Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Electra owners, rejoice!

If you have an Electra Townie or cruiser bicycle, mecca is now located in the northeast corner of Century Cycles in Rocky River. That's where a special Electra Zone has been installed, stocked with everything stylishly wonderful for Electra bikes (bells! baskets! handlebar flowers! valve caps! racks! totes!) and their riders (t-shirts! socks! gloves! for men and women!).

Electra Bicycle selected just eight retailers across America for Electra Zones. Century Cycles is proud to be the only Midwestern store of the bunch, proving that those of us near the shores of Lake Erie can be just as cool as the Pacific coast crowd.

So whether you need a few things to make your Electra more practical for riding around town or more accessorized for head-turning uniqueness -- or BOTH! -- swing by the Electra Zone to check it out!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Century Cycles in nation's Top 100

We just found out that Century Cycles has again been voted a Top 100 bike retailer in America, with a special 5-star designation for outstanding achievement! We are proud and humbled to have won this award for over 10 years straight -- all thanks to all of YOU!

We wish we could take all of you with us to the special award reception at Interbike in Las Vegas next month. Instead, we promise to celebrate the award every day by continuing to provide our customers and communities with exceptional service and a passion for bicycling by a friendly staff who welcomes bicyclists of all ages and abilities.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Used Rental Bicycles for Sale beginning Sunday, September 18, 2011

Yes, it's that time again. We'll be replacing our fleet of rental bikes in Peninsula, which means you can find a good deal on a quality used comfort hybrid bicycle, perfect for your own Towpath Trail adventures!

When: Sunday, September 18, 2011, 9:00am

Where: Century Cycles, 1621 Main St, Peninsula, OH 44264

(Please note the new date. We had originally scheduled the rental bike sale for Sept. 4, but decided to delay it to not interfere with the busy Labor Day holiday weekend.)

Raleigh Venture 4.0
Rental equipment sales will be on a first-come, first served basis. Must be present; no phone sales.

For those arriving early, the line will form at the large double red barn doors near the back of the store.

Electra Townie 3i
During the sale period, buyers will select the specific bicycle they wish to purchase, and must place a deposit of at least 50%. We will then continue to use the rental equipment for the remainder of this season. Beginning in early November, we will give each bicycle a complete tune-up, and then contact the buyers to notify them when the equipment is ready for pickup.

Available items:
  • Raleigh Venture 4.0 bicycles - various sizes in unisex and women's frames, $250 each
  • Electra Townie Original 3i bicycles - one size, men's and women's frames, $250 each
  • Raleigh Mountain Scout bicycles - youth size (24-inch wheels), $200 each
  • Adams Folder 1 Trail-A-Bikes (tag-alongs) - $125 each
  • Burley D'Lite Child Trailers - $250 each 
Raleigh Mountain Scout
Adams Trail-a-Bike

Burley D'Lite


Sunday, August 28, 2011

Weekend Roundup: Hurricane-free bicycling news


Major milestone: Cleveland's first-ever bike move! -- Rust Wire

Everett Query, the brother of Rocky River's Ray Query, was recently profiled for his love of bicycling. -- The Lakewood Observer

Don't dawdle: Online registration for the Hancock Horizontal Hundred ends on September 5. -- Hancock Handlebars Bike Club

Frank Krygowski started riding his bike to work in 1977 and inspires a Vindy reporter to give it a try. -- Youngstown Vindicator

Someone finally came up with the pedal-powered RV for one. -- Inhabitat

Remember Aron Ralston, that guy who cut off his own arm? Who wrote a book called "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" that was made into a movie called "127 Hours"? He is coming to the University of Akron on September 14 to tell you the story in person. -- UAEvents

A great little video about the beauty of just getting on your bike by a man who believes the bicycle is an essential tool for living. -- Grist

This is some medicine we can get behind: Just 15 minutes of mountain biking a day can lead to a longer life. -- Fitbie

Cyclists beat airplane in a race across Los Angeles -- and it wasn't even close! -- Treehugger

The 20th Annual Norton Kiwanis Cider Festival Bike Ride is September 25. -- Norton Cider Festival

Finally, ain't it cool? Medina's Chris Walters found that bit of bike art above. -- Artist Chris Piascik

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Bike Rack opens in downtown Cleveland

Yesterday was a momentous occasion for bicycle commuters to downtown Cleveland and any visitors to the city on two wheels.

