Thursday, May 31, 2012

26,673 miles biked for 5th Bay Bike To School!

538 bikes parked at Bay Middle School on National Bike To School Day on May 9, which coincided with Bay Bike To School Challenge.
Bay Middle and High Schools showed their pedal power in their 5th Annual Bay Bike To School Challenged by biking a combined 26,673 miles for three weeks on May 7-25, and on average a whopping 59% of Bay Middle School biked each day! They racked up some other big numbers, too:
  • Bay students saved an estimated 29,340 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from the environment;
  • They saved their parents $4,466 on gasoline, based on the current Ohio average gas price of $3.75/gallon.
  • They burned 453,441 calories just biking to school -- or the equivalent of 1,679 Snickers bars!
  • An average of 474 Bay Middle School students biked each day of the challenge, a whopping 59% of the school’s enrollment of 793 students.
  • Bay Middle School’s highest ride day during the challenge was May 18, when 611 students (a gigantic 77% of the school!) bicycled.
  • At Bay High School, an average of 135 students per day biked, or 16% of the school.
Since Bay Bike To School Challenge began in 2008, Bay students have biked 129,476 miles and saved an estimated 142,423 pounds of CO2 emissions. This was the fifth year for Bay Bike To School Challenge.

Main sponsors Century Cycles bicycle store in Rocky River and bicycle manufacturer Raleigh Bicycles teamed up to give away two grand prize bicycles per school. Winners of the Raleigh bicycles at Bay High School were Cullen Brewer and Claire Mercer, both freshmen pictured below.

Cullen and Claire are presented with their grand prize Raleigh bikes by Sean Burkey and Chris Speyer from Raleigh Bicycles (at left), Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan (center), and BHS Principal Jason Martin (far right).
At Bay Middle School, sixth-grader Ellen Brabant and fifth-grader Kate Baeppler won Raleigh bicycles. They are pictured below with Raleigh's Chris Speyer (far left) and BMS teacher Lawrence Kuh, who (along with BHS teacher Eryn Sutterlin) was presented with a new Raleigh bicycle in honor of their commitment to youth bicycling in Bay Village and their leadership, hard work and enthusiasm for Bay Bike To School Challenge.
 
 
In addition, Raleigh Bicycles awarded $1,000 Bike To School Challenge scholarships to Bay High School seniors Gideon Lorete and Jamie Kerka.

Raleigh Bicycles also gave each school a $500 award for exceeding its bicycling goals during the challenge, to use for fitness and bicycling programs, and committed $750 to the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation and Bay Village Green Team for the “Share The Road” signs throughout the city.

The Bay Bike To School Challenge t-shirt design contest was won by Elyse Sopa, a junior at Bay High School. She won a prize package from Century Cycles and Project Earth Environmental Club, and her winning design is featured on the front of the shirt given by Century Cycles to every student who biked to school four days during the challenge. 

“Bike To School Challenge is unique and is the best of its kind in the nation,” said Chris Speyer, Executive Vice President of Raleigh Bicycles, who travelled to Bay Village from the company’s headquarters near Seattle, Washington, to personally present the awards. “We work with over 1,400 bike stores around the country. I have never seen a bike-to-school program that generates the level of participation and excitement that this one does. It is a credit to the tremendous amount of commitment and work by the schools, your local bike shop Century Cycles and the entire community to engage and inspire the students. Raleigh Bicycles is extraordinarily proud to be part of Bike To School Challenge and will be back next year as a sponsor.”

Speyer also noted that bike stores in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, California and Minnesota are inspired Bay Village’s program and are eager to use it as a template for their own bike-to-school efforts.

Other sponsors who contributed prizes and support to make the program possible were Honey Hut Ice Cream, Subway of Bay Village, Bay Village Kiwanis, Bay PTA, Project Earth Environmental Club and the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation. Grand prizes were also donated by Bay Village Recreation Department, SportsTime Ohio, Cleveland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Earth Day Coalition and Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park.

