5 Cycling Activities to do this Memorial Day Weekend 

May 26, 2016

BikeParts.com Racer in ActionWondering what to do with your day off this upcoming Memorial Day weekend? Ride, of course!  As the cycling season kicks off, there are plenty of casual and competitive cycling activities to do.

Rescheduled from a previous date, the infamous Koppenberg Race leads the weekend actives for competitive road bike athletes. The Koppenberg Race featuring a 17% grade climb and is considered the queen of the spring time cycling events in Colorado.  This event jump starts the cycling season with an impressive 5.5 mile road race circuit, with 300ft of elevation gain per lap, and includes 2 miles on a packed dirt road.  Join in the fun if you are ready for a lung burning, leg twitching feast! More information can be found here. And, while you’re at it, you can prepare to recover well from this race with our compression gear and nutritional recovery supplements- specifically bars, gels, and recovery drinks.  You have to get ready for the next ride, right?

Speaking of next rides, the 2016 – Cafe Velo Gran Fondo is on Sunday.  This event starts and finishes in Monument, Colorado at the Pikes Peak Brewery.  What’s great about this ride is that you have the option to choose from 1, 2, 3, 4 or up to 5 loops (110 miles, 9110 foot elevation gain) making it a great recovery ride from the Koppenberg Race or a great season starter if you are just now getting back on the bike. The ride covers a scenic 22 mile loop with an 1822 foot elevation gain through scenic Northern El Paso County; so plan according to your level of fitness.

While not local to the Front Range, this weekend also hosts the famous Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in Durango, Colorado.  The Iron Horse Bicycle Classic is one of the oldest cycling events in the country (since 1972) and is a multi-event bicycling weekend for cyclists of all levels.  Beautiful 10,000-foot mountain passes on the ride or race to Silverton on Saturday. Wonderful Sunday events in downtown Durango including kid races, the costume ride, road circuit race and mountain bike race. Monday completes the weekend with an individual time trial.
You’ll want to visit their website for more information.

If road riding isn’t your thing, consider making the trip to Gunnison, Colorado for The Original Growler endurance mountain bike race. This popular event usually fills up so fast you generally can’t get in to the event. Fortunately, this year’s Sunday’s Full – Growler and Half Growler are still open for registration.  Keep in mind, the course takes place in rugged, isolated backcountry terrain. That means, check your bike for the right bike parts, have your hydration pack full, bring your nutritional items, and have all your necessary cycling apparel on hand.  Why? Because the event is remote, organizers responding to mechanicals or an injured rider could be time consuming and difficult on this course.  Plan accordingly.

Finally, maybe traveling this weekend isn’t your thing.  No worries – we’ve got you covered!  Check out Our Guide to The Best Bike Trails in Golden, Colorado to create an adventurous day of trail riding.  Or spend some time preparing for the upcoming season.  Consider performing bike maintenance, schedule a bike fit, or shop for new cycling apparel. We bet Our New POC Cycling Gear Makes You a Better Rider.

Whichever rides or races you opt to do, Happy Memorial Day weekend to you!

Our Guide to The Best Bike Trails in Golden, Colorado

May 12, 2016
Peak Cycles/Bikeparts.com cyclists enjoy the evening views off Lookout Mountain

Peak Cycles/Bikeparts.com cyclists enjoy the evening views off Lookout Mountain

Are you new in town? Or maybe you are just getting into mountain biking? If you are in the Golden area, you are in for a treat. We have a broad variety of trails that cater to a range of skill and athletic abilities. The mountain views will take your breath away (as well as some of the hills) and we can guarantee you’ll be coming back for more.

All of Golden’s trails can be found on the City of Golden website. For your convenience, however, we thought we would highlight some of our favorite cycling trails.

Chimney Gulch Trail

Skill Level: Moderate – Advanced

Not too far away from downtown Golden, Chimney Gulch is a visitor and local favorite because it ascends the well-known Golden landmark — Lookout Mountain. Chimney Gulch is mostly an uphill climb which winds through the Golden foothills and emerges at the top of Lookout Mountain. At the summit, you can park your bike to enjoy gorgeous mountain and city overlooks or visit the Lookout Mountain Nature Center and Preserve. And the way down is all downhill!

Apex Trail

Skill Level: Moderate – Advanced

Similar to (but less popular than) the Chimney Gulch Trail, the Apex Trail winds up and up into Golden’s western foothills. For much of the way, the track is surrounded by pine forests, giving you a feeling that you are far away from the bustle of city life. The Chimney Gulch and Apex trails can actually be connected for an extended ride up one and down the other. If you are combining the trails, you may want to consider stopping at Buffalo Bill’s grave at the top of Lookout Mountain.

North and South Table Mountain

Skill Level: Easy – Moderate

Both North and South Table Mountain (located on the east side of Golden) offer a unique mountain biking experience. The flat-top mesa makes for relatively easy cycling, which gives riders the chance to enjoy the open prairie. Both mesas have multiple access points and extensive trails that weave on top and along the side of the mountains, just out of reach of urban Golden. We find that morning and evening light glancing off the prairies make for an especially special ride on these trails.

White Ranch Trail

Skill Level: Moderate

If you are looking for solitude, this is one of your best bets. On the north end of Golden, the White Ranch Park offers a different type of beauty from the rest of town and encompasses meadows, pine forests, views of buttes, and unique rock formations. It has about 20 miles of trails that wind through both rugged and gentle terrain.

