Newsletter Issue No. 966
May 20, 2021
11 Common Aches and Pains and How to Avoid Them
By Coach John Hughes
I write from experience. I’ve been cycling for 50 years and coaching for 30 years and have personally experienced every affliction you can think of … and some you haven’t imagined! Rather than suffering repeatedly I’ve learned from each painful experiences. We learn more from our riding problems than from rides that have gone well. And it’s easier for you to learn from another rider’s problems than to suffer yourself. Read more.
More on Tools for Tough Tires and Superlight Tubes
By Jim Langley
Apparently lots of roadies appreciate having tools for installing tough tires. Because there were some great comments with tips, alternative tool recommendations and questions about last week’s EZ-Clincher Pocket Tire Tool Review. Read more.
When You’re in Flow, Anything Goes
By Greg Conderacci
“Flow” – that wonderful high you get when the bike seems to be rolling effortlessly under you – may be one of the main reasons you ride. The great psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi fathered the concept of flow — of being so immersed in an activity that you are completely absorbed by it. In flow, there is a rush of joyful energy in the task and the effort seems minimal. In his book with Susan Jackson, Flow in Sports: The Keys to Optimal Experiences and Performances, they use the words of a world-class cyclist they call “Simon,” to describe the “Nine Fundamental Dimensions of Flow.” Read more.
Reinventing the Bicycle Helmet: Q&A with KAV
By Sheri Rosenbaum
3D printing has come a long way over the years. Companies have started using this technology in the cycling industry to make one-off parts and, most recently, saddles. A company called KAV has leveraged its technology for creating 3D hockey helmets and has now developed a cycling helmet. When you think about it, helmet sizing is a range, which can compromise the fit. Having a custom-fitted helmet should ultimately increase comfort. Read more.
Where to Spend Your Money Cycling if You Want to Go Faster
By Martin Sigrist
Everyone at some time or other taken on a “project” of some sort. A project can be of epic proportions, such as putting a man on the moon, or far more mundane but equally important to those concerned such as organizing a family event like a wedding. Read more.
Developing Speed for Cyclists, a Guide to Getting Faster
By Fred Matheny
A rider once told me about the greatest display of speed she ever produced. No, it wasn’t in a race. She was riding along minding her business when a huge Doberman, jaws dripping saliva and teeth glinting in the sun, rocketed out of a suburban yard and took dead aim on her calf. Read more.
Preventing Cycling Ailments Bundle
Coach John Hughes’ Preventing Cycling Ailments Bundle will teach you how to prevent problems that could make a ride less enjoyable and how to deal with them to avoid DNFing. The bundle includes in-depth information about:
- Butt, Hands, Feet: What causes pain in cycling’s pressure points, how to prevent these pains, and what to do if it happens during a ride.
- Preventing and Treating Cramps: What causes them, how to prevent them and how to break and flush them illustrate with photos.
- Nutrition for 100K and Beyond: What to eat and drink to avoid bonking and other riding problems.
- Gaining a Mental Edge: Sports Psychology: How to deal mentally with problems when they do occur.
Question of the Week
Have you ever gotten a professional bike fit?
Other Cool Stuff to Read
Cycling Weekly: Under-23 rider defies laws of physics as he grabs onto back of rival’s bike to avoid crash
Daily Mail: Grandmother, 71, can deadlift 250lbs says she looks and feels better than she did 30 years ago
SoCal Cycling: Intervals for Gravel Racing
Science Alert: Here’s How Quickly We Become ‘Unfit’ if We Drop Our Exercise Routines
End Note
