January 9, 2020
Strava has announced its prediction for 2020’s Quitter’s Day as Sunday 19 January – the day that most people give up on their new year’s resolutions. But wait! You’re not a quitter! You’re a die-hard cyclist! Or at least a cyclist with passion and a commitment to riding. So be a winner on January 19. Follow our tips to not only keep your New Year’s resolutions but also, make 2020 one of your best years yet!
Goal Planning: Make sure your New Year’s Cycling Resolutions are SMART. By SMART, we mean specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. SMART goals not only increase your chance of attaining your goals, but you also become a better cyclist in the process How so? By making measurable and time-bound goals, you’re introducing a level of discipline and consistency in your training to meet your objectives. Extra discipline yields better results. This is where heart rate monitors and power meters come in handy. These cycling tools offer biofeedback to better help you gauge your effort and output as it relates to your cycling goals workout by workout and month over month. Set some SMART goals and then move on to our next tip.
Goal Strategy: Define your approach. Get a game plan together of how you plan to train and race. As a point of reference, reflect on last year’s performances and think about this year’s SMART goals. Compare the two and see where can you improve. Some cyclist focuses 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 the day of results. Take time now to review and plan ahead. As part of your goal strategy, consider experimenting 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 2020 and keeps you motivated through the winter months.
Goal Motivator: As we mentioned earlier, regular and consistent riding velds results. Don’t let poor weather force you to quit your New Year’s resolutions. Make friends with the trainer. Invest in cycling apparel and cycling accessories that allow you to ride in a variety of weather conditions. If you really can’t bear the winter months, don’t forgo your resolutions, trade saddle time for gym time to gain core strength. Another option? Focus on nutrition. Many subscribe to the idea of eating pasta and carbs for fueling training and racing. Yet, there is a growing shift in nutritional information towards a strong focus on vegetables, fruits, and lean meats as fuel. Consider experimenting with your diet and nutrition as a means for making gains in your 2020 cycling program.
Finally, remind yourself why you made your New Year’s Resolutions in the first place. There’s a reason you were compelled to reach for these goals. Write them down. Put them on a mirror or someplace where you see them often. Fuel your passion and your goals in ways that uniquely inspire you to reach for and be your best cyclist this year.
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Posted by staffwriter8
November 21, 2019
Many recreational and competitive cyclists have made the progression from participating in one-day races to multi-day events. The transition from racing a single day to several consecutive days can be easy enough when there is a plan in place.
Generally, that involves planning the overall strategy and tactics for particular stages. And much like a stage race, planning is important for making the most of the three most important upcoming holiday shopping days. Namely, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. Here’s how to make the most of your holiday purchases.
Day 1 – Leading out the shopping season is Black Friday. Here’s your chance to cash in on bike components, apparel, bicycle parts including trainers and all sorts of bike goodies. Be on the lookout for discounts on the BikeParts.com. Remember, this is day one. So, don’t go out too fast!
Day 2 – Sandwiched in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is Small Business Saturday. This day, November 30th is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses. As we wrote about previously, your support enables us to host community events like the Bike Safety Talk with the Cycling Lawyer, offer Bicycle Demo Days, and contribute to the national races that come through Golden like the Colorado Classic.
Additionally, your purchases encourage us to give back to the community as in co-hosting the Staunton Blizzard Fat Bike Race each year and supporting local cycling teams. Use Small Business Saturday as a purchase that extends the gift of giving. You may be purchasing bike parts, a new road bike or mountain bike, but you’re also supporting a local bike shop that invests in the cycling community. This is the day to take advantage of big deals and savings. Be strategic in your shopping and plan to stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop on Small Business Saturday to take advantage of the in-store sales, discounts, and offers available.
Day 3 – Last but not least, we’ve got Cyber Monday. This is day three and on Monday, December 2, 2019, Bikeparts.com could be your best option for cyber shopping. In addition to the storefront, our online website offers over 45,000 bike parts and accessories. Bikeparts.com not only carries road bicycle parts and mountain bike parts but also complete bikes, nutritional supplements and much more.
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are the most highly anticipated shopping days of the year. Be strategic with your holiday shopping. Make the most of the three days by shopping at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden Colorado and online at BikeParts.com.
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Posted by staffwriter8
July 18, 2019
Adventure – we love it! That’s why we ride bikes, right? The feeling of freedom riding a bike gives us is intoxicating and liberating. Seeking adventure on our bikes just ups the game!
The thrill of riding uncharted territory and exploring new rides and routes is exhilarating. But sometimes, riding into the unknown can also be stressful – especially if you are doing it solo. Concerns about changing weather conditions, coupled with the fear of a possible crash or getting disoriented or lost, all contribute to less than the ideal ride. There are some considerations to take on longer rides and recommended gear to carry, whether it’s just for a big one-day adventure or a much longer bikepacking expedition.
At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’ve discovered that by taking just a few extra precautions, you can increase the likelihood of having a great riding experience, as well as, coming home safe and in one piece to tell your friends and family all about it.
Prepare your route and know the profile – How much climbing and descending should you expect? Have you trained appropriately? Plan within your limits.
Know the route – where is the trailhead? How long is the route? What is the technical difficulty? What type of terrain will you be riding? And, what are the current trail conditions? All these factors influence your experience and safety while riding in teh backcountry. An additional consideration is water. Is water available? No doubt, you will definitely want to bring along hydration options. Think water bottles and hydration packs and consider filter options for epic days or routes.
Know the weather conditions before, during, and soon after you expect to ride. Colorado weather changes quickly and sometimes, radically. Be prepared. Plan ahead. Think through what you will do when faced with challenging weather conditions.
Be mindful of the cycling apparel to wear. Being over or underdressed makes for an uncomfortable ride. You’ll want to have a rain jacket, maybe a wind vest, and several layering options available to you depending on the length and location of your ride.
Before you head out on your adventure, know which bike components are best for the terrain type and the right mountain bike tire to use.
In addition to preparing for your ride, you will want a checklist of essential items to carry with you. By no means is this a complete list but it’s a good starting place for essentials:
Plan for problems. Not every ride goes as planned. Think ahead and work through any potential problems you may encounter and prepare in advance accordingly. If you need additional clothes, plan to pack them. If you need spare bike parts, or extra lube, or other cycling accessories, add them to your list to purchase and have available for your adventure.
