Lee's Cyclery Blog » northern colorado

The strength of Fort Collins cycling

Steve Lacey — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:48:49 +0000

It’s been a little over a week now since Stuart Culp‘s accident and he is still recovering from his injuries, getting better everyday. Stuart and the entire Culp family have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community. Sincere thanks goes out to those who donated blood during Stuart’s time of need. The lines at the blood bank were evidence of how strong the bicycling community is here in Fort Collins.

I hope this accident does not deter anyone in our biking community from enjoying the bicycling experience here in Fort Collins or Northern Colorado. Bicycling is still one of the safest forms of recreation and transportation you can participate in and our roads are still some of the best in the nation. I have still been riding and I returned to the TTH group ride on Tuesday. I must say, I was a bit nervous on the way over to the Peloton parking lot. As we grouped up and left the parking lot, I was glad to see the tempo of the group hadn’t changed. My nervousness quickly turned to anticipation for the first rotation. Now coming from a mountain biking background, I admit I am not that savvy in a pack, and again I made a tactical error and found myself off the back of the group. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Eventually I’ll learn the tricks of the trade and get better just in time for Stuart’s return! I won’t bet who gets there first though!

Beyond the outpouring of support for Stuart, still more evidence that Fort Collins is a thriving bicycle community lies in the numbers we were able to post during our Bike to Work day — 5,175 participants, 25,463 miles ridden, 1669 work sites, 28 breakfast stations……wait, 28 breakfast stations?? If that doesn’t show community support for bicycling, I don’t know what does! Some of the businesses receiving top honors were REI, The Neenan Company, and you guessed it the New Belgium Brewing Company. The Neenan Company had a whopping 97% participation – way to go Neenan!

And just because bike to work week is over, doesn’t mean you have to ride alone! There are a number of organized weekly group rides around the city for anyone interested in attending. Organized rides like these are perfect for those just getting into cycling and who want to learn more about riding or to gain confidence riding in a group. Visit http://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/ for some of dates and times of some of the rides in the area.

Speaking of riding in groups, how could I not say something about this year’s Tour De France??…..Amazing!!! With only 4 stages to go, there is still plenty of life and scenarios yet to play out. Will Lance be able to make the final podium? Will Andreas Kloden be able to put a spectacular time trial together? Will Alberto continue his reign on Mont Ventoux or will the Schleck brothers gang up on him again? If you don’t watch any other stage – watch stage 20 on Saturday and don’t forget about LEE’S Tour De France bike sale. Great bikes! Great deals! BTW – Ever wonder what the 1274 signifies on Lance’s bikes?? Times up! It represents the number of days he was away from competition.

Finally, a safety reminder — report any close calls while riding your bike in Fort Collins due to a road hazard or motor vehicle at the following site– http://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/report.php Comments are read and taken seriously.

Be safe and be seen!

Steve Lacey

Racing heats up in the Fort!

Steve Lacey — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:03:22 +0000

Tuesday evening I finally got the opportunity to check out the City Streets Crit racing down at the Fort Collins City Streets Department. My attendance was purely a reconnaissance mission to see how the races were run and what type of field it attracted. I must say, I was really impressed with the course they were able to squeeze in and around the depot. If tight corners, narrow straight aways or close racing weren’t enough to test a rider’s ability, the different riding surfaces certainly were! I was witness to more than one display of racers unweighting their tires on the smooth concrete sections and scrambling to their feet soon after!

Up front, the field was fast and nervous. “Inside inside” could be heard around every corner. As the field strung out, so too did the anxious calls, and between gasps for oxygen, words of encouragement now passed between the riders. Each minute or two that passed meant another lap for the riders and another chance for spectators to cheer for “daddy! daddy!” or have another chance for a perfect picture.

Unfortunately, next Tuesday, July 7th, is the last night for this year’s Crits so take a ride down and experience the event as a racer or spectator — you won’t be disappointed! Kids’ races start at 6:00 with citizen, open and master classes to follow. Visit Yourgroupride.com for more information and an entry form.

