Oh Lazer, How Could I Forget???

To let you in on a little secret, 50% of the reason why I started to write my winter clothing entry was because I wanted to highlight Lazer's awesome helmet covers. While it's not for the most frigid of climates, it does serve a great purpose on rainy climates as well as mild wintery places (Pacific Northwest, South West, UK, etc.). This isn't your typical giro/bell winter cover that makes any FRED look like Mario Cipollini. As a matter of fact, unless you don't know it's a cover, you'll probably not even notice it. As with many other helmet related accessories, Lazer has done a really good job with this one.

If this doesn't provide enough warmth for a Chicago or Minnesota winter ,Lazer also makes a liner that goes inside of the helmet. While I couldn't find a picture of it, I've checked with a number of retailers that say it's available for order.

Thank you for reading!

The Weather Outside is Frightful, and My Cycling Gear so Delightful....

As we approach winter across most of the US, it's time to dust off the good ol' warm clothes. If you're looking to do some riding in the cold weather, check out this list of must-haves. With the right gear, winter riding can be just as enjoyable as riding any other time of the year, maybe even more so given it's unpredictability.

Depending on the area of the country you're in, you may not need the warmest of clothes. Chances are however that you'll want a pair of tights. If money is no object, the Castelli Sorpasso Bib Tight is an excellent choice. You'll find that the Rosso Corsa tight has a pad that's flexible, comfortable, and stays dry. Furthermore, the Thermoflex and Thermoflex Core Due materials will keep the rest of your lower half both warm and dry on your winter rides. While this may not be the least expensive option out there, it's worth every penny. Castelli clothes tend to last, are stylish, and make riding comfortable even during uncomfortable days. For a budget minded rider, check out Bellwether's Thermaldress Tight with Chamois.

Now that you've got a set of tights, you'll need a warm top. We'll skip over arm warmers as those are a given for the months leading into and out of the really cold winter months. Pearl Izumi makes a number of tops ideal for winter however the P.R.O. Softshell Jacket has my vote for warmth, wind protection, fit, and aesthetics (you've got to look good while riding). The laser-cut direct-vent panels provide superior ventilation and the internal draft flap with zipper seals in warmth.

Finally, for baselayers, gloves, shoe/toe covers, and winter accessories Descente is an awesome brand. While not as popular as others, Descente is known for high quality skiing clothing and their cycling gear does not disappoint. Whether you want a beanie or balaclava they've got a couple that will do the trick. Want to keep your feet warm? Check out their Element shoe covers and winter sock. However my favorite Descente winter accessory is the Wombat Glove. The Wombat Glove is a transformer of sort giving you the option of having a five-fingered glove or a wind-proof mitten. Next time you're picking out a pair of winter gloves, spend the best $50 on gloves you'll ever spend. Your fingers will be happy.

If you have suggestions on winter gear that's tried and true, don't be shy about sharing it... until next time, stay warm out there!

Team Deals, Worthless for Shops...

If you work in the Bicycle Industry, or have been a part of one of the many cycling clubs around the country, you're probably familiar with "Team Deals" and how they work.

Right now it just happens to be that time of the year... Interbike is just around the corner, the 2010 season is basically over, new product is coming out, and most local amateur teams are getting ready to plan for next year. That means securing sponsors, riders looking to make a move, and lining up a shop/bike sponsor.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's unlike any other amateur sport out there, and I don't mean that in a good way. Unless average weekend warriors (cat 5, 4, 3's) thinking they're pros is somehow good.

Anyway, depending on where you live and the size of the racing community, bike shops compete against each other in order to "partner" with clubs as a sponsor. To put it more simply, a shop will offer bikes (or frames), components, accessories, etc. at significant discounts during team buy-in periods. While these team buy-ins are approved by the individual companies (ie Cannondale Bikes) and are great for team members, usually the only benefit a shop or company gets out of it is a name on a jersey/bibs... I know what you're thinking, so what?

So why is it that a bunch of average riders (in the grand scheme of things), think they're entitled to get "pro deals"? Even if you're a Cat 1 or 2 locally doesn't mean much. If you were a good rider you'd be racing alongside Guy East and if you were really good, you'd be Chad Beyer.

Who's fault is this though? If you ride a bike and belong to a cycling club, why wouldn't you want to get a smoking deal on a bike you'd otherwise be paying a lot more for? If I wasn't able to take advantage of industry discounts I certainly would want to take advantage of team buy-ins. It's simple: product A costs $100 which you can buy for $50 if you belong to Club/Team X. Ok, so I get why the riders and clubs push for this.

