I Love Bicycling

I Love Bicycling is a website that is geared towards cycling for beginners with road cycling tips, training articles, nutrition tips, weight loss, how to’s and bike repair articles.

How To

What’s With These Laced Cycling Shoes?!

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Have you ever had the urge to wear your cycling kit to work and avoid all the changing in and out of cycling clothes to work attire?  With some laced cycling shoes you still won’t be able to, with your cleats click-clacking underneath you, but you will look like you belong at the office.  Laced cycling shoes are the newest-retro fashion statement at the moment, and there are plenty of laced cycling shoes available on the market today.

The Laces

Similar to running shoes, laced cycling shoes have 6-7 eyelets and require you to tie a bow and double-knot it before heading out the door.  These shoes offer an old-school European look while providing you with some stiff, lightweight performance footwear.  And best of all, they look like a super cool pair of shoes so they can complement any street attire and even impose as work shoes.

The Laced Cycling Shoes

Laced cycling shoes are easy to micro-adjust, with 7 different pressure points, compared to the typical three straps most cycling shoes come with.  They are durable in the elements and very lightweight with their only drawback being you cannot tighten them while you ride.  There are several companies making these awesome shoes and thus many different colors and designs to choose from.

Giro Empire

giro-empire

Giro has several different lines of the Empire including their SLX with full carbon sole and lightweight leather upper, their full reflective model, a women’s specific model, as well as their mountain bike laced shoe. Giro Empires come in a variety of colors, as well as laces so you can fully customize your shoes to match your personality.

Specialized S-Works Sub6

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These shoes are incredibly lightweight, aerodynamic and come in a stealth matte black color scheme.

Vittoria 1976 Classic Series

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This Italian company no doubt has recreated a laced cycling shoe to go with their trendy cycling clothing line. The 1976 Classics come in several different color options as well as fabric choices ranging from suede, leather and synthetic.

A Stylish Pair of Cycling Shoes

While you may never feel like running off your bike, at least with these shoes you will look as if you can.  Laced cycling shoes are a fantastic way to gain a competitive edge and to look pretty flashy while doing it!

Why Fall Bike Rides Are Some of The Best of The Year

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It’s that time of year again when the weather cools down, the hours of daylight decrease, and maybe the idea of watching Netflix seems better than getting on a bicycle; however don’t let the conditions fool you.  Fall bike rides can be some of the best of the year!

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Gear for Fall Bike Rides

Getting outside for fall bike rides is much easier and more enjoyable when you have the right gear.  Investing in a good pair of gloves, booties (shoe covers) and a riding jacket will help keep you warm and dry.  Having a set of fenders and some lights will allow you to ride when it is wet, or before or after the sun is up.

Goal Setting

Set a goal to ride on one new road each time you get outside.  This will bring out your inner child (because as if wanting to ride your bike a lot doesn’t make you a kid enough) and will allow you to discover more of your surroundings.  It will also open up new routes or hills to incorporate into workouts in the spring.

Fall bike rides can also be the best for goal-setting for the next season.  You have time to leisurely reflect on how the spring and summer unfolded and now you can pedal through fall leaves and decide on which races, events, and rides you want to attack for next year.

Coffee

Plan stops at different bakeries and cafes!  Fall bike riding is the best time of year for the token ‘coffee-shop-rides’.  After ripping around in the cold for an hour or two, nothing feels quite as satisfying as coming inside to a delicious-smelling cafe and sitting down to rest with a hot cup of coffee and a strudel, cinnamon bun or doughnut.  Fall is the time of year to gain back some of the calories burnt off in the summer.  Lots of bike riders put on body weight in the fall; this is the time to rebuild and recover from some epic summer rides, so go enjoy a doughnut or two!

Relax

Don’t worry about keeping a strict schedule.  It can feel very liberating to go for rides without the bike-computer, power meter and heart rate monitor in the fall.  Ride by feel and listen to your body for how hard and far you wish to ride.  Look at your surroundings and take in all the colorful leaves, the crisp smells, and the chill in the air.

Experiment

Fall bike rides are a great time to try new types of riding such as cyclocross, gravel road riding and mountain biking.  All of these have lower average speeds than road cycling and thus you often won’t feel as cold since you don’t have much of a wind chill.