Before taking your mountain bike for a spin, it’s important to be prepared. Having plenty of water, food and nutrition, extra tire tubes, and repair kits, as well as the right tires and maps will ensure you have an enjoyable and stress free experience.

If you need a bike, we have a large selection of rental bikes at our store – Peak Cycles in downtown Golden. Don’t hesitate to stop in to ask questions, take a bike for a spin, or peruse our array of bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel.


Bike Month Tips: 7 Bike Gear Essentials for Commuters

May 5, 2016

1452465_734104393333613_3875623128685330466_nWe’re excited for what the month of May holds. Do you know why? May is National Bike Month, and that means we get the share the streets with many more cycling aficionados.

If you want to join in the fun, consider leaving your car in the garage and using your bike to commute to work. In fact, we will give you 7 essential gear items to make your bike commute safe, enjoyable, and utilitarian.

  1. Bike — Choosing a commuter bike will depend on what you are carrying and how far you are traveling. Most people have to haul a load to work, so you are going to want something sturdy with a wide-range of gearing. Many touring and commuter bikes, like this Detroit Bikes A-Type bicycle are already built for towing your luggage. For a little longer ride, you might consider something like this Cinelli Mystic Rats bicycle (on sale!) or even a road bike.
  2. Helmet — For those who want to get on the bike the next morning, this is a given. We love the POC Octal helmet which is light and comfortable.
  3. Fenders — If you don’t want to get your cloths wet or muddy, buying fenders is a wise decision. Particularly in May, there are quite a few puddles on the roads that you might have to ride through. Fenders come in all types of shapes and sizes but full coverage fenders are ideal to keep your legs, feet, and butt dry.
  4. Pump and Repair Kit — While it is unlikely you will have to use a pump or repair kit very often, having them in a pinch could save you from making major excuses to your boss. A full size frame pump will make it easier to pump your tire.
  5. Panniers, Backpacks, and Racks — People are carrying their things in all kinds of contraptions these days. Most, however, use either a pannier or a backpack. Axiom and Banjo Brothers provide a variety of options included…wait for it…a backpack pannier!
  6. Lights — When you’re riding on the streets in the morning or evening, a bike light might just be your most valuable item on hand. Essentially, it allows you to be seen by other cars and be alive the rest of the month to bike commute. We recommend a front light that has at least 1000 lumens as well as a couple of tail lights.
  7. Shoes — Bike shoes help with efficiency. Especially if you are biking a long way, a clipless shoe will keep your foot on the pedal and get you to work faster. One of our favorites that we have in store is the Specialized 2FO Cliplite. This is a good all-around shoe that has a stiff sole for efficiency but can easily be walked in off the bike.

For more gear, don’t hesitate to visit our website or stop into our store – Peak Cycles in Golden, Colorado. We have tons of advice, as well as bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel.


Sloppy Cycling — How to Prepare for Muddy Conditions

April 28, 2016

11262324_844053215632107_7239650244783883829_nIt’s inevitable, if you are riding your bike on trails in the spring you are going to hit mud. But a muddy trail shouldn’t be the doom of your ride. Knowing how to prepare for and ride in muddy conditions will help you be a successful wet-weather cyclist.

Preparation

Start by doing your research before a ride to get a sense of what the trails will look like. Ask a friend who has ridden recently, read online forums or social media updates, or scope out the trail yourself (this is especially important if you are racing on a potentially muddy course).

Know which bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel are appropriate for the trail and weather conditions. Some important considerations include:

    • Extra Wheels — Cyclists will often have multiple sets of wheels in preparation for mud and grime. Riding in poor conditions can be disastrous to your bike! It’s not fun to have to deal with broken spokes, loose skewers, and cemented mud, especially while racing. If you have a set of wheels in the pit, you can make a change and be underway pretty quickly.
    • Tires with Traction — Choosing the right tires really hinges on you doing your homework before your ride. Really muddy conditions sometimes warrant extra grippy bike tires with aggressive edges and sticky rubber. But these kinds of tires usually also add some extra weight. For less severe wet-weather conditions, you might want to choose something a little less aggressive. 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.
    • Chain Lube — As on any ride, taking care of your drive chain is one of the most important considerations for your bike. Using a wet lubricant during soggy and muddy conditions is ideal because it is thick enough to stay on the chain and thin enough to penetrate all of the small moving parts.
    • Wet-Weather Apparel — If mud is on the ground, then there is a chance that you might face wet weather on your ride. Keeping warm and staying dry, especially in a race, is key. Layering with base layers and jackets that won’t absorb water is your best option.

Knowledge

Now that you have your bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel in gear, you should make sure that you know how to ride in mud. During your ride or race, mud threatens to slow you down or topple you over. Your ability to (1) select a good line and (2) pedal smoothly through mud will likely keep you moving and maybe even give you an edge over other riders. See Bike Radar’s article, “Technique: Winter Skills — Mud Master” for more tips.

Cleaning

After your bike ride, it’s very important to TAKE CARE OF YOUR BIKE. If you like your bike and want to keep it for a while, giving it a good cleaning is of upmost importance. This doesn’t have to be a laborious process but we recommend being thorough. Grab a good brush and do some scrubbing. See How To Clean Your Mountain Bike in 10 Easy Steps from Singletracks for a more thorough explanation.

