Silca ‘Marginal Gains’ to maximize efficiency of your podcast listening – The new Marginal Gains podcast from Silca & Rocket Espresso dives deep into those little details that make a big deal. The 3-person panel format has ex-Zipp tech director & Silca CEO Josh Poertner join cycling podcasters Michael “Hottie” Hotten & Elden “Fatty” Nelson to discuss the benefits of marginal gains in cycling development. The first episode nerds out on what marginal gains actually are, and why they matter. It’s an interesting start, and will be curious to see how far off the deep end the three go, with who knows what sidetracking is to come. MarginalGainsPodcast.cc
Advocacy & Industry News
- Pearl Izumi Ride More, Do More pledge to reduce environmental impacts – Cycling apparel giant Pearl Izumi says they already lead the industry in ‘sustainability and environmentally-friendly actions’, but moving away from oil dependence isn’t enough. Now they are refocusing with a social purpose to shape how future generations ride. Some of their first actions include cutting hangtags to the tune of saving 165 trees, 68,082 gallons of water & 4,503 gallons of oil annually. Then all bag packaging has moved to 100% recycled & recyclable plastic. And no more printed catalogs. It sounds pretty basic, but this too will save 41 trees, 16,800 gallons of water & 1,111 gallons of oil each season. They are also pushing a new Renewal Workshop partnership that will repair & resell warrantied items, and will add new sustainable technical fabrics for Spring 2019, made from responsibly sourced merino & Reprieve recycled polyester. PearlIzumi.com
Where to Ride
- US Open Fat Bike Beach Champs growing this March – Already the largest fat bike beach race on the East Coast, the US Open Fat Bike Beach Championship is expected to almost double in size this year thanks to growing interest and a bigger cap on entries. The move adds a second race, splitting elites from intermediate & beginner categories for the first time. The 5th annual Beach Champs takes place Mar 22-24 in Wrightsville Beach, NC after big repairs to the host resort from Hurricane Florence damages. Register & more info at: FatCross.com
- Ride Girona Gravel in June with Basso at Sea Otter Europe – Italian bike maker Basso just shared that they have worked together with Sea Otter’s European leg in Girona to bring a gravel bike race to the event for the first time. This new gravel race will take place on the last day of the festival Sunday, Jun 2 on a 75km route with 900m of climbing & 65% dirt tracks exploring the heart of the Gavarres mountain massif outside of the city. Full details & registration (soon) at: SeaOtterEurope.com/gravel
Gear & Deals
- Check out this credit card-sized carbon Pocket Tripod for your phone – While it’s not dedicated bike tech, this cool little folding tripod will hold your phone & adjust it to the perfect angle to capture that post-ride group photo, or maybe even a snap of your riding, much better than leaning your iPhone up against a pile of rocks (like I may have done more than once.) It sells for $25. It does get CNCed carbon legs over-molded into plastic, wide angle adjustment, and it folds down to just 2.3mm thick. Pocket-Tripod.com
- Join the 8bar Club, get deals & new club kit every year – Berlin urban & alt bike maker 8bar is reshaping their in-house club team with a new annual membership program that gets you free entry to all of their 8bar hosted races & events, access to private “members only” events throughout the season, and member discounts on all 8bar bikes & gear. Plus the kicker, for the 150€ it will cost you annually, 8bar will give you a new Club Kit designed jersey, bib shorts, cycling cap & water bottle to represent the team each year. 8bar-bikes.com
- Nuun remakes flagship sports hydration line-up – Nuun has updated their effervescent electrolyte tabs with cleaner ingredients and is now tastier than ever for all 13 flavors. They’re also now non-GMO Project, Kosher & Informed Sport certified. But perhaps most importantly, they now dissolve faster, so you can get to rehydrating quicker. NuunLife.com