It was the day The Bike Rack opened at 2148 East 4th Street! Now ready to welcome bikes and sweaty bodies, it offers bicycle storage, showers and lockers for $5 per day.

Click here to watch a story from WEWS TV5's website and click here to read the announcement in today's Plain Dealer.

New Surly-ness

The other day, the folks at Surly Bikes World Domination Headquarters gave a sneak peek at the new stuff they've got in the pipeline for 2012. You can read the full details here on their blog, but for you executive types, here's an executive summary:

  • A new snow bike, called the Moonlander. Basically, a Pugsley with even wider tires (4.5").
  • New color (Black Ops) available for the Pugsley.
  • A new two-chainring crankset, the Mr. Whirly Offset Double (MWOD), designed to address chain alignment issues on Pugsleys and Moonlanders.
  • New tires to go with the Moonlander, plus more tire options for Pugsleys.
  • New lighter-weight rims for Pugs and Moons.
  • XXL sizes available on select frames for big folks.
  • The Troll, introduced last year as a frameset, now available also as a complete bike.
  • New color (Sparkleboogie) for the Pacer, plus a frame redesign to allow up to 32mm tires.
  • The Long Haul Trucker will be available in a disc-brake-only version.
  • Finally, a new frame designed for all-conditions touring. Imagine the bastard child of a Troll and a Karate Monkey--it's called the Ogre. 29er wheels, disc or v-brakes, geared or singlespeed, Surly trailer mounting sockets, oodles of eyelets for rack and fender mounting. Color: Medium Green

Friday, August 26, 2011

The Manatoc Experience: Will be ours and can be yours

Century Cycles is proud to be participating at The Manatoc Experience -- 331 Racing's Big Valley Festival presented by Monster Energy on September 3 and 4! Make your way to the 600-acre Camp Manatoc Boy Scout Camp in Peninsula to experience Ohio's largest mountain biking event, now back for its 10th year.

We'll be there on Saturday for the festival, when the schedule includes open riding, group rides, race course preview, a children's zone that includes safety programs and four different types of kids races, limbo contest, bunny hop contest, CAMBA group rides, cyclocross races, Xterra 1/2 marathon trail run and manufacturer demo bike exposition.

Our Century Cycles tent will be next to Raleigh Bicycles and we'll be bringing demo bikes, our pumps and tools in case you need some help or flat (what? you're still not sold on Stan's?!), and other goodies.

Click here for lots more details about The Manatoc Experience -- and see you there!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Thorn of the Week vs. Stan's Tire Sealant

The mechanics in our Medina store see a lot of bicycle tires flattened by thorns on the Reagan Park mountain bike trails -- so much so that they have a "Thorn of the Week" award for the nastiest stabbers they pull from a tire.

And so much so that they are big proponents of Stan's No Tubes Tire Sealant ($3.99), which will stop slow leaks and seal small punctures. It will also seal punctures inflicted by aforementioned bike mechanics, as you will see in this demonstration by Don Barnett:


Medina staffer Ed Meyer recently went to change his tires after a season of riding and found SIX thorns in his old tires, which had never gone flat, having been successfuly sealed by Stan's (hence the phrase "to Stan's a tire").

To use Stan's, you need either a tubeless-ready rim or the complete Stan's kit to make your rim tubeless-ready, which includes special rim tape and a rubber liner. Stan's is ideal for mountain bike and cyclocross tires, which operate at a lower pressure. If you want to try Stan's for your road bike, you will definitely need tubeless wheels and tires because of the higher tire pressures.

Ask your Century Cycles mechanic about Stan's the next time you're in -- and avoid having the next Thorn of the Week ruin your ride.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Cyclocross 101: Free clinic on September 8 in Medina


WHEN: Thursday, September 8, 6-8 p.m.