Rocky River Bike To School: 12,240 miles biked!

Rocky River Middle School on May 7, the first day of the challenge.
Rocky River Bike To School Challenge concluded at Rocky River Middle School on Thursday, May 24, with praise from the city's mayor, lots of prizes and awards, and biking numbers that were way up over last year! During the three-week program on May 7-24, Rocky River Middle School students:
  • Biked 12,240 miles on their bikes, up 32% from last year's total miles.
  • Took 3,825 bike-rides to school (average round-trip commute: 3.2 miles).
  • 273 Rocky River Middle School students biked each day of the challenge on average, or 44% of the school’s enrollment of 620 students. This was up significantly from last year’s average of 191 bicyclists per day.
  • The highest ride day May 11, when 344 students (56% of the school) bicycled.
  • Saved an estimated 13,464 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from the environment.
  • Saved their parents $2,047.50 on gasoline, based on the current Ohio average gas price of $3.75/gallon.
  • Burned an estimated 208,080 calories just bicycling to and from school.
  • Rocky River Bike To School Challenge began last year. Rocky River students have biked a total of 21,523 miles and saved an estimated 23,675 pounds of CO2 emissions during the program’s two years.
“Your choice to ride your bike to school and to other parts of Rocky River has made a significant difference in your health, the health of the environment, and the health of our city,” said Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst in her address to the students at the school-wide assembly on Thursday. “Rocky River Bike To School Challenge has been so successful. For that, we thank you, we applaud you, we admire you, and you are inspiring our entire community.”

Mayor Pam Bobst poses with her Rocky River Bike To School Challenge t-shirt.
Main sponsors Century Cycles bicycle store in Rocky River and bicycle manufacturer Raleigh Bicycles teamed up to give away grand prize bicycles to 6th grader Hanna Chapman and 7th grader Laura Banks (pictured below).

Laura Banks with her new Raleigh bicycle, presented by (l to r) Sean Burkey/Raleigh Bicyles, Scott Cowan/Century Cycles, Mayor Pam Bobst, Principal Megan Rose, BTS organizer/teacher Wendy Crites, and Chris Speyer/Raleigh Bicycles. Hanna Chapman was absent from the assembly.

Raleigh Bicycles gave Rocky River Middle School a $500 award for exceeding its bicycling goals during the challenge, to use for fitness and bicycling programs. The company also honored middle school health and fitness teacher Wendy Crites (pictured below) with a new Raleigh Capri road bike for her ongoing commitment to youth bicycling and her leadership of the Bike To School Challenge program in Rocky River.
Wendy Crites, second from right, is presented with a new Raleigh Capri road bike from Raleigh Bicycles.
The Rocky River Bike To School Challenge t-shirt design contest was won by 8th grade student Clara Sandu for the second year in a row. She won a prize package from Century Cycles, and her winning design is featured on the front of the shirt given by Century Cycles to every student who biked to school four days during the challenge. 

Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan presents t-shirt design winner Clara Sandu with her prize.

Other sponsors who contributed prizes and support to make the program possible were Honey Hut Ice Cream, Subway of Rocky River, Rocky River PTA, SportsTime Ohio and Starbucks.

For more information about Bike To School Challenge and to see photos and videos, go to www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow the program at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Tall Towpath Rider? Try a 29er!

This post was inspired by a recent inquiry we got via email:

Q. I am 6 foot 4 inches. I ride the Towpath Trail about 50 to 100 miles per week. I'm thinking a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels in a 23-inch frame size would work well for me. Do you have a bike like this?

A. There are a lot of good choices for bicycles for avid Towpath Riders.

A "traditional" hybrid bike is usually our first recommendation for the Towpath Trail. These include the Raleigh Route 3.0 and Route 4.0, and the Giant Cypress and Cypress-DX.

2012 Raleigh Route 4.0
All of these bikes provide a very upright, comfortable design that works well for casual and occasional bicyclists. The Raleigh models come in a 23-inch (XL) frame size. The Giant models also come in an equivalent X-Large size, which they call a 22-inch frame.

For any rider looking for a more sporty-looking bike that can handle unpaved trails, plus have the flexibility to tackle commuting in all conditions, the relatively new category of "performance hybrids" fit the bill. These bikes, such as the Raleigh Misceo and Misceo 2.0, have a more aggressive riding position compared to traditional hybrids; and usually have higher-quality components to handle the rigors of more frequent riding.

2012 Raleigh Misceo
Plus-size folks who ride plus-size mileage may want to consider a 29er mountain bike for their Towpath adventures. What's a 29er? A traditional mountain bike has 26-inch wheels, while a 29er is designed around the larger-diameter 700C rims found on road and hybrid bikes, but with fat mountain bike tires. (Need a primer on wheel and tire sizes? See this article -- Tech Talk: Know Your Tire Size.)

With a 29er, you get the best of both worlds--the larger diameter wheels are more efficient (like a road or hybrid bike), but you still get the flexibility of riding off-road terrain. Even if you don't plan to ride technical off-road trails, you get the confidence of knowing the durability of a mountain bike is with you for the long haul.

We have a variety of 29er mountain bikes in stock ranging from the entry-level 2012 Raleigh Talus 29 ($649.99), to the full-suspension 2012 Giant Anthem X 29er 2 ($2,399.99), to the race-worth carbon-fiber hardtail 2012 Giant XTC Composite 29er 1 ($2,499.99). All of these can be ordered in Extra-Large (22-inch) frame sizes.

2012 Giant XTC Composite 29er 1
For those looking to take a serious adventure wherever the road leads them, and wherever the road may end and the trail goes, Surly Bikes offers the Ogre, an all-steel rigid 29er (no suspension) mountain bike designed from the ground up for all-road and off-road touring. For the 6-foot-4 (and over) rider, it's even available in an XX-Large (24-inch) frame! We've got one with an 18-inch frame in stock that you can check out and test-ride. It's also available as a frame and fork only, so we can build it up using any components to suit your needs.
Surly Ogre

Friday, May 25, 2012

In honor and thanks to all who have served our country

Please note that all three Century Cycles stores will be CLOSED on Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day. We extend our gratitude to all who have served or are serving our country in the armed forces.

We'd like to recognize and honor our own Paul Gallmeier of the Peninsula store, who served in the US Navy from 1967-71. Paul served aboard several ships in Southeast Asia, including the USS Wrangell, which supplied fuel and ammunition in support of the Vietnam War effort.
LEFT: Boatswain Mate Second Class Paul Gallmeier, USN
RIGHT: Paul in 2011 with his Raleigh Alley Way bike

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Define your dog. Ride a bike.

Chris Walters from the Century Cycles store in Medina doesn't just take our slogan "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" to heart himself. Not only is his girlfriend Trish sporting one of our spiffy t-shirts, but their dog Vinnie likes it as well!

You can show how you define your life by riding a bike, and it's easy, because you get one of these t-shirts FREE with any new bicycle purchase!

Not in the market for a new bike? That's okay, you can also purchase one of our t-shirts for the low price of $14.99. We've got them in Men's sizes Small through XX-Large in Black, Denim Blue, and Army Green; Women's sizes Small through X-Large in Lime Green, Periwinkle, and Mocha; and boy's and girl's (and dog's) sizes Small, Medium, and Large in Royal Blue or Pink.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

CC crew in Medina CRUSHES Bike To Work Day!

Left to right: Don, Ed, Petch, Cathy, Justin, Chris, and Christopher
Congratulations to the staff at the Century Cycles store in Medina for 100% participation in Bike To Work Day for 2012 yesterday!

