Thursday, January 31, 2013

A Section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is Closed


Cuyahoga Valley National Park News Release

For Immediate Release – Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Contact: Mary Pat Doorley, 440-343-7355 (cell), or mary_pat_doorley@nps.gov

A Section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail is Closed

Brecksville, Ohio – The National Park Service has closed the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail from Hillside Road to Stone Road in Valley View. A section of the trail is not passable due to hazardous conditions caused by erosion.

Please respect all signs and closures for visitor safety.

-NPS-

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

2013 Night Rides on the Towpath Trail

This just in! Our schedule of Night Rides on the Towpath Trail for 2013 is now available! Back for their 19th season, our popular Night Rides on the Towpath Trail are fun, FREE, family-friendly rides that start at 8:00pm from the Century Cycles store in Peninsula.

We've got a full schedule of rides this year, with some special events thrown in to add to the fun! The rides are about 14 miles long, which usually takes about 2 hours. All skill levels are welcome! You need your own bicycle, helmet, and headlight. No pre-registration is required!
  • Saturday April 27
  • Saturday May 18
  • Saturday June 22
  • Saturday July 6
  • Saturday July 20 (NiteRider Demo Night)
  • Saturday August 10 (Pajama Party Night Ride)
  • Saturday August 24
  • Saturday September 14
  • Saturday September 28
  • Saturday October 19 ("All Hail the Ale!" Night Ride for Cleveland Beer Week)
We've also scheduled our only Night Ride in Cuyahoga County for the season, our 4th Annual Night Ride on the Towpath Trail to Benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. It's on Saturday, June 1. Stay tuned for more details!

For more information, including photos and videos from past rides, see: 

Never biked a Night Ride before? See our 5 Tips for Getting Ready for a Night Ride on the Towpath Trail and our Night Rides on the Towpath Trail Safety Tips.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Win Shimano Pedals & Pearl Izumi Shoes!

Thanks to our friends at Shimano and Pearl Izumi, all attendees at the Choosing and Using Clipless Pedals Clinic on Tuesday, January 29, will be entered to win an awesome pedal/shoe combo worth $170!
WIN US! All-new Shimano Click'R Pedals and Pearl Izumi Fuel Road Cycling Shoes
Chip Ellison from Shimano/Pearl Izumi will be bringing the Shimano Click'R Pedals with him when he helps to teach the clinic in Rocky River. They are so new that we don't have them in-stock yet (ETA: March 1). The Shimano Click'R (MSRP: $70) has unique features that reduce both the fear and the learning curve for first-time clipless pedals users. They have a wider platform and a light spring action -- requiring 60% less force to clip in and 62% less force to clip out. Amazing! Check out this review on the British Road.cc website and this rave review at Bike Rumor.

The Pearl Izumi Fuel Road cycling shoes (MSRP: $100) are one of our most popular models -- they work on and off the bike and have the look of stylish running shoes. The soles are stiff for pedaling efficiency and fit the Shimano Click'R pedals, yet boast enough flexibility for walking comfortably.

The free clinic -- at 6:30pm, offered simulataneously at all three Century Cycles stores -- will address how to select clipless pedals and shoes for your riding style, how to clip in, unclipping while riding and avoid the dreaded fall. No RSVP necessary! For more information about this and Century Cycles entire winter clinic series, go to www.centurycycles.com/goto/clinics.

5 Tips: Commuting by Bicycle

If you've been considering riding your bicycle to work (or to school), you may be intimidated, even if you're an experienced recreational rider. These 5 Tips below show you some of the things you'll need to think about to prepare for commuting by bike, and hopefully help you get over some of the hurdles.

Want more face-to-face tips? Attend our next FREE Bike Commuting 101 Clinic on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 6:30pm at all three Century Cycles stores. For more details, plus the schedule of ALL of our FREE Bicycling and Maintenance Classes, see:


1. Choose to make a commitment to bike commuting, but don't go overboard. An important step to achieving any goal is to make a mental commitment to it. But the first step is to set a realistic goal. You don't have to give up your car cold turkey. Maybe start by promising to ride your bike to work one day a week. Later increase that to two or three days a week. That gives you some flexibility to adjust your biking schedule based on the weather and how you feel.