So don’t let the cooler darker days of fall turn you off of bike riding.  Make sure you have some good gloves and lights, and go explore and have fun!

5 Of The Best Women’s Cycling Shorts

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Possibly the most critical item of technical-gear you can purchase for cycling is a good pair of cycling shorts.  A solid pair of cycling shorts with a good chamois will allow you to feel more comfortable, powerful and in control while on the bike.  It will also allow you to ride for longer periods of time without discomfort.

best-womens-cycling-shorts

These are 5 of the best women’s cycling shorts and they differ from men’s or unisex shorts in several ways:

  • the size run goes smaller in women’s shorts than men’s or unisex sizing
  • the cut of the short is wider in the hips
  • the shape of the chamois is slightly different to accommodate women’s anatomy
  • the inseam is shorter

There are several key features to consider when buying cycling shorts:

Chamois

You want the shorts to fit tight with no bunching material that could potentially chafe later.  The chamois should feel slightly like a diaper and isn’t very comfortable for walking around in, but sitting on a bike, it should feel like a cushion.

Leg Grippers

Every company and model uses different leg gripper technology.  Some use a compression fabric that is tapered around the thigh while others use a silicone band to keep the short from moving.

Inseam Length

This is based on personal preference and how long your legs are.  Some women prefer short shorts with a 6″ inseams, while others like them to be just above the knee with a 7-9″ inseam.

Bibs or No Bibs?

Bib shorts are a cycling short that have shoulder straps like suspenders.  The design eliminates the pressure of exercising with a tight waistband which can become irritating when you are hinged at the waist and pedaling.  However the main problem bibs pose to women is taking them off for pee breaks.  This can be especially exasperating when having to pee during a winter ride when you have to take off multiple layers.

5 Of The Best Women’s Cycling Shorts

Sugoi Evolution Shorty

The Evolution Shorty is the perfect pair of shorts for that woman wanting a shorter inseam.  The Evolution Shorty comes with a 6” inseam, a higher compression material around the thigh for grip without constricting your thighs.  The Evolution Shorty has a comfortable waistband and a high-grade chamois for comfort at an affordable price.

Price: $110

Castelli Mondiale Bib Shorts

The Mondiale Bib Short is the ultimate blend of comfort, performance and functionality.  The short is manufactured from a blend of lycra making it light-weight and wicking.  The short comes complete with a SnapLock fastener making it easy to slip out of for those necessary pee breaks.  The Mondiale Bib Short is top of the line for those long endurance training rides or fondos as its fabric and chamois thickness opts for comfort versus aerodynamics.  The leg gripper is a wide compression material with a silicone band for comfort while keeping the short in place to avoid chafing.  This short is an investment but one you will not soon regret.

Price: $249

Garneau Course Race 2 Cycling Bib Shorts

Louis Garneau Course Race 2 Bib Shorts - Women's Black/White, S

The Course Race 2 bib short is the best cycling shorts for those women looking to do a road race or time trial.  The aerodynamic cut and minimal stitches provide a high-end race-day garment.  The Course Race 2 comes with a 5Motion women’s specific chamois for ultimate comfort without sacrificing performance.  This pair of bib shorts also comes with detachable straps for ease of taking bathroom breaks.

Price: $230

Gore Power Lady 3.0 Shorts+

The Gore Power Lady short comes with a 9” inseam, an elastic gripper on the leg, large reflective logos, and minimal seams to avoid chafing.  This short comes in several colors and has a rainbow band along the leg gripper for an added splash of color.  With a women’s-specific chamois this is the perfect short for any level of rider at an affordable price point.

Price: $100

Pearl Izumi Women’s Pursuit Attack Bib Short

The Pursuit Attack bib-short provides comfort, performance and functionality at a great price.  This pair of shorts comes with an 8” inseam, a silicone leg-gripper, women’s-specific chamois and reflective logos.  This short is affordable and will still give any woman the comfort of riding without a waist-band

Price: $120

It will take trying on several brands and models of shorts or bibs to decided which is the right fit for you and your purse.  However, once you find the right pair of the best women’s cycling shorts for you it will make pedaling a bike even more fun!

A Guide To Start Cycling For Women

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Cycling is an excellent form of exercise for women of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels.  Because of its low-impact on the body, many therapists and trainers recommend cycling for people who are overweight, have nagging injuries, or are older.  Jumping into the world of cycling can be intimidating for women since it is predominantly overrun by men, but there is a wonderful community of women who love bikes, and will be incredibly welcoming to any woman looking to try the sport.

