February 18, 2016
It’s that time of the year when road rides alternate between dry pavement and sloppy slush. And, with the warmer temperatures gracing the Front Range, riding trails is a treat but there is the complication of dealing with mud, slush and a mixture of dry trail. What does this mean to cyclists? Choose your chain lube wisely!
Picking the right chain lubricant can be one of the more frustrating things you’ll do as a cyclist. There’s a million different types to pick: wet lubes, dry lubes, waxes, spray ons, drop ons, biolubes, and others. Scratching your head, you might think, can’t just one chain lube do the trick? Well, when you consider that different chain lubricants are designed for different environments, the answer is a maybe. Think of it this way, what may protect a chain or drivetrain component in one climate may actually do harm in another. There’s an assortment of manufactures from Pedro’s, Finish Line, Pro Gold, Bike Medicine, Squirt, and White Lightning, how do you choose? Start with the basics in understanding bike chain lubricants.
Wet Lubes – A wet lube is thick enough to stay on the chain, thin enough to penetrate all of the small moving parts, and will remain wet (to the feel) till it is cleaned off or washes away. This lube cleans, lubricates and protects the chain from corrosion. The best time to use this type of lube is in wet or muddy conditions and areas where there is not a lot of dust. The down side to using a wet lube is that because they stay wet on the chain they collect a lot of dirt and debris.
Dry Lubes – A dry lube, on the other hand, is a lube that has an alcohol base and dries on the chain leaving a waxy film that protects and lubricates the chain. Most dry lubes take about 3-4 hours to dry and should be applied with enough time to dry before the ride. The major advantage to a dry lube is that it does not collect much, if any dirt. The down side is dry lubes wear off quickly, especially in wet or muddy conditions.
Wax Lubes – Wax lubes are essentially very dry lubes and, as the name suggests, are very waxy. In addition to lubricating your drivetrain, wax lubes also help keep your chain clean. Part of the reason it is so clean, however, is the number of applications that are required. Wax lube will either need to be washed off or it will have the ability to flake away on its own. This kind of lube does not last long when used in wet or muddy conditions, but it also leaves the least amount of messy residue – which is nice for your surrounding bike parts.
Bike maintenance isn’t always fun to do, but obviously necessary. So, what about which bike lubricant to use in different conditions? Basically, wet lubes are ideal for rainy, wet conditions. Dry lubrication is perfect for dry conditions. In varying conditions, many cyclist prefer dry lube over wet, despite the fact that it requires more application and drying time.
An interesting little-known fact about chain lubricants, is that at Peaks Cycles Bicycle Shop, we have the largest assortment of chain lubricants available. Stop by the shop in Golden, Colorado to check out our display and while you’re at it, be sure to view our 2016 cycling apparel and accessories. Nothing pairs better with chain lube than new bike parts or cycling apparel, right?
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Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike maintenance, Bike Medicine chain lubricant, bike parts, chain lube, cycling accessories, cycling apparel, drivetrain component, dry lubes, Finish Line chain lubricant, Pedro's chain lubricant, Pro Gold chain lubricant, Squirt chain lubricant, wax lubes, wet lubes, White Lightning chain lubricant | 
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Posted by staffwriter8
February 11, 2016
Peak Cycles joy ride on Apex Park/Chimney Gulch – Golden, CO
Friends, the weather conditions have been changeable as of late with abrupt transitions between heavy snows and 50 degree temperatures. The warming trend this week may have even caused some of you to think that we are on the cusp of spring season. But we know that variations in late-winter weather make for prime fat biking conditions. So whether you’re riding on icy, hard-packed trails or sloppy snow banks, we wanted to give you some tips for late-season fat biking.
Coming away from the Big Mountain Enduro Fat Bike World Championships in Crested Butte in late January (see results and pics on Twitter , Facebook, Instagram) our customers couldn’t be more excited to get on their fat bikes. There are a couple of Colorado races still on the horizon that will likely be well attended. One big one is the Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series with races from February – April (see below):
If you are training for a race, there are some things you should pay attention to:
- Even thought fat bikes have big fat tires, they still don’t have traction on ice. Watch out for icy patches a go slow. You don’t want to jeopardize your ability to race before the actual event!
- Strengthening exercises off the bike can improve your performance. We highly recommend that you look into Foundation Training (see our blog post for more details) which strengthens your core back muscles trains you how to move and bend correctly on the bike.
- Light weight = fast. The lighter your fat bike is the faster it will be. There are ways that you can cut down on weight such as changing to a light-weight tire. We recommend the Kenda Juggernaut Pro Tire which is currently the lightest fat bike tire on the market and is designed for speed & performance.
- Go tubeless. Tubeless fat bike wheels are more reliable and don’t require as much maintenance from you. With new fat bike FattyStripper technology we can convert your wheels to tubeless for just $95.
If you are looking to just enjoy the Colorado outdoors on your fat bike, Colorado.com offers a great fat biking resource that will give you ideas about where you can go and enjoy prime fat bike trails. You can also join the Facebook group, Front Range Fattys to get to know a very engaged and enthusiastic crew of fat bike aficionados.
What’s that? You’ve never tried a fat bike? You can demo one of our Specialized FatBoys at our store! And if you want even more fat bike ideas, or need for cycling apparel, bike parts, and cycling accessories, stop into Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop. We would love to help you!
Peak Cycles/Bikeparts.com Team Update: We were thrilled that three members of our BikeParts.com team placed in the Fat Bike World Championships Junior race. Lander Turner (1st), Dillon Turner (3rd), and Conrad Turner (4th) all had spectacular performances during this challenging and world-class event. Great job guys!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: Big Mountain Enduro Fat Bike World Championships, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling apparel, Eastside Epic, fat bike racing, Foundation Training, Kenda Juggernaut Pro Tire, Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series, Mineral Belt Mayhem, Specialized FatBoys, Tennessee Pass Night Jam | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
February 4, 2016
Winter Cycling Apparel at BikeParts.com
Cold, winter weather is finally here. With nearly 3 feet of snow in Golden, Colorado, the thought of riding outside can be daunting. This is especially so if you’ve been taking some time off or haven’t had to endure cold-weather riding in awhile. However, the beauty of riding in the clear air after a fresh snowfall far outweighs the extra work involved in getting dressed appropriately. So, what do you need to do to wrap up and roll out on a chilly winter day?
Understanding the basics of keeping warm is a good start. When you are riding, you want to balance your warmth and comfort with the intensity of your bike ride. If you are really bundled up when you start riding, you will likely want to start shedding layers. It may feel good to sweat in 25 degree weather, but you want clothes that are both breathable, wind-stopping, and sometimes waterproof. You also want to evaluate the type of ride you are doing. Is this a training ride? Will you be working really hard? Or are you just going to chill and casually ride? At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden, Colorado, we’ve been asked all of these questions. Here is what we have found works, and works best! Following are the winter cycling clothing options we can’t live without!