WHERE: Reagan Park in Medina (Baseball Field Entrance at 550 East Reagan Parkway, off Foote Road)

WHY: Cyclocross -- which is a fusion of road bike riding, mountain biking, bike handling, running and steeplechase -- is one of the fastest-growing cycling disciplines in the United States, probably because it's so fun for both participants and spectators. Check out this article in the August/September issue of Ohio Sports & Fitness for more about the CX phenomenon.

COST: Free!

WHO: Everyone is welcome, from newbies to seasoned riders.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Attendees will learn the basics of cyclocross, including the features of cyclocross bicycles and how to prepare for a cyclocross race. The clinic includes skill stations and cyclocross bicycle demos.

TO ATTEND: Please RSVP on Century Cycles' Facebook Event page or by calling Century Cycles in Medina at 330-722-7119. Bring your own bicycle (any style OK -- mountain, road, CX, etc.) and a bicycle helmet.

PRESENTED BY: Century Cycles, Grunt Girl Racing, and Raleigh America.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Roll Over America Tour makes stop at Century Cycles in Medina

This is Merrill Gay (above right) with his Velomobile, a 50th birthday present to himself. He is riding with a group of 36 other Velomobiles from Portland, Oregon to Washington, DC as part of the Roll Over America ride (visit www.rolloveramerica.eu for more information). The group is comprised mainly of Europeans, with just a handful of Americans. Merrill had a few mechanical issues that needed tending, so he swung by the Century Cycles store in Medina while the rest of the group pedaled on. He is being assisted here by ace mechanic Tom Wiseman. His Velo is built from a kit and weighs 135 lbs. Some of the other riders are on models with much newer technology that can cut the weight to as low as 65 lbs. Merrill's has an electric assist to help when needed. We wish Merrill and all the riders a safe happy journey the rest of the way!

See the slide show below (click here if the slide show is not appearing for you) for more photos of Merrill and his velomobile, and scroll down below the slide show for a brief video of Merrill pedaling out on his way.




We've also added Merrill to our Bicycle Touring Photo Gallery; check it out to see many more photos of long-distance bike tourists who have visited our stores!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Debby's Bike Trip: The End

This is the last update from Rocky River customer Debby Milano -- she has successfully complete the second leg of a cross-country bike trip along the Northern Tier Bicycle Route! Our hearty congratulations to Debby and our grateful thanks for letting us share her journey with all her fellow CC friends and family. Without further ado, here's her final post, dated Tuesday August 16:

And Then We were Done......... Bar Harbor

We have arrived, all 25 of us, safe and sound in Bar Harbor. For our last day of riding, the clouds burst open and we pedaled through puddles and rain for 45 miles arriving soggy and cold, but elated to have completed our journey. For the most part, with the exception of a snapped rear derailleur cable for me and 6 flat tires in two days for Sue, our last three days of riding through the coastal towns of Maine have been picturesque, yet hilly to the end. We commemorated our arrival by dipping our tires in the Atlantic Ocean as we had done in the Pacific Ocean when we began this ride in Anacortes, WA, last summer.

Emotions are high right now. I am thrilled to have met my goal of crossing the country three times in the past five years. I am tired and I am sore. I am relieved that we all made it to Bar Harbor safely, while carrying with us the memory of our dear friend Barbara's loss, last year. And I am sad because I will be saying goodbye to my cycling sisters. But most of all, I am grateful for having had the opportunity to see the country as only a cyclist can - Up Close and Personal. The sights, the sounds and the smells are all locked in - what great memories.

I have crossed the Rocky Mountains twice by bicycle and have ridden along some of our great rivers: the Mississippi and the Ohio, the Rio Grande and the Missouri. I have pedalled by as a bear dug in the ditch along the "Going to the Sun" road in Glacier Nat'l Park, and as a female moose waded in a stream in the Cascades. I have had to brake for a mountain lion loping across the road in eastern Montana and I will not soon forget sitting as still as possible as an alligator dove under my kayak on a river in Florida while we took a break from cycling. And then there were the coyotes scampering along the endless desert roads of the SouthWest while the ever present vultures circled above.

