Bike Trip + Base Training Survival + a Shred Girls Party Invite | The Outdoor Edit Newsletter
THE OUTDOOR EDIT NEWSLETTER
Hellooooooo!
I always forget a couple of very important things about coaching cycling camps, especially ones with juniors. First, I'm not a junior anymore (haven't been for quite a while!) and I require a lot more sleep and recovery... But second, I need to balance that need with my normal job of writing, a lot. So it's a very precarious balancing act, but one that I love.
So, I'm going to keep this short and sweet because I need a nap. On to what I'm digging this week.
XO,
Molly
PS: As always, we're on the lookout for more questions for our training and nutrition Q&A episodes of The Consummate Athlete Podcast! Respond here with any questions: there's no question too general OR too specific!
PERFECTION OR LAZINESS?
I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago and after taking some time to mull it over, and reading your replies to it, this is what I've come up with: "The new trend in the wellness industry right now seems to be articles and podcasts and IG posts all about perfectionist tendencies and how they’re holding us back. And I think that might be true for, say, 15% of people. The other 85% of us? Probably not the case, but it’s a pretty great scapegoat, right? I was nodding along with a podcast on this topic while I was riding this week, thinking “Wow, that totally applies to me” when I had a bit of an epiphany. It didn’t apply to me, actually, but it was a nice way to think about myself." READ THE WHOLE THING HERE
MTB SHOES FOR WIDER TOEBOXES
Finally! I found a pair of (cheap!) MTB shoes that actually fit my wider toebox. I have a narrow instep and heel but thanks to years of barefoot running, my toebox is super wide, making a lot of cycling shoes crazy uncomfortable. I just found the Shimano ME4 MTB women's shoes and I am loving them! I'm a few rides in but they tick all the boxes: They're matte black so they match everything, they have a wide toe box, and they're only $125! Super happy with them.
RIDING LOTS?
A lot of people I know are in the midst of base season, and if that's you, a couple reminders:
1) get the hell out of your chamois immediately post-ride and if you can't shower right away, at least get a good wipe with clean water down there!
2) EAT. probably more than you think you need, both in-ride and post-ride. Quantity in-ride, quality post-ride.
PARTY WITH THE SHRED GIRLS
If you're in Ontario, mark your calendars for May 11th, when we'll be hosting a big launch party at Joyride150! Reminder: If you pre-order the book, email me the receipt and I'll send you a signed Shred Girls postcard + Shred Girls bike frame stickers... and if you share it with a friend, let me know and I'll send you even more stickers!!
EARLY AF RUN CLUB
I'm friends with some amazing women (like Cait, pictured below!). They get up a lot earlier than me and crush their runs. And because of them, I added this to my store on The Outdoor Edit:

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ICYMI, I wrote a book!
"Shred Girls: Lindsay's Joyride" is an empowering new series from the cyclist who runs Shred-Girls.com is guaranteed to give readers an adrenaline rush--and the confidence girls gain from participating in sports. It's time to ride and save the day!
Lindsay can't wait to spend her summer break reading comics and watching superhero movies--until she finds out she'll be moving in with her weird older cousin Phoebe instead. And Phoebe has big plans for Lindsay: a BMX class at her bike park with cool-girl Jen and perfectionist Ali. Lindsay's summer of learning awesome BMX tricks with new friends and a new bike turns out to be more epic than any comic book--and it's all leading up to a jumping competition. But some of the biker boys don't think girls should be allowed to compete in BMX. Now it's up to Lindsay, Jen, and Ali to win the competition and prove that anyone can be great at BMX.
Preorder here: