Every cyclist I know has the same question after a long ride: what is the best protein powder for cyclists, and is it actually worth adding to my routine? I spent three months testing eight different recovery powders on rides ranging from two-hour tempo sessions to century-long efforts, and I want to share what actually … Read more
I learned about electrolytes the hard way. During a July charity century in Arizona, I cramped so badly at mile 70 that I nearly fell off the bike. Plain water and a banana were not enough. That night I went down a rabbit hole of sodium, potassium, and carbohydrate ratios. Over the next three years, … Read more
After a four-hour ride or a hard marathon, your body is a wreck of depleted glycogen, torn muscle fibers, and lost electrolytes. I learned this the hard way after bonking on a 60-mile ride and stumbling home with shaking legs. That crash pushed our team to test the best recovery drinks for endurance athletes over … Read more
I lost two iPhones off my handlebars before I started using the right mount. Both phones landed screen-first on pavement, and one was an iPhone 14 Pro with a cracked back camera array that cost me $329 to repair through Apple. That was the day I started treating a bike phone holder as essential gear, … Read more
I learned the hard way why waterproofing matters. On a wet spring commute in , my unprotected phone took on water through an open frame bag. The screen flickered, the GPS died, and I was stuck with a $900 paperweight. That is exactly the kind of disaster a waterproof phone mount for bikes is designed … Read more
I tested six pairs of the best cycling glasses with photochromic lenses over 1,400 miles of road, gravel, and singletrack rides, and the difference between a smart buy and a frustrating one comes down to transition speed, fit, and how well the lens handles cold weather. Photochromic lenses are light-sensitive eyewear that automatically darken in … Read more
I’ve worn prescription glasses on every ride for over a decade, and I’ve learned the hard way that regular frames simply don’t survive cycling. Wind, debris, sweat, and UV exposure all conspire to make standard glasses a poor fit for the saddle. That’s why prescription cycling sunglasses exist, and in , the options are better … Read more
A flying rock to the eye at 25 mph on a rocky descent taught me the value of proper mountain bike eyewear the hard way. I now own six pairs of cycling goggles mountain biking has demanded across different trail conditions and helmets, and our team has spent the last two seasons testing yet more … Read more
Last February I rode home from work with my fingers going numb at 18F, even wearing my best winter gloves. By the time I switched to bar mitts the next week, that same ride felt like a chilly autumn spin. After that conversion moment I bought, tested, and fought with every pair I could get … Read more
My hands went numb seven miles into my first real fat bike ride. The temperature hovered around 12°F, the wind was howling across open tundra, and my fancy winter gloves had failed me completely. That same week, a friend handed me a pair of pogies at the trailhead. He said: “Just slip your hands in … Read more