Did you bike to work this past week? If so, share some of your pictures and/or stories with us, and we'll share them with the rest of our blog readers! Send to info@centurycycles.com.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Back by popular demand: Endura Hummvee 3/4 Baggy Shorts

A few years ago, we stocked the then-new Hummvee 3/4 baggy cycling shorts made by Endura, an innovative company based in Scotland. They were designed to meet the rigors of mountain biking, but their practical and comfortable style proved to be very popular with commuters, messengers, Towpath riders, long-distance touring cyclists, and even law enforcement.

We decided to bring the Humvee shorts back, and now in the new, improved Endura Hummvee 3/4 Lite version!

The 3/4-length shorts go just below the knees, for a modest look that helps keep the sunlight and thorns off of your skin. The new lightweight nylon outer material is considerably cooler than the original Hummvee, and mesh rear panels were added for more cooling. The material is doubled in the seat area for extra durability where you need it most. The shorts are coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to keep the splash from puddles and unexpected rain showers at bay.

More features from the original Hummvee shorts included are front hip pockets, side cargo zipped pockets, integrated stretch belt, seam-free inseam panel, and a removable padded liner short.

We decided to go with a new Stone (light gray) color, rather than black, for even more cooling comfort.

Now in stock in all three Century Cycles stores, Endura Hummvee Lite 3/4 Shorts in Men's Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large, and Women's-Specific Endura Hummvee Lite 3/4 Shorts in Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Everyone has a chance to win a Raleigh bike for Bike To School Challenge

Hundreds of students have been bicycling to school for 2012 Bike To School Challenge (BTSC) this month for a chance to win a new Raleigh bicycle and other grand prizes. Now parents, teachers and EVERYONE has a chance to win a bike from BTSC sponsor Raleigh Bicycles in an online video contest that runs now through the conclusion of BTSC on May 25.

To enter, go to Raleigh’s website, www.myreasonstoride.com, and submit a video about why you ride a bike or what riding a bicycle means to you. Tag your submission with “CenturyBTS.” The most compelling video will win a Raleigh Revenio 3.0 men’s road bike or a Raleigh Capri 3.0 women’s road bike (retail: $1,299.99), awarded by Raleigh Bicycles in early June when the video will also be highlighted on Raleigh’s website.

The videos don’t have to be professional (cell phone videos are fine) or lengthy. Students participating in the Bike To School Challenge program are also encouraged and invited to submit videos. Videos must be submitted by May 25, 2012, the last day of Bike To School Challenge.

Reasons To Ride is Raleigh Bicycles’ initiative to create an interactive quilt designed to bring together a community of people and their stories – what motivates or inspires or compels or brings joy when riding a bike. As a major Bike To School Challenge sponsor, Raleigh Bicycles is also donating two Raleigh bicycle grand prizes per school, a $500 award for each BTSC school that exceeds its bicycling goals, two $1,000 scholarships for Bay High School seniors, and daily prizes such as buttons and stickers.

For regular updates and more information about Bike To School Challenge, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow it at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

2 Wheels for 1 Home: Ronald McDonald House Night Ride on June 2

Enjoy two-wheeled fun to help one very special home -- and our ONLY Night Ride in Cuyahoga County! -- at the 3rd  annual Ronald McDonald House Night Ride on the Towpath Trail sponsored by Century Cycles on Saturday, June 2, at 8pm. This is a family-friendly 12-mile nighttime bicycle ride that starts and ends at Thornburg Station in Valley View (8111 Rockside Road, at the intersection of Canal and Rockside roads, next to Yours Truly restaurant).

The cost is $20 per person in advance until May 31, and the first 200 registrants will receive a free event t-shirt. Night-of registration is $25 per person. All of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. To register and for more information, just head on over to www.centurycycles.com/goto/RMH.
All skill levels and ages are welcome to participate in this casual ride (not race). Plan to arrive a little early to make sure your bike is ready to ride and you have a chance to enjoy the pre-ride festivities.

