Monday, September 30, 2013

Home Depot Safety Fair in Brunswick on Sat. Oct. 5


Come visit some of the crew from the Century Cycles store in Medina as we lend a hand at the Brunswick Home Depot Safety Fair this Saturday!

We'll be doing bicycle safety inspections, as well as giving talks on bike-riding safety and helmets.

When: Saturday, October 5, 2013, 9:00am - 2:00pm

Where:
Home Depot
3330 Center Road (Route 303, just west of Interstate 71)
Brunswick, Ohio 44212

Cost: FREE!


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

We are the Best of Cleveland!


Everyone at Century Cycles is thrilled to see that once again -- for the FOURTH year in a row! -- we have won the reader's pick of Best Bike Shop in Cleveland Magazine's annual Best of Cleveland issue! On Friday, October 11 at 7:00pm, we'll be celebrating with all the other "bests" at the Best of Cleveland Party at Public Hall.

Thank you to our loyal customers and our dedicated staff for helping to make us the best!

Click here for tickets and other information about the Best of Cleveland Party on Oct. 11. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

CVNP Announces Towpath Trail Closure

Cuyahoga Valley National Park News Release

For Immediate Release – Thursday, September 19, 2013
Mary Pat Doorley, CVNP, 440-546-5995, 440-343-7355 (cell), or mary_pat_doorley@nps.gov

Towpath Trail Partial Closure in National Park

Brecksville, Ohio – The National Park Service announces the partial closure of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP), starting Monday, September 23 through Friday, September 27, 2013. The trail will be closed from Hillside Road in Valley View to Lock 39 Trailhead in Independence, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but will be open evenings. The Lock 39 parking lot will remain open at all times. The closure is necessary to facilitate the application of limestone screenings on the tread surface of the trail.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Bike Aboard! service will be unavailable between Canal Visitor Center and Rockside Road during the closure. Those wishing to ride the train south will board at Canal Visitor Center. Train riders traveling north will disembark at Canal Visitor Center.

Canal Visitor Center is located at 7104 Canal Road, at intersection with Hillside Road, Valley View 44125.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Happy Anniversary to the new Medina store!


This Friday, September 27 marks the one-year anniversary of Century Cycles' NEW, EXPANDED flagship store in Medina!

We've enjoyed having the past year in our BIGGER, BETTER store to give you BIGGER selection and BETTER service!

You can help us celebrate this milestone by using the coupon below! Good on in-stock regularly-priced items from September 27-29, 2013 in the Medina store only.


Friday, September 20, 2013

2014 Giant Road Bikes have arrived!

2014 Giant Defy 3
It's the new year season in the bicycle world, and that means we've got new 2014 model arriving daily, including new road bikes from Giant! Click here to see the complete 2014 road bike lineup from Giant.

One model that we're particularly looking forward to showing our customers is the 2014 Giant Defy 3 or the 2014 Giant Women's Avail 3.

2014 Giant Women's Avail 3
At just $949.99, both bicycles hit that "sweet spot" of giving you a quality road bike with modern, reliable components for under $1,000. Either would be great for the aspiring road rider on a modest budget, looking for a bike to take them on local club rides, your first road race or triathlon, or to start training for a multi-day event for next year, like the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA) or the Bike MS Pedal to the Point.

Both the Defy 3 and Avail 3 feature Giant's ALUXX aluminum frame and Advanced carbon fork with Overdrive steerer tube (1-1/4" at the bottom, 1-1/8" at the top) for a smooth, refined ride. The bike rides on Giant's S-R2 wheels and Giant S-R4 700x25C tires. Tektro dual-pivot brakes provide the stopping power, and platform pedals with toe clips are included.

The heart of these bikes, however, is the Shimano Sora drive train. The Sora compact double (50/34-teeth) crankset and 9-speed rear cassette give you enough gears to gobble up the hills. The Sora front and rear derailers reliably handle shifting the chain. And the highlight is the new, redesigned Shimano Sora integrated brake/shifter levers. These shifters are not your father's Sora; the new design sports the same shifting action and ergonomics of Shimano's higher-end shifters.

The Women's Avail 3 also sports the Liv/giant women's-specific frame geometry and sizing, Liv/giant women's Endurance saddle, handlebars sized for women, and Tektro bar-top brake levers for extra stopping confidence no matter where you like to place your hands.

Stop by any of the three Century Cycles stores for a test-ride!

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Nutcase Helmets: Love Your Brain for 20% Less!

