Ride the Hollow

I was scheduled to only work until 3pm today, so of course, my afternoon plans involved being on a bike. The question was, where? Fortuitously, a customer mentioned that he had been at Quail Hollow State Park earlier, and the trail was dry and in fantastic shape, so I grabbed my Raleigh XXIX and went to Hartville, or as we like to say, headed down "ta tha Holler."

During my drive, I had that familiar, nagging feeling that I was forgetting something. I went through the mental checklist...bike, front wheel, helmet, shoes, gloves, sunglasses...but came up with nothing. When I get to the trailhead, the first thing I usually do is air up my tires. Hmm...no floor pump! I had my emergency mini-pump, but it doesn't have a pressure gauge, and it's hard to tell by feel whether or not your tires are at the optimum pressure.

Just then, two guys pulled into the lot next to me. I asked to borrow a pump from them, but they only had a mini-pump as well. Then a guy came in from riding the trail, so I asked him. Turns out, he was parked on the other side of me, and did have a floor pump which he got out and let me use. His name was Matt, and he also had one of our "Define your life. Ride a bike." stickers on his vehicle. Thanks, Matt!

As my first real mountain bike ride of the season, the trail at Quail didn't disappoint, and I made it for four laps around the 3-and-a-half-mile loop. Afte my third lap, I met another guy, Chad, at the trailhead, so we agreed to ride our final lap together. He gave me a real run for my money during the first half of the lap, but as he admitted, he wore himself out too soon, and was chasing after me for the second half. Thanks, Chad, for a good ride.

One thing, though, and I hate to be Mr. Cranky after a day of great weather and great biking, but I gotta mention...With gas prices at record highs on an almost daily basis, driving a car to get to where you ride your bike really SUCKS. But I digress...

As I've mentioned elsewhere before, this is a great trail to develop and hone your skills if you're a beginning mountain biker. If you're a veteran, it's a great place to do a few laps and test how well your fitness has held up over the winter.

Full Bike Racks at Bay High School

Yesterday's opening day of Bike To School Month at Bay High School saw an amazing 363 students ride their bikes to school! Today, 310 students still rode in, even with the temperatures in the low 40's and without the first-day incentive of the free Chipotle burrito!

Century Cycles' owner Scott Cowan talked about the Bike To School Month event this morning on Kickin' It With Kenny. You can view the video clip on the Fox 8 Cleveland web site.

Velocity Velocage - Get 'em while you can

You know, it may seem ridiculous to get excited about a product as simple as a water bottle cage, but the Velocity Velocage is a perfect example of a basic item designed and executed well. They've been our favorite cages for years, and our go-to recommendation for anybody looking for something with a little more bling than the standard generic bottle holders, but not needing to go as high-zoot as carbon fiber cages. I use them on almost all of my bikes, both road and mountain. They hold your bottles tightly enough to avoid premature ejections, but not so tight that you have to wrestle the bottle in and out when you need a drink. Their light touch doesn't mark your bottles up with dirt as much as generic cages. Only 53 grams each, and they come in a range of colors to match any bike.

As it turns out, we were talking to Velocity last week while ordering some wheels, and they mentioned that they are discontinuing the VeloCage! So, we stocked up with a huge batch of their remaining stock. So get 'em while you still can; we've got them in all three of our stores, or you can order online.

Night Ride on the Towpath - April 26, 2008

Great spring weather brought out 94 riders this past Saturday, our biggest turnout ever for an opening ride of the season! You can see all of our pictures here, plus check out this video of Tom from our Medina store demonstrating the Hokey Spokes lighting system on his wheels:



Join us for our next ride on Saturday, May 17. Get more info here.

Experienced cyclists needed for Bike to Work Week

Are you an experienced cyclist? Can you help others learn about cycling?

