December 30, 2021
These were our top clicked, most read newsletter articles for the entire year of 2021.
They are presented in no particular order. See you in 2022, next Thursday!
Basic & Obsessive Chain Care
By Jim Langley
No doubt you’ve heard of the cobbler whose children are without shoes because he’s too busy fixing everybody else’s to attend to his own family. That’s kind of like yours truly’s chain care program. A bit like the soul man, I’m busy enough working on other people’s bicycles that I have less time for my own. So, I follow the most basic clean and lube chain care procedure on my everyday ride. Read more.
Chain Care Part 2
By Jim Langley
Thanks for the comments and questions about last week’s Chain Care how-to. Let’s keep the link love going with your tips, recommendations and I’ll answer a couple of related queries that came in. Read more.
Outside the Box Quick Tip on Tire Inflation
By Jim Langley
Before I get to this week’s OTB quick tip, I’d like to thank everyone who joined the chain chatter the past two weeks. As I sit down to write this, great comments are still being dropped on last week’s Tech Talk, Part 2 about cleaning and lubing chains. There were already a bunch with cool tips and tricks on Part 1, too.
All together, it comprises a graduate level course on chain care for anyone looking to improve their technique, hunting for solutions or for those just getting into cycling. Read more.
5 Bike Setup Mistakes You Should Avoid
By Rick Schultz
I recently came across this YouTube video by Francis Cade that is very pertinent to the current situation in the bicycle industry where there is a major lack of bicycles in shops available for purchase. I am starting to see a trend of first time buyers just buying a bike regardless of the size. They are buying an incorrectly sized bike just so they can ride something — so I think the timing of this video is perfect. But, even though I think Francis and James (his bike fitter) have hit some key areas, I see things a little differently in my bike fits. Read more.
Can You Advise Fixieguy on Inflation for His New Vittoria Tires?
By Jim Langley
Proper tire inflation is all important for a comfortable ride and pinch flat protection. It also protects rims and ensures optimum performance.
So, when I received an email from regular RBR commenter “fixieguy,” asking what psi to pump his new tires to, I was eager to help. Here’s his expertly explained question and after is my response. You’ll see that I need an assist. Read more.
Anti-Aging: 7 Myths about Training
By Coach John Hughes
Riders 50 years and older are the fastest growing segment of the cycling community. Here are several reasons among others.
- Long-time exercisers such as former runners, triathletes and others are switching to cycling because it’s easier on aging muscles and joints.
- Around 50 the physical signs of aging become more apparent. Wrinkles start to appear, activities of daily living become a little harder and one has less energy.
- People are realizing the importance of exercise for good health and the importance of starting now.
- A cycling friend encourages someone to start riding.
Perceptions, preconceptions and myths about aging and exercise abound. Good news! Most of them aren’t true! Read more.
14 Training Rules for Older Riders
By Coach John Hughes
1. Experiment of one
We’re each an experiment of one, i.e., your training should reflect your personal goals, riding history, current fitness, weekly and monthly schedules, etc. – not a cookie cutter program you’ve read some where. I’m recommending these training rules in response to a reader’s question. You can adapt these rules for your own training. Read more.
Anti-Aging: 8 Exercise Mistakes Older Riders Make
By Coach John Hughes
You’re a cyclist in your 50s and older. Your goals are to be a good cyclist, healthy and fit for many years to come. To reach your goals, knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do. Read more.
More on 8 Exercise Mistakes Older Riders Make
By Coach John Hughes
Last week I wrote about mistakes many riders in their 50s and beyond make. To reach a rider’s goals, knowing what not to do is as important as knowing what to do. Read more.
Maintaining Balance – 60 Seconds That Might Save Your Life
By Martin Sigrist
Accidental falls in the USA, UK and many other countries account for as many premature deaths each year as road traffic accidents (1,2,3,4). Every year millions of falls cause serious injuries which can lead to a sudden and immediate permanent reduction in life quality. In the USA hospitalization rates due to falls are increasing at 4 percent annually (5). Unrecorded millions upon millions suffer pain associated with some of the major causes of falling to a level that severely limits their options in terms of how they can choose to live their lives. Read more.
7 Bike Fit Tips for Older Riders
By Coach John Hughes
I lived and coached in Boulder, CO for 24 years. I took about 100 clients to the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine (BCSM) for bike fits by my good friend Andy Pruitt and his staff. Andy founded the BCSM. He’s the dean of bike fitters. He’s fitted riders in the pro peloton, causal riders and everyone in between. I took one 50-year-old client to see Andy. Andy measured the client’s power output, fitted the bike correctly and re-measured the power output: five percent more power! Read more.
