Lee's Cyclery Blog » cycling

Out with the old, in with the new

Steve Lacey — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:25:09 +0000

To all those who bought or donated items for Stuart’s auction I give you my sincere thanks……Thanks for showing me that the cycling family is strong and supportive of those in need. I don’t know the exact numbers of the money raised as of yet but I can tell you quite a few of the items got more attention than a teenager’s cell phone, and the bids were changing faster than the ink could dry from the previous ones. In the end, it didn’t matter so much what was bid on and won, as much as who won.
Speaking of winning, did you happen to see the results of the Leadville 100 which took place last Saturday as well? It seems the Tour de France is the perfect training event for the race across the sky as none other than Lance crushed the field and the course record while beating last year’s winner, Dave Wiens, by about a half an hour. Oh yeah, and if you think you could slow him down by letting some of the air out of his tires, think again; with about ten miles to go, he got a flat rear tire and without the aid of his team car, quickly realized he rides better than he wrenches, and finished with the same flat tire.

Photo by Bruce Turner

Another winner you might not have heard about is a guy by the name of Owen Murphy…..Who? O-W-E-N M-U-R-P-H-Y! He finished the Colorado Trail Race in 4 days, 3 hours and change, beating the old record by about a day. That’s 470 miles, Denver to Durango, on a mountain bike without feed zones, domestiques or room service. Only about ten yahoos completed the entire course and to the winner goes……..well, his name is Owen and he is most likely faster than you on a bike!

News from my side….the time finally came…the old Specialized Enduro got replaced. Yep, she was a good ride alright and we had a lot of good times together, but the rough miles, hard landings and fast descents were getting to be a bit too much for the old girl. It was time to upgrade to a new model; better built, firmer shocks, anxious to try new obstacles….The Trek Remedy. Like the Enduro, the Remedy is more of an all mountain bike, meaning it’ll go anywhere and tackle just about anything….Or as much as I can throw at her anyway. With a bit more travel and refined suspension, the Remedy gives the trails a brand new feeling and I can’t wait for the Fall trip to Moab and Grand Junction. We’re still getting acquainted and figuring air pressures and settings, but so far, it’s a keeper. One thing I just couldn’t part with was my old seat, torn up as it is, some things just feel right.

Ah yes, the Fall trip! Is it that time of year already??……Well, no, but planning is key and if you’re planning to ride this winter, might I suggest keeping your eye out for some inexpensive closeout shoes a couple sizes too big to allow room for a thicker pair or two of wool socks and a little wiggle room? You know, just in case you get a snow day!
Finally, don’t forget your summer time goals either just because Fall is on her way…. there’s still plenty of time to reach them!

Steve Lacey

The Tour and Upcoming Fort Collins Events

Steve Lacey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:44:17 +0000

Wow! What a start to this year’s Tour de France; to think race organizers were thinking of keeping Lance’s bikes hung on the hooks! What would Versus do with all that extra time from the absence of the Lance commercials? The opening time trial ended pretty much as anticipated – a strong showing from Lance and other favorites performing to expectations. The second day’s sprint finish was textbook for team Columbia-HTC and Mark Cavendish. Day three will go down as the cornerstone of the tour should Lance walk away with his eighth tour. One corner and one split second was all it took for a breakaway group of riders including Lance, to have the opportunity to split from the herd in a cross wind and make a run all the way to the finish. If not for a spectacular move from Cancellara to join the group, Lance would now be in yellow. Fabian saw the break and instantly jumped a curb in order to stay with the group. As predicted and to my delight, the team time trial did not disappoint on day four. The tight technical course let only those teams whose concentration rivaled their leg strength finish in the top spots. Teams without were quick to look for their team car and spare bikes. In the end, Team Astana was victorious and succeeded in erasing a 40 second time gap between Lance and the yellow jersey and moving him to within one second of the leader.