For more information, or to get a bike check-up after a sloppy ride, stop into our store – Peak Cycles in Golden, Colorado. We have tons of advice, as well as bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel.


Keys to a Successful Cycling Race: Think Smart, Eat Smart

April 21, 2016

Cycling nutrition_eatingThere are so many things to pay attention to in order to prepare for a race. As a competitive cyclist, you have to be savvy in a number of different key areas such as cycling nutrition, bike maintenance, repairing or replacing bike parts, and knowing how to use various cycling accessories such as power meters and heart rate monitors to maximize performance.

If you also have a full-time job, it’s a lot to think about! In this article, we’re going to help take the load off your mind by focusing on a very specific aspect of race prep – eating before, during and after a race. Hopeful you can glean some useful information for you upcoming competition.

Keep in mind that eating changes depending on the distance and intensity of your race/workout. Not all suggestions may apply.

Before:

We typically find lots of articles that talk about what you should eat after a race, but not as many about what you should eat before. The key is, if you are already eating healthy and balanced meals, you probably don’t have to change much before a race.

One thing you want to make sure you are including in your pre-race diet the night before a race are carbohydrates. Carbs store glycogen in your muscles, which will be burned during the race the next day. Foods like pasta, breads, and rice are carb-heavy that could be on your dinner plate. Try to keep protein dense foods at a minimum.

If you have a long or particularly intense race the next day, you can do what’s called “carb-loading.” Cycling Tips explains that carb-loading typically takes place 2 days before your race. Male athletes can typically store about 1,500 to 1,900 calories of carbs in the blood, liver and muscles combined. And after two hours of exercise, glycogen levels will be depleted. Cycling Tips recommends eating 10 grams of carbs per kg of body weight daily in the two days before the race.

During:

There is no formula that stipulates how much you should eat during a race because different body types and habits cause athletes to have different eating patterns. Some of the variables that determine how much athletes should eat include: lean body mass, metabolic efficiency, intensity, race distance, and environmental conditions.

CoachLevi.com offers some valuable insights into what cyclists might eat during rides at varying distances and intensity.

If you feel that you should be eating differently, here are some questions from Training Peaks that guide your eating habits:

Do you find that you have enough energy for your workouts and races?

    • You should finish strong but spent, not crawling home or hitching a ride!
    • Eat more often if you bonk!

Do you ever get “grumpy” during a long session?

    • If so, you likely aren’t consuming enough carbohydrates.

Do you experiencing GI distress?

    • You might be consuming too much or need to combine different sources of carbohydrate (i.e., glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltodextrin).
    • You can try fewer calories or read labels to find products made with multiple carbohydrate sources and try different brands of products.
    • You might also work on metabolic efficiency to see if you can reduce the number of calories you need.

Do you seem to be able to eat whatever you want, even when the intensity is high?

    • No reason to back off if it is working for you!

After:

Right after a race you want to digest simple carbohydrates such as bananas, a bagel, or maybe even a slice of pizza. These things are often offered at the end of a race. Eating caloric-dense foods will restore your glycogen levels in your liver and muscles and getting some protein will help your muscles recover.

Stay away from the really fatty foods and foods high in protein. We know that some of you may be craving potato chips and whole pizzas, but its not the best thing for you.

See the article, “Maximize Your Post Race Recovery“ from Training Peaks for more information.

For more information, don’t hesitate to visit our website or stop into our store – Peak Cycles in Golden, Colorado. We have tons of advice, as well as bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel.


Preseason Endurance Race Strategies: Start slow, Build Mental Toughness

April 14, 2016

12748011_968167059887388_245329798008628208_oFor those of you preparing for endurance trail races, we know that you are getting ready to ride long, get dirty, and have the time of your life. And while some you may have trained through the winter months, many have not. So we warn you winter sofa spuds that the alluring call of gorgeous spring days will tantalize you to ride too hard, too fast. This could lead to injuries, poor performances, and an overall unhappy 2016 cycling season.

Here are some ways not to meet that unfortunately end:

Endurance trail cyclists are on the cusp of some of the most favored mountain bike races in Colorado and the American west — races like Rocky Mountain Endurance Series, Thaw Massacre, 18 Hours of Fruita, Desert RATS Classic, 12 Hours of Mesa Verde, and The Half/Original Growler. And being success in these races requires you to closely monitor early season training. 

Key points to keep in mind include training intensity, duration, and frequency.  There are coaches and coaching plans to assist with specific and customized training.  Or, you can create your own training program.

Regardless of your approach, for precise bio feedback to align your training plan, you’ll need to use cycling accessories available to you – such as power meters, GPS computers, and/or heart rate monitors.  Early season training lends itself to “false” feedback.  Meaning, because you may be fresh, your perceived effort on the bike may be low causing you to push too hard, too soon. As a result, your training suffers later due to increased recovery time or even injury.  By monitoring your efforts with specific data, you objectively know when you are pushing beyond your targeted indictors, as well as when you aren’t pushing hard enough.  This allows your body to adjust to increased training load over time and in a manner that meets your 2016 cycling season goals.

