50. There are already too many numbers we need to remember in life, but be sure to know two for sure: your seat height and your saddle nose to stem length.

51. If you don’t have a coach to remind you, keep a calendar of your weekly riding log so you can not only track your time in the saddle, but more importantly, know when it’s time to stay off the bike to recover.

52. Use Preparation H ointment on saddle sores. Enough said.

53. On a bike tour and got stuck in the rain? A good way to dry your shoes on the inside is to stuff them with newspaper.

54. Need something to help put a derailed and greasy chain back on that’s easy to carry? Try a popsicle stick.

55. We're not supposed to advise it, and we should warn against it, but there's nothing better than making a hard effort up a long climb and being able to sit up, stretch your back and savor the accomplishment, with your hands off the bars.

56. When you have one of those “personal best” type days, be sure to look back at everything you did that could’ve played an influence: day-before prep, how much sleep, diet, songs you heard, whatever. The more you can understand about your performance, the better. The same would hold true for your rotten days.

57. When you leave your bike in the bike stand in your garage, be sure to leave it in the big ring to prevent injury to you or others; those 53 teeth can do some damage.

58. Save the fancy carbon wheels for the race day and do all your riding on less expensive, less delicate aluminum rims. Yes, they still make them. Training on heavy wheels makes riding on light wheels a true sensation.

59. A random tip from Chris Carmichael as we rode through Agoura on the Tour of California course: “Recognize your goals, understand the ‘red zone’ and just ride your bike!”

60. If you're looking for a real fitness challenge head out on the next group ride on a mountain bike. If you can keep up with the road bikes, you have arrived!

61. You must know some good tips yourself. You should send them to us at: letters@roadbikeaction.com 

62. Reader tip: Simon Johnson tells us that: “Next to the Garmin 500, the Apple iPhone is the best tool to have in your jersey pocket. Not only can you call your wife for a ride when you’ve run out of tubes, but you can use the map/GPS if you lose your way or check local weather while on your ride, including radar to track incoming rain. Using certain apps, you can plot your ride, distances, speeds and elevation changes. Use the camera for interesting landmarks or—heaven forbid—if there’s an accident. Set your DVR remotely to record the Tour de France because you forgot. Freeze your bank accounts before you stop by your local bike shop.”

63. For full-length insoles with metatarsal bumps, check The Walking Company, a high-end shoe store. Its house-brand insoles cost about $45, but that’s less than custom orthotics.

64. If at all possible, keep your glasses on in the rain. Slowing down due to poor vision is always preferable to having to stop due to no vision as a result of rain or debris going straight in your eyes.

65. When a hard acceleration occurs in a group ride, pay attention to the wheel in front of you and your pedaling effort. It’s easy to rear end a guy when you get too excited and pedal harder than the acceleration requires.

66. It may sound crazy, but we heard it from a well known TdF winner: You can drill a hole in the bottom of your shoes to drain excess rainwater.

67. A common mistake is for people to dress for the weather at the start of a ride versus dressing for the ride itself. We can guarantee that you will get much warmer once you start riding, so leave the jacket in the car and accept being cold during staging.

68. Without veering into traffic, do you best to cross railroad tracks or cattle guards at a 90-degree angle. Always call them out to alert riders behind you.

69. Speaking of traction, avoid turning or braking on sections of road with standing water, as there is nothing more slippery than moss built up on the pavement.

70. Do yourself a favor: Don’t do successive rides in the same Lycra. At the very least, cleaning them with shampoo in a bathroom sink will help decrease bacteria immensely.

Tip # 60 - Mountain and road bikes may make for strange bedfellows, but riding one can actually improve your performance on the other.