Century Cycles does the Cleveland Auto Show!

If you're reading this, bicycles are probably your first passion. However, if you have any passion for cars, then you may be heading to the Cleveland Auto Show, going on now through March 7.

If so, then look for this Giant Dash 3 bicycle, on loan from us to Sunnyside Audi to show off the recreational equipment-hauling abilities of their vehicles.

Photos from our Staff Retreat

Our annual Staff Training Retreat was this past Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. If you enjoy looking at a bunch of stiffs sitting around a conference table, you can check out our pictures from the event here:

Surly Big Dummy Demo Bike Has Arrived!

The Surly Big Dummy that we've promised will be available for test-riding has arrived at Century Cycles! As you can see, it's not exactly ready to ride just yet. Stand by for an update here soon...

Here's a look at how the B.D. shipping carton compares to a regular bicycle:

50% Off ALL In-Stock Tires and Inner Tubes - Hot Deal #9

50% Off ALL In-Stock Tires and Inner Tubes!

For our FINAL Hot Deal of the season, we're making it easier for you to put the Cold Days behind you and get ready for Warm Days! Nothing makes an old bike feel like new more than a brand new pair of tires. We've got tires in stock for road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, etc. You can take 50% off the price of any tires that we have in stock! And, we're also giving you 50% off inner tubes, so now's the perfect time to replace those old patched tubes and stock up on spares!

If you're not handy with changing your own tires, we'll also do the work for you, at our normal labor rates.

Patti The Buyer's Tip O' The Day

Tires can last from a year to a couple of years; the wear you'll get out of them depends a lot upon the conditions you ride. The best thing to do is to check them periodically. If the outside edge looks flattened down rather than round, or if you can see any exposed wire or fibers on the sidewalls, it's definitely time to re-tire! Even if there are no obvious signs of wear, the rubber compounds used in tires harden after several years, which gives you a more harsh ride, not to mention less grip and less traction.

If you've been riding your bike on an indoor trainer all winter, your rear tire is sure to be due for replacement. Even when riding outside, the rear tire wears out faster than your front, since that's where most of your weight is. However, you shouldn't swap your front and rear tires to help them wear evenly; you always want your best tire on the front, because your front tire plays the biggest role in helping you maintain control in slippery conditions.

It's safest to replace both tires at the same time, but if you must save a few bucks, move your front tire to your rear wheel and put a new tire on your front wheel.

The Fine Print: Hot Deal #9 is good only Febuary 25 through March 10, 2010; In-stock items only, while supplies last. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

More Great Deals!

Want to score a great deal on tires AND a tune-up? Bring your bike in by February 28 and COMBINE this Hot Deal with our tune-up discounts!

Want to learn how to change your own tires? We're continuing our FREE Flat Tire Clinics on Monday nights on March 1 and March 8, then moving to Thursday nights beginning March 18!

"Missing Bike...No Reward" Poster

I've had this image forwarded to me several times over the past year or so, and have been saving it for a day when I needed a blog idea. Well, since I'm not really even here today, I figured this was the perfect occasion to use it.



Before I posted it, though, I figured I'd do a little fact-checking research (Research? Facts? What's that you say?) to see what the real story was behind the poster, if any.


As it turns out, the poster was an advertisement for Threadless Tees. Some of the posters actually had one of the t-shirts hidden behind them, a surprise gift for anyone curious enough to tear the poster down. You can still buy the t-shirt here.


The design was, however, based on an actual theft incident suffered by the designer. You can see his story and the actual original poster here.

Interview with a Bike Mechanic

The Telegram of Worcester, Massachusetts runs a weekly column called "On The Job," where they interview a persons with different professions, everything from librarians to flight instructors.

This week's interview features Erik Olson, Service Manager for Bicycle Alley. You can read the whole article here.

My favorite part is his response to the question,"Do you ever have people come in after they've botched their own repairs?"

"Car mechanics, they're the best. 'Buddy, I rebuild transmissions. I'm pretty sure I can work on a bike.' The next day they're in, 'Yeah, you were right, I shoulda just left it here.'"

All three stores CLOSED on Tuesday, February 23, 2010

PLEASE NOTE: All three Century Cycles stores will be CLOSED on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 for our annual staff training. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Our regular Hours of Operation are in effect for all other days this week.