Now, just because you can’t go all-out in your early training, doesn’t mean that you can’t build the mental toughness and focus that you will need during an endurance race. As described in the post, Developing Mental Toughness: Are you Tough Enough?, “mental toughness is your ability to persevere in the face of challenges, to keep going even when things get hard, and to have an unrelenting commitment to your goals. When you develop your mental toughness, obstacles are only temporary and one bad performance doesn’t shake your belief in your ability.”

For more information, don’t hesitate to visit our website or stop into our store – Peak Cycles in Golden, Colorado. We have tons of advice, as well as bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel.


Don’t Compromise Your Spring Training Recovery Rides! Here’s How…

April 7, 2016
Joshua Murdock climbing Old Three Mile Highway in Linnville, North Carolina.

Joshua Murdock (Peak Cycles/bikeparts.com team cyclist) climbing Old Three Mile Highway in Linnville, North Carolina.

When spring comes around every year, the temptation for many cyclists is to jump into race training with all the intensity, determination, and vigor they can muster. While these are positive mentalities to have, its important that competitive bicyclists not let their excitement for spring training cause them to overwork themselves. One of the key stages of training where this takes places is cycling recovery.

While it may not always seem like it, a recovery ride is just as important to a cyclist’s race training as a workout. Together, recovery and workouts are the ‘yin and yang’ that balances a riders preparation and optimizes performance. Three key areas of recovery to pay attention to include post-workout recovery, post-race recovery, and balanced nutrition.

Post-Workout Recovery

One of the easiest ways to undermine training is to ride too hard during a recovery ride. The article, “7 Ways to Nail Your Recovery Rides” from Bicycling Magazine explains this well –

When you train hard you do damage—that’s part of the plan. Your workout breaks down your muscle, empties out your fuel stores, and generally taxes your metabolism above and beyond its status quo. When you recover, your body repairs the damage so you can come back stronger and ready for more. If you skip the recovery part, you’re cheating yourself out of the maximum return on your hard work.

Even though it seems counter intuitive, recovery rides should feel easy! Here are some ways to ensure that you are getting a proper recovery:

  • Ride by yourself. You won’t be tempted to keep up with anyone else.
  • Pull out the beater bike. If you have an older bike, you can spin easy and not be tempted to go faster.
  • Get casual. Wear cloths that will make you feel like you’re just out for a cycling stroll
  • Use a bike computer. Let your gadgets tell you if you are going too fast

Post-Race Recovery

Races are often the hardest workout cyclists will do. They redline for longer periods of time than their training workouts and expend more energy. As a result, the mind sends signals to the body  that aren’t always what the body needs – such as exclusively eating junk food and sitting on the sofa for the rest of the day. The article, “Maximize Your Post Race Recovery from Training Peaks offers some ways that you can recover more quickly from a race:

  • Right after the race, eat simple carbohydrates. Go for that orange slice, banana, and slice of pizza offered at the race.
  • Supplement your post-race pizza and beer with other nutritional and caloric dense foods. Getting some protein will help your muscles recover (high protein intake is not good post-race, however) and caloric-dense foods restore glycogen levels in your liver and muscles.
  • Stay away from really fatty foods and foods that are high in protein.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
  • Get your feet up after the race. Yes, we’re giving you permission to chill and get off of your feet. This is best if done right after you are off the bike.
  • Take a walk later that day. Getting up on your feet and moving around a while after the race helps speed the recovery process.

There are lots of resources online for you to learn about recovery best-practices and get the fuel and equipment you need for adequate recovery. bikeparts.com has lots of different types of nutritional supplements all in one place as well as bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel that can help you with your recovery training. And if you just want to talk to an expert, stop into Peak Cycles in Golden, CO to talk to one of our competitive cyclists. Have fun with your Spring Training!


Spring Cleaning! 4 Essential Bike Maintenance Tips to Get Your Bike on the Road

March 31, 2016

spring cyclingYou know that dark place in the garage where you never go? You know, the area where all the spiders hang out and no human dares approach for months on end. Well, we are aware that some of you store your bike there over the winter months. But now that spring is here and the roads are clear, you’re going to have to find some courage and release your bike from its dungeon; It’s ready to be ridden.

Before you mount your neglected steed, however, you should conduct a bike maintenance and safety check. Here are some steps that you can follow to make sure your bike are in tip-top shape for the spring cycling season:

  1. Clean Your Bike: Chances are that if your bike has been sitting in the garage for a while, it has accumulated some dust. Dust somehow finds its way into all of the secret nooks and crannies that often don’t see the light of day, so being thorough and methodical in the way that you clean your bike is to your advantage. Grab a rag, a brush, and a biodegradable cleaner and clean everything — the frame, chain, chain rings, cassette, derailleurs, pedals, brakes, and seat.
  2. Paying Attention to Your Chain: When you are cleaning your bike, you are going to eventually get to your chain and cassette. You will want to pay extra attention to these as they are essential for making your bike go. For an easy clean, scrub your chain and cassette with a brush and eco-friendly degreaser and re-lubricate the chain when you are done. For something more thorough, you could buy a chain cleaner like Park Tool’s Cyclone Chain Scrubber, fill it with a non-aerosol degreaser like Pedros Oranj Peelz, turn your crank 15-20 revolutions and let your scrubber do the job for you.
  3. Check your Wheels and Tires: Both your wheels and tires are essential for bike safety and efficiency and are important to inspect before jumping on the saddle. Clean the wheels with rubbing alcohol and dry with a cloth. Check the rims for damage and examine for loose spokes. Your wheel should run smoothly without any side-to-side wobble.
  4. Inspect Your Brakes: When your shredding down a long, winding road or a steep trail grade, what’s going to stop you? Your brakes! Bike brakes use brake pads to stop your wheels from turing. Brake pads wear down over time so you should examine your brake pads for any uneven or extensive wear. If you do find uneven abrasions, you probably need to get your brakes adjusted.