Finally, ride conservatively, especially when riding solo. Ride within your limits. New ride routes and trails have a way of invoking cycling superpowers! That is, they inspire us to ride fast and get after it! That is all fine and dandy but when riding solo in remote or uncharted territory, it may be a good idea to pull back just a bit. Keep some reserves in your energy stores in case you do get lost or the ride takes you further from your final, planned destination. Be mindful of changing weather conditions that may tax your energy reserves and be proactive in eating timely and adding/ removing cycling apparel to make sure you keep your energy steady. Nothing adds more stress to a ride than getting lost and/or being too cold and not knowing if you can even get to your final destination.
Riding solo in the backcountry can be a fun adventure. Yet remember, it’s safer to ride with a buddy and safer still to ride the backcountry with a group. If you’re going out solo, take extra time to prepare and be conservative. Safe riding!
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Posted by staffwriter8
July 4, 2019
Fireworks, food, and patriotic music are part of July 4 festivities throughout the United States, but beyond that, celebration traditions vary. Cyclists especially have their own way of celebrating the 4th and generally, that is with a great bike ride. Extra time away from work, combined with good weather and improved fitness makes for an epic day in the saddle. The question is, where to ride? Check out our pick of ride worthy routes for both road and mountain bike riding along the Front Range.
Mountain bike rides:
- White Ranch Trail
- Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Trail
- North Table Mountain
- Green Mountain Park
- South Table Mountain
- Chimney Gulch Trail
- Apex Park Trail
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Lair O’ the Bear
- Buffalo Creek
- Centennial Cone
- Hall Ranch
Road rides:
- Historic Lariat Loop
- Deer Creek Canyon
- Bergen Park or Idaho Springs to Guanella Pass
- Red Rocks Park Loop
- Bergen Park or Idaho Springs to St. Mary’s Glacier (Alice)
- Idaho Springs to Loveland Pass
- Golden to Cold Springs Campground via Golden Gate Canyon
- Bergen Park to Echo Lake
- Idaho Springs to Juniper Pass
- Manitou Springs to Pike Peak Summit Parking Lot (Pikes Peak Hill Climb)
- Morgul-Bismark Route
- Jamestown Canyon Ride
- Flagstaff Hill Climb
- NCAR Hill Climb
- Lookout Mountain Hill Climb
- Sunshine Hill Climb
- Magnolia Hill Climb
- Mt. Evans Hill Climb
- Pikes Peak
- Trail Ridge Road
A few reminders before you head out on a day of cycling.
- Know the profile – How much climbing and descending should you expect?
- Know the route – where is the trailhead? How long is the route? What is the technical difficulty? What type of terrain will you be riding? And, what are the current trail conditions?
- Know the weather conditions before, during, and soon after you expect to ride. Colorado weather changes quickly and sometimes, radically. Be prepared.
- Know what cycling apparel to wear. Being over or underdressed makes for an uncomfortable ride.
- Know which bike components are best for the terrain type and the right mountain bike tire to use.
In addition to preparing for your ride, you will want a checklist of essential items to carry with you.
Post-ride, recover with a jump in a lake or pool. Indulge in grilling, spending time with family and friends and eating 4th of July treats guilt-free. Show your patriotic spirit by enjoying festivals, parades, and fireworks. Whatever you do, enjoy! Happy 4th of July!
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Posted by staffwriter8
January 3, 2019
Welcome to 2019! Does the New Year have you inspired, motivate, and excited to take on more in the coming year? It’s a new year and a fresh start to actually doing all the things you want to do. Yet, as you may know, not all New Year’s resolutions and goals are created equally. Some are lofty and while you have good intentions, you know you aren’t really going after it. Then, there are other goals. The ones that would feel rewarding, satisfying and meaningful if you were to meet them. These are the heartfelt goals and resolutions that we’re talking about! The ones that inspire you and light you up!
What are those goals? How do you plan to achieve them? And how will you know when you have met them? Start 2019 off right by having a plan.
Define your intention. This is important. What do you intend for yourself? How committed are you? What are you willing to change in your schedule, your training, your bike setup, and even your approach towards meeting your goals. Without having a clear intention and determining your level of commitment, you won’t reach your goals.
Define your goals. Identify specifically what you want to accomplish in 2019. Make a list. The more specific the better because vague goals can’t be quantified. When you list out specifically what you want to accomplish and a time frame in which to do this, you make your goals SMART. 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. What might these goals look like? For example, a goal to consistently hit target heart rate zones or power zones for specific workout. Leverage cycling accessories that are available to you – as in power meters and /or heart rate monitors to provide objective feedback. 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 goals set for 2019, it’s time to take inventory of your abilities to meet your goals for training and 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 weak, 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. Take stock of last year’s performances, where can you improve? Check in with your commitment level again. What is it going to take to make manageable changes to your lifestyle to support your goals? Take time now to review and plan ahead. Take a fresh approach to 2019! 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 2019 and keeps you motivated through the winter months.
Define results: How will you know that you reached your goals? It’s important to have this dialed in so that you can celebrate your success and feel rewarded for your commitment.
Goal setting is much more than simply saying you want something to happen. Unless you clearly define exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your odds of success are considerably reduced. Start the year off right with small, manageable changes to your lifestyle to reach your goals. Stay focused. Be consistent. And, keep your eyes on the prize! Here’s wishing you the very best in 2019!
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Posted by staffwriter8
June 28, 2018
From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
While many American’s hang an American flag from their home, car, or work building, why not celebrate the 4th from your two wheels? You can decorate your bike with bike bells, streamers, and the like; but why note take it a step further and include your bike riding in your holiday festivities? The question for some is, where to ride? Ride trails of course! Some of Colorado’s finest trails and beautiful views are in our backyard. Check out:
- White Ranch Trail
- Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Trail
- North Table Mountain
- Green Mountain Park
- South Table Mountain
- Chimney Gulch Trail
- Apex Park Trail
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Lair O’ the Bear
- Buffalo Creek
- Centennial Cone
- Hall Ranch
Now, before you head on any of these rides, be sure to be prepared! Be especially considerate if you are taking young ones with you out on the trails or other riders that may not have been riding for a while. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Know the profile – How much climbing and descending should you expect?
- Know the route – Where is the trailhead? How long is the route? What is the technical difficulty? What type of terrain will you be riding? And, what are the current trail conditions? Considering it has been so hot and dry lately, you’ll definitely want to bring along hydration options. Think water bottles and hydration packs.
