The days of a solo training ride in the morning and a leisurly ride on the bike trail later in the day together are long gone.  Used to be that if a leaf happened to finally lose its grip and fall to the ground, it was too windy for a ride; now, riding the Masonville loop into a stiff head wind doesn’t raise a whimper.  Used to be that if the temperature was warm enough to require shorts and single digit SPF, that the bike stayed in the cool garage; now it’s SPF 50, an extra water bottle and a trip up Centennial Drive, waving to the boats on the lake.  And it didn’t stop there, oh no! A new mountain bike and a couple rides of through Pineridge and Lory and someone thinks they’re ready for the Antenna Hill!
WHAT HAVE I DONE?! This is MY turf… MY thing…MY time…and that’s MY bike’s parking spot in the garage!  What do you mean I can cut the lawn tomorrow because it’s a nice day for a ride?  What do you mean there’s a nice place we can stay in Frisco and go on some nice rides?  WHAT…HAVE…..I…..DONE???? I’ve worn out a song by 38 Special, that’s what!  Cruisin’ down the…….Can’t wait for the next ride!
Tip of the week? No wait, I mean the tip of the CENTURY( get it? century?).  Do whatever it takes to get your spouse, girl friend, boyfriend or significant other out with you on some rides.  Forget training for a while. Forget about your average speed or catching the guy down the road.  Find a song, wear it out and start riding again.

If you’re looking for a perfect stage for your first recital, check out the Fort Collins Bicycle Festival’s Oscar Blues Cruiser Bike Tour, Friday the 28th.  Cruise the streets of Old Town and tour the local bike shops. And don’t forget to cap it off with some refreshments and good company at LEE’S North Store on Laurel St!

Oh yeah, there is also a free concert and raffles after the ride as well.  The fun doesn’t stop there either; there are rides and events throughout the weekend for everyone.  For more information Call Joe or Ainslie at 970-667-3800 or visit  http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090821/CONNECTIONS02/908210341/Cycling+festival+Aug.+28-29++Free+concert++bike+cruise+and+Rist+Canyon+ride

Don’t forget about the Tour De Fat September 5th.  Volunteers are still needed to pull this off and yes you can still ride and partake in all the fun while volunteering.  Visit the following sites if you would like to volunteer.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8FRvH3Q0VXSSd9fn_2b2fbxw_3d_3d

http://bikefortcollins.org/clubportal/ClubStatic.cfm?clubID=1895&pubmenuoptID=22930

http://www.overlandmtb.org/TDF2009/

Both a little anxious…ooo, good luck in the raffles.

Steve Lacey

So, the weather finally allowed the New Belgium Brewery short track race series to begin and boy, did it ever!  Close to 100 racers in all showed up! The kids started off the evening followed by the beginners. Then the “A” class got started and the “open” class wrapped up the evening.  I have to say, it’s great to see the parents get their kids involved in a sport that tests their inner strength as much, if not more than, their physical abilities.  No matter what your ability level is or what you ride you quickly find riders on the course you can race with and learn from.  Sure, we all want to be out front at the end of the race but that’s only a small part of it all.  Many thanks to NBB and the volunteers who come out to put this thing together.  If you want more information on the series and the next race go to here, more pictures of the race here.  Just to give you a taste of the evening…. here’s my own little racing folly…

As I approached the sign up table and saw the list for the “A” class I began to wonder if I should have arrived a bit earlier and taken off with the beginners — 42 riders in the “A” class!  The spectators with the cameras may have had the right idea.  I chose to mount my camera on my handle bar and set it up for movie mode.  The camera setup  received a few curious questions on the starting line, however.  And now, whew! here come the butterflies! Looking around, I notice a few faces I haven’t seen since the snow started flying.  “Hey Mike how you been, you been riding much?”….Hopefully you hear ‘no’, but nobody ever says yes.  Jason gives a little speech and soon after…. READY GO!  OK, here we are at that first turn in the top 10 and remember that first big dip.  Relax, get your weight back.  Alright, I’m about fourth at the moment and here’s the first little climb, I stay on Brain’s wheel (I hope he’s breathing just as hard as I am).  Good thing my heart rate monitor was not charged! I’d hate to see a fourth digit appear!  Settle in on this next straight away and get the breathing under control before the next section of climbs and descents.  Take the corner wide…. keep the momentum now out of the saddle and down….again.  Oh, it’s a little breezy on this back section, should be on Brian’s wheel.  Careful on these off camber turns so…….dang it! how’d he get by me?….You don’t go down. No No.  Stay with him on this next sweeper, good.  Ooofff! Watch out for that branch on the next lap, remember to check your helmet after the race.  Got a bit of a separation from the guys behind… nice…keep a good rhythm.  This dirt pile is new, don’t go off the edge.  Watch out for the next couple of turns, they’re tricky…don’t lean into them and wash out the front wheel.  Crank it up around this section now and stick your tongue back in your mouth (always helps!).  There’s the tree, I hope these guys get through it clean… c’mon boys, stick it.  Last turn, show everybody you’re doing fine.  Four more to go….3….2..1. Just hanging on..AHHHH relax.  Wow, did I drink gasoline before the race?  Those fire eaters would do good out here, where’s my camelback?  But you know, I’ll be back!

If you want to see some coverage of the open class race visit you tube at the following link  Sorry, I forgot my camera was on the lower resolution setting.