Nutcase Helmets fit your head and suit your soul! Available in a wide variety of stunning graphics, all of our Nutcase Helmets feature the following:

  • CPSC certified for bicycle use
  • Long-lasting ABS shell
  • EPS foam liner for high impact protection
  • Available in Small/Medium for kids and some adults, and Large/Extra-Large for other adults.
  • A Spin Dial and four different interchangeable foam fitting liners are included with every helmet for a customized fit.
  • Front, back, and side logos are reflective for 360-degree visibility
  • The revolutionary Nutcase Magnetic Buckle operates with one hand for pinch-free use!
  • 2 front vents, 7 top vents, and 2 rear exhaust portals for excellent ventilation
  • All are now 20% OFF for our Summer Clearance Sale!
A full selection of sizes and colors are in stock in all three of our stores (Medina, Peninsula, and Rocky River). Stop by or check out www.centurycycles.com/get/nutcase to check them out!

Monday, September 16, 2013

5 Tips: Shifting Gears

Many modern bicycles come with 21 speeds, or 24, 27, or even 30 speeds. The novice cyclist shopping for a bike often thinks "I wouldn't know what to do with all of those gears!" Learning to use and take advantage of the multiple speeds on your bicycle doesn't have to be an intimidating process, however. If you get the hang of a few basic principles and tricks, and with some practice, you'll be shifting like an expert in no time!

These 5 Tips will help you understand the whys and hows of shifting your bicycle:

1. Why so many gears?

7-speed trigger shifter
An automobile engine has multiple gears to enable it to operate as efficiently as possible at different speeds over many types of terrain. Likewise, your bicycle has multiple gears so that its engine (i.e. your legs) can be as efficient as possible.

Changing gears on your bikes make the pedals seem easier or harder to turn. There's no "ideal" gear that works all the time, because the right gear at any given moment depends on how fast you're going, whether you're riding on flat ground or going uphill or downhill, the wind, and your fitness level.

If you're pedaling in too easy of a gear, then your legs will get too tired from just spinning and "going nowhere fast." If you're pedaling in too hard of a gear, most of your effort will go into just turning the pedals without making the bike go very fast at all (not to mention the risk of injuring your knees).

Your goal is to shift gears as often as necessary while you're riding to maintain a nice, comfortable pedal stroke. The rate of pedaling is referred to as cadence, and is measured in RPM (revolutions per minute). Most experts say that an ideal cadence is anywhere from 80 to 90 RPM. Think of that as about 1-1/2 complete pedal strokes per second.

Regardless of how many total gears your bike has, when you're riding on flat to gently rolling terrain, you'll usually use only the middle range of gears. If you come to a steep uphill, you'll probably need to use the lowest gears. If you're going down a hill and want to keep putting more effort into going faster, you'll use the highest gears in your range.

2. Working with the front and rear gear combinations

Crank arms with triple chainrings
Most bikes have one or two gears attached to the pedals; these are referred to as chainrings. Your left-hand shifter controls making the chain move from one chainring to another. The smaller chainrings are on the inside (closer to the bike frame), and correspond to easier pedaling, while the larger chainrings are on the outside, and correspond to harder pedaling.

9-speed rear cog cluster
Your rear wheel has a collection of gears, or cogs, attached to it. Most modern bikes have 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 cogs on the rear wheel. Your right-hand shifter controls making the chain move from one cog to another. The relation of the size of the cog to the ease of pedaling is the opposite of what it is for chainrings; i.e. the larger cogs correspond to easier pedaling, and the smaller cogs correspond to harder pedaling.

Think of your chainrings as BIG changes in how easy or hard it is to pedal, and the rear cogs as SMALL changes. Thus, you'll shift the front chainrings much less often compared to the rear cogs. When you're cruising along on flat or gently-rolling ground, you'll spend most of your time in the middle or largest chainring, while shifting the rear cogs as frequently as needed to account for small changes in the terrain. If you come upon an uphill section of road or trail, you'll switch to the smallest chainring to get the very easy-to-pedal gear to help you spin up the hill.

3. Not all gear combinations are usable

On three-chainring setups, when you're using the middle chainring, you can use the full range of cogs, from the largest to the smallest. However, when you're in the smallest (easiest) chainring, you want to avoid shifting into the smallest (hardest) cog. Likewise, when you're in the largest (hardest) chainring, you want to avoid shifting into the smallest (easiest) cog. These situations are called cross-chaining, and you want to avoid them for two reasons. First, your chain will likely rub on the front derailer. Second, the extreme angle of the chain will cause premature wear and tear on your chain and gears.

This video provides a visual explanation of this principle.

4. Pedal slightly easier while shifting

While you are shifting gears, you must keep pedaling in order for the chain to move from one gear to the next. When you're in a particular gear and pedaling, the chain is pulling on the teeth of that gear. But, for the split second that the chain is moving from one gear to another, the chain is pulling on nothing, or, you might say, it's just pullin on air. So, you don't want to be pedaling with full force while you're shifting, especially if you're pedaling uphill.