Hands: Keep those digits nimble! Cold hands makes it hard to maneuver the bike. Definitely go for long-figured gloves or liner gloves with thicker gloves. Fatbike riders may opt for porgies. Great for keeping the digits warm, the Endura gloves are our most popular wind chill gloves.
Feet: Who likes cold toes? Nobody! It’s really important to keep the feet warm on winter rides. Road and mountain bike cyclist may opt for thick wool socks. As for the keeping your toes warm, we have two favorite options. The Giant Sojourn cycling shoes have a stiff and grippy bottom which are good for walking. A great option for bike commuters. The other favorite is the Defroster cycling shoe. It’s a great option for fall and winter riding and especially on the cold days because these shoes doesn’t require shoe covers.
Fatbike riders will want to go with insulated shoes with thick socks. If you can get waterproof shoes, that is even better. For fatbike enthusiast, there are a number of options out there depending on if fatbike riders want to ride with flat pedals or clip less pedals. Riding your fat bike in the winter, you can ride with winter snow boots which will keep your feet warm. If you are riding with clipless pedals, Specialized and other companies make insulated biking boots. Regardless of what type of bicycle you are riding, polypropelene shoe covers are a must when keeping your feet warm because they deflect wind. You can also carry chemical toe warmers in case your feet get really cold.
Lower Body: In the winter you want to have something covering your entire legs. Fleece lined chamois are often a good choice. Many bikers also use cross country ski tights under their biking shorts. Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop has Endura and Mavoc pants, chamois, which will all be good down to about 10 degrees. There are also waterproof pants to keep the wet off your legs. This is important if you are riding in snowy conditions. We have a variety of knickers, knee warmers, and pants. These are essential items to have on hand because sunny days can tempt cyclist to opt for less clothing but we think it’s a good idea to cover your knees. Many cyclist prefer tights whereas others prefer leg warmers. There are also knickers which allow more airflow over the legs, and they are good for layering as well. Consider trying out each option and experiment to dial in your preference.
Upper Body: The key with upper body warmth and comfort in the winter is layering. Here in Colorado, as in other parts of the country as well, temperatures can change pretty quickly. It’s best to plan ahead based on varying conditions, as well as, plan for your workout requirements. You might find that you are either over dressed when you start working hard. Consider a light, long-sleeved jersey that has pockets in the back is a good base layer and gives you the opportunity to put extra cloths in the back pockets. Next, put another thermal layer on top of the long-sleeved jersey. You want something fairly light, warm, and breathable. As a final option you want to top your upper body layering with a wind-stopper jacket that deflects wind and preferably is also waterproof. Stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle shop and see which brand fits you best: Endura, Mavic, or Pearl Izumi.
Last but not least, cover your head! You can wear a buff or a cap and headgear. Buffs are really good for neck protection as well. Another option are balaclavas – especially so if you want to keep almost your entire face warm. Remember to wear appropriate eye protection too! The glare from the snow can be blinding. While not as stylish as some of the cycling eyewear we carry on BikeParts.com, you could consider wearing goggles to help protect our eyes and face in snowy conditions.
So, what’s in your cycling wardrobe? Stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle shop to fill in your cycling wardrobe with the necessary items to get you rolling during these chilly winter days.
When you think about it, it’s easy to embrace winter riding when you are warm and toasty. Being mindful of the best clothing options, cycling apparel, bike parts, and nutritional needs during your winter rides helps too! So, whether you are enjoying the fresh snow from a scenic a bike path, or clear road, winter bike rides in Colorado are the best way to get ready for the upcoming cycling season while filling up your lungs with fresh, crisp Colorado air.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: balaclavas, bike parts, BikeParts.com, cap and headgear, Defroster cycling shoe, Endura gloves, Endura jacket, Endura pants, eyewear, fatbike, Giant Sojourn cycling shoes, goggles, jacket, knee warmers, long fingered gloves, long-sleeved jersey, Mavic, Mavoc pants, mountain bike, Pearl Izumi jacket, shoe covers, winter cycling apparel | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
January 28, 2016
Cycling Motivation from BikeParts.com
“I love riding the trainer!” – said no one – ever! The trainer can be a love / hate relationship. As a training aid, you love it because it offers training options during poor weather and winter months. Yet, on the flip side, trainer rides can be boring, lead to muscle- specific fatigue, and basically, offer uninspired riding. Ugh. Is there a way to make it work? Yes! There is! With a mixture of planning and dose of discipline, you can motivate yourself to get in quality trainer rides. Here’s how.
First and foremost, set up your trainer right. Having the right equipment and bike parts can make your indoor workouts less boring and more effective. When we’re talking about equipment, sure, we mean having your road bike on the trainer, but we’re also talking about having a fan, a trainer tire, a riser block, a sweat towel, a trainer mat, indoor riding clothes, a cadence sensor, a power meter, and a heart rate monitor. You might not think all of these cycling accessories add up to a great trainer workout, but according to the post, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Trainer, it can make all the difference in the world. Aside from the actual cycling components, setting up your trainer right means creating an inviting cycling environment. Do you need bright lights to keep you motivated? An upbeat playlist? Be mindful to the “little things” that either inspire you or detract you from getting on the trainer. By noticing those elements that dissuade you, you can take actions to create a better trainer environment for yourself.
Another way to make riding indoors work is to shorten your ride and add strength training to your workouts. One way to do this is to avoid long rides on the trainer all together. Year round strength training for cyclists matters and substituting your indoor rides with strength training will do more for your cycling later on in the season than doing another trainer session. In fact, a one hour hard trainer workout will do more to improve your cycling and race fitness than 2 to 4 hours easy on the trainer. So, plan your time on the trainer accordingly and substitute ride time for strength training time.
Sometimes seeing is believing! Keep your motivation strong with visual effects. Pop in a DVD training video or select a few YouTube clips to get your mind in the game. Posters, a vision board, books, maps, apps, or pictures of upcoming races can trigger your motivation to not only get on the bike, but maybe even dig a little deeper than you would have otherwise. If that doesn’t motivate you, another option is to focus on form. One way to improve form is by not rocking your hips while seated and spinning. Maintaining level hips, along with a tight core will place more emphasis on the leg muscles, working them just a little harder through the revolution. This will lead to increased leg strength over time. The torso, shoulders and arms also need to be engaged at all times. Focusing on strong arms, bent elbows and a strong upper torso will increase upper body muscle endurance, being of great value on race day. Shifting your mental focus to your riding form can make the minutes on the trainer tick away faster.
Granted, trainer rides will never replace the joy of cycling outside. However, you can take pride in that you are getting your rides in and building your cycling base for the season ahead.
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, cadence censor, cycling accessories, DVD training video, heart rate monitor, indoor riding, road bike, strength training, trainer | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
January 21, 2016
S-works Stumpjumper FSR Comp 6Fattie at BikeParts.com
January is prime winter cycling time. The holidays are behind us and all that’s left on the cyclist’s mind is, “when can I get out on those chilled, hard-packed trails that I love”. With winter races just on the horizon, we at Peak Cycles wanted to provide you with a guide to the best ways to enjoy winter riding.
