Stories

Best Bicycle Maintenance Books Review

October 28, 2016 by Lee Agur

When you are looking for the best bicycle maintenance books, you need something that speaks your language. If you are a beginner you are looking for something that does not have all the technical jargon that you will not be able to follow. We review the best bike repair books available on the market.

Bike Repair Books Review

Zinn & The Art of Road Bike Maintenance

This book along with Zinn & The Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance are the best bicycle maintenance books. They are comprehensive enough for the advanced home mechanic, but written in a way that is beginner friendly.

As the title suggests this does not cover mountain bikes nor hybrids, so if you have one make sure to get that version listed below.

Zinn & The Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance

This mountain bike repair book is a must have. It has everything you will need in it, from bike set-up to drivetrains.

It is well written and very thorough. The Zinn collection has plenty of pictures to describe each step of the process in enough detail so you won’t be left guessing what that step was to fix your bike.

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance & Repair: For Road & Mountain Bikes

The benefit to this repair book over the Zinn collection is that it is an all in one repair book that covers road bikes as well as mountain bikes.

This book speaks very well to the beginner mechanic and has very detailed explanations in their step by step guides. This book has been revised 6 separate times to constantly update the information to keep it current and relevant.

With nearly 500 pictures and drawings you won’t be baffled.

PARK TOOL Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair

As with the other repair books, this one is also comprehensive with great pictures. One of the downsides to this book is that it is the most expensive.

This repair book is not as geared to the beginner mechanic and can be quite a dry read. It does not make the information any less valuable, it just happens to make it a little more difficult to digest.

Bike Repair and Maintenance For Dummies

This bicycle repair book is definitely geared towards the beginner mechanic. If you are looking for a laugh while learning to repair your bike then this could be the book for you. On the other hand, the tone is so humorous that it may irritate you.

Additionally, it is not a complete guide to fixing all the problems on a bike, it is more of a summary of things you should do.

This book assumes this is the first time you have touched a bike, so it is definitely not a book for more experienced mechanics.

Bicycle Maintenance Books Summary

No matter how many new technologies come out and upgrades there are, the main parts of the bike remain the same. There are constant additions to new editions, but the core of the books stay the same.

If you are looking for less expensive options than the books provided, you can always check youtube. The only problem is you never know if you are going to get good quality advice, and it can take time to find the best video for your purposes.

What’s With These Laced Cycling Shoes?!

October 23, 2016 by Emma Lujan

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 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

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

Vittoria 1976 Classic Series

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!

Best Cycling Socks of 2016

October 6, 2016 by Lee Agur

We review some of the best cycling socks available on the market. We compare summer, winter and fun cycling socks.

Best Summer Cycling Socks

Summer cycling socks are meant for 5 degrees celsius/41 degrees fareinheit or warmer.

Thirty48 Cycling Socks

These are the best cycling socks on the market, they are great for everyone. These socks wick the moisture away from the foot keeping you cool and dry and reducing the chances of hot foot. The fabric is made of a germ killing poly blend. These cycling socks are even designed differently for each foot giving them support where necessary and better airflow.

Thirty48 cycling socks are perfect for everyday cycling as they are designed to last. If you plan to do a race and want the best race sock on the market, then you should look at something a little bit thinner like the next sock we review.

Price: $10

Castelli Rosso Corsa

These socks are expensive for a reason, it is an amazing sock it fits so snug and well that you can’t tell where your foot ends and the sock begins. They will feel dry unless you are in a rainstorm, and they are made of Meryl Skinlife antibacterial fibers.

Save these socks for special occasions as they are top of the line. They work well in extreme temperatures and come in 6cm, 9cm and 13cm ankle heights.

Price: $10 – $17

Best Winter Cycling Socks

Winter socks are more about warmth than performance, but picking the right ones is an art just as much as a science. The two winter socks reviewed below are good up to -5 degress celsius/23 degrees fahrenheit. If you want to bike in colder weather make sure to put toe covers on and dress appropriately.

DeFeet Woolie Boolie

These breathable, high-quality, mid-weight merino wool cycling socks provide warmth and comfort when cycling in cold conditions. This multi-purpose mid weight merino wool sock has padding for warmth but does not bring the bulkiness generally attributed to something so warm.

These socks are durable and dry very quickly.