How can Fort Collins compete with such a race? Well, how about the return of the 6 day races on CSU’s Oval brought to you by the Fort Collins Velodrome Association and co-sponsored by Lee’s Cyclery? On Sunday, July 12th at 5:00PM, the Oval will come alive with a multitude of races and categories for all to enjoy for six weeks. At the Oval, there is not a bad seat on or off the track and spectators can get close enough to the action to experience racing without lifting a pedal! Last year the number of racers and spectators proved Fort Collins loves cycling and is worthy of their own velodrome. Visit the Fort Collins Velodrome Association web site for more information about the races and the velodrome.

Another upcoming event which is a little less competitive but just as exciting, is the Urban Assault race/ride. July 19th, Fort Collins city streets will be the proving ground for teams of two to plot their route to checkpoints around town where they will be faced with wacky obstacles and challenges. First team to reach all the checkpoints and complete all its roadblocks and riddles will win a pair of coveted New Belgium Brewery cruisers and personal acclaim. After the event, all are invited to attend the celebration and sample New Belgium’s brew and raffle at El Monte Grill. Check out the UAR website for more information.

This week’s tip is again brought to you from one of my own personal experiences…..When riding in a group or peloton try to look at least two riders ahead of yourself. As in driving looking ahead gives just a bit more notice of road hazards; it also gives you a little advanced warning when the peloton is making a break or brake. Just watching the wheel in front of you may leave you out of a break/brake and make for a lonely or sore ride home.

Have a good ride out there whether you’re on the track, trail or road.

Steve Lacey

Parking garage mishap

Steve Lacey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:47:34 +0000

OK, I’ve heard the stories, seen the damage, even chuckled a bit when listening to some of the accounts of people running their roof mounted bicycles into the garage door. But Karma is a powerful force not to be reckoned with….I too have finally felt the wrath of the low overhang. In my defense, I was not driving but I was playing an active role as back seat driver along with others in the vehicle.

After a day of riding, some might say racing in Winter Park, what could be better than to top it off with some live Blues music at Smokin Moe’s? “Nothing.” So off we go, anxious to hear some Tab Benoit and Category 5. Just as we approach Moe’s the “Parking Garage” sign seems to pull us in like a magnet. “How about the parking garage?” the back seat drivers shout and without hesitation (and too fast to heed the warning at the entrance “NO ROOF MOUNTED BICYCLES”), we whip in. Two milliseconds later…. oh that sickening noise of metal being ripped off metal – what the @#$&! All heads look to the center of the car……THE BIKE!!! Rut roh Spanky, this may not be pretty… Sure enough, the bike and rack were lying on the ground behind the car. The bike was fine but the rack had seen better days and the aerodynamics of the car have changed slightly.

Judging by the sign at the front of the garage, we were not the first to figure out too late that they should be parking on the street!

What are owners of small vehicles to do? Hitch mount? It’s not that much safer….I have been on the wrong end of an uninsured motorist rear ending me and then spending some quality time at the bike shop buying wheels and a crank. That’s no fun. So what are roof rack owners to do to prevent ruining their rides? First, if your bike is worth more than your vehicle, which is all too common these days, ride your bike more and save the gas money for better homeowner’s insurance (under which the bike is covered). There are numerous other tricks out there to force you to think about your bike on the top of your vehicle.

1. Take the remote out of your car the second you put your bike on the roof.

2. Put the remote in the glove box when bike is on the roof.

3. Place a note on the rear view mirror when the bike is on top.

4. Run a fluorescent string from the bike to front of the car.

5. There are sensors but I have not heard of any that really work.

6. Coachlevi.com suggests a sign saying “stop” mounted in the garage, if you carry a bike on top of the car.

7. Buy a bigger vehicle and put your bike inside or in the bed to be truly safe.

Bottom line is this: if you transport your bike on the roof of your vehicle, do not ever laugh, snicker or even grin, at someone’s misfortune with a garage mishap because not all low overhangs are garages.

Now for this week’s tip from Nigel at Lee’s Cyclery south. When trying to mount tubeless tires and seat the bead, first mount the tire with a tube and seat the tire on the rim. Then break the bead on one side, remove the tube and insert the stem. If using sealant (highly recommended), mount all but a small section and pour the sealant in, then mount the rest of the tire. Now at least one side of the tire is seated and if you use a compressor, makes easy work of seating the other side.