- Plus-size Tires: Plus-size tires are a relatively new trend in winter riding this year. They are popular because the 3” tires handle snow really well but have a reasonable tire weight so you aren’t compromising speed performance. As a result, bikes with plus-size tires turn out to be an ideal all-season mountain bike and a purchase you won’t regret. The S-works Stumpjumper FSR Comp 6Fattie is our top-performing and most popular plus-size tired bike right now. Come to our store to check it out!
- Fat Bikes Are Still Fun: Fat biking is still a favored activity in the winter. You can’t beat the feeling of control on snow with big fat tires. We were excited to see that our well-liked Specialized S-Works Fatboy Carbon made the top of Outside Magazine’s Best Fat Bikes of 2016 and the top of The MTBGuide’s 2016 Top Fat Bikes list.
- Introduce Kids to Mountain Biking: Fat bikes are also a great way to introduce your kids to mountain biking. In a Fat-Bike.com post, a cycling-enthusiast father talks about his son’s experience on a 24” Specialized Fatboy. The father proudly claimed that after riding the Fatboy, his son “changed from a timid kid who would put up with going out to ride with a lot of coaxing to asking to go mountain biking on more and more challenging trails.” We have found the Specialized Riprock Plus-size Kids’ Bike to be an excellent all-season starter for younglings.
- Get Your Winter Cycling Accessories: If you’re going to be comfortable riding in the winter, you’re going to need the right bike parts and cycling accessories. For you fat bikers, Kenda released its Juggernaut Pro tires that are lightweight (only 767 grams!) and serve as an excellent racing tire. Some of our other most loved winter riding accessories include the Specialized Defroster cycling boot, Pogies, and long-lasting Endura jackets.
- Enter a Race: There are a number of winter races/rides coming up including:
Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop wishes you the best with your winter cycling! And don’t forget that if you ever need advice, don’t hesitate to stop into our store.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, cycling accessories, Endura jackets, fat bike, Fat Bike World Championships, Juggernaut Pro tires, Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series, mountain bike, Old Man Winter Rally, Plus-size Tires, Pogies, S-works Stumpjumper FSR Comp 6Fattie, Specialized Defroster cycling boot, Specialized Riprock Plus-size Kids’ Bike, Specialized S-Works Fatboy Carbon, winter cycling | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
January 14, 2016
Foundation Training at BikeParts.com/Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop
What is perhaps the most essential region of your body that contributes most to overall cycling performance? Is it your legs? Your abs? No, it’s your back!
George Mullen from Peak Cycles spends lots of time helping people optimize their biking performance by analyzing their athletic history, studying their form and cycling habits, offering bike parts suggestions, and adjusting their road bike or mountain bike to fit their riding style. But when people come to George with injuries, pain, performance issues, he often finds that the problem isn’t just a poor bike fit, but weak back muscles.
Your back has a vital group of muscles (known as the posterior chain) that are designed to be the strongest chain of muscles in your body. These muscles control key body parts used in cycling and most other sports such as your hips, thigh muscles, knees, and calf muscles. And if these crucial back muscles are not used and strengthened on a daily basis, the results are often pain, instability, inflexibility, and poor performance.
So how do you strengthen these muscles? We at Peak Cycles advocate for Foundation Training! Foundation Training is a program designed by Dr. Eric Goodman, an expert in chiropractics and strength conditioning, and is a set of daily exercises to help you strengthen the core muscles in your posterior chain (see a great TedX Talk on this topic here).
Matt Rabin, Team Chiropractor and Physical therapist for the Garmin-Sharp cycling team, is also an advocate for Foundation Training and says that turning on these back muscles using Goodman’s exercises both reduces pain and increases power output and performance for his riders. Essentially, Foundation Training helps you change your basic human movement patterns so that you are stabilizing your key back muscles on a regular basis.
So if you want to eliminate back and lower body pain, improve stability and flexibility, or develop sturdy body habits that improve your form and condition your overall strength, you should attend our first Foundation Training class! Join certified Foundation Training instructor Gili Wolf on January 28th from 6:15-7:15 PM at the Peak Cycles store in Golden, CO to learn about Foundation Training exercises that you can do for just 12 minutes a day. Call 303-216-1616 to sign up today!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike fit, bike parts, Foundation Training, Garmin-Sharp Cycling Team, mountain bike, road bike | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
January 7, 2016
It’s tough being a bike rider from January through late March. The holidays are over, the winter weather is in full swing and the idea of keeping up the motivation to exercise on a cold winter day instead of curling up under a warm blanket on the sofa can be difficult. Sometimes lack of motivation rears its ugly head during these challenging times despite our best efforts to press on. Yet many cyclists, both competitive and recreational, have committed to New Year resolutions but are battling regular demons whether that is general fatigue, lack of time, seasonal illness or just plain boredom. What can a cyclist do?
Granted, the amount of downtime you can afford to take in winter depends on your goals for the coming year. If you have a century ride, a bike trip, or a hard race scheduled for June or July, you can probably get away with a layoff. On the other hand, if an athlete wants to maintain fitness over the winter it it’s important to you get your motivation in gear now to make these gains and keep your cycling training on track. Here’s how.
Define your goals. What do you want to accomplish in 2016? When? How do you know you’ve reached your goals? Making SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound) goals not only boosts your chances of attaining your goals, but you also become a better cyclist in the process. The trick is to really dial those goals in. As in, a goal to consistently hitting heart rate zones or power zones for specific workout. Use cycling accessories that are available to you – as in power meters and /or heart rate monitors to provide objective feedback. Our post, The Best Training Aids to Launch into Spring Cycling, dives into the benefits of training with power. You may also want to check out our post, Heart Rate Training – What You Need to Know for our staff picks at Peak Cycles Bike Shop. Based on your goals, you can then get an action plan together by defining your training objectives.
Define your training objectives. Now that you have your sights set for some events in 2016, it’s time to take inventory of your abilities to meet your goals for these events. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? For every area of improvement, decide what activity is needed to improve that. If you have poor bike handling skills, then schedule time each week for bike drills. If your core is week, schedule time for yoga or strength training. And, if you are like most cyclist, you could use a little stretching. Make time for stretching to improve your flexibility.
Define your approach. Get a game plan together of how you plan to train and race. Again, taking stock of last year’s performances, where can you improve? Some cyclist focus exclusively on race day performance and evaluate results on a single day. However, take a look at how the days leading up to your event impacted the result. How was you bike nutrition? How was your sleep? Did you have a race strategy in place? Were you familiar with the logistics of the event, as well as, the course profile itself? All of these factors impact day of results. Take time now to review and plan ahead. Experiment with new ideas, products, and approaches. As in, maybe try a new on bike nutrition product. Experiment with different bike parts and bike components. Consider designing and refining a pre-event routine, like a race day ritual. This thoughtful process brings a fresh approach to 2016 and keeps you motivated through the winter months.