Bike To Work Week is May 12-16 and ClevelandBikes is planning Bike To Work events for each morning that week. We need your help as a Ride Leader to show new bicycle commuters how to get over their initial fear of riding in traffic. It would be simple and it would be fun: we have a number of scheduled starting points and you would meet at one of them. At the scheduled time, you lead the group to downtown where ClevelandBikes and the YMCA has set up a temporary BikeStation. There are free showers, bike storage, food, and coffee waiting for you. NOACA has also donated a ton of bicycle accessories, so you might just get some new gear, too. You’ll be having fun while doing a good deed and helping a new bicycle commuter.

Bike shop folks – most of your stores open at 10:00 so you could be a Ride Leader and still get to the shop…what do you think?

Nurses, physicians, firemen, and others who might have a weekday off – can you volunteer for one morning that week?

People who work from home – this is a chance to get out for a morning – what do you say?

Attorneys, consultants, or professionals who can set their own schedule – want to break out of the routine?

If you can volunteer to be a Ride Leader, e-mail Kevin Cronin kevin.cronin.ohio@gmail.com your name, where you live, the days you are available, your cell phone number, and any other pertinant info. For example:

Fred Garvin; I can volunteer for Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri, I live near Metro Hospital, I can be a Ride Leader from Tremont or from Ohio City, 216-555-1212

Thanks everyone! Pass the word if you know cyclists who could help.

Two Century Cycles Employees Plan Pan-American Ride to Support Melanoma Research and Awareness

When Kevin Madzia and Ray Query begin pedaling from the shore of Lake Erie this summer, it will be more than a daily workout, even much more than an extended vacation. The two avid cyclists have set a goal of raising $20,000 for The Melanoma Research Foundation, and hope to promote awareness of the disease along the way, while traveling over 15,000 miles during an 8-month period.

The two will depart on August 24, 2008 from Cleveland, Ohio, “America's North Shore.” They will make their way down through the southern United States, through Mexico, and the countries within Central America and South America. They hope to cover 50 to 100 miles per day, depending on the terrain and conditions, and expect to reach Tierra del Fuego (the “Land of Fire”) at the southern tip of South America in April of 2009. Along the way, they will sleep in campgrounds and hostels, and prepare their own meals.

A web site has been set up at www.miles4melanoma.com, where Kevin and Ray will report on the progress of their preparations for the ride, as well as provide occasional updates during the ride. In addition to logging as many training miles on their bicycles as possible, they are also preparing by poring over maps to plan their route, collecting the proper camping gear, adapting their bicycles to carry the gear over long distances, and getting as much advice as possible from others who have made similar journeys. They are also taking the precaution of getting vaccinations for some of the diseases that are still prevalent in the less-developed regions of the world, such as typhoid and yellow fever.

Ray's lifelong passion for the cycling lifestyle was most exemplified by a journey he undertook on a dare in 2001, when he bicycled home from Anchorage, Alaska to Cleveland. He has dreamed for many years of making the trip by bike to Ushuaia, the “Southernmost City in the World,” which is the capital of the Tierra del Fuego province of Argentina. He has spent time living in various places around the world, including several years doing charity work in Chile and Nepal. He has also done extensive volunteer work locally with the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op. He currently works as an associate at the Century Cycles store in Rocky River, Ohio, and lives with his wife in Lakewood, Ohio.

Kevin's previous foray into long-distance cycling was in 2004, when he rode from Seattle, Washington to Gloucester, Massachusetts with a touring group known as Cycle America. In conjunction with that trip, he raised over $13,000 for The Melanoma Research Foundation. Kevin decided to make the cross-country journey, as well as the upcoming Pan-American Ride, in honor of his father George Madzia, who succumbed to the effects of melanoma in November of 2002. Kevin is a member of the National Mountain Bike Patrol, and is the Information Technology Coordinator for Century Cycles, based in Peninsula, Ohio, where he also resides.