I hope my tale of misfortune reminds you to always think about your roof mounted bike and if you thought it was funny…..beware — the joke may be on you next time!

Steve Lacey

Share your comments, experiences below!

Working Smarter Resting Harder

Steve Lacey — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:17:22 +0000

It’s official; the training season has officially begun. Whether you’re getting ready for your first race, your first organized ride or your first 50 – 100 mile ride, following a training program can make your end goal seem like a walk in the park. The phrase “work smarter, not harder” may not have been coined on a bike seat, but it certainly should be stamped on one. If you’re like me, you ride your bike because you like to ride your bike; racing and other milestone rides are bonuses. But these days time is money, so spending quality time on your bike is a must while working towards your goal, even if it means staying off your bike. WHAT? Stay off your bike to be more proficient on your bike? That’s right! Countless hours on the bike can actually do more harm than good. Following a training program helps you think about the rest needed to repair and build muscles damaged by training. It also helps you make the best use of your time.

However, not all training programs are created equal. Selecting the right training program depends on your final goal and how much time you have until your planned event. A racer training for a 2 hour race will follow a different training plan than a person wanting to complete their first 100 mile ride (aka a century). No matter what plan you choose to follow, aspects of the plans are constant — hard days, easy days and rest days. The duration and frequency of each of workout or rest day depends on what your end goal is and where you are in the training program.

So……Where do these training programs come from? Search any of the top bicycling periodicals, websites or books and you’ll be able to find generic training plans for most riders and rides like this one. Specialty training sites like Training Peaks will set up a training plan specific to your needs using a questionnaire to help determine your goals. For the more serious riders, a personal trainer may be the ticket. I recently spoke to Kevin Livingston from Pedal Hard Training Center in the basement of Mellow Johnny’s bicycle shop, the one Lance owns, about training, pedal-hard and it was truly enlightening. I must admit, I have some work to do on my training program, or lack thereof after talking to him, and in weeks to come, I hope to share my progress with you. No matter which style you choose, the key is to write it down and follow it. I’d be willing to bet if you’ve never followed a structured training program before and make an honest effort to follow one you’ll be amazed at the time it saves actually spent on the bike and the rate at which you improve.

My riding tip for this week is more like a resting tip. Rest is the most important day in a training cycle. It’s when all the good stuff happens. Riding hard or long tears muscle fibers down. These fibers get repaired and grow during the rest days and recovery days. Even during interval training, the rest phase is not to be skipped to cut down the work out time.

In the coming weeks I hope to make some changes to my own training program dealing with my rest and duration in preparation for the upcoming race season and report on my progress. I hope to see your progress as well but until then, remember to kick back once in a while and put your feet up and rest!

Steve Lacey

Changing your mind: Commute by bicycle “for pleasure” not “to work”

Steve Lacey — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:32:42 +0000

A few days ago, while getting off my bike after my commute to work, a fellow coworker commented on how cold the ride in must ha

ve been. “It was a bit chilly but so is scraping the ice off my car windows,” I said in return. “At least then you’re out of the cold” came back the reply as the front door to the building shut behind him. I looked at the bike rack and sure enough, it was empty. “Why did I ride my bike today” I asked almost aloud. Here’s why - I ride my bike into work because it is so much less stressful than driving. Granted, I don’t have far to commute but who does if they live and work in Fort Collins?

There are a lot of reasons why people open the garage door in the morning and throw their leg over their bike for the morning commute…….There are far less reasons why people don’t. Yet that coin flip always seems to land in the cars favor. Hopefully, I can even the odds a bit here by dispelling a few myths or perceptions about commuting by bike.

1. Safety or the perception of same. Without a doubt, safety has got to be the number one reason keeping people from commuting by bike. Did you know the number of fatalities or accidents per million is much higher in vehicles than on bicycles? Of bicycle fatalities, the highest percentage is held by children and young adults and generally those who don’t follow the rules of the road; not by those commuting. Here’s my advice: before commuting to work for the first time, experiment with different routes on the weekend or evenings. The fastest route by car may not be the fastest by bicycle. If the route you take makes you nervous, try a different one. Avoid riding on sidewalks as they are more prone to accidents than riding on the roadway (strange but true!).

