When the weather starts to get cooler, we have a strategy that we employ. We of course throw on some base layers, leg warmers, and long-fingered gloves. We also occasionally put some warm drinks in our water bottles. These are obvious measures against the cold. However, our key strategy is designing our routes around multiple café stops. It’s a win-win: we’re getting out for a ride, and we’re enjoying a couple coffees and pastries. What’s not to love about riding in colder temps?

wheels we’re following

kit we’re eyeing

where we’re riding

café-stop reading

Will your next road bike feature a 1-x set-up? Jumbo Visma (now Visma-Rent a Bike) had great success using 1-x drivetrains throughout the 2023 season. Some would argue that they won three grand tours using them (but I would suggest that Sepp used a more traditional set-up for much of the Vuelta). Even if you aren’t concerned about marginal gains and winning grand tours, you might be considering a 1-x chainring considering it may help your road bike make the jump over to light gravel. The tech editors over at Cyclist Magazine are sharing their thoughts on 1-x road bikes.

off the back of the newsletter

If you’re reading this newsletter hot off the press, you might still have time to follow the 2024 Tour de France route reveal. Listen to some or all of Performance Process discuss marginal performance gains with Jumbo-Visma. Or, as a secondary cafe-stop article, read about timing your food intake before a ride. Jonas Vingegaard and Demi Vollering were awarded the 2023 Velo d’Or awards. Many folks were delighted to hear that Geraint Thomas will continue riding with Ineos. Ineos is delighted to hear that Carlos Rodriguez is also extending with Ineos. Kasia Niewiadoma is crushing the gravel scene while wearing her rainbow stripes. This t-shirt is our 2024 TDF prediction (or maybe Giro).

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