Ultimately, motivation for keeping your resolutions is not something that can be given to you. Rather, motivation must ultimately come from within. Just like the passion you have for cycling. Dig deep, find what inspires you, connect with that and pedal your way to a successful 2016 cycling season. Happy New Year friends!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling motivation, cycling resolutions, heart rate monitors, heart rate training, new year resolutions, nutrition, power meters, strength training, yoga for cyclist | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
December 31, 2015
Happy New Year from BikeParts.com
New Year’s has always been a time for reflecting on the past year, and more importantly, looking forward to the coming year. It’s a time to reflect on the changes we want to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. However, for all too many resolutions, failure is virtually assured at the offset because the resolutions are not made with serious intent and deliberation. Basically, they are just wishful thinking.
The first trick to making a resolution stick is to choose the right resolution in the first place! Make it SMART! When you make your resolutions SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound), not only do you boost your chance of attaining your goals, but you also become a better cyclist in the process. Aside from the traditional resolutions to ride more, to loose weight, and to explore new rides, consider taking on some different resolutions.
Resolve to set bigger goals! Set your sights high! Reach for bigger goals in 2016! Many cyclist resolve to ride more frequently or adventure on longer rides in the coming year; yet without actually quantifying the specific actions required to support these goals, no gains are actually made. The post, Make Proper Goal Setting a Priority for Your Next Cycling Season highlights this fact offering 10 questions to evaluate the past season’s cycling performance and arms you with insights to making better training choices that lead to better performance in 2016. In addition to goal setting, using cycling accessories – as in power meters and /or heart rate monitors can aid in bio feedback, data, and analysis towards obtaining your goals. Armed with SMART goals and biofeedback, the only thing you have to do is actually ride!
Resolve to try something new! If you are a roadie, try riding a mountain bike. If you only ride trails, opt for a gravel grinder event. Gravel grinder events are great for roadies and mountain bike riders and they are popping up all over the country. Generally, they are unsanctioned, unsupported endurance bicycle races on primarily gravel and dirt roads, with little or no outside support, course markings, fees or prizes. That translates to a day of adventure on the bike! If the endurance route isn’t your thing, consider riding a fat bike. Fat bikes offer a whole new level of fun and adventure to riding. Why not try something new? You have nothing to lose and only fun, adventure, and new cycling thrills to gain!
Resolve to treat your body right! Sure, as a cyclist you probably think about proper hydration and eating well but there’s more to taking care of your body than that. Have you thought about yoga? Some of the most elite cyclists use yoga as part of a successful training program, including 2012 Tour De France winner Bradley Wiggins. From power to endurance, athletes at all levels are incorporating yoga to gain an edge over the competition, and prevent injury. Another way to prevent injury and take care of your body is to get a proper bike fit. Leg strength, endurance, and fitness are at the heart of cycling speed, but without a proper bike fit, you are sabotaging your training efforts and possibly even your 2016 cycling resolutions. In a sport based on such a highly repetitive action, like pedaling, the first line of defense against injury is a proper bike fit. A bike fit doesn’t simply consist of setting saddle height and bar reach. It’s more than that and it is even more critical to dial in the fit and confirm you have the right bike parts for optimal performance.
The New Year is all about out with the old and in with the new. Maybe last year’s cycling resolutions were to get in shape, build fitness, or get stronger on the bike. This year, branch out! Create resolutions worth keeping and watch your cycling soar to new heights in the coming year! At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’re wishing you a year that is filled with all the joys, personal rewards, and the grand adventure that cycling brings. Happy 2016!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike fit, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling resolutions, fat bike, goal setting, Gravel grinder, heart rate monitor, mountain bike, new year cycling resolutions, new year resolutions, power meters, yoga | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
December 24, 2015
Happy Holidays from BikeParts.com
Cycling seasons come and go. There is the big training ramp up in the spring for summer riding and racing followed by fun and challenging cyclocross racing and fall riding.
And, there’s the lull in training and intensity during the winter months accompanied by trainer rides and possibly, a few, fun fat bike rides in the snow. Yet, through all the seasons runs a thread of passion and love for the sport that unites all the seasons in a unified, blissful experience. An experience of health, fitness, adventure, camaraderie, and personal victories. Riding a bike offers freedom and adventure unparalleled by other experiences. Whether it’s seeing wildlife up close from your mountain bike on a remote bike trail; or, claiming a new personal best while riding your road bike on a long ride or race – the cycling journey never gets old.
Here at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we feel that the true Christmas spirit of cycling is the love of the bike. It’s the adventure cycling brings – the challenge of a new ride, the experimentation with new or different
bike parts, the joy of connecting with friends in meaningful ways, and the building of camaraderie with teammates. It’s about inspiration. Riding and training towards goals that call us to be our best selves and enlist the support of family and friends that unites in powerful connections. At its essence, the true spirit of cycling is really about passion, joy, exhilaration, excitement, camaraderie, enthusiasm, and gratitude. These are all the very blessings we wish for you and your family this Christmas day. Merry Christmas from Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop and
BikeParts.com!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, BikeParts.com, cyclocross, fat bike, mountain bike, road bike, trainer, training | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
December 17, 2015
The snow is here! And lots of it! Many cyclist wonder, can I ride in the snow? And the answer: of course you can!
The important thing to remember about riding in the snow isn’t whether it’s possible—everything is possible. It’s simply a matter of being smart about riding in uncertain weather conditions. Here’s how to make snow riding work for you.
- The more tread on your tires, the better. You can ride in snow on slicks, but we wouldn’t recommend it. At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we have a large selection of tires for road bikes, mountain bikes, and cyclocross bikes. Stop in and pick up a new set of tires just for your winter cycling adventures. Speaking of tires, let some air out of your them, whatever sort they are. Ride them soft: you’ll get more grip.
- Focus on a relaxed and responsive riding position. Sure, it’s natural to tense up with icy or snowy conditions, but if you focus on relaxing your hands and arms, while keeping your weight back on the bike, you may find it easier to steer the bike from your hips and less from your upper body. This makes directional changes smoother and easier with your whole mass on the bike, rather than by sudden sharp steering inputs at the handlebars.
- Don’t be a speed demon! Slow down and enjoy the views! Celebrate the adventure of riding in different weather conditions. A good rule of thumb to remember is to keep your bike in good working order, maintain care of your bike parts and don’t be too ambitious about your speed. All this allows you to truly enjoy the experience.
- Go fat! Fat bike that is! Fat bikes are wonderful for riding in the snow. Many fat bike models today are similar to “normal” mountain bikes, which have slacker head tube angles, lower stand-over heights, thru axles, and tapered head tubes. The main difference is the tires. The wider tires have more traction in both dirt and snow. They climb better than almost any mountain bike. If you’re new to fat bikes, you may enjoy reading about some Top Fat Bike FAQ’s or Why Go Fat. Or, stop by the shop and demo a fat bike!
