Closed for Easter Sunday

PLEASE NOTE: All three of our stores will be CLOSED this Sunday, April 4 for the Easter holiday. We ARE open our normal hours on Good Friday, 10am-6pm, including bike rentals on the Towpath Trail in Peninsula. The weather is supposed to be beautiful, so stop on in!

No Spare Tube? No Problem!

Ever get caught with a flat tire out on the road or trail, and you forgot to pack a spare tube? There's a way you can make it home, as shown in this video starring Giant Bicycles athlete ambassador and urban freeride legend Jeff Lenosky.



Don't forget--our FREE Fix-A-Flat Clinics continue this Thursday, April 1 (no foolin!) at 7:00pm at all three Century Cycles stores. No bike or reservation is necessary; just show up!

Share your Towpath Trail stories

The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition wants help sharing the wonders of the Towpath Trail. They are asking for your stories, experiences and memories of the Towpath Trail so they can share them with other friends and supporters. They want to hear about:

• How the Towpath Trail motivated you to walk more and lose weight -- and how much you lost.
• A time hiking or biking the Towpath Trail which let you spend an afternoon with your family and friends.
• What kind of wildlife you saw and experienced along the Towpath Trail.
• Your favorite place to walk or bike along the trail.
• Your favorite spot to stop and relax.

If you get back to them quickly, your story may be featured on their website or in their newsletter. Please email all stories to Sarah Gibbs at sgibbs@ohioeriecanal.org.

(Hat tip to Petch, who already submitted a few of his Towpath Trail stories, for this info. Photo by Doug Charnock.)

Today's "Frazz" comic strip has special meaning

Besides being a wonderfully accurate depiction of spring in the Midwest, today's "Frazz" is pretty special for Jef Mallett's fans here in northeast Ohio. The original of this comic strip was generously donated by Jef as the grand prize in the drawing we held at "Friday Night With Frazz" back on March 5, with the proceeds benefiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's Trails Forever Fund. Below is a picture of the very lucky winner, Diane Homza-Dacek (at left), and her husband (right) with Jef (center).

Ohio Bicycle Events Calendar has arrived!

Hot off the presses, the 2010 edition of the Ohio Bicycle Events Calendar is now available! The calendar is published by the Ohio Bicycle Federation, with support from event organizers and advertisers, such as bike shops like us!

You can check out the online edition to get the most up-to-date event information. But, for those of you who like to curl up with a good read under a night light, the printed edition is now available in our stores!

Twitter question: iPhone handlebar mount or bike speakers?

Century Cycles received the following question on Twitter:

Do you have a recommendation for an iPhone handlebar mount and/or Bluetooth bike speakers?

Here's our response (shared with all in case anyone else was wondering the same thing!):

We can get the iHome Bike Speaker System or the Tommyca Bicycle Sound System through one of our bike suppliers. Unfortunately, neither is Bluetooth-enabled. However, the iHome Bike Speaker System (pictured above) has a wireless handlebar-mounted remote. Our main supplier does not have any iPhone-specific mounts at this time. We'd be happy to research other suppliers after the craziness of our annual spring sale is over.

One last point: Topeak handlebar-mounted phone bags would work (the "plus" size, which we have in stock in Rocky River and Medina -- and are 20% off during the sale this weekend!), but they don't have a clear case that allows you to use the device while you're riding.

Thanks for the question and hope this info helps!

Spring Break Sale STARTS TODAY!

Soak up the savings with our biggest sale of the year! The Spring Break Sale at all three Century Cyclces stores starts TODAY, March 25, and runs until this Sunday, March 28! Find at least 10% OFF All Bicycles and 20% OFF All Accessories and Parts (this includes clothing, shoes, car racks and cargo boxes, indoor trainers, and MORE!).

