Innehållsförteckning för December 2013 från Bicycling

OON AN ODDLYWARM FALL AFTERNOON, I went for a solo ride. It had been a crazy day at work, and I needed to clear my mind. I had an urge for a roller-coaster descent through a tunnel of foliage, so I pointed my bike southwest and began pedaling. I knew before long that I’d wind up on Dale Road but didn’t have a plan for how I’d get there. As I climbed out of town, my head felt clogged with all the pressing concerns that a typical weekday can bring. Then, in the course of 2 miles, my whole point of view started to shift. I turned onto a road with nubby pavement that felt like music on the steel bike I was riding. I heard driedout stalks of corn…

In the 1950s, kids across America dreamed of finding a shiny new Schwinn under the Christmas tree. Not only was the brand synonymous with quality, it was also a household name—that decade, the company sold about 500,000 bikes each year. In 1954, the Black Phantom was preferred nine to one over any other bicycle, according to Schwinn. Indulge your nostalgia with the company’s newest offering, The Biking Game ($25). The object is simple: Answer bike-related questions (drafting in a paceline can save up to what percent of your energy?) and learn facts about cycling (in 1972, bicycles outsold cars in the US) to advance your gamepiece along the trail and be first to reach home. For 11 more gift ideas, turn to page 21.—JENNIFER SHERRY…

Time Help children learn life skills The first Trips for Kids chapter was started in Marin, California, in 1988, with the goal of using mountain bike rides to help atrisk kids gain life skills. Volunteer at one of more than 80 chapters around the world—or start one in your area. Turn your training miles into money Download the free Charity Miles app (available for iPhone and Android) and saddle up. Ten cents for every mile you ride goes to one of 24 charities (including Autism Speaks and the Wounded Warrior Project). Funds come from corporate sponsors. Money Underwrite a bike donation World Bicycle Relief provides its special Buffalo Bikes, complete with a tool kit and pump, and trains local mechanics to help fix them—so recipients, mostly in Africa, can ride…

Bike Bling The Belll (yes, with an extra L), $23 Sparse fixed bike lights, $140 (set) North St. Bags handlebar pouch, $38 Cool Kids’ Gear Crazy Safety Zebra helmet, $54 Giro DND Jr. Blue Tech V gloves, $18 FOR MORE ON OUR CHOICES, GO TO BICYCLING.COM/VARIETY. Postride Therapy Clif Family Winery Chocolate and Cabernet gift set, $90 The History of Cycling in Fifty Bikes, $25 Nonnas’ Italian Restaurant and Street Food Cycle Caffè Italiano coffee, $4.75/5-oz. bag Stocking Stuffers Electra phone wristlet (Forget Me Not), $15 Fix It Sticks ultra-compact multitool, $30 Cacao Prieto organic dark chocolate bar, $10…

FIND EVENT-SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMS AT BICYCLING.COM/TRAININGPLANS. IF YOU’VE EVER SIGNED UP FOR A CHARITY ride, fondo, or other endurance event and wondered how you’d fit in all the training, you no doubt rejoiced upon learning about the benefits of high-intensity interval training. Big fitness! More speed! In half the time! Whoa. Slow down. Because if you don’t keep your training mellow—at least some of the time—your progress will sputter to a halt. Therein lies the imperative for base training, the process of gradually developing a platform for your fitness. “Base training is the foundation upon which everything else rests,” says Danny Suter, USA Cycling Level 2 coach and founder of the Boulder Performance Network. When you build endurance, eventually you can get more out of higher-intensity riding and a heavier…

Chasing a Dream THERE’S NO SUCH POSSIBLE BIKE AS THE SWEETPEA A-LINE IN MY FANTASY, I ride to work, to the farmers’ market, out to dinner with my family. I wear a skirt, maybe. Or capris and a tank top. And flip-flops. Definitely flip-flops. I sit upright and smile, wave to neighbors and acquaintances. I chat with shopkeepers before filling my panniers and breezing home. The bike resembles one of those eye-catching, Dutch-inspired models and makes me appear to be fashion forward. It is also fast and agile. Problem is, I never found a bike that could make all of this possible. I live in a suburban development carved into cornfields, work a 40-minute drive away, and my most bikeable shopping possibility is a never-easy 6-mile round-trip (thanks to a…