- Dress for the occasion. Because it’s cold out, it is tempting to overdress. Avoid that temptation! Depending on the type of ride, the duration of your ride, and the elements, your cycling apparel options make the difference between a suffer fest or a great ride. Take an inventory of your cycling clothing and ask yourself, what clothing do you need to wear in different weather conditions? Do you have waterproof and wind resistant clothing? Do you have enough of the basic cycling necessities, as in leggings? Arm warmers? Knee warmers? Scull cap? What about your base layers? Do you have enough of them or do you need to add in some fleece lined clothing? Lucky for you, at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we can help you with all of your cycling apparel needs! In fact, we’ve got quite a lot of new cycling clothing in store right now! Or, check out our How to Dress for Winter Cycling –Video for ideas dressing warmly for your winter rides.
Your experience will correlate directly to your level of preparation. It’s true, winter riding requires more diligence and commitment; but the flip side is a sense of wonder and adventure that accompanies the wintertime cycling scene.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: arm warmers, base layer, bike parts, cycling apparel, cyclocross, fat bike, handlebars, How to Dress for Winter Cycling video, knee warmers, mountain bikes, road bikes, Scull cap, tires, Top Fat Bike FAQ’s, winter cycling | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
December 10, 2015
Still searching for the perfect holiday gift for your favorite cyclist? Well, if you’re anything like us at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, health and fitness are gifts that you want to share with your family and friends all year round. So why not select gifts that will help your favorite cyclist to be really motivated to continue reaching health and fitness goals in the New Year?
Your search for the perfect holiday gifts are over! Surprise and delight your favorite cyclists with our list of healthy holiday gifts!
Give the Gift of Nutrition
Nutrition matters. We all know it – but that doesn’t mean we eat and drink what we know we should. And athletes suffer from poor choices too. The symptoms of poor nutrition rears its ugly head in many ways: via muscle cramping, struggling to complete workouts, and unsuccessful race efforts. Eliminate all the frustration and gift your favorite cyclist with bike nutrition. We have several options including nutritional products just for women. Specifically, Osmo nutrition – This product is specific to women offering three options: active hydration, acute recovery, and preload hydration. Other favorites for both men and women are Scratch Labs and Honey Stinger Products.
Give the gift of Compression
Medical compression stockings have been used to treat poor blood flow for many years. Recently, the technology has been made available to cyclist of all levels. While the many claim it is difficult to prove that an immediate performance gain from wearing compression garments, many do claim that it lowers perceived muscle soreness the day after a big day on the bike and they can reduce the swelling of legs after prolonged sitting.
Give the gift a Power Meter
Is your cyclist a data junkie? Then, this is the ideal gift for your favorite cyclist! The main idea behind using cycling training tools is to dial in training to optimize performance as it relates to specific goals and objectives. Our post, The Best Training Aids to Launch into Spring Cycling, dives into the benefits of training with power. As for which power meter to purchase, consider our most popular one, Stages Power Meters, beginning at $1000. Stages Power meter is the lightest, smallest, most technologically advanced unit available today. Another option is the Pioneer Power Meter offered at $2000 and is a bit more sophisticated. A third option is a company that’s been around for a while now – PowerTap Power Meter.
Give the Gift of a Great Fitting Bike
Gift a Bike fit – Does your cyclist complain of hands falling asleep while riding? Or shoulder or neck pain after a long ride? A bike fit isn’t just for professional riders – they are for anyone who rides whether they are a beginner or advanced rider. A bike fit helps ensure riding comfort but it also impacts technique which is crucial to preventing overuse injuries and how an athlete rides. Consider the gift of giving your favorite cyclist a bike fit for Christmas. Not only can we help them with the fit, but we carry all the bike parts required to get the bike in the very best setup for their riding needs. Give us a call (303) 216-1616 or stop by the shop in Golden to schedule your bike fit.
Give the Gift of Adventure
Gift a fat bike demo! That’s right! Fat bikes are all the rage. They thrive in snow, sand, desert, bogs and mud as well as riding what is considered normal mountain biking. In fact, fat bikes are the fastest growing segment in the bike industry. Book a fat bike demo for your favorite cyclist that will up the giggle factor to their normal winter riding program. Who can’t smile while riding a fat bike?
Give the Gift of Bike Parts
And last but not least, what is a cyclist dream gift? Bike parts! As a reminder, our shop BikeParts.com offers a huge selection of road bike parts, mountain bike parts, BMX bike parts and more. If you need it for your bike, then we have it! Because we sell our bicycle parts online, we are able to help customers all over the world. In addition to bike parts, we also carry a large selection of bicycle accessories. We know bikes, and our extensive inventory includes more than 45,000 bike parts from all of the leading manufacturers including Avid, Pearl Izumi, Shimano, Rock Shox, Michelin and SRAM.
There you have it! See how easy it is to make your favorite cyclist smile this Christmas? By selecting a healthy cycling gift, you help your favorite cyclist reach health and fitness goals well into the New Year. Happy Holidays and Happy Riding!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: Avid, bicycle parts, bike fit, bike parts, BMX bike parts, compression, fat bike, healthy holiday gifts, holiday gifts, Honey Stinger products, Michelin, mountain bike parts, Osmo nutrition, Pearl Izumi, power meter, power tap, road bike parts, Rock Shox, Scratch Labs, Shimano, SRAM, Stages Power Meters | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
December 3, 2015
Happy Holidays from BikeParts.com
The holiday season can wreak havoc on maintaining any kind of structured training plan. Even when you make a solid commitment to staying fit through the holidays, even the best made training plans go awry.
Holiday parties, work demands, family obligations, illness, injury, and weather challenges all take a toll on training. How do you make the best of it? Stress out? Freak out? Beat yourself up? No! Get your game on with strategies to survive the holiday season. These strategies will help you maintain fitness, manage your weight, and set you up right for the New Year.
Strategy 1: Eat Well. The holidays offer irresistible food temptations adding extra pounds to our waste lines and robbing us of precious energy. Instead of reaching for the holiday goodies, opt for nutritious snacks. Eating poorly during the holidays can affect mood and motivation towards training. Focus on good nutrition and choose your bike nutrition when you need it most- on the bike. Being mindful of your food choices can positively affect your energy levels and help maintain your ability to ride and perform better.
Strategy 2: Log your intake and outtake. Many cyclist already track mileage or training time, but consider keeping a food log to track your caloric intake as well. A free and favorite app to help do this is Lose It! Users get a customized weight loss plan and then use the app to track food, measure activity levels, and connect with peers for group support to reach their goals. A great way to stay motivated to eat right. An added gain, is that it can sync up with most of the popular fitness tracking devices and wireless scales on the market. It also has a large food database for easy reference making it easy to track your caloric intake on the go.
Strategy 3: Maintain focus and control. The flurry of holiday activities makes time precious. You may not have time for a lengthy ride, so make the most of the time you do have. Increase your focus. Focus on what you can control and let go of things beyond your control. What can you control? The intensity, duration, and consistencies of your workouts. You can also control the elements surrounding your training, as in, your bike parts, bike functioning, and being well prepared nutritionally to get the best out of your workouts.