The weather is always a big concern for aspring bike commuters. If you really want to be committed, follow this rule: Decide to ride first, then check the weather to decide what to wear. If you check the weather first and it looks iffy, you're more likely to back out of riding that day. Regardless of what the forecast says, be prepared for any conditions. If it's warm when you start, pack extra layers in case it cools off. When it's cool, dress in layers so you can peel them off if it warms up.

Biking is supposed to be fun, so don't feel guilty or beat yourself up if you miss a day of riding. You deserve a break once in a while to avoid burnout, and you'll make up for it later. If you get in a riding day here and there, you'll start to enjoy it more and more. Before you know it, you'll be looking for more excuses to ride, rather than excuses not to ride.

2. Consider durability over speed when selecting your bike and gear.  A lightweight racing bike may get you to your destination faster under the best of conditions. But commuting on a day-to-day basis will inevitably find you riding in less-than-ideal weather. Plus, your schedule might not let you keep up with the necessary maintenance on your bike as well as you'd like. Choosing a heavy-duty bike that can stand up to some abuse might keep you on the road more in the long run, instead of leaving you stranded by the side of the road with a broken spoke, busted shifter, or loose brakes. You might also consider heavy-duty tires and tubes that resist punctures better.

If your commute does not involve any steep hills, you might also consider a single-speed or fixed-gear bike. By removing the complexities of shifters and derailleurs, you remove a couple of potential points of failure. 

Using a lower-end bike for you daily commuting also has the side benefit of making it less attractive to potential thieves who might be lurking in your parking area.

3. Do a dry run on a day off to scout out your route. On your first day of bike commuting, if you just hop on your bike and go without any prior experience, it's sure-fire way to be late for work, and invite other unexpected frustrations that will make you less likely to want to bike to work again.

On a weekend or some other day off, do your ride from home to work to scout the streets and roads that you'll have to take. Look for alternate back streets that might provide just as short a route, but take you on roads with less car traffic. Look for ways around problem spots, like certain multi-way intersections that can be more dangerous than others, roads with less-than-ideal shoulders, and roads with more than the usual number of potholes.

Of course, doing this test-ride ahead of time also gives you an idea of how much time you'll need to allow yourself to get to your destination.

Ask for route suggestion from neighbors, friends, or co-workers who bike. Use maps and online resources such as Google Maps (now with Biking Directions). But remember that any resources can be out-of-date, so do a sanity check (even by car if necessary) before committing to any particular route.

4. Prepare your commuting gear the night before.  Getting ready for a bike ride to work takes a little more time than the usual routine of showering, dressing, and driving. To avoid a last-minute rush in the morning (which can more likely lead to forgetting something), get all of your stuff ready the night before:

  • Pack up your change of clothes and your spare riding clothes.
  • Do a quick safety check of your bike.
  • Make sure your lights have good batteries or are recharged (and pack a spare set of lights just in case).
  • Pump up your tires; the amount of pressure they might lose between the evening and the next morning won't be significant.
  • If you pack a lunch, do it the night before, so you can just grab it from the refridgerator and go in the morning.
  • Set your helmet, gloves, and cycling shoes near your bike.
5. Check out the numerous other bike commuting resources available. These 5 Tips are just the beginning. As mentioned before, asking friends who ride is one of the best ways to find tips, as well as build your confidence. Stop by your local bicycle shop and ask for their advice. There are tons of resources available on the Internet to assist you with planning your bike commuting, such as online discussion forums, plus these additional articles:

Friday, January 25, 2013

Where We Ride: Inside!

Our Staff's Indoor Training Tips

CycleOps Fluid2 indoor trainer
A lot of the Century Cycles staff continue to ride outside year 'round no matter what the weather. But, many of us also take to indoor training during the off-season. Here are some tips from the staff at all three stores on making the most of your indoor cycling.

Ryan from the Peninsula store suggests taking your trainer to a friend's house, because training with somebody else helps mix it up, instead of staring at your same old basement wall. "It helps if your friend has a big TV or great music collection." Krista from Rocky River concurs that having an assortment of energetic or intense music helps (she prefers heavy metal). Doug from Peninsula likes to follow the latest episodes of his favorite TV shows while riding his trainer; the show is the motivation and reward for getting the training session in.