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1st – The Bike Purchase

Buying a new bicycle for yourself will be the biggest investment of the sport, and the one that will also determine the type of riding you will do.  The first step is deciding on what your goals are.  Do you wish to commute to work via bike paths?  Do you want to mountain bike?  Do you want to get into road cycling and maybe race or participate in events down the line? The next step is to budget out how much you are willing to spend on a bicycle.  Most bikes of sufficient quality begin at $700 and can range up to over $5,000.  Keep in mind that beyond the bike you will want to get a helmet, proper athletic clothing, gloves and a flat repair kit for fixing flat tires.  And like a car, bikes need annual tune-ups, tire and tube changes, and regular cleaning and lubing.

2nd – Use Local Bike Shops As a Resource

Going into your local bike shop is one of the best places to start when you are looking to get into cycling.  The employees at bike shops are all really passionate about cycling and bikes, and are great sources of knowledge.  They will be able to:

  • teach you about the various types and models of bicycles
  • help you decide on the best bike for you
  • inform you about bike clubs, clinics, and info sessions
  • provide maps and cycling routes in the area
  • get you stoked on riding your new bike

3rd – Get Clothing to Get You Rolling

Depending on the type of cycling you will be doing there are lots of options for padded bike shorts, gloves, technical jerseys, and shoes.  If you were to choose one article of clothing to buy for your cycling adventures, the best bang for your buck is getting a good fitting pair of shorts with a built in chamois.  This is to keep your bum comfy and supported so you can ride longer.  Not all shorts are spandex either!  There are a lot of athletic short options that have a removable chamois liner, so they look just like any other athletic short, but with built-in bike specific comfort.  There are also women-specific shorts and jerseys that have different cuts to fit a woman’s frame.

4th – Learn the Luxury of Gears

Bicycles come with gears and this is awesome for traversing steep terrain whether it is climbing up ski hills, or climbing up the street, bike gears make life so much better.  Usually there will be 2 or 3 chainrings in the front, and anywhere from 3 to 11 in the back.  The gear shifters are positioned on the grips where your hands go for easy access.  The left-side controls the front chain-ring and the right is for the rear derailleur.  Like a car, you will want to shift into a bigger gear as you go faster because your legs will start to spin too fast as your cadence (rpm) increases.  This means you will want to start shifting on the right side into a smaller cog as well as into the large chainring in the front as you go faster and faster. With this, you will feel added resistance.  Conversely, when you are going slower, say climbing a hill, you will want a smaller gear so you are not bogged down and your legs can move at a steady rhythm.  You will always want to be in the small chain-ring on the front going uphill and one of the largest cogs in the back. Make sure you shift into the gear you want before you’re on the hill itself.

5th – Master the Brakes

Brakes are also on the handlebars along with the gear-shifters (on most bikes of today).  The left side controls the front brake, and the right for the rear. (Unless you’re in the UK or Australia  and the reverse is true.)  It is best to feather the brakes when you want to slow down instead of slamming them.  It is also best to start with the rear brake for initial decrease in speed and use both when coming to a complete stop to avoid an endo, where you go over the handlebars.

6th – Types of Riding to Consider

Urban Cycling

Commuting by bicycle is a great way to get in a workout, cut down on gas costs and clear your head instead of sitting in gridlock.  Bear in mind that you will want to discover the safest way to and from your destination as a lot of busy roads do not have bike lanes.  Furthermore, it is important to remember that you are just like a car on the road and need to signal, shoulder check, not run stop signs, and not to ride on sidewalks.

Group Riding

Riding in a group with other cyclists can be a great opportunity for teaching you pack-riding skills, showing you bike routes, as well as giving you a new bunch of people to work-out with.  Many clubs cater specifically to women, and have ladies-only group rides.  Such rides provide a low-pressure environment and a way to connect with the other women in the sport.

Joining a cycling group is a great way to share bike-riding with other like-minded individuals.  People who are members of cycling clubs or teams genuinely love cycling and are very supportive of newcomers.  It is important to remember that everyone started cycling at one point in time and most likely has made several mistakes and had embarrassing moments along the way.