Traveling across numerous Indian Reservations, provided the opportunity to meet and speak with a few of our proud Native Americans who now call these bordered lands their homes. And while cycling through Dixieland, I came face to face with the genteel South and well as the Bible-thumping, red-neck South, much of which was still reeling from the ravages of Katrina which had made landfall just a year prior.

I will remember the smell of the pine forests of the Northwest and the SouthEast, and the smell of saltwater as we approached the Gulf Coast and the Maine Coast. The smell of the dry, desert land will stick with me as well as the smell of freshly-cut grass and of course the earthy smell of manure which surrounds you while riding through farm-land which covers a very large percentage of the country. (And you become quite proficient as detecting the source: horse, cow, pig, poultry...)

Such unique experiences, so many valuable lessons.

We, all of us, leave for home soon, back to our families and friends, satisfied and happy. We have been on the road for six, long weeks. The ride has been a beautiful, fulfilling experience, but no one ever said it would be easy. So we say goodbye. We have our memories. We have crossed the country.

Pain is Temporary...... Pride is forever.

THE END.

Thank You for your interest, your good thoughts and prayers. Love to you all.

Debby

Friday, August 19, 2011

Summer Clearance Sale: 10-60% off thru Labor Day!

Now is the time to get the best deals on your favorite clothing, accessories and bicycles -- just in time for great fall bicycling! Here's the list of Summer Clearance Sale discounts you can find in all three Century Cycles stores:
  • 30% Off All Men's Summer Clothing: Pearl Izumi Shorts, Jerseys, and more
  • 30-50% Off All Women's Summer Clothing: LUNA and Pearl Izumi Skorts, Shorts, and Tops
  • 25-50% Off Cycling Shoes and Sandals: Keen - Shimano - Pearl Izumi
  • Up to 60% Off Select Products: Check out the SUMMER BLOWOUT section in each store
  • Up to 30% Off Select Helmets
  • 50% Off Skateboards and Accessories: Medina store only
  • 25% Off Thule Passage 3 Car Racks: Rocky River store only
PLUS: Select Bikes On Sale! Look for the hanging sale tags in the stores or click here to see online list.

The fine print: Now through Labor Day or while supplies last. Some exceptions apply. Does NOT include fall clothes, jackets, vests, or special-order purchases. In-store only.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Bike Maintenance class at Polaris on Aug. 24

Unfortunately, during our busy summer season, we don't have time to teach bike maintenance classes in our stores. But Don Barnett, Service Manager at Century Cycles Medina, will be teaching Introduction to Bicycle Maintenance at Polaris Career Center in Middleburg Heights on August 24 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Don is an experienced mechanic and teacher, and this class is a great way to learn everyday basics and emergency repair, plus get your bike ready for fall riding or winter storage. To learn more and register online, click here. Don't dawdle -- if there aren't enough people registered by MONDAY 9/22, the class will be cancelled!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Laurens ten Dam is tougher than you are

Now playing on Giant YouTube, a look at Rabobank pro Laurens ten Dam, who face-planted hard in a high-speed crash on Stage 14 of the 2011 Tour de France last month. 

Most people thought the Dutchman wouldn’t get back on his Giant TCR Advanced SL bicycle after the crash, let alone finish the tour with eight stitches in his face.  But Laurens kept riding—all the way to Paris.  Watch the amazing video of his horrific crash and heroic Tour finish here.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Debby's Bike Trip: Through Rocky River to New England

We have been posting regular updates from Rocky River customer Debby Milano, as she attempts to complete the second leg of a cross-country bike trip along the Northern Tier Bicycle Route. Today we'll catch up on her progress as she approaches the end of the ride in Maine....

July 30: The Best Day.....

The last few days have definitely been the highlight of the trip for me. Rode into Huron and familiar territory this past Wednesday - having spent many summer weeks either at Lakeside, Bay Point, Cedar Point, Kelleys, Put-n-Bay, Vermilion or Mitiwanga; great memories came flooding back. All the better to share stopping at some of my favorite haunts along the way with my friends. Cheryl, Sara and Becky came up to Huron to join Sue and I as we rode into our hometown of Rocky River on Thursday. I was very excited as I am sure Sue was also, knowing that we were to be greeted by our families and friends upon arrival.