- Know the weather conditions before, during, and soon after you expect to ride. Colorado weather changes quickly and sometimes, radically. Be prepared.
- Know what cycling apparel to wear. Being over or under dressed makes for an uncomfortable ride.
- Know which bike components are best for the terrain type and the right mountain bike tire to use.
In addition to preparing for your ride, you will want a checklist of essential items to carry with you.
What else would you add to the list? Oh yes! A well maintained bike! Before heading out on your holiday adventures, be sure to conduct a bike maintenance and safety check. Notice any worn out bike parts to be replaced. Lube the chain and other bike components. For extra tips on getting ready, read our post, Spring Cleaning, 4 Essential Bike Maintenance Tips to Get Your Bike on the Road.
As a reminder this 4th of July, 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 – even if you don’t celebrate the 4th. Stop by our Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden, Colorado to pick up your 4th of July cycling accessories or visit us online at BikeParts.com. Happy 4th of July friends!
As a 4th of July bonus, read on for more ways to celebrate the holiday on your bike!
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Posted by staffwriter8
April 19, 2018
April 22nd is Earth Day! Yay! And, you might be wondering how bicycles benefit the environment? Or why ride them on this special day?
At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we are big supporters in our local community and race teams, and as such, we know bike commuting is a win-win for our local community. Basically, for anyone looking to save money, embrace a green or sustainable lifestyle, and promote healthy, livable cities, cycling is important.
To kick off your Earth Day preparations, you will want to read our post, Pedal Power for Earth Day, to explore the many benefits of bike commuting. As a next step, you will want to decide how you want to celebrate the day and keep the Earth Day mojo going thereafter. The magic in Earth Day is making every day Earth Day. Bike riding is a natural fit! The key is inspiring others to keep riding.
Inspire others with bike education programs. No one likes riding a poor fitting bike. Having the right bike setup, cycling accessories and gear makes all the difference. Consider hosting a get together of friends and review bike safety. Or, participate in a bike maintenance class. Bicycle tools are different than regular tools and all tools aren’t created equal – some are good for mountain bike parts while others are designed for road bike parts. Knowing which tools to use on the appropriate bike components can make all the difference in making bike maintenance easy inspiring others to enjoy bike maintenance in addition to riding.
Inspire your friends with a list of rides and events. Colorado has some of the greatest road bike rides in the country. Some are shorter, convenient rides whereas others offer steeper, longer climbs and extended distances. Certainly you have your favorite list. Invite your friends for a special Earth Day ride and make it an annual celebration.
Inspire others with a bike-friendly shopping program. Everyone likes to shop, right? Inspire friends with bike parts bling! Many aspiring bike riding enthusiast appreciate a shop that offers quality bike components along with solid advice on bike parts and cycling apparel. Stop by the shop to check out our specials, discounts, and new cycling accessories for the season. Who says you can’t ride in style for Earth Day?
Inspire through reading. Maybe you just can’t make it out on Earth Day for a ride. No worries. Check out our posts for inspiration:
– Get Your Kids Bike Commuting – Here’s How!
– Summer Bike Commuting – Making it Work For You
– The Smart Cyclist’s Guide to Preventing Bike Theft
All in all, the most important thing to remember for Earth Day is that bike riding is fun. Fun includes enjoying the adventure of cycling solo and with friends. Fun also means riding a well fitting bike and feeling confident in riding the bike paths and the roads. This way, your Earth Day bike ride becomes an environmentally friendly activity you can do every day!
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Posted by staffwriter8
March 8, 2018
Spring riding and racing is just around the corner and athletes everywhere are starting to think about their “A” races as well as secondary races to use for training and motivation. A given rule of thumb is that all races provide experience, training benefits, and act as a stage to assess your form. Because of that, targeting a handful of high and low priority races and events throughout the year can be useful as learning experiences and opportunities to dial in nutritional needs and race strategies. The question for many is, where to start?
Begin by committing to an event! This March and April, there are many tours, races, and events to choose from in Colorado. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, following are some of our upcoming favorite March and early April cycling events.
– Leadville Winter Bike Series 50k
– Pedaling for St. Pats
– Staunton Spring Fattie Frenzy
– Great Divide Grinder
– Louisville Criterium
– Buff Gold Road Race
– Oredigger Classic – Chad Young Memorial TT
Now, using your chosen event, set some goals. For some, early season races are just about getting harder efforts in and saddle time. However, having defined goals can help reduce prerace anxiety and also help you better evaluate your performance post race. So, begin by identifying what you want to accomplish with this event whether it be a targeted Heart Rate or Power zone, a solid nutrition plan, or attacking certain areas on the race course and use that to benchmark your success.
Next, evaluate the race route. Specifically, get to know the course and the conditions. Spring weather can alter race course conditions considerably. Take into consideration the bike parts you’ll be racing and confirm you have the bike components and gear needed to successfully race the course. For mountain bike components – consider tire selection carefully when riding wet and muddy trails.
Keep in mind, last racing season was some time ago. Your race day preparations might be stale so begin to prepare some race day rituals that you can use and build upon throughout the 2018 season. Give it some thought: does having a checklist of race day activities help structure your preparation to the start line? Include items such as nutrition, hydration, clothes, gear, extra bike parts and basic bicycle tools. This way, you won’t be forgetting anything as you prepare for your start. Maybe visualization, mantras, and breathing exercises are your thing. Regardless, early season races offer a chance to build on race day rituals that have helped you in the past and also enhance your support for the season going forward.
Remember to include in your race day rituals how you want to start the race! It seems simple enough to show up on the line and be ready for the gun to go off, but your start line mental state makes a difference – especially in early season races when nerves are running high. Your thoughts, emotions, and prerace behaviors are components of your mental state, so take inventory of your mental state and align them with your goals. It’s easy early season to compare your training and fitness to others. This is where having your race plan and goals specific to this event comes in handy. Stay true to your goals – not others.
Finally, evaluate your results based on your goals. What worked? What didn’t? What can you do next race to get a better result? Be objective and explore how your mental and physical training helped prepare you for this event. Remember to evaluate your bike and cycling accessory selections. Did you race the right bike? Would a different wheel set make a difference? Did you suffer from mechanical issues? Now is the time to dial in, replace, and buy the bike parts that you need going into your next event.
Whether you’re entering your first event or you’re a seasoned racer, planning your early season events can lay a foundation for confidence and physical fitness in which to build upon for the cycling season. Enjoy the March cycling events in Colorado and use them to catapult you into a great 2018 cycling season.