If the local races aren’t enough to get you fired up, how about a little Tour de Lance action on our nation’s birthday? Saturday, the 96th running of the Tour de Lance kicks off with the individual time trial which will surely reveal who the contenders are. Personally, I can’t wait for the resurgence of the team time trial brought back for this year’s tour. Sure, there will be mountain stages, sprints and breakaways throughout the 21 stages and 3500 kms but to see each team really working together is the essence of le Tour. It may also be the only time you see Lance and Alberto break wind for each other without following it up with an ‘excuse me’. Levi may have a tough call to make should Lance call in some favors from the Giro. I’m not saying there is any bad blood between Lance and Alberto but I bet they’re sure filled with competitive blood. If you have access to the Internet at work, now would be a good time to conceal the monitor screen in order to check out the daily live feeds at Versus.com

Now for the tip of the week - Do you have a creak (in your bike, not in your knees) you want to get rid of? Try a little grease on your seat post to start. If it still persists, remove your bottom bracket and ensure the threads are clean. Use some thread-lock when reinstalling and don’t over tighten it. Next, inspect the welds and paint around the bottom bracket for cracks. A little preventative care never hurts!

Hope to see you next Tuesday at the City Street Crits……Be safe.

Steve Lacey

Share your comments, experiences below!

Trail blazing in Colorado

Steve Lacey — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:51:31 +0000

Spring Canyon Terrain Park gets a face-lift

If you’re a mountain biker wanting to sharpen your skills on some natural type obstacles you’ll be happy to know the Spring Canyon Terrain Park is open for business after a recent reconstruction. The obstacles built from dimensional lumber were just not holding up from the use and abuse the riders gave them and had to be removed. Members of the IMBA Trail crew with help from Singletrack Trails were called in to create the new design. Visiting the Park in the between stages I couldn’t wait to return and test their craftsmanship and my ability.

When I arrived at the park it was virtually empty due to the cloudy skies, but like a kid in a candy store, I didn’t know what to try first. One obstacle that I was disappointed to see removed was the Sling Bridge — a truly unique creation never to be seen in the wild, but fun just the same! Additional logs were brought in and linked to the old ones to create a maze of choices. These too may never be seen on local trails but we’re working on that and these certainly feel like they could accent any trail. The height and width of the new obstacles will surely test the majority of riders in terms of nerves and balance. To get around the entire loop without touching the ground took more attempts than I had fingers to keep track of. On the top section, rocks were brought in and planted to form some skinny lines….careful of that derailleur!

Kip was the only other rider in the park and he too was enjoying the solitude, perfecting his technique, despite me blinding him with my flash. We couldn’t try the new pump tracks that were added to the park –mud, tires and logs do not mix and we dared not be the first to carve ruts in the track. To get a feel for what lies ahead for those who master all the obstacles in the park, check out Danny Macaskills video.

Then there’s the trail work going on around Fort Collins –yes, as hinted above, trails around Fort Collins are also receiving some new additions. In an attempt to add some alternate lines to an existing trail, the Bobcat Ridge Natural Area is welcoming the construction of a few obstacles to test its patrons. When completed, these obstacles will blend into the surrounding landscape, but will still demand your undivided attention. Park officials at BRNA realized the need to provide safe yet challenging obstacles for the advanced riders without cutting new trails and minimal impact to the area. Help is always needed on such projects, so if you’re interested in helping on any of the trail work in or around Northern Colorado or Wyoming, please drop me a line.

In other news, the 2009 Winter Park Race Series was blessed with perfect weather for its opening event, the Hill Climb. Starting at the base of Winter Park Ski Area and ending at the top of the mountain, the race was more a test of lung capacity than a mountain bike race. It’s a simple race — the gun goes off and you start pedaling…up! and don’t stop pedaling until someone says you’re done…and you are. One race down, seven to go!

Finally, the tip of the week — when trying new obstacles on your mountain bike, try different gear combinations. The easiest gear may not be the best choice for a particular obstacle. Experiment until you find the one that works.

Don’t forget bike to work week next week June 22 – 28! Visit the Momentum Fort Collins newsletter for more information on events. See you on the commute!

Steve Lacey

Going up?

Steve Lacey — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:40:28 +0000

Before I get too far this week, I’d like you all to join me in sending out some good vibes to a couple fallen riders of the Giro de Italia; Cristian Vande Velde and Pedro Horillo are recovering from some pretty serious injuries suffered in separate crashes during the Giro. I wish them both speedy and complete recoveries; but the race must go on, and the other contenders aren’t slowing down a bit. At Stage 16, Team Astana is still leading the team classification with three riders in the top 15 in the general classification. Levi sits in 6th, Lance in 12th and Popovych 13th places respectively. Deni Menchov and Danilo DiLuca gapped the field a bit in the mountains and are sitting in 1st and 2nd places.

Now, this week, as part of MY new training plan, I busted out a road ride this past weekend – can you guess from the picture where I went?