Price: $10 – $16

Pearl Izumi Ride Elite Termal Wool Socks

An ultra warm winter sock predominately made from merino wool with a flat toe seem for comfort. Extra cushioning under the foot and great arch compression.

Light fleece lined interior for added warmth.

Price: $13 – $20

Fun Cycling Socks

Fun socks can be an expression of who you are, or just put on to make you smile.

SockGuy Beer Socks

Looking to draw a comment from someone or you just enjoy beer?

They are not cheap novelty socks, they are designed by the SockGuys who are known for their quality. This is still a nice lightweight breathable cycling sock.

Price: $6 – $10

DeFeet Joy Rides Socks

DeFeet has a great assortment of fun cycling socks.

Price: $6 – $12

Other Fun Cycling Socks

Share the Road Cycling Socks

Smiley Socks

Hipster Cycling Socks

A Review Of The Tigra Sport Handlebar Phone Mount

October 5, 2016 by Adam Farabaugh

You go pretty much everywhere with your phone be it the grocery store, work, or on your ride. There are a lot of cycling apps out there that you can use during a ride. Strava anyone? How about a map when you’re exploring new roads or trails? So why not make use of your phone during a ride? Digging your phone out of your pocket can be cumbersome not to mention dangerous at times. This on top of your phone having the capability to operate as a cycling computer giving you real-time data, and more than just your speed and time ridden, are reason enough to have a handlebar phone mount.

Having the Need to See Who’s Calling/Texting/Emailing…

Additionally, you probably get the text from the significant other about when you’ll be home or from your friends about going out later. How about the unexpected call that could be work that can’t wait, or parents who can wait. Knowing right away whether it’s something you need need to pull over and take care of or if you can keep riding and get to it later is super convenient and saves you from having to reach back frantically and pull your phone out of your pocket. Having it right there in front of you solves these problems.

The Need of a Handlebar Phone Mount That Will Reliably Keep Your Phone Safe

With a handlebar phone mount however, your phone is out in the elements and in an exposed spot to fall and break be it on bumpy roads or trails or in the event of a crash. Having your phone securely mounted with a reliable piece of equipment is extremely important. After all, smart phones aren’t exactly cheap. Here we review the Tigra Sport Handlebar Phone Mount and see if it’s up for this rather large job.

What is The Tigra Sport Handlebar Phone Mount?

This handlebar phone mount is a two part system to mount your phone. The first is the mount of which ours was the Mount Case Bike Forward Mount. They have a number of different types of mounts depending upon your setup and desire. This mount is made from aluminum and is quite sturdy. The second part is the case that your phone is in. This isn’t similar to your standard, durable smartphone case, but rather is a durable smartphone case, just with an elevated section of material on the back of which the mount attaches to.

How the Mount Attaches to the Bars

The mount first attaches to your handlebars with an aluminum backing that is bolted on with two small bolts with allen heads; much like clip-on aerobars if you are familiar with them. The mount comes with multiple rubber strips preformed to go between your handlebars of any diameter, and the mount to prevent slipage as well as to ensure that it’s tight on the bars. Two more small bolts then attach the piece that contains the attachment points for the phone as well as a camera mount beneath. The four bolts do seem a bit small and like they would be a pain to install but in-fact it was simple and straightforward.

How Your Phone Attaches to the Mount

The phone itself is not actually attached to the mount but rather is in a case designed specifically for it. Tigra Sport makes mount cases for practically every smartphone. (I’m a bike expert not a phone expert but clicking around their website it seemed like they had every type of phone covered.) Our mount case was for the iPhone 6 and it fit snug, like any phone case would. It is also quite sleek and if you can deal with the thicker material in the center, on the back in your day-to-day life, it can be an everyday phone case.

This mount case then rotates and clicks in to the mount itself, much like a Garmin mount or any other computer mount, except this one is a bit bigger and a bit more secure. To remove the phone from the mount, you can’t just rotate it. You have to press down on a little tab and then rotate it. This seems like the ticket to keeping the phone mounted no matter what.

The Security

This handlebar phone mount is quite secure on the bars. There is virtually no play or movement in the mount itself and only a little bit in the phone case to mount connection but not enough that it would go anywhere. (Upon first testing this product I didn’t want to risk doing much of a ride and breaking my phone if the mount were to fail so was quite hesitant but once I saw how secure the phone actually was I knew I didn’t have to worry.) If you were to apply abrupt, direct force to the phone, say in a crash, the system would fail at the point where the phone case clips into the mount itself. For this to happen, it would have to be in a crash as simply riding down a crazy rough road or rocky trail would not apply enough direct force to the phone. For the phone to come out of the case it’s in; it simply won’t happen because of the weight of the phone and how tightly the case is on it.

