Buying a new bike right now might seem counter-intuitive. But it’s not. Now IS the right time to purchase a new bike and here’s why.
Granted there are a few givens with this reasoning – the weather is warm, the sunshine is out, and many of us have more time on our hands. But the reasoning to purchase a new bike right now goes beyond that.
It starts with the human spirit. Our current circumstances can feel overwhelming, restricting, limiting and well, depressing. All of those emotions are normal and expected during this time; however, if those emotions linger for too long or become chronic, the physical body’s immune system becomes hampered. Aside from the natural benefits of stress and tension relief garnered by riding a bike, regular exercise prompts a healthy immune system.
Having a new road bike or mountain bike to ride lifts your spirit. Owning a new bike invites a forward-thinking approach and gives you something to look forward to doing. Sure, that takes your mind off of things but it also invites fresh ideas to counter the realities we are all facing. Whether you opt to challenge yourself with new fitness goals or plan new routes to ride, you are focusing your thoughts and planning on an activity that supports your physical, emotional, and mental aspects of yourself. Because of the uncertainty we are facing, there are many things that are simply beyond our control; yet, exercise and having new fitness goals, or exploring new routes and inviting your family along for a family bike ride is within your ability. All of this offers a much-needed sense of achievement and accomplishment.
If those reasons aren’t enough to inspire your new bike purchase, consider driving less going forward as our stores and economy resume business operations. Because of the stay at home orders across the country, there is less pollution. Continue to support this by driving less. Commit to bike commuting more and supporting the environment. Bike commuting as alternative transportation helps the environment by reducing carbon emissions. And while you may feel like purchasing a new bike contributes to the manufacturing emissions of a bicycle, consider that bicycles emit virtually no pollution when in use and they require far fewer materials, energy, and waste in their production than even the ‘greenest’ car. An added bonus to purchasing a new bike is that you are supporting a local business. And all of us at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop appreciate that!
If you are wondering what to look for in purchasing a new bike, let us know at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop. We’re here to help you and yes, we are open! In addition to buying a new bike, you can visit us at our Peak Cycles bike shop in Golden, Colorado for bike repairs, bike parts, and cycling accessories. Due to COVID-19, we are not allowing any customers into the shop at this time. However, we have a table and bike stands in front of the shop so we can bring products and/or bikes to you outside for purchase. If you prefer to shop from home, you can visit us online at BikeParts.com and you can pick up your new bike and bike parts with curbside pickup or come to the front door and we will grab your order for you.
Take advantage of our sales right now and treat your body and spirit to a breath of fresh air by riding your new bicycle!
At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we consider ourselves Santa’s helpers.
Why? Because right now, we have so many crazy, awesome sales and discounts on bike parts and cycling accessories that we’re convinced Santa wants to trade in his sleigh and ride a bike to deliver presents this year.
These are perfectholidaygifts for thebikecommuter!! 15% offKryptonitelights and 10% offKryptonitelocks
SuperSpecializedSale on bikes,tires,helmets,saddles,shoes,socks,bikeframes. In fact, we’ve got over 500 Specialized Bicycles on sale right now, including E-Bikes!Check it out!
We have holiday gifts for every cyclist on your list. Save time and money by shopping online at BikeParts.com. The time you save shopping online means you now have time to make those special cookies for Santa, right?!
The leaves are starting to change color and that means 2016 bikes are here! We are updating our demo and rental fleet with some of the newest offerings from Specialized and Giant – our latest addition is the full suspension carbon fiber 6Fattie. With bike parts like meaty Purgatory Control 650b x 3.0″ tires and FOX suspension, our expert level 6Fattie gives you consistent traction to crush those steep, rocky climbs and the confidence to send it down the most technical terrain. Check out the full post for all the details!
2016 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert 6Fattie (Large) – now available to demo!
The 2015 USA Pro Challenge is on! With only 3 days before the final stage, pro cyclist will race a short loop north of Golden before tackling the main obstacle of the day, the 4-mile climb of Lookout Mtn. The final stage from Golden to Denver on August 23 is proven to be stellar spectating. And what better way to have the best spectating experience during the race than to stop by the Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop during Stage 7 of the USA Pro Challenge. Here’s why!
