Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2013 i Bicycling

THE MOMENT I KNEW I’D FALLEN IN love with the bike with the big red tubing I was leaving the market with a 30-pound bag of dog food slung over the top tube and a dozen ears of corn tied to the handlebar. I spun the pedals with just enough effort to cruise at 22 miles per hour. When I pulled up to my house, my Honda was parked out front. I’ve been enjoying my car lately—mostly because I’m driving it less. I’ve run more errands and commuted by bike way more than I have before. I certainly feel better because I’m saving gas money and reducing my footprint and burning extra calories and setting a good example for my kids, but the primary reason I’m doing this extra riding…

Busy riders, take note: Running errands by bike can earn you some of the same benefits as longer outings. According to a report published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, multiple short rides may be more effective at burning fat than a single continuous one. In the study, a group of cyclists did one 85-minute ride. On a different day, they rode the same amount of time but broke it into multiple five-minute jaunts. During both days, they ate four high-fat meals. The results: The cyclists burned more fat in the 24 hours following the intermittent rides than they did after the continuous one. Longer rides offer plenty of fitness benefits. But when you’re booked with errands, do as many of them as you can on two wheels…

ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH Ride Costumed cyclists will haunt Durham County, North Carolina, on October 26, at Habitat for Humanity’s Halloween Bike Ride. Routes are 31, 62, and 100 miles, and finish with food, beer, music, and prizes at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. $32–$40 Rule Pro cyclist Ted King’s New Hampshire roots inform the details of Sugoi’s King of the Road Signature jersey—right down to the maple syrup bottle printed on the fabric above a rear pocket. Part of the proceeds goes to the Krempels Center, which supports brain-injury survivors. $70 Eat In The Culinary Cyclist, Anna Brones, founder of the blog Foodie Underground, shares gluten-free and vegetarian recipes, along with advice on everything from shopping by bike to midride picnics. $10 Commune This year’s Philadelphia Bike Expo…

1 Made in the USA from homegrown wool, the striped BillyKirk messenger bag has two side pockets for water bottles, a slash pocket on the back, a nylon lining, and black leather trim. $199 2 This soft and elegant three-season merino Isadore women’s long-sleeve jersey features a full-length zip, three rear pockets, and two hidden pockets that you’ll want to fill—just because. $145 3 There’s nothing like warm buns on a cool day. Keep yours toasty in the Rapha merino boxers, which not only have flatlock stitching on the inside to prevent chafing, but also come in pink. $50 4 Inspired by Wolf’s top rider, Gottfried Weilenmann, who won the Tour de Suisse in 1949, the Woolistic Wolf jersey is just one of the classic vintage tops the company offers.…

VIBE Don’t judge Sin City by the Strip—or from the inside of a convention hall. Vegas is home to a fast-growing community of roadies, mountain bikers, and race teams who pedal on miles of stop-sign-free roads across the desert, past Mars-red rock, and over towering mountain passes. And thanks to bone-dry weather, regular shop rides that cater to all abilities roll out no matter what time of year it is. Look for 100-plus miles of new bike lanes and signed routes—along with more than 30 bike racks—in the Las Vegas metropolitan area by the end of this year. RIDES If you do one loop here, make it the Red Rock Scenic Ride, a 13-miler on a wide road in the Red Rock Conservation Area with a grinding climb, swooping downhills,…

FROM THE HELICOPTER VIEW ON TV, A peloton—even one in a tense and edgy race like on the first day of the Tour de France—appears as intuitive in its movements as a school of fish. The pack seems to gracefully stretch, bend, and adapt to a sinuous, ever-changing road. This is not how those of us within the pack experience the race, but sometimes we do ride in a way that is, if not serene, at least rhythmical and sort of predictable. No matter what, however, the final 10 kilometers are not peaceful. In the throes of the last few minutes of racing, order gives way to chaos. In his eighth year as a professional bicycle racer, Ted King rides for the Cannondale Pro Cycling team. Read more of his…

Everyone agrees that when Kim Flint crashed, he was chasing a record on Strava, the social fitness site that has rewritten the etiquette of cycling and shattered its traditions, transformed countless lives for the better, and fostered as many friendships (and rivalries). What almost no one seems to fully comprehend is exactly who—or what—caused Flint’s death. NO MATTER WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT SAY about Kim Flint, you can’t claim that he was stupid. Flint was an electrical engineer at Nvidia, a $4 billion, 6,000-employee Silicon Valley firm (Forbes magazine’s 2007 Company of the Year) known for making graphics-processing units, used in such products as Sony PlayStation. He managed a group responsible for signal integrity, which eliminates digital “noise” to ensure the quality of information transmitted and received by electronic devices.…

