It is an age-old cliché, but You Are What You Eat. As a cyclist perhaps you realise it more than most; but if you fill your diet with processed food and the wrong balance of nutrients, you soon realise it. What you put into your body has a direct correlation to what it will give […]
Good Reads – ‘Vélochef Outside Is Free’ by Henrik Orre
‘Outside Is Free’ by Henrik Orre arrives in a waterproof pouch with a titanium spork… a hint at the theme of this latest recipe book from Vélochef—this, is food for adventure. Henrik Orre is a Norwegian chef who was Head Chef for Team Sky Pro Cycling. His previous books ‘Vélochef’ and ‘Vélochef in Europe’ are […]
Bikepacking Tips – Brewing in the Wild : 5 Adventure Coffee Tips
Lightweight bicycle touring and bikepacking is a unique way to discover new countries and meet new people. It comes with its own challenges though; a personal challenge I often encounter is the need to find quality ‘fuel’ in the form of good food and drink. At home, I strive to make the perfect cup of […]
Review – BTR Waterproof Bicycle Handlebar Bike Bag
Keep it simple. That would be a good strapline for the BTR Waterproof Bicycle Handlebar Bag. This compact handlebar bag is designed to be a completely waterproof capsule that easily attaches to the handlebars of any road or mountain bike — to safely house your valuables and ride essentials. For bikepacking trips, gravel adventures, and […]
7 Tips – Lightweight Bicycle Touring and Bikepacking
These are some insights into planning and executing a lightweight unsupported bikepacking or bicycle touring trip. How should you plan? What do you use for mapping? What kit do you take? Where do you camp? What are the pitfalls to avoid? My ‘7 Tips’ for bikepacking and cycle touring… 1 – Use Modern Mapping Technology […]
Wheel truing: how to take out the bends and bumps in a rim
By: Nick Di Cristofaro If you want to give wheel truing a go, you need a few necessary tools. The most important is the correct spoke-nipple wrench for your wheel. If you have flat-bladed spokes, you need a spoke holder to keep them from twisting as you rotate the nipples. While having a truing stand […]
How to tune your rear derailleur with tools you have at home
Having trouble shifting between cogs? Is your chain falling off the cassette when you shift? These issues might be due to how your rear derailleur is set up. Luckily, the fix doesn’t require any fancy tools and can be done at home with some easy troubleshooting. Limit screws and cable tension: The basics The goal […]
What is ‘cable stretch’? And why you should pre-stretch cables for better shifting and braking
by: Nick Di Cristofaro What key components do most bicycles have in common that are also some of the cheapest to replace? Cables, of course. Remarkably, these steel-braided lengths of wire do a lot of work. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to shift gears or slow down. One thing that can affect the performance […]
Fine-tune your training for Virtual MS Bike with this 4-week plan
by: Kevin Mackinnon Earlier this year we offered an eight-week training program for athletes gearing up for a Virtual MS Bike event this summer. For those who have completed that build up and are looking to fine-tune their training for the Virtual MS Bike weekend on July 25 and 26, here’s a four-week plan that […]
The 10 emotional stages of a big climb
Ups and downs are what make life exciting—the same can be said for ups and downs in cycling. When a non-cyclist asks you, “wait, you actually want to ride somewhere hilly?” and you reply “yes, those are some of the best rides!” what you probably don’t mention is how it feels to be mid-way through […]
5 ways being a gamer can help you on Zwift
Although Zwift brings an entirely new definition to e-sports, it tries to maintain some fundamental similarities to real cycling: Power to weight ratios still apply, hilly routes will feel harder and each bike performs differently. That being said, the online training/racing platform is very different from lining up in real life (as many pro cyclists […]