What about the bike shops/brands? What's in it for them? If I own a bike shop, and sell bikes near my wholesale price, how is that of benefit to me? "Well", says the club President, "there's a lot of people riding the bike that you sell and your name is on the side of our Club/Team X's jersey!". You mean to tell me that a bike that otherwise I could have made an extra $X, I can sell for less and you get to wear a jersey with my name on it? Is that supposed to be a good thing??? Who goes to the races by the way? Is it not a bunch of other racers that belong to a team and get "team deals" as well? How does this marketing strategy work then?

The point of all this is not to blame it on the consumer. Until brands such as Cannondale, BH, Colnago, X, Y, Z, etc. and bike shops don't quit doing this, the whole industry is going to continue to work this way. These consumers aren't dumb, they know they get to use a bike/frame for a season and then flip it on Craigslist or eBay to make their money back. The problem is, this floods the market! So when companies complain that you're not ordering as much as you used to... just let them know, they've made their bed, now they've got to lie in it.

My Thoughts on Bike Snob's "Eternal Dilemma"

June's edition of Bicycling Magazine, as usual, includes a column written by the now uber-famous (and no longer anonymous) Bike Snob. In particular he explores what he calls "The Eternal Dilemma"... to buy online or to buy from a Local Bike Shop (LBS).

Even though there's really no right answer, and good points that argue both sides, he does cover most of his bases. Most importantly, at the end of the day... or the year, or decade, there WILL be room for both.

In my time in the industry, I have noticed that unlike Bike Snob describes, it doesn't depend on a person's mood, they don't tend to swing back and forth as much as their mood might. An LBS customer tends to be an LBS customer regardless while an online shopper isn't an online shopper, he or she tends to be a bargain hunter and shopping online allows them to do that.

LBS customers tend gravitate to their local shop because of many aspects, but most commonly: Knowledge - as simple as bicycles are, they're still complex machines and any good LBS will know bikes inside and out. Familiarity - it's the whole "Cheers" theory, going somewhere everybody knows your name... as a matter of fact, hang out at any independent bike shop and you'll be sure to find "groupies". Instant Gratification - though not always the case, it's great to not have to wait for something you want or most importantly need. Finally, and most importantly Customer Service - cycling is not a cheap sport/hobby, having the piece of mind that an LBS will stand behind their products and services is priceless, and while not all bike shops do this, all good ones do. Loyalty is mutual... a customer that's loyal to a bike shop will feel that loyalty reciprocated.

Sure, there are lots of exceptions to every rule, for example convenience... an LBS customer may have to travel 1o miles each way for tubes and instead opt to buy them online. On the other hand, an online shopper might not be mechanically inclined or have certain tools and therefore use his or her LBS selectively for labor purposes.

In the end people will do what "fits" them best, and that's fine. It's the great thing about having options. So if you're an LBS, or online shop make sure you give your customers a reason to come back, if you don't you've essentially given them a reason to go somewhere else.

Feeling Trisexual? What you Need for your First Triathlon

I'm not much of a triathlete, even though it's how I got into cycling I haven't done one in about two years. There's a local race in a few weeks that I've considered signing up for.

I must admit, right now there's a couple of things holding me back... and even though it's nothing major, I'm just getting a bit nervous about having to put a bento box on my bike (not to mention one of these). Luckily, the race won't be long enough for either of those.

All joking aside, even though I consider myself a roadie (and need to live by these rules) Triathlons can be fun and a great way to cross-train. The fact that they're looked down upon by my fellow roadies is kind of a head-scratcher. Aside from all of the gizmos and gadgets, triathletes aren't so bad after all.

So if you're thinking about doing your first triathlon, here's the cliff notes version of the whole process... just remember it's not as bad as it sounds:

1. Pick a distance: Triathlon is any event in which you swim, bike, and run. A lot of people assume Triathlon = Ironman, which is not the case... there's lots of different distances but most races will be one of the following: Sprint, Olympic, Half Ironman and Ironman. If you've never done a triathlon, you're most likely going to start off with a Sprint or something similar to it.
2. Train: You probably know this part, however if all you've ever done is watch people dot it on TV, you're probably thinking "oh that's not so bad" (Unless you've watched NBC's over-dramatic Telecast of IM Hawaii). My point is that even the short distance triathlons require training. So do yourself a favor and don't waste your $60-$100 to get pulled out of the water. Check out Ontri or Slowtwitch as they're great resources.
   