Do This Now MARK YOUR BIKE “A thief’s big concern is, ‘Can I sell this bike in 30 minutes?’” says Michael McGettigan, owner of Trophy Bikes in Philadelphia. “Thieves don’t want one that’s easily identifiable.” Write your initials at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock on each tire with a Sharpie. Or pen your name on the top tube and cover it with layers of clear packing tape. A thief can remove it with some effort, but it probably won’t be worth the hassle. TAKE A MUG SHOT Write your bike’s serial number in marker on paper and have someone photograph you displaying it next to your bike. Also take shots of identifying details and keep them stored in your phone. There’s no theft without proof of ownership. Have yours ready.…

M My husband, Dave—an electrical engineer who hates climbing hills as much as he loves playing video games—is grinning as he waits for me at the top of a hill. In the 28 years that I’ve known him, this is the first time he’s ever beat me up a hill, but his achievement isn’t the only reason he’s smiling: “I could definitely make it to the office on this,” he gushes. The object of Dave’s enthusiasm is the Kuo, a folding e-bike that employs a 250-watt rear hub motor and 24-volt lithiumion battery to move you along at a top assisted speed of 15.5 mph, for rides as long as 25 miles. Its folding frame lets you carry it into your office or put it into your car’s trunk for…

{STREET STYLE} 1 Timbuk2 Mission Cycling Wallet This soft, gray denim case fits any iPhone. It’s water-resistant, and the combination of neoprene edges and a plush liner protect your device. It also has slots for an ID and cash. The phone’s touch screen and camera remain usable, but the buttons are hard to access and the headphone jack is blocked. PRICE $30 timbuk2.com {ALL-WEATHER} 2 E-Case iPhone 5 The E-Case is narrow enough to slide into your pocket, and its zip-lock closure will keep your gadgets dry in a downpour. Phone controls remain usable, but the top and side buttons are tricky to access. There are also versions for Android. Opt for the integrated headphone jack if you listen to music while riding. PRICE $40 (with headphone jack) e-case.com {FULL-TIME…

Choose your width Where and how you ride will determine your ideal tire width, says Roger Hernandez of Kenda Tires. Models between 1.9 and 2.1 inches wide are best for smooth trails and XC racers concerned with weight. Mountain bikers who enjoy rough terrain should look for tires at least 2.35 inches wide. The rest of us need a size somewhere in between. Ditch the tubes Tubeless tires are more expensive and can be tricky to install, but they allow you to run less pressure, which increases traction without risking a pinch flat. Hernandez suggests choosing a tubelessready model (these require liquid sealant), which are lighter than regular tubeless tires. The sealant holds in air and can prevent flats from small punctures. Match tread to trail For dry, hard trails,…

“The difficulty of a piece like this is that it seems so obvious,” longtime contributor Steve Friedman says of his profile of paralympic cyclist Damian Lopez Alfonso (page 50), who lost parts of both his arms in a childhood accident. But after Friedman dug into the story, he saw it was more than a clichéd inspirational tale; Alfonso turns out to be a complex character. Friedman also writes for Men’s Health and GQ; his latest book, a memoir titled Lost in Treasure Island, was released in paperback in October. Photographer Joshua Simpson shot both the TiGr creators and a lock-breaking experiment for “Unlocked” (page 42). The latter experience was a bit surreal, he says: Simpson had a bikeshop worker try to slice open a lock with a cordless angle grinder…