Surly Big Dummy: One of 51 "Perfect Things"

The March 2010 issue of Outside magazine contains a list of "51 Perfect Things," also known as their "first annual Editor's choice guide."

Coming in at number 22 are "utilitarian bikes," or more specifically, the Surly Big Dummy. "This steel beauty, designed specifically for the Xtracycle cargo extension, will take you and, say, a couple of kids on a long haul to the park and still have plenty of room to pick up a load of groceries on the way home. Imagine the possibilities."

The list contains not just products, but concepts as well. At number 45 is "A strange new city as seen from a bicycle," such as Amsterdam (pictured here).

Thanks to former Peninsula mechanic Brent for the link!

More magazine coverage for Electra Bicycles

Following on the heel's of yesterday's post that featured an Electra, Giant, and Raleigh bicycle recommended in Women's Health magazine, Electra Bicycles hits it big with two more mentions in swanky style-oriented publications.

The February issue of Indulge Magazine says, "For a whimsical way to roll, hop on the polka-dotted, turquoise Electra Jenny cruiser with three speeds." We've got one IN STOCK in our Rocky River store; $519.99.

C ("California Style") magazine of March 2010 features a model cruising along the beach on an Electra Amsterdam model very similar to the Electra Women's Amsterdam Sport 3, which we've got in stock in Red, also in Rocky River.

Check out these heels! No wonder she can't keep her feet on the pedals...

Women's Health Top Picks for Bicycles

The March 2010 issue of Women's Health magazine featured tips on selecting a bicycle, and the three of their Top Picks pictured in the article are all bikes that can be ordered from your nearest Century Cycles store!

In the Commuter category, the Giant Transend DX W ($539.99) includes most of the accessories you need for a practical ride to work or school, including a rear cargo rack and fenders, plus "ergonomic grips [to] soften the ride."

The Raleigh Alysa FT2 ($724.99) heads the Fitness bicycle category and is "perfect for new riders."

Finally, if it's a beach cruiser you're after, "if the lime green Electra Peacock ($549.99) doesn't attract attention, just ring the handlebar bell. Work the 3-speed shifter with a twist of your wrist."

Super-Sneak peak at the 2011 Raleigh Rx 1.0

Raleigh Bicycles has released these two advance photos of their Rx 1.0 cyclocross bike for 2011. And they're asking for YOUR input about the color scheme. Which do you prefer, the gray or the green?

Check out the Raleigh Bicycles page on Facebook to leave your feedback.

Introducing the Raleigh Misceo 1.0

Here's the Raleigh Misceo 1.0 bicycle, new for 2010. We just received a sample of one of these babies for Sean, the local Raleigh sales rep, and put it together for him at our Peninsula store. This bike falls in yet another new niche category in the bike world, but a niche that many of us felt needed to be filled.

I'd describe this category as somewhere between a traditional hybrid bike (like the Raleigh Route 4 or the Giant Cypress DX) and a flat-bar road bike or "fitness" bike (like the Raleigh Cadent FT 1 or the Giant Rapid 3). It's a performance hybrid. Or some have taken to calling it an "urban mountain bike," but I think that's misleading; that sounds like it's meant for this kind of riding, which it definitely ain't.

Who needs this bike? Somebody who wants to do every kind of riding in between the extremes. It's not a mountain bike, so it's not for extreme off-road riding, and it's not a zippy road racer, either, but it's anything else you can think of. Every-day urban and exurban commuting. Paved/dirt/gravel road touring. Coffee shop/pub exploring. Hook up a cargo rack or trailer, and I see it as the perfect bike for an overnight adventure on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail or Great Allegheny Passage. Finally, and I hate to say it, but this is the bike for the person who really just needs a traditional hybrid, but wants something more sporty and hip-looking instead of a "grandpa bike."

This sample bike is a Medium frame, but it won't be around for long. Give us a little notice, though, and I'm sure Sean would be willing to bring it back some time if you want to check it out.

At $549.99, it's spec'ed out pretty decently, with a full complement of genuine Shimano parts, from the crankset, 24-speed shifters, derailleurs, hubs, and even the linear-pull brakes (which is where many companies use a no-name brand to save a few bucks). The frame is Raleigh's Atomic 13 butted aluminum, and an SR SunTour suspension fork provides 63mm of cush to smooth out the potholes, curbs, and trail ruts of your everday adventures. The fork also even has a SpeedLock lever to turn off the suspension for better response on smooth pavement. 700x38C Vittoria Randonneur tires can take the abuse without holding you back like mountain bike tires do. The parts mix is topped off with Raleigh's house-brand Avenir saddle, seatpost, handlebar, and stem.