Strategy 4: Buddy Up! Use the ride to catch up with friends, training partners, and others. Ride with friends, join a spin class, or host your own trainer session. Committing to a time, place, and a friend creates structure keeping some consistency to your training.
Strategy 5: Relax: If you just can’t find the time or motivation to ride during the holiday season, at least feed your velo passion with pictures of new road bikes , new mountain bikes, and cool bike parts. It will feed your spirit and breathe life into next year’s bike season. In fact, the post, Missing training – Adjusting the plan, reminds us, “ It’s easy to beat yourself up over missed training, but if you have been steady with training, give yourself a break. Gaining fitness doesn’t happen in one or two days and losing fitness doesn’t happen in one or two days. It takes months of steady training to gain good fitness. A few days missed or logging a fewer less hours than planned for a week is a small blip on the radar.”
There you have it! Strategies to survive the holidays. Maintaining a holiday fitness plan doesn’t have be hard. Be flexible, mix it up, and enjoy!
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike nutrition, bike parts, holiday training, Lose It, mountain bikes, road bikes, trainer | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
November 26, 2015
Happy Thanksgiving from BikeParts.com
Thanksgiving Day – a day to express an attitude of gratitude and appreciation to our friends, families, neighbors and all of our dear ones.
The holiday rituals focus us on the highest aspects of ourselves. Coming from a sprit of generosity and appreciation, the day seems to glimmer with a magical, holiday energy.
While most Thanksgiving Day celebrations are among relatives and close friends, there are others that could benefit from some gratitude, cheer and applause. Who’s that? It’s your cycling community!
Thank those who have supported you throughout your year of cycling.
- Give thanks to family members, coworkers, coaches, fellow riders, and nutritionist for the year long support, feedback and encouragement you receive.
- Give thanks to your favorite bike shop (hint – us! Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop) and the mechanics for keeping your bike in working order.
- Give thanks to the person who does your bike fit and helping you ride more efficiently, comfortably, and hopefully faster.
- Give thanks to the bike and pedestrian committee members and wide range of other bike community leaders in your area for supporting cycling.
- Give thanks to bike manufactures for producing bikes, bike parts,cycling accessories, and bicycle cycling components.
- Give thanks to your race team and team supporters.
- Give thanks to race directors and volunteers of events.
- Give thanks to your favorite photographer that captured that awesome picture of you riding.
- Give thanks to yourself! That’s right! Acknowledge yourself for your commitment, discipline, and accomplishments.
- Give thanks to your bike. Your bike has traveled your journey with you observing your greatest triumphs and your deepest suffer fest. Give gratitude to your two wheeled friend.
Last but not least, all of us at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop would like to thank you! To express our appreciation, you are invited to our huge holiday bike sale! This Friday and Saturday. Here’s why you’ll love it – All 2016 bikes will be 15% off. All clothing and bike parts will be 20% off. This sale does not apply to closeout items.
From all of us at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’re sending cheer, cowbells, and applause along with a ton of gratitude to our staff, customers, racers, race teams, and all the passionate cyclist sharing the joy our two wheeled friends bring us. Happy Thanksgiving Friends!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike fit, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling components, Thanksgiving Day | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
November 19, 2015
Brand New Demo – 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie (Large)
Fat bikes – they’re all the rage! While many consider fat bikes to be a trend, they are, in fact, here to stay! The hottest trend in the mountain biking world right now is the oversized bike that can accommodate tires up to 5 inches wide. Yet, as popular as they are, many have yet to experience this cycling bliss!
You might be wondering, why would any self-respecting cyclist be caught dead on one of these? There are plenty of reasons, including the original impetus of floating over snow and sand, but perhaps the best reason is one shared by just about any form of bike: it’s fun! Fat bikes behave much like a mountain bike but, in many cases, they are much more versatile. You can practically ride them anywhere and they are particularly useful during winter rides in snowy conditions. They are also great beginner bikes and will make you feel like an 8 year-old again, bouncing gleefully all over the trails.
Fat bikes go where no bicycle has gone before. Fat bikes can ride pretty much anywhere. They do really well on dirt but they are also very capable in the snow. Packed snow will feel very much like riding on dirt. Pushing through heaps of freshly fallen snow will provide more of a challenge and there will be some days when riding is simply impossible. However, fat bikes make it so riders don’t have to omit a season from their calendar.
Fat bikes are easier to find and more affordable than ever before. The fat bike market has exploded in recent years. Brands include Specialized, Mongoose, Polaris, Kona, Gravity, Kawasaki, Borealis and more! Manufacturers are creating frames out of tons of different materials including aluminum, carbon, titanium, bamboo, real steel, and Wal-Mart steel. Most fat-bikes that you will come across have a fully rigid frame. However fat bikes with front fork suspension and full-body suspension have started to emerge.
Finding the fat bike that works for you will depend on the type of riding that you do and, more importantly, your budget. However, at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we are all big fans of fat bikes and offer several options. Check out two of our favorites the 2016 Fatboy Comp Carbon and the 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie DEMO!
Different people are finding different reasons to fall in love with fat bikes. Are you feeling the fat bike love? Demo a fat bike at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden, Colorado. Check out our fat bike bike selections, cycling apparel, hydration strategies, fat bike bike parts, and accessories. Enjoy the bliss a riding a fat bike can bring you!
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: 2016 Fatboy Comp Carbon, 2016 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie, bike parts, Borealis fat bike, cycling apparel, fat bike cycling apparel, fat bikes, Gravity fat bike, Kona fat bike, Mongoose fat bike, mountain bike, Polaris fat bike, Specialized fat bike | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
November 12, 2015
Gone are the epic rides of summer only to be replaced with cooler temperatures, shorter days, and less time on the bike. Aside from cyclocross, the 2015 cycling season is over, but, this part of the cycling season may just be the most important season of them all. It’s the off-season. It is dream season! Now, is the time to leverage the off season for bigger gains in 2016. In fact, there’s a saying in the cycling world, “the off season is where you can make the greatest gains” and at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we couldn’t agree more.
There are tried and true methods for training during the off season. Many of which focus on the psychical aspect of training with specific cycling workouts in combination with other forms of exercise including yoga, running, and weight lifting. But what about the mental aspect of training? Mental fatigue accumulates through the cycling season just as much as physical fatigue. A key element in off season gains is mental pause, reflection, and planning.
The post, Make Proper Goal Setting a Priority for Your Next Cycling Season highlights this fact offering 10 questions to evaluate the past season’s cycling performance. In doing so, as a cyclist, it offers you time to pause and reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and make improvements to the upcoming year. Armed with this insight, you’re better prepared to make better training choices now that lead to better performance in 2016.