It may sound difficult or counter-intuitive at first, but you have to ease up on pedaling ever so slightly while you shift, while still keeping a nice, smooth pedal stroke. With a little practice, it will become second nature. This will help keep your chain from "slipping" while you shift, and from falling completely off your gears.

For this same reason, don't shift both the front (left-hand) and rear (right-hand) gears at the same time! If the chain is only pulling on air on both the front and rear, that increases the likelihood even more of the chain slipping and potentially doing serious damage to your bike.

5. Don't worry about the numbers

Twist-grip shifter with with 1 through
8 gear indicator numbers
Some shifters are labeled with the gear numbers (e.g. 1-2-3 on the left, 1 through 8 on the right) to make it easier for you to tell what gear combination you're currently using. However, try not to get too hung up on the actual numbers; that will only make things more complicated than they need to be.

Have you ever heard this: "Okay, I'm in gear 2 on the left, and in gear 4 on the right, and I have a total of 8 on the right, so that means I'm in gear number 12." Trust us, NOBODY who's an experienced rider or racer thinks about gears in this way. Who likes doing arithmetic, even standing still, let alone when you're trying to enjoy a bike ride?

You should let your shifting be dictated by how you FEEL, not by what number you think you should be in. Your thought process should be something simple, like, "It's too hard to pedal; I should shift into an easier gear." Or, "I'm pedaling way too fast; I should shift into a harder gear."

Related articles:
5 Tips: Climbing Hills
From Bicycling Magazine: The Basics of Bike Shifting

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Upgrade your ride with Mavic CrossRide wheels

Mavic is the France-based manufacturer of bicycle components established in 1879, and they are the first name when it comes to performance wheel sets.

Looking to upgrade the performance of your ride? Look no further than the Mavic CrossRide UB Rim Brake Front Wheel and Mavic CrossRide UB Rim Brake Rear Wheel.

The front wheel features 20 radially-laced stainless steel spokes, and the rear features 20 spokes in a radial/2-cross pattern. Weighing in at just 780 grams for the front and 920 grams for the rear, both wheels feature Mavic's QRM hubs and 6016 aluminum double-wall rims. Quick-release skewers and rim tape are also included.

A perfect complement to your old-school rim-brake mountain bike, or even to shave a few grams from your 26-inch wheeled Surly Long Haul Trucker or hybrid bike. Originally $108.99 for the front and $121.99 for the rear, take 20% off while supplies last (that's $87.19/$97.59)! Currently in stock at all three Century Cycles stores.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Women's Sola Cycling Jersey: another great deal from Giant!

Yesterday's post about the Giant Superlight Cycling Jacket is not the only great clothing deal we have from Giant as part of our Summer Clearance Sale. For any women who are just getting started cycling and are looking for a great low-cost jersey, or experienced riders looking to expand your clothing collection, the Giant Sola Sport Women's Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey is too good to miss.

It's made from quick-drying, breathable fabric to keep you cool, comfortable, and dry. The contoured fit has strategically placed mesh inserts for increased breathability. It also boasts flat seams, three pockets, a deep 3/4-length zipper, reflective accents, and a contoured hem with waist gripper.

Available in women's sizes Small through X-Large in all three Century Cycles stores. Originally $59.99, now just $34.99.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Sale: Giant Superlight Cycling Jacket

Another item you want to be sure to check out in our continuing Summer Clearance Sale is the Giant Superlight Wind Jacket.

This jacket is made of a lightweight wind- and water-resistant shell to keep the approaching autumn weather at bay. The yellow color and reflective accents enhance visibility.

The rear storage pocket also doubles as storage for the jacket itself, which rolls up to just a few inches, making it very jersey-pocket-friendly. And at only 116 grams (4.1 ounces, size Large), it's easy to bring along as extra insurance if the conditions turn sour mid-ride.

Originally $84.99, now just $49.99, available in unisex sizes Small through XX-Large in all three Century Cycles stores.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

All BMX bikes are on SALE at your BMX headquarters at Century Cycles in Medina


The Century Cycles store in Medina has one of Northeast Ohio's LARGEST selections of BMX/freestyle bicycles, and every one of them is ON SALE! We've also got a wide selection of parts and accessories, from saddles and grips, to wheels, and chains in every color under the rainbow!

Our BMX bike selection makes a great choice for your back-to-school youngster, or get an early start on Christmas shopping, or the aspiring freestyler of any age!