(Notice the available disc brake mounts on the rear left chainstay.)

(Fork detail showing SpeedLock lever.)

If you want to step it up a notch on the parts package, $769.99 gets you the Raleigh Misceo 2.0. The extra 220 bucks gives you an upgraded drive train featuring 27-speed Shimano Deore components, and stopping power provided by Avid's bombproof BB5 mechanical disc brakes. All mated to the same snappy Atomic 13 butted aluminum frame. This bike has been compared to the Gary Fisher Utopia, which has almost identical spec on the frame, fork, and components, but comes in with a $110 higher price tag of $879.99.

Giant 29er Has Arrived!

Giant Bicycles has finally thrown their hat into the 29-inch-wheeled mountain bike arena this year with the XTC 29er series. We just received our first XTC 29er 1 model here at Century Cycles!

If you're not yet familiar with the 29er concept, the idea is to use larger-diameter 700C-sized wheels on a mountain bike, as opposed to the traditional 26-inch wheels. The larger wheels give you more traction and better pedaling efficiency.

In addition to the bigger wheels, the Giant XTC 29er 1 gives you everything you'd expect in a race-ready mountain bike, and more. It features Giant's ALUXX SL aluminum frame, a Fox 32 F29 suspension fork with 100mm of travel, a 27-speed Shimano drive train with Deore/XT/SLX components, and Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes, and Kenda Karma 29x2.0 tires. The 15mm thru-axle in the front fork and hub, combined with Giant's new tapered head tube frame design, give you increased stiffness and control in the front end.

Take ours for a test ride (as long as the mountain bikes trails are dry enough) through our Demo Bike Program! We have a Medium frame size available for demo or purchase; other sizes available by special-order. It's currently in our Peninsula store; call us if you'd like to check it out in either Medina or Rocky River!


You can see here that our model comes in at 27 pounds, 2 ounces (including test ride pedals).

BikeRumor.com reviewed the XTC 29er 1 back in September of '09. Among other things, they said that "Giant has done a stand up job in making an attractive bike...it has pop to it and there is something about the look that makes you just want to ride it hard and fast." And, "Able to maintain its momentum for crushing over small obstacles and re-engaging an increase in power seamlessly." You can read the full review here.

What the?

Use a Honda leaf blower motor to drive your bicycle?

A customer in the Century Cycles store in Peninsula brought in a hub and rim for Derrick to rebuild into a new wheel. The rim was unmarked with any brand name or model, and the hub was unrecognizable, other than an unfamiliar web site address. This make picking the right spoke lengths a little more challenging than usual, involving taking measurements and making calculations, instead of the usual just looking it up in a database.

Once that was done, the wheel came together without a problem. However, we got curious, and looked up the web site from the hub. Turns out, it's a company that specializes in motorized bicycles and parts to adapt motors to standard bicycles and other equipment. The photo gallery on the site was a real treat, showing the likes of these Frankenstein-like creations, among others:

You can check out more at: www.staton-inc.com

Metroparks Serving Summit County Reports Increased Attendance

According to a recent article in the Akron Beacon-Journal, the Metroparks Serving Summit County reports that park attendance saw a significant increase in the year 2009.

Attendance at all Summit County Metroparks jumped by 382,000 visitors, for a total of 4,918,122 visitors in 2009, an al-time record. This includes the Bike & Hike Trail and the 18-mile section of Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail that is within the county's jurisdiction.

Final WINNERS from the Rock and Roll Trainer Night Rides!

Here, at last, are the overall winners from our four-week series of Rock and Roll Trainer Night Rides!

Highest Wattage, Men: Brent Forrer (960 watts)

Highest Wattage, Women: Meghan Karchefsky (382 watts)

The highest wattage winners are awarded cycling jerseys from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company!

Longest Distance, Men: Bryan Ashman (0.80 miles)

Longest Distance, Women: Andrea Chisnell (0.60 miles)

The longest distance winners are awarded t-shirts from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company!

Here's a video from this morning's drawing for the grand prizes, the Men's and Women's Raleigh Special Cruisers:



Congratulations to winners Dick Kight and Melissa Guthrie!