Rich in Peninsula suggests training in the mornings, before the issues of work, family, and other daily distractions take over, or, as Krista says, before the brain has a chance to talk you out of it. Krista suggests setting out your workout clothes the night before, so you can get dressed to train as soon as your feet hit the floor. She also says that it also helps to have a goal (the MS150, TOSRV, a triathlon, or class reunion?).

Other things that Krista suggests having ready are a towel to wipe off sweat, plus a fan set up in front of the trainer to keep sweat to a minimum to begin with, since you don't have the benefit of a breeze to cool you off and dry off your sweat, like when you're riding outside. Get some water with electrolytes; enough for during the ride, and one bottle for immediately after. Have a small nibble before your ride, as well as one handy for during, such as an energy gel or blocks, as they digest easily without much chewing. (Bonking on a ride? Uncool. Bonking on the trainer? SO uncool.) Use a heart monitor if you want to train in target heart rate zones.

Ken from Rocky River recommends that you shoot for a spinning rate of about 80-90rpm, rather than pedaling in your hardest gear the whole time. You can mix in some different cadence for specific training (e.g. hill-climbing, time-trial, sprinting). Kevin from Peninsula says this is even easier if you use training videos. It's like having an on-screen coach to step you through a specific training program, who tells you what gear you should be in, even what your cadence should be, with prescribed intervals of easy and hard efforts and recovery (not to mention built-in motivational music). The indoor trainers from CycleOps even include a training DVD!

Tom from Medina is our resident indoor training guru. His goal this year is to ride an indoor double-century (200 miles!). He says that the hardest part about indoor training for him is the 20 minutes before he gets on the bike, the mental part. Once he's on the bike, the physical part is easy. Tom uses a highly structured training program based on power measurement, using a PowerTap rear hub on his bike and a pre-scheduled workout with specific power goals. The scheduled workouts help him stick to his training, and the power generation is a much more objective and easier-to-measure aspect of your performance, compared to say, perceived exertionm and it's a much easier way to gauge your progress. For example, if you generate a certain amount of power in a given amount of time one day, and the next day you generate the same amount of power, but your heart rate is lower and/or the distance you ride is longer, then you know that you've improved. Using power training also lets you target specific types of training; e.g. you can do aerobic workouts, anaerobic workouts, or workouts in the "sweet spot," i.e. 87-93% of your VO2Max. All of these workouts target different systems in your body, for a total training program.

Finally, winter is the ideal time for cross-training, so mix it up and give the upper body a good workout, too. Krista's favorites are swimming, strength training, elliptical, treadmill, Nordic track, and rowing. Kevin says "Get outside and take a hike, or when the snow flies, try cross-country skiing."

See also:

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Half-off helmets for the whole family - Hot Deal #7

Bell Venture Helmet - $19.99 (reg. $39.99)
Giro Skyla Women's Helmet - $19.99 (reg. $39.99)
Bell Trigger Youth Helmet - $17.49 (reg. $34.99)
Bell Dart Youth Helmet - $17.49 (reg. $34.99)
Koki Dilly Handlebar Bag - $29.99 (reg. $59.99)
Koki Tuktuk Seat Bag (Medium) - $10.99 (reg. $21.99)
Koki Tuktuk Seat Bag (Large) - $12.49 (reg. $24.99)

Half-off prices valid January 24 through February 6, 2013 only.

A well-fitting bike helmet is the #1 safety accessory every bicyclist should wear on every ride. And if your current helmet is over five years old or has ever hit the pavement (either being dropped or in a crash), it's time to replace it and take advantage of this Hot Deal on helmets for the entire family!

Bell Venture Helmet in Black


Giro Skyla Women's Helmet in Silver/Teal Birds

For adults, check out the Bell Venture Helmet (black only) - a versatile choice with top-notch features and lots of vents for maximum comfort and safety, plus a visor to keep the sun out of your eyes. Women will value the strength, comfort and safety features on the Giro Skyla Women's Helmet, but they will also appreciate its ponytail compatibility and silver/teal bird color scheme.


Bell Trigger Youth Helmet in White/Pastel Hearts




Bell Dart Youth Helmet in Black








For kids, the Bell Dart (black only) has an integrated rear flashing light for more safety, and it comes in one size that fits most children. Girls will swoon over the Bell Trigger in white with pastel hearts, while mom and dad will appreciate its winning safety features.