2. “I don’t have a bike.“ I won’t use the word ‘excuse’ because if you don’t have a bike it is pretty hard to commute by bicycle. However, I bought the bike I commute on for $25.00 at a garage sale and the following weekend, took it on a not so casual 40 mile group ride and it did just fine. Any budget can afford a bicycle, heck there is even a bike co-op in downtown Fort Collins where the time you donate working at the co-op can get put towards the purchase of a bicycle!

3. “What about hygiene?” What about it? Nobody ever says commuting has to be a race. There are usually plenty of places to park your bike up close to the building, so relax and enjoy the ride. Most local commutes are less than 5 miles and riding at a comfortable pace shouldn’t keep people from visiting your cube. Don’t over dress is the key, let the cool air do it’s job. You can also use a rack instead of a backpack for personal items to keep from overheating.

4. “I have to dress up while at work.” If my wife can pack a complete wardrobe in a lunchbox for a two day vacation and still have room to outfit a salon, I think it can be done for work. Besides, when people know you ride your bike to work they’ll cut you a little slack on the style of the day. If not, bring the items you need the day before and have them ready for your bicycle commute and change in the rest room.

Last but not least….

5. Good ole’ Father Time. I think you’d be very surprised at how little time you actually save by driving to work after you’ve ridden for a while and have a routine down. Most people watch an hour or two of TV each day. Recording your favorite shows on tivo and cutting out the commercials, could easily save you the time needed to ride to work. Start early so you don’t have to beat the clock. I know it’s easier said than done but use the time to think about the day’s events. For those who have a longer commute, try just riding one way at first. Drive in to work with your bike and ride home in the evening and then back to work in the morning to get your car.

Sure there are other reasons for not commuting by bike but with a bit of research and preparation, most of them can get turned into reasons not to drive. Remember Father Time and his watch never stop and every day you drive is a day you could be doing something good for yourself as well.

Finally, this week’s tip is more of a suggestion rather than a tip. Next time you drive to work, keep track of the time it takes to get from door to door at a relaxed pace without speeding. Now do the same while riding your bike on the weekend or when you have plenty of time. Take that difference in time and figure ways to change your routine to allow you to ride to work and gain that time back somewhere else or just enjoy it.

Have fun out there and don’t forget your helmet!

Steve Lacey

Happy Trails!

Steve Lacey — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:01:04 +0000

I’ve just got back from this week’s races at New Belgium Brewery and before going any further, I must clear something up. Last week I estimated the racer count to be 100. It was actually closer to 130 and this week 143 bikes showed up pulling their riders along! That’s quite a showing for a grass roots race!

Now for those not racing, if you own a bike and did not go for a ride last Sunday after all the rain we had during the week, you were definitely in the minority. I jumped on the road bike and took a spin up around Horsetooth Reservoir and had plenty of company! If you live in Fort Collins, I don’t think I have to tell you about the quality of our road rides from virtually every garage door in town… but that doesn’t even scratch thesurface of the biking we have at our disposal. No matter what your age or discipline, there is some place for you to spin your pedals around Fort Collins……OK, we may have to talk more about a velodrome but hey, they have my vote. Name your game– bike path, mountain bike single track, terrain park, jump/pump track, and even a nationally listed BMX track — they are mere minutes away from every household in town!

