Saturday, October 31, 2009
Fall Riding at West Branch
The trail was covered with leaves, which made picking lines through the more technical sections tricky; I ended up walking more of the rock gardens than I usually have to. Plus, when I'm riding alone in the woods, I usually dial it back a notch just for safety. These two factors combined to neither shatter nor over-inflate my confidence. I did two full laps of the lake-side and upper trails for a nice and long, but casually-paced, pre-race shake-down.
The trail was relatively dry, other than a few of the usual trouble spots. It's raining today, though, so if you plan to mountain bike, help preserve the trails and give them a couple of days after the rain stops to dry out. With some luck and more dry days, we may have plenty of good fall off-road riding left to do this season.
It's also hunting season, and the trails at West Branch are open to hunters, so if you plan to ride there, where bright colors and make lots of non-animal-sounding noise (I would not recommend wearing this as a bike jersey).
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Business Travelers Take to Their Bikes
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Keep on Tow Truckin'
Tow Truckin' from Xtracycle on Vimeo.
If you want to Define your life and Ride an Xtracycle or Big Dummy, stop in and talk to us at any of our three Century Cycles stores, and we'll guide you through the process of ordering one for you and getting it set up to roll!
Friday, October 23, 2009
This weekend: Highland Community Health Fair & Bike Tour
The Health Fair is from 10am - 2pm on Saturday 10/24 at Highland High School at 4150 Ridge Road in Medina. Be sure to stop by the Century Cycles booth to pick up a $25 gift certificate! Other exhibitors will be offering health screenings, flu shots, children's entertainment, and more.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
"Self" helps "Today Show" hosts ride Giant
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Be green at CSU to win a 2010 Raleigh Talus!
Monday, October 19, 2009
"Race Across The Sky: The Leadville Trail 100:" In theaters on Thursday
When we went to see "Zombieland" last week, we saw a preview for "Race Across The Sky: The Leadville Trail 100," in movie theaters at 8pm EST this Thursday, October 22. It's a documentary about one of the most intense endurance races in sports -- a 100-mile mountain bike race in Colorado for 12 grueling hours over 14,000 vertical feet of climbing. This one-night event will also feature a panel discussion with Lance Armstrong, Chris Carmichael, Dave Wiens, Ken Chlouber, and more.
In the Century Cycles area, you can see it at the Cinemark Valley View, Cinemark Crocker Park, Regal Montrose, Regal Severance, and Cinemark Southpark.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Raleigh Singlespeed Cyclocross Giveaway
Starting some time tomorrow (Monday, October 19, 2009), Raleigh Bicycles will begin selling 50 limited-edition framesets for $725 from its web site at: www.raleighusa.com
49 of those buyers will receive this limited-edition brown singlespeed cyclocross frameset, which includes the Raleigh Aluminum Singlespeed Cyclocross frame in brown, matching Easton EC90X carbon fork, and FSA headset:
One of the 50 buyers will be chosen at random, and instead of the frameset above, will receive this complete limited-edition Raleigh Singlespeed Cyclocross bicycle:This bike is equipped with a Shimano Singlespeed Cyclocross "Dream Group" including:
- Dura-Ace Carbon Tubeless Wheelset
- Dura-Ace Di2 Brake Levers
- Dura-Ace Crankset
- Hutchinson Cross Tires
- Shimano PRO Handlebar, Stem, and Seatpost
- Chris King Singlespeed Cog
The Google Maps Street View Trike
Google has now unveiled the Street View Trike, a three-wheeled 250-pound tricycle, to do the job of photographing places that are not accessible by car. Maybe this will help get them further along in implementing the "Bike There" feature?
This video shows the Google Maps Street View Trike in action. You can suggest places for them to take the Trike at: www.google.com/trike
Thanks to Krista from our Rocky River store for forwarding this story, via the Huffington Post!
Friday, October 16, 2009
2010 Raleigh Bicycles specs now online
Last month, I reported our excitement about getting the new 2010 Raleigh Talus 5.0 in stock. I mentioned that we didn't have its specs, or the details on the rest of the 2010 Raleigh line, listed on our web site yet.
Well, for those of you who have been waiting on the edge of your seats, that time is now here! You can start at our Raleigh Bicycles page and browse by bike style, or just use our search box on the left of any page to find your favorite model.
As we've mentioned before, Raleigh has really upped the ante on the look of their bikes this year, such as on the aforementioned Talus 5.0 mountain bike. Topping out their road bike line is the Team, featuring a carbon monocoque frame, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, SRAM Red 20-speed drive train, and FSA carbon handlebar. At the top end of the mountain bike line is the limited-edition XXIX Pro, with a Reynolds 853 steel frame, Fox F29 suspension fork, and trail-hugging 29-inch wheels. If you're looking to try the big 29er wheels on a budget, check out the Talus 29 or my perennial favorite, the XXIX singlespeed (now in "Kermit" green).
The popular Rush Hour fixed-gear bike is back with a traditional drop handlebar, as well as with a Flat Bar. For the more practical commuter, check out the unique new Alley Way, with an 8-speed internally-geared hub and chainless carbon belt drive-train.
Of course, you're sure to find plenty of our best-selling hybrid models in our stores soon. The Venture 4.0 has some slick new colors, and the Route 4.0 features a new, more relaxed comfort geometry. Best of all, both models have held the line and feature the same price as their 2009 counterparts, $449.99.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
So Long and Good Luck, Brent!