Some basic bike tools that you’ll want to have include:

If you are interested in learning more about how you can maintain your bike, we’d be happy to share information with you. And all the bikesbike parts cycling accessories, and cycling apparel you’ll need can be found on our website – bikeparts.com. We also highly recommend that you get a tune-up by a professional before taking it out on serious rides. Call or stop in to Peak Cycles in Golden, CO to schedule your bike for a full tune-up. We encourage you to think ahead because we get a large influx of bike tune-up requests in the spring.


Why Our New POC Cycling Gear Makes You a Better Rider

March 24, 2016

IMG_3691The introduction of POC Sports’ 2016 line of cycling gear turned some heads in the biking community. New designs and innovations make the gear an attractive choice for cycling accessories and can even make you a better rider.

Aside from the sleek style, the integration of new technology and compatibility adds a new-age touch to POC’s elegant design. For example, Separate components of the new 2016 line are designed to work together to make a more enjoyable and hassle-free cycling experience.

The POC Do Blade sunglasses – light-weight, flexible, and durable – are designed to be used in tandem with the POC Octal Road Helmet. Along with the sensitive lenses designed to increase contrasts on the road surface, the POC Do Blade sunglasses optimize airflow, aerodynamics, anti-fog, and comfort when worn with the Octal Helmet.

Similarly, both the Octal helmet and the POC Tectal mountain bike helmet provide high levels of protection with reinforced EPS liners and unibody shell construction without compromising their low weight and ventilation features. As far as we’re concerned, there is a reason why pros like UCI ProTeam Trek–Segafredo team member Ryder Hesjedal are wearing this POC gear combination.

POC also uses MIPS technology in some of its helmets. MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System and is essentially a brain protection system which allows for the helmet to slide relative to the head when a head strikes the ground at an angle (which happens in most falls). The POC Trabec Race MIPS helmet uses this technology, which also improves the life the helmet.

At Peak Cycles, we have just received all this POC gear and more. If you would like to learn more, or see hundreds of other types of bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel don’t hesitate to stop into our store or visit bikeparts.com


How to Take Advantage of Our Big Spring Sale – Part 2: Cycling Accessories 

March 10, 2016
Peak Cycles Spring Savings

If you are a cyclist, you don’t just own a bike. At a minimum, you have a helmet, bike pump, and water bottle; you might also own bike shoes, bike gloves, various sets of tires, bike tools, bike lights…the list goes on! The fact is that keeping yourself and your bike in tip-top riding condition throughout the year requires the use of various bike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel. And that can get expensive. 

But taking advantage of yearly sales like our Spring Savings event throughout March eases the cost burden. Here are some of our favorite cycling accessories that are marked off between 35-45%. 

Specialized Ambush and Airnet Helmets 

These are both simple and stylish helmets that modestly boast a lightweight and ventilated structure. The Specialized Ambush has the support and durability for anything from easy-going trail rides to enduro races, and the Specialized Airnet has ultra-light and cooling technology for any type of road adventure. 

Specialized Men’s Comp MTB and Women’s Motodiva Bike Shoes

Both shoes offer an all-mountain experience that is hard to compete with. They have a stiff sole that improves efficiency when pedaling and SlipNot™ rubber outsole for traction when walking around on rough terrain. We are big fans of the Boa® S2-SV adjustable dial that is easy to secure and doesn’t slip! For additional features, see these links for the Specialized Comp MTB and Specialized Motodiva.

Specialized Enduro and BG Grail LF Gloves 

For serious trail riders, the Specialized Enduro glove offers a variety of advantages including comfort, mobility, durability, and protection. Airpreen® knuckles keep your fingers protected and Wiretap™ technology give you access to your phone while you’re on the bike! 

Specialized BG Grail LF gloves are ergonomically designed to reduce hand numbness by improving circulation and equalizing pressure on the soft tissues of the hand. With Internal Equalizer™ padding and external gel padding, you won’t be regretting this comfortable glove for your long rides.  

If you want to see all of our bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel on sale, don’t hesitate to stop into our store – Peak Cycles in Golden, Colorado. We also have tons of bikesbike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel online at http://www.bikeparts.com/


How to Take Advantage of Our Big Spring Sale – Part 1: Bikes

March 3, 2016

It’s that time of year again when we have fantastic deals on bikes, bike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel. We’re talking 35-45% off! So we’re going to highlight three of our favorite and most popular bikes that are now on sale.

 Peak Cycles Spring Savings Sale

Mountain Bike – S-Works Camber FSR 29 or 650B

This bike is currently the cadillac of mountain bikes. With a suspension that easily soaks up bumps and offers a gentle ride, you’ll be biking over challenging terrain with ease and comfort. Described by Specialized as the “do-anything” trail bike, the Camber gives you superb handling without compromising your ability to efficiently climb hills. If you are looking to have fun on trails without a ton of extra effort, this is the bike for you. 