Due to a large cut I noticed in the sidewall of my rear tire on my road bike, I was forced to use my mountain bike for the ride; a clear reminder to not only check your bike before you ride, but after as well! Time for a trip to Lee’s for a tire or two! The route started innocently enough on the Poudre Trail from the Raptor Center trail head and headed west to Bellvue. As you may have guessed from the picture, I then headed up Rist Canyon. When I say “up” I mean UP; ten miles, 3000 feet to the top and no bellhop! Although there is no shoulder to speak of, it is a relatively relaxed ride; the cars seem to give plenty of room when passing. Speaking of cars…..If you’re looking to buy a good mountain car may I suggest the Subaru wagon – it seems to be the car of choice of those living in this area and I presume the owners must know something. Say hi to Mr. Turtle on the way by but don’t dawdle — he may just try to catch you.

The climb peaked at about 8000′ and was roughly the half way point of the ride. A quick hello to another rider, an added jacket, a couple energy bars and I was on my way. After the top there is a quick, very quick, descent to the intersection of Rist Canyon and Stove Prairie Rd. I chose to turn south on Stove Prairie Rd towards Masonville, but turning right and heading down to Poudre Canyon Highway is a great ride too. From here the 3000 feet of elevation gained on the ascent quickly disappears and it was a good choice not to test my cut sidewall on the road bike. After passing through Masonville heading towards Horsetooth lake, I must have been passed by every Harley rider in Northern Colorado. There is a saying that “a loud motorcycle is a safe motorcycle”….and I believe it! They were plenty safe! At least the first fifty or so, the rest I have no idea. I’m glad to see boats back in the reservoir even if it means the return of afternoon showers. Like a horse heading to the barn, I chose the most direct route home — Horsetooth Rd to Ziegler. Total trip distance was 55 miles with all but the last five virtually non stop pedaling!

I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did and I highly recommend it as a great ride for some sustained climbing and scenic views — just watch out for the turtle!

Finally, you can probably imagine that this week’s tip comes directly from my own experience -- that’s right, check your bike after each ride to ensure it’s road worthiness for the next ride. I myself plead guilty to not following this rule all the time but if I hadn’t quickly checked my tires could have proved costly out on the road.

Before I let you get away there’s a couple more bits of information I’d like to share. We’re looking for a blog from YOU. Nothing big 300 – 400 words about ”summer is here”, or soon to be. Oh yeah! it is a contest and to the winner goes a pair of sweet socks and the distinction of being posted on the site. Visit Leescyclery.com for more details. Also, there is a bike fest at Lory State Park this Saturday, May 30th you shouldn’t miss. Plenty of bike demos and other gear on display from a host of different bike shops. Guided group rides for all levels and abilities throughout the day are also on the agenda which I will be taking part in; first ride goes off at 10:30. I hope to see you out there and get the chance to ride with you.

Thank you Eric James 26 for the Rist Canyon picture

Steve Lacey

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

Will (YOU) write for socks and fame! May 31st deadline.

asolsky — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:33:14 +0000

Will write for socks and fame! May 31st deadline.

The community voice is here. Last year we had an excellent community writing contest. This year, since we started our new blog, we thought we would involve YOU as part of the blogging community. You don’t need to know how to blog, just write your story in an email. Every month we’ll have a different theme, so if at first you don’t succeed….. well, you know what to do….. Here’s the deal:

1- Write a 300 word paragraph about “Getting back in the saddle”.

2- Send an email with your writing to Jason@leescyclery.com

3- We’ll pick the best one before May 31st and feature it on the http://blog.leescyclery.com with YOUR name of course!

4- The best blog post receives a free pair of socks or $15 purchase equivalent.

The community voice is here. Last year we had an excellent community writing contest. This year, since we started our new blog, we thought we would involve YOU as part of the blogging community. You don’t need to know how to blog, just write your story in an email. Every month we’ll have a different theme, so if at first you don’t succeed….. well, you know what to do….. Here’s the deal:

1- Write a 300 word paragraph about “Spring is here”.

2- Send an email with your writing to Jason @ leescyclery dot com

3- We’ll pick the best one before May 31st and feature it on the http://blog.leescyclery.com with YOUR name of course!

4- The best blog post receives a free pair of socks or $15 purchase equivalent and free fame

Look forward to it! Spread the word…

The Lee’s Cyclery Team.

Trekkie’s out in force this weekend!!…And other news!

