Friday, November 29, 2013

Shop Small this Small Business Saturday!

This Saturday, November 30, 2013 has been designated Small Business Saturday. We encourage you to support small, locally-owned businesses such as Century Cycles, or whatever your favorite local bike shop is, and all other small businesses on this and EVERY day!

For every $100 you spend in a locally-owned business, $45 stays in the local economy. This compares to only $15 out of every $100 spent in a big-box chain store. (Source: Reasons to Buy Local from MindBodyGreen.)

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving! We are CLOSED today!


We would like to wish all of our customers, staff, associates and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you are spending the day at home with your family, as we are.

We are open for our regular hours during the rest of this weekend:

  • Friday-Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00pm
See you then for our Black Friday Sale!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Black Friday Sale All Weekend - Our BEST prices of the season!

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 1) ONLY!

Take 20% OFF the regular price of all cycling accessories, including parts and clothing!

Take 15% OFF the lowest-marked price of any bicycle, including those already on sale!


You can also find this information and the printable coupons on our web site at:

Obligatory first snow bike video of the season

Hey, it's snowing outside! Never fear, Century Cycles has snow bikes in stock from Surly Bikes and Salsa Cycles! We had a special guest taking a test-ride in Peninsula this morning:

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

We have the Surly Moonlander, Surly Pugsley, and Salsa Mukluk 2 in stock! Call us to check which models and sizes are available in the store nearest you.
2014 Salsa Mukluk 2

Friday, November 22, 2013

Where We Ride: A Report from the League of American Bicyclists

The Leauge of American Bicyclists recently released their Annual Community Survey Data Report for 2012, where they looked at trends in bicycle commuting throughout the nation. You can download the full report: Where We Ride: Analysis of bicycling in American cities

Unless you're a total numbers geek and want to spend hours pouring over the whole report, you're probably just wondering, "Okay, so where is Cleveland in the results?" For you, here's a summary of all the times Cleveland is mentioned in the report:

  • Cleveland ranks 40th for bicycling commuting mode share (0.6%) out of the 70 largest cites in the US. (Columbus, Ohio ranks 35th on this list.)
  • In the top 50 cites where bicycle commuting is growing the fastest, Cleveland ranks 5th. Bike commuting in Cleveland grew by 385% between 1990 and 2012, and by 192.4% between 2000 and 2012.
  • When compared to other cities with a population between 300,000 and 1 million, Cleveland ranks 31st out of 53 cities for bicycle commuting mode share.
The final part of the report appeals to sports fans, where 5 pairs of cities that are typical rivals on the playing field (e.g. New York vs. Boston, St. Louis vs. Kansas City) are compared when it comes to bike commuting. Comparing Pittsburgh to Cleveland, Pittsburgh comes out on top when it comes to bike commuting mode share (1.4%), but Cleveland comes out ahead in both bike commuting growth in 1 year and bike commuting growth from 2005 to 2012 (60.1% vs. 35.9%).

Thursday, November 21, 2013

40% Off Shimano Pedals and Shoes - Hot Deals for Cold Days #2

Shimano Click'R PD-T400 SPD Pedals
$41.99 (regularly $69.99)

Shimano SH-MT33 Cycling Shoes
$53.99 (regularly $89.99)

(50% Off prices valid November 21 through December 4, 2013.)

Shimano's Click'R SPD Pedals offer super easy entry and exit, with a 60% lighter step-in/step-out force required compared to traditional clip in pedals. The wide platform increases shoe support and leverage, while also letting you ride unclipped from starts and stops. These pedals are ideal for the beginner rider, so if you've been thinking about clipping in (and experiencing a 30% increase in pedal efficiency), now is the time to try!

The Shimano SH-MT33 Cycling Shoes are great for all kinds of riding--and walking too! Multi-layer, high-ventilation, stretch-resistant synthetic uppers keep your feet cool while the laces provide a snug, even fit. A larger toe box adds comfort, while the rubber soles provide solid grip for walking. Plus, with the shoelace keeper loop, your laces stay put when you pedal. Available in sizes 40 through 47.


EXTRA HOT DEAL BONUS!
Buy BOTH the Shimano Click'R Pedals and SH-MT33 Shoes at 40% Off and get a FREE pair of Shimano Click'R Socks! Our thanks to you from Century Cycles and Shimano!

The Fine Print:

This Hot Deal is good only November 21 - December 4, 2013, while supplies last on in-stock merchandise only. Cannot be combined with other discounts. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A look back at bicycling's past with National Geographic Magazine

The May 1973 issue of National Geographic Magazine featured not one, but two extensive articles about bicycling.