The Functionality

The Tigra Sport Handlebar Phone Mount is quite simple but also functional for what you want to do with it. The mount attaches to your handlebars just to the left of the stem which is the only option if you want the mount out ahead of your bars, otherwise you can pace it on the other side to have the phone just above your stem. Either position puts the phone in the best place to use yet still be out of the way. You can angle the mount so that phone faces more up to you or so it lies flat and is more aerodynamic. With its sleek turn and lock attachment system, it can also rotate so the phone is horizontal to you. This is a great option if you’re riding the trainer or rollers in the winter and want to watch a movie.

For anything to be functional on a bike, it must stand up in all weather. The mount will easily but your phone on the other hand… The case comes with a cover that snaps over the front of the phone which wouldn’t be 100% waterproof, say dropping it in a lake, but if you were to get caught in the rain, the cover would keep your phone dry. They have small removable covers for the power cord and earphone jack that simply rotate out and stay attached so you don’t loose them. The one big drawback with the cover is that it makes it very difficult to use your phone as it doesn’t provide good contact with the screen to be able to swipe, type, anything really. (note: I do have a glass screen protector on my phone so both of them may be the reason why it doesn’t work.) You can see fine through the screen protector which seemed like it would be an issue before it was on the phone.

The Take Away

This is a pretty sweet handlebar phone mount. Simply, it keeps your phone secure on your bars, priority number one, and has the functionality to be able to be positioned almost any way you like. Additionally, having the option to attach a camera, say a GoPro, to the bottom of the mount is pretty sleek. The biggest drawback is the screen protector being too thick or made of poorly conducting plastic for you to be able to utilize the screen. You don’t have to ride with it on however and can just leave it in your pocket just in case the rain comes.

Best Bike Chain Lube For All Bikes

October 5, 2016 by Lee Agur

So you are looking for the best bike chain lube on the market? Well, we take a look at the various brands. First off, you have to decide what kind of lube you want, wet or dry.

How To Pick the Best Bike Chain Lube

Lube is to prevent your gears from getting dry and creating friction, keep the dirt out and also keep everything from rusting. There are two kinds of lube, wet and dry.

Wet Bike Chain Lube

Generally you use wet lube in wet conditions, the consistency of the lube is thick and slippery so that it won’t wash away in the rain or when biking through puddles.

Dry Bike Chain Lube

Dry lube is used in dry weather as it is not as thick as wet lube and does not collect as much dirt. The lube goes on wet, but dries quickly leaving a wax like synthetic film to protect your chain. The downside to dry lube is it does not last as long and has to be re-applied more frequently.

Applying Bike Lube

Note that you do have to apply all lubes to dry and degreased chains. Make sure you avoid all brakes and rotors when applying lube. Aim to put one drop per link and take off any excess lube with a rag.

What Happens If I Don’t Lube My Chain?

If you do not lube your chain it will pick up dirt and grimme and get stuck in the links making it less efficient to cycle. The chain links will dry up and corrode making shifting and biking more difficult.

The Best Bike Chain Lubes Review

Finish Line Dry Lube

Finish line dry lube is one of the industry leaders, it includes teflon which decreases friction so you use less energy to turn the pedals.

Make sure to use this lube in dry conditions and give it enough time to dry off.

This comes in 2, 4 and 8 ounce squeeze bottles, an 8 ounce aerosol spray can, a 32 ounce jug and a 1 gallon jug.

Finish Line Wet Lube

This is the wet version of the finish line products and will protect your chain in the wettest conditions as it totally repels water. This lube will get in to every little nook and cranny and keep mud and dirt out.

Again, the teflon makes nice and efficient pedaling and is the most popular brand in the world.

This comes in 2, 4 and 8 ounce squeeze bottles, an 8 ounce aerosol spray can, a 32 ounce jug and a 1 gallon jug.

Rock N Roll Gold Lube

Coined the king of lube, albeit self proclaimed, is a great all purpose road and mountain biking wet lube. This lube simultaneously cleans and lubes, it will dissolve any dirt and make the chain look like new. This lube is not a degreaser or a cleaner, but it does help clean the chain.

