QUESTION: I've been uploading my rides to Strava for a while now and it gives me estimated wattage, but it's unclear to me if those numbers are any good or not compared to other riders. I'm doing ok with my times on some local segments, but what's a good average wattage cycling in general? -- Kenneth M ANSWER: It's unfortunately a little bit more complicated than giving you … [Read more...] about What is a good average wattage cycling?
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Is Road Cycling Dangerous?
QUESTION: I'm a mountain biker, but I want to get faster and I've heard that I should be training on a road bike if I want to improve my cardiovascular fitness. But I'm a little worried about traffic. Is road cycling dangerous? Bob R ANSWER: Worrying about distracted and drunk drivers or those with road rage against cyclists is a common occurrence with road cyclists. … [Read more...] about Is Road Cycling Dangerous?
How to Find Out What Caused Your Flat Bicycle Tire
PROBLEM: Nuts, you got a flat. But once the tire is off and the tube is out, you can't see anything that caused the puncture. SOLUTION: This is worrisome because if something sharp is hidden in the tire tread, it'll quickly pop the new tube. … [Read more...] about How to Find Out What Caused Your Flat Bicycle Tire
How Often Should I Service My Road Bike Chain?
QUESTION: I've been told by a local shop that my bike's chain should be replaced every 1,000 miles. Does this sound right? Also, how often should I clean and lube the chain? -- Bill S. COACH FRED: A thousand miles seems conservative. It might be necessary to replace a chain that often if the bike is frequently ridden on wet or gritty roads. But chains can usually go 2,000 to … [Read more...] about How Often Should I Service My Road Bike Chain?
5 Fit Related Cycling Problems and Their Solutions
By Rick Schultz, MBA, DBA 1. Swelling Feet During a normal group ride, do you loosen the straps on your cycling shoes because your “feet are swelling?” It’s OK if you admit to this since this happens to most cyclists. I have read many articles on this topic and they all mention “feet swelling” but don’t get into the details as to the how’s and why’s. Talking with many cyclists … [Read more...] about 5 Fit Related Cycling Problems and Their Solutions