1. When most walk into our Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden, Colorado, they are confronted by a dazzling display of road bikes, mountain bikes, cycling accessories, and cycling apparel. It’s enough to make your head spin! Enjoy the delightful appeal of a local, mountain town bicycle shop.
2. Located in the heart of Golden, on Washington Avenue, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop is strategically placed offering you one of the best places to watch the pro cyclist through Golden, Colorado.
3. Not only that, Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop will be open this Sunday 9-11 and 1-4.
4. We’ll have food and drinks for a USA Pro Challenge party on Sunday.
5. Best yet – we will be selling USA Pro Challenge T-shirts in the store all week.
6. You love the USA Pro Challenge and so do we! We’ve been involved in supporting the race since the inaugural race. Support the locals who support the race!
7. Make good use of your day. During the break between the women’s race and the men’s race, you can get your bike fix on!
Browse through our road bikes and mountain bikes like Giant, and Specialized and check out our specialty bike parts. Our highly rated bike parts and components have become favorites among many.
8. In fact, make the day memorable and pick up a select few bike parts, cycling accessories, or cycling apparel.
9. Get your bike questions answered. We love answering questions and talking about the latest and greatest. Asking good questions about your bike and bike parts leads to having the right bike and gear that not only gets you on the bike, but keeps you riding.
10. Last but not least, the best reason to visit Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop during the Pro Cycling Challenge is because we love cycling! As avid local cycling advocates as well as sharing our expertise on the web at bike parts.com, we encourage cyclist of all levels to embrace our fabulous sport.
See you Sunday and good luck to all racing the USA Pro Challenge!
Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop is passionate about fat bikes in the winter months. They are fun and versatile bikes that can be used in almost any terrain but are particularly useful in snowy conditions. With the explosion of enthusiastic fat bike cyclists over the past couple of years, new fat bike companies and models have formed in a rush to meet the demand. But with all of these new fat bike brands, how do you choose which fat bike is best for you?
We have found the Specialized Fatboy to be a highly rated, mid-range fat bike that is usable for a wide range of ages and skill-levels. In fact, the Fatboy was rated as the best mid-range fat bike in 2014 by Gear Patrol, a magazine that covers the best in gear, adventure, and design. The following gives Gear Patrol’s review:
“Double-digit growth year after year has brought in the cycling industry big boys. The Fatboy is Specialized’s first bike in the category, and the big-name brand has delivered a lightweight frame and fork with 4.6-inch Specialized Ground Control tires, a fully butted M4 premium aluminum frame with 190mm rear spacing and a tapered head tube with clearance for five-inch tires. The lightweight frame and mix of quality components from SRAM, Tektro and Specialized at a reasonable price point make the Fatboy a great choice for beginners on up to experienced riders.”
If that isn’t exciting enough, Specialized has developed three different bikes including the Fatboy, Fatboy Expert, and the Fatboy Pro with front suspension. All three bikes share the M4 Premium Aluminum Frame and the Fatboy Expert and Fatboy Pro sport higher components such as Shimano Hydro Discs. While the Fatboy Pro offers more cushioned ride with its Bluto Suspension Fork and Sram’s XO1 rally sport package for a higher price, the other two bikes offer a solid build and smooth ride for lower budgets.
In a review, the Fatboy expert on fat-bikes.com, reviewer Gomez gave the bike a glowing report: “Our test bike purred like a kitten and did everything I could ask of it….I guess the first thing that I noticed, when riding the Fatboy were the tires. The Ground Control tires are a true to size, four point six inch, big and bad ass, knobby fat/mountain-bike tire. These tires are made for off roading. On my very first ride with the Ground Controls when I was climbing a steep asphalt hill, they brought back an instinctual memory of a familiar tactile feel similar to the best knobbies that I’ve ever ridden…. 26/29 or fat-bike….Climbing was outstanding and carving turns was confidence inspiring. Of course you can’t have all of that grip without some rolling resistance. If you’re looking for a tire that will answer the call for traction each and every time, the Ground Control is your huckleberry….This bike was born and bred to rip and shred!”
The fun isn’t exclusive to adults either! Specialized has also created a 20” and 24” Fatboy for kids at half the price of a full sized Fat Boy. The two miniature bikes are featured in this short video that would excite any kid who loves to hop into the bike saddle and ride:
For a lighter ride, you can opt for lighter bike parts and also purchase tubeless tires and carbon rims. All of which will make your FatBoy faster and more maneuverable. Join the Fat Bike rage! Demo a fat bike at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop today or better yet – get your own! There’s a Specialized Fatboy, Medium in black and red on sale now!!