At 7 p.m., attendees can check in, register for a pre-ride raffle, and Century Cycles mechanics will be conducting free pre-ride bicycle safety checks. At 8 p.m., the ride will depart south on the Towpath Trail, to enjoy the nocturnal sights and sounds of the area’s most popular bicycle path. Bicyclists will ride six miles, enjoy snacks and beverages at the ride’s turnaround point at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead, and then bicycle back to the ride’s starting point.

Every Night Rider can make a difference. The advance registration fee of $20 is the same amount families are asked to donate nightly to stay at the Ronald McDonald House while their children are receiving medical care from nearby hospitals, although families are never turned away due to inability to pay. (On average, the actual cost to the House for a family to stay is over $80 per day.) 

The fine print: Everyone must have their own bicycle and wear a helmet. A bicycle headlight is also required; the Towpath Trail is unlit at night and very dark. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Free Bike Cleveland membership for Bike To Work Week

In celebration of Bike To Work Week starting today, bike buyers will roll away with more than just a new ride at Century Cycles. This week they will also receive a free membership in Bike Cleveland, the area’s new bicycle advocacy organization! 

That's right -- we're offering to pay the individual membership dues in Bike Cleveland (a $35 value) for anyone who buys a bicycle of $500 or more from ourstores in Rocky River, Medina and Peninsula during Bike to Work Week from May 14-18, 2012. 

“We want to make it easy for our customers to support bicycling in Northeast Ohio and have as many bicycling opportunities as possible,” said Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles. “When someone is a member of a local bicycle advocacy organization like Bike Cleveland, they are helping the area become a more bicycle-friendly and bicycle-oriented place to live.”

Here's how it works: Bike Cleveland membership forms will be offered to buyers of bikes $500 or more at all three Century Cycles stores. Once completed, the forms and dues payment will be submitted by Century Cycles. If someone prefers a family membership at $60, they simply pay the $25 difference and that membership level will be processed for them. 

Now is a great time to join Bike Cleveland, Greater Cleveland’s bicycle advocacy organization working to build livable communities by promoting all forms of cycling and advocating for the rights and equality of the cycling community.

To learn more about Bike Cleveland, Cleveland Bike Month, and all the activities planned for Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 18, go to www.bikecleveland.org.

Bike Cleveland membership is in addition to the several perks that new bike buyers already receive at Century Cycles, including a free t-shirt, free new bike tune-up, half-priced installation of accessories at time of purchase and 10% off all bicycle accessories for three months.

Monday, May 7, 2012

896 Students Biked To School Today for Challenge Kick-Off


Despite looming gray clouds and a stormy forecast, 896 students biked to school this morning for the kick-off of our Bike to School Challenge, a three-week program in Bay Village, Medina and Rocky River that encourages students to bike to school to help the environment, improve their health and be more physically active, beat high gas prices, win prizes and have fun.

In Cuyahoga county, Bay Middle School counted 424 bikes (52% of the school), Bay High School counted 127 bikes (16% of the school) and Rocky River Middle School counted 203 bikes (33% of the school).

In Medina, Root Middle School counted 97 bicycles (12% of the school) and Claggett Middle School counted 45 bicycles (5% of the school). This is the first year for Bike to School Challenge at the Medina schools, both of which recorded fewer than 2% of their students bicycling before the program’s inception.

“It is an awe-inspiring sight to see hundreds of bicycles parked in front of these schools. It sends a powerful message about the huge impact youth can have on the community with the simple act of riding a bike,” said Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles bicycle stores in Rocky River and Medina, which organizes and sponsors the challenge for the schools. “Everyone involved with the program is just thrilled with the response on the first day and is excited for the coming weeks.”

For regular updates and more information about Bike To School Challenge on May 7-25, 2012, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow it at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

2012 Bike To School Challenge starts tomorrow for over 4,000 Ohio students

Over 4,000 middle and high school students in the Cleveland, Ohio suburbs of Bay Village, Medina and Rocky River begin the 2012 Bike to School Challenge tomorrow, committing to ride their bikes to school for three weeks to help the environment, get more physical activity to improve their health, have fun and win prizes. The award-winning program is May 7 – May 25 and is launching for the first time this year at Medina’s middle schools. (It returns for its fifth year at Bay Village schools and its second year at Rocky River Middle School.)