That’s my story for the week. Have you seen the latest news coming from the Lance Armstrong camp?  Itseems while training in France he literally got himself into a bit of hot water with the AFLD, the French anti doping agency.  After returning from a training ride, a tester from the AFLD was waiting for Lance wanting hair, urine and blood samples from him.  With all the groupies Lance has in France naturally, he wanted to check this guy out.  While his team made some calls, Lance thought he might freshen up a bit and hopped into the shower.  If you don’t know, that is a big NO NO in the world of drug testing.  You must not leave the sight of the tester after the request for a sample has been made and certainly not to go take a shower, especially in Europe.  Just kidding Yann!  Since announcing his return to cycling Lance has been tested 24 times each without incident, or is it indecent exposure?  This little slip may be just what the Tour De France race organizers need to keep Lance from becoming an eight time Tour winner or even help Levi or Alberto win the Tour for Team Astana.  By the way, Lance was in our own back yard recently, in Steamboat, and gave a video update of his recovery and his brush with the AFLD.  Sounds like the training is going well and we’ll be able to see him in the Tour of Italy or Tour de Italia May 9 – 31

* Good ole duct tape – Wrap 1/4 ” thick around your pump to get out of a sticky situation.

That’s it for this week. Oh, I just about forgot = an update on Colorado Safety Bill 148 — it is back on the House floor.   Thanks to the Conference Committee, the confusing amendment was voted to be removed from the Bill.  Hopefully, the clarity of the Bill will make it easier for it to pass at the Senate level.  But before it gets to the Senate, it must return to the House for a “yes” or “no” vote.  This is where you can help, call or email your state Representative and urge him to vote yes on the Bill.  I just sent another note to House of Representative John Kefalas and it took less than five minutes.  Follow the link http://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?PageID=988 To find your State representative and send him a note.

Now that’s really it for the week! Hope to see you at NBB next week!

Steve Lacey

The first tip is to see and be seen.  No one, besides your mom, is more concerned about your safety than you.  Be aware of your surroundings, watch for hazards and be prepared for surprises.  Reflective clothes and lights both front and rear should be used in questionable daylight or at night.

We also encourage all riders to wear a helmet and follow the rules of the road or mountain bike trail while on a bike. Each week we’ll share a riding tip to help make your riding experience enjoyable, safe and fun. So let’s get started!

Just because there is snow on the ground doesn’t mean it’s not Spring.  And what does Spring mean besides flowers?  Bicycling!  Let’s face it, the times you spent on your bike as a kid are some of the happiest times you’ve ever had in your life. It was how most of us truly broke away from our parents’ grasp for the first time. You may not live with your parents anymore (or maybe you do and you still need some space!), but we’re willing to bet you haven’t forgotten how to ride a bike. You know why?  Because you loved it so much.  Yes, that feeling is still there itching to get out and if you let it, you may just find the purest of all fountains of youth.  But first, you may have to actually go out and purchase a new or used bike. This can be quite overwhelming!

If you haven’t been to a bike shop in a while you may be quite surprised by the number of different styles of bikes on the sales floor.  There are cruisers, comfort, commuter, road, mountain, hybrid bikes (!) and even more.  Some bikes look more suited to an art gallery than a bike shop.  In proportion to the number of bike styles, there are an equal number of different price ranges to suit everyone’s needs. So here’s the skinny…or the phat….on bikes you may see around the bike rack.

The Cruiser – The name says it all.  Designed for a very relaxed and laid back kind of ride along the bike trail or neighborhood street while on the way to the local coffee shop. Generally in the lowest of the price ranges.   With a low wide seat, wide handle bar and wide tires, this bike is unmistakable.

The Comfort Bike – Generally these are for traveling shorter distances at lower speed and are well suited to a basket or rack for trips to Whole Foods or the local Farmers Market.  They’re also designed to give the rider an upright comfortable riding position.  The addition of gears makes these bikes just a tad higher in price than the cruiser.

The Commuter Bike– Getting people from point A to point B reliably and efficiently is the function of this bike.  Geared or not, this bike is usually set up with fenders, narrower tires, a rear rack and straight handle bars.  Many different bike types can be set up as “commuter” type bikes with today’s accessories and tire choices,giving you a lot of flexibility in designing what you need.

The Road Bike– With the multi-curved handle bar and skinny tires, these bikes are as

distinctive as the cruiser. Think Lance Armstrong.  Road bikes are designed to cover some serious road miles efficiently.  The curved handle bars allow the rider to use many different hand positions for comfort and aerodynamic positions.  These bikes have many different price points depending on the frame material and component selection.  Generally the lighter, the bike the more expensive it is.  Fit and price are the main considerations when buying such a bike so take the time to have a trained technician fit the bike to you. This will put you in the proper body position and decrease the risk of injury and fatigue.

The Mountain Bike – Without a doubt, the mountain bike is the most versatile of all bike types.  These bikes were developed primarily off road and were first conceived and built by Gary Fisher in Mount Tam, CA.  Wider tires and many gears allow riders to climb very steep inclines over all types of terrain. But set up correctly with skinny tires they can also fit very easily into any social group ride on the road as well.  26 or 29 inch wheels are available options for mountain bikes these days and the jury is still out as to which one is better. It seems to depend on the rider.

So there you have it, the lowdown on bikes. There’s a bike for everyone, so as you get ready to ride, think about what kinds of things you want to do with your bike and what you want your bike to do for you. I promise you, you will not be disappointed!

Ride on and catch you next week with another amazing installment on Spring riding!

Steve Lacey