Have you been a naughty cyclist or a nice cyclist? Is there a way to tell?
Some cyclist might notice a lot of bike parts, cycling apparel, and other wonderful gifts under the tree and think, yeah! I’ve been nice! And then, again, as competitive and recreational cyclists, it’s easy to be hard on ourselves. Some might think that you’ve been a naughty cyclist. Maybe you think you haven’t trained hard enough this year. Or, your performance was down. Then again, you may consider yourself to be a naughty cyclist because you have been slacking off and didn’t get that scheduled ride in.
Whether or not all that is true – that isn’t the spirit of cycling. No doubt, consistent training is essential to performance. Having the right gear, bike parts, and appropriate road or mountain bike for your cycling specialty is important. But, while we tend to strive for fitness using heart rate monitors and power meters and tracking calories and water intake, and all the performance enhancing rituals we employ, it’s certainly not the spirit of cycling and it is especially not so at Christmas time.
So, what is?
Here at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, 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 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 gifts we wish for you and your family this Christmas day. Merry Christmas from Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop and BikeParts.com!
Can the power of gratitude make a difference in our lives? How can expressing gratitude create happiness and prepare us for a better cycling season?
We all know that whether you ride every day or once in a while, you know it gives you a space and time apart from the pulls and tugs of work, family, and technology. The ride itself provides both a time in which to pay attention to gratitude and many things for which to feel thankful.
But many cyclist that have been riding for years or even competitive athletes finishing a season are sometimes left drained, burned out, and not necessarily enjoying the simple pleasures of a bike. Yet finding gratitude is of value to your cycling performance – and probably more than you think!
According to the post, Thank You. No, Thank you, “adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not.” As today is Thanksgiving Day, express an attitude of gratitude and appreciation for how your cycling commitment enhances the quality of your life.
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.
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. The off season is a time when cyclist can work on weaknesses without having to worry about performance in upcoming group rides and races. However, there are ways to sabotage the gains.
According to the post, 10 Things Endurance Athletes Need to Stop Doing, cyclist should stop ignoring recovery, stop doing other athlete’s workouts, stop ignoring your diet and your weight and stop ignoring technology in your workouts. Another saboteur are headphones. The post, Seven Reasons to Take Off Your Headphones, questions if listening to music while training actually helps or hinders results. Unfortunately, knowing what not to do is only half the battle. The other half is knowing what to do.
Making the most of fall season training is about keeping it fresh, trying something new, and also, targeting some fitness goals. You can start to make gains by focusing on recovery after your workouts. When you think about it, training is all about stressing your body with hard workouts, and then letting your body adapt to that load. If you do not allow your body to recover and adapt to the training load you’ve imposed on it, you simply will not be able to train and stress your body as hard the next workout. While many riders understand that recovery between workouts is key to building fitness, recovery is also a commonly overlooked injury prevention tool. Recovery, defined as stretching, hydrating, and resting, are traditional tools used by athletes. Some opt for compression gear, as in socks or tights, which are designed to improve recovery and aid in overall sports performance. Late season is a great time to test out new products and evaluate how your body responds.
Building on that – don’t let the hard work you’ve gained this year fall by the wayside! As your training volume and intensity declines, it’s a good idea to begin paying attention to your nutrition and weight. As noted in our post, Top 5 Apps for Cyclists for Off-Season Fitness Gains, managing your training and nutrition in the off-season can be manageable and can mean the difference between winning and losing during the 2015 cycling season.
Other suggestions for late season gains include strength training and yoga. Year-Round Strength Training for Cyclists Matters. Since you are only as strong as your weakest link, the stronger system you build as a whole, the more potential you have for cycling specific gains. And there’s a lot to be said for yoga. Cyclists need to focus on leg strength, which many poses in yoga target, but they also need to focus on flexibility and lower back strength. All key elements in extending the fitness gains you’ve made through the current year.
Finally, keep it fresh and fun. The Fall season can be a great opportunity to get new bike parts. During the 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.
It’s nearly that time of year again – cyclocross season! 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 approaches, what do you need to know? 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.
But what does that look like? 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.