Kick-Off On Monday, May 7
A significant percentage of the schools’ students are expected to bicycle on the challenge’s first day tomorrow Monday, May 7. Last year on Day 1, a total of 1,001 students biked to school, including 527 students to Bay Middle School (64% of the schoobl; pictured above), and 276 to Rocky River Middle School (44% of the school). The schools participating in Bike To School Challenge are:

Bay Middle School (27725 Wolf Road)

Bay High School (29230 Wolf Road)

Rocky River Middle School (1631 Lakeview Avenue)

Root Middle School (333 W. Sturbridge in Medina)

Claggett Middle School (420 E. Union Street in Medina)

For regular updates and more information about Bike To School Challenge, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow it at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

Bike To School Challenge vs. National Averages

·     In 2011, Bike To School Challenge dramatically increased the use of bicycles as a means of transportation to school. During the three-week program last year, 53% of Bay Middle School biked each day (430 students per day on average) and 31% of Rocky River Middle School (193 students per day on average). Each school’s number of cyclists remains above national averages after the program’s conclusion, according to random bike rack counts.

·    Since Bike To School Challenge began in 2008 in Bay Village, Bay students have pedaled a total of 102,803 miles during the three weeks each May. This is in stark contrast to national bicycling trends.

·    In 2009, only 13% of students in grades K through eight bike or walk to school (in 1969, that number was 48 percent), reports Safe Routes to School National Partnership. According to Bike To School Challenge surveys and bike counts, currently fewer than 5% of Root and Claggett Middle School students are biking to school, a statistic the program strives to improve.

·     A report concludes that changing the habits of just 20 percent of children living within two miles of school to get them to bicycle or walk to and from school instead of being driven would be the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road each year, preventing the emission of over 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 21,500 tons of other pollutants. (Source: Safe Routes to School: Steps to a Greener Future, prepared for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Safe Routes to School National Partnership)

 Other School-Related Bicycling Trends

·     As much as 30% of morning traffic is generated by parents driving their children to school. One-third of schools are in “air pollution danger zones.”

·    From 1976 to 2008, the percentage of overweight children 6 to 11 years old more than tripled. There are many potential benefits of physical activity for youth, including weight control, reduction in the risk of diabetes, stress reduction, relief of ADHD symptoms, and even better academic performance. In an article published January 2012 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers found that participation in physical activity is positively related to academic performance in children.

·    Bicycling to school gives children time for physical activity and an opportunity to be outdoors, a sense of responsibility and independence, and the entire community benefits when there is less traffic congestion and better air quality.

How It Works
Students at Bike to School Challenge schools carry a “Ride Card” that is stamped each day they ride a bike to school. When they accumulate four bicycle rides to school, students receive a free t-shirt from main Bike To School Challenge sponsor and organizer Century Cycles bicycle store. The more they bike, the more they can win – every Ride Card they fill up earns them more entries into a grand prize raffle. Safety is also rewarded: They earn twice as many entries if they wear a bicycle helmet.

 There are also daily incentives to bike to school. Subway stores in Rocky River, Medina and Bay Village are offering a BOGO Footlong to each student who bikes tomorrow for Day 1. Honey Hut Ice Cream is throwing after-school ice cream parties for those students who bicycle on May 11 (Rocky River Middle School), May 17 (Bay High School) and May 18 (Bay Middle School); and Smuckers has provided an after-school snack for bicyclists to Medina middle schools on May 22.