Core Stability to Solve Back Pain – the McGill Big 3
By Martin Sigrist
If you have ever had back pain, you have probably already heard about Stuart McGill. If you never want to suffer back pain, then you should hear about Stuart McGill. And if you just want to ride a bike for hours combining comfort and power, Stuart McGill can help you too. Read more.
Anti-Aging Muscle Cramps
By Coach John Hughes
You’ve probably been on a ride and all of a sudden your leg cramps. You try to keep pedaling but it gets worse. Or out of a sound sleep you’re rudely awakened by cramps. The affected muscle spasms and squeezes all the nerve endings inside the muscle. This creates the pain. Read more.
Phil’s Trick to Get Carbon Wheels to Trip Red Light Sensors
By Jim Langley
I’m letting reader Phillip Young steer the Tech Talk sled this week because he took the time to share what seems to me to be an ingenious tip – and even provided photos. His hack is a new one to me, too. Read more.
Saddle Surgery: Cutting Out the Numb
By Greg Conderacci
They’re heavy. They’re expensive. They creak. They stretch until they become unusable. Sometimes, parts break (ALWAYS at the worst time).
So why do so many ultra-endurance cyclists ride Selle Anatomica saddles? Read more.
Ask the Coach: Dead Legs on a Century
By Coach John Hughes
Eddie writes, “Last weekend I attempted the Big Bear Century. It’s challenging with 8,700 feet of climbing in the 100 miles. Most of the climbing is in the second 50 miles – two climbs up to 8,500 ft. I live at sea level in the Los Angeles area so the altitude was also a factor. With all the climbing and the altitude I’d planned to take 8 hours or so. I’d trained well with 2,770 miles in my legs this year and I’d ridden a couple of 6-hour flattish centuries. Two weeks before the Big Bear I rode the two big climbs to familiarize myself. For the last two weeks I cut back on my miles so I’d be fresh at the start. Read more.
Thoughts on Wearing Out my Shimano Di2 Front Derailleur
By Jim Langley
Way back in 2009 Shimano introduced their first electric-shifting Dura-Ace 7970 Di2 groupset. Di2 is short for Digital Integrated Intelligence (Di2 = DII, get it?).
In case you haven’t tried or followed the electric shifting trend, I’ll explain what DII means in terms of advantages (feel free to scroll ahead if you’re already electrified). Read more.
Anti-Aging: Riding Smarter As You Age Part 1
By Coach John Hughes
Although you may be able hold off slowing down for years, at some point aging will catch up with you. Here are tips on ways both on and off the bike you can compensate for the physical loss. Read more.
A Simple Tip that Can Prevent a Crash
By Jim Langley
Twice, I’ve witnessed scary crashes caused by a common mistake, which is turning your head to look behind you. Here’s what happened to two roadies I saw hit the deck after turning to look. And following the stories are techniques for avoiding crashing. Read more.
Hiplok’s Bicycle Security Breakthrough
By Jim Langley
Even though last week saw the return of the Sea Otter Classic, probably the largest bicycle show of 2021 so far, in my opinion, the biggest news came out a week before in a press release from Hiplok. Read more.
Why You Can’t Just Pedal Off the Pounds
By Coach John Hughes
I have a friend, a retired pro racer, who says weight management is easy, “Just ride more and eat less.” But it’s not this simple. Read more.
Anti-Aging: How Can an 83-Year-Old Climb Long Hills?
By Coach John Hughes
RBR Reader Eli asks, “I have a local route where I have an option at one point to take #1 a continuous long climb or #2 a series of short steeper hills with flat sections between. The hills in option #2 are steeper than the continuous climb in option #1. I find option #1 wears me out and I have to dismount. I don’t know what to make of this. Currently option #1 is under construction. Read more.
Anti-Aging: Why Practicing Balance Is Important
By Coach John Hughes
This may seem like an irrelevant recommendation to cyclists. You have no problem staying on your bike, right? Here’s why that isn’t sufficient. Read more.
What Ashwagandha Could Do For You
By Kevin Kolodziejski
Two Encounters Lead to This Column
A friend who doesn’t cycle and suffers from depression visited me unexpectedly. He noticed a bottle of ashwagandha on my kitchen counter and remarked he never knew I battled the disease, too. I told him I didn’t, that my battle was with sarcopenia and since ashwagandha has been shown to increase testosterone levels, I was taking it to maintain muscle mass. Not much later on a group ride, someone behind me said 10 mg of melatonin guaranteed him a good night’s sleep — the same supplement and dosage I use at times. The guy beside me declared something worked even better than melatonin for him: ashwagandha.
Keep those two stories in mind as I unburden my soul. Read more.
Leave a Reply