Comes in 4 and 16 ounce bottles.

Tri-Flow Bike Chain Lube

Tri-Flow is formulated to clean, soften and remove dirt contaminants it has a light viscosity to ensure it penetrates deep in to all of those hard to reach moving parts. Tri-Flow also uses teflon and works well in all temperatures.

I Only Run During Cyclocross

September 29, 2016 by Adam Farabaugh

The typical cyclist is anti-running to the n-th degree. They don’t even like walking. The phrase that gets thrown around is “If you can sit, sit. If you can lay, lay.” The one exception in cycling is cyclocross. Then you get to .2 miles… maybe each week. How much running do you do? Let us know in the comments below and how you mix the two.

Epic Bike Rides – What Makes Them Epic and A Few Notables

September 22, 2016 by Josh Friedman

Even though epic is an overused word that people throw around to describe rather pedestrian situations, you can still have epic bike rides. You should also understand that one person’s epic ride could be another person’s average day in the saddle. Some combination of ride conditions that are outside the ordinary will determine if your ride meets the esteemed and venerable title of “epic bike ride”. And despite what certain cycling clothing companies want you to think, wearing their clothing will not make the ride epic. Only the ride makes the ride epic.

Weather

It is easy to go for a ride when it is nice out. It is not as easy to go for a ride when conditions are not ideal, but you are prepared. It is least easy when you set out on a ride when it is fine, only to have the weather turn and you are stuck in an unexpected deluge/blizzard/heat wave/cold snap/gale force wind. Generally you are unprepared and have to suffer the whole way home. Weather is often one of the contributors to an epic bike ride.

Terrain

Terrain dictates your ride. Should you do a hilly or flat ride today? How about by the beach (and the wind)? Maybe into the mountains? An overload of one feature can contribute to an epic bike ride. Three mountain passes in one day? That could be part of an epic bike ride. A flat ride with a headwind for three straight hours? That could also be part of an epic bike ride. A road washed out and now the pavement is gone? Yes, probably a large contribution to an epic bike ride.

Duration

Going way beyond your normal time on the bike can contribute the level of epic in your day. Maybe the longest ride you have done in the last year was four hours. Sure, an eight hour ride is a great idea! It will probably be epic, leading you to the failings of the next topic, nutrition.

Nutrition

You are likely to bonk/crack/get the hunger knock on an epic ride, especially if it goes beyond your normal duration. Of all the epic conditions listed here, this is the easiest to avoid and the most likely to happen. Stay fed and hydrated so you can remember your epic ride and not have to suffer unnecessarily. The ride itself should provide plenty of suffering.

Mishaps

Something is going to break… sometime. One flat on a ride does not contribute to making a ride epic. But four flats (fixed with spare tubes, patches and a frame pump; CO2 is not helping here) and a broken chain (that you repaired because you were prepared) can send you on your way to an epic bike ride. If you know you are going to have a long day in the saddle, make sure you bike is dialed in. Again, conditions of weather, terrain and duration should take care of most of the epicness.

Fitness/Physical Condition

You signed up for a big ride a few months ago, but you did not train properly. You are going to do it anyway, what could go wrong? You are going to have a rough day in the saddle. It is all in the name of a good story; at least some good will come of it.

Sometimes You Are the Hammer, Sometimes You Are the Nail

Hey, look, that kid that just spent the year racing in Belgium showed up on the ride. The casual pace you were hoping for turned into a lined-out frantic attempt to stay in contact with the group. You are at the limits of your fitness, pedaling squares trying to not get dropped like a rock twenty miles from home. Those twenty miles would be so slow and lonely. Hang on! Either way, it could help your ride be epic.

Navigation

That road looked interesting, so you took it. Now you are hopelessly lost and nothing is familiar. Your two hour ride clicks over to four hours. Will you ever get home? Most likely, yes, but with less dignity, destroyed legs, and a story.

Epic Bike Rides to Try

Dirty Kanza 200

The Dirty Kanza 200 is a two hundred mile race in central Kansas. That is two centuries, without stopping. Do you think Kansas is flat? You are wrong. Remember the Wizard of Oz and the tornado? It is windy too. Plus there is not much pavement on this ride. You are responsible for yourself too. There is no outside support.

