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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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 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 1, 2015
A BikeParts.com bike commuter
Fall bike riding offers the chance to enjoy cooler temperatures, view the changing colors of the leaves, and reinvigorate your spirit with the freedom riding a bike inspires. What is true for adults is also true for kids! As the school season is underway, many children are coping with new daily routines which include more structure and less playtime. Riding a bike to school is a great way for kids to get exercise, develop healthy habits, as well as, enjoy some extra playtime.
As many adults know, exercise helps reduce stress, aid with weight management and promote bone, muscle, and joint health. But what you may not know, is that riding a bike to school may also help your child’s academic performance. Bicycling to school can help contribute to the developmental health of children. Despite the benefits, some parents are left with concerns as to how to make bicycling to school a win – win. A win for their child in that they enjoy the experience and a win for the parents in that you have confidence your child arrives safely on their commute. Here’s what you need to know to make biking to school a success for both you and your child.
- Think about whether riding a bike to school makes sense for your child. If your child attends a neighborhood school biking may be a good option. If you child is at a charter school across town where she plays the double bass in the orchestra, biking to school may not work. Look at your child’s schedule and consider biking to school on days that are best.
- Scout a route to school. Look for side streets, other kids on bikes, low traffic speeds and good visibility. Ride the route with your child and make sure he understands the route. Have him lead to show you that he knows where he is going.
- Talk with other parents and the principal to address real and perceived obstacles to getting kids on bikes.
- Dial in your child’s bike. Bring it into the shop for bike maintenance and ensure all bike parts are working properly.
- Make sure your child knows the rules of the road.
- Invest in needed items. Purchase a quality bike lock and teach your child how to use it wisely. Consider getting a quality pannier or messenger bag instead of a backpack. Also, be sure to have the appropriate cycling apparel for the season.
In fact, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop is only store in Golden, CO that serves kids cycling needs. We have bike parts and cycling accessories that includes windbreakers, gloves, shorts, jersey’s, chamois, pedals, hats, backpacks, and bikes that kids love. Most importantly, we have reflective materials to put on your child’s bike to make sure they are visible. Stop by the shop or visit us online at www.BikeParts.com. We’re here to help you and your family make biking to school a win-win for all!
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike commuting, bike lock, bike maintenance, bike parts, cycling accessories, cycling apparel, Fall bike riding, gloves, jersey, kids bike to school, kids clothing, kids cycling accessories, messenger bag, pannier bag, shorts, windbreakers | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
September 24, 2015
Fall Cycling at BikeParts.com
While we welcome cooler temps and colorful foliage that fall cycling offers, the shorter days and fatigue of the cycling season can beckon cyclist to cut their rides short – or skip them all together. Perhaps missing a day or two of riding doesn’t seem like much but it does. According to the post, What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Riding, within a relatively short period of time, undesirable consequences result. As in, your metabolism stagnates. Your blood pressure rises. Your blood sugar surges. Fitness declines. And, inevitable wait gain surfaces. Not fun!
Fall is actually the best time to transition from peak cycling form to a relaxed one. Doing so doesn’t include missing rides. It means shifting your mindset to embrace fall cycling while actually boosting your cycling performance for next year.
The article, Fix Your Flaws in Fall, suggests “if you’re looking to take a big step forward in your racing performance for next season, you can’t wait until next season to start the process.” With that being said, what are the best ways to boost your fall training regimen?
As we’ve share in recent post, Cyclocross is a wonderful way for road cyclists and mountain bikers to extend their competitive seasons and get a head-start on training for next season. The intensity of cyclocross racing provides a training stimulus that’s very difficult to replicate with standard interval training during the fall and winter, especially as the temperatures fall and athletes turn primarily to indoor cycling. The post, The Top 5 Fitness Benefits of Racing Cyclocross, reinforces this stating, cyclocross racing increases power at V02 Max, reduces off season weight gain, and toughens you up!
If you don’t want to toughen up, then opt for an easier approach. Add bike commuting to your fall regimen. While it is not as strenuous as cyclocross racing, it is a chance to enjoy cooler temperatures, view the changing colors of the leaves, and reinvigorate your spirits with the freedom riding a bike inspires. This is most helpful if you are mentally burned out from the season and need to rejuvenate your cycling spirit for the next season. To truly enjoy fall bike commuting, at Peak Cycles Bicycle shop, we recommend getting a tune-up. Who knows what your bike has experienced during the season and to make bike commuting truly enjoyable – your bike needs to be reliable. We recommend having a set of reliable lights and wearing the right bike clothing. Frequently we’re asked what are the essential cycling apparel to have on hand for fall bike commuting. Here’s a great list of bike parts and cycling apparel to have on available. Remember, bike commuting is different than training; as such, your needs may vary regarding nutritional requirements, bike parts that are needed, as well as, clothing options.