Plus, look for the following HOT DEALS and other specials in each store:

CatEye Enduo 8 Computer $17.99 (reg. $34.99)
Pearl Izumi Select Gloves * $10.99 (reg. $21.99)
Bellwhether O2 Shorts * $19.99 (reg. $39.99)
Bell Solar Helmet $17.99 (reg. $34.99)
Serfas Koil Sunglasses $17.99 (reg. $34.99)
Pearl Izumi Quest Shorts * $24.99 (reg. $49.99)
Serfas Combo Pump/Tool Kit $19.99 (reg. $39.99)
RavX Road Value Pack $39.99 (reg. $69.99)
RavX MTB Value Pack $39.99 (reg. $69.99)
Nantucket Cobblestone Wicker Basket $19.99 (reg. $29.99)
Blackburn Voyager/Mars Light Set $19.99 (reg. $32.99)
Thule Spare Me Car Rack $109.99 (reg. $169.99)
Saris T-Bones Car/Storage Rack $149.99 (reg. $379.99)
SmartWool Rambunctious Jersey $49.99 (reg. $99.99)

Plus take 40% Off most winter clothing items and all remaining in-stock Sidi shoes!

* Both Men's and Women's sizes available!

Night Ride season is just one month away!

The 15th season of Century Cycles Night Rides on the Towpath Trail kicks off a month from today -- on Saturday, April 24!

Featured in Bicycling Magazine's "Think Your Ride is Great?" section and in The Plain Dealer, our Night Rides have been helping northeast Ohioans enjoy the Towpath by moonlight for 15 years. They are free, they are fun, and they are open to everyone! And there are plenty of chances to join us for one (or all!). Here's the 2010 schedule:

Saturday, April 24:

The Kick-Off!

Saturday, May 15:

Pajama Party Night Ride

in honor of Cleveland Bicycle Week and National Bike Month!

Friday, June 4

Saturday, June 26

Friday, July 9

Saturday, July 24

Saturday, August 7:

NiteRider Demo Night (it's back!)

Friday, August 27

Saturday, September 18

Friday, October 8

Don't know what it's all about? Click here for all the details. Hope to see you there!

Raleigh Misceo 1.0 Now In Stock!

Last month, we gave a sneak preview and product review of the 2010 Raleigh Misceo 1.0 performance hybrid bike. Well, since then, we've decided to go ahead and bring a few of them into all three Century Cycles stores! Click here for full info on the specs.

So, just in time for the great weekend weather we should be having, we've got new shipments of this and many other of our best-selling bicycles from Raleigh, as well as Giant, ready to test ride!

Click to vote for a grant for CVNPA

Through our Rock and Roll Trainer Night Rides and Friday Night with Frazz events this year, you have helped us raised over $500 to benefit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's TRAILS FOREVER Legacy Fund.

Now, through May 14, there's another way we can help the CVNPA, and it doesn't cost a penny!

CVNPA is a candidate for a $5,000 grant from Tourism Cares, which has created an initiative called Save Our Sites, a grant opportunity specifically focused on national parks.

The CVNPA is in competition with four other national parks for this grant. This grant would support scholarships for students who otherwise could not afford to attend the nationally-renowned Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.

To vote for CVNPA to receive the $5000 grant, just go here:

www.tourismcares.org/save-our-sites/vote-for-a-site

Click on "Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association," then click VOTE. You don't have to enter any personal information or go through any registration process to vote, so it's easy and takes only seconds!

The CVNPA is already ahead in the voting by more than double the next competitor, but keep on voting to make sure they stay in the lead! You can vote once per day through May 14.

Citizen's rally today at 6:30 p.m.

ClevelandBikes and other supporters of the proposed bike and pedestrian lane on the new Innerbelt Bridge have organized a citizen's rally today at 6:30 p.m. on the steps of Cleveland City Hall. They want people to join them in what may be the last chance to convince ODOT to incorporate bike/pedestrian access and for equitable treatment for "alternative transportation."

After the 6:30 p.m. rally on the steps, citizens will attend the 7pm City Council meeting where a resolution is expected to be introduced expressing Council's desire for an additional "design alternative" for the lane, similar to that passed by the Cleveland Planning Commission on January 22. On Tuesday, ODOT will announce the three finalist Design-Build Teams, who will be preparing design plans for the bridge.

