Jerry: “I ride a lot. I rode this last summer in several 100K events and one 100 mile event. I am in shape. But I am frustrated that I seem to do fine on the flats but I always seem to be the be the slow guy on the hills. […]
Amy: “I seem to be getting dropped on every group ride I go on. I just can’t keep up with the guys in my group. How do I get faster like them?” Such is the age-old question, Amy! In fact, your question brings up so many answers that I’m left with […]
Ryan: “I was riding with my buddy, and he said he doesn’t use tubes in his wheels. So what the heck is a tubeless tire, and why doesn’t he need tubes?” Great question, Ryan. Lately, there’s been plenty of debate on the pros and cons of tubeless tires. But I’ll […]
Jimmer: “I have stable angina. Can I still cycle up steep hills?” Hey Jimmer! I’m really glad you asked this question because it seems that many people are too afraid to even try engaging in physical activity when they have a condition that may prevent them from doing so. Fear […]
Jack: I’m a new rider, and I had a friend tell me that I’m not at a good cadence. What does that mean? Great question, Jack. Here’s a small mystery for new riders, and one that brings up plenty of opinions from experienced riders. If you see some blindingly-patterned lycra […]
Bri: “I can’t seem to figure out how often to lube my bike chain. It seems like I either hear squeaking or the chain gets so grimy that I can’t clean it out. How and when should I lubricate it?” Great question, Bri! Keeping your chain lubed and free of […]
Heck, there’s a lot to know about this sport! Tire widths, standard versus compact, seat post setbacks, and the all-important question that everyone asks at some point: what do I wear under my bib shorts? In the interest of combatting the snobbery in our sport and creating a safe space […]
I’ll let you in on a secret. I used to be a lousy cyclist. I was slow, often unprepared, and I made excuses (*cough* OK, well, maybe I’m still lousy in that regard). But, lucky for me, I rode with some very cool cyclists who helped me along. These days, […]
If you’ve made the jump into the triathlon waters, you’ll probably start to notice a few things that suck about triathlon. Coming from a cycling background, I find triathlon to be both fun and horrible. What are those little (or big) things that just irritate you? Here’s my list. 1. […]
A few weeks ago, I came across a painting: “Summer Cycling” by Peter Szumowski. It immediately resonated with me. The long-skirted woman standing by her bicycle gazes past the country house in the distance and up toward a hot air balloon. The obvious connections with the history of the bicycle and […]
Are you a bike snob? How can you tell? Never fear, I’ve created a test! Read the following descriptions and assign yourself points as follows. Then, skip to the end to measure exactly how much of a pure road cyclist you are. The answer may shock you–or impress you. Point […]
1. Your coolness factor doubles when you’re friends with a bike shop employee. It’s science. 2. Making friends at your LBS also leads to excellent advice and, you guessed it, discounts. And aren’t all we roadies prone to loving a good discount? 3. They’re honest with you about repairs–especially when […]
Need a brand new helmet? Don’t need a brand new helmet, but want to feel more awesome? Go get a brand new helmet! Or bar tape, or kit, or saddle, or . . . OK you get the idea. I started this blog to chronicle cycling and triathlon-ing around San […]
So you’ve got extra grams on your bike. Minute particles of weight that are absolutely unnecessary *cough* to drag over that next mountain with you. But what are these magic parts that, if tossed in the garbage can, would immediately help you in your pursuit of faster? Whether or not you […]
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