The Fall season is a great time for experimentation. Ride new routes! Explore different trials before Winter weather arrives! The Fall season can be a great opportunity to get test out new bike parts. During the racing and cycling season, the focus is on riding; whereas during the Fall, there’s more time for mental wanderings and fun! Check out our daily closeouts and overstock items to spark renewed interest in your cycling program.
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike commuting, bike parts, cycling apparel, cyclocross, cyclocross racing, daily closeouts and overstock items, fall cycling, lights | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
September 17, 2015
Did you hear that? That was a cowbell ringing! Because somewhere in the world, there’s a cyclocross race going on! As customary to the cyclocross culture, there’s lively banter, cheering, cowbell ringing, and festivities accompanying a cyclocross race. As many who participate in either cyclocross racing, heckling (or both) know, the cyclocross culture is rich with enthusiasm. It’s a crazy fun cycling discipline inspiring cyclist to an all-out mad dash through the dirt, pavement, grass, mud, sand, snow and/or ice that will leaves athletes sucking wind, barely able to see straight…and desperately seeking fluids!
Traditionally, drinking fluids during a cyclocross race was an unheard of activity. This was partially due to mounting/ dismounting the bike to jump over obstacles as well as shouldering the bike for run ups; however, this was also related to the UCI rules and regulations for professional athletes. However, just recently, the UCI has clarified their stand.
“Riders may carry fluids on their bicycles and install bottles on their spare bicycles in the pit area. Hands-free water carrying systems such as backpacks are permitted, and riders may also carry water bottles in their jersey pockets. However, it is forbidden to receive a bottle from anybody along the course. Extra fluids can only be obtained during the race when a rider takes a spare bicycle, already equipped with a bottle, from the pit area.”
So yes, that means you can drink during cyclocross races. While you might think of it an an opportunity to consume adult beverages, we’re actually talking about water and other nutritional products. Because racers can now drink while racing cyclocross, what are the best options: bottles or a hydration pack? Your choice may come down to individual preference but there are several factors to consider. Weather conditions play a factor as well as course considerations. If the course is slick with mud and minimal safe passing zones, then bottles may be undesirable. The same applies for tricky descents in which a bump tosses the bottle right out of its cage. Then again, if the course dictates multiple run ups requiring shoulder mounts, then having a backpack may be limiting. At a minimum, it’s important to have water bottles and containers available pre-race that can be tossed aside before the start. Equally important is having bottles and nutritional support available immediately post race for adequate refueling and recovery.
Regardless of how you take in your fluids, hydration is important. At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’re all about supporting good cycling habits – whether that is proper hydration, having a bike that fits, access to the right bike parts, or availability to the best cycling accessories for you. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, cyclocross has something to offer everybody and so do we. Check out our cyclocross bikes online at bikeparts.com.
Wait! Did you hear that? There’s that cowbell again!
2 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, bottles, cycling accessories, cyclocross, cyclocross bikes, cyclocross racing, hydration packs, nutrition, water bottle cage, water bottles | 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
September 3, 2015
photo credit: ProVeloPassion.com
While the cross country mountain bike and road bike race seasons may be winding down, the cyclocross race season is just starting. In fact, you could officially say that it is now cyclocross season! If you’re new to cyclocross, you might wonder what the big deal is? Cyclist who have ventured into the discipline are passionate about it and here’s why.
Cyclocross is one of the fastest growing sections of cycling – it’s an all-out mad dash through the dirt, pavement, grass, mud, sand, snow and/or ice that will leave you sucking wind, barely able to see straight…and excited to do it again. It’s held on a relatively short track (2 miles or less) making it spectator-friendly as well. Cyclocross is also one of the few sports where heckling is not only carried on by the spectators but encouraged, even by the top-level touring elites.
Sounds fun, right? And it is!
Cyclocross is a wonderful way for road cyclists and mountain bikers to extend their competitive seasons and get a head-start on training for next season. The intensity of cyclocross racing provides a training stimulus that’s very difficult to replicate with standard interval training during the fall and winter, especially as the temperatures fall and athletes turn primarily to indoor cycling. As the season is just now getting underway, what do you need to know?
Transition: If you’ve been racing throughout the summer season, recognize that there is going to be a transition phase. Moving from one form of racing to another takes a bit of adjustment. This generally takes 4 – 6 weeks to fully adjust to a new cycling position, frame geometry, gear ratios, and race tactic specific strength.
Running and Drills: You’ll want to plan time for running and cyclocross specific skills training. Running prepares your body to handle the stress of runs and dismounts at the beginning of cross season. Skill training is essential for safe riding and also, efficiency during the race! The better your skills are, the faster you will go! Skills to focus on include practicing starts, dismounts, remounts, shouldering, cornering, and riding through different conditions, as in, mud and sand. All play an important factor is racing efficiently.
Training: As for training for cyclocross, the best approach is a comprehensive one. Meaning, now is the time to begin planning your season using goals, monthly progressions, and setting a weekly schedule. For those athletes who want to focus their efforts and manage their time, a good plan is to structure your cyclocross training week. While training time, heart rate and power zones vary, a typical training week usually includes a variety of focused activity. As an example, the post, Preparing for Cyclocross Season, shares more on what you need to include in your training plan.
It’s easy to get started with cyclocross. If you are new to cyclocross, check out our cyclocross bikes online at bikeparts.com. Equipment choices matter! Dial in the best bike parts and and tire choice. While bike setup and having the right cyclocross bicycle parts is important, one of the most important parts of all is tire selection and their pressure. Next, sign up for Golden’s very own Back to Basics Cyclocross Series. Held Wednesday evenings from September through early October, the series offers a fun challenge to build your cyclocross skills and enthusiasm!
So what’s stopping you? Plan your cyclocross season now, order your bike parts at bikeparts.com and grab your cow bell! With a little planning, your 2015 cyclocross season can be very rewarding. Sure, cyclocross races are very high intensity and extremely demanding; yet, cyclocross as a sport is meant to be fun, otherwise, there wouldn’t be beer handoffs, money pits, crowds heckling the pros, or pros heckling the crowd! At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we’re gearing up for some cowbell cheer. See you at the races!
1 Comment | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: Back to Basics Cyclocross Series, Basic Cyclocross Skills, bike parts, cyclocross 2015, Cyclocross Bicycle Parts and Cross Bike Components, Cyclocross Training Week, mountain bike, road bike | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
August 27, 2015
Late Summer Riding at BikeParts.com
At the beginning of the cycling season, enthusiasm and energy is high! About the mid-season point, accumulated season fatigue catches up with most cyclist. Recovery rate from workouts and from races slows down and finally, by the end of the season, some find their motivation waning. As the cycling season seems to be getting longer and longer, what are the ways to maintain motivation and also – capture added gains towards next year’s goals? With spring and summer riding in the legs, it’s important to put your late-season form and fitness to good use. Fortunately, there are no shortage of ways to enjoy life on two wheels through September.
Dress for success!
As we transition from summer to fall, the Colorado mountain colors explode into a vibrant mix of autumn hues. Yet to make the transition from summer to fall to winter riding safely, it’s wise to make sure that your bike is working and that you have the proper cycling apparel to keep you warm and also motivated to ride in the cooler temps. We have the best cycling apparel for late summer / early fall heat. Consider factors to consider in cycling apparel for this time of year include: ventilation, storage, water access, and rain/wind gear. As we transition to night time riding, high visibility gear for night time riding is important too! If you haven’t stopped by the shop recently, you may want to check out our hot store items such as Endure pro race cape and Liv shorts and jersey.
Try Cyclocross!
Cyclocross season is nearly upon us! Cyclocross is a wonderful way for road cyclists and mountain bikers to extend their competitive seasons and get a head-start on training for next season. The intensity of cyclocross racing provides a training stimulus that’s very difficult to replicate with standard interval training during the fall and winter, especially as the temperatures fall and athletes turn primarily to indoor cycling. If you are veteran of cyclocross, consider focusing on skill development to keep things fresh. Favorites to practice leading into the season include practicing starts, dismounts, remounts, shouldering, cornering, and riding through different conditions, as in, mud and sand. All play an important factor is racing efficiently. If you are new to cyclocross, check out our cyclocross bikes online at bikeparts.com. Equipment choices matter! Dial in the best bike parts and and tire choice. While bike setup and having the right cyclocross bicycle parts is important, one of the most important parts of all is tire selection and their pressure.