With that being said, what is the secret sauce to making fitness gains in the off season? To make those gains, check out the posts, Making the Most of Your Off-Season and 10 Off Season Training Tips for Mountain Bikers to take advantage of the off-season period. You might also enjoy reading Top 5 Apps for Cyclists for Off-Season Fitness Gains. Using technology to track and build fitness can add an extra level of motivation as you benchmark progress.
All in all, making the most of fall season training is about keeping it fresh, trying something new, and also, targeting some fitness goals. The off season can be a great opportunity to get new bike parts. During the season, the focus is on riding; whereas during the off season, there’s more time for mental wanderings and fun! Check out our daily closeouts and overstock items to spark renewed interest in your off season cycling program.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: apps for cyclist, bike parts, cycling training, goal setting, off season training, yoga | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
November 5, 2015
BikeParts.com
Between trick-or-treating, Thanksgiving dinner and holiday parties, keeping the weight off can be a challenge for many individuals this time of year. According to a new survey just released by Nutrisystem, Inc., a leading provider of weight management products and services, Americans are without a doubt battling the bulge during the holiday season. The survey, conducted online in October in the U.S. on behalf of Nutrisystem by Harris Poll, polled 2,032 Americans, both male and female, and found:
- Nearly 1/3 (32%) of adults said they or their spouse/partner gained weight between Halloween and New Years last year.
- Of those that gained weight themselves, 3 in 4 (75%) said they gained 5 or more pounds and 1 in 3 (34%) say they gained 10 pounds or more.
- About 2 in 5 claim that they (39%) or their spouse/partner (44%) went up a full clothing size during this time.
What does this mean? Don’t be that guy or gal! Ride your bike! Just because the time has changed and the temperatures are cooler doesn’t mean you have to put your cycling regime on the shelf! With an enthusiastic attitude and a few bike part changes, you can shift your end of season cycling experience to be the best one yet!
To begin, don’t be afraid of the dark! When the clocks change and the night draws in, cyclists have a decision to make: get in the groove with night riding and embrace the darkness. Or, hang up the wheels and miss out on hours of glorious saddle time. The trick to capturing the benefits is to make the time change and night riding work for you. Visibility is crucial – for you and your bike. Outfit your bike with a good light system. You will want lights for the front of your bike. Consider having multiple lights for the front of your bike. One on your helmet so you can shine side roads and traffic and have a second light on your handlebars so you can see at least 10 ft. or more in front of you. For the rear of your bike, opt for a rear red light-particularly one that blinks. A blinking red light is much more likely to get the attention of a passing motorist who might otherwise not notice you. Don’t forget to wear cycling apparel that is visible. There are options to choose from including vests and ankle bands. Also, reflective tape is a good idea. 3M makes black reflective tape that is great to put on black wheels.
Instead of you getting fat, just get a fat bike! Fat bikes are the hottest trend in the mountain biking world right now and not surprisingly now is the time to get on board with them. This year there is more competition in the fat bike market than ever which means lower price tags. In addition to more complete bikes, there is a huge selection of fat bike parts available which makes it easy to customize your ride with wheels, tires, and other components that fit your riding style. Check out our post, 2016 Fatboy Comp Carbon, for details. Better yet, don’t just read about it, ride a fat bike! Stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop to ride, test ride, and buy a fat bike.
You’ve spent most of the year working hard, putting in long hours on the bike, sacrificing ‘bad’ foods to keep your weight down, and done your utmost to get as fit as possible. Don’t let all that hard work go to waste (or should we say waist?!)! What you do in the off-season can mean the difference between winning and losing during the next cycling season. Set your sights high for 2016 and stay fit now!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: 2016 Fatboy Comp Carbon, bike, bike lights, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling apparel, cycling lights, fat bike, Helmet, reflective clothing, tires, vests, weight management for cyclist, wheels | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
October 29, 2015
Cross season begins in the early fall and runs through the end of December. You know, the time of year that those of us who live in places that get real, bona fide winters want to hang up our bikes and hibernate under down blankets. But In Colorado, we don’t do that because it’s cross season and cross is worth going out in the cold for. Fortunately, the cooler temps and bad weather has escaped us so far; however soon on the horizon, cyclocross racers will be greeted with mud, cold, and nastier racing conditions. Makes for more fun, right? Absolutely! Here are the cross secrets to help you enjoy and be more competitive in the gnarly cyclocross races.
Nastier conditions require optional tire selection
Tire choice is one of the most hotly debated topics in all of cross. The lack of active suspension means that tires are your first line of defense against rooted, bumpy, and rutted terrain. Tires choice will also make all the difference in the mud. Regardless of whether you’re going to go the tubular or clincher route, many tire manufacturers offer tires for a number of different conditions. If you’re unsure about which tire is best for your upcoming event, stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop and we’ll help you dial it in. Another option, visit BikeParts.com online for a wide variety of cyclocross tire options.
Mud, grime, and poor conditions require extra wheels
Racing and riding in poor conditions is chaos for your bike! Broken spokes, muddy bikes, skewers get loose. Not fun and especially not fun while racing. If you have a set of wheels in the pit, you can make a change and be underway pretty quickly. Granted, not as quickly as grabbing a whole new bike but here are just three reasons why wheels are better than another bike:
1) You can have a set of super fast race wheels and a cheaper training set
2) You can have sets of wheels with different tread choices tailored to different conditions
3) If you tweak a rim you have backups on hand
Not convinced on the wheels? Forget the wheels and build a pit bike
There are other ways to mess up your bike; as in, ripping off your derailleur hanger. Or even worse, dragging the derailleur into the spokes in the process. One option is to replace bike parts as needed – or at least have backup bike parts on hand. The other option is to build a backup bike. This pit bike can be one you purchased used or put together from the parts bin that roughly approximates the setup of the race bike and is a compromise in many respects.
Now that you have the secrets to racing cross in the winter conditions, put your skills to use! Get your cowbell ready and plan your winter cyclocross racing season. See you at the races!
3 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, cyclocross, cyclocross tires, cyclocross wheelset, derailleur, pit bike, spokes | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
October 22, 2015
Winter Proof Your Bike @ BikeParts.com
Winter is coming in most parts of the country. But even though it is winter does not mean that you have to give up riding your bike. While the off season may be underway, this is the perfect time of year for commuters and athletes to start bike maintenance preparation for the winter months.
Winter riding poses many threats so having a bike in good working order keeps you safe, warmer, and provides the opportunity for a more enjoyable ride. Besides, a good ride always does the body and mind good! The trick to making winter riding work for you is to winterize your bike. When prepping your bike for for the winter, there are several things you want to do to keep it in good working order for the winter months.
- Invest in fenders! You’ll love them because the fight off salt, sand, and oil-laden road spray. By installing full fenders, you will keep crud off clothing and grit from getting into—and wearing out—most components. And you!
- Keep the rubber side down! Slick surfaces and crashes are fun – said no one- ever! Do yourself a favor and invest in new tires. New tires will be easier to control on icy roads and slushy trails. We have a huge selection of mountain bike and road bike tires online at BikeParts.com and also in our Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop. Stop by to hand select the best tires for you.