Road Bike – S-Works Roubaix SL4 Disc 

The S-Works Roubaix SL4 Disc is designed to be to a smooth ride on some of the toughest road conditions. The carbon frame maximizes vertical compliance and Zertz inserts and a CG-R seatpost work to absorb feedback from the road giving you the comfort you need for long rides and races. And as an added bonus, they hydraulic disc brakes give you more control. 

Fat Bike – Specialized Fatboy 

If you’re looking for some good old classic fun on a bike, a Specialized Fatboy is a good way to go. The Fatboy can be ridden at anytime of year – in the snow, slush, mud, and hard-packed trail. The security and control that come from the jumbo wheel system is unparalleled. Similarly, if you’re looking to test your endurance and skills, you can get a Fatboy with a lightweight carbon frame, fork and wheelset (see Specialized Fatboy Expert Carbon) that will be race-ready from the get-go. 

Specialized Fatboy Expert Carbon

If these bikes tantalize your bike senses, stop into Peak Cycles in Golden, Colorado to see what you might find at our sale. We have over 50 different types of bikes on sale and even more different types of bike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel


Fat Bike Candy — Everything Fat Bike You Want to Know and See

February 25, 2016

The temperatures may be getting a little warmer this time of year, but we know that many of you are still thinking fat bike! And, in reality, it’s still prime fat bike season. So we thought that we would provide you with some fat bike candy — everything you want to feast your eyes on in regards to fat bikes, bike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel.

The Intrepid Specialized Fatboy

(Other models include Fatboy Comp, Comp Carbon, Expert Carbon, Trail, and Pro Trail see details here)

We find that the Specialized Fatboy models continually maintain a positive reputation among fat bike riders and critics as a reliable, light weight, and enjoyable all around bike. If you ride around Golden, CO in the winter, you will have most certainly seen Fatboy prints in the snow because we see them all the time, and regularly take our bikes out on test rides.

If you race fat bikes, bikerader.com published a glowing review of the Fatboy Expert Carbon with the verdict that, with a lightweight carbon frame, fork and wheelset, the bike is “race-ready out of the box.” 

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Bike bags, bike bags, and more bike bags!

We’ve been hearing more and more that our riders really appreciate having quality bike bags when they are out on their fat bike for long periods of time. Whether you’re bike packing, bike commuting, our just out for an extended ride, you might find a bike bag for your fat bike very useful.

Similarly, weather is changeable in the winter and spring months so riders are often putting on and taking off layers. And where do they store them? Bike bags! We recommend that you look into bike bags from Apidura, Revelate Designs, and Salsa. These are well-priced, durable bike bags that fit on your frame, handlebars, saddle, or top tube. You won’t regret purchasing one of these!

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Fat Bike Apparel for the Tough Cyclists

If you’re a winter cyclist, you are tough. You’re love of cycle overcomes any inhibitions to stay inside during cold, windy, and snowy winter weather. And while it’s not always easy to be outside in winter, you love the chill on your face and the wind whipping through your helmet holes.

But winter cycling doesn’t have to be a tough experience. Having the right gear can make an otherwise grueling outdoor ride into a much more enjoyable experience. Winter apparel staples include boots, poagies, and layers.

Your feet and hands are critical. bikerumor.com recently released a review of a favorite boot of ours — 45NRTH Wölvhammer which bike rumor described as “burly,” “rugged,” and the “warmest” and “most waterproof” boots tested. Similarly, we always recommend a pair of pogies to keep your hands nice and toasty. 

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If you have have any questions about what you should be riding or wearing for fat bike season, feel no hesitation to stop into our store or see our extensive inventory of bikes, bike partscycling accessories, and cycling apparel online. Happy fat biking!


Dry Pavement, Sloppy Slush and A Muddy Trail: Which Chain Lube Works Best?

February 18, 2016

14681_824120950998623_5531880712172245275_nIt’s that time of the year when road rides alternate between dry pavement and sloppy slush.  And, with the warmer temperatures gracing the Front Range, riding trails is a treat but there is the complication of dealing with mud, slush and a mixture of dry trail. What does this mean to cyclists?  Choose your chain lube wisely!

Picking the right chain lubricant can be one of the more frustrating things you’ll do as a cyclist. There’s a million different types to pick: wet lubes, dry lubes, waxes, spray ons, drop ons, biolubes, and others.  Scratching your head, you might think, can’t just one chain lube do the trick? Well, when you consider that different chain lubricants are designed for different environments, the answer is a maybe.  Think of it this way, what may protect a chain or drivetrain component in one climate may actually do harm in another.  There’s an assortment of manufactures from Pedro’s, Finish Line, Pro Gold, Bike Medicine, Squirt, and White Lightning, how do you choose?   Start with the basics in understanding bike chain lubricants.  

Wet Lubes – A wet lube is thick enough to stay on the chain, thin enough to penetrate all of the small moving parts, and will remain wet (to the feel) till it is cleaned off or washes away. This lube cleans, lubricates and protects the chain from corrosion. The best time to use this type of lube is in wet or muddy conditions and areas where there is not a lot of dust.  The down side to using a wet lube is that because they stay wet on the chain they collect a lot of dirt and debris.

Dry Lubes – A dry lube, on the other hand, is a lube that has an alcohol base and dries on the chain leaving a waxy film that protects and lubricates the chain. Most dry lubes take about 3-4 hours to dry and should be applied with enough time to dry before the ride. The major advantage to a dry lube is that it does not collect much, if any dirt. The down side is dry lubes wear off quickly, especially in wet or muddy conditions.

