Last night the city council of Fort Collins met and one of the items brought to their attention was the allocation of a $38,000.00 grant from the Colorado Dept. of Transportation for the Safe Routes to School Program.  Compared to the $192,500.00 for the FCBikes enrichment program and $100,000.00 for the bike library program, which are both great programs in their own right, this number seems rather small.  I must say, however, that I was really delighted to see the support the city council members have for bicycling in our community as a whole, and how they listened to those who spoke on the matter.  Thanks to all in attendance.

And now for some karma…Do you believe in karma?  Good or bad?…..Well, listen to this.  During the silent auction fund raiser for Stuart Culp’s recovery, Feedback Sports donated a mechanic’s bike stand on his behalf.  Since I had commandeered my neighbor’s bike stand for way too long, I placed some bids on the stand, only to be outbid in the closing minutes.  This past weekend, the Winter Park mountain bike series ended followed by their end of season raffle and….. I am now the lucky owner of a new Feedback Sports mechanics work stand which, by the way, rocks!  Thank you very much!  By the way, if you need a nice foldable work stand, I suggest you check the models Feedback Sports has to offer!

Did someone say foldable?……take a look at this new concept foldable bike.  It doesn’t quite have all the stop and go problems solved, but it looks to be on the right track and sports 26″ tires to boot.  Awesome! Watch the video.

OK, time for this week’s tip.  When riding in a group, avoid sudden changes in speed or direction to help the group stay together.  Any actions at the front of the group get magnified by the time they reach the back. It’s a little like a ripple effect, or chaos theory, which ever you prefer to think about!

So remember to watch out for cyclists and they’ll watch out for you!

Steve Lacey

So you have a week’s worth of vacation saved up at work, you’ve been kicking some butt on the trails this summer and feeling strong, you’ve done the Laramie Enduro, Leadville 100, a few centuries around the area…..and now what?  Well…….How about a little mountain bike race from Denver to Durango to test your endurance and psyche?  It’s just a mere 500 miles along the Colorado Trail, 65,000 feet of climbing, 300+ miles of single track, totally unsupported, no prizes, no entry fee, no sag wagon.  No big deal, right? I found out about this race way too late to think of entering it myself but as soon as I heard about it from a coworker I’ve been eagerly awaiting its start next year….

The race starts at 6:00 AM on Sunday, August 2 at the Waterton Canyon trail head in Denver.  Racers are given a route description and a Spot GPS unit with their personal profile entered in it.  From here, racers are on their own to carry their own food, water, shelter and bear repellent.  What!  I’m sure after the first day of 16 hours or more on the bike, my clothes would be repellent enough!  It is also legal for racers to use post offices to pick up care packages they’ve sent to themselves anywhere along the route, but they must return to the same point on the course where they exited and are responsible for all the time wasted in line!  It is also perfectly fine to stop in any fast food joint and eat to your heart’s content – however, racers are also required to pack “it” out. Hmmmm….

The race ends in Durango at the Junction Creek Trail head.  If you’re good, five days in the saddle is the fee for a soft bed and a shower.  If you’re not, a call to your boss for an extra day or two of vacation may be in order.  With this year’s weather patterns, I’m guessing the racers will be in for a little moisture out on the trail.  Speaking of “out on the trail”, the Spot GPS units also allow real time viewing of the CTR leader board for those who wish to follow the action from the couch.  Ready to join or watch the fun?……Go check out the CTR website.

If the CTR is a little much, how about something a little closer to home for a great cause? The Pedal to the Point Bike Tour was created to help at risk youth in Northern Colorado.   Three fully supported routes of 24, 52 and 72 miles take off from Waverly, Sunday, August 9 at 7:00AM and return to an after ride BBQ.  100% of the entry fee is donated to Turning Point.  Visit Turningpnt.org for registration and more information.

Now, this is all exciting news and stuff, but remember, before going out on any of these rides, don’t forget to lube your chain…..and here’s a little tip – lubrication does nothing on the outside of your chain except collect dirt and give you a nice black chain ring tattoo on your calf.  After lubing your chain, take a rag and wipe off the excess lube from the sides of your chain to keep it from gathering dust and grime. You’ll thank me for it!

Last but not least, don’t forget your helmet!

Steve Lacey

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.

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