Koki Tuktuk Seat Bag in Black
We recommend every bicyclist carry a few emergency essentials on every bike ride - a spare tube, a patch kit, tire levers, an ID, a cell phone and some money. The Koki Tuktuk in Medium (just $10.99) will hold all that, and the size Large (just $12.49) will hold a bit more, like a snack or sunscreen. Both are available in black only.

Koki Dilly Handlebar Bag in Mocha
For running daily errands, Night Rides, or café cruising, look no further than the Koki Dilly Handlebar Bag (Mocha only), dressed to fit your bike's handlebar (with an easy on-off attachment system included) and you (includes removable shoulder strap), plus it has a rain cover.

Basic Bike Maintenance Clinics
We cover what to carry on every bike ride (and how to fix a flat and do a pre-ride safety check) at our most popular clinic, Basic Bike Maintenance. Upcoming dates: January 31 (Ladies ONLY), February 16, and March 7. FREE. www.centurycycles.com/goto/clinics

The Fine Print: This Hot Deal is good only January 24 - February 6, 2013, while supplies last. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Century Cycles in the News


Fortunately or unfortunately, the big bicycling story for the past week is Lance Armstrong. Local NBC affiliate WKYC Channel 3 sent a reporter to Century Cycles Rocky River and got owner Scott Cowan's feedback on how Lance's confession is affecting the local bike biz. Watch the video:


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

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Online Poll: How do you begin your bike ride?


How do you begin your bike ride? Most people step over the bike from one side or the other, then put one foot on a pedal to get going from a standstill. Some people, however, like to put one foot on a pedal, and then throw a leg over the bike while doing a "running start." Which do you prefer? Click here to take our latest online poll and let us know!

Last month's poll asked, "What is your favorite kind of bicycling?" The top two answers, "Road" and "Bike Paths" were almost dead even at 46% and 45% each; "Mountain Biking" came in a distant third at 8%. You can see the full results of the last poll.

Monday, January 21, 2013

The Great Big Home & Garden Show

Look for Century Cycles at The Great Big Home & Garden Show at the I-X Center on February 2 through 10, 2013, where you can register in our booth to win one of of our most popular bikes, a 2013 Electra Townie 7D bicycle valued at $449.99!

Besides spreading the good bike word at one of Cleveland's biggest winter events, the best thing about exhibiting at the show is that we get to offer our Century Cycles family bigger savings on admission tickets! Just click here or on the button below and use the promo code LoveMyBike to save $4 per ticket. That's a better deal than the $3 off you'll see in the local newspaper!


Thursday, January 17, 2013

Guest Product Review: NiteRider Headlight and Taillight

By Kyle Brooks

For my early morning commutes to work, I typically get on the road by 6:00 am, and from fall through spring that means riding in the dark for much of my morning ride. In these conditions, good lights are needed not only to see the road, but also to be seen by car traffic. When I was shopping for lights, the folks at Century Cycles recommended the NightRider MiNewt 600 Cordless and the CherryBomb taillight. I’ve used them for a year now and I’ve been really happy.

The MiNewt 600 Cordless is a great light. Being compact and completely self-contained, there is no external battery pack and no extra cables. The clamp for the handlebars can be installed or removed easily with no tools. Both of those features make it ideal for anyone who has more than one bike, as it can be moved from one to another with no trouble. There is also a helmet mount if someone wishes to use that option. The light has four settings: High at 600 lumens, Medium at 400 lumens, Low at 275, and “Walk” which is a flashing mode. The run time ranges from 1½ hours on high, to over 4 hours on low. This light output and beam quality of this light is fantastic, even on the low setting. My experience with the headlight is that the low setting is plenty bright enough to see and be seen when I’m riding on city streets where there are already streetlights and more. The medium setting is actually bright enough to use on unlit back roads, so the 600 lumen high setting is like a bonus.

Since I got this headlight, NightRider has actually replaced it with a new model, the Lumina 650, that puts out even more lumens at the highest setting (650 vs. 600) while still running up to 1½ hours on high. From comparing the two side by side, it seems that the new model keeps what was good about the older one, and makes a few improvements. The new version is slightly smaller and lighter, yet slightly brighter at the same time. The new handlebar clamp still seems easy to install, but also looks like it would be even more secure than the old one – although I never actually had problems with slipping on the older model.