The Miles 4 Melanoma Pan-American Ride team recently announced the support of their first major corporate sponsor. Raleigh Bicycles will be providing two Diamondback Transporter bikes that Kevin and Ray will use for their trip. The Transporter is a 26-inch wheeled mountain-style bike that is designed for heavy-duty commuting and touring. Its all-steel frame and rigid fork will provide comfortable riding on paved roads and durable performance on the rough roads that the team will encounter in the less-developed areas of the world.

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. However, if it is recognized and treated early, it is nearly 100 percent curable. But if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007, there were 8,110 fatalities, 5,220 in men and 2,800 in women in the U.S.
The Melanoma Research Foundation is the largest private, national organization devoted to melanoma. Their mission is to support medical research for finding effective treatments and eventually a cure for melanoma, to educate patients and physicians about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of melanoma, and to act as an advocate for the melanoma community to raise the awareness of this disease and the need for a cure.

Recently named a Top 100 Bicycle Retailer in the U.S. for the seventh time, Century Cycles has hometown bicycle stores in Medina, Peninsula, and Rocky River, providing high-quality bicycles and exemplary service to cyclists and their families in Northeast Ohio for the past 16 years. Century Cycles is active locally and nationally in support of the benefits of bicycling, bicycling paths, and other issues of vital importance to the cycling community. More information can be found at www.centurycycles.com.

Raleigh Bicycles is headquartered in Kent, Washington, and manufactures high-quality bicycles under the Raleigh and Diamondback brand names. Since 1887, they have provided bicycles for racing, touring, and recreational use for cyclists of all ages and abilities. More information can be found at www.raleighusa.com and www.diamondback.com.

To help the Miles 4 Melanoma team meet their $20,000 goal, donations may be made on-line at www.miles4melanoma.com. Donations can also be mailed to Kevin Madzia, P.O. Box 546, Adena, OH 43901.

Corporations and other organizations are encouraged to contact the Miles 4 Melanoma team to discuss sponsorship, in order to assist with trip expenses, or provide equipment, services, or other contributions-in-kind in exchange for promotional consideration.

Cyclist rides across the USA backwards

I'm all for the idea of riding long distances for a good cause, and I thought I'd seen every possible variation on the theme, from people riding tandems, pulling their kids/dogs in trailers, riding fixed-gear bikes, etc. But I think this guy has the last word...

Define your life. Ride a bike. Save the planet!

Happy Earth Day!

Getting Earth Week off to a great start, Scott reports that they had a whopping 244 students sign up for Bay High School's Bike to School Month on the first day of registration yesterday!

Our latest sticker (shown at right) was designed by the BHS students and is being used throughout the school for the event. You can pick one up at any of our stores, too!

My $10 Bike Rack, by Derek Pearson

For you do-it-yourselfers out there, here's a cool article by a guy who built his own rack to carry one bicycle on another, using his Electra Townie equipped with the Xtracycle longtail attachment. Of course, it would work just as well on a Surly Big Dummy...

If you're less handy with a saw and hammer, you can accomplish the same thing using off-the-shelf components. If you've already got a Big Dummy or Xtracycle, add the Wide Loader racks, then bolt on any standard rooftop bike carrier, such as those available from Thule or Yakima.

April 19: On this day in bicycling history...

...the first-ever intentional LSD trip took place in 1943 on a bicycle, when chemist Albert Hofmann rode home from his lab after taking the drug. In some circles, this day is celebrated as Bicycle Day. (Source: Bicycling, 03/08)

Tour de Dummy

Brent and I decided to enjoy yesterday's agreeable weather by taking a ride to explore the upper reaches of the Towpath Trail, he on his Big Dummy, and I on my old mountain bike equipped with the Xtracycle longtail extension, which I have dubbed the "Big Smarty." We headed north from Peninsula; due to the I-271 construction, the Towpath was closed just south of Boston Mills Road, so we had to start out by heading up through downtown Peninsula, then north on Riverview Road. We had to make another detour on the road where the Towpath was closed again for re-surfacing between Highland Road (near Brandywine Ski Resort) and the Station Road Bridge in Brecksville.