- Wipe your bike down. Combat corrosion and griminess due to salt and dirt by wiping down your frame after each ride. This is especially important for wet bikes. Rain, snow, ice, and road elements pose different cleaning challenges to your frame and bicycle parts. Consider using a stiff, soft-bristled brush to knock off any chunks of dried-on mud that may be on your frame or wheels. Then, follow that up by taking a rag to your bike, wiping it down generally all over to get off any remaining dust or dirt. You’ll want to make a point to clean your bike chain weekly.
- Safety First! Be seen and be safe. Winter riding involves riding in grey days! Of course, visibility is critical. Outfit your bike with a good light system. You will want lights for the front of your bike. Consider having multiple lights for the front of your bike. One on your helmet so you can shine side roads and traffic and have a second light on your handlebars so you can see at least 10 ft. or more in front of you. For the rear of your bike, opt for a rear red light- particularly one that blinks. A blinking red light is much more likely to get the attention of a passing motorist who might otherwise not notice you. You may also consider purchasing cycling apparel that is visible. There are options to choose from including vests and ankle bands. Also, reflective tape is a good idea. 3M makes black reflective tape that is great to put on black wheels. You do not notice it during the day and it shows up white at night.
- Avoid a wardrobe malfunction! As the temperature drops, it’s hard to know what to wear when it’s 50 degrees and sunny outside versus 30 – 35 degrees and cloudy. Riding in transitional weather can be a challenge! But, with clothing that is versatile, lightweight, and easy to pack down, you can find a cycling wardrobe that works for you. Check out our post, Avoid a Clothing Crisis! New Threads to Keep you Warm for Fall and Winter Cycling for great winter riding clothing options.
Have no fear of losing cycling motivation in the winter months! The first step towards successfully riding through the winter months is winter proofing your bike. When you are confident in your bike and clothing options, there are less excuses to tell yourself for not riding and more reasons to get on the bike and enjoy the ride.
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: Avoid a Clothing Crisis! New Threads to Keep you Warm for Fall and Winter Cycling, bicycle parts, bike maintenance, cycling apparel, fendors, lights, mountain bike, road bike, tires, vests, winter riding | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
October 15, 2015
Ask any cyclist, “When is the good time to by a new bicycle?” The answer, anytime! Most cyclist have a favorite bike for riding trails; another bike for commuting; a road bike for riding the road…and so it continues. The same adage applies to cycling accessories, bike parts, and cycling apparel. You can never really have enough of a good thing, right?
At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we know our customers love their cycling gear and bikes, so we like to make it easy on you! Currently we’re having a sale of 2014 – 2015 POC apparel, demo bikes, and a variety of road and mountain bikes. Here’s a sneak peak to the sale we’ve got going and why you need to visit our shop now!
Wheels
Giant makes affordable carbon mountain bike wheels that have wider rim and are ideal for high stress environments. Giant focuses on ratio of stiffness to weight of carbon fiber wheel which makes for better performance.
Bikes
Giant Anthem Advanced SX 27.5 2015. Why you’ll love this bike? It’s a playful cross country bike with 5” of travel on front and a dropper post. On sale now in our Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop!
Giant Lust Advanced 0 27.5 2015 is equivalent to Anthem Advanced. It’s a plush race bike and a favorite for women. On sale too!
Giant Defy 1 2016 built for speed and control. Flattened seat stays reduce vibrations and D-Fuse seat post smooth out road vibrations. Also has disc brakes and a long head tube, making it good for enduro races.
S-Works Epic 29 – Very fast race bike. Ridden by top riders in the world.
Specialized Crave 29 Single speed – Light bike w/ carbon fork. Great commuter or great to have fun with on the trails. On sale now!
What’s not to like? Stop by the shop today and be sure to like us on
Facebook and follow us on
Twitter to keep up with news on bikes,
bike parts, and new product releases.
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: 2014 - 2015 POC apparel, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling apparel, Giant Anthem Advanced SX 27.5 2015, Giant carbon mountain bike wheels, Giant Defy 1 2016, Giant Lust Advanced 0 27.5 2015, Specialized Crave 29 Single speed | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
October 8, 2015
Specialized Defroster Cycling Shoe at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop
You know you’re experiencing a clothing crisis when your focus shifts from the trail, the traffic or your route sheet to your increasingly cold and numb hands and feet. Fall and winter cycling poses some challenges yet it can be equally as fun as summer riding given you have the right cycling apparel, you know how to dress for winter riding, and you have the right bike parts in your winter toolkit. The trick is having a plan for staying warm on the bike and avoiding a cycling wardrobe emergency this fall and winter.
So, what’s in your cycling wardrobe? It’s a given that you’ll want to have clothing that is versatile, lightweight, and easy to pack down. As we’re just now transitioning to cooler temperatures, now is the time to take inventory of the cycling apparel you currently have and purchase additional items that are missing from your cycling wardrobe. With this in mind, you might want to consider what type of cycling you plan to do this fall and winter. That will help you to avoid making unnecessary purchases. Depending on the type of ride, the duration of your ride, and the elements, your clothing options make the difference between a suffer fest or a great ride.
Ask yourself, what clothing do you need to wear in different weather conditions? Do you have waterproof and wind resistant clothing? Do you have enough of the basic cycling necessities, as in leggings? Arm warmers? Knee warmers? Scull cap? What about your base layers? Do you have enough of them or do you need to add in some fleece lined clothing? Lucky for you, at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we can help you with all of your cycling apparel needs! In fact, we’ve got quite a lot of new cycling clothing in store right now! Here are the favorites you might want to check out.
- Great for keeping the digits warm, the Endura gloves are our most popular wind chill gloves.
- As for the keeping your toes warm, we have two favorite options. The Giant Sojourn cycling shoes have a stiff and grippy bottom which are good for walking. A great option for bike commuters. The other favorite is the Defroster cycling shoe. It’s a great option for fall and winter riding and especially on the cold days because these shoes doesn’t require shoe covers.
- We have a variety of knickers, knee warmers, and pants. These are essential items to have on hand because as the temperatures drop, it’s a good idea to cover your knees. Many cyclist prefer tights whereas others prefer leg warmers. There are also knickers which allow more airflow over the legs, and they are good for those in-between days. Consider trying out each option and experiment to dial in your preference.
- If you are looking for great fall gear that is super durable, then stop by the shop and check out all of the Endura cycling apparel we have in stock. You might want to check out the POC apparel too – it’s on sale!
Last but not least, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop has the ability to special order items. Come and ask if you want something! Avoid a clothing crisis! Get on the bike this fall and ride!
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: arm warmers, base layer, cold weather cycling apparel, cycling apparel, Defroster cycling shoe, Endura cycling apparel, Endura gloves, Giant Sojourn cycling shoes, knee warmers, POC cycling apparel, winter cycling apparel | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
Peak Cycles - BikeParts.com Blog 