Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2018 i Bicycling

YOU + BIKE = POWER. Before gran fondos and gravel grinders went mainstream, there was the humble CHARITY RIDE. // These rides aren’t sexy, but they have a massive impact. BIKE MS ALONE HAS RAISED $1 BILLION TO DATE—SEE OUR INSIDER’S GUIDE, PAGE 23. // The stories in this issue also reveal a side of these events we rarely celebrate—how they change the lives of everyone involved. There’s the woman with rheumatoid arthritis who rode 525 MILES for the Arthritis Foundation (basically off the couch) and this summer will conquer some of France’s biggest climbs. The celebrity chef who didn’t consider himself an endurance athlete until he tackled the 300-mile Chefs Cycle, lost 27 pounds, and became a cycling convert. The guy who once rolled his eyes at raising money to…

BIKE TO THE BAY PERRYSBURG, OHIO “The ride takes place near Lake Erie, and at the end of day one, you get a free ferry ticket to go to Put-In-Bay Island.” —Koreen TOYOTA BEST DAM BIKE TOUR PEWAUKEE, WISCONSIN “The afterparty lasted until 2 in the morning! We were sure they would stop selling beer at some point, but they never did.” —Koreen BORDER BASH ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA “This chapter just rolls out the red carpet for you. The ride is along the beach. They do a really nice dinner on Saturday night, with a lot of fresh seafood.” —Koreen BIGHORN COUNTRY CLASSIC SHERIDAN, WYOMING “If you want beautiful scenery, feeling like you’re on the road with just a few friends, wide shoulders, and low traffic, Wyoming’s your ride.” —Koreen…

By the time I was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 13 months old, my arms were already contracted, and I’ve never been able to fully straighten them. I barely have cartilage in my ankles—it’s bone on bone. My left ankle hurts pretty much all the time. Sometimes it feels as if my tibia has been replaced by a knife, and every time I step down, it jabs into my ankle. I generally can’t stand for more than a half-hour without difficulty. In January of 2006, both of my grandmothers passed away in the same week. I thought, I gotta do something big with this life. I happened to be on the Arthritis Foundation website and saw an ad for the eight-day, 525-mile California Coast Classic. I was intrigued.…

REGGIE MILLER SAYS HE HAS ARRANGED PERFECT RIDING WEATHER FORUS. It’s a joke, of course. This is Malibu. It’s always a beautiful day. It’s the first of December, and 73 degrees. The sun bathes us in dry, uncomplicated warmth. A light ocean breeze promises to cool us on the climb. Still, it’s not hard to imagine Reggie Miller having some direct line to a higher power that he could occasionally call on. He is, after all, Reggie Miller—one of the NBA’s all-time best long-range shooters, who had the league’s record in career three-pointers when he retired. Reggie Miller, the former Indiana Pacer who once scored eight points in 8.9 seconds to crush the New York Knicks’ 1995 championship dreams in Madison Square Garden. A colleague of mine who was at…

STAGE 1 SIT AND SPIN WHAT IT TRAINS Your aerobic capacity so you can rely on your cardiovascular system instead of muscling your way to the top, which fatigues you faster. DO IT Shift into a gear that allows you to spin at a high cadence—aim for about 90 rpm—and climb at a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of 8 out of 10 (1 = coasting; 10 = all out). Maintain for 5 minutes. As you progress, gradually extend this interval to 10 to 12 minutes. Recover for three to four minutes. STAGE 2 POWER SURGE WHAT IT TRAINS Your threshold power so you can better handle changes in pitch and intensity. DO IT Climb at an intensity that is just under your threshold (RPE 6) for three minutes. Then…

WITH THE LAUNCH of the new S-Works Tarmac Disc, we’ve arrived at a tipping point: This disc-brake road-racing bike is so good, it squashes every one of the complaints and compromises that have dogged its category. So good, the way we look at road-race bikes could be forever changed. So good, there’s little reason to consider buying a road-race bike with rim brakes ever again. Certainly, disc-equipped road bikes have come a long way from the first models that debuted just a few years ago. At the time, they were impressive first steps, but in all areas except braking, they lagged behind their rim-brake counterparts. Even as they got better, you could still feel that you were on a disc-brake bike: They were at once overbuilt and too soft. The…

