Bicycling

Before I started working remotely, I would ride to the office as a way to get a workout in. I would leave an extra set of clothes there the day before, find a route with low traffic, and ride at a hard pace to utilize time efficiently. As for structured workouts, I like 3 X 9 over-unders. They are done from tempo to threshold, and they prepare me physically and mentally for surges at that pace. 3 X 9 OVER-UNDERS → Warm up→ 1 minute @tempo (zone 3)→ 2 minutes @threshold (zone 4)→ Repeat x 3 (9 minutes total)→ Rest for 5 minutes→ Repeat sequence x 3…

After six years away from Iron-man, I missed training for endurance events and wanted to put a big goal on my calendar. In order to do that, I had to figure out the most efficient way to train. The good news is that the science has changed since I first started in endurance sports, and that means you can get pretty dang fit without doing super-long workouts. When I was training and racing in college, we’d either do 5 hours in zone 2 or intervals, but never anything in between. Now, sweet-spot training is helping folks gain a lot of fitness with minimal time investment. My week-day rides getting ready for ORAMM were all only one hour, often right around my FTP, which blows my mind. → My favorite workout is chasing…

BICYCLING MEMBER JOHNNY SAVARESE AGE: 30 HOMETOWN: PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA OCCUPATION: SEVENTH GRADE MATH TEACHER MAY THE BEST DAY OF YOUR PAST BE THE WORST DAY OF YOUR FUTURE. SOUL CYCLE When I was 26, I had a bad cycling accident that changed my perspective on life. Post-recovery, I was weak, but I pushed myself to get my skill and endurance back on the bike. The joy and thrill of riding made me realize much of what I was doing elsewhere in my life didn’t make me happy. Now, I’m learning to sew and make clothes, taking writing classes, and playing the clarinet for the first time in a decade. Cycling inspired me to do what my soul needs. MOVING PIECES My bicycle was the first machine I could completely disassemble by myself, so of course I did that…

BICYCLING MEMBER ANITA L. ELDER AGE: 63 HOME STATE: SEATTLE, WASHINGTON OCCUPATION: GRAPHIC DESIGNER RIDING CLEARS MY HEAD OF ALL THE GARBAGE. HOW I STARTED RIDING When things shut down during the early pandemic, the trails became too crowded to hike on for my comfort. I remembered how much I enjoyed riding a bike as a kid, but I knew that the hills in Seattle would be too much for me. So I started to look at e-bikes. I decided on one from Rad Power Bikes because I like to support local companies and their prices were more affordable than other brands. PICKING THE PERFECT RIDE When I’m planning a route, I search through Ride With GPS to see if others have created routes for the area I want to ride. When I find one, I will often copy…

AGENDA PICK THE PERFECT SOUNDTRACK TO ENHANCE YOUR INDOOR RIDES It’s that time of year again, when snowy, icy weather occasionally forces us to stay inside. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean you have to wait out the season to get back on a bike—there’s always indoor cycling. Make the best of it by livening up your rides with a motivational mix in your ears. Here, Bicycling staffers share their favorite albums, playlists, podcasts, books, and other tips for making room-temp rides much more fun. (To listen to these recommendations, just scan the QR code.) FIRE UP A GOOD AUDIOBOOK I love to read—anywhere and anytime. Indoor spinning may strip me of beautiful views of passing landscapes, but at the same time, it provides the perfect opportunity for reading. And let me get one thing straight:…

It’s easy to lose track of all the perks that come with your Bicycling membership, like exclusive training tips and tools, gear-testing opportunities, and deals from brands cyclists love. Here’s what you might have missed lately. (Not a member? Head to bicycling.com/joinnow.) THE BIKE Q&A Members frequently fire off gear questions to senior gear editor—and resident bike nerd—Matt Phillips. He tackled this topic in one of the latest weekly member newsletters. Q: I have a Specialized road bike, but I want to get into gravel riding. My challenge: I can’t break the bank. Any suggestions on a good first gravel bike for $1,000?—WOODY COX, ORANGE, TX A: It pains me to have to give you some bad news: You’re going to need to spend a bit more than $1,000 on a good new gravel…