Here are just a few of the great bikes you can find (and test-ride) in Medina:

2013 Haro 300.1

Haro's 300.1 is built for aspiring riders to polish their skills. A chromoly down tube, internal headset, and Mid bottom bracket puts this frame in the league with the big boys. The 3-piece tubular chromoly cranks power Alienation PBR rims wrapped in Haro La Mesa tires for grip on every surface, and Haro Recycled plastic pedals save weight as well as your shins. The handlebar is sized with the frame, so the 20.5-inch top tube gets an 8.25-inch bar and the 21-incher gets an 8.5-inch bar. The lightweight .1 platform is built for flow and speed with a straight cable rear brake. Originally $379.99, now $339.99.

2013 Stolen Stereo

The STLN Stereo features a chromoly downtube w/ mini 5mm dropouts & machined Mid BB shell, STLN Tall Boy handlebar and Money grips, Convict III stem, MOB 3-piece crankset, and a sealed MID 19mm bottom bracket, 36-hole Revolt rims and Joint tires. Originally $349.99, now $309.99.


2013 Haro Z20

The girls aren't left out of the gang, and the Haro Z20 is great for bigger kids on their first rides or for polishing up their skills. A small frame makes sure they can touch the ground, and makes every journey a blast. The bike comes with both a coaster brake and a hand brake so learning to slow down is easy. Plus, the kid-friendly construction ensures the bike will be around if a younger sibling needs it, too. Originally $239.99, now $219.99.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Great Deals on 2013 Giant PRO Road Bikes

Our Summer Clearance Sale continues, and with that, now's the perfect time to upgrade your road bike. We have several 2012-2013 Giant P.R.O. road models left in stock at reduced prices. You can't find these bikes at any bike dealer, not even at any Giant bike dealer, only at Giant P.R.O. (Premium Race Offering) dealers such as Century Cycles!

All of these bicycles feature Giant's premium Advanced SL-grade composite material, developed with input from team Rabobank pros for long, grueling classics races and epic road rides.

Looking for the top of the line Shimano Dura-Ace components? Check out the 2012 Giant Defy Advanced SL 0:

Originally $6,899.99, now $4,899.99!

Looking for Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting? Once you've tried it, you'll never want to go back, and we've got the 2013 Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 for you to try:
Originally $5,799.99, now $4,999.99!

Ladies, you are not left out with our P.R.O. road bikes from Giant. The 2013 Giant Avail Advanced SL 1 is the women's-specific version of the Defy Advanced SL 1 above, also featuring the Shimano Ultegra Di2 drive train:

Originally $5349.99, now $4,799.99!

Size and model selection varies by store; please feel free to call us to verify before stopping in!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thanks for a great inaugural season of "Sunday Services" Group Road Bike Rides in Peninsula!

Above are five of the eight people who showed up for our final Sunday Services Group Road Bike Ride in Peninsula of the season on Sept. 1.

Thanks to everyone who came to ride with us all this year. Our first season of group road bike rides was a huge success, so look for a new schedule next year! As the weather holds out, we may schedule impromptu rides during the rest of this season, so keep reading this blog (or check out our Events on Facebook) for the latest news!

Here are some photos from all of this year's rides:

Click here if the slideshow above is not appearing for you.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

We are one of America's Best Bike Shops!

Century Cycles is proud to be named as one of America's Best Bike Shops for 2013! This prestigious award (formerly known as the Top 100 Bike Shops) recognizes the top bicycle retailers in North America, through an extensive evaluation process conducted by the National Bicycle Dealers Association, and sponsored by The People For Bikes Coalition, Interbike, and Bicycle Retailer and Industry News.

The sponsoring organizations rated bike shops based on their levels of customer service in stores, over the phone, and on their web sites, as well as what they are doing to make their corner of the globe more bicycle-friendly.

We'd like thank our loyal customers and our dedicated staff for making it possible for us to win this honor for the 15th year in a row!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Thanks for coming to our Liv/giant Women's Bike Clinic!

Thank you to the 25 people who attended our Liv/giant Women's Basic Bike Maintenance Clinic at the Century Cycles store in Medina this past Friday, Aug. 30! A big thanks also to Jen Audia, Trainer and Event Coordinator for Liv/giant, for hosting the clinic.

Here are a few photos from the event (thanks to Mike Petcher):

Click here if the slideshow above is not appearing for you.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

So Long, Derrick!

Derrick Kortvejesi, Service Manager of the Century Cycles store in Peninsula, has decided to move on to a new career outside the bicycle industry.

Derrick has been with the Peninsula store since its very beginning almost 20 years ago, and his bike wrenching experience extends even more years than that, including his time as the manager of the former Big Wheels bike shop in Peninsula.

We wish Derrick well in his future. If you'd like to join us in sending him out with a bang, we'll be gathering tonight (Sunday Sept. 1) at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula, right after the store closes at 6:00pm.