The CherryBomb taillight is available in a 1/2-watt and a 1-watt version (I have the 1 watt version) and operates with two modes: steady and flashing. It takes two AAA batteries. The taillight is highly visible – almost blinding if you look right at it (which I really don’t recommend – you’ll be seeing spots for a while afterwards!). It is also designed in such a way that it offers good visibility from the sides as well as the back. The mounting hardware included allows it to be clamped onto a seat-stay or a seat-post. Or without the mounting clamps it could be clipped onto something such as a saddlebag or a back pocket. I actually modified the mount on mine slightly so it could be securely attached directly to a rack-mounting eyelet on my seat-stays without needing the supplied clamp. NightRider claims that the run-time on flash mode is up to 100 hours.

Although the run-time on the CherryBomb is excellent, and I am totally satisfied with the light in every way, if I were buying a new taillight right now, I’d probably get NightRider’s Solas rechargeable taillight. It actually is a 2 watt light with four modes, including a “low-steady” mode that would be good on group rides. The run-times range from 4½ to 36 hours, depending on the mode being used. Being USB rechargeable, I’d love to be able to eliminate the waste of dead batteries going to landfills.

All in all, the lights I’ve been using by NightRider seem to be well designed and well made. It would be hard to go wrong with them.

About the author: Kyle Brooks lives in Akron with his wife and two daughters, and works as a teacher in Medina. He has a collection of bikes, mostly vintage or classic styled steel road bikes, and even keeps a couple of bikes on display in his classroom. He maintained a bike-to-work average of 57% from August through December. His favorite bike shop is the Century Cycles store in Peninsula, though the new Medina store is super nice.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

CyclingPlus on the Giant Control Tower Pro Pump

Giant Control Tower
Pro Floor Pump

CyclingPlus magazine, the premier publication for all things pedal-powered in the UK, has reviewed a piece of Giant GEAR: the Control Tower Pro Floor Pump.

The Control Tower Pro gets 4 out of 5 stars. Calling it the “Tower of Pressure,” the pub says the Control Tower Pro’s “…cast aluminum base is stable and strong, but still light, protecting its serviceable workings. Giant’s oversize double wall design means the inner air chamber is immune from external damage, and all of the seals and O-rings are replaceable, making it perfect for heavy use.” Also praised are the pump’s stature: “At 75cm, the pump’s extra height will also save your back.” And its ergonomics: “Grippy rubber inserts on top of the base prevent foot slippage, and the wide, angular wing-shaped handle has a soft rubberized coating for excellent grip.”

The 50-inch hose gives you a long reach, for whether your bike is on the floor or in a workstand. The Auto Head fits Presta and Schrader valves without any adapters or parts-swapping, and a release valve allows you to adjust pressure and avoid over-inflation.

We've got the Giant Control Tower Pro Floor Pump in stock at all three Century Cycles stores. $87.99 gets you a pump to last a lifetime, but if you buy before Feb. 28, 2013, it's only $76.55 (13% off) for our Make the Most of Winter Sale!

For a more economical, yet still quite reliable pump from Giant, check out the Control Tower 2 Floor Pump. Just $39.99, or $34.79 (13% off) through Feb. 28, 2013.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Bike MS Pedal to the Point: Time to Prep and Register

 
Registration has officially opened for the Bike MS Pedal to the Point on August 3-4, 2013. This year, registration is $80 per rider (with a $300 fundraising minimum), but if you register by January 31, it's only $20, and if you are doing the ride for the first time, registration is FREE (use the code "NEWRIDER2013").

At Century Cycles, we are proud to support this event in a variety of ways, from mechanical assistance at rest stops (above) to riding ourselves (below).

But one of the most important ways we help is by offering a free clinic this Thursday (and again on Thursday, February 28) at 6:30pm at all three stores called Preparing For and Riding in the MS 150 and Other Event Rides. Riding 100 or more miles in a weekend takes planning -- everything from training rides to bike maintenance needs to be addressed. Our experienced staff will share our best training tips, accessory must-haves, and pre-ride checklists to help you succeed AND have fun doing it!