Belgian Waffle Ride

The BWR is another mixed terrain ride over a long distance. It is in southern California in April, so for riders coming from colder parts of the country, the heat could prove to be a challenge. Again, come prepared to support yourself and probably get your legs torn off.

Out Your Own Door

There are probably lots of places close by to your own home that you have never explored. Plan a really long day to check them out. This is a recurring theme; be prepared for the conditions you might encounter. And bring friends for an extra level of fun (or to commiserate with about your shared misery).

Arbiter of Epicness

Only you can be the arbiter of your own epicness. Be wary of attaching the title of epic bike rides too frequently; it diminishes the meaning of the word. Now go for a epic bike ride that will make a great story.

5 Of The Best Cyclocross Cantilever Brakes

September 21, 2016 by Corey Davis

Cross season is finally here (#crossishere) and everyone has been busy for months training and thinking of new ways to get a leg up on their competition. Well at least the pros have. But for the rest of us trying to get ready now, the bike is an easy place to make a couple changes and see big rewards. Brakes are a big part of your equipment choices for road and mountain biking, and even more so for cyclocross. Brakes slow you down so how can they make you faster. Well the later you can brake going into a corner, the more time you can spend at a higher speed. Cyclocross cantilever brakes are slowly fading away with the new disk brake revolution, but cyclocross cantilever brakes still serve a purpose. Some of the top euro-pros refuse to ride anything else and the one big benefit for everyone else is that you don’t need an entirely different wheelset. Here are a few that are considered the best and why.

Avid Shorty Ultimate Front and Rear

These cyclocross cantilever brakes are well known and have been tested to the extreme for years. Avid is well known in the brakes department and have been supplying quality brakes for years. These brakes specifically are lightweight, claiming to be just 115 grams for the front and rear. One nice thing about these cyclocross cantilever brakes is they use regular road cartridge pads, opposed to V-brake pads. The pad height is easily adjustable and offers ample room for mud clearance.

TRP RevoX Carbon

TRP changed the game with the TRP RevoX Carbon cantilever cyclocross brakes. These brakes weigh 118 grams per set and deliver profound stopping power. They have dual spring tension adjusters and integrated barrel adjusters for easily changing the clearance and alignment on the spot. You can also adjust the angle of the pads for better stopping power for your specific wheel and can help to eliminate brake chatter. These are a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for and brakes are not the place to go cheap!

Tektro CR710 Cyclocross Cantilever Brakes

These Tektro brakes are a great deal for someone looking to test the waters in cyclocross. Tektro’s cantilever cyclocross brakes are a bit heavier weighing 144 grams per set. This brake set works best with Shimano 7900 series and above. They do have a “barrel adjuster for cable/pad clearance adjustments on the go” which is a nice ability to have. These brakes are aluminum and strong enough to handle any abuse you put them through!

Shimano BR-CX70 Brakes

Shimano always makes quality products and these brakes work exceptionally well when paired with Shimano shifters. These brakes have a more open design for greater mud clearance and a lower profile to make run-ups more comfortable when the bike’s on your shoulder. These cyclocross cantilever brakes have “road brake cartridge style brake pad holder for compatibility with pads for carbon wheels”. These brakes are easy to use and will make a great addition on your cyclocross bike.

FSA SL-K CX Brake Set

The FSA SL-K line is known for being some of the best components available and the cyclocross brakes hold true to this. These brakes weigh only 113 grams per caliper and conveniently make changing pads easy. “The SL-K Cross brake has a stiff but light design, with easy to use cable adjusters integrated into the caliper. Open design clears mud easily, while maintaining a positive lever feel.” These brakes are for serious business and will not hold anyone back.

Triathlon World Championships

September 16, 2016 by Emma Lujan

The ITU (International Triathlon Union) World Championships is the penultimate stop of the elite Olympic-distance triathlon circuit. Elite triathletes have been racing across the globe since March at various World Cup events, and have gone through their country’s selection policies in order gain a shot at the world title. This year the Triathlon World Championships are held in Cozumel Mexico, quite the place to begin the off season!

Triathlon World Championships Race Categories

The Triathlon World Championships consists of 3 different categories for the men and women.

– Junior: Athletes are under the age of 18 and the course is a Sprint-distance, or half the distance of that of the elites.

– U23: Athletes need to be under the age of 23 and the course is the full Olympic-distance.