1 CASTELLI ALPHA ROS JERSEY The lightweight, race-cut RoS (“rain or shine”) combines jacket and jersey with fabrics that will keep you dry in the rain and properly ventilated when it clears up. An internal vest provides a layer of insulation, with a zipper for optional venting. Taped seams at the shoulder keep water out. Available in men’s and women’s versions. $250—Ron Koch 2 GORE BIKE WEAR MEN’S OXYGEN CLASSICS GORE WINDSTOPPER BIBTIGHTS SHORT+ This combination bib short and base layer features a full Windstopper membrane on the bottom sandwiched between a durable water-repellent-coated outer shell and soft inner fabric for increased warmth. A multidensity chamois and extra Windstopper panel in front add coverage to sensitive areas. $250—Mike Yozell 3 SHOWERS PASS CROSSPOINT WATERPROOF KNIT GLOVES These (seemingly) simple gloves…

▸ THE FIT! The Unzen 6 knocks it out of the bike park in terms of fit and comfort. Nearly every aspect of it is designed for full adjustability. A unique Velcro system located inside the water reservoir compartment lets you match the length of the shoulder straps to your height. Use the Velcro connectors at the bottom of each strap to make additional tweaks on the fly. Two more adjustable straps secure the pack around your waist using a buckle system. ▸ THE HARNESS! This is one of the comfiest packs I’ve worn, thanks to its solid harness. The wide, curved shoulder straps fasten in the center of the chest—use one of four loops to customize fit—and hold the pack in place with minimal bouncing or shifting. A loop…

INSIGHTS, IDEAS, AND INSPIRATION FROM ALL KINDS OF RIDERS I did my first Xterra off-road triathlon in 2006 on a bike I borrowed from a friend. After that, I was hooked on mountain biking. The technical aspect was hard for me, but I was excited to train for something new. To improve, I rode with people who were better than I was. We would stop at tricky sections and reride them a few times. One day we came to a big log, a bridge, and then another log. There were six of us, and we all took turns. I was out of my comfort zone, and I fell off. But I had spotters, and it was fun just to do it. I got it on the second or third try.…

You learn other things on a seven-day bike tour across the Scottish Highlands. You learn that if an online description of a bothy reads, “No firewood,” when you arrive at the bothy, which is situated against a grassy hillside without a tree in sight, indeed, there will be no firewood. And if you wish to warm your aching body and dry your sodden shoes, then you should gather the fallen limbs you encounter miles away from your lonely bothy and strap them to your panniers. We learn this lesson after the fact. Yet even without a fire, in this bothy we are overjoyed. The sparse shelters, which once served as lodging for farm families and sheep herders, were abandoned during the advent of the industrial age—and allowed to turn to…

I did my first Pennsylvania Perimeter Ride Against Cancer in 2007 as a cheap, weeklong bike vacation with friends. For six days you ride 500 to 600 miles from the start—which changes each edition—back to Palmerton, Pennsylvania. The biennial event raises money for the American Cancer Society. I paid the $1,000 fundraising minimum out of pocket. At the time, my dad had some early-stage cancer cells in his prostate, but it wasn’t a big deal. Or so I thought. By 2009, the cancer had metastasized. But treatment seemed to be working, and he was also planning to undergo radiation. I thought I’d return to the Perimeter Ride that summer with a success story to tell: My father was fighting cancer and winning. But by 2010, he needed chemotherapy and was…

In 2016, I was newly single, and I didn’t really know anybody in the LGBT community. A coworker told me about AIDS/LifeCycle, a seven-day, 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I signed up, hoping to meet someone new. I figured I could get my mind off my heartbreak and do something good for the community at the same time. The ride was about 500 miles longer than I’d ever ridden, but I started training. I live in Long Beach and work in downtown L.A., so I’d do the 52-mile round-trip commute. After a few months, I felt prepared for the ride physically, but I was nervous about the social aspect. I’d come out about nine years before and had always been in a relationship. I’d never been around…

1 CAUSE Our National Parks RIDE Climate Ride, July 17–22, 2018, in Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks in Montana and Canada, respectively YOU’LL SUPPORT The Glacier National Park Conservancy, which makes green improvements like solar panels, and bike racks on the park buses. EXPERIENCE A multisport adventure on the Canadian border—four days of cycling, one day of rafting, one day of hiking—with just 50 participants. Sleep in a tipi, listen to experts speak each night on topics ranging from climate change to astronomy, and climb the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. 2 CAUSE Mental Health RIDE Hot Hundred, July 28, 2018, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama YOU’LL SUPPORT The Tuscaloosa Mental Health Alliance, a network of 50-plus local agencies that provide prescriptions and transportation for patients, community education programs, and camps for children.…

“Reggie’s goal is to become an endurance machine,” says coach Sonya Looney. “Because he’s been a fast-twitch athlete his whole life, we have some restructuring to do.” That’s why Reggie’s favorite workout, she says, is Sweet Spot intervals: At a slightly higher intensity than a traditional tempo workout, these efforts build the ability to go harder for longer periods of time. DO IT Warm up for 30 minutes. For 10 minutes, ride at a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of 6 to 7 out of 10, where 1 is coasting and 10 is a max effort; or, if you’re tracking power, 85 to 95 percent of your threshold power (the maximum output you can hold for an hour). Ride easy (RPE 2 to 3) for 10 minutes. Repeat twice. As…

I HAVE A THING FOR Colnago’s top-end carbon frames. There’s a magic to them: Their ride and performance hold their own against anything. Yes, they are undeniably expensive, and sometimes quirky. And, yes, I’ll admit to having misty-eyed nostalgia for the fact that they’re made across the street from Ernesto Colnago’s house in Cambiago, Italy. But every time I get on a high-end Colnago, I swoon. That streak continues with Colnago’s latest flagship race bike, the C64. With this frame, the brand’s product team completely redesigned the C60. The C64 frame is a claimed 186 grams lighter and has better tire clearance (up to 28mm, officially, but wider may fit) than the C60. It’s also a touch more aerodynamic, more vertically compliant, and slightly stiffer as well. Despite these upgrades,…

SCOTT COMPLETELY redesigned its mountain bike line for 2018. The newest version of the Genius 920 blends a rowdy get-it-happening attitude on rough terrain with a ride that is efficient and precise on undulating singletrack, and especially sharp when climbing. Changes to the frame include a vertical shock and the ability to accommodate both 27.5+ and 29-inch wheels. Tire clearance on the 150mm-travel frame is substantial: You can fit tires up to 29x2.6 inches or 27.5x2.8 inches. The 700-series and 900-series bikes use the same frame (700s come with 27.5+ wheels, while 900s get 29-inch hoops). Scott sticks with a single, handlebar-mounted TwinLoc trigger, which adjusts the fork and shock simultaneously: When you toggle through the three TwinLoc positions, you’re not only changing the compression damping of the Fox Performance…

IF YOU’RE LOOKING for a one-sentence summary of Zipp’s newest 303 wheel, I’ve got one: This is the best version yet. The new model retains its 45mm-deep cross section but flattens the sides slightly and widens the rim bed to 21mm (internal) for better aerodynamics. Zipp says a 28mm tire is the fastest choice for the wheel shape—good news, as that size provides a cushy ride in most situations. The wheels are disc only, which allowed Zipp to move the dimpling pattern on the rim closer to the edge, something the brake track prevents on rim-brake versions. The dimpling mimics some of the effects of the sawtooth pattern of Zipp’s pricier 454 and 858 wheels, which both have a molded rim profile that helps promote stability in crosswinds. Another update:…

You learn things on a seven-day bike tour across the Scottish Highlands with a bunch of old BMX pros. You learn, for example, that your friends might not always prioritize your personal safety. As you straddle your burly adventure bike at the precipice of a steep and rock-strewn descent, covered in rain-slickened moss, your friend will yell, “Ride it!” Another will encourage, “Yeah!” Someone else will frame the shot with a camera. The words of your beautiful wife—“don’t do anything stupid”—will run through your head. And then you’ll push hard with your right leg, throw your ass back over your Brooks saddle, and clip in. At the bottom, you’ll turn to your friend, the photographer, and say, “Did you get it?” Sometimes the stones we find in Scotland are the…

BY THE NUMBERS 200 number of participants who rode from Minneapolis to Duluth in the first MS 150 in 1980 34 percent of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s total revenue from Bike MS rides (2016) 80,500 PROJECTED NUMBER OF 2018 BIKE MS RIDERS 77 NUMBER OF BIKE MS EVENTS IN 2018 44 STATES WITH A BIKE MS EVENT $1 BILLION+ amount raised to date by Bike MS riders to fund research grants and program services WHERE THE MONEY GOES $77 million raised by ride participants in 2016…

I’m a bear of a guy. I’ve struggled with weight since college, and as a judge on Ace of Cakes I sometimes have to try 24 desserts a day. In 2015, my friend, chef and cyclist Jeff Mahin, encouraged me to do the first California Chefs Cycle, which was 300 miles over three days and raised money for No Kid Hungry, a charity that provides meals to children. I said I’d give it a whirl and pretended to train for a couple of weeks, but then chickened out. I had played hockey and football and lacrosse growing up, but endurance sports were never my thing. Jeff wouldn’t leave me alone, though, so the following year, I got a Giant Defy and started training more seriously. I live in West LA,…