Use coupon code TOURMALET for 10% OFF through the end of today's #TdF stage.

As everyone whose every bonked during a ride knows, proper fuel and hydration are key to a cyclist's performance. This is especially true when you're a professional cyclist competing in the world's most challenging races. Peter Stetina says he has to eat the caloric equivalent of a Thanksgiving dinner each day to endure the demands of the Tour de France.

In this video, Alyssa Morahan, Team Garmin-Transitions soigneur and masseuse, takes you behind the scenes in the feed zone to show you what it takes to provide a team of world-class cyclists with the nutrition they need to compete for the podium.

As some of you know, I began my bike racing "career" with last year's cyclocross season, and was instantly hooked. As much as I've enjoyed the road season this year, there's nothing like cyclocross for me.

For my introduction to cross, I modified a touring bike. It worked well for learning, but I'd really like to see what I can do with a bike that's designed for CX racing, and leave my touring/commuting bike's racks and fenders in place. While I normally build up my own bikes, I'm looking at buying a complete bike this time around to ensure it's ready to go when I switch gears and start my cross training after my last pavement race of the year on August 1.

Below, I've listed several of the complete CX bikes that are available in my price range. Let me know which one you think will be my best choice. Feel free to rant and/or rave about your most loved/hated bike in the comments, and if I've overlooked my ideal bike, choose 'Other' and let me know what I should be looking at.

Thanks!

Last weekend's 2-day Tour of Mount Pleasant was a great weekend of racing, spectating, and morning to night cycling fun.

Saturday's criterium and Sunday's road race were why I was there, but for me the highlight of the weekend was the kids' race. Ethan, My 7-year-old son had been looking forward to this - his first race - for months, and when the day of the race came, he was in his jersey and cycling shorts as soon as he woke up.

While it's fair to say that the levels of ability and competitiveness varied widely, for Ethan, just getting on his bike with a group of kids and getting to ride as fast as he could around the criterium course he'd seen the Cat 1/2/Pros finish on just a few minutes earlier was a monumental experience.

Ethan finished in 3rd place out of his group of 15. He later said "I felt like i was in a breakaway" about his group of three that stayed out front for the whole lap.

He's clearly hooked: he spent the following day on his bike, doing laps around the block with his race number pinned to his t-shirt, periodically asking "so when's the next race?"

Seeing my son taking the line, putting everything he had into that single .83 mile lap, and crossing the finish line - no longer just a kid on a bike, but a bike racer, a cyclist - for me will forever be one of the Great Moments in Cycling.

Welcome to the peloton, Ethan.

In this VeloLoser exclusive, Fabian Cancellara proudly displays the motor that drove him to glory at Paris-Roubaix.

Apologies to Fabian Cancellara and Twin Six.