Wax Lubes – Wax lubes are essentially very dry lubes and, as the name suggests, are very waxy. In addition to lubricating your drivetrain, wax lubes also help keep your chain clean. Part of the reason it is so clean, however, is the number of applications that are required. Wax lube will either need to be washed off or it will have the ability to flake away on its own. This kind of lube does not last long when used in wet or muddy conditions, but it also leaves the least amount of messy residue – which is nice for your surrounding bike parts

Bike maintenance isn’t always fun to do, but obviously necessary.  So, what about which bike lubricant to use in different conditions?  Basically, wet lubes are ideal for rainy, wet conditions.  Dry lubrication is perfect for dry conditions.  In varying conditions, many cyclist prefer dry lube over wet, despite the fact that it requires more application and drying time.

An interesting little-known fact about chain lubricants, is that at Peaks Cycles Bicycle Shop, we have the largest assortment of chain lubricants available.  Stop by the shop in Golden, Colorado to check out our display and while you’re at it, be sure to view our 2016 cycling apparel and accessories.  Nothing pairs better with chain lube than new bike parts or cycling apparel, right?   


Your February Guide to Fat Bike Fun and Racing

February 11, 2016
Fatbike

Peak Cycles joy ride on Apex Park/Chimney Gulch – Golden, CO

Friends, the weather conditions have been changeable as of late with abrupt transitions between heavy snows and 50 degree temperatures. The warming trend this week may have even caused some of you to think that we are on the cusp of spring season. But we know that variations in late-winter weather make for prime fat biking conditions. So whether you’re riding on icy, hard-packed trails or sloppy snow banks, we wanted to give you some tips for late-season fat biking.

Coming away from the Big Mountain Enduro Fat Bike World Championships in Crested Butte in late January (see results and pics on Twitter FacebookInstagram) our customers couldn’t be more excited to get on their fat bikes. There are a couple of Colorado races still on the horizon that will likely be well attended. One big one is the Leadville Winter Mountain Bike Series with races from February – April (see below):

If you are training for a race, there are some things you should pay attention to: 

  1. Even thought fat bikes have big fat tires, they still don’t have traction on ice. Watch out for icy patches a go slow. You don’t want to jeopardize your ability to race before the actual event!
  2. Strengthening exercises off the bike can improve your performance. We highly recommend that you look into Foundation Training (see our blog post for more details) which strengthens your core back muscles trains you how to move and bend correctly on the bike. 
  3. Light weight = fast. The lighter your fat bike is the faster it will be. There are ways that you can cut down on weight such as changing to a light-weight tire. We recommend the Kenda Juggernaut Pro Tire which is currently the lightest fat bike tire on the market and is designed for speed & performance. 
  4. Go tubeless. Tubeless fat bike wheels are more reliable and don’t require as much maintenance from you. With new fat bike FattyStripper technology we can convert your wheels to tubeless for just $95. 

If you are looking to just enjoy the Colorado outdoors on your fat bike, Colorado.com offers a great fat biking resource that will give you ideas about where you can go and enjoy prime fat bike trails. You can also join the Facebook group, Front Range Fattys  to get to know a very engaged and enthusiastic crew of fat bike aficionados.  

What’s that? You’ve never tried a fat bike? You can demo one of our Specialized FatBoys at our store! And if you want even more fat bike ideas, or need for cycling apparel, bike parts, and cycling accessories, stop into Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop. We would love to help you! 

Peak Cycles/Bikeparts.com Team Update:  We were thrilled that three members of our BikeParts.com team placed in the Fat Bike World Championships Junior race. Lander Turner (1st), Dillon Turner (3rd), and Conrad Turner (4th) all had spectacular performances during this challenging and world-class event. Great job guys! 


Riding in the Snow – 5 Ways to Make it Work for You

December 17, 2015
BikeParts.com Rider Enjoying Winter Cycling
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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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!
  1. 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.

Why Go Fat? 

November 19, 2015
6Fattie

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! 


Battle of the Bulge – How to Fight the End of Season Weight Gain

November 5, 2015
BikeParts.com

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 wheelstires, and other components that fit your riding style.  Check out our post, 2016 Fatboy Comp Carbonfor 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! 


5 Things You Should Know To Winter Proof Your Bike

October 22, 2015

Winter Proof Your Bike @ BikeParts.com

Winter is coming in most parts of the country. But even though it is winter does not mean that you have to give up riding your bike. While the off season may be underway, this is the perfect time of year for commuters and athletes to start bike maintenance preparation for the winter months.  

Winter riding poses many threats so having a bike in good working order keeps you safe, warmer, and provides the opportunity for a more enjoyable ride. Besides, a good ride always does the body and mind good!  The trick to making winter riding work for you is to winterize your bike. When prepping your bike for for the winter, there are several things you want to do to keep it in good working order for the winter months.

