Innehållsförteckning för Issue 2 2021 från Bicycling

“Rubber side down and send it” is something I always think about when I’m riding, especially on the trails. When you second-guess yourself, things can go wrong; so be confident and send it. ALSO: Last year, I was coaching our students on the local mountain bike race team. One of our students, Avery, stopped during a race to help another kid out with a repair. A lot of people came up to me after the race to tell me how impressed they were with his selflessness, and it made me feel so proud.…

JOSH WOLFF VIDEO DIRECTOR I’VE RIDDEN A BIKE IN TWO CENTURIES SO FAR, AIMING FOR A THIRD PRODUCTS I’M USING RIGHT NOW 1 / Topeak FastFuel DryBag $55 It’s waterproof and fits all the basics and any top tube you throw at it. What’s not to love? 2 / Brooks B17 Saddle $140 A true classic that will surely outlive me. 3 / Blackburn 2’Fer Front or Rear Light $27 I can easily toggle between a pulsating and a steady light, use it in the rain, and cinch it to anything in no time. Plus, the rechargeable battery lasts a weirdly long time. WHY I STARTED CYCLING As early as I can remember, cycling was my vehicle for escaping and discovery. The tool to recalibrate everything before I even understood…

I rolled up to the ride like everyone’s worst nightmare: late, overdressed, without food, and undertrained. It was the first group ride I felt comfortable doing in months due to the pandemic. It was only September, but the spring lockdown felt like a lifetime ago, and when the world seemed to stop spinning, I did too. I was in shape, and then I wasn’t. I had no idea how I’d hang on for 65 miles full of climbs after weeks of spinning easy, pointless circles in the park. It was the first time in years I had felt doubt over a casual ride with friends, but it reminded me of how it felt to be new to cycling. Back then, I didn’t have enough experience to know how I’d fare…

When it comes to getting faster on climbs or putting more power into your sprints, the work you do off the bike is just as important. Kettlebell workouts are a great way to build glute strength for when you need to get out of the saddle and throw down. If you’re new to training with kettlebells, nailing the correct form is crucial, so we recommend starting with a lighter weight at first. HERE’S HOW TO NAIL THE PROPER FORM Stand behind a kettlebell with feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly out, and knees slightly bent. Keeping a neutral back, hinge at the hips to grab the horns (or handle) with a two-handed, overhand grip, arms extended straight out in front of you. Hike the kettlebell back between your legs (like…

LET'S OPEN THIS STORY WITH MY BIKE, because this is a cycling magazine and because it might be helpful to begin with something tactile. To call it a bike seems so informal. It’s like calling a ’67 Pontiac GTO a car, or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers a band. This is a bike, yes, in that it has two wheels and can get you from here to there. But it’s more than that. And I can’t tell you why just yet, but I promise I’ll get there. Meanwhile, take a look at the bike. It is finished in metallic black so subdued you have to lean in to see the sparkle; and if you do, you’ll notice a few scratches and dings on the tubing. It’s 44 years old, after…

HOW LOUD ARE E-MTB MOTORS? We tested five trail-oriented e-mountain bikes this fall, and as part of the process we evaluated each of the motors. In addition to power, torque, weight, smoothness, and other factors, we measured how loud each is. It’s a question we get asked a lot: How much will the noise of an electric motor detract from the ride? After riding each of the bikes on the same test loop, we connected a decibel meter to the frame and recorded the noise levels each produced at different power levels and cadences on a short, smooth uphill grade. The most relevant results came when we compared the motors’ Trail power setting (called eMTB on some) at about 80 rpm, a typical cadence for a mountain bike. We rode…

ONE OF THE more intriguing conversations happening around bike design right now is whether air shocks will ever totally replace coil springs. If you look at any manufacturer’s line of full-suspension mountain bikes, the answer might seem apparent: They almost all use an air-spring shock. But the coil-over type, more typical of downhill bikes, has been gaining in popularity among enduro and trail riders. It’s easy to tell the difference: The one with the (typically) steel spring wrapped around it is a coil-over. And though the basic concept of how they work is relatively the same—they allow the suspension to move up when you hit a bump and back down to ride height after an impact—there are pros and cons to each. Choosing the right one, however, is not always…

Before the driver’s license or the cell phone, having access to a bike was ultimate freedom. I love cities for many reasons, but riding bikes in the woods or on rural roads is extremely peaceful to me. ALSO: My college bestie and I love Whitney Houston. I had gotten my Peloton a few months before her, and our first ride together after she got hers was the Whitney Houston Ride. It was such a fun way to connect and share an experience together.…

ADJUST YOUR ROLLERS // Bike rollers consist of three rotating drums nestled inside a frame. The first (front) and second drums are connected by tubing or a belt. The third (rear) roller spins independently. You can adjust the spacing between the front and rear rollers to accommodate bike length. When you position your bike on the rollers, the front wheel should sit atop the first roller so that the front axle is slightly behind the top of the roller. The rear wheel should be evenly cradled between the second and third roller in the rear. ESTABLISH YOUR SUPPORT // Most people’s biggest fear of riding bike rollers is falling off them. Ease that concern by setting your rollers next to a supportive structure that you can easily reach and use…

