By Dean Phillips, Fit Werx Have you ever noticed that your average bike speed is slower when it’s cold out? Look no further than any local 10-mile weekly time trial and some riders seem to be up to a minute slower on the coldest days compared to their PR times on warm mid summer days….
By Mike Burris, USA Cycling Coach and Burris Logistics-Fit Werx Team Director. I raced Turtle Pond this past weekend. At the beginning of the season I committed myself to doing the Masters 35+ category whenever there was one. This category is an interesting category because you have ex-pros mixed in with cat 1-4 riders. The…
By Mike Burris, USA Cycling Coach and Burris Logistics-Fit Werx Team Director. Oooooh baby! The Tour of the Battenkill was a good one. Having never done it before, it certainly exceeded my expectations. I would rank it up there with the hardest races in the North East. I would also rank it as one of…
Does Your Power Decline When Riding Indoors? By Dean Phillips, Fit Werx Many cyclists struggle to hold the same power output on a trainer that they maintain outside. Lack of motivation and scenery are often blamed, but the true answers are locked under the dust of your old physics textbooks from high school. I’ll save…
A version of this article was originally published in Triathlete Magazine Since the August 2009 “Tech Support” on bearings was published, I’ve been asked some good follow up questions about choosing bearings and bearing ratings. Question 1) “I’m not that technical. What is the biggest thing to focus on when choosing a replacement bearing?” Look…
A version of this article was originally published in Triathlete Magazine In the April 2009 issue of Triathlete, in the Tech Support column, there was an article that mentioned ceramic (hybrid) bearings and recommended a Grade 3 bearing or better. From the Internet, I found that some manufacturers say Grade 5 bearings are the best…
A version of this article was originally published in Triathlete Magazine Dear Tech Support, Are there any products or services that most athletes could benefit from, but that many people don’t use simply because they are not familiar with them? Fran, via email Dear Fran, This is a great question. Big and small, here are…
A version of this article was originally published in Triathlete Magazine I’m interested in getting an aero helmet. How should a properly adjusted helmet fit and which helmet is the fastest? Macy, Internet Dear Macy, Multiple wind tunnel studies indicate that aero helmets offer one of the highest ratios of aero benefit to dollar cost…
A version of this article was originally published in Triathlete Magazine Dear Tech Support, The group I ride with has been debating whether a higher or a lower tire pressure minimizes rolling resistance – what’s the answer?Also, one of us has “gone tubeless” and is raving about the ride.I want to know is whether it’s…
Aerodynamics 101 You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers… Howdy Tech Support from the great state of Texas. It seems like more and more products are being wind tunnel tested, yet multiple companies often claim that their product is the most aero. They can’t all be right in their claims. What gives? Lincoln, TX Dear Lincoln,…
My coach wants me to start using a power meter when riding so that we can track my progress in the coming season in hopes that I can race more consistently. The two main options that I have found are PowerTap and SRM. There looks to be a pretty big price difference between these two….
While everything from fans to magnets are used to create resistance in cycling trainers for 2008, fluid or centrifugal force are much better methods. At around $300, these three units offer some of the smoothest and most progressive resistance available; regardless of price, they are the heart of the value equation in trainers for most…