Starting from the east end of Drake Road, the Poudre Trail is a bike path that winds itself north west for 12 miles or so to the town of Bellvue. Most of this trail parallels the river for which it is named and if you ride far enough, you can ride over a bridge that is pretty impressive. The Spring Creek trail forks off of the east end of the Poudre trail and brings its riders 8 miles to Spring Canyon Community Park and the Pineridge Natural Area. You’ll have to guess where this trail got its name but you can bet there’s a slight grade in one direction. The Mason Trail and the Power Trail then both run north and south and aren’t as rider friendly as the Poudre or Spring Creek Trails. One has to be willing to cross some pretty major roads when using these trails, but they both offer access to the other trails and when linked together, can make for quite a relatively motorist free ride. The Cathy Fromme Trail on the southwest side of town is also a nice ride and once it’s linked to the Mason Trail and Spring Creek Trail, it will make quite a nice loop. For a detailed trail map go to http://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/bike-maps.php or http://www.fcgov.com/parks/trails.php for distances etc.

Now for my bread and butter……If you have not been mountain biking on the trails around Fort Collins you are missing out on some of the best mountain biking in the state. Yes, I know there are a lot of people who say that Fort Collins isn’t in the same league as Fruita or Grand Junction, never mind that other place called Moab (UT by the way) but if you can ride the trails in FC, you can ride any trail anywhere short of Whistler. People from here can travel, key word is travel, west and have such a good time on the trails there because of our trails. From super easy and flat to super technical and steep, you can find it within 15 minutes of town. Those just beginning to get their tires dirty would enjoy time spent in and around the Pineridge Trail System, Blue Sky Trail and the Valley Trail in Horsetooth and Lory Parks. Those riders

with a few scratches on their bikes would do well with some time spent at Coyote Ridge, Maxwell, Shoreline, Devil’s Backbone and depending on their lung capacity, perhaps head up into Horsetooth Mountain Park or Lory State Park. Yes, now we start talking some elevation and doing some work for the privilege of coming down.

I use “expert trails” a bit loosely to describe the next group of trails because even Pineridge can be made into an expert trail depending on how fast you want to go. Bobcat Ridge is a great intermediate expert type trail but being in Masonville, it’s a bit farther to go. Wherever you park to ride at Horsetooth Mountain Park or Lory State Park, you will have a pretty good climb to be able to enjoy some great down hill rides on Wathan, Spring Creek, Mill Creek, Timber, Howard, Kimmons and Sawmill Trails. I wouldn’t call these trails expert level, but they do have some expert level technical sections to challenge even the most seasoned veterans.

Is that it?…..Nope. A perfect place to polish your technical skills is in the terrain park in Spring Canyon Park. The park has logs and ladder bridges and raised skinnies, not to mention this crazy track sling to test your skill and your heart. Spending an hour in the park is like spending four days on the trail trying things over and over. Hopefully you build your confidence each time you make it just a foot farther on a given obstacle.

For those seeking some air time, the pump/jump park in Lory State Park can certainly lift your spirits. For those of us whose wings aren’t quite developed there are different size jumps to keep us closer to earth. The biggest are for the frequent fly-er travelers. You say you don’t care for air……the pump track and other man made obstacles in the park can keep you plenty busy. Goat heads used to be a problem at the track but thanks to volunteers they are now on the endangered species list. Just bring a tube or two… just in case.

Finally, don’t forget the Epic BMX track just down the hill from the Epic Center and part of the American Bicycle Association. This is a great family venue and is host to many races throughout the summer. Abilities of all levels are welcome and the different classes make everyone feel like they belong on the track. For more information about the ABA or the Epic BMX track visit ABABMX.

Now for this week’s tip — Play a tune!! Your wheel that is…Your spokes must be kept at the proper tension to keep your wheels spinning true. An easy way to check is by playing a tune on them (if you’re still a fan of Andy Gibb, you may want to skip this method). To get started – turn your bike over so the wheels can spin freely. Using the valve stem as a guide, tap on each spoke with a screwdriver or something held loosely in your hand. Each spoke should make a ‘tinging sound’ when tapped. When you tab a spoke and it makes a dull thud, it needs to be tightened using the correct sized spoke wrench. Tighten the loose spoke in small increments while checking for the ‘ting’ sound. Once you hear it, stop and keep checking the others. All the spokes should sound the same. Alternatively, stop by the shop, we would love to help out.

So that’s the news for this week! Hope you are out soaking up the sun and we’ll see you on the trails!

Steve Lacey