183. Examine your frame and components often. Inspect for stress cracks and wear marks of all items, such as rims, brakes, bottom brackets, chains and cassettes. They are not meant to last forever.

184. If you own multiple rims with different materials, look into one brake pad that can work for all surfaces. Key tip: With carbon rims, be sure to use carbon-specific pads.

185. Always run an odometer. Most are inexpensive, and reliability has really improved over the years. They can be very valuable in multitude of ways. They can keep you aware of climb distances to make sure you pull through in a break at the same speed, to marking points of interest, to keeping you motivated on a climb. They are your friend.

186. Train specifically for your upcoming race. If it’s a three-lap course with a 15-minute climb, you better be doing three 20 minute climbs so race day feels easier than your training day.

187. Always know that your fitness two weeks prior to an event is pretty much what you will have two weeks down the road. Be careful not to over-train the week of your event by trying to sneak in extra fitness; it could backfire.

188. It takes time to build fitness; it takes time to lose fitness. Enjoy it, and race as much as possible when you have good fitness. Keep your riding friends on broadcast e-mail invites.

189. Compression socks are currently in vogue with the ProTour racers. Want to do some inexpensive testing? Go to your local sporting goods store and buy some soccer socks. They are tall and tight, and at around $5, they do the same thing.

190. Our reader survey says 37 percent of Road Bike Action readers ride or have ridden motorcycles. Don’t be afraid to switch your brakes to “moto-style” (front brake/right). Many top pros roll this way. Just be sure to tell your friend when he asks to try your bike.

191. Glasses with “hinges” are sunglasses. Glasses that don’t are cycling glasses. Hingeless glasses are much easier to put on your helmet when conditions dictate.

192. When changing items like shoes and saddles, recognize that each individual item has a height all of its own. You must remeasure to assure you have the same knee extension or you could develop unnecessary knee pain.