Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year!

If you feel up to a cold and snowy cycling challenge to start the year off, join the Medina County Bicycle Club on January 1 for their ABCDEFGHIJ! Ride (A Bi-Cycling Dandy Excuse For Getting Hibernated In January). This free annual tradition starts at 12 noon sharp from the public Square in Medina. Try to arrive by 11:45am, and there's a group photo at 11:55am before the start. The distance varies from year-to-year, depending on the weather. A map will be provided; no food, SAG support or other services.

We'd like to thank all of our wonderful customers, staff, vendors, and other friends for a prosperous 2013! Here's to an even better cycling year in 2014!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Latest Towpath Trail Construction Update Video

Tim Donovan from the Ohio Canal Corridor brings you this latest monthly video update on the construction of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the Scranton Road area near downtown Cleveland:

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

Thursday, December 26, 2013

NEW from Cat Eye: large-screen Padrone Wireless cycling computer

Cycling does keep us younger, but let's face it, for some of us, there's nothing we can do to keep some parts of us (namely, our eyes) from getting older.

Are you squinting to try to read your speed and distance on your bike computer during a ride? If so, Cat Eye has the answer for you. The Padrone Wireless cycling computer has the largest screen available in the industry, with a screen that's 85% larger* while the unit is 22% thinner!

Features include current speed, average speed, maximum speed, trip distance, total distance (odometer), elapsed time, and time of day. The CatEye Flex-Tight mounting bracket attaches to your stem or handlebar without tools. The wireless setup is easy to configure, and the one-button operation is easy to use.

The CatEye Padrone Wireless Cycling Computer is now in stock in all three Century Cycles stores.

* Dimensions are compared to the Cat Eye Urban Wireless cycling computer.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Century Cycles family to yours!

This Christmas tree is another project by Don Barnett, the master craftsman and Service Manager at Century Cycles in Medina. The tree is made from bike cassette cogs, a full range of 22 of them, from 11-tooth to 34-tooth (with only 31-tooth and 33-tooth missing, as those don't exist!). The garland is made of multi-color BMX bike chains, and the base is a vintage Schwinn spoke guard.

It was a group effort on the part of the Medina store, as Sales Associate Cathy Kasper tracked down the lights, and General Manager Mike Petcher provided the photo.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

2013 Holiday Season Hours


  • Tuesday, December 24: OPEN 10:00am - 3:00pm
  • Wednesday, December 25: CLOSED
  • Tuesday, December 31: OPEN 10:00am - 3:00pm
  • Wednesday, January 1: CLOSED
We will be open for our regular hours on all other days.

Please note that beginning on Thursday, January 2, 2014, we will begin Winter Hours in the Peninsula store:
  • Monday through Thursday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Friday and Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00pm
The Peninsula store will stay open until 8:00pm on Thursday nights when that have our School Of Bike classes scheduled.

Hours at Medina and Rocky River will not change.

Monday, December 23, 2013

New Century Cycles 22nd Anniversary Jerseys and Shorts Just Arrived!

Just in time for your last-minute Christmas shopping (or your post-Christmas Gift Card spending), we've just received our NEW custom Century Cycles "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" jerseys and shorts!

Printed for us by Pearl Izumi, they are based on the Pearl Izumi Select LTD clothing line, featuring Select Transfer Dry fabric for moisture management.

The jerseys (available in both Men's and Women's sizes) feature a 12-inch zipper on the front for easy on/off, and three pockets on the back to keep your energy bar, phone, and ride map handy. Our 22nd Anniversary chainring logo on the left sleeve add a little flair! $80.00 each.

The shorts (also available in Men's and Women's sizes) feature wide, gripper-free leg openings and the Pearl Tour 3D chamois pad for support. $110.00 each.

Kevin from the Peninsula store braved today's un-shorts-friendly weather to model the ensemble for us (along with a sweet 2014 Giant Defy Composite 1 bicycle):


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Support Businesses that Support Bicycling

This may be old news to beer aficionados by now, but as of last week, select beers from New Belgium Brewing Company are now available here in Ohio for the first time. In addition to making some darn fine adult beverages, New Belgium is known throughout the land as one of the most bicycle-friendly businesses, not just in the beer industry, but among all businesses.

Based in the bike-crazy town of Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium sponsors the Tour de Fat in locations around the country. It's a festival of bicycles and beer, as well as a fund-raiser for various local charities in the events' host communities. The classic cruiser bike symbol is used in their company logo, as well as on their signature Fat Tire Amber Ale.

You don't have to go all the way out west to find a local bike-friendly brew, though. Our own Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon right here in North Olmstead, Ohio serves up an ever-changing menu of food and awarding-winning beers brewed right on the premises. One of their most recent additions is the Trail Head Pale Ale, and a portion of the proceeds of every one of these that you drink supports the Cleveland Metroparks Trails Fund, which helps maintain the Royalview Mountain Bike Trail and the other 270 miles of trails in the Cleveland Metroparks.

