On the eve of the Amgen Tour of California Peto Sagan and Race Reporter Ruby face off in an awkward, accent-fueled battle of cuteness. Who is the winner? We’re guessing it’s Specialized.
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In cycling many (if not most) of those racing every weekend have little understanding of the single most important piece of their cycling equipment: their hearts. Most don’t think twice until something goes wrong: a flutter in the chest, or a racing heart that just won’t slow down at the end of a ride. The truth is, heart issues like these happen far more often than any of us would like to admit. Especially, for those over 35 who are chasing the dream of winning their next masters race.
In a new book from VeloPress titled The Haywire Heart: How too much exercise can kill you, and what you can do to protect your heart, writers Chris Case, John Mandrola, MD, and Lennard Zinn hope to change that and get all cyclists thinking about how competitive endurance training can affect and often damage their hearts.
Here’s how Chris Case describes the book:
“This book is the most comprehensive guide to the subject of endurance sports and heart health. It is filled with sound, practical advice. But it isn’t meant to frighten you into becoming a full-time spectator. We present the information as it is known at this time. What you do with it is up to you, though we certainly encourage caution and thoughtfulness.”
It may not have been meant to frighten anyone, but after reading all the studies, data, and hard evidence provided in The Haywire Heart it’s difficult to look at a 250 mile training week with the same kind of rabid enthusiasm we once did. The authors list a series of research studies that show that far from being rare, heart rhythm issues actually increase with age, with increased training, and with improved fitness. Some even suggest that the fitter you are, the higher your chances are of suffering from some type of heart rhythm disorder.
The Haywire Heart is intensely readable, informative, and necessary reading for anyone who races bicycles. Seriously. Click the link and buy it now.
[Link: The Haywire Heart]
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. . . and we mean a real live bear. . .as if you’d aren’t one of the 1.8 million people who have already watched this. Yes, there is a population of close to 1,000 wild brown bears in Slovakia. And safety is an issue.
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TAG Heuer rolled out their jerseys for the Amgen Tour of California’s best young riders and they have to be the ugliest jerseys we’ve ever seen for a world tour event. Designed by “art provocateur Alec Monopoly” the jerseys feature a chaotic spattering of spray can squirts and TAG logos that looks like, well high viz scribbling. Here’s how TAG explains it:
Though cycling and art are seemingly dissimilar, these pursuits have universal appeal as movement and creation are both fundamental instincts, regardless of country, background or age. TAG Heuer specializes in uniting divergent worlds, creating disruptive moments that highlight the avant-garde nature of the brand.
We can say one thing: it’s no real surprise that the jersey’s designer wears a mask. For the official word from the Tour of California, please follow the jump.
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Garmin’s smartlight system gets an urban/trail boost with the new Varia UT800. The new light has five modes and is visible during the day from one mile away. And when you run it with a new Edge cycling computer Garmin says it will “automatically adjust its beam intensity based on speed and changing light condition.”
“As leaders in cycling technology, we are excited to introduce the Varia UT800 to our line of innovative Varia cycling awareness products,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “With five different light modes, whether riding on the streets or the trail, the Varia UT800 smart headlight shines brighter for longer allowing cyclists to ride with greater confidence.”
We’ve ridden with an earlier version and it worked well. For the official word (and a photo) from Garmin, please follow the jump.
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In a presidency that becomes more absurd with each day, the Trump administration is now moving to review all of the United State’s National Monuments and Patagonia’s CEO Rose Marcario doesn’t like it one bit. She says:
Our National Monuments were established after extensive public input because they provide unique and irreplaceable cultural, ecological, economic and recreational value worth protecting for our children and our grandchildren. As stewards of America’s federal public lands, the Trump administration has an obligation to protect these most special wild places. Unfortunately, it seems clear they intend to do the opposite.
In a statement released today (Wednesday, April 26, 2017) Marcario urges everyone who loves America’s public lands to contact their members of Congress and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to “express outrage at the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back National Monument protections.” For the official statement from Marcario, please follow the jump.
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Now, your Garmin GPS cycling watch can to more than just log milage, count steps, and answer your phone. Coupled with Samsung’s SmartThings enabled devices and an app, your Connect IQ compatible Garmin Forerunner 935 could unlock your front door, turn on your lights, even get your coffee started. . . interesting, huh? For more on the app, click the link.
[Link: Garmin]
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Southern California’s world famous Quick n Dirty twilight mountain bike race series is swapping things up for 2017. This year, the first race will be held June 1, 2017 at North County’s Lake Hodges Boat Ramp. Races will continue each Thursday night through June and then take a break for July then return again in August creating two separate blocks of racing. Here’s how it works:
We’ll compile points from each race and award a champion of the 1st and 2nd block of racing. You must race 3 of the 4 races in the block to qualify for the respective championship. . . For the Grand Champion, we’ll compile the points from each of the 2 racing blocks and give a way a snazzy Grand Champion jersey and special prizes to the overall winner in each category.
Come out this year because you never know who you’ll be racing with. It could be former World MTB Champ Ned Overand, AMA motocross hall of famer Johnny O’Mara, or even Bones Brigade skateboarding legend Steve Cabellero. For all the official details, click the link. If you already know and just want to register, click here.
[Link: Quick n Dirty MTB]
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We’ve no doubt that Oleg Tinkov asked two-time world champion Peto Sagan to do a lot of insane stuff during his time on the team, but we’re not sure that any of it was worse that what Hansgrohe USA is making Peto do in support of their self-proclaimed “cleverly named” Shower With Like A Pro sweepstakes.
We were hoping that one of the prizes would be showering with Peto, or at least getting one of his sweaty kits, but no, the prizes are a shower head and/or a trip to Sacramento, California for stage one of the Amgen Tour of California. Damn!
If a winning a trip to SacTown is something that you’re interested in, then by all means click this link and visit Hansgrohe’s Facebook page while we kick back and laugh a little longer at super sexy Peto in the shower. . .
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Velocio says they are putting their best foot forward with these new socks.
Velocio socks are ultralight weight and designed for riding. Ultrafine polyamide yarns with a touch of Lycra for the perfect fit, and with new looks and colors to bring the perfect pop to a ride.
If you agree, please click the link and you can snap up a few for yourself. Seriously, it’s that easy.
[Link: Velocio]
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