– Transitioning – this generally takes 4 – 6 weeks so you’ll want to account for that.
– Running – running can be an important part of the race. Incorporating running into your training activity is essential, especially if you aren’t comfortable with it.
– Race Specificity – focus on race intensity and include workouts and drills to prepare yourself for the cyclocross season.
– Bike Handling/Cornering – consider practicing starts, dismounts, remounts, shouldering, cornering, and riding through different conditions, as in, mud and sand. All play an important factor is racing efficiently.
– 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.
With a little pre-planning, your 2014 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!
Just days away from the start of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge, Colorado sports enthusiasts and cycling fans around the world wait with anticipation of yet another phenomenal pro race. With stunning Colorado backdrops, high adrenaline , high altitude thrills of pro cycling, what’s more to like? Anticipation. Watching the race unfold as leaders compete for different classification wins is thrilling. Yet, here in Golden, Colorado, we anticipate our very own Lookout Mountain may be the deciding factor in the KOM race.
The 2014 USA Pro Challenge takes place August 18-24 and will test riders’ strength and endurance over a 550-mile course. The final stage, Stage 7, while titled Boulder – Denver, Golden is where the real racing will happen. A a breakaway will stick or be caught by the time the riders complete what locals call the Lariat Loop. The climb up Lookout mountain is short and steep and possibly the decider in the KOM race. The post, On the path of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge – Golden, shares details on what you need to know about the stage and Lookout Mountain.
STAGE 7 : 78 miles Stage Map PDFStage Profile PDF
Boulder – Golden – Lookout Mountain – circuits in Denver Race Begins: Approximately 12:30 p.m. Race Ends: Approximately 3:50 p.m. State Highways Impacted: SH 93, US 40, SH 391 (Kipling Street), SH 121 (Wadsworth), SH 95 (Sheridan), I-25. (Route and Street Closure information)
Lookout Mountain Closure Friday – Sunday
Lookout Mountain will be closed to all vehicle traffic between white pillars and Buffalo Bill’s entrance. 3:00pm Friday 8/22/14 through 2:00pm Sunday 8/24/14.
About the climb of Lookout Mountain
Length: 5.1 miles
Total elevation: 1,438 ft
Average Grade: 5.3% (7%) (steeper in the corners)
Lookout Mountain climb is called Pillar to Post for the landmarks at the start and finish.
This final stage can be a make it or break it for the KOM race. The climb up and the descent down the treacherous Lookout Mountain provides an intense challenge on the tour’s final day. Where’s the best place to watch the pro cyclist on Lookout Mountain? Stop by the Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop for details on what to do near Golden and the best local places to ride in Golden. Need help before the race? Visit us at BikeParts.com
On the flip side, it’s the many questions that are asked of our staff and mechanic’s that make our heads spin! And, we’re happy about that! Obviously, we love answering questions and talking about the latest and greatest. But, general questions usually center around road bike or mountain bike? Tubeless or not? Full suspension or hard tail? 26”, 27 1/2” or 29” wheel? You get the picture. Those are great shop questions that we help answer for our customers.
Yet, there are more sophisticated questions asked. Ones that take a little more time to explain. Answering those questions, we find the following posts to help explain in further detail.
Asking good questions about your bike and bike parts leads to having the right bike and gear that not only gets you on the bike, but keeps you riding. Ride on!
The lifestyle here in Colorado celebrates the great outdoors. Even better, Colorado has some of the greatest road bike and mountain bike rides in the country. Some rides are shorter and convenient whereas others offer steeper, longer climbs and extended distances. Locals and vacationers alike welcome the challenge of pushing the limits while taking in breathtaking views that only Colorado has to offer.
According to ColoradoInfo.com, what makes Colorado so special is that it claims 53 peaks higher than 14,000 feet and the cycling and hiking trails ascending them are very popular and demanding. The state is something of a mecca for both long-haul road bikers and mountain biking enthusiasts. Bike paths are abundant on the Front Range from Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs to Pueblo. In the mountains there are paved bike paths as well as hundreds of miles of single-track trails for off-road biking.
With that being said, which are the destination hotspots for cycling in Colorado? No doubt, there’s too many great rides, trails, and locations to name them all, but following are a few of our favorites.