The program concludes with assemblies at each school, to show the students the environmental impact of their efforts, receive congratulations from sponsors and dignitaries, and draw the grand prize winners’ names. The grand prizes include:
  • Two bicycles per school from Raleigh Bicycles;
  • Two $1,000 scholarships for Bay High School seniors from Raleigh Bicycles;
  • Bicycling accessories and gift cards from Century Cycles;
  • Gift cards and prize packages from Subway, Honey Hut, Cleveland Cavaliers, local rec centers, and more;
  • There is a special grand prize drawing for a Cedar Point gift card for the students at each school who biked every day of Bike to School Challenge.
  • The schools can also win a grand prize from Bike To School Challenge. Raleigh Bicycles has offered a $500 award for bicycling or physical education improvements at each school if it exceeds their bicycling benchmarks from 2011 (or pre-Bike To School levels).
Bike To School Challenge Sponsors
Century Cycles is the main corporate sponsor of Bike To School Challenge and helps organize the program for the schools. National bicycle manufacturer Raleigh Bicycles is the other major corporate sponsor. At Bay schools, the program is also sponsored by Subway, Honey Hut, the Bay Village Kiwanis, Bay Schools Parent Teacher Student Association, Project Earth Environmental Club and the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation. In Rocky River schools, Subway, Honey Hut and the Rocky River PTA are also sponsors. In Medina, Subway and Medina Schools are also sponsors

Bay Bike To School Challenge began in 2008
Inspired by a student car boycott to protest high gas prices in 2007, Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan approached his alma mater Bay High School about what he could to encourage more bicycling to school. Bike To School Challenge was born and was enthusiastically embraced by the students and faculty. Participation in 2008 exceeded organizers’ expectations. In 2009, the program was expanded to include Bay Middle School. It expanded to Rocky River Middle School in 2011 and to the Medina middle schools this year. In 2010, Bike To School Challenge won the city’s Project of the Year Award from the Bay Village Community Council.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

How far would you drive to get a bike?


Our customer Judy Dawson came all the way from Detroit because a web search convinced her that Century Cycles in Medina is one great place to test ride and buy a tandem bicycle. Judy has no sight, but she has contagious energy and enthusiasm for all things in life. Her can-do attitude makes riding on the back of a tandem a piece of cake!

Judy is pictured above with her friends David and Amy, as well as Medina manager Mike Petcher. The trio also snuck in a visit to relatives and a local music store, which meant that Judy headed home with a saxophone AND a Raleigh Companion. Judy--you go, girl!

Friday, May 4, 2012

U.S. Bicycle Route System - Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It.

During National Bike Month, the Adventure Cycling Association is raising $50,000 to support the creation of the United States Bicycle Route System (USBRS). Donate today or become a core supporter and help raise funds to build this national network of cycling routes.

What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System? It is a proposed national network of bicycle routes. For a route to be officially designated a U.S. Bicycle Route, it must connect two or more states, a state and an international border, or other U.S. Bicycle Routes.

U.S. Bicycle Routes are intended to link urban, suburban, and rural areas using a variety of appropriate facilities. These routes are nominated for numbered designation by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and are cataloged by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) through the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (the same committee that assigns numbers to U.S. highways and interstates)

The benefits for cyclists of all types are numerous, mainly an established and mapped route network that can be used for tourism or everyday transportation, and heightened awareness to all road users of the legitimacy of bicycle travel.

In 2011, 6 new U.S. Bicycle Routes were approved. For more information on the USBRS, history, and current progress, see: www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs

The Adventure Cycling Association has a bi-weekly Bike Bits free email newsletter. In addition to updates about the USBRS, you'll also find news on their over 44,000-mile long touring network, and fun stories related to bicycling and bike touring from around the world. They just passed 44,000 Bike Bits subscribers, and in honor of approaching 45,000, the are going to award a free Adventure Cycling annual membership to the 45,000th subscriber. To subscribe to the email newsletter, go to: www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Giant Tops All in Bicycling Editors' Choice

Bicycling magazine announced the winners of its 2012 Editors’ Choice Awards and Giant Bicycles topped all other brands by winning three of the eight most popular categories. Editors named Giant bikes best in the following categories: Women’s Road Bike, Entry Level Road Bike and Plush Road Bike.