We had quite an eventful ride in a light rain along Lake Rd, stopping at the Mitiwanga cottage (now owned by Chris K.), the ice cream shop and the candy shop. Even with Cheryl's two flats, our spirits could not be dampened.


[Editor's Note: Deb's ride through Rocky River made front page news! You may recognize her jersey and that guy riding right behind her....]

Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles, rode out to meet us as we all picked up the pace to catch up with the rest of our riders at Huntington Beach. From there, it was on to my house and reuniting with my dear husband and daughter and Lilly our dog. Everyone checked out beautiful Lake Erie lapping against our back yard until our police escort arrived to lead us down to CYC.

And what a wonderful reception we had. So many great friends and family members were there to cheer us on. It was a very emotional moment for me, I tear up now thinking about it. The effort put in and the number of people who were there to recognize our group of women was overwhelming for us. The food, the friendly atmosphere and the festive surroundings will not soon be forgotten. I love you and thank you all for such a touching show of support.

I spent a restful Thursday evening and Friday morning at home. Finished the day at our hotel in downtown Cleve. and this morning we were on the road again, heading for Austinburg in Ashtabula county. Another good friend, Jim E. joined our group today and led some of us on a different route, a much prettier one, along the Grand River, through an area that Jim calls home. We had a beautiful ride with very little traffic and good road conditions. The rest of the group were not so fortunate and now the guides on our trip want to adopt Jim's route.

Tomorrow we leave Ohio behind and head to Erie, Pa. We are on the back-side of the trip now with some beautiful scenery to come. I am looking forward to the New England countryside, but I am also looking forward to being back home for good.

"I love riding with women. There's no snot blowing, spitting, or dirty jokes. Well, I guess there is, but it's more fun when you're the one doing it!!"

August 3: Niagara Falls ....

Enjoying a rest day here in Niagara Falls, NY. My first time staying on the US side, which I have to say is a bit on the seedy side. I was here a couple of years ago on my Underground Railroad Bike Tour, and prior to that have made many trips to the Falls. And time after time, the Falls never fail to amaze me. Many of the women on the ride are viewing this spectacle for the first time. Although we are staying on the US side, we crossed into Canada at the Peace Bridge in order to ride along the Niagara River as the current increased in speed, culminating into a mass of rapids as it plunged over the cliff of the Horseshoe Falls. There is a bike path that runs from the Peace Bridge all the way to Niagara on the Lake, where the Niagara River runs in to Lake Ontario, it is a beautiful and exciting ride.

Leading up to our ride along the River, have been several days of blissful riding along Lake Erie. With the exception of the city of Erie, the coastline has been pleasantly undeveloped. Cottages and modest homes, vineyards and beaches have lined our route. After leaving the cornfields and heat of the Midwest, Lake Erie has provided a serene backdrop for our travels.

We have been on the road for four weeks now. The wear and tear of riding day after day is beginning to manifest itself in a bit of testiness. Although, for the most part, still a happy and cohesive group - I was privy to several complaints while riding, regarding the lack of biking etiquette. So and so didn't call out pot-holes, another didn't call out passing and so on.... and of course there are complaints about snoring and talking too loud on the phone. Nothing major, but I have to say...... thank God, I have a room of my own. If anyone is snoring, it's me... and there is no one around to hear it. All of the "togetherness" can be too much of a good thing.

This afternoon, my good friend Kit's family, who live in the area, are cooking dinner for us at their home. They are a nice Italian family treating us to an Italian feast. Looking forward to it. Tomorrow back on the road heading to Brockport, NY, just west of Rochester, then travelling north to follow Lake Ontario until we head due east and cross the Adirondacks. The next couple of weeks will entail significant climbing as we make our way through New England.

August 6: BED BUGS HAVE STRUCK!
 
