ICYMI: Catch Up on Our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2023
It’s time to tie the bow on another year, and that means we’ve covered another 50 or so topics with Coach Darryl MacKenzie. This year, we’ve tackled everything from theft prevention to what to look for in a bike fit.
As always, Coach Darryl’s insights have proven invaluable, and several topics rose to the top for our readers in 2023. Whether you want to revisit your favorites or catch up on a few that you missed, here’s a recap of our top 10 most popular posts of the year.
1. What To Do When You Break a Bike Spoke
Perhaps a little to our surprise, this was, far and away, our top-read post of the year. We went into plenty of detail with Coach Darryl on this one, covering not only what to do about broken spokes but how these essential supports have evolved over the years and what goes wrong when you break one. If you ride a lot, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in this situation someday. Read up to make sure you’re prepared!
2. The Biggest Reason To Wear Cycling Gloves May Not Be What You Think
Cyclists love their gloves for all sorts of reasons, but Darryl has found there’s one particular impetus many haven’t thought about. Find out what it is — and while you’re at it, how to make sure you have the right kind of mitts.
3. How To Set Up Your Handlebars for Maximum Cycling Comfort
It’s no surprise that this was one of our most popular topics of the year. Far too many cyclists ride with something just a little bit off about their bike fit, and handlebars are a big piece of that puzzle. In this post, Coach Darryl went into three key adjustments you can make to ensure you’ve got your hands placed just right.
4. The Pros and Cons of Different Bike Frame Materials
Once again, no surprise here. Serious cyclists have always geeked out over bike frame materials — this post just goes a little deeper into the benefits and shortcomings of each type. Plus, we covered the many different factors you should consider before you choose your bike frame, from road feel to riding style.
5. 5 Tricks for Boosting Your Uphill Pedaling Power
Our top performance-focused post of 2023, this article explored five simple techniques you can use to become a better climber. Put these tips into practice, and you may never fall behind your friends again.
6. How To Prevent Bike Theft
It may not be possible to completely prevent bike theft, but there’s an awful lot you can do to make it unlikely. And if it does happen, Darryl has a few tips to make it easier to recover your prized possession quickly.
7. A Quick Way To Ensure Your Bike Tires Are Properly Inflated
If you check your tires with a pump and pressure gauge every time you set out for a ride, you’re wasting a lot of time. There’s a much simpler way, and this post will help you get to the ride a little faster next time.
8. 3 Ways To Adjust Bike Fit and Equipment as You Age
It’s a simple fact of any lifelong sport: As your physical abilities change, so too should your goals — and the approach you take. Cycling is no different. This post covers bike fit adjustments that can help you keep riding through the decades.
9. A Quick Way To Remember When To Clean Your Bike Chain
Not sure when you last cleaned your chain? Welcome to the club. But this task is too important to leave to your unreliable and overloaded memory. Find out how to make sure you never miss another cleaning.
10. Should I Use Tubeless Tires for My Bike?
Last but not least on our top 10, we set out to resolve a growing debate among cyclists — to tube or not to tube? In the end, it really comes down to what type of riding you do. Find out which type of tire is right for you.
We’ve got plenty of great new topics lined up for the year ahead, covering everything from how to wash your bike to how e-bike riders and traditional riders can ride well together. Make sure you follow our blog and subscribe to our newsletter to keep up in 2024! And feel free to submit topic suggestions in the comments below.
You can find more of Coach Darryl’s insights over at his website.
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