Of course, many other Cleveland-area breweries and bars (e.g. Nano Brew and Great Lakes Brewing Company) do their part to support bicycling, through providing bike parking, encouraging their employees to bike to work, providing a bike-friendly atmosphere, and other practices that promote overall sustainability.

Know of any other local businesses that make an effort to reach out and support bicycling? Let us know in the comments below!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

40% Off Last-Minute Stocking Stuffers! Hot Deals for Cold Days #4

DON'T PANIC! There's still time to get the perfect gifts for every bicyclist on your holiday shopping list! This week's Hot Deals for Cold Days include 40% OFF two sweet bike lights, our best-selling cycling computer, and a selection of our popular "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" gift items to fill those stockings!

The NiteRider Mako 200 USB Headlight ($38.99, reg. $64.99) features a bright 2-watt Cree LED bulb that puts out 200 lumens, more than bright enough for Night Rides on the Towpath Trail, commuting to work or school, or as an auxiliary light for night-time mountain biking. It has steady and flashing modes (for increased daytime visibility) and "gills" that emit a red light so it can be seen from the side. The sturdy handlebar mount attaches without tools. Plus, this great light can be charged through any USB port, so you won't be filling up landfills with discarded batteries. It charges fully in just 4.5 hours, giving you 2.5 hours of run time on high, 5 hours on low, or 14 hours in flashing mode.

On more of a budget, and looking for a set of lights just to keep you safe when tooling around the neighborhood at dusk? Check out the Blackburn Voyager 3.3 Headlight / Mars 1.0 Taillight Combo ($20.99, reg. $34.99). Both feature flashing and steady modes, and run on standard AAA batteries, which ARE included! The headlight has a tool-free handlebar bracket, and the taillight can mount to your backpack or rack using the included mounts.

Even the beginner cyclist wants to know "How far have I ridden?" The Cat Eye Enduro Cycling Computer ($17.99, reg. $29.99) tells you that and more, using a simple one-button interface to show you your current speed, distance, ride time, average, and maximum speed. In addition, the pace arrow tells you if you're going faster or slower than your average speed, plus you get calories burned and carbon offset. The heavy-duty wiring holds up to abuse, whether you're commuting on the mean streets or bombing down your favorite mountain bike trail.

Keep tabs on what's going on in the trail or road behind you with our "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" Helmet Mirror ($14.99, reg. $24.99). Made for us in the USA by Monkey Mirrors using recycled glass and bicycle spokes, they fit on any helmet, and can be removed and easily transferred to another helmet.

There's no better way to top off a good bike ride than a nice hot cup of coffee or a nice cold beer. You and your loved ones can enjoy both in style with our "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" Coffee Mug and "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" Pint Glass ($5.99 each, reg. $9.99)! All the while relaxing in your "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" T-Shirt ($8.99, reg. $14.99) - available in sizes for Men, Women, and Kids! (Of course, you can get a better deal on the t-shirt, because as always, you get one FREE when you buy a new bicycle!)

While you're at it, this is a great time to stock up on those small and often forgotten cycling essentials, like our Century Cycles Water Bottles (available in insulated ($7.79, reg. $12.99), Standard ($2.39, reg. $3.99), and Large ($2.99, reg. $4.99) sizes), tire levers ($2.39, reg. $3.99), and tire patch kits (glued $1.19, reg. $1.99 and glueless $1.79, reg. $2.99).

Finally, we have a selection of our Century Cycles 20th Anniversary Jerseys and Shorts, made for us in 2012 by Hincapie Sportswear. Size and color selection is VERY limited, but we have items available in Men's Jerseys and Women's Jerseys ($41.99, reg. $69.99), Men's Shorts and Women's Shorts ($47.99, reg. $79.99), and Men's Bib Shorts and Women's Bib Shorts ($53.99, reg. $89.99).


The Fine Print
These Hot Deals are good only December 19 - 31, 2013 while supplies last on in-stock merchandise only. Cannot be combined with other discounts. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

Monday, December 9, 2013

Krampus: Saint Nicholas' Dark Companion

While Saint Nicholas may bring gifts to good boys and girls, ancient folklore in Europe's Alpine region also tells of Krampus, a frightening beast-like creature who emerges during the Yule season, looking for naughty children to drag back to his lair in a sack and punish in horrible ways.
Since pre-Germanic Pagan times through today, men dressed as these demons have been frightening children on Krampusnacht for centuries, chasing them and hitting them with sticks, on an (often alcohol-fueled) run through the dark streets. See more photos at The Atlantic.
In keeping with that tradition, Surly Bikes brings you the Krampus. What exactly is the Krampus? Its big 29x3-inch tires make it look like a snow bike, but it's technically not, although it would certainly do better in the snow than your daddy's mountain bike.

