Newsletter Issue No. 932
September 24, 2020
Anti-Aging: 8 Tips to Ride Smarter
By Coach John Hughes
Baseball great Yogi Berra said, “Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.”
In my almost 50 years of riding I’ve found that mental skills are at least as important as physical fitness. Mental skills are just like cycling skills; they take practice. I work with each of my clients to learn the skills that he or she needs for success. Read more.
Identify the Exact Problem with Frankie’s Shifting and Win a Prize!
By Jim Langley
My son-in-law Frankie has really taken to cycling. I introduced him to you a year ago when he asked for tips on shifting double-chainring road bikes to share with his riding group. Here’s that story in case you’re learning to shift or know someone who needs a quick primer: Beginners’ Guide to 2X Shifting. Read more.
Sponsor: Performance Alpaca Cycling Socks by Fo//ow Ho//ow
Follow Hollow socks outperform competitors largely due to their 80% baby alpaca proprietary blend thread. Check out the RoadBikeRider.com review by Sheri here. After a very successful Kickstarter launch, these socks are in stock and available to order right now directly from the company. Why not add some to your sock drawer? Find out more.
Lower Back Pain for Cyclists: Tips for Prevention and Fixes
By Coach Rick Schultz
One question that the recreational roadies and racers I coach have in common – and something I hear very often from riders of all ages and abilities – is some variation of: “My lower back is always sore during and/or after a ride. What can I do about it?” In short, there’s no magic bullet to address this common problem. Lower back pain is typically the result of a combination of possible issues at play. Read more.
Garneau Baryum Gravel and MTB Cycling Shoes
By Sheri Rosenbaum
New this season from Garneau is their Baryum shoe. This is the off-road version of their high-end, award winning Course Air Lite II road shoes I reviewed a while back. The Baryum is uniquely designed to handle anything from MTB trails to gravel adventures. Read more.
Keep Cycling Cleats from Squeaking
PROBLEM: You’re getting really annoyed by that chirping on every pedal stroke.
SOLUTION: Silicone spray is the best fast fix we’ve found. Read more.
How Can I Get Stronger on Hills?
QUESTION: Climbing kills my legs. On a long hill or a sequence of short climbs, I can feel my strength ebb. What’s the best way to ride a hill, and how can I build strength and stamina? — David W.
Focus and Breathing for Cycling Performance
By Arnie Baker, MD
Focus has intensity, width, direction, and relevance. Athletes can learn to intensify, narrow, internalize, and associate their focus and thereby improve their performance. Learning focused, coordinated breathing is one of the best tools to achieve this gain. Read more.
Gaining a Mental Edge
By the time we reach our 40s we’ve often reached a physical plateau, but there’s no age limit on gaining a mental edge that will help us become better cyclists. Coach John Hughes’ e-article, Gaining a Mental Edge: Using Sports Psychology to Improve Your Cycling, shows us how. It’s divided into six chapters of progressive lessons on relaxation, focus, using powerful thoughts and images, building confidence and managing anxiety, creating a plan and visualizing it, riding the ride and dealing pain during the ride.
Question of the Week
How long do you keep your cycling cleats?
Other Cool Stuff to Read
Bimotal: New light and detachable ebike motor that attaches to your disc brake mount.
University of Jyväskylä: Older people have become younger: physical and cognitive function have improved meaningfully in 30 years
Bicycle Retailer: LeMond relaunches with two upscale, carbon fiber city e-bikes; road and gravel to come
Bicycle Retailer: Zwift plans to offer its own hardware following $450 million investment
Final Tip
Are you paying attention to your cycling posture? Keep your shoulders and your elbows down and back. Avoid hunching your shoulders.