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Posted by staffwriter8
August 10, 2017
BikeParts.com Team Rider Racing in Colorado
With school starting and only about a month and half left of the Colorado cycling racing and touring season, many are filling up their calendars with the last big events of the season hoping to capitalize on the fitness gains made during the season.
Some of the popular Colorado races and tours on tap for August include:
Yet, as we transition from summer to fall, many cyclist find their enthusiasm for riding dwindling. Have you noticed that at the beginning of the race season, enthusiasm and energy is high! About the mid-season point, accumulated season fatigue catches up with most racers and cyclist. Recovery rate from workouts and from races slows down and finally, by the end of the season, some find their motivation just plain lacking. With that in mind, what are the ways to maintain motivation while also capture added gains towards next year’s goals?
The key to late season racing and bike events is really to have fun! Try new events, ride routes, and races. Now is the time to enjoy the gains of your hard work. With fitness levels high, late season bike events offer a chance to experiment with race strategies and new cycling accessories. Venture out of your comfort zone and try racing a new road bike or mountain bike for one of the events mentioned above.
If experimentation isn’t your thing, then at least replace worn out bike parts or catch deals on bike close outs, bike parts and components. Stock up on cycling apparel for the fall and winter months to keep motivation high through the transitioning season.
Or, maybe training is too grueling for you this time of year. Switch from training to riding to work. Bike commuting helps get in the miles while offering up time for other fun activities. Other fun activities include strength training and yoga. Both of these activities help to extend the fitness gains you’ve made through the current year.
Another option for fun is adding in some skill training. During peak training periods, bike skills and technique is often overlooked. Why not spend some time improving your bike skills? The video: Five key skills to improve your bike handling offers great visuals and the post, Body Position on the MTB, dials in where you need to be on the bike to ride your best. Experimenting late season avoids the risk of injury during peak races but also can offer a new challenge – like learning how to do a track stand.
Enjoy the fitness gains you have made through the season. Have fun! Having a fun, relaxed attitude combined with a celebratory bike event is a great way to finish your season.
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Posted by staffwriter8
November 17, 2016
Most cyclists, whether competitive or not, enjoy being at the front of the pack. Sure, it’s safer, but it’s also cool to be in front. As the Thanksgiving Holiday is right around the corner, now’s the time to position yourself to be at the front of the pack – shopping that is!
Leading out the shopping season is Black Friday. From the start, you have a chance to cash in on bike components, cycling apparel, bicycle parts including trainers and all sorts of bike goodies. Here’s what you’re going to want to stock up on!
Start small and go for the usual suspects for stocking stuffers including multi tools, tubes, bottles, socks, head warmers, arm warmers, shoe covers, gloves, lube, energy bars, gels, chews and similar items. Add these to your wish list or invite family and friends to purchase them for you. You can never have too many of these items, so indulge!
Next, evaluate what is missing in your cycling program. Are you in need of new cycling apparel? As in jerseys, layering options, or cycling shoes. What about your bike? Do you need new bike parts? And, don’t forget about nutrition and supplements! Now’s the time time to select the cycling accessories and other much needed items that you would like to see show up under the tree.
Yet, let’s not forget for a moment that holiday wish lists and making the most of Black Friday is all about what you need, right? Isn’t it about dreaming big? Which training elements would you love to have, but don’t? A new heart rate monitor? Or a power meter? 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.
Don’t stop there! Drop the hammer and make your wish list epic! Go big! Get a new road bike, mountain bike, or fat bike! Take advantage of Black Friday or Cyber Monday for savings and specials. Great road bicycles don’t have to come at a hefty price tag either. Right now, in our Golden, Colorado shop we have a variety of bikes that are light and fast for racing. If a new bike isn’t in your budget, then start with the basics. Have good equipment. Meaning, add some bike parts to your list.
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 helping them – and you – to get the gifts you want and need.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, cycling apparel, fat bike, heart rate monitor, mountain bike, power meter, road bike, trainers | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
July 28, 2016
BikeParts.com team rider Joshua Vogt mastered the jitters! #1 at the Rattler Series #3
Before a race or a big event, do you ever feel overwhelmed? Nervous? Anxious?
For the most part, experiencing those sensations is normal. Yet, oftentimes, negative self talk can exasperate the problem.
Thoughts like, “I haven’t trained enough” or you find yourself caring too much about what other people think. Maybe looking around the start of an event you take a mental inventory and think other cyclist look more fit or have better bikes. Worst case scenario, you notice the weather and assign its condition as to how you think you will perform. Whatever the case may be, managing your thoughts and creating successful race day routines is well within your scope of control.
At Peak Cycles Bicycle shop, we’ve found that a little preparation can aid in reducing race day jitters. Here’s what works!
Register for an Event – In order to experience race day jitters, you actually have to be registered for an event! If you don’t have anything planned, select a road race and / or MTB race for the upcoming month. Here’s what we have on tap for Colorado racing:
- July 30, 2016 – 155 Team Challenge Gran Fondo, Montrose
- July 30, 2016 – Colorado Park to Park Challenge, Denver to Winter Park, 96mi (a challenge!)