3. Gear Up: For a newbie, showing up to a race might be a bit intimidating as local Age Groupers (fast or not) will have some of the coolest shit the pro's don't even have. You don't need most of that. These are the must-have's: Goggles, a triathlon top & short (or suit), a bike, helmet, running shoes, a number belt, and body-glide (very important).
4. Have Fun: If this is your first race, the probability that you're not going to win is high, so just go out there and have a good time. This will be the only way to get a feel for how it all works... you can practice all you want, however race day is race day, you'll see what I mean.

If you're thinking to yourself that can't be as easy as what I just described, you're kind of right. It wouldn't be called exercise if it was easy... and more people would be doing it. However, this is a good starting point.

Make sure you use your LBS (Local Bike Shop) as a resource, especially if there's a Triathlon specific shop in your area. Find a local triathlon club or coach and get in touch, they're usually willing to help you through the process. Don't ever feel like you're asking a dumb question, there's a lot of unknowns to someone who's new to the sport and people will understand. If you're not much of a people person, it is 2010 and everything is at your fingertips online, so check out some of the resources I mentioned above and knock yourself out!

Good luck!

What Would Jens Do?

It's hard to say in many cases what Jens would actually do. As one of the pro peloton's funniest, most unpredictable, and all around good guys, Jens is a fan favorite for sure. His riding style and toughness have also made him one of the most respected riders in the peloton. Take a look at this video to get an idea.

This takes me to my next point, while it may not be the greatest example because Jens gets paid to ride whatever components are on his bike, one thing is certain, Jen's would never do this! (disclaimer: this post is not meant as a jab at Shimano)

Even though I don't own a Pinarello or Colnago, it pains me every time I see one of those beautiful frames with any groupo other than Campagnolo. However it is especially painful when it's built with Shimano (Even Di2). If there were indeed gods of cycling, this wouldn't be possible.

Is it too much to ask? Not in my opinion... when was the last time anyone saw a IBM tower with a Mac monitor? Saw a Trek built up with Campy (world's greatest Madone... so wrong), Or ever heard anyone order a Rum and Pepsi? Some things are just never meant to work together.

So who do we have to blame for this? In the case of Team Sky, being that they're a Pro Team and they get paid by their sponsors, they have a good excuse.

The local team, club, and recreational riders are a whole different story. Yes, I know sometimes (a lot of times) they don't know any better. This is the reason it should all fall on the shops that sell Pinarello, Colnago, et al.

As a dealer of the aforementioned brands or (insert favorite Italian frame here), there is a great deal of power, it's a status symbol, it means your store is worthy so just build a kick ass frame with nothing but campy, it's as simple as that. It reminds me of what a man once said: "with great power, there must also come great responsibility".

I must now ask that if you're a consumer, a rep, a shop owner, a shop salesperson or mechanic, do what you can... it's for the good of the sport. And if you're ever in doubt, ask yourself, what would Jens do?

Quintana Roo's CD 0.1 The Shift Has Hit the Fan

If you're familiar with the CD 0.1, you may want to skip right on down a couple of paragraphs. However, if you're not, read up because it actually is a really cool bike.

While most of the features on high end bikes now a days revolve around integrated seat-masts, BB this, BB that, hidden brakes, etc. etc. Quintana Roo has come up with a very innovative way to make the bike more aerodynamic and stable. The "shift" technology as they've called features an asymmetrical downtube that re-directs the air so that once it reconnects behind the front wheel it flows entirely to the non drive-side of the bike (the clean side of the bike).

While the frame is only one part of the whole "aerodynamic equation", with the rider and positioning being the most important, it's a significant advance in frame design that no other bike manufacturer has pursued. So why not take advantage of it to the max???

I'm not suggesting that innovative ideas are always successful right out of the gate, however a company with the history of Quintana Roo should be all over the Triathlon world. QR should be talking about their bike, their findings in the wind tunnel, comparing the CD 0.1 to every other bike out there that beat them in the Kona bike count (see list, it's a lot of companies), and anything that might help them get back to the glory days... At least have some Kool-Aid prepared so that people may drink it.

As a fan of the company... a fan of Litespeed to be more specific (one of my favorite bikes), I'd like to see QR succeed. This is why when I see an ad like the one above, it makes me scratch my head. It's great conceptually... they show what other companies can't so simply, with a fan and a ribbon. However, are most readers going to understand that there's a ribbon attached to the front wheel? Is this bike a gift to the person that lives in that trendy apartment along with a fan to keep cool? is it a printing blemish, it does look like a little red line. Why not feature an image capture of the CD 0.1 in the wind tunnel as the wind is re-directed to the non drive-side? Better yet, show your bike next to one with a "traditional" downtube and how the air doesn't "flow" backed with actual wind tunnel numbers.