Once we reached the end of the Towpath at Harvard Road, we found that it's a much shorter hop, skip, and jump than we thought to get to Steelyard Commons. All you have to do is turn left onto Harvard Road, then make the next right onto Jennings Road, which leads directly into the shopping plaza. Both roads are a bit rough due to heavy industrial traffic, and there is a one-lane bridge under construction Harvard Road (with traffic flow alternated with a traffic light). Most of Jennings Road has a wide shoulder that serves as a de facto bike lane, but watch out for a lot of broken glass.

The new, paved section of Towpath runs in two spurs through Steelyard Commons. One section continues along Jennings Road through the middle of the plaza (where we stopped for a Starbuck's); another spur runs along the eastern edge behind Home Depot. The two spurs meet up at the north end of the plaza. The trail then continues through two small tunnels under the freeway ramps, and then leads up to 14th Street on the southern end of Tremont, right by the traffic roundabout that leads to/from the Rt. 176 ramps. From there, it would be an easy commute through Tremont and into downtown Cleveland.

Metro Health hosptial as seen from the 14th St. roundabout.

The end of the Towpath near 14th St, overlooking the steel mill and Steelyard Commons.

A vintage hot metal railroad car on display in Steelyard Commons. These are used to carry molten steel between different process areas in the mills, often using railroad bridges over rivers. In my former life in the steel industry, an engineer once told me that if there were a derailment or some other mishap that caused one of these to fall into the river, the resulting energy release from the tons of hot liquid steel combining with the water would be the equivalent of a small nuclear blast.

Thanks for Brent for all of these photos, including this self-portrait.

Railroad crossing on Jennings Road.

Bicycle Ambulances

In another story about how bicycles are changing the world, this article from Bicycle Newswire tells of how Bicycle Empowerment Network Namibia launched a bicycle ambulance manufacturing plant in that nation's capital. The bicycle ambulance is basically a "stretcher on wheels," and is not intended to replace motorized ambulances, but to fill a gap where no services are provided. In other African countries where bicycle ambulances are in use, there have been marked declines in infant and maternal mortality rates.

On a lighter note, we came across this site, but we're not exactly sure what it means:
http://barackobamaisyournewbicycle.com

Another cool bike song

"Bicycle Song" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers:

Scott quoted in BRAIN

Century Cycles' owner Scott Cowan was quoted in a recent article in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News. The brief article was a report on the Raleigh Heron Council Dealers trip to China this past February. Read the full article...

Biking with Bush

Seems the U.S. president isn't the only world leader who enjoys cycling. Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen joined George W. Bush for a mountain-bike ride on his Texas ranch in early March and didn't even break a sweat, according to the prez. Rasmussen, who had been discussing NATO commitments to Afghanistan, climate change and Iraq with Bush, demurred, "You made me work very hard out htere on the terrific mountain bike trails on your wonderful ranch," the Danish leader said, adding that he considered cycling symbolic "of the close and strong ties between the United States and Denmark." (Source: Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, 04/01/08)

Other news we saw this week....

• Funnyman Will Arnett gets around Manhattan on a bike -- Ecorazzi
  
• Sun Newspapers' Mark Holan on Lorain county bike trails -- Sun Newspapers
  
• Actor Russell Crowe rides around Beverly Hills -- Just Jared
  
• Another beautiful woman rides an Amsterdam -- YouTube

Ohio Bike Buddies

Would you like to ride your bicycle to work but think you’d feel more comfortable if you had a riding companion? OhioBikeBuddies is an online matching service that can help you find fellow bike commuters. Go to www.ohiobikebuddies.com for more information and to sign up. It's free, and the site also includes links to information about safety tips, training, and planning.

Bicycle Commuting Advantages:

• It’s great exercise
• Saves money on fuel, tolls and parking
• Reduces air pollution
• Reduces traffic congestion
• Reduces need for parking spaces

Our latest eNewsletter

The latest edition of the Century Cycles eNewsletter was sent out yesterday. If you didn't get it, you can read it online here. If you'd like to sign up to receive it in your Inbox automatically, you can do so here.

