When a cyclist pedals, the major element he is fighting is the wind. The majority of your effort when riding on the flats at medium and high speeds is spent trying to slice through the wind. You can do this by yourself by getting in an aerodynamic position and choosing the proper pedaling cadence. When you find ...
Most people prefer to ride when it's warm and sunny, and I'm no exception. That doesn't mean riding in cold weather can't be enjoyable, though, and depending on your area it may be a necessity if you want to ride with any consistency. Just because the temperature is cold doesn't mean you have to be. Don't hibernate ...
If it's spring, it must be time for our annual bicycle buyer's guide. This year's guide reflects two major changes over the last two editions, both good.The first is an increase in the number of entry-level road bikes.Mountain biking's explosive growth over the past few years has brought more people into the cycling ...
Tackling a long ride is something most of us undertake sooner or later. Whether you are considering your first metric century (62 miles) or the more ambitious double century (200 miles), setting a specific goal is an important part of achieving success. Completing a long ride can serve as a benchmark of your ...
Sooner or later all cyclists have to resolve how to get their bikes somewhere with the aid of a car. It used to be that your choices were limited to roof racks or trunk-mounted carriers. Recently, however, a number of companies have come out with carriers that can be used in the back of station wagons, vans and ...
Perhaps no one road bike component has seen such a flurry of interest from both the bicycle industry and enthusiasts as the carbon-fiber fork. Since Kestrel trotted out the first carbon two-prong in 1989, the field of competitors has done nothing but grow to its current state, with 14 manufacturers producing more than ...
All of us have had them. They strike without warning, and they can ruin the most carefully planned and eagerly awaited of rides. They're cramps, and they feel as though Zeus has thrown a thunderbolt at your calf. A cramp is an involuntary contraction or spasm of a muscle, and the pain is sudden and debilitating. ...
The climb up the pass was tough, but now you have an eight-mile descent to really hang it out. You're flying in your 53x12, really spun out.Suddenly, a guy comes whipping around you at high speed. You want to catch his draft, but as you try to pedal faster you find yourself just bouncing all over your bike.He's ...
Cycling fitness can be evaluated in several ways: from a simple measure of speed in a time trial to the power delivered to the cranks to metabolic efficiency. But no matter which measure you choose, you will find that your fitness is highly influenced by the way you and your bike fit together. For that reason, ...
It's spring and you've rolled up the garage door, exposing your road bike to the crisp air for the first time this year. As the early morning light hits the yellowed handlebar tape and reflects off the cracks in your fraying tire sidewalls, it occurs to you that you're not really in the mood for a ride on the worn ...