For more clinic information, visit www.centurycycles.com/goto/clinics. No RSVPs are necessary and all but a few clinics are offered simultaneously at all three stores.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Guest Product Review: Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Convertible Jacket

When the weather is unpredictable and quickly changing, like it frequently is in the Fall and Spring, it can be tough to know how to dress for a ride. When commuting to work, I frequently find big changes in the weather between my morning ride to work and my afternoon ride home. Temperature changes can swing twenty degrees or more, and showers can develop without much warning. For these unpredictable weather conditions, one of the most versatile pieces of gear that I have is Pearl Izumi’s Elite Barrier Convertible Jacket. This jacket is lightweight, packable, wind-proof, and even water-resistant. In addition to all that, the sleeves can be zipped off in seconds, turning it into a vest.

The Barrier fabric is great at sealing out wind, and there are covered vents on the back to allow some breathing. Although the jacket isn't specifically a rain shell (remember – it’s “water-resistant” – not “waterproof”), I have been caught in a few unexpected light showers and found that it does a good job of repelling the wet stuff. I don’t know how it would do in an extended heavy downpour, though, but it isn't intended to be a substitute for serious rain gear. Pearl Izumi calls the fit “semi-form fitting” which is close enough to minimize wind flapping, but loose enough to allow easy layering underneath. The collar comes up fairly high on the neck and there is elastic at the cuffs to keep the cold wind out. For convenience, there are zippered hand pockets on the sides. It also has some reflective detailing to help with visibility.

I find that this jacket works for a wide variety of weather conditions. Paired with an insulated jersey and a base layer, I use it in temperatures down into the low- to mid- 30s. As temperatures rise, the sleeves can be taken off to keep just my chest shielded from wind. The whole jacket can be packed away into a seat bag or handlebar bag without too much trouble, too. Pearl Izumi makes a regular “non-convertible” version of this jacket as well, but in my opinion, the added utility and functionality of the convertible – being a vest and jacket in one garment – really makes it worth the extra dollars.

About the author: Kyle Brooks lives in Akron with his wife and two daughters, and works as a teacher in Medina. He has a collection of bikes, mostly vintage or classic styled steel road bikes, and even keeps a couple of bikes on display in his classroom. He maintained a bike-to-work average of 57% from August through December. His favorite bike shop is the Century Cycles store in Peninsula, though the new Medina store is super nice.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Everything WAS Winterrific!

Our thanks to the Cleveland Metroparks for inviting us to participate in the 2nd annual Everything is Winterrific festival at The Chalet in Strongsville, this past Sunday, January 6, 2013. Unlike last year, we had lots of snow to enjoy winter activities, including demos of the Surly Pugsley and Surly Moonlander snow bikes!

Thanks to Petch and Lynne from the Medina store, and Doug from Peninsula, who staffed the Century Cycles tables at the event, and provided information to guests about winter bicycling gear.

Congratulations to Terry Coursen, the winner of our drawing for a $25 Century Cycles Gift Card!

Check out more photos from the event in the slide show below, plus video coverage from Fox 8 Cleveland and NewsNet 5!



Click here if the slide show or videos above are not appearing for you.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Be Seen: High-Visibility Essentials - Hot Deal #6


Serfas Summit Long-Sleeve Cycling Jerseys for Men and Women
$22.49
(Regularly $44.99)

Serfas Night-Saver Headlights and Taillights
$7.49
(Regularly $14.99)

(Half-off prices valid Jan. 10-23 only while supplies last.)

Whether you're commuting to work, out riding for errands, or just for fun, being seen is the best way to stay safe on the roads. Our latest Hot Deal for Cold Days gives you two essential items to make sure you can't be missed from a mile away, and both come from Serfas, one of the most popular and trusted brands in cycling.

The Serfas Summit Long-Sleeve Cycling Jersey comes in Men's sizes Small thru XX-Large, and Women's sizes Small thru X-Large, so anyone can find the fit that's right for them. Both feature textured wicking polyester fabric in high-viz yellow, full-zip front for easy on-off, and long sleeves to keep you warm in cooler conditions. The Women's model also has an open, loose-fitting hem for a flattering fit. Slightly irregular; all sales final.