- July 30, 2016 – Circle the Summit (Bob Guthrie Memorial), Summit County, 21/45/60/100mi
- July 30, 2016 – Cripple Creek Crippler, Ken Caryl, 207mi, 19,000ft, Double Century
- July 31-August 6, 2016 – Colorado Rocky Mountain Bike Tour, Gunnison, 472mi, 7-days
- August 6, 2016 – I-25 Kia Copper Triangle, Copper Mountain, 82mi
- August 6, 2016 – Stonewall Century Bicycle Ride, Spanish Peaks, La Veta, 100mi
- August 7, 2016 – Classic Velo Retro Rider, Boulder, Vecchio’s at 10am
- August 9-14, 2016 – Breck Epic, Breckenridge, 35-50mi a day, 6-day stage race, MTB
- August 13, 2016 – Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Leadville, 100mi, MTB
- August 13, 2016 – Red Rocks Gran Fondo, Red Rocks (a hard one!), 33/50/62/100mi
- August 13, 2016 – BStrong Ride, Boulder, 24/69mi
- August 13, 2016 – The Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cycling Hillclimb Gran Fondo, 12.42m, ~8,000ft
- August 13, 2016 – Prestige Imports Vuelta a Dillon Fondo, Dillon, 20/60/90mi
- August 13, 2016 – Tour of the Valley, Grand Junction, 30/50/78/100mi
- August 20, 2016 – Tour de Cure Colorado, Longmont, 10/50/62/100mi
- August 20, 2016 – Tim Kalisch Memorial Grand Loop, Golden, 200mi, 15,000ft
- August 28, 2016 – Golden Gran Fondo, Golden, 20/60/90mi
- August 27, 2016 – Colo Bike Law Lookout Mountain Hillclimb, Golden, 4.6mi, 1200ft
- August 27, 2016 – Venus de Miles, Boulder, 33/51/100mi, women only
- August 27, 2016 – CF Cycle For Life (Cystic Fibrosis), Highlands Ranch, 14/49/65mi
- August 28, 2016 – Good Sam Bike Jam, Lafayette (Boulder County), 62/100mi
- August 29, 2016 – Colorado Gran Fondo, Colorado Springs, 60/100mi
Set Goals – Everyone has different goals. For some, races are just about getting harder efforts in and saddle time. For others, it’s making the podium. For most cyclist, it’s about achieving personal bests. The most important aspect of having a goals it that it can help reduce pre race anxiety and also help you better evaluate your performance post race. Identify what you want to accomplish with this event – whether it be a targeted heart rate or power zone, a solid nutrition plan, or attacking certain areas on the race course.
Race Route – Know the course and the conditions. Weather can alter race course conditions considerably. Take into consideration the bike parts you’ll be racing and confirm you have the bike components and gear needed to successfully race the course. For mountain bike components – consider tire selection carefully when riding wet and muddy trails. Familiarity with the race course and weather conditions aids in having confidence to tackle anything that comes at you during your big event.
Race Day Rituals – Designing and refining a pre-event routine is an important part of building a successful race season. Does having a checklist of race day activities help structure your preparation to the start line? Include items such as nutrition, hydration, clothes, gear, extra bike parts and basic bike tools. This way, you won’t forget anything as you prepare for your start. Maybe visualization, mantras, and breathing exercises are your thing. Regardless, each event offers you a chance to build on race day rituals that have helped you in the past and also enhance your support for your next race.
Start Line Mental State – Your thoughts, emotions, and pre race behaviors are components of your mental state; with that in mind, take inventory of your mental state and align them with your goals. It’s easy to compare your training and fitness to others. Here is where having your race plan and goals specific to this event comes in handy.
Success Parameters – Evaluate your results based on your goals. What worked? What didn’t? What can you do next race to get a better result? Be objective and explore how your mental and physical training helped prepare you for this event. Remember to evaluate your bike and cycling accessory selections. Did you race the right bike? Would a different wheel set make a difference? Did you suffer from mechanicals? Now is the time to dial in, replace, and buy the bike parts that you need going into your next event.
Whether you’re entering your first event or you’re a seasoned racer, you’re always likely to suffer from some race day nerves. However, with a little planning you can gain confidence. No matter what your training has been like up until this point, having successful race day strategies in place puts you way ahead of a lot of other people on race day.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, Breck Epic, Colorado Park to Park Challenge, Colorado Racing, Copper Triangle, hydration, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, mmountain bike components, race day nutrition, TOUR de CURE Colorado | 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
September 10, 2015
Fall bike riding offers the chance to enjoy cooler temperatures, view the changing colors of the leaves, and reinvigorate our spirits with the freedom riding a bike inspires. Officially, fall begins September 23, early in the morning. While we’re only two weeks away from the official fall season, you can see the season transitioning. Days are shorter. The temperatures are cooler. Kids are back in school. And, sadly, vacationing is nearing an end. Now is the time to mark your calendar to get in your favorite rides before winter heads our way.
Mountain bike enthusiast will enjoy several of our local trails. In fact, surprisingly, Green Mountain Trail is a year long favorite for us. Because Green Mountain is less technical than some of the surrounding trails in Golden, some consider it to be boring. Yet, to others, it can be a great trail to do intervals or even test ride a new bike or dial in new bike components before heading out to a more challenging trail. For some, Green Mountain offers the mental ease of road riding, but on dirt. For others, it’s an opportunity to work heart rate and power zones. Either option works, but what we like best about riding Green Mountain trail is that it’s a staple in the trail riding system along the Front Range.
Now, if you prefer grueling climbs, steep and narrow descents and tight switch-backs, then White Ranch may be the trail for you. White Ranch Trail, located in Golden, Colorado near the Peak Cycles bicycle shop, offers an extensive trail system of 20 miles of multi-use trails over both gentle and rugged terrain. You can read why this popular trail is a favorite of ours here.
Close to our shop is also Golden’s Apex Park –the Enchanted Forest trail. This mountain bike ride contains 11+ miles of trails of stellar single track and a delightful surprise with the Enchanted Forest trail. True to its name, the Enchanted Forest provides lush tree cover and is considered a favorite among local riders. Watch our video to see why!
Finally, a favorite to many, the Buffalo Creek trail system is a hands down favorite trail in the greater-Denver region. Why? With a diverse trail system consisting of 20 plus miles of sweet single track and 2,700 feet in elevation gain, you’ll enjoy mountain views, majestic rock formations, great downhills, smooth roller coasters, and almost ALL single track.
Aside from Green Mountain, most of these trails are unrideable in the winter months. Enjoy them now or maybe opt for some fall road rides. As many know, Colorado has some of the greatest road bike rides in the country. Some are shorter, convenient rides whereas others offer steeper, longer climbs and extended distances. Check out our list of 20 Colorado Front Range Bucket List Rides and make plans to get your rides in.
A third option for enjoying the fall leaves and maintaining fitness is bike commuting. Granted, we don’t have a favorite bike commuting route, but we do know that selecting a good route matters! Learn how to pick a route you like. Google maps for cycling is a good option. Because the days are getting shorter, be mindful of the time and we suggesting having a set of small, modern LED lights on hand in case you get stuck at the office.
It’s easy to embrace the transition from summer to fall when you have great rides to look forward to riding. Being mindful of the best clothing options, cycling apparel, bike parts, and nutritional needs during the changing season helps too! So, whether you are enjoying the vibrant mix of autumn hues from a scenic country road, a bike path, or a trail, fall bike rides in Colorado are the best way to get up close and personal with the season’s colors while filling up their lungs with crisp Colorado air.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: 20 Colorado Front Range Bucket List Rides, Apex Park, bike components, bike parts, Buffalo Creek trail system, cycling apparel, Enchanted Forest trail, Fall bike riding, Green Mountain Trail, LED lights, mountain bike, road bike, White Ranch Trail | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
January 15, 2015
It’s tough being a bike rider from December through late March. 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, this time of year, many cyclists, competitive and recreational, are fighting regular demons whether that is general fatigue, lack of time, seasonal illness or just plain boredom.