Riding a bike is an awesome activity for women to get involved with.  It keeps you in shape, allows you a sense of freedom to explore your surroundings, and it connects you with awesome people.

Learn To Commute Without Getting Sweaty

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A big challenge to riding to work is doing the commute without getting sweaty. You don’t want to show up to work all hot and sticky and not ready to work let alone not being comfortable. Who likes sitting in sweaty clothes waiting patiently for them to dry? Some commutes are simply too long and/or too strenuous to not get sweaty so when that’s the case, you need to be prepared with what you’re going to do. Potentially getting sweaty on your way to work is not a reason not to ride to work. It’s an easy fix and the benefits are great, you’ll be glad you figured out how to arrive comfortably at work.

commute-without-getting-sweaty

How Far and How Hilly?

The first thing to take into consideration just for the commute itself is how far is it and what’s the terrain like between home and work. If it’s more than a five mile ride or there is a considerable hill or multiple hills that you need to get over, you will want to wear different clothes for your commute; more on that below. Also, you will want a bike that is easy enough to pedal such as a dedicated commuter, hybrid, road, or cross bike so you are the most efficient on speed and effort.

What’s the Weather?

Another big factor with how to commute without getting sweaty is the weather. If it’s 90+ degrees it’s going to be difficult to even take a breath without it causing you to get sweaty. If it’s cold, you are going to have to make sure you wear extra layers but not too much as you are sweating by the time you arrive at work. Balance is key. Again, we will get into what to wear coming right up.

What Are the Facilities at Your Work Place?

If your work place is less than five miles and you don’t have any considerable hills, you can easily wear your work clothes and not have to change when you arrive. However, if you’re wearing different clothes, you will want a place to change, preferably with a sink, and ideally with a shower. More and more workplaces are incorporating showers and changing rooms just for the commuter cyclist. Is your place of work on board with that yet? If not, bring a small towel and in a bathroom you can lightly clean up. Another good option is baby wipes. They’re small, light, and can just be thrown away saving you the effort of having to take your towel home and wash it.

Options With Your Work Clothes

If you’re going to commute without getting sweaty,  there are a few considerations to keep in mind. One is move-ability on the bike. A dress or baggy pants are going to be an issue. It’s definitely been done but riding a bike with a long dress is quite a challenge. It might be a better option for you to bring a change of clothes on days you want to wear a long dress while a shorter dress or skirt can still be ridden in. With pants that have the potential to get caught in the chainrings you can either roll them up, tuck them into your socks, or get one of these handy pant cuffs.

The big thing with commuting without getting sweaty is staying cool. A good way to do that is to keep your shirt unbuttoned a little as well as to roll up your sleeves to maximize airflow.

Options With a Change of Clothes

If you have a longer, more strenuous ride, wearing a different set of clothes is the best option. Pack your work clothes in a bag so they’re ready to go the night before. Then you can wear cycling specific shorts and a jersey if you wish, or simply just different clothes that are cool and functional. Then when you arrive at work, change, cleanup, and you’re good to go.

Effort Level So You Can Commute Without Getting Sweaty

Regardless of if you’re riding in your work clothes or riding in a change of clothes, you don’t want to arrive at work still dripping sweat unless you have a shower available. The trick to this is simply not riding quite so hard on the way there. Make sure you leave with enough time so you can take your time. Enjoy the morning. You’re out riding your bike. Once you get close to work with five minutes or so left in your ride, ease up even more on the pedals so your effort level drops but you still have the wind on you to cool you down. If you do it right, you’ll arrive at work cool and can quickly change or simply walk right in.

Let us know in the comments below what works for you and any questions you might have about bike commuting.

Multi-functional Cycling Backpack – Everything You Need In A Backpack

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In cycling multi-functionality is huge. You want to have as few of things as possible yet still be functional. This backpack is exactly that. It will allow you to carry what you need and keep it dry from the elements but it also has an embedded lighting system that will not only make you more visible on the road but make you more predictable as it has turn-signals also. Check out the video below and let us know what you think about the backpack and if you would use one.

VUP PlusVUP Plus World’s smallest safest cycling backpack.

