đStage 39: The best upgrade for the least amount of money
and Alex Dowsett's Hour Record bike
Hi everyone,
How are you doing this week? Iâve just restarted my training after a couple of weeks away from the bike. While it was nice to live like a normal 20-year-old for a little bit, itâs also nice to get back on the bike and prepping for 2022.
At the minute, my training schedule is relatively relaxed. Itâs all about getting back into the swing of things again. There wonât be much hard effort for a few weeks, itâs simply riding the bike.
Iâm heading back to Girona in a couple of days which Iâm looking forward to. Itâs going to be a little strange being back. Most of my friends there are from Australia or America, and most of them have gone back to their home countries until the new year. Itâll take a little bit of getting used to, but equally Iâm looking forward to being back training on Catalonian roads.
Have a good week pedalling,
Joe
đ Read
#diversity
The $100,000 bike race that was set up by L39ION of Los Angeles happened this past week. The multi-day event in Sacramento, California included all sorts of events with the local community. The jewel in the crown was the menâs and womenâs criterium, and each race had a $50,000 prize purse. L39ION of LA do things differently, and this event was a look into cyclingâs future.
5-minute read
#tech #bartape
Handlebar tape is one of the least sexy pieces of equipment on our bikes, but itâs one of the most important too. As one of only three contact points on the bike (along with saddle and pedals), itâs important, but often gets overlooked. A fresh roll of tape is cheap and can make your bike feel like new. Here is your complete guide to all things handlebar tape.
11-minute read
#stolengoldenbikes
Youâll probably remember that last week we covered how twenty of the Italian National Squadâs track bikes were stolen from the Track World Champs in Roubaix. The bikes, which belong to the fastest Team Pursuit team in history, were said to be worth around $30,000 each. Well, theyâve been found! In a recent drugs raid in Romania, police recovered 21 of the bikes.
5-minute read
#gravelclassic
Flanders is one of the heartlands of cycling. Thanks to the Ronde van Vlaanderen, one of the biggest events on the pro-road-calendar, it will always have a place in the cycling world. Flanders Gravel is a brand new event, taking in the cobbles of the pro-road race, with the little dirt tracks around the region. This event sounds crazy, and I want to go.
5-minute read
#training #motivation
Motivation can be hard to come by at the best of times. With the clocks going back and the days getting shorter, it can be even harder in the winter months. Iâve just returned to training myself after a short holiday, and it can be difficult to get started. Here are eight ways to find motivation from one of the best womenâs MTBers in America.
3-minute read
đąTweet of the week
Look closely, thatâs a crocodileâŚ
đ§ Listen
Top-level professional cycling is a tough place to be. Yes, there are the phenomenons, these guys will never have trouble sourcing a contract. For the rest of us mere mortals, it can be tough. James Whelan is currently on the EF Pro Cycling team, but next year he doesnât have a job. Jimmy is an all round good guy, and speaks to the Australian âStanley Street Socialâ podcast on the realities of searching for a job.
37-minute listen
đ Watch
The first in a four-part series, World Tour pro and my good friend, Nathan Haas headed to Italy for some Gravel racing. This video epitomises what gravel riding, and gravel culture is all about. This 5-minute video will have you longing for a new adventure.
5-minute watch