This is probably the last chance for the public to speak up about the $450 million bridge and ask ODOT to build a bridge for all -- motorists, cyclists and the 25% of Cleveland residents who don't own a car or simply prefer walking and riding for healthy transportation and recreation.

For more information about this issue, including Century Cycles' letter of support, go to www.gcbl.org/innerbelt. Click here to go to the Facebook page for the event.

Bike To School Challenge awarded Project of the Year

In a ceremony last Sunday in Bay Village, Bay Bike To School Challenge sponsored by Century Cycles and Chipotle was awarded "Project of the Year" by Bay Village Community Council. The program also received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

But it was the Proclamation from the Mayor of Bay Village, Deborah Sutherland, that really summed up what a special program it is. (Mayor Sutherland is in the photo above from the awards ceremony. She's in the blue sweater, standing between Eryn Whistler and Lawrence Kuh, teachers who make BTS possible. From the left is BHS Assistant Principal Jason Martin, Scott Cowan and Tracey Bradnan from Century Cycles, and BMS Principal Sean McAndrews.)

We don't usually go all official on this blog, but this proclamation has a lot of worthwhile whereas's and therefore's we have to share. Before we do that, we must first say a huge THANK YOU to all the fine folks in Bay Village -- from the council who gave BTS such wonderful recognition to the school system that makes it all possible to all the kids and teachers who love to ride their bikes. We can't wait for the start of the 2010 Bike To School Challenge on May 3!

Office of the Mayor Proclamation

WHEREAS the students and staff of Bay High School and Bay Middle School are today being honored by the Bay Village Community Council as recipient of the 2010 Project of the Year Award in recognition of their efforts during the May 2009 Bike To School Challenge; and

WHEREAS the 2009 Bike To School Challenge, coordinated by the Bay Village City School District and co-sponsored by Bay High alumnus Scott Cowan engaged over 1,200 students and 90 school staff members who logged a total of 37,042 miles on their bikes during a three-week period; and

WHEREAS the Bike To School Challenge began in 2007 as a student driven initiative to encourage students and staff of Bay High to ride bicycles to school instead of driving automobiles highlighting the need to become less dependent on fossil fuels and raise awareness of environmental issues; and

WHEREAS the students of Bay High School invited the student of Bay Middle School to join in the 2009 Bike To School Challenge and the event was expanded with programs highlighting bike safety, skills and rules of the road; and

WHEREAS Bay Schools staff members Eryn Whistler, Jason Martin, Mark Smithberger and Lawrence Kuh worked with Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles in Rocky River who sponsored the program and brought in co-sponsor Chipotle, providing incentives and four new bicycles as grand prizes to encourage student participation; and

WHEREAS Bay Middle School won the event's first Golden Sprocket Award for having the greatest number of student participants in this year's challenge; and

WHEREAS in their effort to "go green" the students and staff showed what three weeks of bicycle riding instead of driving could do to save energy, reduce pollution and promote a health active lifestyle in our community.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Deborah L. Sutherland, Mayor of the City of Bay Village, on behalf of the Administration and the City Council and the citizens of Bay Village, now join with the Bay Village Community Council in extending sincere appreciation to the students and staff of Bay High School and Bay Middle School for their outstanding example of environmental awareness and healthy behavior. Thank you.

Celebrities who bike: Jeff Bridges

Not to be confused with People magazine, but we've been known to occasionally post bits here about celebrities who also happen to like riding bikes making the news, such as Matt Lauer, Robin Williams, Ed Begley Jr., and Kate Hudson. Uber-computer geeks the world over are anxiously looking forward to Tron Legacy, the long-due sequal to the 1982 movie Tron. Jeff Bridges returns as Kevin Flynn. In a recent interview by Peter Sciretta of Slashfilm.com, Jeff talks from the Vancouver, BC-based set about how he likes shooting the film in that city:

"Oh, wow what a great city. Just loving it. You know, tooling around Stanley Park a lot on my bike. And getting up to Grouse Mountain."

So there you have it. You can read the full interview here.