Q I plan to commute by bike this winter. Besides cold-weather clothing, what essentials do I need? “A STRONG DISPOSITION GOES FURTHER THAN the newest, lightest, most waterproof gear,” says Craig Etheridge, the 2012 Bike Messenger World Champion and a Raleigh-Clement Cyclocross Team rider. “When the weather hits the fan, you’ve got to be in the right mindset.” If you’re willing to tough it out, he recommends three must-haves. Fenders are simple to install and will shield you from road spray. If ice and snow are in the forecast, go for wider tires (25 to 30c), Etheridge says. Finally, lights are essential when there’s dwindling daylight. USB-rechargeable sets start at around $20 for a rear blinkie and $90 for superbright headlights to mount on your helmet and handlebar. (Turn to…

Learn Your Layers 1 BASE An undergarment that keeps you warm and dry by wicking away sweat Look for Wool or a synthetic material; a close-to-skin fit 2 MIDDLE A second layer that traps body heat by forming an insulating pocket of air Look for A not-too-tight fit that allows air circulation and ease of movement 3 OUTER A protective layer that blocks wind and/or moisture Look for A windproof front and a breathable back REMEMBER TO BREATHE Choose middle and outer layers with zippers and ventilation. Open or close vents to stay as sweat-free as possible. MANAGE YOUR MIDSECTION Your body directs blood to your core and away from your extremities to keep vital organs warm. A dry and toasty midsection = happy hands and feet. IT’S OKAY TO...…

READ ABOUT OUR FAVORITE BICYCLE LIGHTING AT BICYCLING.COM/BESTLIGHTS. What types of lighting does the law require? Most states require a white front light with a beam that can extend at least 500 feet ahead and a rear red reflector when riding at night or in low-visibility conditions (Figure 1). If I have lights on my bike, do I need reflectors? Many states require reflectors—usually on the front, rear, wheels, and pedals (Figure 2). Lights generally can’t legally replace reflectors, but they may (and should) be used in addition to them. Some devices, such as CatEye’s Reflex taillight, double as reflectors when they’re turned off. While it’s rare for a well-lit cyclist to be pulled over simply for missing reflectors, it’s possible that you could be blamed if you were involved…

Heidi Swift lives in Portland, Oregon, but rides the world, documenting her adventures on medium-format film and Twitter @heidiswift. J Judith pedals away from Simon and me, without meaning to, as we leave the little town called Bonaduz, in the Grisons region of Switzerland. She’s excited: Just a few kilometers after we start, she has told me, the road will begin to hug a cliff, and to the right a sheer drop plunges to the Rhine River. It is called the Swiss Grand Canyon. And it is one of her most beloved home roads. When we see the ravine sprawling before us, Judith eases up and we ride three abreast and absorb the scene and talk about the capuns her mother made us for lunch, how maybe chard-wrapped spaetzle dough…

HERE’S THE SIMPLE TRUTH: Every device meant to safeguard your bike from thieves can be broken. That doesn’t mean anyone is giving up in the quest to create a better lock. Welcome to the new frontier of bicycle security. W When John Loughlin lowers a cordless angle grinder onto a section of a TiGr titanium bike lock clamped to a table, it emits the piercing scream of something that has a reason to live. White sparks spray the air and metal whiskers fly uncomfortably close to where I stand nearby, cringing. There is the distinct bouquet of burning hair. Five seconds go by. Then 10. If we were on a city street right now, a small crowd of spectators might have formed a curious semicircle. Which is exactly the point.…

THIS IS THE STORY OF DAMIAN LOPEZ ALFONSO The handless cyclist’s coach is not happy. The cyclist is stretched out nearly horizontal, tracing a smooth, swift arc down a hill, on his bicycle, where he is most still and, one suspects, most at peace, but his coach, Rafael Rodriguez Padron, is not happy. Padron is unhappy because the new handlebar hasn’t yet arrived, and the London Paralympic Games are less than two months away, and Padron knows that when the handlebar does arrive, the handless cyclist will bitch and moan about it. Padron is unhappy because even though it’s summer, there’s a chill in the air and the cyclist—Damian Lopez Alfonso—has refused anything other than a short-sleeved racing jersey and just yesterday was training with no shirt at all. Padron…