1. POC AVIP Essential SS jersey The new AVIP line is all about visibility, and this jersey’s high-contrast color-blocking brings a bit of style to safety. It’s easy to see, even at dusk. $170, pocsports.com 2. Bontrager Commuting Stormshell jacket With pit zips, 360-degree reflectivity, and handwarmer pockets, this seam-taped, waterproof layer can handle far more than just the ride to work. $160, bontrager.com 3. Giordana Fusion short-sleeve jersey It’s not the maillot jaune, but you’ll feel like a winner in this classically styled top that incorporates reflective cuffs and silicone grippers. $95, giordanausa.com 4. Louis Garneau X-Lite jacket At just 62 grams, the X-Lite fights above its weight. It can protect you from cold wind and even light rain, and still vents well through mesh panels. $85, louisgarneau.com 5.…

Critical Cog The hub’s single external cog is attached to a driver unit—similar to a freehub body—that turns the labyrinth of gears inside the hub and uses a clutch to engage different gears. Alfine hubs require a gear combination that creates a 1.8:1 ratio with the crank—the cog turns about twice as fast as your pedals. Gear System An interlocking set of gears, called a planetary system, helps you ride up a hill—or go faster on a flat. Depending on the gear, the driver unit either first spins outer ring gears, or the planetary gears deeper in the hub, rotating around sun gears near the center. In all, there are 11 combinations, offering a range that’s the theoretical equivalent of an 11-45–tooth cassette. Fixed Axle The whole system spins around…

Colin McSherry has been riding bikes all his life and has spent the past 10 years transforming himself into the kind of roadie you see in our pages. So he was excited when, this past summer, he was able to follow his former boss at Philadelphia magazine, Jesse Southerland, to his new job here at BICYCLING. “When he told me where he was going, I said, ‘Great, when do we start?’” McSherry says. As our newest art director, McSherry is the creative force behind this month’s Gear section. In “Rise and Shine” (p. 18), Kelly Bastone explains how your morning fuel can help you get the most out of each ride. “Breakfast always gets the shaft,” she says. “But there are benefits to matching what you eat to what you’re…

What you eat when you wake will make or break the rest of your day OF ALL THE DAY’S MEALS, breakfast is the most predictable. Pick up a menu at almost any diner and the choices are pretty much the same. At home, we sit down to the same bowl of cereal or pop another bagel into the toaster. Yet somehow the morning meal manages to spark ongoing debate. Evidence suggest that skipping it, as some 31 million Americans do every day, sabotages your health. But what passes for breakfast in most households isn’t much better—if your day-starter is nothing more than a sticky pastry, for example, you could be forgiven for abstaining until lunch. Here’s the catch: Breakfast does more than simply provide the day’s first dose of calories.…

If you’re any sort of exercise enthusiast, you’ve undoubtedly heard of CrossFit. The intense, gym-based program focuses on general fitness—endurance, stamina, strength, power, flexibility, speed, coordination, and accuracy. In other words, all things that benefit cyclists. A program like CrossFit also can help you identify and correct muscle imbalances caused by long hours in the saddle. An athlete’s body must be fine-tuned to perform its best, says Brian Mackenzie, founder of CrossFit Endurance, a spinoff for distance athletes. I started working with Mackenzie a few years ago. Each week, in addition to three hard rides, I did four to six CrossFit sessions, during which I sprinted, jumped, and lifted heavy weights. After the first week or two of soreness, amazing things started to happen. Yes, I gained more strength in…

One On, One Off Build confidence riding with one hand so you can use the other to eat, drink, and signal. Here’s how: Start by holding the handlebar with just your right hand near the bend (or on the grip on a flat bar). Pedal in a straight line for 10 to 50 feet. Switch hands and repeat. Practice the same amount with each hand. Line Up, Look Back Learn to glance behind you with ease. Get into the same starting position as in the drill above. Let your left arm hang by your side. Shift your weight slightly onto your right hand. Rotate at the waist to look back over your left shoulder, keeping your pelvis, knees, and front wheel facing forward. Move your left arm slightly behind you…

I DUG MY HEELS INTO THE SIDEWALK, clamped one hand beneath the glossy plastic seat and the other on the flared handlebar, started running, then released the bike with a fierce shove. “Pedal!” I shouted. Everett, my six-year-old son, did not oblige. The bike swiftly used up whatever force my push had provided and began to wobble. “Pedal! Move your legs!” Everett, howling, tottered sideways. I ran after him. “What are you doing?” I hollered. “Go! Keep going!” Everett did not wait for the bike to take him down. He leapt away as it careened down a small slope, scraping himself across the pavement before tumbling onto a neighbor’s lawn. The bike veered in the other direction and lay by the curb, its front wheel spinning. I hovered above him.…