Upon leaving Niagara Falls, on our first night out, our guide Michelle was attacked by Bed Bugs. I say attacked because she looks like she has been through a war zone. The poor woman's arms are covered by red, swollen bites and her face got it too. Unfortunately, she has had an allergic reaction- had to go to a doctor and is on meds. She will be all right, but we are all freakin now and are obsessively checking out our sheets and blankets. We are not exactly staying at "The Ritz", so there is cause for some concern. However, I must say that last nights' accommodations were superb. We were in a lovely B & B at Sodus Point, NY, a lovely vacation, resort town on Lake Ontario.
 
We have been skirting Lake Ontario, and riding along the Erie Canal for the past three days. The Erie Canal, which runs from Buffalo to Albany, NY is sided by a recreational trail for the entire 363 miles. The canal, which was completed in 1825, served as the main transportation system between the Eastern seaboard and the interior Great Lakes. The canal gave rise to dozens of cities along its' path, including Syracuse, Rochester, Lockport; many of which we rode through. Today's ride took us to the eastern edge of Lake Ontario and the city of Pulaski. Pulaski sits on the Salmon River and its' commerce revolves heavily around the fishing industry. Today's ride was very hilly as we are entering the Adirondack Mtns. region. We expect quite a bit of climbing from here on out.
 
In addition to a visit from bed bugs, we have also been visited by several women from past rides who have brought us cakes and cookies and shared dinner with us. Yesterday, my good friend Rebecca, from PA, joined us on our ride. (It was wonderful to see you, Rebecca). And while riding through the Rochester area, we were all invited to a brunch at the Woman Tours headquarters, where we all joined together for a few group photos.
 
As of today we have covered 1,864 miles. We are all feeling a little tired, with various aches and pains as the ride becomes more and more of a mental game. As beautiful as the terrain is, it takes quite a bit of self-motivation to get your self up and over that next hill... and the next one.... and...
 
August 9: The Adirondacks...
 
Three days of breathtaking scenery and we are over the 2000 mile mark. We have been riding through a heavily forested landscape dotted with crystal clear lakes. The riding has been very challenging with ups and downs the entire way; the steeper the hill, the more my knee screams. Still icing and popping ibuprofen around the clock. There has been very little traffic, with log camps few and far between. It has been utterly quiet and peaceful, at least until the gaggle of women riders comes through. Have seen deer, possibly a golden eagle, a fox, a turtle, but no bear which is what I would really like to see. While at our motel last night, we were told that a black bear is often spotted out behind the building.
 
Today's ride was short and sweet at 44 miles. We rode out of the Adirondacks to the edge of Lake Champlain, where we visited Fort Ticonderoga of American Revolution fame. The Fort held by the British was captured in 1775, by the Green Mountain Boys who were led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold. We boarded the oldest cable ferry in the country to cross the Lake and enter Vermont, home to two of our riders. And, as has been reported, the hills immediately became steeper while the terrain changed from dense forest to farms and pasture land.
 
Spending two nights here in Middlebury, a quaint, New England college town. Tomorrow's rest day will allow for exploring the many shops and galleries in town. We are staying at the Middlebury Inn, right up my alley. The Inn is located in a beautiful, old white colonial with a wrap-around porch lined with wicker chairs. Right now I am sitting in the lobby, partaking in High Tea, while I write this email. This is by far, my favorite accommodation to date.
 
When we hit the road on Thursday, we will have 6 days of riding through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to the finish in Bar Harbor. We are all ready to wrap this up; we miss our families and friends and our butts are raw (to be blunt). Off to dinner now, we have many guests joining us this evening and then a good nights' sleep without a wake-up call at 5 am. YEA!!
 
August 13: The Final Countdown.....
 
Just three more days of riding and we will pull into Bar Harbor for our official dipping of tires in the Atlantic ocean.
 