The first article, "Bicycles Are Back - and Booming!" was about the 1970's bike boom that was just hitting full steam at this time, when most of us were getting our first "10-speed" bikes, as they were known. It even hearkens back to the turn of the century, when the League of American Wheelmen (now the League of American Bicyclists) successfully lobbied for the first widespread paving of road systems. It goes on to discuss the beginnings of the bike-vs.-car controversy, and recalls how the state of Oregon became the first to mandate a percentage of transportation funds be devoted to bicycle infrastructure (which led, of course, to the state being one of the most bike-friendly in the nation today). Of particular local interest is a full-page photo (above) of a crowd of cyclists on the streets of Columbus, Ohio during the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV), at that time already boasting over 2,000 registered riders.

Images of the entire article can be viewed here:

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

Immediately after the first article is "Bikepacking Across Alaska and Canada," which chronicles the first leg of Hemistour, a bicycle trip from Alaska to the southern tip of South America. The first leg of the trip follows Dan and Lys Burden and Greg and June Siple as they ride from Alaska back to their home in Missoula, Montana. Not coincidentally, Greg Siple was one of the co-founders of TOSRV. Although not the first cross-continent bicycle tour, Hemistour started the modern bicycle touring movement, and the participants used their experience to plan Bikecentennial, a US cross-country bike tour taken in 1976 to honor our nation's 200th (bicentennial) anniversary. The organization that started as Bikecentennial was eventually renamed to Adventure Cycling Association, and that group has been the premier non-profit that supports bicycle travel through their research and creation of route maps, working with governments at all levels to promote bicycle travel and tourism, and offering the world a treasure trove of other bike touring resources.

Images of the entire article can be viewed here:

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

It was later in 1973 that a 12-year-old Scott Cowan happened to be perusing his father's latest magazines, and the above article caught his eye. "What a great idea; taking a vacation on your bike," the young Scott thought to himself. (The photo of a young female cyclist taking a refreshing nude dip in a mountain stream probably didn't hurt.) That led to a lifelong fascination with bike touring and all things bicycling, including the founding of Century Cycles. The rest, as they say, is history.

Monday, November 18, 2013

We Bike in Medina!

This past Saturday November 16, Chris and Petch (back row, left in photo) from the Century Cycles store in Medina did the "We Bike in Medina" ride with the Medina High School student history class project.

The project was created by Nathan Neuwirth (red helmet) and Shane Prebis (next to Nathan). This event encouraged kids and adults to get outside and ride on what may be one of the last nice days of the season. The Chippewa Inlet Trail was used for the ride. Snacks and drinks were provided by the class project members, and Century Cycles provided support and give-aways. Nathan was a Raleigh bicycle winner in our Medina Bike to School Challenge.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Westlake Police Department expands bicycle patrol

Thanks to a $750 grant from the Lakewood Elks lodge, the Westlake Police Department recently added a bicycle to the fleet of over a dozen bikes used for their bicycle patrol.

The bike is a Raleigh Talus 4.0 mountain bike purchased from the Century Cycles store in Rocky River.

You can read more about the grant and the Westlake PD bike patrol in this article from the Westlake Bay Village Observer.

Police departments in Northeast Ohio and all over the country have discovered the benefits of using bike patrols, from both a community relations and a law enforcement standpoint. According to Westlake PD Lt. Ray Arcuri:

"When a call came in about shoplifters at Giant Eagle ... the responding patrol car was stuck at the stoplight at the Detroit-Bradley intersection. A bike officer, bypassing the traffic, made it through the intersection first and arrived on the scene just in time to catch the fleeing suspects."

Century Cycles has been working with several other police departments over the years to help outfit their bicycle patrols, including the cities of Akron, Brooklyn, Brunswick, the Village of Gloria Glens, the Metro Parks Serving Summit County police, and the Cleveland Clinic Police Department.

If you're in law enforcement and would like to discuss your bike patrol needs, please contact us!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

2014 Giant Mountain Bikes are In!

Giant Bicycles leads the pack in technology and innovation in mountain bikes, and Century Cycles has their latest 2014 models now in stock!

The hottest trend in mountain bikes this year is 27.5-inch wheels. Originally known as 650B size, this new "tweener" size falls between traditional 26-inch wheels and 29-inch wheels. Why the new size? Many folks feel that 27.5-inch wheels are "just right," combining the best of both worlds--the increased traction and ability to roll over obstacles of the large 29er wheels, with the lower weight and quicker handling of 26-inch wheels. Also, the 27.5-inch wheel size alleviates problems that some riders have experienced with frame design and fit related to the 29er wheels, especially for women and smaller riders.

