Cycling is Good! No if, ands, or buts about it: Personal and Social Benefits of Cycling

I get so caught up in my passion for bikes and cycling that sometimes I forget the simple facts, cycling is good for people, society, and the environment, no if, ands, or buts about it. I love bikes, and cycling. I always tell people that even if cycling were bad for me, I will still do it just as much, I love it that much. However, I know this is not the case for everyone. I am lucky enough that the thing that I love is not only good for me, but also good for society and the environment as a whole. I was genuinely reminded of this fact this morning as I was browsing Trek’s website to see what was new. It is refreshing to read such positive statistics about that of which we love so.

The following statistics are readily available on Trekbikes.com in the “You” section of the company info. The statistics provided on Trek’s website read like this:

Consider this:

If you bike 2 miles to work and back each day instead of driving, your 4-mile round trip will keep 51 pounds of carbon monoxide out of the air each year.

That same daily trip will burn 36,000 calories over the course of a year—the equivalent of over 10 lbs of fat. In fact, the average person loses 13lbs in the first year of commuting by bike.

Your daily 4-mile bike commute will save about 66 gallons of fuel per year. If just one person in a thousand were to follow your lead in biking 4 miles a day instead of driving, we’d save 429 million gallons of fuel each year.

Pretty compelling facts, especially for those considering changing their morning commute to a cycle. Moreover, Trek also provides statistics courtesy of the World match institute regarding how the United States compares to Germany and the Netherlands with regards to cycling. The statistics provided read as follows:   accounted for by cycling  Percent of adults who are obese

Bicycles per 1,000 people

• United States 385
• Germany 588
• Netherlands 1,000

Percent of urban travel

• United States 1
• Germany 12
• Netherlands 28

Percent of urban travel

• United States 30.6
• Germany 12.9
• Netherlands 10.0

Stats courtesy of World Watch Institute

These statistics speak for themselves. Of course, we must not over look the simply, blaring facts; cycling is good for you, fun, and makes you feel good in return. If everyone were to switch their daily commute, or at least a majority, to travel by bicycle, image the social, economical, and health benefits that could be realized. Imagine climate change being a faint memory in years to come, imagine diabetes and  heart disease statistics dwindling, imagine a generally healthier and happier population. Some may say that these are over ambitious goals, but are they really. Imagine if all of us expressed the simple joy that cycling brings us to our friends and loved ones, how much this could spread. I think that we can all agree, that cycling in infectious and addicting. SO SPREAD IT!

Specialized Shiv: For Triathlon Elite or Enthusiasts Alike

Competitive and the aspiring triathlete alike agree that there is no compromise for a tri specific bike. Sure a road bike can get you from the swim to the run in a triathlon, but they simply cannot compare in aerodynamics, hydration systems, or efficiency to a tri bike. The Specialized Shiv is force to be reckoned with, a serious weapon in the arsenal of a competitive triathlete.

The Specialized Shiv Pro Race, pictured above, comes equipped with Roval Rapide CL 60 carbon clincher wheels, Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace 11-speed drivetrain, and Magura RT6TT hydraulic caliper brakes; all of the elements for speed and stopping power.

A unique feature of the Shiv, the Fuelselage Integrated Hydration System proves significantly less drag than traditional downtube mounted water bottle systems. The Fuelselage is a completely integrated system that carries hydration, nutrition, and even flat repair equipement; all of which is conveniently inside the downtube and  the ‘V’ of the frame, without disrupting the aerodynamics of the bicycle. The Fuelselage is a removable hydration reservoir, carrying approximately 20 oz of hydration, that fits inside the downtube through a convenient top tube port. The reservoir can be easily refilled through this port as well, even on the fly. The Fuelcell clearly seen in the ‘V’ of the frame has the capacity to carry 8 gels or two bars and 4 gels in top, basic tools in bottom section. On top of all of this hydration and nutrition, the Shiv also has the capacity for additional hydration behind the saddle, also known as the Integrated Tri-pod.

