Bicycle Shop

When spring 2020 hit the season’s start was more of a whimper than a bang. The Covid ‘19 coronavirus variant changed many things for people all over the world. It forced people to change the way that they lived and reassess what was important to them.

During this time there was understandably global turmoil not just regarding quarantining and keeping people healthy. Supply chains were broken, factories shuttered and everyone waited to see what would happen next.

It seems like that should be all in the rear view mirror by now. People have returned to work. Factories have restarted production and supply chains have been repaired, or have they.

Post 2020 world is a different place than it was before. Production bottlenecks created by lack of raw materials can have far reaching effects. In the bike industry in particular, a shortage in carbon fiber has thrown some component manufacturer’s production back. 

On top of all of that, people all over the world started to fall in love with their surroundings again as traditional means of entertainment were temporarily closed. In parts of the US national parks and wilderness areas were seeing a critical overload of tourists even during the heart of the pandemic. In Early 2020 bike sales were up 120% industry wide. Outside of the restrictions it was the strongest year in decades for the cycling industry.

Without getting into the rights and wrongs of mass temporary migration and the effect that influx has on the local population especially during a pandemic, I would point out that this is also a cause of the bike and bike component shortage. 

Small stocks of available bikes at the start of the pandemic lead to an increase in valuation on the resale market. This increase in value of tangible assets during a marked downturn in the financial prospects of much of the population led to a speculative boom.

If you could get a bike you could often resell it for more than you paid for it. Actions that would have gotten you flamed on social media in the past were now greeted with private message bidding wars.

More people were outdoors. More people wanted to ride. More people were looking for bikes, and at the same time bike shops were waiting on stock, and when it has trickled in it is devoured just as quickly as they can unbox it.

So while it may seem strange that another riding season is upon us and these problems persist, it is not so different than any other market bubble. While this one might not pop as aggressively as a real estate market crash, we will get back to a time when bikes, and parts become available and not subject to speculative buying. Just be thankful it’s not still TP in short supply.  

Bike racks make going almost anywhere with your bike easier and safer. With so many diverse options it is not hard to find a rack that fits your needs and adds some convenience and style while doing it. Roof Racks, Receiver Hitch Mounted, Trunk Mounts and Tailgate Pads they all have their time and place and what you choose will depend on what you drive and how you want your bike carried on your vehicle.

What do you want though? With so many choices it can be overwhelming to decide what works best for you. Make no mistake about it bike racks are an investment and if you choose one that doesn’t do what you need it can be an expensive mistake. 

So first thing, before you even start shopping around for that new Thule roof rack you want or Kuat hitch mount rack, make sure you know what your bikes need. For some racks you will just need to know what tire and rim sizes you want to be able to carry, for others you will need to consider frame attachment points and axle size/ spacing. Knowing the relevant specs ahead of time will save you time and potential aggravation.

Racks that can be mounted on your car without a receiver hitch or hardpoint mounting a roof rack come in various types. The old style trunk mount rack has seen some updates but with cars increasingly seamless many just don’t work well. One exception is a different take on temporarily mounting. Using suction cups SeaSucker makes mounts that can be used on all vehicle types. They have an interesting take on how to do this and years of positive reviews, but their radical style makes them an acquired taste. If you want a high end roof rack that you can switch between cars seamlessly this might be the choice for you.

Multipurpose roof rack systems from companies like Thule and Yakima have been around for generations. They can be configured to carry many different load types, and most importantly can be set up to carry two or even three bikes in some cases. They are stable at high speeds and over long distances. Even though they hold your bike up high it tend to be a safe place, that is unless you forget about your bike and drive into your garage. Imagine totalling your bike and your car, thankfully for me when I made that mistake I was riding BMX that day and only tore a grip and scratched my brake lever perch. 

Receiver Hitch Mounted Racks come in many shapes and sizes. The most popular of these in recent years have been the tray style ones where the bike’s wheels stay on and are tensioned into place by a bar that goes over the top of the wheel. Tray style racks can often hold a wide range of tire widths and rim sizes. One of the benefits of this style is also its ability to hold many different frame types. As suspension frames have gotten more complex it can be difficult to mount them to any style of rack that attaches to the frame. With increased use of carbon fiber there is even more reason to not want to be clamping frame tubes.

One of the main drawbacks for receiver hitch mounted racks is that they stick out behind your vehicle. Any accident from behind is likely to mean that your bikes are totaled, but roof racks have problems too as we’ve discussed, so it is always important to remember that your bike is there.

The last style “rack” I want to cover is the tailgate pad. A lot of riders might look down on the tailgate pad as basic, but if you have a truck it doesn’t get much better. Downhiller have used tailgate pads for years for shuttle runs and transporting their heavy rigs. A good tailgate pad will keep your bike secure and organized even when driving through rough backcountry, while also working just as well on long highway trips. Tailgate pads can even provide unexpected security if you can mount some anchor points in your truck for and anti theft chain or cable.

No rack is really secure though. It is best not to trust security to a rack. If you need to leave your vehicle unattended your best bet is to put your bikes in the vehicle, take them with you, or find somewhere else to secure them indoors. Bike thieves can act quickly and with the increasing value of today’s bikes, they unfortunately have more incentive than ever before.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what racks are out there and their relative benefit. If I had to pick one I’d probably say that even after years of having roof racks, I would seriously consider a receiver hitch mount rack like a Kuat.

If you are not crashing you are not trying hard enough. That probably isn’t the type of quote that new cyclists want to hear when they are trying to find their way. While it is true, in time if you want to become great you will have to overcome your fears and yes crash sometimes to learn important lessons. Lets go over some basics that help to ensure that new cyclists become veteran cyclists who will share their experiences to help our sport continue to flourish.

The bicycle industry has done a great job of keeping the operation of increasingly high tech bikes relatively simple. Even so there is still a learning curve. At first it is important to keep rides short or lower intensity. This gives you a chance to build muscle memory so when things get more difficult or technical you are more likely to be able to approach it with confidence.

Bike fit is often overlooked by new riders. If you don’t know how your bike should fit there are numerous resources you can use to get it dialed in. Youtube videos, groups like Lee Likes Bikes, or professional fitters can all give you tools and knowledge to take your riding where you want it to go.

Covid restrictions have changed the current landscape of group activities, but outdoor exercise with proper precautions is still a great way to stay healthy. When you are starting out try to ride with people who are at your level and/or experienced patient leaders. Few things help you grow as a rider like having appropriate challenges from riders who are at or near your level. Bonus if you can do that with an experienced leader who knows how to let you ride at your own pace. When you don’t have to worry about directions or getting lost you can be free to learn to be more at one with your bike.

Bike demos and Demo days are your best friend. It can be intimidating to show up to a shop or riding area to demo a bike or companies’ lines of bikes. These days aren’t made for professional riders though, they’re made for you, the new rider. Bike demos are the best way to get the feel for numerous different bikes and riding styles. You never know what you might get on and fall in love with. I’ll never forget the first time I saw a pre production Rocky Mountain ETSX. It had Easton RAD Bi-Oval Tubing and Grey Flames. I was in love, and when disaster took my Jamacian Gold Klein Adept from me later that year I knew just what to replace it with.

In all the excitement of starting or getting back into riding it is really easy to overdo it. Some of you, and you probably know who you are, are going to push your limits physically and technically. I get it as does anyone who has experienced the quiet thrill of pulling off something that you had no business trying. That’s all part of riding, part of any new sport, but remember if you get hurt it can limit your growth and could even take you away from riding for a time.

If you are primarily a road rider please be safe, obey traffic laws, and keep the rubber side down. When offroad is more your style you are more likely to push control to it’s limit. If you want to keep it relaxed and in control then you need to spend time developing bike control, but if you want to really improve your skills then you need to learn to crash.

It all comes back to if you are not crashing you are not trying hard enough, but I will qualify that by saying crashing does not mean getting hurt. No matter what kind of bike you ride you can learn alot by putting flat pedals on and learning to corner, bunny hop and at least do small jumps. Flat pedals make crashing safer, you can just jump off if you get in trouble. Flat pedals also teach you how to move the bike properly, if you think you can bunny hop, but can only do it when clipped in then you can’t really bunny hop.  

Cycling is a tremendously diverse sport even if you have been doing it for years there are always new things that you will learn. Take it slow, be safe and remember most of all cycling is about having fun. 

Bicycle Lights, To See or Be Seen

Bicycles are a great mode of transportation. They can get you where you need to go and help you have fun doing it. Lights can play an important part in ensuring that you get the most out of your bike safely.

There are many different types of bike lights, and at first the options can seem overwhelming. The most important thing to keep in mind is the type of riding that you do.

If you mainly ride on the road at low to moderate speeds then one of your biggest concerns is going to be a good indicator light facing backwards so traffic can see you from far back, this can be important even during the day because it will increase your visibility and give drivers more time to react safely. A low or moderately powered handlebar mount “headlight” to illuminate your path is a great addition and is important if you are going to be riding at night on unlit roads. For road riding a handlebar mount light is the safest as looking up into oncoming traffic with your helmet mounted light is akin to high beaming the drivers and could seriously disorient them.

If your focus is on getting rowdy offroad and you want to light up the night for your midnight shuttle runs, neither of the lights mentioned above are going to do much for you. You would probably want a combination of lights, but both of them facing forward. You might even want them to be as powerful as your budget allows. For most offroad night riding this is not necessary. Using a combination of two forward facing lights, one on your handlebars and one mounted on your helmet, you can create depth, consistently illuminate where you are headed, and always have a spot light shining where you are looking.

Personally I have found 2 Nightrider 750 lumen lights to be enough for anything I’m going to be doing offroad, including shuttle runs, but if you really feel the need to light up the night then there are brighter options. 

The current state of bicycle light technology is impressive. Gone are the days of needing to carry multiple bulky batteries that you had to treat with the utmost care just to make it through one night ride. Modern lights are compact and powerful, rarely would you need more than a light with an integrated battery to get you through whatever conditions you face short of a 24hr race. On top of that modern lights are so compact that carrying an extra for an emergency comes with minimal weight penalty.

No matter what type of riding you do one of the best ways to make the most informed decision when buying lights is to talk to other riders who do what you want to do. If at all possible try to experience what different lights offer. Your local bike shop is a great resource for this type of information and they can often connect you with like minded folks. It is always great to have more community to help you make informed choices and progress through your riding.

Riding at night opens up riding opportunities that aren’t available in many people’s busy schedules. Even more night riding is a whole new experience. Your senses are restricted and there is a strange and peaceful calm that has to be experienced. Like anything that gives you opportunities to get outside and play, bike lights can improve the quality of your recreation and life. As a bonus they make the best flashlight you’ve ever had…

Why a proper fit helmet from a professional is important

Your new bike is ready for its maiden voyage. You have everything perfect. The right ride setup with the right people. Today is going to be epic. This isn’t the time when most riders think about their helmet.

That is a problem in the cycling community, oftentimes we make do with the protective equipment that we have instead choosing to upgrade for style and performance. With that increased performance potential, you need improved protection.

Helmets are often an afterthought. After spending thousands of dollars on a new bike purchase it is easy to try to save money where you can. When I think about helmets though, I’m always reminded of what the oldtimers would tell me about riding motorcycles in my youth. “If you’ve got a $10- head then you can wear any helmet, but if you value your brain you’re going to need to spend some money.” Prophetic words that have proven true and saved my life multiple times. Turns out those old timers were onto something.

Like shoes, helmets are made for a shape. In this case the head. Heads come in all shapes and sizes, and thankfully helmets do too. If you have the wrong helmet for your head or your riding style the results can be catastrophic. 

Proper helmet fit is essential for it to protect you as designed. Most bike helmets are made to live through one serious crash ONLY! When they have been damaged they need to be disposed of as the foam structure can be damaged even if you cannot find it on inspection. Once the foam structure is compromised, the helmet is no longer safe.

Bike shop professionals can assist you in the process of finding a helmet that will fit your head type, and provide you with the protection that you need for your riding style. With technology constantly improving protection and performance, they can also educate you about new options on the market.

If you have already had your helmet fit to you by a bike shop professional and you don’t know if a new helmet would benefit you yet, then ask. Your local bike shop professional is there to help you get the most out of your ride. Helping their customers to ride safely and stay healthy is their concern. Even if you didn’t buy your helmet there, many bike shops will still inspect your helmet to ensure it is right for you, and if not assist you in finding what you need.

Helping everyone is a great way to build community and create new customers. Local Bike Shops know this as well as any business, and have the added benefit of being a fountain of knowledge about local riding and riders.

Need a helmet with MIPS? Not sure if your cross country helmet will cut it at the local lift assisted mountain? Having trouble finding a helmet that doesn’t seem to rub your head wrong on long rides? These are all questions that you are going to find lots of opinions about online. While it may be tempting to take the advice of an anonymous person online if it supports you saving a few bucks, those potential savings come with risk. If that risk is the health and safety of your brain, maybe you should think twice before clicking on Buy Now.  

This isn’t a blog post about economics and the importance of the Local Bike Shop. Many riders have already made up their mind about how and where they are going to spend their money. Playing it smart isn’t always about finding the best deal, or the cheapest NOS helmet. Making sure that your brain is outfitted with the best possible safety equipment for your riding style is pretty smart in my book. In any sport we have to trust the professionals and prepare for the worst so we can perform our best.

In case you are wondering, MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It has been proven to reduce brain trauma by decoupling rotational forces on impact. Sounds trick? Maybe it is time you talked to your LBS professional. They would be happy to help you find the helmet that best fits your unique riding personality. Keeping you safe, keeps our riding community strong.