August 20, 2020
Heat Tolerance and Aging
By Coach John Hughes
I was 46 when I bought my home in Boulder, CO in 1995 and the heating and cooling systems were like a cabin. When it was cold I chopped wood and built fires in the wood stoves. When it was hot I opened both low and high windows to increase the airflow. About 10 years ago my wife and I decided that getting up when it was only 50F in the house and building fires wasn’t tolerable any more so we put in heat in each room. This year we’ve decided that 85F in the house is too hot and we’re putting in air conditioning next week. As we age we feel less tolerant of the heat. But is loss of heat tolerance inevitable with aging? Read more.
More About Tubeless, Tubeless Ready & Rim Strips
By Jim Langley
Last week, I introduced you to my neighbor Jessica and her “mystery” flat tires issue. It turned out that the culprit was a too-narrow rim strip in a tubeless-ready rim. Here’s where you can catch up if you missed the story: “Mystery” Flats in Tubed Tubeless-Ready Wheels. Be sure to read the great reader comments because there are many helpful tips. Read more.
Time-Release Ride Food
When arranging your menu for a long ride, here’s a classic eating sequence recommended by former U.S. national cycling team coach Eddie Borysewicz that still works well today. (1) high-protein/fat foods such sandwiches made with meat, cheese, peanut butter or cream cheese; (2) fruit, cookies, energy bars and other foods rich in complex carbohydrate; (3) simple sugars such as energy gels. Read more.
How to Signal Turns on a Bicycle, Even While Braking
It’s smart to signal every turn, and it could save you from an accident when riding in traffic. But how can you signal when you also need to brake for the upcoming corner? Try these tips. Read more.
Zealios Race Relief Quick Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum
As endurance athletes, we’ve all been there — after a long workout, some days your whole body aches. It’s times like these you wish it was possible to cover yourself from head to toe with a muscle relief product. Read more.
FLR F-XX II Shoes Review
By Brandon Bilyeu
I had never heard of FLR until I read a story about Alex Howes’ 2019 USA National Road Championship, which he won wearing FLR’s F-XX shoes. A little research turned up a few more World Tour riders wearing FLRs, but what really caught my attention was the value proposition of the top-end F-XX shoes. The shoes cost $220 and you get a full carbon sole with World Tour level stiffness. For perspective, most $220 shoes are mid-range and would typically have a nylon or mid-range carbon sole with lower stiffness. Range-topping shoes from the major manufacturers are often double that price. Read more.
Resistance Exercise You Can Do at Home
Resistance exercise is the best way to slow down the loss of muscle strength that occurs with aging, and I believe that everyone should do some type of resistance exercise (moving your muscles against an opposing force) as part of their regular exercise program. I have always recommended joining a gym and using the weight training (Nautilus-type) machines there, but now, because of current events, we are staying away from our local gym and had to find a way to do our resistance exercises at home. Read more.
Machines for Freedom The Essential Cycling Short Review
Machines for Freedom has had success with their bibs for women cyclists, but seems many of their customers still weren’t ready to make the switch from shorts to bibs. So, they developed The Essential Cycling Short for women and added it to their line. They hit the mark right on most everything from the yoga style waistband that is flattering and stays put, to the extremely comfortable chamois that you hardly know is there. 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
Have you had any trouble getting in to your local bike shop lately?
Other Cool Stuff to Read
Bloomberg: The Life-Saving Car Technology No One Wants
Theseatpostman.com: Guy in the UK has an entire business removing stuck seatposts.
Bicycle Retailer: Giant revenue hits $670 million in Q2; factories at full capacity
End Notes
Who else can’t get their bike fixed because the shops are too busy?
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