The Shoe Tree of Chagrin Falls

You never know what sights you will end up seeing while out on a bike ride, and sometimes in the unlikeliest of places. You would expect to see something like this near a college campus, but I came across this in a quiet neighborhood on Savage Rd in Bainbridge, just outside of Chagrin Falls:

Every manner of shoe was represented, from sneakers, sandals, hiking boots, golf spikes, even a pair of ski boots.

What I wonder is what is the story behind this roadside curiosity? Is it a neighborhood tradition, or a school prank that is grudgingly tolerated by the local residents?

If you live in that neighborhood and know the deal, drop me a note and fill us in!

Tech Talk: Give Me a Brake

Often we get customers coming in to buy replacement brake pads for their bikes. The best course of action in this case is to have your bike with you so that we can identify with 100% certainty that we're giving you the correct parts, but it does help to be familiar with what kind of brakes you have, so that in a pinch, you have an idea of how your brakes work and what kind of parts to look for.


The most common type of brake found on most modern hybrid and mountain bikes is the linear-pull brake. These are sometimes called "V-brakes," although that name is actually trademarked by Shimano for their version of linear-pull brakes. These brakes have excellent stopping power, are easy to adjust, and have a quick-disconnect feature that makes it easy to clear the brake pads out of the way when installing or removing your wheel. Linear-pull brakes are mounted using a set of posts that are built into the frame of the bicycle, one pair on the front fork, and the other pair on the rear seat stays.










Cantilever brakes were common on older mountain bikes and hybrids, but are still commonly found on modern touring and cyclocross bikes. These brakes are distinguished by two roughly L-shaped calipers on either side of the rim, connected by the brake cable, which is pulled vertically away from the wheel. Cantilever brakes provide better mud clearance compared to linear-pull brakes. They are also easy to disconnect for wheel removal. The only downside to cantilever brakes is that they require an additional "cable stop" for the brake housing to pull against. This cable stop is sometimes provided as an integrated part of the bike's frame, but can also be an add-on bracket type of device. The mounting posts on the bike frame for cantilever brakes are the same as those used for linear-pull brakes.

Linear-pull and cantilever brakes use the same style of brake pads. Sometimes, the brake pads have a smooth post that is held is place by a bolt that is part of the brake caliper; other times, the pad itself has a threaded post with a bolt on the end. So, whether you have linear-pull or cantilever brakes, you need to be careful to buy the brake pads that have the correct type of attachment post for your brakes.




The most common type of brake on most modern racing-style road bikes are referred to as dual-pivot caliper brakes. These brakes have a compact "C" shape, with the brake cable that extends vertically from one side of the caliper. They usually have a small, rotating release lever that allows you to temporarily open the caliper for wheel installation and removal. The brake caliper mounts to the frame using a single bolt, either through the fork crown on the front, or through the seat stay bridge on the rear. Dual-pivot calipers are very easy to adjust and service. Their only downside is that they are only appropriate for very skinny-tired road bikes; they usually do not have enough clearance to accomodate wider touring tires.

Disc brakes have become a popular option for mountain bikes in the past several years, and recently are starting to become more common on hybrids and some road touring bikes (such as the Raleigh '08 Sojourn). You would have expected to pay $1000 or more for a disc-brake equipped mountain bike a few years ago, but through trickle-down technology, very reliable models can be found on $350 mountain bikes today. Disc brakes provide the absolute best stopping power in all conditions, even in the rain or mud. The better models are easy to install and adjust, and replacement brake pads are readily available. The most common disc brakes use the same kind of steel cable as other brakes, although there are hydraulic disc brake models available on high end mountain bikes. The hydraulic models provide the best stopping power in extreme conditions, but do require a bit more technical expertise to install and adjust. Another nice feature of disc brakes is that you do not need to disconnect them in order to install or remove your wheel. The only possible disadvantage of disc brakes is that they require special hubs on your wheels for mounting the disc rotor, and mounting tabs on the bike's frame for the disc caliper. This is not a problem on a new bike, but could be an additional expense if you are looking to upgrade an existing bike to disc brakes.