Of course we can’t go without talking about this magnificent frame in and of itself. This Shiv FACT Carbon Aero Frame has been specifically designed for tri. Meaning, it is not even UCI-legal. UCI regulations do not pertain to tri anyhow. Ergo, Specialized has ignored them in the engineering of this frameset to dramatically improve airflow through the use of extra-deep airfoil tubing and fork; up to 6:1 ratios as opposed to the standard 3:1 ratio tubing. Moreover, every inch of the frame has been optimized for crosswinds which are quite common in Tri. As previously mentioned, the Specialized Shiv is very clearly for tri when compared to standard road bikes.

Simply a triathlon machine, not to mention it looks intimidating as all hell. Your opponents will be nervous simply at the site of it. The Specialized Shiv has everything a tri athlete could ever need and so much more.

Monster Track: Believe the Hype!

I had the pleasure of participating in Monster Track XVI this last weekend. I was participating personally as a racer, not promoting the shop. Of course, wherever I go I am an ambassador of Fulton Bikes. Having been a first at Monster Track myself, I wasn’t sure quite what to expect, yet I was stoked to participate nonetheless. One thing that I can tell you is that the hype is real, Monster Track is definitely one for the books. Lets start by simply saying this, Over 200 racers registered and started the race and there were only a 100 that completed the checkpoints and finished the race. Of course I finished, and decent considering, yet things did not go smoothly for myself at all, having gotten lost twice trying to find checkpoints and catching a flat before the last one. Luckily I was carrying everything I needed to change it.

The picture above does not even come close to demonstrating the madness at the beginning of the race. From the moment they tossed the manifests in the air, and everyone scrambles to get one, adrenaline flows through your veins like river runoff in springtime. Not even bothered in the slightest that the rain had restarted at this point, we begin to sprint across the Williamsburg bridge. From here, oh man I can’t even describe the excitement, or at least not with the enthusiasm necessary, whether it be manically crossing three lanes of traffic as your buddy yells “CHECK POINT!” or splitting traffic going the opposite direction on Lexington Ave, there was never a dull moment.

As a rookie to Alley Cats, I found that it is much more quick to stay with a group. Of course, I found this out the hard way, as near the end of the first manifest I decided to sprint ahead and ended up lost, slowing me down significantly. Not to mention I was alone throughout the second manifest, lost a bit. Nevertheless, NYC alley cats, and Monster Track in particular are an experience unlike any other. The comradery  that exists in the cycle community is one of the things that I love about this sport. Monster Track is no different, a whole weekend of events including roller races sponsored by Affinity Cycles, a formal event, and an after party with prizes.

As best put by Cooper Ray, second place and defending champion, “Monster Track is about experience.” I look forward to my years to come in NYC as I am still less than a year old here. Monster Track is unarguably the quintessential alley cat race, the urban championship so to speak. As they say, the best riders in this one are those that ride NYC the best. Can you ride the city, can you find the checkpoints? These are factors that are of great importance in Monster Track and yet completely not present in other disciplines of bike racing. Congratulations to the 3 NYC natives that held it down this year, Alfred Bobe Jr. , Cooper Ray, and Chris Thormann, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively. Keeping the podium NYC local.

 

 

 

 

Trek CrossRip LTD: Commuter? Road bike? Café racer? Yes.

A bike that is getting a lot of attention this year, one that is not only practical and cool, is the Trek CrossRip. This bike is highly affordable, making it the perfect get around town bike, a weekday substitute for your Sunday best, or even something sure footed to use on dodgy roads or less than ideal conditions. Pictured above is the top of the line Trek CrossRip LTD, and it still comes in under $2,000 at a very practical $1,759.99. The LTD comes standard with a 10-speed drivetrain (Shimano 105 and Tiagra), Tektro cable/hydro hybrid disc brakes, and sealed bearing hubs. With disc brakes and sealed bearing hubs, as you can imagine, this bike is equipped to handle dicey conditions, not to mention the 700x32c Bontrager H5 Hard-Case Ultimate tires, this bike remains sure-footed. The specs of this bike may make it seem like a sports hybrid, yet with with drop bars and 10-speed road bike components the CrossRip is ready to smash through traffic as well as hit the open road, highly versatile and functional where other road bikes may fail.