BREAKTHROUGH TRENDS EVERY YEAR BRINGS ADVANCES IN BIKE GEAR, AND 2014 IS NO DIFFERENT. FROM SUPERCHARGED AND SUPERFUN TRANSIT BIKES TO SPORT-CHANGING INNOVATIONS IN SHIFTING, BRAKING, AND EVEN LOOKING GOOD IN COFFEE SHOPS, NEXT YEAR PROMISES EIGHT TRENDS WE CAN’T RESIST. 1 THE JUST-RIGHT WHEEL SIZE FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING Mountain bike wheels originally measured 26 inches in diameter because that was the size the pioneers of the sport used on the old cruisers and balloon-tire newsboy frames that they adapted to create the first models. Around 2004, another option became popular: bigger, 29-inch wheels—roughly the same size as a road bike’s. They roll over obstacles such as rocks or water bars more easily and, though less maneuverable on some tight trails, they seem faster overall. But the frames necessary to…

Wear the roomy, waterproof Vaya Bags Pannier Hybrid as a backpack—or mount it on your bike’s rack using its hidden clasps. Specializing in bespoke designs, this New York City–based bag maker juxtaposes colors and textures—like the marine canvas and recycled inner tubes seen here—to create striking looks. Not just eye-catching, Vaya bags are also exceedingly practical. This Vaya can withstand a driving downpour, and its shape keeps your heels from hitting your cargo as you pedal. The roll-top design allows the main compartment to expand to fit your necessities, while an exterior pocket and a U-lock holster provide additional storage. Choose your size, colors, and patterns from an extensive menu, or request your own unique design. Dreaming of a bike bag bedecked with a cartoon whale, your city’s skyline, or…

1 Specialized Airtool Road Flex Pushing too hard when using a traditional handheld pump can damage your tube’s valve. The high-pressure Airstick, ideal for road tires, solves that problem with a flexible, retractable hose, which isolates that piece from even vigorous pumping action. PRICE: $40 WEIGHT: 106g specialized.com 2 Topeak Mountain Morph A fold-out leg, collapsible handle, and flexible hose make this little dynamo almost as easy to use as a floor pump, but it still fits into your hydration pack. The wide barrel pushes out enough air to fill mountain bike tires, leaving you with energy for the trail ahead. PRICE: $38 WEIGHT: 325g topeak.com 3 Genuine Innovations Second Wind Road Carbon Mini A CO2 cartridge will fill your tire fast, but can be used only once. This hybrid…

Identify your needs Sure, we’re all mudencrusted trailblazers at heart. But be honest with yourself. If your goal is just to get to the grocery store in a drizzle, a smaller clip-on set will do the trick. But all-weather cyclists who want to keep their feet, drivetrain, and riding partners spray-free will need full-coverage fenders. Assess your frame Figure out what your bike can accommodate. Without eyelets, you’ll be limited to clip-on models (which often cover less and rattle more), zip-tied mud guards, or whatever you can MacGyver. Tight clearance between your brakes, frame, and tires—a characteristic of race bikes—will also limit your options. Consider your climate Some fenders are harder to install than others, so consider how permanent you want yours to be. Pacific Northwesterners are likely to appreciate…

This was the best issue of BICYCLING I’ve read. Thanks for giving advice on improving my skills and helping my new cycling partner—and for reminding me of my solo tour in the Rockies many years ago, which still makes me smile. DOUG HIRSCH, EDMONDS, WA HAVE BABY, LL TRAVEL My husband and I, both avid cyclists, have found it challenging to find time to ride after having our son. On top of the maelstrom of hormones and emotions, I’m facing the reality that any tours we planned have to go on hold for some time, at least until he’s old enough to wear a helmet. “Baby on Board” (September) gives me hope that our family will soon be able to set out on a two-wheeled adventure. TIFFANY HUSTON MINNEAPOLIS QUEENS…

ALL YOUR RIDE QUANDARIES, SOLVED Do I need to put air in my tires before every ride? “YOU MAY NOT NEED TO PUMP YOUR TIRES EVERY time,” says BICYCLING’s test director, Matt Phillips, “but always check the pressure.” Air pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (or psi) and it not only affects how your bike feels, it’s also a safety issue: Low psi could cause a flat after your tire hits a bump, which is dangerous at high speed. If it’s too high, you’ll have less traction—and sketchy cornering. Check the pressure using the gauge on a pump. Tire companies usually print a psi range on the sidewall, packaging, or website. “But those are not hard and fast rules,” Phillips says. Most riders in most situations should use…