The Serfas Night-Saver Headlight and Taillight have quick-release rubber mounting straps, so you can put them virtually anywhere--on your handlebars, seatpost, bike frame, or even your helmet. The headlight has a white LED light, and the taillight has a red LED; each comes in 10 different body colors! Both have a high, low, and flashing modes to give you up to 70 hours of run time per set of batteries, which are, of course, included!

Now that you've got two of the most important pieces of gear for commuting by bike, come find out what else you need to prepare, pack, and stay motivated to commute by attending our next Bike Commuting 101 clinic!

  • WHEN: Thursday, January 10, 6:30pm and Tuesday, February 26, 6:30pm
  • WHERE: All three Century Cycles stores
  • COST: FREE! 

For the complete schedule and descriptions of all of our FREE Bicycling and Maintenance Clinics, see:


The Fine Print
This Hot Deal is good only January 10 - 23, 2013, while supplies last. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Make the Most of Winter with our SALE, now through Feb. 28


Old Man Winter Got You Down?

Staying in shape through the winter and preparing for the spring season is easier than ever!

  • Bring in 2013 by taking 13% Off all in-stock parts, clothing, and accessories (including indoor trainers)!
  • Take $$$ off all bicycles!
  • Up to $50 off our Tune-Up Service Packages!
For complete details and printable coupons, see:



Today (Wednesday 01/09) is the LAST day for our latest Hot Deal for Cold Days, which lets you stock up on inner tubes, plus two great air pumps, at half price! Look for our next Hot Deal tomorrow; and sign up for our email newsletter to get all of our Hot Deals and monthly news delivered to your Inbox!

There are still plenty of FREE Bicycling and Maintenance Clinics to help you learn more about selecting gear and taking care of your bike. The next clinic is Bike Commuting 101, Thursday, January 10 at 6:30pm at all three Century Cycles stores!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Guest product review: Pearl Izumi AmFib Tights

By Kyle Brooks

During my cold morning rides to work, I have really pushed my limits when it comes to temperatures. As the months rolled through October, November, and even into December, I routinely encountered mornings with temperatures in the low 30s and even down into the 20s. On those cold morning rides, I’d often find that ordinary fleece-lined tights just weren’t enough by themselves, and as temps fell below freezing I was having to double up on the leg coverage. While doubled up tights were able to keep me warm enough, they didn’t work well in the “freedom of movement” category. So I went into Century Cycles and asked for the warmest tights they had. Answer: Pearl Izumi AmFibTights.

The AmFib tights are an extra-thick, fleece-lined tight with wind-stopping panels covering all the frontal areas. Pearl Izumi’s website lists the AmFib tights as being good down to 21 degrees. My own experience says that is probably about right, as I actually rode in temperatures as cold as 23, and while there was no mistaking that it was a cold morning, I was still comfortable.

The AmFib tights come in a variety of configurations: with or without a chamois, and in drawstring waist or bibs. Mine are the drawstring waist without chamois, which works well for me because I generally like my tights over a pair of cycling shorts. They have zippers at the ankles, making them easy to get on or off, and they have some reflective accents on them for additional visibility. In terms of cut, they really work well on the bike, as the panels of material are shaped for full leg movement. The gripper elastic at the ankles works well, and they don’t ride up.

The only thing that I would like is if they were a little longer – or perhaps available in “regular” and “long” versions. I’m a pretty long-legged individual, and these come just to the tops of my ankles. In practice it isn’t a problem, since any time it’s cold enough to need the AmFib tights, I’m also wearing shoe booties that cover my ankles and then some. But I always appreciate tights that are a little longer (even if a bit longer than necessary), rather than “just enough.” It’s a minor thing – but if you have really long legs, then definitely try them on before you buy (a great reason to get them from CC rather than some online shop!)

I guess if I were to sum up the Pearl Izumi AmFib tights, I’d say that they are one pair of tights as warm as doubled-up tights without having to double up!