The making of a Giant bicycle's carbon frame

"Carbon fiber bikes require an astounding amount of hand labor," is how the introduction to Bicycling Magazine's tour of a Giant Bicycles factory in Taiwan begins. Click here for the inside scoop on how carbon fiber bicycles are made.

Pictured above is a Giant Defy Advanced 3 (a size XL just arrived yesterday in Rocky River). It's made with Giant's Advanced Composite Technology, in which superior performance begins with bare carbon thread and ends in an entirely handmade frame constructed of strategically layered UniDirectional (UD) carbon.

March 2010 eNewsletter

The latest issue of our monthly eNewsletter just hit the airwaves a couple of days ago. You can read it online here. If case you haven't read it yet, here's what you're missing:

• Spring Break Sale (Mar. 25-28)
• More Upcoming Events! Night Rides on the Towpath, Cleveland Bicycle Week, and FREE Fix-A-Flat Clinics
• Friday Night with Frazz (link to event photos)
• Summer Hours Return
• Our Latest Online Poll
• Staff Profile: Neal O'Donnell
• 5 Tips: Early Season Riding

To sign up to receive future editions of our monthly eNewsletter in your Inbox (and to catch up on past issues), go to: www.centurycycles.com/get/enewsletter

John Moss: Ten Years of Bike Travels in North America

If you happen to find yourself in the Cincinnati area tomorrow, stop by the Benchmark Outfitters store at 9525 Kenwood Road to hear John Moss present tales of his "Ten Years of Bike Travels in North America" at 8:00pm. John will be talking about his rides across America from Alaska to Florida, New York to Oregon, and more.

John is the father of Century Cycles co-founder Lois Moss, and a good friend of our stores (he brings his bikes all the way up from his home in the Cincinnati area whenever he needs a tune-up).

I had the unique pleasure of riding with John during RAGBRAI in 2006. Here he is getting ready the day before the start of the ride:

It went uphill from there.

5 Tips: Early Season Riding

Most riders want to get a head start on logging some miles as soon as the spring weather starts to peek through the clouds. Mother Nature can be fickle, however, and there are other factors to keep in mind to ride comfortably and safely in the early part of the cycling season:

1. Dress for changing weather conditions. The weather can change in a heartbeat during late winter and early spring, so plan accordingly before you head out for your ride. Dress in layers so that you can peel off extra clothing if it warms up. Even if it feel warm when you're starting out, stuff a lightweight jacket or vest into your jersey pocket in case it cools down. For even more versatility, get one of those jackets with zip-off sleeves to convert it to a vest for so-so conditions.


2. Set realistic distance goals. Even if you've kept up with an indoor training regimen during the winter, there's no substitute for the real thing when it comes to riding outside on the road or trail. Don't bite off more than you can chew on your first few rides until you've built your fitness level back up.


3. Wash your bike more often. The sloppy leftovers from winter, as well as the variable rain and other conditions of spring, can leave a gritty, grimy residue on your bike and its components. You'll want to observe a careful cleaning regimen more often than usual during this time to keep your bike's frame shiny and like new, and avoid undue wear and tear on your drive train. See these tips on our web site for How To Wash Your Bike and How To Clean Your Chain And Drive Train.


4. Rinse off road salt. The salt used to melt snow on the roads during winter sticks around for several weeks until the spring rains have a chance to rinse it away. Salt is like kryptonite to your bike; left around for too long, it corrodes the inside and outside of any surface, whether it's steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber. If you can't take the time to do a full cleaning of your bike after each ride (as described in #1 above), then at least just rinse the salt and other road grit off using a garden hose. Use very light water pressure from the hose, and don't spray directly into your hubs, bottom bracket, headset, or other bearings. Wipe everything dry with a soft, clean towel.


5. Watch out for new hazards on the road or trail. The freeze and thaw cycles of winter can be hard on paved streets and other riding areas. Even in places that you are familiar with from riding in years past, keep an eye out for new potholes, cracks, and washed-out sections.

