August 6, 2020
Which Electrolytes Do You Really Need?
By Coach John Hughes
No matter what you’re doing outside in the heat, knowing how to properly stay hydrated and replenishing the vital electrolytes you need is growing in importance. Potassium, calcium and magnesium all play a role in nerve transmission and muscle contraction, and a significant deficiency of one of these may play a role in cramping. Read more.
Topeak JoeBlow Pro Digital Floor Pump Review
By Jim Langley
Topeak’s top-end new JoeBlow is ready for all your pumping needs with a great design and it comes at an affordable price. To make the pumping easy, it has a sturdy steel barrel and a wide steel base. This stable, hefty foot keeps the Pro upright when it’s bumped so it’s less likely to get knocked over and maybe damaged. Read more.
Selecting the Right Cycling Shoes
By Rick Schultz
As bike fitters, one of the main items we adjust are cleats. But it seems the first question clients have is about their shoes. Shoe questions range from clients asking if I think they need a new pair to some just bringing in new shoes and stating, “I hope these will work?” So, I spend time advising about shoes, cleats, and pedals. So, what are the things to look for when shopping for a pair of cycling shoes? Read more.
Drink Sugar and Caffeine during Vigorous Exercise
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
I have often recommended that exercisers take a sugared, caffeinated soft drink for a performance boost during prolonged vigorous exercise. I still think this is good advice, but based on a study from the University of Buffalo, people who are exercising at a casual pace for an extended time may want to restrict their intake of soft drinks (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, March 2019;316(3):R189-R198). Read more.
Quick Tip: Improve Your Road Riding on a Mountain Bike
For road cyclists, there are three key benefits of venturing off-pavement — besides the fact that carving sweet singletrack is guaranteed to generate some of the widest grins in cycling. Read more.
Stupid Bike Tricks
By Scott Martin
In the spirit of RBR’s mission to inform and inspire, I’ve decided to reveal a couple of the stupidest cycling things I’ve ever done.
Why? I guarantee that after reading these screw-ups, you will feel better about your bicycling expertise. Even if you started riding yesterday. Read more.
Summer Riding Ebook Bundle
Summer is when we ride the most. In the Summer Riding Ebook Bundle, Coach John Hughes teaches you the info you need to ride better and more comfortably. Comes in PDF format for easy reading on your computer or by printing out.
- Cycling in the Heat, Part 1: Ride Management. 20 pages on how to acclimate, how to ride in the heat without overheating, how to stay (relatively) cool, what to wear, what to eat and drink, how to cool down if you overheat and heat related problems
- Cycling in the Heat, Part 2: Hydration Management. 21 pages on assessing your personal sweat rate and composition, how much you should drink, electrolyte replacement and the pros and cons of electrolyte replacement drinks, supplements and foods.
- Preventing and Treating Cramps. Hughes has not cramped in decades. 10 pages on what causes cramps, how to prevent them and what to do to break a cramp so you can keep riding.
- Eating and Drinking Like the Pros: How to Make Your Own Sports Food and Drink — Nutritional Insight from Pro Teams. 15 pages covering what the pros eat and drink, what you can learn from this, how to make your own sports drinks, gels and solid food and what to eat at a minimart.
Question of the Week
Ever ruined a bike carrying it on a bicycle rack?
Other Cool Stuff to Read
Bicycling Retailer: Industry braces for tariff increases this month as exclusions expire
VeloNews: Power Analysis: Strade Bianche 390 average watts for 18 1/2 minutes!
Outside Online: How to Wash Workout Clothes the Right Way
Cycling News: Garmin systems return to normal, as questions arise whether the $10 million ransom was paid
End Notes
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