As distance riders know, vibration can cause uncomfortable and even painful sensation over distances. The Trek CrossRip LTD utilizes Integrated IsoZone pads in the Race Lite alloy bar which have been specifically designed to absorb road vibration without altering the profile of the bar. The bars in conjunction with the carbon forks, and 32c tires equates to a ridiculously smooth ride, a road bike experience unlike any other.

Bontrager tubeless ready systems are notoriously well designed. The Bontrager TLR (Tubeless Ready) Road rims come standard on the CrossRip LTD. Tubeless systems mean you can run lower pressure because no risk of pinch flats. When running a lower pressure, the rider benefits from increased traction and control. Moreover, the rider has increased comfort on the bicycle ergo minimizing fatigue. These characteristics are ideal for either/both dicey conditions or over distance.

There you have it, a new road bike from Trek unlike anything else on the market. It is no wonder the CrossRip is gaining popularity. This bike is unique and perhaps the perfect solution for a city bike, touring, or simply a second bike when conditions are not ideal.

Women’s Road Bike Line: Specialized Amira

We are stoked here at Fulton Bikes to see the surge in Women’s cycling. Gone are the days where high end road bikes, cycle clubs, and competitive cycling were fairly exclusively “Boy’s Club”. Personally, riding bikes makes me more happy than anything in this world. Yet what also gets me stoked is when other people are also hyped on bikes, that is why I choose to work in the industry. Ergo, it is kind of a bummer sometimes that the industry is geared towards men’s cycling. I love it when gentlemen and ladies alike share the same passion for riding their bikes that I do. Specialized is on board, offering more and better women’s road bike options every year. In this post, we shall discuss the Specialized Amira line.

This bike makes me drool, plain and simple. Pictured above, Specialized boasts “The S-Works Amira SL4 is the lightest, stiffest, and fastest women’s bike around.” This bike features the highly praised FACT 11r carbon frame with women’s-tuned geometry, good enough for team Specialized-lululemon, currently the most successful Women’s cycling team in the world. Also equipped with Roval Rapide CLX 40 wheels, S-Works FACT carbon 52/36 crankset, and Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed drivetrain, this bike is a performance race beast. The best in precision handling as well with the 1-1/8″ to 1-3/8″ tapered head tube.

At a more practical price point is the Specialized Amira SL4 Expert (pictured above). At $3,800, the SL4 Expert 10r carbon frame comes equipped with Shimano Ultregra 11 speed drivetrain, Fulcrum S4 wheelset, Ultegra Brakes, and an FSA carbon crankset. The rider still gets the benefits of precision handling as a result of the tapered head tube as well. Even without the S-Works crankset or Roval wheels, this bike performs at standards demanded by elite women cyclists.

And lastly, the most modest and approachable priced Amira, the Specialized Amira Sport (pictured above). Even at the entry level point of Performance race Amiras, and at only $2100, the rider gets the FACT 9r carbon frame, Shimano 105 11-speed drivetrain, AXIS 2.0 wheels, and AXIS 1.0 brakes. At a mere $2100 for a full carbon performance race bike with Shimano 105 drivetrain, the rider looking for performance on a budget can’t go wrong with the Amira Sport, especially because after a season or so, Roval wheel upgrades can significantly increase the performance of your bicycle.

There you have it, Women’s performance race at a variety of price points. Yes of course women can ride any performance race bike, at the appropriate size of course, yet the Amira is specifically designed for women using the unmatched Specialized Body Geoometry system. This includes a BG saddle on all models, yet more importantly the dimensions of the bike are tailored specifically for Women’s body geometry.

Trek Domane: Road disc brakes are so in right now

Alright, so the title of this article is clearly intended to poke a bit of fun. Disc brakes are not simply a road bike fad that will fade. Road disc brakes are here to stay, and each year you shall see more and more disc brake options for road bikes. This is going to be the case particularly for high end road bikes. Fast descents, chicanes, and cornering from experienced cyclists are where the benefits of hydraulic disc brakes are most realized. Trek is on board, offering disc brake road bikes at multiple price points in their 2015 Domane line.