Shorter days and colder temperatures might cut into your overall riding time, but they don’t have to compromise your climbing ability. Running uphill—yes, running—simulates out-of-the-saddle climbing and improves your ability to maintain a fast pace for a longer period of time. In one study, researchers found that running on a 7 percent incline also ramped up calorie burn by 53 percent over doing the same exercise on flat ground. Try this running workout twice a week with at least one day of rest in between, and you’ll develop monster aerobic capacity and crush climbs come spring—on your bike, of course. DO IT Start with three or four hill repeats about one minute in length with one minute of recovery between each, eventually working up to five minutes. Pump your arms…

Real fruit juice in FRS Health Energy Concentrate provides antioxidants, which may help prevent cellular damage during exercise. Green-tea extract and caffeine provide a subtle boost, while quercetin reduces inflammation. An eight-ounce serving of the peach-mango flavor has 20 calories and six grams of carbs, and supplies your daily dose of B, C, and E vitamins. $21/16 servings Despite its diluted taste, GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Drink is packed with fuel—each 21-ounce serving has 240 calories and 59 grams of carbs—which makes it ideal for riders who don’t want to chew their energy sources. Some flavors have caffeine while others are buzz-free. All contain taurine, which may help prevent muscle fatigue. $27/12 servings Vitamins and electrolytes in EO2 Edge work together to improve oxygen flow to your muscles. As for…

WHEN I SEE THE BOY RUNNING TOWARD ME, I am using my mountain bike to keep myself standing upright, my forearm resting on the saddle, and one hand on a brake lever to keep the bike from shooting backward. Technically, I am in a race—MTB Ayiti, the first mountain-bike stage race ever in Haiti—but for a long time now I have been barely moving. The boulder-strewn footpath that shoots straight up and over this jagged mountain connects villagers to small markets in the hills, and I’ve been sharing it with motorized dirt bikes loaded with people and poultry, with lithe women balancing huge loads of goods on their heads, and with stubborn mules or the occasional, ragged-looking horse and rider—just about all of these going faster than me. I haven’t…

THE PASSING YEARS HAVE A WAY OF TURNING A PIECE OF CUTTING-EDGE EXPERTISE INTO BALDERDASH-OR PROVING IT TO BE OF LASTING PRACTICALITY. WE TAPPED TRAINING MANUALS, BOOKS, AND THE WORDS OF RESPECTED EXPERTS THROUGHOUT VARIOUS ERAS TO SEE HOW CYCLISTS HAVE ADDRESSED FIVE ENDURING CONCERNS. HERE ARE THE RESULTS. BEST WAY TO BEAT THE HEAT 1972 In days of blazing sun, the head should be further protected with a cabbage leaf placed under the cap..ITALIAN CENTRAL SPORTS SCHOOL, C.O.N.l. MANUAL NOW High-tech jerseys, shorts, and under shirts boost your body’s own ther more gulation while also reflecting sunlight instead of absorbing it. Pearl Izumi says its In-R-Cool apparel (made in part with carbon yarns) reduces surface body temperatures by 5 percent. But low-tech remains: Pro racers battle heat with ice-filled…

T The archetypical city bike, a two-wheeled conveyance that can sit unused for weeks before rolling into service without requiring much more than some attention from a floor pump, has been missing from my otherwise expansive stable. I’ve been unwilling to compromise on the features I want—fenders, a grease-free belt drive, disc brakes, internally geared hub, kickstand, and lots of cargo capacity—but I’m also unwilling to part with too much money. The Novara Arkham, sold exclusively at REI stores, may be the model I’ve been waiting for: At $850, it’s the least-expensive belt-drive bike we know of, and it comes with all of my must-haves. More than the sum of its features, the Arkham—which shares its aluminum frame with Novara’s higher-priced Gotham—also possesses that important intangible element: It’s fun to…

WE TESTED 11 FINALISTS IN FOUR CATEGORIES. THESE ARE OUR FAVORITE MODELS. WOMEN’S $ 80 SHORTS Terry Breakaway Introduced this year, the Breakaway performed true to its name and separated itself from the competition, not surprising considering Terry has been making bike gear specifically for women for 25 years—and its saddles have long been favorites of female riders. Our testers raved about the unobtrusive chamois, pajama-soft fabric, and nonbinding waist and leg openings, which stayed in place without pulling or squeezing our legs as we pedaled. We also appreciated that Terry, a perennial Editors’ Choice finalist, makes the Breakaway in the United States. Some shopping advice: While the manufacturer says the shorts are designed to provide compression, most testers reported otherwise. Size down if you prefer a snugger fit. $80,…