(By the way, confused by all this talk about different wheel sizes? Our article Tech Talk: Know Your Tire Size will help you sort it out.)

Giant has committed in a big way to the 27.5-inch technology. All of the Liv/giant women's mountain bikes use the 27.5-inch wheel size, and many of the men's/unisex models offer you a choice.

The 2014 Giant mountain bike lineup at Century Cycles is led by the '14 Giant Anthem 27.5 3:
This bike features Giant's ALUXX aluminum frame with Maestro full-suspension, RockShox fork and shock, Shimano hydraulic brakes and Shimano Deore 20-speed drive train. $2,249.99.

We haven't forgotten about the ladies; we've got the '14 Liv/giant Lust 27.5 2:
With Liv/giant women;s-specific geometry on the ALUXX aluminum frame, Giant's Maestro full-suspension technology, Fox fork and shock, Shimano Deore 20-speed drive train and Shimano hydraulic brakes, it'll bring a smile to the face of any off-road diva. $2,449.99.

For you 29er fans, we still have options; the '14 Giant Anthem X 29er 3:
Once again, the ALUXX aluminum frame with Maestro suspension powered by RockShox lets you shred your favorite trails with ease. A Shimano 27-speed drive train and Shimano hydraulic brakes round at the package for only $1,749.99.

Looking to get into serious off-road riding on a budget? We've got two hardtail 27.5 offerings from Giant in stock. The '14 Giant Talon 27.5 4:
Featuring ALUXX aluminum frame, SR Suntour suspension fork, Shimano 27-speed drive train, and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, you get high-end performance in a low-price package for $699.99.

The '14 Giant Talon 27.5 5:
gives you an SR Suntour suspension fork, Shimano/SRAM 24-speed drive train, and Tektro mechanical disc brakes for $569.99, all on the same Giant ALUXX aluminum frame.

Men's Journal magazine recently tested several other models of 27.5-inch mountain bikes from Giant. Edit Stan Horaczek came to this conclusion:

"Once you get on, the most immediate advantage you notice is how much more nimble a 27.5-inch tire-equipped bike is than a 29er, especially in high-speed corners. Less gyroscopic force means it's easier to lean over and take banked turns as they're meant to be taken…Ultimately, a 27.5-incher seems like the real deal. Even many pros seem to be making the switch..."

You can read the full article here.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

It's Snow Bike Time!

The snow-filled winter season has arrived here in Northeast Ohio. If you want to extend your outdoor bicycling season, now is the time to consider a snow bike. A snow bike, or fat bike as they are sometimes called, is specially-designed to accommodate super-wide tires up to 4 inches wide or more! Century Cycles is your snow bike headquarters, with several models IN STOCK and ready for you to test-ride!


The Surly Pugsley was the original bike that started the snow bike trend. It features a frame and fork made of Surly's custom-butted 4130 chromoly steel tubing, Surly Nate 26x3.8-inch tires on 65mm wide Surly Marge Lite rims, Shimano Deore/SLX derailers, and a SRAM X5 crankset with 22/36-tooth chainrings. $1,749.99. Size Small currently available in Rocky River, Medium in Peninsula.


The Surly Moonlander turns the fat up to 11. Using the same 4130 chromoly steel for the frame and fork, it's made to handle even wider tires, with 94mm wide Surly Clown Shoe rims and 26x4.8-inch Surly Bud and Lou tires. Add Shimano XT/SLX derailers, a Surly Offset Double crankset with 22/36-tooth chainrings, and 11-34 10-speed cassette for even more snowdrift-crushing gears. $2,549.99. Now available in Large in Medina.


New this year at Century Cycles is Salsa Cycles. Their fat bike lineup includes the Salsa Mukluk 2. The Mukluk is the lighter, racier big brother to Surly. Featuring a frame of double-butted heat-treated 6066 aluminum, aluminum Salsa Bearpaw fork, and extra-wide 170mm rear hub spacing, so you get the tire and chain clearance you need with a symmetrical rear wheel. The Salsa Alternator rear dropouts mean that if you want to experiment and change your setup, you can run the bike singlespeed or with an internally-geared hub without any hassles. The Mukluk 2 comes with the same 26x3.8-inch Surly Nate tires as the Surly Pugsley, but on 82mm wide Surly Rolling Darryl rims, which spread the tires out to a full 4 inches wide! The drive train features SRAM X7/X9 derailers, SRAM X7 shifters, SRAM 10-speed 11-36 cassette, and Surly Offset Double crankset with 22/36-tooth chainrings. $2,399.99. Size Medium currently available in Rocky River, Large in Peninsula.