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.
First, it’s important to review your goals for the coming year and create a supportive environment that supports your goals. Is there a time of day that works best for you? Then, schedule your training time. Do you train better with a partner? Then, enlist the help of your family and friends. Is your bike riding properly? Check out your bike components, determine which bike parts you need, and get your bike in proper riding condition. Your primary objective in creating a support structure is to foster an environment in which you are supported and held accountable. This makes sitting on the sofa eating bonbons a little less attractive and harder to do!
Also, keep it fresh! Winter is a time to build for the year ahead. Trade saddle time for gym time to gain core strength. The primary focus when it comes to strength exercises for cyclists is to train in a similar motion to cycling with lower and upper body, while increasing overall core strength and muscular endurance. Check out The Best Strength Exercises for Cyclists or 7 Hip and Core Exercises for Endurance Athletes to get you started and also – to keep you motivated through the winter months.
Another option? Focus on nutrition. Many subscribe to the idea of eating pasta and carbs for fueling training and racing. Yet, there is a growing shift in nutritional information towards a strong focus on vegetables, fruits and lean meats as fuel. Consider experimenting with your diet and nutrition as a means for making gains in your 2015 cycling program. For ideas, read Five Ways To Get Started With the Paleo Diet.
Everything else aside, if you still don’t feel compelled to train through the winter, then at least feast your eyes on bike parts, cycling accessories, and new bikes. Or, bring your bike in for service at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop. At a minimum, you are fueling your desire to ride when the weather improves! But, what it boils down to is that an essential element to being a successful athlete is staying motivated throughout the year. Remember, cycling is supposed to be fun. Set small goals, create a supportive structure and atmosphere for your training environment, and you’ll be amazed at what you can do in 2015!
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, cycling accessories, Paleo Diet, strength training, winter cycling, winter motivation, winter training | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
December 26, 2013
Joshua Murdock climbing Old Three Mile Highway in Linnville, North Carolina.
While the year may not be quite over, many are already planning their 2014 race and cycling season. Sure, it’s fun to have lofty new goals, new ambitions, and new venues to fuel your cycling passions through the winter months and holiday season, but not pausing to reflect on what has recently come to pass during the previous season is missing a valuable opportunity to make personal gains that only you can make. Personal reflection offers insights to truly optimize your training and racing regimen.
Before setting your sights on new goals for 2014, it’s important to evaluate the previous season with an objective, yet critical eye. The post, Athlete-Coach Season Review, poses 10 questions to review your past season’s performance:
- What was the highlight of your season (for example, best race or greatest accomplishment)?Why?
- What was your greatest disappointment? Why?
- Review your top three goals for this season. Do you feel these were achieved?
- What did you do in training this season that you feel made you faster?
- What did you do in training this season that you feel was not productive?
- If you could change your training, mental preparation, or race tactics/strategy this past season, what would you do differently?
- Was there anything missing in your training this season?
- Do you feel that you trained enough and worked hard enough in training this season?
- Do you feel that you had adequate rest during training and before races?
- Do you have any extra comments and insights on this season?
With these personal insights in mind, you are better equipped to plan and execute a rewarding and successful 2014 cycling season. Take the lessons and insights from these questions to make SMART goals for 2014. 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 lose weight, and to explore new rides, consider taking on some different resolutions. Explore how these suggestions can add to your training or mental preparation for the upcoming season.
Set a personal goal for the miles you want to ride in 2014. Using a cycling computer, heart rate monitor, or power meter offers options in calculating mileage and other fitness related variables. Try a new tool and see if it makes adding up the miles a little easier.
Learn to maintain your own bike. For some, bike maintenance can be a chore, but having the right set of bike components and tools can make all the difference. Consider creating a pre-ride bike check or an ongoing maintenance program to follow. Bike maintenance can be a great way of engaging in your cycling passion the whole year long.
Bike commute and do it more often. Bike commuting improves fitness, health, saves money, and also benefits the environment by keeping one less car on the road. If you aren’t a bike commuter now, maybe in 2014 you will be. And, if you already bike commute, perhaps resolve to commute by bike more frequently.
Inspire others to get out and ride. Bike inspiration comes in many forms, from DVD‘s, to books, to new bikes and bike parts, to riding with others. Share your bike passion with others in ways that are meaningful and inspiring to them. How many friends do you think you could inspire to be two wheeled friends in 2014?
Give Back. Cycling by nature brings out the best in us all. Consider volunteering your time, skills, or resources at local bike races and bike events. Event participants will be in your gratitude but you may get back more than you give! Many volunteers are inspired to participate, race, or take on bigger goals than they previously imagined due to volunteering and helping others to reach their goals.
Commit to a Positive Attitude. Nothing is more contagious than a positive attitude! Resolve in 2014 to embrace power thoughts and bike parts that motivate you to get on your bike and ride. Surround yourself with fellow cyclist aiming for similar goals. Remember, your attitude determines your altitude.
For cyclist, attaining goals is part motivation, part perspiration, and part having the right tools to help you reach your goals. Here’s to a bright and rewarding New Year ahead!
6 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: 2014 cycling season, Athlete-Coach Season Review, bike commuting, bike components, bike maintenance, bike parts, computer, goal setting, heart rate monitor, road bike, SMART goals | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
May 30, 2013
For many people, buying a new bike is a more difficult decision than buying a new car. Why? Because today, manufacturers offer more models than ever in a wider variety of price points. And there are an exceptional array of bike parts, wheels, brakes and shifting systems that operate like never before. Having a variety of choices is a wonderful thing but at BikeParts.com, we’re here to help you navigate the confusion to help you get the bike you want – and the bike you will ride.
First off, build your bike profile. Decide what type of riding you will be doing, how often, and the types of terrain you plan to ride. Because there are so many bike parts to build a new mountain bike or road bike, it’s important to get clear on what you are looking to do. Here are some questions you need to get you started:
- What type of bicycle do I want? Will I be mountain biking, road cycling, or is comfort my biggest factor in a bike?
- Am I interested in casual riding? Entry level competitive cycling? Full on racing?