Posted by Newslinq on Monday, September 19, 2016

Women’s Cyclocross – What, Who, Where, & Why It’s Awesome

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womens-cyclocross

More women are getting on bicycles, loving it, making friends, and becoming a part of the cycling community.  Somewhere in between road cycling and mountain biking is a super rad type of biking known as cyclocross.  Cyclocross provides an environment where undoubtedly you will fall in the sand pit, slip in the mud, get a hand up of bacon when going through the feed zone and get a really hard workout.  It is a cycling event where the worst conditions are favored, when wearing costumes is allowed, and where everyone is super encouraging of everyone, including women’s cyclocross where more and more women are joining the fun.

The What

Cyclocross is a type of bicycle race that occurs in a circuit of about 2.5-3.5km and consists of off-camber tracks on grass and dirt, sand pits, tight corners, stairs, and barriers.  The races take place in city parks and organizers line up tape and obstacles to create the courses.   The cyclocross season begins in September and runs through January, so be prepared to race in some cold, wet, muddy, and occasionally snowy conditions!  Women’s races typically last 30 to 45 minutes and depending on the conditions, a lap will take anywhere from 8-12 minutes, while the men complete laps faster they just do a few more of them.

The Who

Any woman can get involved in women’s cyclocross!  Whether you are a beginner cyclist or experienced racer, you can find a niche in cyclocross.  Many women enter the sport from road cycling as the road season wraps up just as the cross season begins.  While their fitness translates seamlessly, many roadies learn they need to improve their bike handling skills while on the cross course.  Typically the women, who enter cyclocross from mountain biking pick up the sport faster than the roadies since they spend more time on the technical aspect of the sport such as: lines to take in and out of corners, wheel overlap, and mounting and dismounting.  Joining a cycling club or getting a few girlfriends together to practice and go to the races with is often the easiest way to get into cross, and is sure to provide the most fun.

The Where

Women’s cyclocross is growing each year and with that grows the number of races.  Around the country bike clubs, teams, and shops hold cyclocross races.  Lots of cities have a race series where events move around each weekend.  So many groups are jumping on the cyclocross bandwagon that most are also providing cross clinics on weeknights for people to come and practice barrier jumping, mounts and dismounts, running with the bike, and just getting better at cornering and riding the technical bits.

The Motherland of Cross – Belgium

As with most sports, there is a top level. In cyclocross, the epicenter is the country of Belgium for both the men and women.  Europe in general is more keen on following professional cycling than North America is, but specifically there is a huge fan base for cyclocross in Belgium.  With races occurring several times a week, hundreds to thousands of spectators appear to indulge in plenty of beer drinking and heckling.  Belgians are so dominant in cyclocross that in the 2015-2016 season both top male and female racers on the World Cup circuit were Belgian. A great way to further enjoy the sport as well as to learn a thing or two while further being motivated to ride your bike, you can watch ‘cross races week in and week out from the end of September through February. Websites such as cyclingfans.com often have links to where you can watch.

The Equipment

Cyclocross is somewhat of a blend of both mountain and road biking, and for that reason a lot of the equipment can transfer among the three sports

  • A cyclocross bike is the biggest investment for the sport, however most of the time people don’t spend a ton on them because they tend to get gummed up with mud, and are ridden pretty hard in races.
  • Most people use mountain bike shoes and pedals as you need to be able to get off your bike and run.
  • Warm clothes for before and after the race and sometimes during.
  • A solid pair of gloves for the wet, cold days.
  • A fun and easygoing attitude. You can’t not have fun at a cross race.

The Why of Women’s Cyclocross

Women’s cyclocross is a sport that brings women cyclists of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities together. With its blend of fitness, finesse, power, and its uninhibited atmosphere, it is the perfect blend of awesome. So in short; get a cross bike, find some friends or a group to ride with, seek out a race, and have some fun!

5 of the Best Women’s Road Bikes

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women's road bikes

More and more bike manufacturers are developing specifically women’s road bikes to meet the needs and the growing population of female cyclists.  Women have different body geometry than that of men and often require different saddles, different frame designs and smaller handlebars and shallower drops to allow them to  feel most comfortable and in control while riding.  Depending on the goals, experience, and budget a woman has for road cycling, there are various women specific bike models to meet her needs.