F Founded in Britain, Planet X sells primarily value-oriented bikes and parts directly to its customers. But with the Mondo, the company aspires to reach a more discerning rider. I assumed the bike would feel like some run-of-the-mill carbon frames—good, but not exceptional. Instead, it took only one ride to realize that this is no ordinary bike. It is lively, playful, and possessed of nuanced characteristics that made me reach for it daily, whether I was exploring dirt roads or racing a crit. It’s an exceptionally fast bike that responded best when I pushed my limits, carving turns or sprinting. The frame was comfortable on rough roads and held its line with little input, letting me relax and pedal smoothly. This isn’t just another carbon bike: To create the Mondo,…

At the fall trade shows, Cannondale’s Synapse Hi-Mod Disc consistently drew large crowds. The eye-catching bike fuses the most exciting tech trends, like hydraulic disc brakes and clearance for wide tires, with a frame that is not only stiff enough for Peter Sagan but also takes the sting out of Paris-Roubaix’s cobbles—or the cracked pavement on your favorite loops. Plus, the Synapse’s angles put you in a position that’s efficient, but still comfortable, for many miles. BY RON KOCH [1] As on many bikes with disc brakes, the Synapse’s rear brake hose is routed through the down tube and chainstay. But the Synapse is the first bike we’ve seen with an internally routed front brake line. The hose enters the fork crown and passes through the left fork leg before…

VSANDNESS VIA BICYCLING.COM David Carr’s story (“All That You Leave Behind,” October) was breathtaking. He obviously has seen himself through many climbs—yet he does not try to fool us, or himself, that any one hill on the way is redemption. KEITH HANADEL BROOKLYN, NY Swift Praise Heidi Swift’s “The Greatest Cheeseburger Ever” was a great article. I do not know what I want to do more when I get back from Afghanistan: ride my bike on a multi-day trip or have a bacon burger and a beer. NATE SHARP VIA FACEBOOK Adding Swift to your roster is a fantastic move. Something she once wrote led me on the journey to where I am today: 40-plus pounds lighter and enjoying cycling more than ever. JAYME HALAS CALGARY, ALBERTA A Vegan Cyclist…

Cook Whether you’re trying to save money on ride fuel, avoid artificial ingredients, or bake a healthier brownie, there’s a treat for you in Power Hungry: The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook. Recipe developer and fitness trainer Camilla V. Saulsbury’s creations can be adapted for soy-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, or raw diets. $17 Stay Retired professional cyclist George Hincapie and his brother, Rich, have opened Hotel Domestique in South Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Guests can visit the on-site bike shop for repairs or road-and mountain-bike rentals, and can join weekly rides—you might even find yourself shoulder to shoulder with Big George. $295–$495/night Learn Improve your riding by hiring an expert: New online service CoachUp can connect you with a cycling coach, such as Garmin-Sharp sports director Chann McRae (pictured). Browsing the…

Caffeine may be the most widely used stimulant drug in the world, especially among cyclists. From roadies who sip espresso to downhillers who pound an energy drink before a race, the allure of a preride pick-me-up transcends cycling’s cultural differences. The jolt is very real. Caffeine is an endurance performance booster, says sports-nutrition researcher Stacy Sims, PhD. “It increases your power output and time to exhaustion, and lowers your perceived exertion.” In other words, you’ll pedal longer, more powerfully, and feel less tired. How it works During endurance efforts, caffeine helps the body utilize fat as fuel, so you don’t burn through your carbohydrate stores as quickly, says Sims. But a preride cappuccino could improve your town-line sprint as well. “Caffeine increases the calcium content of muscle, which enhances the…