- How many miles might I log per week, or year?
- What type of tires should my bike have?
- What color bike do I want?
- What size bike do I need? The size of the bicycle is critical for comfortable riding. It is helpful if the bike shop has a fit service. Fortunately, at Peak Cycles, we do! Learn more here.
- Do I want a bike with gears? If so, How many?
- Do I prefer squishy handlebar pads, hard ones, or ones with tassels?
- What kind of seat do I want?
- Cycling accessories – what matters to me most: high-tech gadgets or are simpler designs?
- What kind of handle bars do I want? Straight or curved?
- Am I interested in the highest quality bike parts? Or, can I get by with industry standard bicycle accessories?
- How much am I willing to spend on a bike?
Finally, buy what you like. Feel good about what you’re buying, how it looks, how it rides. Because of our varied mountain bike trials in Golden, Colorado and road ride circuits along the Front Range, we are asked for our advice on other bike accessories cyclist may need or want. Of course, buy a helmet first, and wear it. There are many other products which can enhance the riding experience as in hydration packs, eye protection, cycling apparel as well as numerous books and magazines available to help you educate yourself about the nuances of cycling. We’re here to help you with all of it.
You couldn’t pick a better time to shop for a new bike. There are so many attractive choices today. Visit us at Peak Cycles in Golden or online at bikeparts.com and we can help with your decision making and offer advice you need to get you rolling on your new bike just in time for summer riding
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, BikeParts.com, brakes, Colorado, cycling accessories, cycling apparel, Front Range, Golden, how to buy a bike, mountain bike, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, road bike, shifting systems, wheels | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
May 2, 2013
Planning a trip to Colorado? Why not explore the Front Range from the seat of a mountain bike?
Colorado’s Front Range includes countless mountain bike trails offering an abundance of steep, rocky and sandy terrain with exposed terrain, an abundance of climbing, as well as easy, smooth single track. Sounds like a mountain biker’s dream – and it is.
Whether you’re traveling solo, with your family, or in a large group, the trick to enjoying the Front Range Single Track is being prepared.
The first step in your trip preparation is selecting the trails you want to ride. Golden, located just outside of Denver, Colorado offers world class mountain bike riding. Some of the popular Front Range trails include:
- White Ranch Trail
- Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Trail
- North Table Mountain
- Green Mountain Park
- South Table Mountain
- Chimney Gulch Trail
- Apex Park Trail
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park
- Lair O’ the Bear
Next, you’ll want to gather trail intelligence. Meaning, there are key elements you should know before heading out on any unfamiliar trail:
- Know the profile – How much climbing and descending should you expect?
- Know the route – Where is the trailhead? How long is the route? What is the technical difficulty? What type of terrain will you be riding? And, What are the current trail conditions?
- Know the weather conditions before, during, and soon after you expect to ride. Colorado weather changes quickly and sometimes, radically. Be prepared.
- Know what cycling apparel to wear. Being over or under dressed makes for an uncomfortable ride.
- Know which bike components are best for the terrain type and the right mountain bike tire to use.
Finally, there’s a checklist of essential items to carry with you.
The big question is what to ride? Of course, you can ship or bring your own bike. Our shop, Peak Cycles Bike Shop offers rental bikes and all the bike accessories you may have forgotten to pack. Or, opt to buy a new bike! Embark on its inaugural rides here in Golden and ship it home.
Which bikes would we suggest for Front Range riding? One option is a hard tail Stump Jumper or Giant XTC Composite hard tail. If you don’t mind a little extra weight but want a more comfortable ride, the Epic Carbon Expert is a good choice or the Giant Anthem. Both are full suspension bikes. Whether you go the hard tail option or with a full suspension bike, having the right bike parts and mtb parts is going to make a difference over the long haul in terms of performance and comfort.
Enjoy Colorado’s Front Range mountain bike trails. Stop by our Peak Cycles Bike Shop for trail information, to pick up a map, or visit us online at BikeParts.com to get trail information as you’re planning your trip! Happy Riding!
4 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: Apex Park Trail, bike components, BikeParts.com, Chimney Gulch Trail, Dakota Ridge and Red Rocks Trail, Epic Carbon Expert, Giant Anthem, Giant XTC Composite, Golden Colorado Mountain Bike Rides, Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Green Mountain Park, Lair O' the Bear, mountain bike, North Table Mountain, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, South Table Mountain, Stump Jumper, White Ranch Trail | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
April 4, 2013
Mountain bike riders this time of year start hearing the call of the trails as the temps get warmer and the days get longer. Not quite dry yet, but soon to be, is one of the Front Range’s best trail system: Buffalo Creek.
Located an hour west of Denver, or about 45 minutes from our Peak Cycles Bike Shop in Golden, the Buffalo Creek trail system is a hands down favorite trail in the greater-Denver region. Why? With a diverse trail system consisting of 20 plus miles of sweet single track and 2,700 feet in elevation gain, you’ll enjoy mountain views, majestic rock formations, great downhills, smooth roller coasters, and almost ALL single track. Here’s what you need to know.
Where it’s located: Buffalo Creek Trails, Pine, Colorado
Directions: From the Denver foothills, drive west up Highway 285 past Conifer to Pine Junction. Take a left (southeast) onto County Road 126 (Pine Valley Road) and continue 5.5 miles toward the town of Pine. Take a right onto Crystal Lake Road and follow it to the parking lot.
Trail Map: There are literally dozens of trail combinations in the buffalo creek area. Meaning, you can make this a short or long ride covering 30 or 40 miles in an afternoon. The two long downhill trails are arguably the best in the Buffalo Creek trail system: Sandy Wash Trial and the Strawberry Jack Trial. Like most of the trails in the system, you will find a lot of gravel and sand under your tires, not too many rocks, not too bad of a killer technical ride, but your legs will most likely feel it on the climbs. Because there are many possible loops in this area, it is easy for it to be confusing. Be sure to stop by the shop to get a map of the system before heading out.
Trail Ratings: The trails are good for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders. All of them fun and several can be challenging. Note, The Black Jack Trails are advanced trails and require advanced skills and bike control. Getting through this section of trail might call for a dropper seat post and maybe a full faced helmet.
