BEST BICYCLE HEADLIGHTS

In the November 2011 edition of Bicycling magazine, there was this article, "Bicycling 50 Golden Rules."

"Over the last half-century, we've tried thousands of methods to become stronger, faster, and smarter on a bike - many of which have been discarded through the years. These have endured."

So this article was the main feature and came as a 'centerfold' in the middle of the magazine, which is appropriate for what amounts to a magazine of cycling-porn for knuckleheads with $10,000 bicycles and 10 cent legs.

So I start skimming through the assorted golden-nuggets-of-wisdom and I'm struck dumb by Number 4 -- keep in mind, this is the Number 4 most important awe-inspiring piece of advice of all time according to Bicycling magazine... 45 other hot-tips had to follow behind our Number 4 winner... know what it was?

"Avoid Helmet Hair."

"For God's sake, make sure your hair is under your helmet and not poking out the front," advises Garmin-Cervello pro Christian Vande Velde.

This led to a discussion with Kath re: what would I have selected as the most important pieces of advice I have been given or things I have learned over the years. That really got me to thinking.

So I'm going to post out some of the best pieces of advice, ways of thinking about cycling, techniques, etc. culled over my approximately 30 years of cycling.

#10: Be comfortable. Get to know your bicycle and the best positions for you. Take the time to adjust saddle height, handlebar height, handlebar tilt, saddle tilt, etc. to find the fit that best suits you. Keep in mind that what may start out as the most comfortable position on a bike when you're new to the sport may not be the best position possible. When looking at bicycles set up by European racing cyclists in the 1980's, I discovered that the saddle heights were higher and the handlebars lower - resulting in a much more aerodynamic position - than cyclists in the U.S. In the long run, this type of position is more comfortable and balanced. I use a handful of formulas pro racers have used over the years when setting up a new bike, but regardless of whether you're setting a new bike up on your own, or are being fitted at the bike shop, experiment. Ultimately, the more comfortable you are on the bike, the easier it will be to pile on the miles. In my experience, bike shops are always too conservative in the way they position you on a bike. Their goal is to make you comfortable *now* so they can sell you a bike. However, the 'you' you are when you walk into that shop will not be the same 'you' once you get into the sport and start racking up the miles. A little discomfort in the name of a better, more layed out aerodynamic position can be a good thing.

#9: Sports Drinks should be diluted to 1/2. This is something I figured out training long miles during the summer in Nevada. On a long training ride or during a long race, your body needs nutrition and hydration. Full-on sports drinks manage both tasks rather poorly. When your body is trying to stay hydrated, such drinks are too sugary for the body to get the hydration it needs quickly. Too much sugar in the gut can force your body to dedicate resources in blood to digestion and absorption of nutrients that is done inefficiently. On your next long ride, dedicate feeding times to taking in nutrition, and dilute the Gatorade or other sports drink to one-half strength. Don't limit your fluid intake. You should notice an improvement. During summer training rides I'll take one water bottle with full strength sports drink; one plain water and sip from both. This allows me to dilute my sips to the degree necessary AND still have freshwater to pour over my head and down my back to keep cool.

#8 Learn how to repair your bike. Twice each year, I tear down, clean, and lubricate every component on my bikes. I always try to get components with so-called 'loose-bearings' that allow for quick and easy overhauls. I still run Campagnolo low-flange hubs on some of my bikes... 25 years and counting. There are plenty of good tutorials online these days on how to true your rims. Spend the money, buy the tools and practice tuning your bike back up to speed. It's the easiest way to spot problems. Cone wrenches, chain breakers, cog tools, bottom bracket tools, spoke wrench, truing stand, etc. Just do it.

#7 Race. Even if it's just local club races, this is where you'll ultimately learn how to draft, how to sprint, how to ride faster and farther than you ever thought possible. Stay away from criteriums for the first year of racing. Get some good, long road race miles under your belt first. When training, find the one or two guys/gals that will push you to improve and avoid large 'club rides.' Every professional rider through the 1980's said the same thing in different ways: There's just no substitute for quality miles in the saddle. As a young man, a friend of mine named Ron and I debated whi

This is the Columbia I bought at a flea market for $50. It took over a year to find all the necesary sheet metal for a complete restoration. l found parts at antique bike meets and some online as well. Restoration took about 6 months once all parts were sourced.