U-Brakes are common on BMX bikes. The attachment posts on the bike frame are similar to the posts used for cantilever and linear-pull brakes, except that they are positioned above the rim, rather than below. They use the same style of brake pads as cantilever and linear-pull brakes.

Side-pull Brakes are sometimes found on low-end department store-level bikes and BMX bikes. They have a very simple single-pivot mechanism, and also can usually use the same type of brake pads as linear-pull or cantilever brakes.









One important point to note is that the hand levers used with each type of brake described above are NOT interchangeable. Each type of lever is designed to pull a specific amount of cable, in order to actuate the brake properly. Linear-pull brakes require a longer amount of cable movement, so they must be used with linear-pull-specific levers. Cantilever, dual-pivot, and U-brakes can use the same brake levers. Most mechanical disc brakes use the same kind of levers as linear-pull brakes, but some manufacturers have created road-bike-specific disc brakes that can use the same brake levers already found on most road bikes. Hydraulic disc brakes come as integrated brake and lever systems, where the lever is designed only to work with the corresponding model of brake.

Of course, the old-fashioned "pedal-backwards" brake can still be found on one-speed cruiser-style bikes, and some multi-speed bikes that use an internally-geared hub. This brake is actually referred to as a coaster brake. A coaster brake-equipped bike can be identified by an L-shaped steel bracket that is bolted to the bike's frame and the left side of the rear hub.





There are a few other older-style brakes that are very uncommon these days, such as center-pull brakes that have a similar mechanism to cantilever brakes, but attach with a single bolt more like dual-pivot calipers. For many years, tandem bikes were equipped with a powerful drum brake on at least one wheel. There was a rod brake system commonly used many years ago, but can still be found on some special-purpose bikes.

Freeride Legend Jeff Lenosky to Appear on Weekend Today Show

Jeff Lenosky will appear on "Weekend Today" on NBC-TV on Saturday, April 12. Giant Bicycle's urban freeride marvel is scheduled in the final half-hour of the program, between 8:30 am and 9:00.

Jeff will be helping promote Colorado tourism by talking about mountain biking in Breckenridge, CO. "The producers have also asked me to give viewers some tips on choosing the right mountain bike," Jeff said. "So I'm bringing a Giant Trance X series bike to demonstrate."

If there's enough time in the segment, Jeff will try to teach one of the shows hosts how to bunnyhop, riding a Giant Lenosky edition STP bicycle. "Weekend Today" anchor Lester Holt is the possible student, said Jeff, "Although the producers didn't tell me which host it would be. I'll make sure whoever it is wears a helmet!"

ABOUT WEEKEND TODAY

"Weekend Today" airs Saturdays from 7 - 9 am ET and Sundays from 8 - 9 ET on the NBC television network. The program is broadcast from Studio 1A in Rockefeller Plaza in New York.
The weekend broadcasts continue the "Today" tradition of covering breaking news, interviewing newsmakers, reporting on a variety of popular-culture and human-interest stories, covering health and finance issues, and presenting the latest weather reports.

Jim Bell is the executive producer of "Today." Amy Chiaro is the acting executive producer of "Weekend Today."

Scott in the PD

CC Owner Scott Cowan was featured in the Plain Dealer's pdQ&A earlier this week. Click here to read the full interview.

Rubber City Alley Cat Race After-Party

We heard from the organizer, our friend Taylor Kruse, that the first annual Rubber City Alley Cat Race on April 5 was a huge success. A couple of us from the shop had considered entering the race, but it didn't work out with our busy schedules, but Brent and I took a ride down there after closing up shop that evening. Taylor said there were about 40 entrants, mostly from the Akron, Kent, and Cleveland area, although about a half-dozen made the trek up from Columbus.