If you haven't tried riding a snow bike yet, come check them out! The huge tires are like rolling snowshoes, but they're not as slow and heavy as they look. And they'd make darn fine mountain bikes even in warm weather.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Big-box store bicycle Hall of Shame

If you're considering shopping for a bicycle as a gift for the upcoming holiday season, here are a few reminders as to why you should look to your local independent bicycle shop rather than the big-box stores.

Bikes from the big-box stores may be cheaper, but the quality of materials makes them heavy and frustrating to ride at best. At worst, the quality of assembly makes them death traps.

The following photos come from Bicycle Shaped Object, a UK-based web site, but we see examples just like these being brought in by customers to all three Century Cycles stores all the time.

An all-too-common issue found on bikes from big-box stores is the fork installed BACKWARDS. That's right, the front end is turned all the way around. Here's one:
And another:
And yet another:
Some of these companies even go so far as to show these bikes improperly assembled in their catalog photos, like this one:
And this one:
And this one:
This next bike has the brake levers installed pointing straight down at the ground, which would make it next to impossible to operate the brakes:
But that doesn't even matter, since if you look more closely, the front wheel is installed backwards, so that the disc brake rotor is not even within the brake caliper, so the front brake will not work AT ALL!
At least the fork is on correctly, but that would be of little consolation, especially if you tried to ride this bike downhill!

Here's a tip: when you apply the brake, the arm of the brake caliper should not come into contact with the tire:
Also, when you apply the brake lever, it should not pull in so far as to come in contact with the hand grip:
To avoid these and other problems, buy your bicycles from your favorite LOCALLY-OWNED independent bicycle shop!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

School Of Bike ... For those about to bike!

We roll tonight ... to the bicycle bite ... and for those about to bike ... we salute you!

All classes are FREE! Refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP to the store where you will be attending:


All classes are taught by experienced, patient Century Cycles tutors. You do not need to bring your bike.

All students receive a 15% discount off regularly-priced parts, clothing and accessories good at the time of the class. Students attending 4 or more classes receive a diploma coupon good for 25% off one regularly-priced parts, clothing, or accessory item! These discounts cannot be combined with other offers.

Schedule of Classes

Basic Bike Maintenance
How to set up your bike and ensure that it is a lean, mean, shredding machine.
All three stores
Saturday December 14th 1:30pm
Saturday January 11th 1:30pm
Thursday February 27th 6:30 pm

Flat Tire Repair
Learn once and for all how to change a flat tire. A hands-on, rockin’ experience!
All three stores
Thursday December 19th 6:30pm
Saturday January 4th 1:30pm
Saturday January 25th 1:30pm
Saturday February 22nd 1:30pm

Ladies Basic Bike Maintenance
Clean that gnarly chain and do adjustments without the help of roadies. Ladies only!
All three stores
Saturday December 7th 1:30pm
Saturday February 15th 1:30 pm

Indoor Cycling
All about trainers, indoor cycling, and how to stay stoked riding your bike during the off-season.
All three stores
Thursday December 5th 6:30pm

Shifting Adjustment
How to dial in your bike’s shifting to a sweet harmony.
All three stores
Thursday January 9th 6:30pm
Thursday February 6th 6:30pm

Commuting and Cold Weather Cycling
How to ride to your gig comfortably and enjoy it despite the weather.
Peninsula and Rocky River only
Thursday December 12th 6:30pm
Thursday February 13th 6:30pm

Bike Touring
We’ll show you how to escape your humdrum daily world with a bicycle tour.
Peninsula and Rocky River only
Thursday January 16th 6:30pm

Bicycle Fitting
Is having a bicycle fitting session right for you? What is it? Find out without spending a dime!
All three stores
Saturday January 18th 1:30pm
Thursday February 20th 6:30pm

Choosing & Using Clipless Pedals
The benefits of being “clipped in” to your pedals. You can do it!
All three stores
Thursday January 23rd 6:30pm

Riding in Traffic
Stay upbeat, upright, and in the groove among the gas-guzzlers.
All three stores
Thursday January 30th 6:30pm

Snow Biking
Screw the weather, it’s full speed ahead on these fat-tire bikes! Ride one yourself.
Medina and Peninsula only
Saturday February 1st 1:30pm

You can also find this list on our web site at: www.centurycycles.com/goto/SchoolOfBike

Go to our Calendar of Events to see a listing of classes and other events in chronological order.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Online Poll: What would you do if you got a flat tire during a bike ride?

The number one bike maintenance skill every cyclist should know is how to fix a flat tire.

What would you do if you got a flat tire during a bike ride? Click here to take our latest online poll and let us know!