Results, photos, and video from the final Rock and Roll Trainer Night Ride

The final Rock and Roll Trainer Night Ride had a better-than-expected turnout on Weds. Feb. 10, 2010, with the snowy wintry weather the area has experienced this week.

Here's our weekly photo album from the evening's festivities:



And our traditional video highlights:



And here are the power and mileage results for the night:

Name	Wattage	Distance
Steve Lindas	469	0.58
Kevin "Kevlar" Madzia	619	0.75
Brent "The Destroyer" Forrer	960	0.70
Sean Burkey	776	0.60
Jocelyn Buckey	259	0.58
Mandy Kidder	380	0.56
Brandon Halleen	718	0.74
Brandon Halleen (try #2)	768	0.74
Jocelyn Buckey (try #2)	371	0.58
Harley Gheen	275	0.55
Jo	304	0.52
Laura Povinelli	53	0.24
Kathy Presley	140	0.41
Adam Bolt	583	0.65

Check back here soon for video of our drawings for the final grand prizes, the Raleigh Special Men's and Women's cruiser bikes!

Thank you to all of you who came out and had a good time with us, and helped support the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's TRAILS FOREVER Legacy Fund!

Thanks to our partners and sponsors: Century Cycles, Raleigh Bicycles, Kinetic Trainers, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and The Winking Lizard Tavern!

Party down with "Frazz" cartoonist Jef Mallett!

Northeast Ohioans are invited to Friday Night With Frazz, a FREE event hosted by Century Cycles in our Rocky River store on Friday, March 5, at 7 p.m.

Jef is super-excited for his only northeast Ohio appearance and so are we! We're huge fans of the "Frazz" comic strip (which appears daily in The Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon Journal). But did you also know Jef is an avid cyclist and triathlete? He is the author and illustrator of a new book, "Trizophrenia: Inside the Minds of a Triathlete," which explores the tri lifestyle with humor and is ultimately about how life is best when it is lived at full-tilt.

It won't be any old meet-and-greet, either. Jef will give a talk-and-draw at around 7:15 p.m., followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. He is also donating an original "Frazz" comic strip that will be raffled off to benefit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's TRAILS FOREVER Fund.

This is Century Cycles' annual spring party to kick off the bicycling season, so it will have all the things you've come to expect from a CC party -- great food, fun beverages, and free giveaways, including Jef's drawings from his talk!

So mark those calendars and stay tuned for more details and party announcements in the days to come!

50% Off Selected Giro and Bell Helmets - Hot Deal for Cold (and Snowy) Days #8

Giro Indicator Helmet $19.99 (regularly $39.99)
	Bell Slant Helmet $27.49 (regularly $54.99)

Patti The Buyer offers another Hot Deal on a bicycling essential - a helmet. These two models provide superb ventilation, weigh very little and look great. The Giro Indicator has a visor, 20 vents, and Giro's AcuDial fit system for comfort. The Bell Slant has a removable blade visor, 21 large vents, and Bell's ErgoDial fit system with Cam-Lock strap adjusters. Either model works great for adults or older kids. Stop by Century Cycles for a custom helmet fitting and to save big!

Patti The Buyer's Tip O' The Day

Maintain your helmet's integrity. Do not store a helmet in an attic, garage, car trunk or other area where heat can accumulate. Excessive heat may cause bubbles to form and other heat damage. Speaking of damage, avoid loaning your helmet to others - you won't know what it went through on someone else's head. In the case of any crash or impact, a helmet should be replaced, even if everything looks okay. I also recommend a helmet be replaced after five years, even if it has remained crash-free. UV light, weathering and even pollution can weaken its components over time.

The Fine Print
Hot Deal #8 is good only Febuary 11 through 24, 2010, or while supplies last. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary. Other colors in addition to those shown above are available.

Electra Bicycles - There's An App For That!

For all of you lovers of Electra Bicycles and the iPhone, now Electra has provided a way to bridge both worlds, with the Electra Bicycles iPhone App!

The app is free to download from your iPhone or the iTunes stores, and it will also work on other iPhone-app-compatible devices, such as the iPod Touch and the new iPad.

The app features Electra's "Way To Roll" video, catalogs of their six bicycle lines (Ticino, Townie, Amsterdam, Cruiser, Tandem, and Kid's), and exclusive wallpaper downloads. You can also share your photos and Electra experiences with the "Way To Roll" online community.