  1.  Invest in fenders!  You’ll love them because the fight off salt, sand, and ­oil-laden road spray.  By installing full fenders, you will keep crud off clothing and grit from getting into—and wearing out—most components.  And you! 
  2.  Keep the rubber side down!  Slick surfaces and crashes are fun – said no one- ever!  Do yourself a favor and invest in new tires. New tires will be easier to control on icy roads and slushy trails. We have a huge selection of mountain bike and road bike tires online at BikeParts.com and also in our Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop. Stop by to hand select the best tires for you. 
  3. Wipe your bike down.   Combat corrosion and griminess due to salt and dirt by wiping down your frame after each ride.  This is especially important for wet bikes.  Rain, snow, ice, and road elements pose different cleaning challenges to your frame and bicycle parts.  Consider using a stiff, soft-bristled brush to knock off any chunks of dried-on mud that may be on your frame or wheels. Then, follow that up by taking a rag to your bike, wiping it down generally all over to get off any remaining dust or dirt. You’ll want to make a point to clean your bike chain weekly. 
  4. Safety First!  Be seen and be safe. Winter riding involves riding in grey days!  Of course, visibility is critical.  Outfit your bike with a good light system.  You will want lights for the front of your bike.  Consider having multiple lights for the front of your bike.  One on your helmet so you can shine side roads and traffic and have a second light on your handlebars so you can see at least 10 ft. or more in front of you.  For the rear of your bike, opt for a rear red light- particularly one that blinks. A blinking red light is much more likely to get the attention of a passing motorist who might otherwise not notice you. You may also consider purchasing cycling apparel that is visible.  There are options to choose from including vests and ankle bands.  Also, reflective tape is a good idea. 3M makes black reflective tape that is great to put on black wheels. You do not notice it during the day and it shows up white at night. 
  5. Avoid a wardrobe malfunction!  As the temperature drops, it’s hard to know what to wear when it’s 50 degrees and sunny outside versus 30 – 35 degrees and cloudy.  Riding in transitional weather can be a challenge!  But, with clothing that is versatile, lightweight, and easy to pack down, you can find a cycling wardrobe that works for you.  Check out our post, Avoid a Clothing Crisis! New Threads to Keep you Warm for Fall and Winter Cycling for great winter riding clothing options.

Have no fear of losing cycling motivation in the winter months!  The first step towards successfully riding through the winter months is winter proofing your bike.  When you are confident in your bike and clothing options, there are less excuses to tell yourself for not riding and more reasons to get on the bike and enjoy the ride.


Why Visit Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop NOW? (hint BIG sale)

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.
Giant makes affordable carbon mountain bike wheels
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 Anthem Advanced SX 27.5 2015
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 Lust Advanced 0 27.5 2015
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.
Giant Defy 1 2016
S-Works Epic 29 – Very fast race bike. Ridden by top riders in the world.
S-Works Epic 29
Specialized Crave 29 Single speed – Light bike w/ carbon fork. Great commuter or great to have fun with on the trails. On sale now!
Specialized Crave 29 Single speed -
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.

Avoid a Clothing Crisis! New Threads to Keep you Warm for Fall and Winter Cycling

October 8, 2015

Specialized Defroster Cycling Shoe at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop

You know you’re experiencing a clothing crisis when your focus shifts from the trail, the traffic or your route sheet to your increasingly cold and numb hands and feet.  Fall and winter cycling poses some challenges yet it can be equally as fun as summer riding given you have the right cycling apparel, you know how to dress for winter riding, and you have the right bike parts in your winter toolkit.  The trick is having a plan for staying warm on the bike and avoiding a cycling wardrobe emergency this fall and winter.

So, what’s in your cycling wardrobe? It’s a given that you’ll want to have clothing that is versatile, lightweight, and easy to pack down.  As we’re just now transitioning to cooler temperatures, now is the time to take inventory of the cycling apparel you currently have and purchase additional items that are missing from your cycling wardrobe.  With this in mind, you might want to consider what type of cycling you plan to do this fall and winter. That will help you to avoid making unnecessary purchases. Depending on the type of ride, the duration of your ride, and the elements, your clothing options make the difference between a suffer fest or a great ride.  

Ask yourself, what clothing do you need to wear in different weather conditions?  Do you have waterproof and wind resistant clothing? Do you have enough of the basic cycling necessities, as in leggings? Arm warmers? Knee warmers? Scull cap? What about your base layers?  Do you have enough of them or do you need to add in some fleece lined clothing?  Lucky for you, at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we can help you with all of your cycling apparel needs! In fact, we’ve got quite a lot of new cycling clothing in store right now! Here are the favorites you might want to check out.

  • Great for keeping the digits warm, the Endura gloves are our most popular wind chill gloves. 
  • As for the keeping your toes warm, we have two favorite options.  The Giant Sojourn cycling shoes have a stiff and grippy bottom which are good for walking.  A great option for bike commuters.  The other favorite is the Defroster cycling shoe.  It’s a great option for fall and winter riding and especially on the cold days because these shoes doesn’t require shoe covers.  
  • We have a variety of knickers, knee warmers, and pants.  These are essential items to have on hand because as the temperatures drop, it’s a good idea to cover your knees. Many cyclist prefer tights whereas others prefer leg warmers.  There are also knickers which allow more airflow over the legs, and they are good for those in-between days. Consider trying out each option and experiment to dial in your preference.
  • If you are looking for great fall gear that is super durable, then stop by the shop and check out all of the Endura cycling apparel we have in stock. You might want to check out the POC apparel too – it’s on sale! 

Last but not least, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop has the ability to special order items. Come and ask if you want something!   Avoid a clothing crisis!  Get on the bike this fall and ride!