FREE BIKE! ¶ That promise gets them in the door at Community Bike Works in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In CBW’s 25 years, more than 5,000 kids have answered the call for wheels of their own. The only requirement is that they learn to repair it during a free 12-week Earn-a-Bike program. ¶ That CBW produces an army of young mechanics is almost beside the point. The group was founded to teach kids life skills—reading, communication, leadership—and bikes are the conduit. After that initial bike overhaul, students stay involved by earning books, taking group trail rides, leading repair lessons, and eventually, job shadowing. But many of their students will have spent more time wrenching before their first prom than most of us will in a lifetime. So we asked seven students to…

SALSA BLACKTHORN PRICE: $6,299 / WEIGHT: 32.3 LB (M) NO MATTER WHERE I rode this big, bright-blue trail bike with no apparent logo (it’s only visible under the down tube), I got used to riders asking: “What bike is that?” Most of them thought it was a Yeti or a Pivot—some other core mountain bike brand. They didn’t expect me to tell them it was a Salsa. I’m not surprised. Even though Salsa began as a mountain bike company in 1982 and still keeps some full-suspension bikes in its current lineup, it’s better known today for its excellent gravel, adventure, and fat bikes—not progressive, near-enduro trail bikes like the Blackthorn. This bike is a beast: 29-inch wheels, big tube dimensions, obviously long and slack geometry, and a Fox 36 fork.…

When I was a kid, my brother saved up to buy a 10-speed. Someone stole it off our front porch. Later, we saw a man riding it down the street. The guy said he found it in the weeds. I guess [Mom] believed him because she loaded the bike into the back of the station wagon and drove the guy the rest of the way to work. ALSO: I would ride 100 miles for a 12-ounce Delmonico from Bern’s Steak House. It’s the perfect ratio of fat to protein.…

BICYCLING MEMBER LANDON SWANSON TUCSON, AZ LIFE IS HAPPIER ON TWO WHEELS COAST OR PEDAL? Coasting definitely has its place, but pedaling is what gets you there. I love to challenge myself with pedaling, whether it be trying to spin as fast as possible and keep my seat planted, or just feeling the power I’m exerting on my pedals while rolling in the foothills. Pedaling is the best! GREATEST RIDE OF MY LIFE (SO FAR) The 2018 El Tour de Tucson. Years ago, a new career shut down my longdistance riding. I struggled to start again, but finally I mustered the courage. While I tried to talk myself out of the El Tour many times, I stuck it out. It felt so good to get out there, hear the cheers…

While spring can offer great ride temperatures, its weather patterns can be unpredictable. Even if you checked the forecast before heading out the door, you still might find yourself caught in the rain miles from home. The important thing here is to be prepared: Pack your cell phone in a Ziploc bag or waterproof phone case to prevent water damage, carry a lightweight and packable waterproof jacket to keep your core dry and warm, make sure your headlight and taillights are fully charged, and throw a cycling cap and gloves in your jersey pocket for extra warmth on-the-go. If you’re caught in a downpour, avoid riding through any standing water or on the painted lane lines or metal grates (which get extra slippery). We also advise dropping your tire pressure…

BEST INDOOR-RIDING FAN WAHOO KICKR HEADWIND $250 This Gear of the Year–winning fan directs a powerful blast of air at your core and pairs via Bluetooth to your trainer and ride apps like Zwift. This allows you to control the speed from your device or based on your heart rate, among other options. It’s quiet, compact, and looks good sitting in any room. BEST HEART-RATE STRAP GARMIN HRM-PRO $130 There’s a corner of a landfill somewhere filled with the carcasses of heart-rate straps that have failed our testing. This Garmin, though, seems unkillable. One test editor has used it almost daily for four months without issue. It’s comfortable, reliable, and has exceptional battery life. BEST HOME-GYM WEIGHTS ROGUE RUBBER-COATED KETTLEBELL $69 and up This cast-iron kettlebell is durable enough to…

We will get to the scene in Eddy Merckx’s living room soon enough, the moment when the Cannibal hands over a mountain of jerseys. We will get to Jacques Anquetil’s bloody shorts and the whiskey with Bernard Hinault, and the Tour de France racer with the glass eyeball. The journey, though, begins in a foyer. Moments ago I was walking up a steep little hill, smelling the ocean and watching wisps of fog sail eastward, and now I am staring down at Fausto Coppi’s water bottle, the weathered metal container—with a cork lid!—that the greatest swashbuckler in the history of bike racing tipped back in the Tour de France. Next to it is an equally weathered hand pump, one that Il Campionissimo used to fix his own flats on training…

RAPHA BAR BAG $65 This is, quite simply, our favorite handlebar bag ever. It attaches with three snaps and stays put with nary a bounce. Slipping your phone in and out of the front compartment for IG moments is 100 percent easier than fishing it from your pocket. It’s spacious enough to hold a cheesesteak and a side of fries (tested fact) in the main compartment while keeping your credit card, cash, and multitool stashed safely away in internal compartments. Your goods will stay dry in the rain (but will get damp in a prolonged deluge—again, tested fact). A separate strap even lets you wear it as a bum bag or over your shoulder when you’re off the bike. RUDY PROJECT PROPULSE $185 The ImpactX 2 photochromic clear-to-red lenses in…