We have enjoyed the most spectacular scenery of the ride over the last three days. New England takes first prize for the most stunning vistas. Of course, there is a price tag for all of the beauty, HILLS! We have crossed the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire within three days. Upon leaving Middlebury and crossing the Breadloaf Gap, we picked up the White River and followed it into White River Junction, VT, a railroad hub for the past 150 years. And yesterday we followed the Connecticut River, crossed over into New Hampshire and rode into Lincoln, a bustling, recreation hub servicing the skiing, hiking, biking and rivers trades, sitting at the foot of the Kancamagus Mts. I arrived in Lincoln after a challenging 70 mile ride feeling pretty good, after a couple of hours I was struck with a bout of Vertigo. Don't know what brought it on, maybe dehydration or exhaustion, who knows at this stage of the game. Regardless, I was laid low and unable to ride today. So I rode in the van into Bridgton, Maine and missed today's climbing (not a bad thing). Tomorrow, we ride to Bath, then to Bucksport on the following day and finally into Bar Harbor on the 16th. Maine already has a different feel to it.
 
So... since we are nearing the end of the trip I thought I would present some interesting facts from the ride.
 
* The women on the tour hail from 17 states and Australia. California and Mass. with the most, each claiming four women.

* Every one is riding a road bike, all but two with drop bars. Bike companies represented in order of most to least are: Trek, Specialized, Lite Speed, Giant, Felt, Fuji, Terry, Lemond, Surly, Davinci

* We have stayed at 37 different motels (two with bed-bugs, sorry to report that the Middlebury Inn, my favorite of the trip also had bed bugs as one of our group was bit several times on the face)

* About 20 flats so far, I have had three of them - all due to the initial puncture in my brand new rear tire, which I had to replace two weeks ago

* Number of state lines crossed: 12 ND, MN, WI, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME

* Age range of women: 38 to 72

* Personally two bee stings

* Approx. 50 beetle hits in the face

* 31 dinners in the parking lots of our motels

* dinner servings of Cous-Cous: too many

* Biggest decision: end of day's ride - Chocolate Milk or Beer as a Recovery Drink?

* Have gone through two large tubes of Chamois Butter

* Miles traveled from Anacortes, WA to Fargo ND: 1900 miles

* Miles traveled from Fargo to Bar Harbor Maine: 2450

* Total miles cycled from Anacortes to Bar Harbor "Northern Tier": 4,350

Next report will be from BAR HARBOR.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Bike Count Volunteers Needed by NOACA

The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is looking for volunteers to help conduct its annual bicycle counts the week of September 12, 2011. The program helps the organization to:
  • Measure the use of existing bikeways
  • Estimate the public demand for more bike facilities
  • Set priorities for proposed bike projects and suggest future project locations
  • Create policies for spending public dollars effectively for all travel modes
Success is not possible without your help! NOACA will be counting bikes at locations throughout Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina counties.

Volunteers must be available for one of the following orientations sessions:
  • Tuesday, September 6, 2011, 5:30pm, or
  • Wednesday, September 7, 2011, 5:30pm
Both orientation sessions will be held at the NOACA offices at 1299 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114.

Bike counts will be held during the following days and times at various locations:
  • Tuesday, September 13, 2011 from 5:00 - 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, September 14, 2011 from 5:00 - 7:00pm
  • Thursday, September 15, 2011 from 5:00 - 7:00pm
  • Saturday, September 17, 2011 from 11:00am - 1:00pm
Preference will be given to volunteers who are available for all four count days; volunteers available for two count days will also be accepted. Volunteers will be reimbursed for travel costs getting to and from their assigned count locations.

To sign up for an orientation session and a counting time slot, please go to www.noaca.org/bikecountvolunteer.html to fill out a short survey.

If you have any questions about the bike count program, please contact Marc Von Allmen at mvonallmen@mpo.noaca.org or 216-241-2414 x250.

NOACA thanks you in advance for your assistance!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Attention Mountain Bikers: PD article and question for you

Spurred by this article in today's edition, The Plain Dealer is asking the question: "Do you think that the Metroparks should do more to accomodate mountain bikers?"

You can respond to the Plaind Dealer via an email to question@plaind.com or by calling 216-999-IDEA before 5pm. Provide your hometown with your response.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Join us for the STOMP Bicycle Adventure!

The STOMP (Summit Tour of MetroParks) Bicycle Adventure began with a handful of riders, and over the past 18 years has grown into one of the biggest and most popular cycling tour in Northeast Ohio. Century Cycles is proud to be the exclusive bicycle shop sponsor of STOMP!