Now, aside from selecting your ideal riding location, there are a few additional elements to lock in to ensure a successful cycling adventure. Extra considerations include preparing for riding in Colorado’s altitude. The post, Racing at Altitude. What You Need to Know, gives some quick tips on acclimation and don’t forget about having your cycling essentials on hand. Meaning, make sure you have your maps, bike parts, hydration pack, and arrange in advance the details if you are shipping your bike.
Now, all you have to do is visit! At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, we invite you to visit Colorado’s cities, towns and mountain communities. Join us on road and mountain bike rides across the state and embrace all the beauty this glorious state has to offer!
It’s one thing to ride/train in the heat it’s another to RACE in the heat. It’s that time of year, the summer heat has arrived and is making up for the lack of heat we had from the cooler temps to start off the cycling season.
Many cyclist, whether recreational or competitive, find dealing with the heat an issue. Suffering from some degree of cramps at one time or another or heat related stomach issues, the heat brings on specific challenges to overcome in the summer months. Specific to racing, many cyclist have encountered the negative effects of heat on race results. What, if anything, be done to help you train and race best in the heat?
When it is hot, especially when temps are in the 90-100F (36-40C) range, your body needs to work harder to keep your core temperatures in a safe range to allow the organs to function normally. There are numerous heat–coping strategies to consider when planning a high-intensity workout or doing a race in hot weather.
Acclimate. It takes about 10 to 14 days of frequent exposure to heat for your body to adapt. During this period of time workout daily in hot conditions at a lower-than-normal intensity. After a couple of weeks of near-daily exposure to hot conditions you will begin perform better in the heat than prior although performance will still likely be diminished from what you might have done in cooler conditions.
Nutrition. You want to eat “quality” carbs leading up to, and including, a hard effort or race day. That includes eating plenty of fruits, veggies, etc. Watermelon is a great fruit (carb) to consume even during race day. Also, remember to stay away from the simple carbs. i.e. sugars, sweets, prior to the race or training in hot conditions.
Hydrate. This one is easy but also easy to forget! Water is 60% of your body weight and the number one concern on any athlete’s intake list. For both performance and health, the importance of your water intake exceeds that of your vitamin, calorie, and electrolyte consumption. For your road racing needs, be sure to carry the water bottles and containersthat you need on your bike but have extras available for bottles that are tossed and extras for immediate refueling post race. If you’re a mountain bike rider, you know tricky descents can bump a bottle right out of its cage. This time of year, it’s best to wear a full camelback as well as have extra bottles on hand. For longer rides, opt for the Deuter Bike One 20 Hydration Pack- 100oz. You’ll have enough fluids to get your ride in and also soak up the views.
Stay cool. Think shade and proper clothing. Stay in the shade, warm up in the shade and cool down in the shade. While it may seem insignificant, every effort to keep your body temperature down is important. This includes wearing your sunglasses, having a light-colored helmet, and opening your the zipper on your jersey. For longer rides, draping an ice-filled container around your neck may improve endurance performance.
To train and compete at your best all summer, it is important to understand how your body copes with heat, and what you can do to keep cool. Everyone adapts differently to heat stress. Need more tips? Stop by the Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop to chat with our racers, mechanics, and other cyclist to see what works for them. Maybe you’ll learn some new heat-coping strategies that will work for you too.
Celebrate your Memorial Day weekend by stopping by Green Mountain Open Space to check out and ride an impressive line up of Giant bikes.
At Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop, our job is matching bikes to riders and ensuring that your bike fits properly and that you are happy with it. If you’re considering a new road bike – try a new one out. If you are thinking of riding trails for the first time in a long time, this is a no risk way to dip your toe in the water while trying out a new mountain bike. And, if you’re curious as to what a 27.5″ feels like compared to a 26” wheel or a 29’er, here again, you have a chance to find out for yourself! A short test ride will help you compare different bikes and make sure your new bike suits your needs exactly.
Mark your calendar!
When: Saturday, May 26th from 10:00am – 3:00pm
Where: Green Mountain Park, 1000 S Rooney Rd Lakewood, CO 80228
What to bring: Please bring valid ID, credit card, and helmet to ride.
If you have any questions be sure to stop by the Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop at 1224 Washington Ave #145, Golden, CO, give us a ring at 303-216-1616 or chat with us on Twitter or Facebook You can find more information about the event here and learn why Green Mountain Trail: Why It’s a Year Long Favoriteof ours to ride.
