Tradeshows on the Mind by mark on Feb 03, 2012
A lot of "bike people" know about the largest North American bike tradeshow of the year, Interbike, but there are a lot more than just that. As we head into February, I'm preparing to head to shows hosted at 2 of our trusted distributors. Here's a sneak peak of the booth I've been building. What do you think?
Instructional Video of the Year by mark on Jan 31, 2012
Problem Solvers is a dandy of a company over in MN that does what? Solves problems. They make all sorts of clever do-dads to work around common bicycle component and compatibility issues. Our pal and the man with the plan, DK, clued us in on their latest instructional video. Take a look and you'll see why I'm nominating this for the Instructional Video of the Year. Best soundtrack I've heard in a long time as well.
Eccentricity from Problem Solvers on Vimeo.
Ask Your Representative to Preserve Biking and Walking by mark on Jan 26, 2012
From The League of American Bicyclists:
On Thursday, February 2, we expect the House Transportation Committee to vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funds for biking and walking. As a Member of the Committee, your representative is in a key position to save dedicated funding for biking and walking. Please contact them today and ask them to vote to preserve biking and walking.
The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, the long awaited multi year Transportation bill, eliminates the two largest programs that fund biking and walking infrastructure—Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Without these programs, communities all over the country will lose resources to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make biking and walking safe and accessible in your community.
We can’t let that happen.
That’s why we’re working to introduce an amendment that will preserve funding for biking and walking. During Thursday’s vote, your representative could be the key to making sure that this amendment passes in the Transportation Committee. Will you contact them today to ask that they vote to preserve funding for biking and walking in the transportation bill?
Tell them:
* Biking and walking make up 12 percent of all trips, but only 1.5 percent of federal funding.
* Two out of three pedestrian deaths take place on roads built with federal funding. Ensuring funds for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways help end preventable deaths and make roads safer for everyone.
* When town centers are biking and walking friendly, business and economic development improves.
Thank you for all that you do to keep bicycling and walking safe and accessible.
Snack Sack and Borealis Reviews by mark on Jan 23, 2012
For those unfamiliar, Guitar Ted is a bike geek that hails from IA. He always offers a fair and unbiased opinion on products that he tests. So what does he think about a couple of our products? Click to find out.
Michael's Big Fat Bike Adventure by mark on Jan 23, 2012
Friend of Planet Bike, Michael Lemberger, shot this awesome fat bike video this winter!
Catching up with the Kiwi Chronicles by mark on Jan 19, 2012
Russ and Laura are on quite an adventure in New Zealand. Catch up on the last two episodes!
Kiwi Chronicles Ep2: Cycling the Super City from Russ Roca on Vimeo.
Kiwi Chronicles: Episode 3 - On the Road Again - PathLessPedaled.com from Russ Roca on Vimeo.
Two deep breaths and one step forward. by heath on Jan 17, 2012
As I quietly rolled down the dark bike path I can hear dogs barking at us and the cold crunch of the snow under our 4 inch wide tires. It starts to sink in that I’m wrapping up one of the most difficult rides I have ever done. It was hard not to smile.
A few years ago Chris (PB Warehouse guru) and I got some fat bikes. Bikes specifically built for snow and sand. We have been doing some mini adventures both in the winter snow and summer sands but decided to step it up a notch and sign up for the Triple D. The Triple D race meanders through Iowa’s rolling corn fields, windy plains, and along 70ft rock walls. It involves stream crossings, cattle grates, pushing your bike up most of the hills, and pushing through snow drifts in flat corn fields. Honestly, I planned on sagging out the day I signed up. Sixty-five miles in January… on snowmobile trails? I figured I’d start the race and catch a ride when it got hard, or I got cold. Much to our surprise, it was a beautiful sunny day and I was having too much fun to notice my legs burning and my sore throat, which sneaked up on me the day before. Soon I was nearing the halfway point and was thinking that was good enough. Half way? Sounds ok. But how did I even get this far? At the start of the race I felt sick and was planning a 5 mile out and back, ending in the hot tub at the hotel while I waited for the real racers to finish. But I realized, just taking that next step is all it takes to go the next mile… and the mile after that. One mile at a time is how we finished the Triple D. Through Dyersville, past Durango and finally back in Dubuque with the snow under my tires and a smile on my face.
Cyclocross Nationals comes to Madison by kristin on Jan 12, 2012
Our fair city of Madison hosted US Cyclocross Nationals over 5 days last week. In the fall of 2010 it was announced that Madison was going to host this prestigious event and I decided right then and there that I had to enter this race. I used to take my cross racing pretty seriously but since having my son last April my priorities have most definitely shifted. But how often can you race a Nationals event when it is only 10 miles from your house?
Had this been average January weather there would have been at least a foot of snow on the ground and temperatures in the teens. We had an unusual stretch of record setting heat for the races, however, and instead of ice and snow we had mud, sun, and 40+ degree temps. Riders from all over the country descended in Madison eager to duke it out for the chance to earn a stars and stripes champion’s jersey. The racing began Wednesday with some Singlespeed and non Championship B races and continued through Saturday with age groupers from 10-79 racing. The premiere Elite events were on Sunday and nearly everyone who had raced earlier in the week came back to cheer on their favorite pro riders.
I certainly wasn’t the best prepared for my event on Friday with only a handful of races on the season. I also hadn’t ridden my bike outside since early November but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from participating. My expectations may have been low for my finish, but having fun in the mud was my only real concern!
Racing on your home turf is always fun – I heard folks yelling for me all over the course and despite my burning lungs and the increasingly large amount of mud that was collecting on the bike I pretty much had a permanent smile on my face. There were a few less than graceful crashes in the mud on the first lap and I hit the proverbial wall on the last lap and limped home to finish the race off. Not exactly my finest race but it still felt good just to be out there.
The real fun for me was being a spectator for some of the other races and hearing about the success and race recaps from friends. Lots of success and podiums for Planet Bike Masters riders including Bob Downs (3rd), Diane Ostenso (2nd), Greg Pautsch (2nd), Toni Leal (2nd), and Tim Hacker (4th). In the Elite Men’s race Jonathan Page had a fantastic race and took 3rd. It was also great to see some former Planet Bike team members have spectacular races including Katie Compton winning the Elite Women’s race, Kaitie Antonneau taking 2nd in the same event and winning the U23 competition, and a win for Linda Sone in her Masters race. What a great weekend of racing! The energy at a Cyclocross event like this is incredible and if you ever get a chance to come out and watch a big race I highly encourage it.
It’s all coming back to Madison again next year so if you’re looking for some fun next January plan on coming to Wisconsin! I’m already looking forward to racing again!
Thanks to Clint Thayer of Focal Flame photography for the first shot of me and my son with my husband after his race and to Heath for the second photo of me racing.
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