at the bicycle industry, which in my opinion – and many other two-wheeler trade pundits’ views – took an ill-conceived detour about 12 to 14 years ago. That’s when most of the major bike makers started to adopt new designs for frame bottom brackets. Read more.

30 Training Tips to Make You a Faster Cyclist

By Arnie Baker, M.D.

When it comes to to training on your bike, keep these general hints in mind during the course of your training regimen, whether you are a beginning or seasoned cyclist, or are training indoors or out. Come back to this list for a quick reference occasionally as a way of initiating a review of your overall program. The tips will help keep you on the right track. Read more.

Topeak Shuttle and SKS’s Airchecker 2 Digital Tire Gauge Reviews

By Sheri Rosenbaum

Sometimes you need to be precise about the pressure in your tires, shock or fork. Analog pump dials aren’t always accurate and if they are mounted at the foot of the pump, damn near impossible to read (as mentioned in Jim Langley’s article). In this review, I’ll be looking at two digital gauges to use at home, leave in the car, or even stow in your saddlebag. Read more.

Healthy Nutrition Past 50

Healthy Nutrition Past 50 addresses the vital role that healthy nutrition plays in helping you stay active, energetic, happy and fulfilled into your 50s, 60s, 70s – and beyond. This article will benefit anyone over 50, whether you do moderate exercise for your health or ride for performance. Coach Hughes explains all you need to know in 28 packed pages that include:

The key role of carbohydrates in providing the energy you need and many of the vitamins and minerals.
How much protein you really need, and nourishing protein choices.
The important role of fat in your diet, and healthy choices to get that needed fat.
The principal vitamins and minerals you need.

Learn more.

Mystery of the NYC Arrow E-bike Brand

On a recent trip to Brooklyn, I noticed that almost all the delivery bikes were the exact same brand and model. The Arrow 7 E-bike. But what was this brand? I had never heard of it. Online searches don’t reveal anywhere you can actually buy them. And I’ve never seen one outside of the boroughs of New York City. Here’s what I know about these bikes. Read more.

Best Seat Packs for Bikepacking

By Stan Purdum

Bikepacking is self-supported bicycle touring off-road and in the back country where traditional panniers and tag-along trailers have been replaced by packs that attach to the bike without racks and maintain a narrow profile to avoid snagging on trailside vegetation. Typically, bikepackers rely on handlebar packs, frame packs, seat packs and smaller peripheral packs. Read more.

Question of the Week

Have you ever tried bikepacking?

End Notes

Set a new cold weather road riding record in Dallas (for me) on Tuesday. I rode 25 miles in 21 degree weather — at 5 a.m. My Garmin sent a notification to my phone after the ride that said, “You earned the Frosty badge.” My two buddies and I only saw one other cyclist on the route. It was a woman we see regularly who I’d describe more as a bicycle rider, based on her regular clothes and bike she rides. We see her out there fairly often, as she is on the same early morning riding schedule. That’s impressive commitment to ride in the dark all alone when it’s that cold. More commitment than the missing regular Dallas riders who call themselves “real roadies!”