The app also has a built-in dealer locator to help you find the nearest place to buy Electra bicycles and accessories no matter where you are. Of course, if you're in the Cleveland/Akron area, you already know where that is...

Results from last week's Rock and Roll Trainer Night Ride

There's still ONE MORE CHANCE left for you to join us for a Rock and Roll Trainer Night Ride! Tomorrow night, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7-9pm at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula!

Here are the photos, video, and results from last week's ride:

Name	Wattage	Distance
Doug Charnock	432	0.66
Tracey Bradnan	186	0.41
Chip Warren	442	0.60
Andrea Chisnell	290	0.60
Sean Burkey	664	0.70
Al Graf	320	0.63
Mark Slater	350	0.45
Kevin "Kevlar" Madzia	612	0.74
Brent "The Destroyer" Forrer	467	0.69
Bob Cook	419	0.58
Mike Frastaci	387	0.51
Bonnie Borosky	200	0.41
Steve Harsch	424	0.73
Bryan Ashman	467	0.80
Jerry Bradnan	417	0.71
Kevin Guthrie	788	0.69
Michelle Lemak	371	0.58
Kevin Kovach	629	0.72
Matt Obenayer	314	0.61
Steve Lindas	486	0.65
Roy While	326	0.66
Gary While	310	0.66
Mandy Kidder	373	0.59

The Rock and Roll Trainer Night Rides are sponsored by Century Cycles, Raleigh Bicycles, Kinetic Trainers, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and The Winking Lizard Tavern.

The Bourne Cyclist

Avid cyclist Kyle Damon had never been able to convince his famous brother Matt to ride with him, until the two signed on for a one-day charity outing. It was a perfect idea.

Read all about it in this recent article from Bicycling Magazine.

Masi Speciale Fixed Ultimate Frameset

Here's our latest custom bike project in the Peninsula store. A customer ordered this Masi Speciale Fixed Ultimate frame set. It's a beautiful work of art. The color is called "Nekkid," meaning that you can see the bare steel and brazed lugs underneath the tough clear coating.

Stay tuned for more pictures once the complete bike is assembled.

How many bicycles does your household own?

Some avid cyclists get by with just one bike that they ride everywhere. Others have a whole fleet of bicycles, each one best suited to a particular style of riding. Cycling families might have one or more bikes for each member of the family.

How many bikes do you own? Let us know by taking our latest online poll.

(You can see the results of past polls on the same page.)

Staff Profile: Michael Williams

It’s pretty cool that Century Cycles’ only grandpa on staff also has the nickname “Road Dog.” Michael Williams, 59, joined the Century Cycles team six years ago after retiring as a dairy manager at Tops grocery store. He lives in Oakwood Village with his wife, Carolyn, and they keep very busy with five grandchildren who are all under the age of 5.

Q: What do you like about working in a bike store?
A: It’s not as stressful. There are no expiration dates on bikes like there are on dairy products.

Q: How many bikes do you own?
A: Four, plus my wife rides and we have trailers for the grandkids. I also have a Harley motorcycle. I spend most of my time on two wheels.

Q: What’s your favorite trail or ride?
A: My buddies and I have a ride we do through the inner city, through downtown and along the Shoreway. We also rode around Lake Erie about four years ago. That was a real good time.

Q: What’s the best piece of cycling advice you’ve received?
A: If you’re riding in a pack, don’t watch the wheel of the bike in front of you -- watch the rider’s back.

Q: What’s the most frequent piece of cycling advice you give?
A: People tell me they want a bike that doesn’t hurt their butt. I tell them to spend more time in the saddle and their butts won’t hurt. They also say to me “You’re how old?! You can’t be that old!” I tell them that bicycles keep you young.

Q: What’s your favorite bicycle?
A: My Marin road bike.

Q: What was your first bicycle?
A: A big old Schwinn. It was red and gray.

Q: What do you like to drink after a long ride?
A: Coke or Pepsi.

5 Tips: Riding More Miles

According to our recent online poll, the most common bicycling goal for this year is to ride more miles than last year. The reasons range from wanting to be more fit, to saving money on gasoline, or to just finding more ways to enjoy our favorite pastime. Whatever your reason, here are five suggestions for how you can squeeze in more miles on your bicycle in 2010.