The Coolest Bike Accessory Ever

Staff Profile: Neal O'Donnell

Before Neal O’Donnell, 44, joined the staff of the Rocky River store, he spent over twenty years as a interior house painter. Two years ago, he parlayed a love of bicycling (and years of shopping at Century Cycles) into a new career in the bicycle business. He is a self-described “Irish-Catholic Rastafarian” who, after growing up in Lakewood and graduating from St. Ed’s, now lives in Rocky River.

Q: What do you like about working at Century Cycles?
A: For the first time in my life, I am doing something I love. Before working at Century Cycles, I had never experienced looking forward to going to work. It’s really cool. I’m really appreciative to Scott for giving me a chance.

Q: How many bikes do you own?
A: I have two mountain bikes. My favorite bicycle is my Surly Karate Monkey. Josh turned me on to it. My other mountain bike has a XXL frame and 26” wheels, and I feel a bit like Herman Munster because I’m so tall. But the Karate Monkey is a 29er – a big steel monster that’s great for someone who is 6’4”. It’s black, but I got creative with duct tape and added some rasta stripes.

Q: Why do you like mountain bikes?
A: I’m an old hippie and I love being out in the weather and the woods. I’m not a road guy at all.

Q: What was your first bike?
A: One of those bikes with the banana seats like Scott has hanging on the wall here. I rode it to church one day and didn’t lock it up and it got stolen.

Q: Since you’re a big reggae fan, what artist do you recommend we listen to?
A: We have a hidden gem right here in Cleveland – Carlos Jones and the Plus Band. Carlos used to play in I-Tal and First Light, if you remember those bands, and he is insanely good. I’m going to see him Saturday night at the Grog Shop. He’s opening for Michael Rose from Black Uhuru.

Q: What three words describe how you feel on a bike?
A: Free. Euphoric. Peaceful.

Q: What the best piece of cycling advice that you’ve been given?
A: Do the kind of biking that makes you happy. People see my long legs and always want to get me on a road bike, but I just don’t like it.

Q: What advice do you give to a customer looking for a new bike?
A: If someone is new to bicycling, I try to determine if they are going to be happy just cruising around the neighborhood or if they are going to get bit by the bug. If they are looking at hybrid bikes but think they might get bit, I show them the next step up, like a flat bar road bike.

Q: What’s your post-ride beverage of choice?
A: Just water. I’m a bit of a health nut. I haven’t had a soda in about 30 years.

Q: What’s your favorite trail or ride?
A: I went to Reagan Park in Medina last summer with Josh and Brad and that was really fun. I like it better than the park on W. 49th and Grant. There are more that I need to investigate, though, like West Branch.

Winter bike storage

Warmer temperatures mean the Electras must surrender their spot in the dining room and head back to the rough-and-tumble world of the garage.

Hot New Product: Saris Solo Car Trunk Rack

Now, for all of you single cyclists (and cyclists with non-riding significant others), there is an economical way to haul your bike around on your car. Introducing the Saris Solo 1-Bike Trunk Rack. Only $49.99 each, and arriving in all three Century Cycles stores today!

Consult the Saris Racks Fit Guide (or just ask us!) for vehicle compatibility information.

Masi Speciale Fixed Ultimate

A while back, we showed you pictures of the Masi Speciale Fixed Ultimate frameset that we ordered for a customer in our Peninsula store. He stopped by mid-ride today, so as promised, here's a shop of the assembled bike in all its "nekkid" glory:

He's planning some upgrades, which will include Miche track hubs and crankset, in blue to match that sweet saddle!

In the news: PD urges ODOT to listen, plus Towpath update

Momentum continues to build!

In an editorial in today's Plain Dealer, the newspaper's editors urged ODOT to listen to their boss about investigating adding a protected lane for bicyclists and pedestrians to the Inner Belt Bridge project. Click here to read the whole editorial. Here's a snippet:

"But for Strickland's call to make a real difference, ODOT planners need to bring open minds to a review they have staunchly resisted. Ideally, they will go back to the drawing board looking for ways to provide bicycle and pedestrian access, not searching for excuses to continue blocking it."