– Elite: Athletes generally have gone through the U23 and or Junior categories and have progressed to race at the elite level.

Triathlon World Championships Race Distances and Courses

The Triathlon World Championship consists of 2 race distances: the Sprint-distance and the Olympic-distance.

Sprint

-Swim: 750m or 0.4miles

-Bike: 20km or 12.5miles

-Run: 5km or 3.1 miles

The sprint event is raced by both the elite Junior Men and Women. The race is draft-legal on the bike, so athletes ride in packs to try and save as much energy as they can for the run. The entire race takes anywhere from 55-65 minutes depending on the course and race conditions.

Olympic

-Swim: 1500m or 0.9miles

-Bike: 40km or 25miles

-Run: 10km or 6miles

The Olympic-distance is raced by both the U23 and Elite categories. The race is double that of the Sprint and both consist of loops on the bike and run making them spectator friendly!

Triathlon Races and Points

The triathlon season begins in March and runs into October. Races span across the globe touching down in places such as the UAE, Australia, Germany, England, Sweden, Japan, Canada, USA, and Mexico. Each year the race calendar varies slightly in the location of the races, as well as the grand finale with the purpose being to spread triathlon across the world and allowing greater opportunity for more people to race. There are 3 main tiers of races:

–WTS (World Triathlon Series) 750 points per win

–World Cups 500 points per win

–Continental Cups 400 points per win

–Winning the World Championship Race 1000 points

The points breakdown descend after 1^st place, however an athlete can gain more points finishing in the top 5 in a WTS than winning a World Cup.

The caliber of the field as well as the points at stake at each race is the highest in the WTS events and the lowest at the Continental Cups. So an athlete can navigate a race schedule to include a variety of races and the opportunity to snag extra points. The world championship crown is the result of consistent race results.

Worlds Selection

Countries will send anywhere from 1-6 athletes to a Triathlon World Championship depending on each athlete’s current health and fitness, his or her world ranking, as well as the budget each country has to work with.

World Triathlon Age-Group Racing

Along with the select group of elites racing for the world title, there are thousands of age-group triathletes who will also be toeing the line in Cozumel this weekend. Each and every one of them has qualified at their country’s national championship, or has filled the requirements at other races outlined by their nation. The Age-Group race differs from the Elite races in several ways:

-No drafting is allowed on the bike

-The races go off in waves as per each individual age-group

-Race categories are in 5 year increments

-The bike and run course can be slightly less technical to avoid crashes since there are more athletes on the course at once.

After 7 months of racing, the best triathletes from around the globe are all poised for the Triathlon World Championships. The world rankings for both the top elite men and women are very close this year, so it will come down to who can back up a long season with a spectacular finish.

The Elite Women will be racing Saturday, September 17th, 2016 while the Elite Men will be racing the following day. You can watch both events live here.

The Morning Commute – A Tradition

September 12, 2016 by Adam Farabaugh

It’s early. It’s just starting to get light out. There’s still a bit of a nip in the air. You have this feeling of being alive and beating everyone to the day. That is because in fact, you are. And not just alive, but invigorated and motivated to tackle and enjoy the day.

On your morning commute on your bike you pass by the older lady out walking her dog and give a slight “good morning”. You pass the kids waiting for the bus impatiently. You think, “I wish I still had that much energy as soon as I woke up without any coffee!”. You make up for it though with your second cup in your thermos.

The commute’s not too long but long enough to get your heart pumping and your brain rolling on what’s coming up for the day. You pass all the traffic and think “I sure am glad I’m not stuck there with them.” If only more of the world would commute by bike it would make everyone better in so many ways; how you feel during the day, that you’re getting exercise, your not wasting your valuable time staring through a windshield, and perhaps most importantly, you’re not adding to the worlds problems of pollution, over-consumption, and spitting out more CO2 into the atmosphere.

The last few minutes on your morning commute you ease up a little on the pedals to slow your breathing and to start to cool off so you don’t immediately become sweaty as soon as you step inside. You take advantage of that free-flowing, cool air. When you pull up to work you roll right to the front of the building, not having to look for a parking spot. Another sweet advantage especially when parking is bad.

The worst part about your morning commute? It coming to end. But fortunately you have the ride home and then the morning commute again tomorrow.

Let us know in the comments below what your favorite part of the morning commute is. We’d love to hear!

« Previous Page