As a teenager in Durango, Colorado, I used to hustle my 1998 GT Aggressor through the dusty network of trails near my house. Rim brakes, a heavy aluminum frame, a delicate front shock – I pushed that bike to its limits. In the years that followed, I daydreamed many times about returning to those trails with a “proper mountain bike.”
I fulfilled that fantasy last week, and friends – it did not disappoint. The limiting factor this time around was not my Canyon Neuron (which performed beautifully), but rather its rider. Durango's elevation aside, the trip was a wake-up call. With less than a month to go before the BWR, it’s time to turn this little engine that could into a little engine that can.
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If you still can’t get into the self-help aisle of your local library, pinkbike has released the first installment of a 10-part video series called How to Bike that seeks to educate mountain bikers “about fundamental bike skills and techniques that will make you a better rider.”
In the first video, host Ben Cathro walks you through how to learn – it doesn’t get any more fundamental than that, folks. The video is lighthearted, well edited, and hopefully indicative of more insights to come. In particular, I’ll be paying close attention to episode #9, Drops.
Crank It
Tour-morrow, Tour-morrow, It's Only a Day Away
Photo credit: VELOBAR+
On June 26, 184 riders will set out to attempt a feat that is, in a word, bananas. Lest we forget, Tour de France riders will pedal their patooties off for nearly 2,200 miles over the course of three grueling weeks. Quick math: That works out to about 486,000 pedal strokes and 124,000 calories per rider. And they will climb. Oh, good lord, how they will climb. To observe this act of bravery, an estimated 15 million people will turn out in-person. Roughly a billion more will tune in from home.
For their Herculean efforts, most of these athletes will return to their native lands with great stories, but relatively little prize money, if any at all. The winner of the Tour’s general category (the revered yellow jersey) will receive a mere €500,000, which tradition says he is obliged to split among his teammates. For comparison’s sake, the Saudi Cup horse race awards the winner $10 million. That’s a lot of hay. Here’s the real kicker: this year, the winning horse crossed the finish line in 1 minute and 49 seconds, and the jockey didn’t even have to pedal.
If you tip your barista and you tip your Uber driver, consider tipping the teammates of your favorite Tour teams as well. More than any steed, they've earned it.
Energy balls have become one of my go-to riding snacks because they’re easy to make and easy to eat. Recipes vary, but they typically include the following affordable ingredients: oats, a binding agent (dates, peanut butter, honey), and something to bring the flavor to life (dried cherries, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.). By storing them in the freezer and then packing as many as you need into a reusable bag, you’re never more than a few moments away from a healthy, tasty, zero-waste snack. Two fave options to whip up before your next outing: chocolate, cranberry.
Jaunt Back
Snap Review: Lumos Ultra
Photo credit: KickStarTech
After a significantly delayed distribution to its backers, Lumos has finally shipped nearly all of its new Ultra helmets. I got mine back in November 2020. With more than seven months of usage now under my belt (or chin as it were), I can tell you that it has become my go-to helmet. Why? It’s comfortable, lightweight, eye-catching, and – most importantly – effective at making me visible to others. The ability to customize three light modes, each with its own brightness and flash pattern, means the helmet feels personalized to my exact safety and usage preferences. Key stat: So far, I have not been hit by any cars (knocks on wood).
My main criticism is that I wish Lumos had done more to help me see vs. be seen. I still feel it's necessary to supplement my helmet with a NiteRider headlight. But, all in all, the Ultra is a big step up from the Lumos Kickstart model. Want the details? Go for it.
Cool Down
The Ferrari Recovery
Photo credit: Dimitris Kiriakakis
In a recent episode of The Tim Ferris Show, Tim interviews two of the most decorated Olympians in history: Michael Phelps and Grant Hackett. Hearing about the rigor of their training blew me away. Did you know that Phelps trained every single day for more than five years straight?
Getting that kind of performance from your body requires an extremely disciplined recovery regimen. Phelps says he cares for his body like a Ferrari. He fuels it, rests it, massages it, stretches it, etc. in order to ensure he's able to give his all in the pool. He also noted that LeBron James spends over $1 million per year on his own recovery. To which I say, "Must be nice."
As I think about my own post-ride recovery habits – a cold beer, leftover take-out, hours confined to an office chair – this is definitely one area where I have considerable room for improvement. As a first step, I propose we all sign up for that post-pandemic massage we’ve been thinking about.
Peel Off
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Now that the days are getting shorter (in the northern hemisphere), the nights are getting longer. In addition to inflating those tires, remember to switch on your lights after sunset. Whether they're on your wheels, your handlebars, or your head, they make a big difference.
Enjoy riding your way into the first full weekend of summer.
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Group Ride is a newsletter for the social cyclist. I curate content from bike manufacturers, shops and media sources to bring you information and inspiration to ride more confidently and comfortably.