The Editors’ Choice Awards represent the highest honor for Bicycling, the world’s largest cycling magazine with more than 2 million readers.

“Bicycling’s Editors’ Choice Awards represent the cream of the crop in bicycle design and innovation, as companies continue to raise the bar on performance, technology, value and comfort,” said Bicycling editor-in-chief Peter Flax.

The Giant Defy 2 has owned the Entry Level Road category for three years running now. "Taking its third consecutive Editors' Choice crown, the Defy 2 again demonstrated its mastery at manipulating aluminum to give cyclists an impressive ride feel," claimed Bicycling editors.



The "Plush Bike" award went to the Defy Advanced 1, also a repeat winner. "In winning its second consecutive Editors' Choice award, the Defy confirmed its place among the best road bikes of any kind," wrote Bicycling. "We include it in the plush category because it has a slightly upright position, making it more suitable for less flexible cyclists. Overall, the Defy is well suited to endurance-style riding."


And finally, the TCR Advanced W earned Liv/giant its fourth straight title in the Women's Road Bike category. "The Advanced W was the lightest bike of the test group, and felt the fastest and most efficient--especially when the road pointed up," editors wrote.

To select winners, Bicycling’s editorial team narrowed down a field of thousands of bikes to the top 28 candidates. The editors then tested the finalists head-to-head over the course of a month, including a field testing trip in Tucson, Arizona. Winners were then selected on the basis of performance, durability, comfort, weight, value, and price versus their competitors.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Introducing - The Pet Trike!


Are you cruising around on your tricycle but in need of a way to take your pet with you? Here is a modified Torker Tricycle 3-speed ($609.99), now known as the "Dogcycle." The carrier design is by our customer Lois Sanford, and her "double size dog basket" was put together by Medina store Service Manager Don Barnett.

The trike has a cargo deck from Sun bicycles ($22.99) and an additional cargo basket ($56.99) from Torker that is inverted and hinged on with some creative hardware. It is now ready for your doggie or favorite pet.

Shown here in Candy Red with Medina's own mascot The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog (also known as Concrete Bunny), the tricycle is ready for hitting the town or leisurely pedaling through the countryside. Notice how comfortable CB is in the pet carrier section! With a dog bed added this is certain to be the trike of choice for the discriminating dog-lover. Order yours today!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Get the Cuyahoga Valley National Park App for iPhone or Android!

Even with today's news about a foiled bomb plot high above the Cuyahoga Valley, there's good news to be found for Ohio's only National Park.

Last month, in honor of National Park Week, Chimani, the developer of the National Park apps for iPhone and Android, announced that it would make their apps available for free download during the week of April 21-29. However, we were contacted by Chimani President Kerry Gallivan and he has extended this special offer to us through Saturday, May 12. (Thanks, Kerry!)

Like all of Chimani's National Park apps, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park App isn't just a simple directory. In addition to travel guides, you'll find sunrise/sunset data for the whole year, ranger-led events, audio tours by professional voiceover artists, professional photography, tips for hiking, bird-watching, and, of course, bicycling, and much more.

To download the free app, just go to the App Store on your iPhone/iTouch/iPad or the Play Store on your Android device. Search for "chimani" or "cuyahoga valley" to find the Cuyahoga Valley National Park App.

Photos from our Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on April 28, 2012


Our 18th season of Night Rides on the Towpath Trail started off successfully this past Saturday night. It wasn't looking to promising most of the day, with cold temperatures and rain most of the afternoon. However, the skies cleared later in the day, and the sun was even out for a while.

49 riders showed up, and the trail was in excellent dry condition, making for a cool, but pleasant Night Ride.



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Our next ride is on Saturday, May 19, which is the Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail, in celebration of Cleveland Bicycle Month

For our full schedule of this season's Night Rides, plus more pictures and videos from past rides, and tips for getting ready to ride, see: