Bicycling May 2014

I WAS ARCING DOWN A LONG, FLOWING grade, tracing the lines of the riders in front of me. There were trees blurring past and pockets of cold air and a reservoir in the valley below. For 15 minutes, no one said a word—partly because the descent demanded attention, but mostly because each of us was in the moment. Eventually the road flattened out, and our group started coming back together, everyone smiling and sharing small talk. We were cruising down the kind of country road on which you can ride three abreast without worry, and someone had a hand on another rider’s shoulder, looking back to make sure everyone was there. One of the things I love about riding is how it genuinely connects you to other people. Sure, cyclists…

In “America’s (True) First Cycling Champion” (p. 72), historian David V. Herlihy tells the story of Rynier Van Nest, who in 1870 won one of the world’s first road cycling races. “I found his story to be noble, one that had long been forgotten and needed to be retold,” Herlihy says. The author of The Lost Cyclist, Herlihy is working on a book about the origins of the bicycle; he also enjoys exploring the future of cycling with Boston’s Hubway bike-share system. Eric Kester did just one 35-mile training ride to prepare for his first gran fondo. He chronicles the event’s highs and lows in “The End Is Not Near” (p. 76). “Fondos are intimidating, but you can’t take yourself too seriously,” he says. “Laugh at yourself, have fun, and…

I’m just not buying the Readers’ Choice poll result that 96 percent of cyclists say it’s okay to wave to other riders (March). In reality, more like 46 percent actually do. I guess the remaining 50 think it’s all right for others to wave. MIKE FULCHER GILBERT, AZ Man about Town Your 101 tips to “transform your entire cycling life” left out the life part. I’ve raced, commuted, and ridden road and mountain bikes for more than 25 years but it wasn’t until last month, when I got a city bike, that my cycling life was transformed. My tip #102: Slow down a bit. Enjoy the ride more. PAUL CURRAN TUSTIN, CA Raising the Bar “Bar Exam” was great! I’m always on the lookout for new energy bars to add…

Chances are good that if you visit a major US city in the next few years, you’ll find it peppered with racks of identical bicycles. The concept of bike share isn’t new; it was tested in the US in the mid-’90s, but theft and vandalism made it unsustainable. Thanks to new technology that records users’ credit card numbers and locks bikes securely, there are now more than 35 successful programs across the country. In the first few months after New York City launched Citi Bike last May, the program registered nearly three million total trips and 77,000 annual members. In September, a system opened in the San Francisco Bay area (shown), increasing the fleet of shared bicycles in the US to more than 18,000—double what it was at the start…

ALL YOUR RIDE QUANDARIES, SOLVED I get bored doing the same routes all the time. What can I do to mix it up? FIRST, TRY RIDING SOME OF THEM in the opposite direction. The same stretch of road will look and feel entirely different. You can also vary your intensity: Along any route, pick a tree or a sign and push the pace until you reach it, recover until the next landmark, and repeat. Also try mixing up your company. Keeping up with a faster friend will break the monotony and make you stronger, plus the social component bumps up the fun factor. For something completely new, hit the dirt. Road riders are increasingly venturing off the pavement, including former pro Levi Leipheimer. “Even in urban areas you can find…

ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH CONNECT Not sure the world needs another social network? The user-friendly interface and cartoon illustrations on Athletepath, a free online service that helps riders and event directors share info and virtual high-fives, just might win you over. TASTE Clif Bar’s new Mojo trail-mix bars come in five gluten-free varieties and are made with wholefood ingredients such as organic fruits and nuts, dark chocolate, and toasted coconut. $1.49/bar DISCOVER Rapha’s City Cycling Europe Guides help you explore eight destinations by bike with maps, refuel stops, advice on local cycling etiquette, and more. Traveler advisory: You may feel guilty stuffing one of the beautifully designed, compact volumes into a jersey pocket. $40/set RIDE Cinelli tested its new steel touring bicycle, the Bootleg Hobo, on the 7,500-mile Tour…