Here are 5 Women’s Road Bikes That Will Meet Your Needs

Trek Silque SLX

Silque SLX Women's

The Trek Silque SLX is a mid-range endurance road bike designed for the woman cyclist looking for the utmost comfort while doing long road rides.  The Silque SLX comes complete with an OCLV carbon frame, internal cable routing, Shimano Ultegra components, as well as their unique IsoSpeed decoupler.  The IsoSpeed decoupler is specific to the Trek brand; it is a suspension unit built into the seat post designed to absorb impacts on a bumpy road.  Initially manufactured for racing on cobblestones, the IsoSpeed decoupler is perfect for any woman cyclist who is looking to stay on the road for long periods of time in either a fondo, bike tour, or any longer rides.

Price: $3300 USD

Scott Contessa Speedster 15

The Contessa Speedster 15 is the perfect entry-level road bike for woman looking to get into road cycling.  The Speedster comes equipped with Shimano 105, an aluminum frame with a carbon fork, and aerodynamic geometry for a fraction of the price.  The Contessa Speedster 15 has a compact design and is a perfect all-around bike for any road cycling adventure.

Price: $1400 USD

Liv Envi Advanced Pro 0

The Liv Envi Advanced Pro 0 is a high-end road bike that will meet the needs of the woman looking for the leading edge in aerodynamics, light-weight, and responsiveness.  This sweet bike comes with SRAM Red etap 11 speed, an advanced grade carbon frame and Giant SLR 0 Aero wheel set.  This bike is for the women looking excel on climbs, punchy sprints and technical corners.  With its aerodynamic frame and slick paint job, this bike’s race-ready geometry has it ready to be pedaled fast!

Price: $7500 USD.

Specialized Amira Comp

specialized-womens-bike

The Amira Comp is a road racing bike at an affordable price point.  It comes with Shimano Ultegra components, a carbon frame, internal cable routing and a competitive geometry.  With a matte black paint job it is a stealth bike that is sure to provide a responsive ride.  At its mid-range price it will meet the needs of the woman looking to upgrade to a more competitive bike while avoiding breaking the bank.

Price: $3000 USD

Cannondale SuperX Women’s Force

The SuperX Women’s Force is a women’s specific cyclocross or gravel-road bike.  This bike provides the rider with unparalleled stability, traction and support.  It comes equipped with SRAM Force components, a BallisTec carbon frame, and aggressive geometry specific for cyclocross racing.  With its compact handlebars, women’s saddle, small frame size options, and awesome paint job, it is the perfect cross-racing machine for any woman hoping to excel off the paved road and to look good while doing it.

Price: $3600 USD

The growing market of women’s road bikes has created many opportunities for women get a bike that will fit her lifestyle, body, and budget.  Depending on what you are looking to accomplish on the road there is a bike to meet those needs, plus often a cool paint job to go with it!

Want To Know How To Properly Buy a Bike?

Check out how to buy a bike that gets into the homework you should do prior to going to a bike shop, what questions to ask when you get there, what to look for on a test ride, and a few other details to make your buying experience seamless.

What To Use For Bike Frame Protection

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Whether it is pristine custom paint, cable housing rubbing on carbon or a chain slapping a steel chainstay, you should be protecting your frame. There are many options for bike frame protection for different applications. Figure out which one is right for your frame and wallet.

bike-frame-protection

Helicopter Tape For Bike Frame Protection

The intention of the original frame protection tape, helicopter tape, is to protect helicopter rotor blades from debris that could damage them and alter the handling of the helicopter. The durability of the tape lends itself to protecting bicycle frames from stones you may encounter on the road or trail that could damage your frame.

Bike Specific Tape

The next generation of bike frame protection is bike specific frame tape. Effetto Mariposa Shelter Frame Protection Tape claims to have fifty layers of impact dissipating netting to spread the energy of an impact across the tape and not into the frame. This will preserve both the paint and carbon fiber frame integrity.

Lower tech but higher quantity tape is available to cover your needs as well. It will not have the same impact resistance as the Shelter tape, but will still be a good choice for most incidental impact and paint protection. You will have to weigh the cost of tape versus how much a repair or replacement of a broken frame from an impact with a rock, along with the likelihood of such a large impact occurring.

Watch the Cables

When you are building up your prized frame, watch the cable routing. Sometimes the worst damage comes from repeated small cable rubbing, not the big impact you are expecting. Try to avoid cable housing rubbing on the frame. If you cannot, small clear stickers of helicopter tape should go on the frame at the contact point.