How do you protect yourself as a cyclist? We’re not talking about helmets , gloves, and protective gear. We’re talking about riding safe and smart. Sure you may have a general idea of the rules of the road, but do you actually know the laws? What about your rights as a cyclist?
Many recreational, as well as seasoned cyclist, consider anticipating what drivers, pedestrians, and other people on bikes will do next is pretty much all that is needed in riding the road safely. But at Peak Cycles, we know better. In fact, we are big advocates of safe cycling that we’re hosting a FREE Biking 101 event May 5th at 6:30PM at Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden, Colorado. (REGISTER HERE.)
See how you fare answering these questions. If you get them right, yay for you! If not, maybe it’s time to freshen your knowledge on the rules of the road, smart cycling tips, bike etiquette, and how to legally and appropriately ride on public roads.
Do you know your bike laws?
True or False?
Colorado has no helmet law. It is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation.
True or False?
Colorado has codified a three foot passing requirement in three rules to address the variety of circumstances in which a bicyclist may be overtaken by a motorist
True or False?
Colorado has some of the most specific laws regarding where a bicyclist should ride, and just as importantly, where a bicyclist should not be obligated to ride in the nation.
How’d you do? What? There are no answers?! Guess you’ll have to find out at our Biking 101 event! There will be food, drinks, cycling education, and even bike parts to drool over! Become a street smart, savvy, safe, educated, conscientious cyclist.Register now and see you on May 5th at 6:30!
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this past Sunday morning. We all know what that means – six more weeks of winter.
Less daylight, cold weather and difficulty planning winter workouts all contribute to less time on the bike. But, if you want to get better, faster and more efficient on the bike, then guess what? You got to put your time in. So what do you do?
Fortunately, last year we wrote aboutWays to Pedal the Winter Blues Awaywith four suggestions to keep motivation high: build a support structure, set up the right training environment, get some visual stimulation, and compete. Yes, you read that last one right – compete. And not later in the season – now. Yep, most of the country is under snow and cold temps but competition is still going strong. On fat bikes that is.
Fat Bikes Are Big in Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and other parts of the country. And racing fat bikes is the ultimate in beating wintertime cycling blues. Aside from racing fat bikes to keep fit, what makes a fat bike so desirable?An Ode to the Fat Bike sums it up best.
“The big tires make you ride differently. The extra traction allows you to lean harder in to turns. The extra weight encourages you to take more time to absorb the surroundings. The knowledge that you can turn off trail and go exploring where you like is freeing. And the rooster tail of snow you kick up in turns and the slip-sliding through curves and down steeps feels ridiculous and hilarious and absolutely entertaining.” —Aaron Gulley
So get in on the action! Stop by Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop to ride, test ride, and buy a fat bike. Grab some bike parts, gear, extra tires and you’re on your way. All you have to do now is sign up for one of the upcoming fat bike races on the Western front! And, if you are uber competitive, check out this post on How to set up a fat bike tubeless.
S-Works cranks were also redesigned for 2014, shedding weight and gaining stiffness… and the previous generation was already one of the stiffest and lightest available.
If you are looking for a new mountain bike for 2014, you have just one problem — which great bike is for you. With advanced technology, upgraded bike parts and components, and redesigned bike geometry, mountain bikers have more choices than ever when deciding on a quality ride.
Read on to see what our top picks are for 2014. But don’t just take a word for it – stop by the Peak Cycles Bike Shop to ride one for yourself!
2014 S-Works Epic 29
For those looking to race the most technically advanced, efficient, lightweight and highly-regarded machine in the history of mountain biking, the only bike to consider is the 2014 S-Works Epic 29. Spec’d with only the most top-of-the-line bike parts available for each component and brimming with new technology, the 2014 model is the first major redesign since the bike’s introduction. Weight has been dropped, stiffness increased and suspension performance improved, making this the best Epic 29 yet. Check out photos here.
The New Revolution is Here: 2014 Giant Trance
With the benefits of both a 29er and 26er, 27.5 inch wheels have made a big splash in the mountain bike world this year. One of the brands leading the charge with light, high-performance and affordable 27.5 bikes is Giant. The 2014 Trance represents the culmination of incredible research and development as well as rider testing under the likes of Adam Craig and Carl Decker. We have a few of these in the Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop (and one for demo!). See pictures here.
