Newsletter Issue No. 889
November 21, 2019
PDF version for Premium Members is here.
9 Tips for Eating and Drinking During Winter Rides
By Coach John Hughes
We have snow in the mountains! I live in Boulder, Colorado, and I love long cross-country ski outings. I also enjoy riding outdoors even when the temps are in the 20s. How do I keep fueled? First, I know my nutrition requirements. Read more.
A Look at Berd’s Ultralight “String” Spokes
By Jim Langley
Berd probably won’t appreciate their revolutionary polymer spokes being referred to as “strings.” But, if you get a chance to hold a few, I think you’ll agree that they’re just as flexible and floppy as thick pieces of string – and entirely unlike the stiff stainless-steel spokes that all bicycle wheels have been built with for almost 150 years. Read more.
Bicycling in Winter: Whipping Cold Weather
By Fred Matheny
Unless you live in temperate climes where winter means slipping on a sweater in the cool of the evening, you probably equate off-season training with cold weather. Sure, you can retreat to the trainer and Zwift or the weight room to escape the arctic blasts. But what fun is that? Read more.
Cycling Past 50
In this 4-article series, Cycling Past 50 Bundle, Coach John Hughes shares what you need to do as you age into your 50s and beyond – using cycling and other exercises – to increase your longevity and improve your enjoyment of life! These articles apply whether you are just taking up cycling and exercise or you’ve been a cyclist for years and intend never to stop.
Cycling Shoes Slightly Too Big
Question: I just bought a pair of expensive road shoes online and they’re slightly too large. I know — I should have gotten them from my local bike shop and tried them on first. But the deed is done, so is there any way to make them fit? They’re fine with thicker socks but I want to wear conventional thin cycling socks. — Bailey G. Read more.
Mary Cain and Forced Weight Loss for Sports
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
Mary Cain was unbeatable in high school races. At age 16, she became the youngest athlete ever to represent the U.S at a World Championship track meet, and at age 17, she was the 2014 World Junior Champion in the 3000 meter run. After high school, she turned professional and broke many records while running for the world-famous Nike track club. Read more.
Question of the Week
How cold is too cold for you to ride?
More Cycling Stuff to Read
VeloNews: Stagesbike and Wahoo Kickr Smart Bike get a new competitor, as Wattbike hits the US market.
Bicycling: How to calculate your power to weight ratio.
VeloNews: Performance E-road bikes make the hills easier. Who wants that?
Silca: Want to geek out on the exact recommended tire pressure for any situation based on real pro race data? Silca’s new pressure calculator has you covered.
End Notes
Talk about dumb. I was convinced that Zwift must think I’m really improving lately, because they kept putting me in the A category for Zwift races. Yet I was consistently finishing dead last! I couldn’t figure out why they’d say I belonged there when I couldn’t keep up. Further research revealed that riders should be able to ride at the level of 4 watts per kilogram and higher in the A group. I was only averaging about 3.4 w/kg for my races, which is deep in the B zone. What’s up with that, Zwift? Embarrassingly, it turns out that when you click on a race to join it, there’s a tiny little graphic where you can choose A, B, C or D category. I was just pressing on the race name itself and inadvertently putting myself in the A group. Next time I’ll be carefully pressing that tiny B button….