Today is Brent's last day working at Century Cycles. Brent has been a fixture here for over a dozen years, with time spent working at both the Medina and Peninsula stores. He will be sorely missed!
He's leaving to pursue a new career with a family business. Fear not, though, as he'll still be around. Look for him at Night Rides and other events -- he'll be easy to spot on his Big Dummy or some other Surly.
Good luck, Brent!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Our Latest eNewsletter - October 14, 2009
TechTalk: Choosing Pedals
Staff Profile: Chris Walters
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
FREE CAMBA Preview Night at Ray's MTB
Just show your current CAMBA membership card for entry. If you're not a current CAMBA member, you can join or renew when you show up at Ray's.
Go to www.raysmtb.com for directions and more info about Ray's.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Thanks for a great Night Ride season!
A big THANK YOU to all of the customers, friends, and staff of Century Cycles who came to our Night Rides in 2009 to help make this our most successful Night Ride season ever! Despite a couple of rainy nights, we averaged over 100 people per ride!
Here are a few pictures from this past Friday's ride; you can check out pictures from other past rides using the links on our Night Ride web page.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Night Ride is ON, without costumes
The Night Ride on the Towpath scheduled for 8:00pm tonight (Fri 10/9/2009) is still ON! Despite the rain, a couple of the Century Cycles staff have said they will ride, unless it becomes a torrential downpour by this evening.
Don't bother coming in costume, though, as rain gear will probably be more appropriate. We'll save the costumes and glow-in-the-dark goodies for the first ride of the 2010 season (or a later one, if it's a rainy April in 2010!).
The Peninsula store will remain open until 8:00pm to handle any of your last-minute Night Ride needs, such as fixing a flat tire, a new light, helmet, or waterproof jacket.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Case for Working With Your Hands
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Towpath Trail Closed Sat 10/10 and Sun 10/11
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Camper Bike
Monday, October 5, 2009
National Park fever!
...the No. 1 request across the board is for trails for mountain bikes. And mountain bikers aren't the only ones asking the park service to repeal the ban it has maintained on mountain bikes ever since Congress established the park in 1974, when it was called the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.
Among the most influential is the Cuyahoga Valley Trails Council, a volunteer coalition of trail enthusiasts whose equestrians, hikers, runners and cross-country skiers do the bulk of the national park's trail maintenance and repairs. The council has even proposed three sections of the park for dedicated mountain-bike trails: Terra Vista in Valley View; a land wedge between Interstates 271 and 80 near Boston Mills; and in Bath Township, alongside Summit County's O'Neil Woods Metro Park.
Said Council President Dave Daams of Garfield Heights: "There is a large group of mountain bikers in the community, and I think their request for a trail is legitimate -- not only because of their numbers, but also because mountain bikes don't have any more adverse impact on the land than horses do -- and there are many trail opportunities for horses."
Also supporting that call: local chapter representatives from the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Buckeye Trail Association, the Medina County Horsemen's Council and, of course, the Cleveland Area Mountain Biking Association.
Want to know more about the national park in our backyard? Watch WVIZ on Wednesday, October 7, at 8 p.m. to see the documentary "Generations: Cuyahoga Valley National Park." (Thanks, Lady Petch, for the tip!)
Bicycle Maintenance Class in Strongsville
In partnership with Century Cycles, the Strongsville City Schools are offering a Basic Bicycle Maintenance Class. The class will be taught by our own Don Barnett, master mechanic from our Medina store!
The class will cover flat tire repair and other basic maintenance topics.
The class is open to the public. Pre-registration is required; register by calling 440-572-7025.
Cost: Strongsville residents--$19; non-residents--$23
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009
Time: 9:00-11:00am
Location:
Strongsville High School, Room 300
20025 Lunn Rd.
Strongsville, Ohio 44149
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Biking in the Bay Homecoming Parade
Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan was in the Bay Homecoming parade yesterday, riding along with BHS teacher Erin Whistler (left) and her Project Earth students. They threw out 100 t-shirts to the crowd lining the parade route -- hence Scott's decision to ride an adult trike with a basket to hold 100 t-shirts!
Project Earth is the student environmental group that helps us organize Bay Bike To School Challenge sponsored by Century Cycles and Chipotle. Planning is already underway for the 2010 Bike To School Challenge, scheduled for May 3-21!
Friday, October 2, 2009
LIVIN' STRONG in Medina!
Century Cycles named Best of the Best!
Well-deserved kudos go to Petch, Don, Tom, Drew, Keith, Chris, Neil, Eric, Rob and everyone at the Medina store -- we're the best because they're the best.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
New Towpath Exploration in Akron
The Towpath Trail continues south to Barberton, and dead-ends at Snyder Road. Fear not, again, because all you have to do is make a left on Snyder Rd, follow it about 1/3 mile to the first traffic light, turn right onto Van Buren Road, and follow that about 3/4 mile, and you can hop right back on the Towpath. From there, it's smooth sailing all the way through Clinton, Canal Fulton, and on to Massillon before you hit any on-street riding again.
There are three campsites, with no running water, and no open fires permitted. Look for this kiosk with the self-registration sign-up sheet: