How to Lock Your Bike Properly

Part of my new "How To" series

If you ever have had to leave your beloved bicycle unattended anywhere other than safely secured within your home you've had that thought: "I hope it doesn't get stolen."

Me; I love my bicycles so much that it is a rare occasion that I let them out of my sight when using them to run errands or making a stop to refuel on a long ride. There are times, however, that I must leave my bike and take proper precautions. While I believe that there is no longer anything that could classify as theft prevention there certainly are some great deterrents, and any longer the secret is for your bike to be locked up better and made less attractive to thieves than the one next to it. So; let's delve into that.

One of my favorite websites, Lifehacker.com recently ran a story on how to lock your bicycle properly; featuring a lot of the advice of the legendary late Sheldon Brown. The article certainly was good - and I'm definitely not one to pick a fight with Sheldon; who is more of an expert on all things bike-related than I, but I did feel that there were some things that could be addressed better along with some tips and methods that I have learned or developed which I would like to pass along.

LOCK IT OR LOSE IT...
The article suggested a couple of ways to lock your bike with a U-Lock: First; running the lock through your rear wheel inside the rear triangle then around a secure object...

Friday Five, October 12, 2012

Five things your bike shop might be getting wrong...

Don't take me as a hater; I did the bike shop thing for 10 years, I am still one of their biggest advocates, andI run my own independent operation. However - unless you're one of the rare folks who frequents a bike shop staffed by cyborgs - the mechanics are human and even the good ones make mistakes from time to time. So, this post is not meant as a knock to bike shops; but a guide to help us all stay safe and comfortable.

Here's what I see most frequently:

Bike Tools: The Top 11 You Need Most

WHAT'S IN YOUR TOOLBOX?
Cyclists have a tendency to want to be self-sufficient. Think about it: there are a lot of areas revolving around cycling that you'll hear a cyclist say something like "I want to do that myself someday." Riding a century or a multi-day tour; racing, climbing the nastiest hill in the area (or tackling the scariest descent); or moving up to the "fast group" in the Tuesday night group ride. You want to take that next step and say "I did that."

Working on your bike seems to be no different. There are many things that I have happily helped cyclists learn to do themselves. Having a simple mechanical understanding of how to take care of your bike is a big key to enjoying your cycling experience and gaining some security and self-sufficiency. Changing a flat; adjusting your brakes or shifting; properly tightening a bolt or adjusting a saddle; and installing new parts are all things we long to learn to do.

USADA's Reasoned Decision Against Lance Armstrong

So it appears as though the house of cards is collapsing.

Download the full ~200 page .pdf document here...

I've written some about doping in the past on my blog (here, here, here, and here) but have stayed away from it as a topic for quite a while now as it is a very polarizing topic due to the names associated with the various scandals. While I may have come down on the wrong side a time or two with certain riders; the fact still remains that cheating is cheating whomever you are, whatever you have been through, and whatever you have accomplished.

In the scope of many of the drugs, methods, and masking agents; the side effects are often quite harmful to your health. (Let's just toss this out on the table for consideration now: One of the potential results of EPO use is Testicular Cancer...)

While I love and enjoy the spectacle of the sports encompassed under the umbrella of professional cycling; for the sake of the riders' health and the legacy they leave to the young aspiring cyclists following in their footsteps, I am a major advocate of clean competition.

Interbike 2012 - Cool New Stuff From Shimano

 Now, it's no secret to most of you that I am a huge fan of Shimano - I almost exclusively ride their components; I have sold off all my cycling shoes that don't carry their blue logo; and whatever bike parts of mine don't have Shimano part numbers, I mostly wish they did... (like my Speedplay pedals...)

In my days as a retail buyer, Shimano was often the first appointment I'd set at the trade show. I'm still most excited to see what they roll out and try to make them an early stop on my walking tour if the show when I'm there.

The latest version of Dura Ace (9000) has rightfully gotten some due attention - so let's take a closer look at some of the stuff sitting in the limelight.

WHEELS
Each generation of the Shimano wheels makes me a bigger fan.  The early iterations fell short; but they have caught up big time and are definitely a "tone-setter" for much of the industry now. The fact that Zipp saw fit to try to slow the introduction of the carbon/aluminum laminate Dura Ace wheels with litigation a few years ago should be testament to Shimano's innovation and influence in this category.

Friday Five: October 5, 2012

This is the first in a new series I'll post every Friday (and honestly, an idea I stole from another blogger in a different genre...)

Five things to think about, to do, to get, to check, to see, places to go, or otherwise. Some of it should be fun or though provoking. Some of it might be sobering or sad. We'll see.

Come along and let's take this somewhere. Have an idea for a Friday Five topic? Leave a comment!

Today: Five Things You Must Do Before You Call Yourself a Cyclist:

1.  Shave your legs at least once. A bigger deal for guys obviously, but still a rite of passage. It will also not be left unsaid that this step also requires wearing shorts to a public, non-cycling event.

Specialized Purist Water Bottle Review

Nasty, funky, water bottle.

We've all probably had one. That bottle that no matter how much you washed it just wouldn't seem to come clean or stop stinking like foot. If you're lucky its just that this bottle seems to always taste like that energy drink you used a while back. Whatever it is; your average water bottle has a tendency to become "funky".

The solution: replace it - you will likely never get that stain or stink out. However, while we used to have to settle for replacing the funk bottle with the same kind of bottle with the same propensity to get nasty. Specialized Bicycle Components has presented a solution though and I think it is a good one.

Cyclocross Disc set-up Tips

This post is part of a series on Cyclocross Tips...

The tide is turning a little in the bike industry and brands are listening to consumers then building designs around their desires more than ever. An excellent example is the adaptation of disc brakes in the cyclocross and road segments. 

With new designs; even if it's merely an adaptation like adding disc brakes to these segments - new issues are bound to arise and new techniques are developed to deal with them. It is no different here and there are some great ways to get your brakes working well and ready for race season - even if you're not immediately familiar with the nuances of disc brakes on a cyclocross frame.  Let's start at the beginning:

My "Cheap" Steel Single-Speed Cyclocross Bike

 I had originally intended to write a post covering how to put together a single-speed 'cross bike on the cheap. They're great bikes for running errands; riding with your family; and of course - racing if you wish. They can give you a great change of pace from the regular ol' road bike to if you should happen to need one.

Then I realized that my bike isn't a great example of doing it on the "cheap" - except that it didn't cost me too much since a lot of it was from parts I already had... However; you may still get some ideas from this, and I'm proud of it - so I'm posting it anyway... :)

OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN...
First in any bike build is the frame - and this one; well - this is what made the whole project possible.

Indoor Trainer Tips & Tricks

SPINNING BUT GOING NOWHERE...
Yes, it’s that time of the year again – and with the cold snaps we often see during the holidays; some of us may be driven off the roads by weather sooner than usual. If you already have a trainer; I’ll try to offer some tips that might be helpful.  If you’re shopping for a trainer; here you’ll also find a great guide for what to look for and how to use it for your greatest success.  Read on…

 

SHOPPING? THINGS TO CONSIDER:
1.  Quieter is better, but tends to cost more.  Aside from the irritation of noise (especially if you’re using it at night and have kids or close neighbors…); a quieter trainer makes it easier to apply some of the tips you’ll read later on.  Wind trainers are the loudest.  Avoid them if noise is a great concern.  Other types of resistance are considerably quieter – but this varies by brand.  In general the fluid-type resistance units will be the quietest.