If you don't know how to fix a flat, attend our School Of Bike! We have classes scheduled from December through February on flat tire repair, plus other topics ranging from adjusting your shifting to riding in traffic.

In honor of our "All Hail the Ale!" Night Ride on the Towpath Trail, last month's poll asked "If you enjoy a beer after a bike ride, which is your favorite style of beer?" The winner by a wide margin (36% of responses) was "Ale/Pale Ale/IPA." You can see the full results of the last poll here.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Hot Deals for Cold Days - 40% Off an Indoor Trainer - Hot Deal #1

Hot Deals for Cold Days are back by popular demand!

Every winter, Century Cycles Buyer Patti Grauel negotiates special purchases from our manufacturers for the most popular bicycling accessories, then we pass the 40% off savings to YOU! A new "Hot Deals for Cold Days" offer comes out every two weeks, now through February. Stock up on essentials, shop for the holidays, and save on your cycling favorites!

Hot Deal #1 is an awesome deal on indoor training -- a whopping 40% off the Blackburn Tech Mag 6 Trainer! - ideal for use with your bicycle in your own home, for indoor cycling classes where you bring your own bike and trainer, or for taking to a race or event to warm up.

The Blackburn Tech Mag 6 features a sturdy steel frame and a silky-smooth magnetic resistance unit with 6 settings that are selectable with a handlebar-mounted remote. All for just $143.99 (regularly $239.99)!

Never used an indoor trainer? Learn more by reviewing our 5 Tips for Indoor Training.

EXTRA SAVINGS!

In addition to this special buy, save 15% off all our other in-stock trainers and trainer accessories by Blackburn, CycleOps, and Giant! We suggest the CycleOps Climbing Block and Trainer Mat to help stabilize and quiet your trainer.

Purchase any trainer (either the Blackburn Tech Mag 6 at 40% off, or any other model at 15% off), and get the CycleOps Trainer Bag for 50% OFF! That's only $29.99 (regularly $59.99)!

Now through November 20, 2013!

The Fine Print
This Hot Deal is good only November 7 - 20, 2013 while supplies last on in-stock merchandise only. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

You can receive Hot Deals for Cold Days every two weeks in your Inbox, plus our monthly email newsletter filled with helpful tips and articles ... go to www.centurycycles.com/get/enewsletter to sign up!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Fall hours begin this week


PLEASE NOTE: This week marks the beginning of Fall Hours at all three Century Cycles stores. Don't worry; we're still open seven days a week, and until 8:00pm during the week.

All this means is that we'll be closing an hour earlier on Fridays and Saturdays. Until further notice, our current hours at all three stores are:
  • Monday through Thursday: 10:00am - 8:00pm
  • Friday and Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00pm
As always, our-latest and-greatest-currently-in-effect hours can be found at: www.centurycycles.com/for/hours

Friday, November 1, 2013

Your commute is killing you



This may not come as a surprise to some, but your long commute into work may be bad for you in more ways than you realize. Several recent articles highlight studies that have been done that put this in terms of hard numbers.

Commuting's Hidden Costs from the New York Times points to a Texas study that compared the health of 4,297 participants with the distance they commuted to and from work. As these distances increased, physical activity and cardiovascular fitness dropped, and blood pressure, body weight, waist circumference, and metabolic risks rose.

A Swedish study found that people who commuted more than 30 miles a day were more likely to have high blood pressure, stress, and heart disease. A second study by the same researcher found that women who lived more than 31 miles from work tended to die sooner than those who lived closer to their jobs.

It's not just worker who are affected by a car-centered lifestyle. The article references a stay-at-home mom in Massachusetts who drives more than her commuting husband — 40 to 50 miles each weekday, just to get herself and her children around.

Not only do long commutes directly affect your physical health, but because of less time to devote to social interaction, they impact your emotional well-being. A Slate.com article Your Commute Is Killing You lists another result of the same Swedish study mentioned above, that couples in which one partner commutes for longer than 45 minutes are 40 percent more likely to divorce.

Study after study shows that the length of your commute is one of the number one predictors of your subjective unhappiness. Check out further reports from Priceonomics.com, The Economist, The Huffington Post, and TIME.

What's the answer? Of course, we'd like to say the answer is commuting by bicycle. However, even after making your way through all of the usual excuses, for many people, it's still not a practical option. Many of us feel that because of the economic options presented to us, our choice of commute isn't really an option at all. But as mentioned in several of these articles, the price we pay for a long commute to a well-paying job may not be worth it in the long run.

The solution will only come with a long-term look at the priorities we make in our personal choices, and the ways in which we design our cities and suburbs for livability and sustainability.