The Krampus is a mountain bike made to be ridden hard and put away wet. The fat Surly Knard tires roll over the rough stuff even better than a typical 29er. The Shimano 1x10 drive train keeps things light and simple. The Avid BB7 disc brakes stop you when you want. Of course, Surly's 4130 cromoly frame and fork take the abuse and feel smooth under your delicate sensibilities. In stock now at Century Cycles in Small, Medium, and Large.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Video: Global Fat Bike Day Ride

Thanks to the eight snow-biking enthusiasts who came out to Peninsula for our ride celebrating Global Fat Bike Day yesterday (Dec. 7, 2013)! We had three Surly Pugsleys, one Surly Moonlander, two other snow bikes, one regular mountain bike, and one hybrid bike with studded tires! We rode 14 miles on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Check out the video from the ride:

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

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Hot Deals for Cold Days #3: Holiday Gift Extravaganza! Jerseys, Jackets, Gloves, Socks, and Baskets!


This week's Hot Deals for Cold Days feature hot gift items for every cyclist on your giving list (including yourself)!





We start off with a selection of cycling jerseys for both Men and Women from Primal Wear and World Jerseys. Available in a variety of fun and popular designs (too many to show you here!), all of these jerseys feature short sleeves and moisture-wicking polyester fabric to keep you cool on hot summer rides. A three-quarter-length zipper makes for easy on/off, and the usual three elasticized pockets in the rear keep your phone, energy bar, and map handy. $35.99/$41.99 (regularly $59.99/$69.99)

If your feet ain't happy, nobody's happy, so keep your feet jolly with these Jolly Roger Socks from Primal Wear. Their durable Advanced Air Transfer System construction wicks moisture and regulates temperature. $5.99 (regularly $9.99)


A versatile jacket is a must for every cyclist's wardrobe, and the Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier Convertible Jacket is our best-seller! Perfect for cool spring or fall mornings, or even layered over a heavyweight jersey in the winter. When the day warms up, peel the sleeves off to convert it to a vest! This ultimate in portable weather protection also gives you two zippered hand pockets, a rear storage pocket, and the Screaming Yellow color and reflective accents help keep you super-visible on the road. $66.00 (regularly $110.00)

Dress up your cruiser bike with a colorful and practical front basket! The Electra Quick Release Mesh Basket easily clips on and off of its strong and secure handlebar clamp. A convenient carry handle allows it to double as a shopping basket! Available in Light Blue, Purple, and Pink to match many of Electra's most popular bicycles! $23.99 (regularly $39.99)



With classic style and construction, the Electra Crochet Gloves are just right for your two-wheeled lifestyle. Plus, padded palms and Velcro closures ensure a perfect fit and long-ride comfort. Available in Red/White/Blue, Green/White/Red, Black/Red/Yellow, and Rasta. $8.99 (regularly $14.99)



The Fine Print
These Hot Deals are good December 5 - 18, 2013 only, while supplies last on in-stock merchandise. Cannot be combined with other discounts. In-store purchase only; no online or phone orders accepted. No coupon necessary.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Online Poll: What activities do you enjoy during the off-season to stay in cycling shape?

Now that winter is almost upon us, many of us look for ways to stay in shape and avoid cabin fever during the cold months.

What activities do you enjoy during the off-season to stay in cycling shape? Click here to take our latest online poll and let us know!

Last month's poll asked "What would you do if you got a flat tire during a bike ride?" 77% of you who responded said "I can fix it myself." For the other 23% of you, check out one of our upcoming School Of Bike classes to learn Flat-Tire Repair and many other skills! You can see the full results of the last poll here.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Holiday Sale - Oh What Fun It Is To Ride!

Happy Holidays from the Century Cycles family to yours! Now through Dec. 31, come into any of our three stores and enjoy 10% Off all bicycles (including those already on sale) and 15% Off the regular price of all clothing, parts, and accessories.

And remember, in addition to the offers listed above, we also have these options to make your holiday shopping easier:

  • Gift Cards (buy them in our stores or online)
  • Lay-away
  • Free Gift Bicycle Storage 'Til Dec. 24
  • Free Bicycle Delivery *

* Within our service area. Other restrictions may apply; see stores for details.

Beat the Spring Tune-Up Rush!
Also, take $40 Off Tune-Up Service Package #4.

For descriptions of each Tune-Up Service Package, see: www.centurycycles.com/get/service

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Ride with us for Global Fat Bike Day, this Sat. Dec. 7

Snow bikes, or fat bikes as they are sometimes called, have become more and more popular here in Northeast Ohio for cyclists who want to extend their riding season. They are also popular around the world, both in climates that get more snow and less snow than we do, and many riders are finding that they are fun bikes to ride in all conditions.

Snow bike enthusiasts around the world have declared this Saturday, December 7, 2013 to be Global Fat Bike Day. Snow bikers are encouraged to plan rides, get together to admire each other's winter riding gear, take pictures, and have fun!

Never afraid to jump on the bandwagon, Century Cycles has planned our own Global Fat Bike Day Ride. It starts this Sat. Dec. 7 at 8:00am at our Peninsula store. We'll ride on the Towpath Trail. Don't have a snow bike? Bring your regular mountain or 'cross bike, and we can all compare how well they stack up! Coffee and donuts afterwards!

Helmets required. Just show up or RSVP and ask questions on the Facebook Event.

In the market for a snow bike? We've got them in stock from Surly Bikes, with more on the way from Salsa Cycles! Call us to verify model, size, and store availability.