Ride a Fat Bike!
If cyclocross isn’t your thing, maybe a fat bike is! While some consider fat bikes a trend, they are actually steadily growing in popularity. Because fat bikes behave much like a mountain bike, they can be ridden in a variety of conditions and are extremely versatile. Check out our post, Top Fat Bike FAQ’s for answers to your fat bike questions. Or, stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop and take a test ride to see which one is best for you!
Embark on a Gravel Grinder Adventure!
Gravel grinder events are growing in popularity and because of the informal nature of them, you can somewhat create your own event! Perfect for late summer riding to explore new terrain while maintaining fitness. Specifically, gravel road races and rides combine riding on surfaces such as asphalt, gravel, dirt, some singletrack trails and maintenance or B roads. The courses vary from hard-packed dirt to softball-sized rocks. The distance usually ranges between 50 and 150 miles, but can be even longer. What makes this riding great is that you can ride your cyclocross bike, mountain bike, or even your fat bike! A fun way to explore!
All in all, the fall season can be an opportunity to rest and recharge while still maintaining fitness on the bike. By keeping it fresh, trying something new, and also, targeting some fitness goals, it can inspire you to lay down some of your best training in your season. Enjoy!
Leave a Comment » | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, BikeParts.com, cycling apparel, cyclocross, fat bike, Gravel grinder, Late Summer Riding, mountain bike, Top Fat Bike FAQ’s | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
August 13, 2015
Team Rider at BikeParts.com
Gravel what? Yep! You read it right – gravel grinders! Gravel Grinder 101: 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. There are no governing bodies, race officials, or licenses. Just a dedicated race organizer and some volunteers plotting out a unique course highlighting local, out-of-the-way sights and sounds, with unapologetic bike geeks gathering for a long day of riding. For many cyclist, gravel grinder experiences are the newest and most sought after events. Here’s why these races are growing in popularity.
Gravel Grinder Racing: What You Need to Get Started are gravel road races and rides that combine riding on surfaces such as asphalt, gravel, dirt, some singletrack trails and maintenance or B roads. The courses vary from hard-packed dirt to softball-sized rocks. The distance usually ranges between 50 and 150 miles, but can be even longer. Two of the most popular events are the Dirty Kanza 200 and the Trans Iowa, which are both over 200 miles long. Cyclist ride an assortment of bikes. Over the past few years, the market for gravel grinder specific bikes has exploded. These bikes are similar to cyclocross bikes but have a geometry that’s more suitable for riding all day as opposed to short, one-hour races.
Yet, you’ll see many on mountain bikes and more cyclist tend to ride cyclocross bikes. If you’re curious about an event, don’t shy away from it because you don’t have the “right” bike. Just get the right bike parts and cycling accessories to meet your needs. Because of the terrain type, you’ll be riding through dirt, dust, and possibly mud and sludge. With that being said, you’ll definitely want to liberally coat your chain with chain lube and be sure to carry a small container of chain lube with you on your ride.
You might be wondering what is the appeal of a gravel grinder race? Basically, it’s adventure! Gravel races usually offer up the “most adventurous” roads of your area. These can be forest roads, minimum maintenance roads,or an abandoned jeep road. Don’t let this intimidate you if it’s something you don’t typically ride. Most of these roads lead you to something pretty cool, like an old farmstead, bridge, a beautiful hidden valley or grand vista. The adventure rests in exploring areas you typically wouldn’t explore.
Making the best of the adventure is training properly for a gravel grinder. Gravel grinders bring together different disciplines of cycling. First, the courses are designed to be technically difficult requiring good bike handling skills. Second, depending on the location, the route could be very hilly and offer different types of climbs from short and steep to long sections. Finally, most gravel grinders are lengthy, not necessarily in distance, but in time required to complete them. Read, How to Train for a Gravel Grinder for more tips on training for a gravel grinder event.
Why not try something new? Embrace the new cycling discipline! Try a new adventure! Why? Because with any given gravel grinder event, there’s an adventure out there waiting for you!
2 Comments | Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop | Tagged: bike parts, cycling accessories, cyclocross bikes, Dirty Kanza 200, Gravel Grinders, mountain bikes, Trans Iowa | Permalink
Posted by staffwriter8
Peak Cycles - BikeParts.com Blog 