Chain Slap

Chain slap on a road bike is not as common as on a mountain bike. Your road bike will be fine with a layer of tape on the chainstay for the occasional slap. On a mountain bike, where the impact is regular, you will want to put something a little thicker to quiet the frequent chain slap and offer more protection to the paint and frame.

The Hack Route

The cheap way to protect your frame uses more readily available tapes and will protect your paint from most impacts. If you are not riding on trails with big, loose rocks, this will probably suffice. The cheap option is also great for cable rub. For black areas, electrical tape does the trick. If you are really motivated, you can find colored electrical tape to match your frame. It is sticky enough to hold for the life of a frame and is easy to find, is cheap, and has many other uses.

The option for frames that are not black is slightly less easy to find, but is also cheap and is at your local sporting goods store – clear hockey tape. It is not as clear as the fancier clear tapes above, but it is far cheaper and does as good of a job protecting from cable rub or chain slap. Nobody will notice unless they are looking closely anyway. It is even good enough to silence exposed cables that slap the frame instead of cable doughnuts. Those bunch up at the cable stops anyway; the tape never moves.

Tape Up

For these tapes, and all others, feel free to cut the tape to length and shape to ideally fit your frame. A small piece of bike frame protection tape will go a long way to maximizing the lifetime and appearance of your frame.

Why The Lunch Ride Is So Great And How You Can Start One

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lunch ride

Work is dragging and you are losing focus. A ride could really spark your day right now. Good news, you can go for a lunch ride. While the rest of your coworkers wait in line for unhealthy food and eat it in windowless break rooms, you can pedal your bike with friends for a quick mid-day spark.

Mid-day Recharge

A lunch ride is a great way to get away from work to get some exercise and be social. You can meet up with your riding friends and spend some time outside. It will give you a fresh perspective when you head back to work at the end of the ride. Trudging straight through eight hours of work should not win any prizes, but having your head in it, focused on your tasks should. A lunch ride can reclaim that focus.

Seeing friends in the middle of the day that you would not normally see is another great benefit of the lunch ride. Talking with someone other than coworkers can brighten up your day, unless you plan on smashing the entire ride so nobody is talking. But it will still be nice to be with them.

Starting Your Lunch Ride

There are a few things that are necessary to start a regular lunch ride. You will need an area that is dense enough to draw enough cyclists from the various workplaces to a central meeting point. The definition of enough cyclists depends on you – two people might be enough for your group ride, or maybe twenty is enough.

Find a time and day that works well for the friends you want to ride with. If others want to join, that is fine, but make sure the people that you want on the ride are able to make it.

The route needs to be short enough that people can get back to work in a reasonable time. A bit less than an hour seems to work well. All in, expect that it will take about an hour and a half out of each person’s day, between getting ready, riding and changing back into work clothes. The route should be as interesting and traffic free as possible (like every ride, right?) to accommodate the group on the road. A route with a few escape points to head back to work early if necessary is a nice touch.

With social media, it is easy to connect with the people that will go on the ride. Starting a group to give updates and notifications on the lunch ride is a good idea. It can also be an attendance list – you will know who to wait for at the start. This is a place to be clear about the expectations of your ride: pace, aggressiveness, traffic negotiation,

Etiquette of Your Lunch Ride

The lunch ride will have a few more considerations than your standard group ride because of the tight timing.

Be on time. Most people are depending on a set schedule so they can get back to work. If anyone is late, they are holding the group back. That said, leave on time. If someone does not make it on time, that is now their problem.

Make sure your equipment is in good working order. If your equipment fails, chances are someone from the group will wait, but probably at the expense of some time at work. Make sure you equipment is dialed in so this situation does not arise.

Do not assume everyone knows the route. Just because you have done the route every week for a year does not mean everyone else does. Point out obstacles and turns, otherwise people will be late for work, either because of wrong turns, broken equipment, or broken bodies.

Upon Return

Being prepared makes your personal lunch ride experience better. Have your work clothing organized so you can jump back into them as quickly as possible. Plan on eating your lunch while you are working; you used up your allotted free time to eat while riding. Getting proper recovery food is necessary to keep you productive for the rest of the work day.

Have Fun!

The lunch ride is a great way to add a fun break to your regular work routine. Talk with riding friends near your workplace and organize a regular quick training session. You will look forward to it each time.

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