Q:

Mountain Bike Action: We have suggested setting a watch so it beeps every ten minutes and then taking a mouthful of water at each beep. This tip is to get a rider in the habit of drinking, but it is over-simplified. If you force yourself to drink, you might become bloated, which may slow you down or cause discomfort during your ride. Every person is different, and every trail is different. On cold rides when we are just cruising along, we might not drink for over an hour. On a hot ride at a hard pace, we might drink every five minutes. The point is to listen to your body. We highly recommend wearing a hydration pack, as we have found these to encourage riders to drink. After your ride, monitor your urine. If it is a dark yellow, that is a telltale sign that you are not hydrating properly.


Q: When I just ride with my buddies, all is well. But when I race, my left foot falls asleep after about 30 minutes. I have used Crankbrothers Candy pedals and just switched to their Eggbeater pedals. Any ideas?
-Jeff, who trips after a race

Mountain Bike Action: Having feet that fall sleep is usually caused by lack of blood flow. When we exercise at high intensity, like during a race, our body's main goal is to get blood to the exercising muscle tissue. For cross-country racers, that is the legs. This increased blood flow to your lower extremities will cause your feet to swell, making your shoes slightly tighter than when you first put them on. Your increased foot volume may cause arteries and vessels to be squeezed off, resulting in a lack of sensation in your foot.

Check your shoes’ fit and consider running them slightly looser. Same goes for your socks. Since you are using Eggbeater pedals, you will need a shoe that has a stiff sole to provide more support. If you are using a more comfortable (and flexy) trail shoe, this may exacerbate the problem.

Finally, you really want a profession to fit you to your bike. A rider who trail rides can get along fine with a fit that is “close.” The same can’t be said for a racer. You are pushing everything to the limit, and the slightest miscalculation in fit will be magnified under this abuse. And yes, racing is abuse. Jeff, you are dealing with a lot of variables, so if the problem persists, you need to consult a doctor.


Q: You recommended the Xdream by Trixster indoor trainer for obvious reasons, but assuming I don’t want to spend that amount on a spinning bike, do you have other recommendations on good indoor training systems?
-Carl, pedaling in the carport

Mountain Bike Action: We are the wrong guys to ask about indoor trainers, because we seldom have the need for them here is sunny Southern California. We like the Xdream by Trixster because it mimics the sensation of riding a mountain bike. Other spinning bikes don’t have this feature. CycleOps Power offers a line of stationary trainers that your mountain bike clamps to. At least this way you are in your proper riding position with the shoes and pedals you normally ride in. We pass this along as information only, not as a recommendation. We have not had the chance to rate or review any of the CycleOps trainers.