Brent and I made the 11-mile ride down from Peninsula to find the group just finishing up the track-stand competition in the parking lot behind the Chipotle on West Market St. We couldn't miss Taylor's huge, bright messenger bag acting like a beacon as we rounded the corner. As the competition concluded, we all headed across the street to the Matinee for the after-party

Taylor kicked things off by announcing all of the winners and passing out the prizes provided by Century Cycles and all of the other great sponsors. We enjoyed the music of Birds & Elephants and Social Insecurity. We also enjoyed (maybe too many) of the $2 special PBR pounders, which made for a fun ride back to Peninsula...

Tell 'em Large Marge sent you

Ride your bike to the Cedar Lee tomorrow night to see a screening of "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" -- an adventure spawned by the theft of a beloved bicycle (in broad daylight!) -- and you'll get a coupon for a free popcorn and drink.

Bicycle Repairman!

Yes, it's the classic sketch from the 70's-era Monty Python's Flying Circus. Thanks to the miracle of YouTube, we can all enjoy it for generations to come.

Mark Your Calendars!

Mark your calendars - a number of new bicycle events are happening in Cleveland this May:


Monday May 5: Walk+Roll Benefit
In the car-free East 4th Street District! Celebrity co-hosts, networking extravaganza, icebreakers, prizes, food, drinks and fun...you won't want to miss it!


Monday May 12: Bike To The Movies
Film shorts at the Natural History Museum: see films about bikes, made by cyclists and that celebrate the wonder and the joy of bicycles.


Thursday May 15: Bicycle Friendly Community Conference
Full day conference to share ideas and learn about bicycling for transportation, health, sustainability, and community development.


Saturday May 10 thru Sunday May 18: Cleveland Bicycle Week
Tons of activities like Bike to Work, Discover Cleveland Metroparks, Bike to The Movies, Mtn Biking in The City, Bike Slavic Village, Bike to RiverSweep, Chippewa Valley Road Race, Every Saturday Social Ride and lots more.

Car-Free Ohio Day!

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In a sparsely-attended press conference on the steps of the capital building this morning, James Beasely, Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, announced that Sunday, April 20, 2008 will be designated as the first annual Car-Free Ohio Day, where all motorized traffic will be banned from the public streets, roads, and highways of the state. This is the first in a series of initiatives to promote bicycling, walking, and other non-motorized, healthy forms of transportation.

Ohio State Highway Patrol checkpoints will be established at all 1,374 entry points to the state, to ensure no unauthorized motor traffic is permitted entry, and to direct traffic near the temporary stateline parking zones. Police, fire, and other emergency services are exempt from the motorized vehicle ban. Any drivers caught trying to circumvent the motor ban will be subject to ticketing, fines, and impoundment.

For more information, see the official Car-Free Ohio web site at www.carfreeohio.org.

Hot new Super-Cyclocomputer!

Garmin has further solidified their position as the leader in bike navigation equipment.

The new Garmin Super-Edge 5000edcs will satisfy even the most data-hungry bicycle statistician with it's rich set of information gathering features. Aside from the usual capability to record ground speed and distance traveled and all the other navigational tools you'd expect from a Garmin device this baby is equipped with the new "edcs" (Environmental Data Collection Sensor).

The Amazing edcs!

This little powerhouse can record temperature, light, UV and moisture/humidity levels as well as barometric pressure. Oh and lest we forget...it also tracks the AQI (Air Quality Index)!

Thought to only be targeted to the Aerospace and Meteorological industries, the engineers at Garmin believe they have found a niche in cycling for the use of the edcs. As we all know, us avid cyclists are information junkies; imagine being able to extrapolate information about how your performance is affected by the sun's UV levels, or finding out how much faster you can really ride when barometric pressures are below normal. The 5000edcs is, of course, bundled with a software package that releases the full potential of the edcs.
There are so many ways you can analyze data with this baby, you may never have time to ride your bike!