In other news:

Officials optimistic that Towpath Trail work in Cleveland can begin in 2012. (The Plain Dealer)

Thanks, Jef, for your very kind words about Century Cycles! (Jef Mallett Blog)

Just in time for the warm-up: Crunching the numbers ($$$) on bike commuting. (Treehugger)

And just in time to continue to envy/emulate (maybe-hate-a-little) Portland: Here's a new online museum celebrating the bike culture in the city. (Tall Bike Tales)

Go By Bike with Google Maps

Today, Google announced the arrival of its most-requested feature on its Google Maps service - a "Bicycling" option, that lets you get directions between points using a route recommended for bicycling.

Biking directions added to Google Maps!

The National Bike Summit is going on right now in Washington, D.C., and Google selected it as the time and place to announce it is adding bicycling directions to its wildly popular Google Maps. Starting today, users can now choose biking when deciding how to get to their destination, plus mapping daily commutes or planning recreational or trail rides just became a lot easier.

According to Google, this has been the most requested addition to Google Maps.

Click here to read the complete press release from the League of American Bicyclists. Here is a good article from today's Chicago Tribune on the topic, too.

If you're on Twitter, you can follow the Bike League for more updates. I also like to follow Bike Portland (they really do regularly "inform and inspire," plus they are live-tweeting from the National Bike Summit) and of course Century Cycles.

Advanced Frozen Beverage Technology

If you attended the Friday Night with Frazz last week, you may have noticed the Century Cycles crew grinding and mixing some ice in this contraption, the Blender Bike.

Technically, it's not a Blender Bike, but a Blender Trainer; it will work with any bike!

Look for the Blender Bike at other Century Cycles supported and sponsored events later this season!

News Update: Bikes on bridges and bikes on trains

• Gov. Ted Strickland has jumped into the fray over whether to add a bike lane to the planned Inner Belt Bridge project, ordering ODOT to study it again. (The Plain Dealer)

• Bicycles are being factored in for another local transportation project. One of our customers, John from Seville, was listening to a radio show about proposed passenger trains in Ohio. When he emailed to ask if train passengers could bring their bikes, he got a personal response from Stu Nicholson at the Ohio Rail Development Corporation: "Yes! We will be encouraging communities with station stops to provide accomodations for bicycles and we will also allow bikes on trains. I ride myself, and I would love to be able to do that." (Sound of Ideas on WCPN)

• Road trip! Brompton Folding Bike Championships will be held March 20 in Philly. (Treehugger)

• A pedestrian/cyclist collision causes an ethical dilemma. (The Ethicist. second item: New York Times)

• We always knew our customer Lynne "Less talk, more monkey" Nagy was a Fashion Flash. (The Plain Dealer)

• Work bikes that get the job done. (Slideshow on Treehugger)

Jef Mallett adds "Frazz" artwork to Rocky River bathroom wall

In what appears to be the continuation of a new tradition for all special guests at the Century Cycles store in Rocky River, Jef Mallett added his signature to the bathroom wall at the conclusion of the Friday Night with Frazz event last week.

Back in 2006, Bob Roll signed the wall, with a George-Washington-esque description of his accomplishments at the location:

Jef Mallett drew his "Frazz" character underneath, appropriately holding an umbrella to protect himself from Bob Roll's--well, you get the idea...

We've updated the event photo album with lots of photos from the entire evening:

Thanks to Doug, Petch, and Kevin for all of the pictures.

Saturday Morning Ride with Jef Mallett

We could not have asked for better weather to ride on Saturday morning. Five of us braved the chilly morning and got out for a 35 mile ride in the valley to Berea Falls.

The sunshine was bright and we left around 10 a.m. from the marina parking lot. A few of us got to talking about how biking just seems to make for a good day. That was certainly true on Saturday. Jef rode his "Trizophrenia" tri-bike and we were joined by Mike, Gary, and my brother Joel, up from Columbus for the weekends events. Thanks again to all who joined us and made the weekend a success.

US Senator Brown adds voice of support for Innerbelt Bridge access

United States Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio sent a letter to Governor Ted Strickland on March 4, 2010, voicing his support for bike and pedestrian access on the planned replacement for the I-90 Innerbelt Bridge in Cleveland.