Steve Lacey — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:59:49 +0000

Sorry Vulcans, I’m not talking about the movie…. I’m talking about team Astana riding their TREK machines in the 100th running of Giro de Italia May 9 -31. Team Astana looks to be the team to beat this year despite one of its members coming off a broken collar bone…..but it also helps that the recovering rider is Lance Armstrong. I’m guessing if Lance can come back after being diagnosed with cancer and win seven French glasses of champagne, a little collar

bone won’t be too much of an issue. Just in case Lance wasn’t enough to give Team Astana notice, maybe Levi Leipheimer, Alberto Contador are. Levi and Lance participated in the recent Gila 5 day stage race in New Mexico-1st and 2nd isn’t too bad of an overall finish. Alberto is last year’s winner of the Giro d’Italia and this year, the race has more mountain finishes and individual time trial miles than past years. This plays right into the hands of Lance and friends. But Italy isn’t shaped like a boot for nothing – the local riders would like nothing more than kicking some foreign butt, no matter who they are. I know I’ll be watching and following the coverage whenever possible. Stay tuned.

Back Stateside and closer to home, despite the gloomy weather last Saturday, the trails were perfect for the Gowdy Grinder Mountain bike race at Curt Gowdy State Park in Wyoming. The weather scared all but the determined riders away, leaving the expert class with the most participants. Those who stayed home missed out; because up until the last 15 minutes of the last race, it was perfect riding or should I say, “racing” weather. I talked a friend into making the drive and entering the race because the trails in CGSP are some of the most fun around and it was a good enough excuse just to ride them. I also talked the same friend into signing up for the Expert class. He didn’t finish last but it sure took him a while to unlock the car door for the ride home. If you have not been to the park, I highly recommend the trip and not just to ride mountain bikes. They have great campsites, a couple of boating lakes, streams, hiking, and did I mention mountain biking? They have trails and obstacles for any level rider to enjoy, and you will, with many more miles of trails planned to be built this summer.

If you’re going to be around Fort Collins this weekend, you are in for a treat; the USA Cycling Collegiate Nationals Road Bike Races are in town May 7 – 10 and are part of the Fort Collins Cycling Festival. You can also what the races live online here. Races are just a part of the events of the weekend with plenty of fun events and group rides for everyone. For more information, times, and course maps visit fccyclingfest.com . It’s never to late to volunteer to help out for the races either, and for more information about volunteering, visit the Fort Collins Bike Co-op web site.

Tuesday was the last night for the New Belgium Short Track Series and the racers were out in mass- some of the biggest fields yet. There were also plenty of spectators to cheer each of the riders on each of their laps. Next year should be interesting. Those who entered all four races had the chance to win a sweet cruiser bicycle that was raffled off along with a bunch of other goodies. I walked away with a nice backpack from Deuter which will come in handy since my camelback is on its last leg and would not have made it through the summer. Thanks again to all the volunteers who came out weekly to make it happen. Look for the NBB cyclocross races this fall at the same location!

Now it’s time to switch gears and get to this week’s bicycling tip – it just so happens to be about switching/shifting gears. Each time you shift gears, a tremendous amount of stress can be put on your drive train which can damage and wear your components out prematurely. A rider can minimize this stress and add many miles to their drive train with some simple techniques.

Now get out there and enjoy your ride!

1. Shift in advance of a hill or obstacle – avoid shifting under power.
2. Shift smoothly without shifting multiple gears at one time.
3. Avoid riding with the chain on the big chain ring in the front and big gear in the rear or on the small chain ring in the front and small gear in the back.

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

Racing, Racing and more Racing…

Steve Lacey — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:35:05 +0000

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

You’ve probably guessed by now that I can’t get enough cycling. Have you checked out Cycling.tv? It’s a site where you can subscribe to view all the big races around the world. They have packages to view major road, MTB, cyclocross, track and extras, such as trials and BMX. Even if you don’t subscribe, they have some pretty cool video clips to get even the weekend warrior pumped up to ride. I watched it Monday before the NBB short track series.

Now to the question, what’s in Steve’s pack? If you’re going out for a ride, best to bring the essentials to be able to fix your bike without having to call Mom for a ride home. Many a time the tools and goodies in my pack have allowed me to fix my bike or aid in fixing someone else’s so they could get back home or to their car. A well stocked tool bag or jersey should have the following:

* Form of ID – just in case

* Phone

* Dollar bill – Place it between the tube and tire to fix a sidewall tear. Tyvex house wrap works well too but you can’t buy a coke with it.

* Two tire levers

* Two tubes

* Patch kit

* Co2 & or Pump – pumps usually always work

* Multi tool w/chain break

* A couple zip ties never hurt

* Energy bar or two – You may feel like going longer.

* 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