About the author: Kyle Brooks lives in Akron with his wife and two daughters, and works as a teacher in Medina. He has a collection of bikes, mostly vintage or classic styled steel road bikes, and even keeps a couple of bikes on display in his classroom. He maintained a bike-to-work average of 57% from August through December. His favorite bike shop is the Century Cycles store in Peninsula, though the new Medina store is super nice.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Towpath Trail Construction Update

The completion of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail all the way to Lake Erie has been making slow but sure progress. The latest phase is the Scranton Road Peninsula/Cuyahoga River Restoration Project, which will take the trail through the Flats area near downtown Cleveland. In the video below, Tim Donovan, Executive Director of the Ohio Canal Corridor, shows some of the latest highlights from last month's construction work (click here if the video is not appearing for you).
In case you missed it, below is the first update from November, where Tim shows us the demolition of the old marina located on the Scranton Flat site (click here if the video is not appearing for you).

Friday, January 4, 2013

Guest product review: Pearl Izumi Select Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey

By Kyle Brooks

This past year I’ve been biking to work on a pretty regular basis, and I’ve found that as the temperatures get colder, the right clothing becomes more and more important. Good cold-weather cycling clothes need to add warmth without bulk, be adaptable for changing weather, and be able to move with you well on the bike. One of my favorite items is the Pearl Izumi Select Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey. This jersey works well either by itself, or paired up with a base layer and/or some type of jacket.

The Select Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey has a fantastic cut for riding. It is really tailored for a sporty on-the-bike position. The sleeves are nice and long with a well- thought-out angled cut at the wrists – a little longer at the top of the wrist to keep out the cold, and a little shorter at the bottom. The angled cut wrists work so well that there doesn’t seem to be any elastic around the wrists, and it isn’t needed. The collar is fairly high – about like a mock turtleneck – to keep the cold air off your neck. The jersey also has a full-length zipper that lets you control your temperature easily as you warm up. The fabric has a soft, fleecy interior that feels great against the skin, and also does a great job of wicking away sweat. Three pockets in the back finish off the deal.

I find that the jersey is good by itself in temperatures down into the upper 40s. I’ve heard some people say they wear it by itself in even cooler temperatures than that, but I’m admittedly a bit of a wimp in that regard. Paired with a base layer and a wind shell, I’ve comfortably ridden to work down into the mid 30s. Colder than that, I’ll swap an insulated jacket for the basic wind shell and ride down into the 20s. One of the great things about this jersey is that it layers so well – its warmth comes in a lightweight, close- fitting package that doesn’t add much bulk and still allows good freedom of movement.

I like these jerseys so much that I ended up buying several. They come in the usual colors like black, white, blue, and red – but my favorites are the “Screaming Yellow” and “Safety Orange” because as an early morning commuter, I want to be as visible as possible. I’ll add that the “Safety Orange” color is a great one, even if visibility isn’t that important to you – it isn’t an obnoxious neon or traffic-cone kind of color. Also for visibility, there are reflective logos on the back and sleeves. One other thing I’ll add is that Pearl Izumi also has a similar thermal jersey in their “Elite” line of clothing that is supposed to be a “step up” from the “Select” line, and costs a bit more – but I’ve compared the two side by side and I have to say that there is no reason to pay more: the Select Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey is as good as it gets.

About the author: Kyle Brooks lives in Akron with his wife and two daughters, and works as a teacher in Medina. He has a collection of bikes, mostly vintage or classic styled steel road bikes, and even keeps a couple of bikes on display in his classroom. He maintained a bike-to-work average of 57% from August through December. His favorite bike shop is the Century Cycles store in Peninsula, though the new Medina store is super nice.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Two unconventional bikes in Peninsula

A customer in the Century Cycles store in Peninsula brought us this Sun EZ-Tad SX recumbent trike for a full tune-up today. Even more interesting is the workstand that he brought along with it to make the job easier for us! The customer built the workstand himself out of PVC pipe. It's got casters on the bottom, so you can move and spin the bike around as needed while working. The wheels, pedals, and brakes are all fully operational while in the stand.

The same customer brought us this replica bicycle, produced in Catalonia, Spain in 1946. It's about 11 inches long and 6 inches high. If it weren't for the bottles of lube in the background of our display counter, you'd almost think it was a full-size bike! It's got a frame pump held in place by pump pegs, a water bottle, solid rubber tires, axle nuts, spoke nipples, and the wheels, handlebars, cranks, and chain actually turn! The brakes don't work, but it's a fixed-gear, so who needs brakes?!?