Maybe I'm underestimating your creative powers ABG, or maybe underestimating the geekyness (with all the love and respect... see sample Slowtwitch topic) of triathlete magazine readers. Maybe this ad will be properly interpreted and understood as soon as readers see it. I guess we'll see, the numbers will show once the 2010 Kona bike count comes out.

Bont Shoes... Is it Hype?

There's been a lot of talk about these shoes as of late. Partly because they've become a sponsor of one of the most popular pro peloton teams, the Cervelo Test Team, but mostly because it's an innovative shoe that seems to have a lot of upside to it.

The most noticeable trait of the shoe is it's non-traditional shape to it, looking down at the shoes, they kind of resemble an apple turnover or a calzone. Furthermore, unlike most shoes out there, especially those that are "custom moldable", the Bont shoe is not designed to be worn without being molded. Now, you may think "duh! it wouldn't be a custom shoe if it was". However, most recently I wore a pair of Shimano R300's that were molded 6 months after first wearing them, and to my surprise, the custom process barely improved the fit and comfort. So needless to say, when I got the opportunity to try a pair of the a-two cycling shoes, I was stoked.

The first thought that came to my head after trying these shoes on was "these are not going to work, they're way uncomfortable". In hindsight it re-enforced the fact that this is not a shoe that you CAN custom mold, it's a shoe that you MUST custom mold.

Being that I am stubborn I decided to give them a try first without molding them, and as uncomfortable as they were off the bike, they were actually not so bad while riding (I set them up with Keo cleats and rode about 40 miles). If you've ever had to break-in hockey skates, wearing these shoes for the first time was a watered-down version of that. After getting the shoes heated (instructions are clear on their website), putting them on was a completely different experience. The shoes had gone from being stiff all the way around to feeling like a slipper with a super stiff sole. I was excited to ride on them again!

The first ride after molding the shoes was a thousand times better. The shoes are so stiff (I'm afraid some might find them too stiff), yet so comfortable, it had essentially allowed the crank, cleat/pedal, and shoe to feel as one. I felt climbing/sprinting out of the saddle was where I noticed the most difference as every little bit of effort translated into power to the rear wheel. I was certainly pleased. In the end, the differences that I noticed from other shoes justified spending that amount of money on a pair of cycling shoes (a-one $399.99 a-two $314.99), plus they come in a range of colors to match most kits.

Finally, nothing is perfect, and my experience with Bont shoes was no exception. Over my handful of test-rides (no more than 300 miles), I did notice the leather upper peeling a bit around the toe. I also figured out a way to lose the rubber heel piece along the way... and though the toe issue has been fixed (rubber insert), and these are by no means huge issues that affect the performance of the shoe, they retail for $300 plus! You'd want them to be somewhat durable.

Check out their website for more detailed technical information on how their shoes are made, and for a list of all the shoes they sell.

The whole weight thing (being fat)

How many sports can you think of in which the guy that looks like he's chronically ill, is most often a favorite to win?

Cycling is probably one of a couple... We're not talking about athletes with high muscle definition, and low body fat... we're talking about "athletes" that straight up look like hospital patients.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that this means I'm fat, and I don't like it. While I've been pretty athletic my whole life, it's all relative and in the world of cycling, the 6' 200lb guy is just as much of a threat at a race as the 5'8'' white dude playing pick-up basketball.

As an industry person, it doesn't hurt to at least "look the part"... while I know my cycling shit, does it mean more when I look like a cyclist? probably.

Today I weigh about 200lbs... by the end of the summer, I want to be down to 168lbs. I'll update my progress every now and again... until next time try not to give Tony Kornheiser any more attention... that's what he wanted when he said to run over cyclists, and he's getting what he wants.

Hi my name is... and I have a bike problem

When people tell you that you don't get into the bike industry to make money... they're right, well sort of (another topic for another time). The real reason, is for people like me to have a way to fulfill a need to have the coolest bike shit out there. The thing is, while most people would say that you end up spending the little money that you do have on bike stuff, I can't argue with them and they're 100% right. Hey, it's all worth it!

The fact of the matter is that some people like bikes, some cars, some are into art, etc. and luckily biking happens to be a healthy addiction. It's the thousands of $'s spent to bike that's not so healthy. Good think I'm the equivalent of a person addicted to painkillers working at a hospital.

Anyway, I'll be posting some pictures bikes that are either mine, or wish were mine as I get this blog going. Until then, it seems like bike talk lately has revolved around Google Maps adding a bike feature to their service. Pretty cool if you ask me! Except who knows how accurate it is? By looking at this route I'm not quite sure it is. If you've ever been to the DC metro area, you're not riding your bike on Old Georgetown Road.