How to Articles

Article by Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka Dog attacks are high on the list of cycling fears. Maybe you can’t stop a dog from giving chase, but you can outsmart him if you know how dogs think. Know dog psychology. The majority of dogs who chase cyclists are merely defending their territory. When you pedal off the section of road that they consider their turf, you no longer pose a threat to their … [Read more...] about How to Deal With Bad Dogs While Cycling

Article by Fred Matheny It’s the summer cycling season, and it’s hot where you live. Cyclists and other outdoor athletes are the first to notice rising temperatures. And the hotter it is, the faster you lose fluids when you ride. Fluids are crucial to your performance and sense of well-being. We’re really just big bags of fluid - our blood contains about 50 percent water. Because water helps … [Read more...] about Hydrate for Better Cycling Performance

Article by Ed Pavelka Cycling is full of prodigious numbers—the distances ridden, the calories consumed, the tires trashed. Another statistic that can seem astounding is the number of pedal strokes made. Let’s suppose it takes you six hours to ride a century and you pedal at the rate of 90 rpm throughout. As you cross the finish line, you will be making pedal stroke number 64,800. Whoa, … [Read more...] about How to Perfect Your Bicycle Riding Position & Technique

Article by Fred Matheny The key to riding long distances is food and drink. Sure, training is important—but nutrition and hydration are even more vital. According to ultramarathon rider and coach John Hughes of Boulder, Colorado, “Nutrition, not necessarily training, is the limiting factor in endurance cycling.” The reason? Even the best-trained riders pack only enough muscle fuel … [Read more...] about How to Eat for Cycling Endurance

Article by Fred Matheny Pacelines are organized. They have specific rules. But in big groups like you find in centuries or charity rides, things will be disorganized. This can intimidate even experienced riders. Sooner or later you’ll find yourself in a big group amid some riders with sketchy skills. It pays to learn how to survive (and also make yourself welcome) in a crowd.   Look for … [Read more...] about How to Ride in a Group

How I lost 10% of my body weight by cycling for a month! Many people spend hours looking on the Internet for the best method to lose a few kilograms. I've always been one to take everything I read with a grain of salt. The one simple thing that all of the weight-loss information does seem to agree on, it is that in order to lose weight you must use (or burn) more calories than you … [Read more...] about How Cycling Can Help You Lose Weight

How to prevent your bicycle from being stolen may not be the first thought that crosses your mind when you are on that quick run to the corner store, but it should be. As the numbers of reported stolen bikes steadily increases across large cities and urban areas of Thailand every bicycle owner should make themselves more aware of what bike thieves are looking for and how to thwart their evil … [Read more...] about How To Prevent Bicycle Theft

I recently took part in a multi-day bicycle tour in the South of Thailand. Road damage (i.e. potholes, potholes, and potholes) from recent heavy rains in the area kept me alert and tested my reaction skills as I was the only one in the small group doing the trip on a thin tire road bike, making me the only rider who was overly concerned about pinch flats and bent rims putting an end to an … [Read more...] about How To Handle Unexpected Cycling Hazards

This is by no means a definitive list of terms used in the cycling community, but it is a great starting point for newbies who seek to learn the lingua franca commonly spoken on road sides and trail heads. A — B — C — D — E — F — G — H — I — J — K — L — M — N — O — P — Q — R — S — T — U — V — W — X — Y — Z A aerobic: exercise at an intensity that allows the body’s need for oxygen to … [Read more...] about The Language of Bicycling

Heart rate is the body’s tachometer. Heart rate is a very good reflection of how hard your body is working at the moment. It is like the tachometer in your car that measures engine RPM; the faster the engine spins, the faster the car goes in a given gear.  If your heart is working harder, you are putting out more power, which translates to higher speeds, all other factors being equal.  Conversely, … [Read more...] about Heart Rate Training Basics

Having had a very wet early season, cyclists in Thailand have had lots of opportunity to ride and possibly race in the rain this year.  While a quick shower or a torrential downpour may seem like a negative try to keep a cheerful attitude, something easily done on a bicycle, and you'll not have to miss out on any rides during Thailand's wet season. Knowing how to safely ride and race in the rain … [Read more...] about How to Ride Your Bike In The Rain

Whether you are churning out some high-speed miles with your local road cycling group, or you are taking a scenic tour with a few friends, the ability to quickly and efficiently communicate road hazards to other riders is a necessary and responsible habit to learn. Hand signals and vocal calls are the two best methods with which to pass information to your cycling companions. While many cyclists … [Read more...] about Using Hand Signals and Calls in Cycling Groups

Watching cyclists battle through the fast straights and high berms of a velodrome event makes for quite an exhilarating experience for competitors and spectators alike. Conversely, understanding the many different types of races that make up the sport of track bicycle racing can be rather confusing. Making sense of the mayhem begins with an explanation of how the different races are set up, with … [Read more...] about Track Bicycle Racing Explained