Bike Parts and Components: As always, you are going to want to have your basic essentials: full fingered gloves, a hydration pack, sunscreen, and dialed in bike components. The last thing you want to be doing on this trail is fixing your bike. Wondering what type of bike is best suited for the Buffalo Creek Trail system? You have several options and you can’t go wrong with any of them. A full suspension bike, like the Specialized Stump Jumper 29er, might be best for longer or more casual rides; however, opt for a hardtail like the Specialized Carve Expert 29 for a good workout and speed. Singlespeed bikes are a good option as well.
When to Ride: The trail system is mostly isolated from storms and the trails tend to dry quick after Summer rains. Spring can be wet but Summer and Fall are a must.
There you have it! Make a point to get out and ride the Buffalo Creek Trail System – you won’t regret it!
6 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, Reviews | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, Buffalo Creek, Buffalo Creek Trail Sytem, Guide to Buffalo Creek, mountain bike, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
March 21, 2013
For some, the Colorado road racing season has already started; however, for many, it is just around the corner and many athletes may be pondering which tours and races to plan for in 2013. Whenever you want to achieve something, you have to have a definite goal. As such, it’s important to plan your season right. Whether you are a casual rider or a competitive cyclist, training, racing, recovering and having the appropriate gear, tools, and bike setup are critical to reaching your goals.
For starters, what are you’re 2013 cycling goals? As mentioned in our recent blog post, it’s important to make your goals SMART. As in, specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. With that being said, Colorado offers world class riding and racing. Now that you are thinking about what your goals are, you need to pick the right events during the cycling season to help you best achieve those goals.
Notably, not all events are equal. Some are harder than others and as such, competitive cyclist can use different course profiles, distances, and bike part options to mindfully select A, B, and C type races according to their training plans and race goals. When you’re working toward a goal that’s important to you, the last thing you want is to face an obstacle or unexpected challenge. A successful season starts off right by planning ahead, getting your road bike in order and getting the gear and resources you need. By selecting the best races based on your specific goals and having the best bike parts associated with your riding style, you are successfully preparing for a rewarding 2013 cycling season.
Now, which races will you do? While there are many tours, races, and events to choose from in Colorado, at BikeParts.com, here are some of our favorites:
- Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC) Road racing events range from March through August. The Rocky Mountain Road Cup is a season long points competition featuring a three-tiered points system that provides competitive cyclist with a great racing calendar. Click here for a downloadable calendar of these events
- The Koppenberg May 5, 2013 The Koppenberg race featuring a 17% grade climb is the queen of the spring time cycling events in Colorado.
- Elephant Rock Cycling Festival: May 31–June 2, 2013 This year’s Elephant Rock Cycling Festival notes the 26th annual pilgrimage to Castle Rock for the Rocky Mountain region’s premier cycling festival. Riders of all ages turn out for this event.
- Ride the Rockies June 8 – 15, 2013 The 28th annual tour will feature 3 scenic mountain passes, a trek over the highest suspension bridge in the U.S. and 20,400 vertical ft. over 7 days and 513 miles.
- Coldwell Banker Denver Century Ride June 15, 2013 The Denver Century Ride features bicycle courses for all skills levels and benefits BikeDenver. This healthy lifestyle cycling event is Colorado’s premier urban bicycle ride and is open to the public.
- Mount Evans Hill Climb: July 2013 Race up 7,000 feet in elevation in just 28 miles on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway.
- Triple Bypass July 13 – 14, 2013 A two day ride from Evergreen to Avon.
- Copper Triangle August 3, 2013 The Copper Triangle is a 78-Mile course with an elevation gain of almost 6,000 feet over three mountain passes. It has has long been considered one of Colorado’s classic alpine road rides Graced with breathtaking scenery, gorgeous roads and three challenging climbs.
Not sure which event is for you? Stop by the Peak Cycling Bike Shop for help or visit us at bike parts.com for maps, information, or general bike components that you may need for your next big event.
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, Races | Tagged: 2013 Race Season, bike components, bike parts, BikeParts.com, Coldwell Banker Denver Century Ride, Colorado, Copper Triangle, Elephant Rock Cycling Festival, Mount Evans Hill Climb, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, Ride the Rockies, Rocky Mountain Road Cup (RMRC), The Koppenberg, Triple Bypass | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
February 7, 2013
Whether new to the area, a resident, or vacationing in the greater Denver area, recreational and competitive cyclist are always looking for options to get their rides in. While Colorado is blessed with amazing single track, finding a dry trail during the winter season can be a challenge.
Green Mountain (a.k.a. William F. Hayden Park), a fun, intermediate mountain bike ride about 20 minutes west of Denver and close to the Peak Cycles bike shop in Golden, Colorado is a trail to be ridden year round. A special perk to this nearly treeless trail is that it can be enjoyed by both novice riders and competitive cyclists. In general, the trail options are numerous. Novice riders may forgo the steeper climbs and opt for an easier route while those looking for a challenge have a few hill climbs and intermediate descents to conquer. The trick to riding the trail well is having the right mindset, bike and gear.
Mindset: Because Green Mountain is less technical than some of the surrounding trails in Golden, some consider it to be boring. Yet, to others, it can be a great trail to do intervals or even test ride a new bike or dial in new bike components before heading out to a more challenging trail. For some, Green Mountain offers the mental ease of road riding, but on dirt. For others, it’s an opportunity to work heart rate and power zones. Either option works, but having a workout objective when riding Green Mountain trail can spice up the trail to those who consider this trail boring.
Bike: Hardtail or Full Suspension? The trail is hard packed but it also has loose and bobble head sections. A full suspension bike, like the Specialized Stump Jumper 29er, might be best for longer or more casual rides; however, opt for a hardtail like the Specialized Carve Expert 29 for a good workout and speed. Some ride cyclocross bikes.
Gear: Fortunately, the trail is nearby so it’s not as critical to be as prepared for epic rides. Do keep in mind, Green Mountain is exposed. Sunscreen is important. During the Summer months, thunder and lightening storms can roll in fast. Be prepared with the right gear. A hydration pack may be your better option during the warmer, summer months but opt for bottles for shorter and faster rides.
What else is great about Green Mountain? It is awesome for night riding. Of course, be safe – get a good light and be mindful of the evening critters.
Green Mountain may not be the most technical nor scenic trail Golden has to offer, but its accessibility and appeal to a range of cyclist for year round riding makes Green Mountain a keeper.
7 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike components, bike parts, Colorado, Golden Colorado Mountain Bike Rides, Green Mountain MTB trail, hydration pack, mountain bike, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, Specialized Carve Expert 29, Specialized Stump Jumper | Permalink
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