What to Wear in Various Weather
Our popular guide: exactly what to wear cycling at any temperature, from summer heat to below freezing.
Question of the Week
Weigh in on this week’s question and see what fellow riders say.
What’s Average Wattage for Cycling?
How your power output compares to other recreational riders.
Read the Newsletter Online
This week’s issue plus hundreds of back issues, free to browse.
Latest in Training & Health
-
How do I make peace with getting slower every year?
Question: I’ve kept a riding log since 1998, and I can tell you the exact problem: my average speed has dropped five years in a row. Nothing dramatic, a couple tenths here, a couple tenths there, but the direction never changes. I still love the riding itself. What I’ve come to dread is the download…
-
Why Your Winter Training Stops Working After 6 Weeks
By Ric Stern So, you’ve either had a short break or some easy riding and you’re getting back into things. You want to be fitter next year, you’re sick of being dropped by the younger riders on the group ride. You come up with a plan and after a few weeks of following it your…
-
At Which Temperature Should I Cover My Knees Riding?
QUESTION: I run with bare legs when it’s in the 30s, but all the experienced riders around here wear tights even when it’s much warmer. What’s the rule for covering up? — Blaine P. RBR REPLIES: Wow, that sounds pretty low for bare legs! A cyclist’s knees are directly exposed to cold air. And it’s…
-
Your Winter Training Doesn’t Have to Be Slow
By Ric Stern Last week I mentioned that the off-season is dead and that you should continue training over winter if you wish to improve year after year, or maintain your fitness in the unlikely event you’ve reached your physiological limit. However, many people feel that lots of long steady miles is the way forward…
-
Quick Tip: Do You Know This Sign of Overtraining?
Most riders expect overtraining to announce itself in the legs: power falls, climbing gets harder, and familiar routes feel slow. Those signs matter. But sometimes the first warning appears somewhere else. You become unusually irritable. Small problems feel large. You do not look forward to rides you normally enjoy. Friends or family may notice that…
-
Are You Cycling Slower Than You Need To Be?
By Kevin Kolodziejski Today’s title is a curiously phrased question, made that way by the seemingly puzzling use of need to be. For we all know that if you want to be a successful racer, avoid burnout, or fully enjoy cycling regardless of your commitment level, you need to ride slower rather than faster much of the…
View all Training & Health articles
Latest in Bikes & Gear
-
Are electrolyte tablets helpful for recreational cycling?
Question: I usually ride for one or two hours and have started adding electrolytes to my water bottles because I see many other cyclists using them. I do not have a regular cramping problem though. The only time I cramped badly was near the end of a century ride in very hot weather, after I…
-
Trek Charge WaveCel Helmet Review
By Sheri Rosenbaum Trek Bikes Price: $174.99Sizes: S (51-57 cm), M (54-60 cm), L (58-63 cm)Colors: Dark Web, Tan/Grey# of Vents: 9Safety/Protection Technology: WaveCelFit System: BOA with micro-adjustability with a single rear dialLight Integration: Removable, magnetic, and rechargeable rear Flare light with four flash patterns—Blendr magnetic mount for front-facing light or GoPro.Weight: Per the company’s…
-
Quick Tip: Consider Cycling Shoes You Can Walk In
A coffee stop doesn’t need to require an awkward shuffle across the floor. But as you’ve probably noticed at those stops, many road riders accept difficult walking as part of wearing cycling shoes. If you mostly ride for recreation, even if it’s fast group rides, consider a gravel or mountain-bike shoe and pedal system. They…
View all Bikes & Gear articles
One email a week. Real how-to, no filler.
Tech tips, training advice, reader questions, and gear reviews since 2001. Unsubscribe anytime.