Good legs on the bike won’t mean much if you’re gasping for breath. “Your respiratory muscles are in constant use during cycling,” says exercise physiologist Budd Coates, coauthor of Running on Air. “If they fatigue, so do you.” Research shows that strengthening your diaphragm and intercostal muscles (the ones that hold your ribs together) can improve endurance. And a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology reported that such training may also reduce inflammation. But “if you don’t exhale completely and forcefully,” says Coates, “you can’t inhale completely.” This exercise confines your inhales and exhales, forcing the respiratory muscles to work harder. You’ll be taking deeper breaths in no time. DO IT Ride easy for 20 minutes to warm up. Increase the intensity until you start to breathe a…

Read more from Jens at BICYCLING.COM/hardlyserious. F FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AT THE END OF each racing season I have had to think hard about whether to retire. I have been racing professionally since 1997, and this 42-yearold body has high mileage on it, plus more than a few scrapes and dents. However, no, 2013 will not be my last showing at races: I will be back for one more round. But this year was my very, very probably last Tour de France. At some point it doesn’t matter anymore that you are saying, “Shut up, Time!” We all have to listen, eventually. This year’s Tour de France was my 16th, and I finished it on a good note with an attack on Mont Renard, the second-to-last climb on…

Which locks best frustrate a thief? We decided to find out by asking an expert, Hal Ruzal, a longtime mechanic at Bicycle Habitat in New York City, to hack through a batch. To make the test realistic, we requested that he use only the tools commonly carried by thieves. About those tools: The cordless angle grinder he wielded might be the weapon of choice in cities like New York, but they’re far less common in smaller towns. Buy as much lock as you need for where you live. —DAVID HOWARD TOP PERFORMER OnGuard 8020 Mastiff ($90) BEST FOR Big cities, or areas where bike thieves are known to be active OUR RESULTS The Mastiff’s hardened-steel links withstood a hacksaw and bolt cutters. After nearly three minutes of use, the battery…

The SRAM Red 22 HRR is the most powerful rim brake I’ve ever tested: It clamps down on the wheel with more force than a cable-actuated model, giving you a finer degree of control over your speed whether you’re scrubbing a few miles per hour or coming to a full stop at the bottom of a long hill. The power and control of the hydraulic caliper comes close to matching that of a hydraulic disc brake, but unlike those newer systems, this one mounts to almost any road bike. The levers pump fluid to move the pads against the rim and are easier to squeeze than cable models. That’s a boon to all riders, especially those with small hands, as long as they can stomach the cost. $484 per wheel;…

Roller The Fluid2’s 2-inch-diameter aluminum roller turns a drive shaft, which transfers rotation from the tire to a flywheel and impeller, generating the feedback you feel when you pedal. To ensure a smooth ride, the whole assembly spins on two cartridge bearings. Flywheel The flywheel keeps spinning (and turning your wheel), even if you briefly stop pedaling—simulating what it’s like to coast. A solid outer ring surrounds fan blades that blow cooling air onto the resistance unit. CycleOps won’t reveal its flywheel’s weight, but the mass is crucial: Too heavy, and it’s difficult to start; too light, and your wheel stops dead when you let up. Outer Shell The fluid resides inside a castaluminum shell shaped to increase surface area and dissipate the heat created by pedaling. This helps keep…

1. Café du Cycliste Henriette 4-Colors Jersey The wide, colorful stripes on this top will pop in a peloton of team kits. Check out the nautical-inspired women’s Suzette jersey, too. $150, cafeducycliste.com 2. Velobici Paris Women’s Cable Arm Warmers Seamlessly cable-knit of merino wool, these warmers with gray and cream stripes are decadently soft. Bonus: Highly functional thumb loops. $60, velobici.cc 3. Ibex Woolies 150 Striped Crew This layer’s soft, light merino wool is breathable, wicks moisture, and doesn’t pick up odors. The narrow stripes will tempt you to wear it alone, instead of under other tops. $85, ibex.com 4. Danny Shane Gent Jersey Retro and classy, this top is made to fit an average cyclist—not just skinny racers. The jersey is made from bamboo fibers blended with recycled polyester…