Data · 2026.07.08
Power zones aren't a report card: use training data the right way
Numbers should help you decide how to ride today — not turn every ride into an exam.
Read story →INDEPENDENT CYCLING JOURNAL
Ride,
beyond the miles.
Gear, data, guides, and racing.
Finding better answers from real rides, one at a time.
RIDE / READ / REPEAT
04CONTENT LANES
always updating
always updating
GEAR ✦ DATA ✦ GUIDES ✦ RACING ✦ GEAR ✦ DATA
/ FEATURED READ
Start
here.
Not a buying list — an order of judgement that makes your first bike actually fit you.
01
FIT
FIRST.
Guides · 2026.07.12
Your first road bike: don't start with the groupset
Fit, position, and the kind of riding you'll actually do decide whether you keep riding — long before the groupset does.
Read the full story →/ FOUR CONTENT LANES
Find your way
in by question.
01
Gear
Bikes, wheels, and kit — judged by real riding, not spec sheets.
↗02Data
Power, heart rate, and training load — learning to read what your body is telling you.
↗03Guides
Turning hard-won experience into something you can use on your very next ride.
↗04Racing
Watching the race — the tactics, the lines, and the details that decide it.
↗/ FRESH READS
Fresh off the bike.
Gear · 2026.07.02
Deep-section wheels on real roads: what do you actually gain?
Aero gains, crosswind handling, and maintenance cost belong on the same balance sheet.
Read story →Racing · 2026.06.26
The breakaway's final 20 km: when does cooperation collapse?
The gap, where teammates sit, and sprint strength together decide who stops pulling first.
Read story →Gear · 2026.07.14
The Best Power Meters Under $500 in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)
Pedals, cranks, and spiders under $500 — ranked by accuracy, install, and real-world value. What to buy, and why a $300 unit might be all you need.
Read story →Gear · 2026.07.14
Favero Assioma vs Garmin Rally: Which Power Pedal Wins?
The two power pedals everyone compares. We rode both against the same reference and broke down accuracy, install, battery, ecosystem, and cleat compatibility — here's the verdict.
Read story →Guides · 2026.07.14
The Practical Bike Fit Guide: Saddle Height and Cleat Position
A step-by-step bike fit you can do at home — set saddle height, fore/aft, and cleat position without a studio visit. Built around how your body feels over weeks, not minutes.
Read story →WHY JULIAN RIDES
"Not chasing every new release —
only the things that genuinely change the ride."
Independent judgement · Real experience · Long-term thinking