1. Join a club or informal riding group. There's nothing like peer pressure to get you motivated to do anything. If you make plans to ride with somebody else, you'll be more likely to stay committed to those plans. There are a variety of clubs in the region, with riders of all different skill levels. You can find a list of local clubs on the Cleveland/Akron Bicycling Resources page on our web site. If you're not the club-joiner type, find one or two friends who ride at a similar level as you, and make standing plans to ride on a regular basis.

2. Commute to work or school by bike. This is the biggie, and could fill a whole book of tips and suggestions. If you're intimidated by the distance or terrain, then start small. Just ride one day a week; as you get used to it, move on to two days, then three. Drive to a park-and-ride facility, then bike the rest of the way. To help keep you committed and organized, get your riding clothes and other gear ready to put on the night before. For more ideas, see our Bicycle Commuting Excuse Busters and Myth Busters pages on our web site.

3. Run short errands by bike. Studies show that 40% of urban travel in the US is trips of 2 miles or less, and 90% of those trips are by car. Two miles is a very manageable distance by bike for anyone, no matter their fitness level, and you don't need a high-tech, lightweight racing bike to do it. Many avid cyclists have an older, rarely-used bike sitting in the garage. Set this bike up as your "errand" bike--put a cargo rack on it, a half-decent set of lights, and platform pedals. This way, you can jump on it and ride down to the corner store, coffee shop, or anywhere whenever the need arises, without having to change your clothes, shoes, or do any other preparation. Remember to still wear your helmet!

4. Extend your riding hours with a good lighting system. Riding in the dark presents its own set of challenges, but lots of people do it enjoyably and safely. The best way to insure you're seen by vehicles behind you is a good flashing taillight, such as the Planet Bike Superflash or the NiteRider Cherry Bomb ($29.99 each). If you're riding mostly in neighborhoods with good street lights, then a basic battery-operated headlight is sufficient to light the road directly ahead of you and alert traffic coming in the opposite direction. The Serfas SL-200 or the CatEye Uno ($29.99 each) are both good choices. If you're riding in more dark and secluded areas, a high-intensity headlight does a better job of showing you what's on the road or trail ahead of you. The NiteRider MiNewt Mini USB ($99.99) is a good all-purpose choice. Its lightweight lithium-ion battery gives you about 3 hours of run time per 4.5-hour charge. Step up to the NiteRider MiNewt.X2 ($209.99) to get about a third more brightness and almost double the burn time. Of course, you should also wear brightly-colored clothing with reflective accents to increase your visibility even more.

5. Learn how to maintain your bike. Don't be stuck at home with your bike hanging in the garage just because you have a flat tire. Sign up for one of our bicycle maintenance classes, or show up for one of our FREE Fix-A-Flat Mondays. Even if you don't think you can ever reach the skill level of a professional bike mechanic, having a basic understanding of how your bike operates, and knowing how to change a flat tire and make some minor adjustments will increase your overall comfort level while riding. This, in turn, will help motivate you to do more riding alone, so you can take the opportunity to ride when you have the available time.

New Product: Bar Mitts

Just in time for the single-digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chills we've been having here in Northeast Ohio lately, we can now get Bar Mitts by special-order for our dedicated customers who ride in all conditions.

Bar Mitts are a solution to the problem of how to keep your hands warm, without losing the dexterity you need to operation your shifters and brakes. A thinner pair of gloves let your hands work normally, but don't provide as much warmth. A thick, insulated pair of gloves keep the elements out, but can leave your fingers fumbling around to find the right gear.

Bar Mitts are made of a layer of neoprene and nylon laminate that keeps the wind, cold, snow, and rain out. They wrap around the ends of your handlebars, and you just wear whatever type of glove you want on your hands, then insert your hands into the Bar Mitts!

Bar Mitts come in three versions:

• A Mountain/Commuter version that works with mountain bikes, hybrids, cruisers, and other bikes with a flat or upright handlebar.
• A Shimano Road version that works with drop handlebars and most Shimano integrated shift/brake levers that have the cable coming out of the side of the lever.
• A Campy/SRAM/Dura-Ace Road version works with drop handlebars and integrated brake/shift lever that have internal cable routing (Campagnolo, SRAM, and some of the newest Shimano Dura-Ace).

Some people call them "pogies," and they've been around for a while in other versions for kayaking and cross-country skiing.


Order yours today; $64.95 per pair!
(Photos from the manufacturer's web site at: www.barmitts.com)