This comes on the heels of letters of support from several other officials, including US Representative Dennis Kucinich (not to mention Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan).

Green City Blue Lake has a great web page summarizing all of the activity surrounding this project. Check it out to find out how you can thank the above people, and the many others, who have shown their support, and how you can contact other officials to voice your opinion.

Photos from Friday Night with Frazz

We'd like the extend a HUGE thank you to all of our friends, family, and customers who joined us for Friday Night with Frazz on March 5, 2010 and helped to make the event an enjoyable kick-off to the cycling season. Of course, thank you to Jef Mallett for coming to visit us!

Here are a few pictures; many more to come!

Congratulations to the winners of our raffle, the proceeds of which will go to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's TRAILS FOREVER Legacy Fund. The winners of the two large sketches that Jef created during his talk were Jeff Smith and Diane Homza-Dacek. Diane was also the lucky winner of the GRAND PRIZE, an original "Frazz" comic strip hand-drawn by Jef Mallet that will run as one of his regular nationally-syndicated strips later this month.

From Wisconsin: Bicycling in the state tops deer hunting

Thanks again to the Adventure Cycling Association's Bike Bits e-mail newsletter for this link.

An editorial from the Janesville Gazette of Wisconsin reports on a recent study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison which states that the overall bicycle industry generates $1.5 billion in economic activity per year for the state. That compares just slightly higher than the $1.4 billion resulting from deer hunting, another popular industry in Wisconsin.

The bicycling figures include activity from cycling-related manufacturing based in the state, bicycle sales and service business, and bicycle-related tourist activities. $535 million is spent by cyclists from states outside of Wisconsin.

Kevin to speak at monthly Lake Erie Wheelers meeting

Kevin Madzia, the Century Cycles webmaster based in our Peninsula store, will be a guest of the Lake Erie Wheelers bicycle club at their monthly meeting. Kevin will present a slide show and talk about his bicycle trip from Cleveland to Guatemala that he took (with Ray Query from our Rocky River store) in the fall of 2008.

When: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 7:00pm

Where: Lakewood Public Libary, 15425 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, Ohio

The meeting is open to the public--LEW members and non-members are welcome!

"Trizophrenia" on two wheels

Jef Mallett's bicycle was custom-painted over the winter and you'll be able to check it out at the party on Friday night, too.

Don't think spending Friday night with Jef will be quite enough time? You can follow him on Twitter, read his blog, or friend him on Facebook -- all the modern ways to stalk a perfectly nice author/cartoonist.

Current Surly Stock

As promised (thanks to Fatty McBastard), the Surly Big Dummy is in stock and ready to test ride at the Century Cycles store in Rocky River, Ohio.

Here's an update on what Surly Bikes we currently have in stock:


Medina:

• Cross-Check, 52cm, Beef Gravy Brown
• Long Haul Trucker, 58cm (700C wheels), Blue Velvet

Peninsula:

• Cross-Check, 54cm, Beef Gravy Brown
• Cross-Check, 56cm, Gloss Black
• Long Haul Trucker, 56cm (700C wheels), Truckaccino

Rocky River:

• Big Dummy, 18in, Military Green
• Cross-Check, 62cm, Misty Mountain Grey
• Long Haul Trucker, 52cm (26-inch wheels), Truckaccino

As always, if you want to try any of them out in the store that's nearer to you, give us a call, and we can send it over at no extra cost or obligation on your part.

Friday Night With Frazz: Just 4 days away!

In just four days, we get to toast the kick-off to the cycling season with Century Cycles' annual spring party! This year, we are very grateful to have a very special guest join us -- "Frazz" cartoonist Jef Mallett.

As bicycling continues to grow as both a sport and a way of life in the United States, Jef will certainly deserve some of the credit for that growth, thanks to "Frazz" comic strips like the one below. How awesome is it that this strip did NOT run in a bicycling or cyclocross pub, preaching to the already-converted cycling crowd, but instead ran in over 160 daily newspapers across the United States -- including The Plain Dealer and The Akron Beacon Journal -- spreading the good bicycling word to a wide audience?