2014 S-Works Stumpjumper HT
Weighing in at 20 lbs. out-of-the-box for a size large, this year’s Stumpjumpersare lighter than ever. Redesigned and made better, this year’s S-Works Stumpjumper HT is lighter, stiffer and packed with more technology than ever. Take a look.
2014 S-Works Enduro 29
One of the most anticipated bikes of the year, the Enduro 29 is the most versatile two wheeled machine out there. At just over 27.5 lbs, the S-Works model is bound to make its rider the happiest and most capable on the trail! This bike comes spec’d with an excellent mix of bike parts that make it the best Enduro/All-Mountain rig on the market. Check it out.
2014 Specialized Fatboy Expert Fatbikes are big in Colorado. You can see why – The expert level Fatboy offers unparalleled performance in snow, ice and otherwise nasty conditions. Get off your trainer and on to a Fatboy bike. Take a look.
Heart rate monitors are a funny thing – they can be completely useless or extremely valuable depending on how you use them. Heart rate training has been viewed in many ways over the years, from very precise to not so precise. Now, a growing number of coaches and exercise physiologists support the use of heart rates as an important part of biological feedback, as heart rates are a direct reflection of what is happening internally.
But first, what myths do you need to bust around heart rate monitoring for cycling training? For starters, you can only compare heart rate values with your own previous benchmarks. Meaning, comparing your heart rate with your your friend or your teammate is irrelevant. The reason for this is that we all have a different anatomy of our cardiovascular system. Also, not being aware of the factors that affect heart rate can be a pitfall in effective application in heart rate monitor use for training.
So how do you get started? The post, The Variables and Trends of Heart Rate Training,walks you through the steps of learning your “threshold” heart rate range, setting up heart rate training zones, and identifying the daily variables that affect heart rate.
But before you begin to analyze data, you actually have to have a heart rate monitor to get started! Following our our staff picks at Peak Cycles Bike Shop:
If you do not have a trainer or coach to keep you disciplined during your workout, a heart rate monitor can be a great substitute. It can tell you when your exercise is falling below your ideal intensity so you can instantly improve your performance. It can be a great bio feedback tool and also help you to monitor your fitness, prevent overtraining, and take your performance to the next level.
In its first year, Peak Cycles gravity race team took 2nd overall in the Winter Park Trestle Gravity Series! We’re super proud of our racers as they finished ahead of many long-established teams!
What make them so successful? Of course, their awesome handling skills and great talent. But, we also have to tip our hat to the great mtb bikes and bike parts that help them race their best. You can spot our racers sporting the best helmets to keep those noggin’s safe.
And of course, there’s those super fast yet grippy tires and safe pedals needed for downhill action
Guess who is rocking the coolest bikes, the best bike parts, and crushing it in Colorado’s toughest mountain bike races?
You guessed it – Peak Cycles Racers!
We’re super proud of team riders Joshua Murdock and Weston Burcar who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the overall Epic Singletrack Series at Winter Park! The Winter Park Epic Singletrack Series is a 6 series race with varying terrain, distances, and technical challenges. Navigating those challenging races takes skills, talent, and of course, good ‘ole reliable bike parts.
Congrats to all of our racers!
At BikeParts.com, we do all we can to support our competitive and non completive athletes. And while our racers can tell you, racing takes its toll on themselves as athletes, but also on their bikes. As we’re nearing the end of the XC and endurance mtb racing season, many are shifting their focus to the cyclocross season and to getting in as many good, long rides before we start seeing much cooler temps.
Good reminders for any race or ride includes starting your ride with a clean and lubricated chain, well lubed derailleurs, brake pads that are in good shape andtires have the appropriate air pressure. Stop by the Peak Cycles BIcycle shop to pick up any road parts or mtb parts you may need. Don’t forget to high five our racers!
Buying a new bike right now might seem counter-intuitive. But it’s not. Now IS the right time to purchase a new bike and here’s why. 
Posted by staffwriter8 
Just days away from the start of the 2014 
When most walk into our Peak Cycles Bicycle Shop in Golden, Colorado, they are confronted by a dazzling display of 
It’s one thing to ride/train in the heat it’s another to RACE in the heat. It’s that time of year, the summer heat has arrived and is making up for the lack of heat we had from the cooler temps to start off the cycling season.
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