This year's STOMP is on Saturday, September 3, 2011. The ride offers options for everyone, from a 10-mile family-friendly route, to a 63-mile route for those looking for the most challenge, and a 25-mile route for anyone in-between.

Registration includes breakfast, lunch, SAG support, live music and more!

The ride begins and ends in Howe Meadow, located within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park at 4040 Riverview Road, Peninsula, Ohio.

On-line registration for STOMP is available through Aug. 22 at www.stompbikeride.com. On-site registration will also be available.

All registered riders are automatically entered to win one of two Raleigh Detour 4.5 bicycles! You can also enter at any of our stores (no purchase necessary). The drawings will be held at the event; winner need not be present.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Photos from Aug. 5, 2011 Night Ride on the Towpath Trail



(Click here if the slide show above is not appearing for you.)

Over 100 riders showed up on a perfect evening for a Night Ride on the Towpath Trail in Peninsula this past Friday! Thanks to Doug for the photos!

All of our remaining Night Rides for this season will be on Saturdays (Aug. 27, Sept. 17, Oct. 1, and the "All Hail the Ale!" Night Ride for Cleveland Beer Week on Oct. 15.

For the full schedule, pictures and video from other past rides, and tips on preparing for your first Night Ride, see:



Friday, August 5, 2011

Chain-L Lube: One application, 1000+ miles, amazing results

Here is an update on a bicycle chain lubrication product we brought in and covered in this blog last November: Chain-L Lube (formerly Chain-L #5 -- the company dropped the #5 for some strange reason...).

Tom Wiseman, Assistant Service Manager in our Medina store, used Chain-L in Mike McClintock's Race Across America attempt. Here's what Tom has to say about this revolutionary chain lube:

"Fact is, I liked this stuff before, but now I am truly amazed at the durability of this lube. We used only two chains in the crossing. One was used for two weeks prior to arrival in Oceanside, California, and for 1,006 miles of the race (to Alamosa, Colorado), for a total of 1,846 miles -- including the 115-degree heat and sand of the desert, as well as two mountain passes. The second chain has 1,363 miles from Alamosa to Bloomington, Indiana, on it. Those miles included 150 miles of Kansas horizontal rain and 200 miles of 250-foot rollers in Missouri. Both chains had only one application of Chain-L Lube on them. When was the last time you went 200 miles on any road without lubing your chain, let alone 1,000+ miles? I am also impressed the second chain has only .001-.002 measurable stretch. Amazing. As Chain-L claims on their website, now I know for a fact -- it is the best lube I have ever used. Period."

Check out their web site at http://www.chain-l.com/ for the full story of this product, including application instructions and other frequently-asked questions. You can buy Chain-L Lub at all three Century Cycles stores, or on our web site.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Did an Elyria native save our butts 119 years ago?

Today's Plain Dealer ran this story about Arthur L. Garford, an Elyria native they credit with "saving cyclists' butts" by inventing the padded bicycle seat 119 years ago.

Besides being a savvy businessman who manufactured over 1 million of the bike seats he designed, Garford was a cyclist who raced and used bikes to get around. He later sold his bike seat company and opened an automobile company (Studebaker-Garford), which he also later sold. Garford's former mansion is now the home of the Lorain Historical Society, which you can pedal by on your way to the North Coast Inland Trail in Elyria.

Monday, August 1, 2011

BikeCleveland Wants You!

Northeast Ohio cycling advocates have joined forces in a new organization called BikeCleveland. The group is having a two-day planning event on Sept. 10-11, 2011.

The FREE event will be held at the Windows on the River Banquet Facility (200 Sycamore Street) in downtown Cleveland. Breakfast and lunch will be served both days.

If you care at all about cycling in our region, whether your interest is commuting, recreational riding, streets, trails, racing, living car-free, or whatever, now is YOUR chance to be a part of the process. The world is run by those who show up!

All you have to do to attend the summit is sign up on line at: http://bikecleveland.eventbrite.com

You can learn more about the new organization and keep up-to-date on other events at: www.bikecleveland.org