I know we have written about the Domane Disc before, but they are worth mentioning again, especially as there are many models at different price points. Of course, I can’t help but begin the discussion without speaking of the creme de la creme, the Trek Domane 6.9 Disc. Of course we shall continue the discussion with the Domane 4.5 Disc, and Domane 4.0 Disc which are both more practical price points; yet we can’t help but marvel at the engineering of the 6.9 a bit.

The Trek Domane 6.9 Disc (pictured above) comes equipped with the Shimano RS785 hydraulic disc brake system. Having ridden this system myself on a Specialized Tarmac Pro Race when I was in Morgan Hill, I can tell you that this brake system is pretty much totally awesome. A really good braking system is not only much more controlled in descents, but less than intuitive, it is actually much faster as well. When riding sketchy and winding descents and chicanes with this brake system, a rider has so more control to negotiate the turns with better precision. Smoothness and good lines are fast in descents and they allow the rider to hammer where necessary and still slow quickly when necessary.

Of course, I am a strong advocate that these benefits have to be ridden to be truly appreciated. I will admit myself that I knew they were the best braking system, but wasn’t a complete advocate of them myself, saying that great caliper brakes are good enough. This is true, road calipers are good enough, yet you ride with so much more control and confidence with hydraulic disc brakes, especially when you descending. Feel free to hammer whenever you want.

The Trek Domane 6.9 Disc also comes equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 electronic drivetrain, and Bontrager Affinity Elite Tubeless Ready wheelset. Personally, I have never ridden Dura-Ace Di2, but I have ridden Ultegra Di2. The precision of shifting seems immaculate even when putting the hammer down, I can only imagine how nice it is with Dura-Ace Di2. A whole lot of bike in this endurance race model. Of course, it very well should be for $8,300. Yet you can still get the benefits of a full hydraulic disc brake system at just over the $3,000 price point.

The Trek Domane 4.5 Disc (pictured above) comes with the Shimano R685 hydraulic brake system. Though this disc brake system is a level down from that on the 6.9 Domane, the action of these brakes are still superb. They have received sterling reviews to date, especially when compared to traditional caliper road brakes. Standard  on this bike is also the Shimano Ultegra 11-speed drivetrain. For cyclists looking to try out disc brake road bikes, and are shopping at this price point, the Trek Domane 4.5 Disc offers immense bang for buck and is sure to please the vast majority of recreational cyclists, and even many competitive cyclists.

And for those cyclists looking for a disc brake road bike on more of a budget, the Trek Domane 4.0 Disc (pictured above) comes with TRP HY/RD cable/hydro disc brakes, which is a hybrid system utilizing both mechanical and hydraulic. This system utilizes hydraulic mineral oil at the caliper, and mechanical cable throughout the rest of the system. This is a totally decent system and much of the stopping power of hydraulics is still realized.

There you have it, a full line of disc brake Domanes offered by Trek in 2015. As mentioned, expect to see more and more disc brake road bikes each year, from Trek and the other top competitors.

Specialized Venge: More Bike than Aero

Known as the Specialized aero road bike that is not time trial or triathlon specific, the Venge may still be the best option for many road riders. The reasons are outlined here and in the following video from Specialized. As the experts explain, this bike is more bike than aero. What this means is that the bike has been designed with accounting for factors such as stiffness and responsiveness as much as aerodynamics, if not in fact more. Who better to explain it than the experts themselves at SBCU in the following video.

The main points worth noting are that, yes the Specialized Venge has been designed to be very aerodynamic. Yet, stiffness has been at the crux of engineering this bike. Key points on this bike for stiffness and performance are the tapered head tube, aero carbon fork, and the cambered airfoil x-section seatstays which are patented by Specialized. The head tube tapers from 1-1/8” at the top to 1-3/8” at the crown, this increases the strength and stiffness of the cockpit while increasing steering precision as well as optimizing airflow. The 3:1 shaping and straight profile is UCI-legal, and it provides greater stiffness than the traditional curved road fork. In addition, the X-Section fork blades have a sharp front edge to the wind, which provides enhanced aerodynamics. And finally, the FACT Carbon, Cambered and asymmetrical seatstays have been designed specifically to enhance aerodynamics from crosswind without sacrificing aerodynamics from headwinds and retaining the stiffness demanded by competitive cyclists.

In short, this bike has been designed to increase aerodynamics at all angles, saving every bit of energy so that a rider can still throw it down when needed and not have the bike flexing on them. A colleague of ours races this bike in both criterium and road races. When asked how it performs, he says all around this bike screams performance, aggressive and strong.

Shall it replace the tarmac? Well I would say no, but depending on a rider’s preference or in what area they are looking to gain a competitive advantage, this bike may be a better option for them, even in longer distance road rides and races.

Road Apparel by Specialized: Spring and Summer Essentials

Ok, so we spend a lot of time reviewing perhaps the most important kit for cycling, i.e. bikes, wheelsets, and shoes. But surely no one is out there riding in the raw, ergo apparel need not be neglected. Whether you are looking for increased performance from your apparel or not, I think that we can all agree that at the very least we want to be comfortable in our attire when we cycle. In this post, we shall discuss some of the Specialized road apparel line, helmets shall be discussed at a later date as they are well worthy of a complete post of their own.

This blog emphasizes the essentials, bib shorts and jerseys. With regard to endurance road apparel, Specialized offers three levels of bib shorts. The basic RBX Sport Bib Shorts still offer the benefits of VaporRize™ moisture transfer, they have a well articulated cycling fit, a silicone print on the fold-over leg cuff, the RBX Sport Chamois, and Deflect UV of 50+. For those unfamiliar with the Deflect UV technology, it is technology integrated into the fabrics to protect riders from Ultra Violet rays.

One model up is the RBX Comp Bib Short with which you get the all the benefits of the RBX Sport Bib Shorts, plus a higher grade Body Geometry RBX Comp Chamois.

And at the top end of the spectrum, the RBX Pro Bib Short, riders get the added benefit of the Coldblack® technology, which makes the black materials absorb less heat than others. Moreover, the rider also gets RBX silicone grip elastic, and the top of the line Body Geometry RBX Pro Chamois.

 

Specialized also provides endurance apparel Jersey at these same three levels, with benefits of each particular model as well of course. The basic RBX Sport Jersey is semi-form fit and made with VaporRize™ moisture transfer knit fabrics with Deflect UV 30, equipped with three expansion pockets, and has a full-length zipper.

The RBX Comp Jersey comes with all the features of the Sport Jersey plus a side panel stash pocket as well as more color options.

And with the RBX Pro Jersey, top of the line for Specialized endurance road jerseys, the rider gets the added benefit of the sweat-proof zippered pocket. This feature can be clutch when one is needing to carry their phone.

 

The Men’s Endurance apparel line is going to cover all the needs of the weekend warrior and/or distance yet non-competitive cyclists. But as we now, competitive cyclists have different needs, and those little advantages can often make a difference when fighting for fractions of seconds. For these cyclists, my recommendation is the SL Pro Bib Short. The SL Pro Bib short of course is constructed with VaporRize™ moisture transfer knit fabrics and Deflect UV 50+. But the true benefit to the competitive cyclist is going to be in the articulated cycling fit of these bib shorts, which is noticeable instantly when you put them on. Moreover, they come with the Body Geometry SL Pro Chamois, super comfortable and aerodynamic. And lastly the silicone infused fabric cuff is another added feature to this model meant to enhance the fit of the short.

Having used Specialized Bib shorts and jerseys in both road and track, they have held up better than most kit I have experience with. Moreover, the manufacturing of the high end kit is arguably equivalent to that of a comparable level of kit such as that from Castelli. Yet, I think the real benefits of specialized apparel are realized through their BG fit as well as the technology that is integrated into them such as the Coldblack® technology, VaporRize™ moisture transfer, and Deflect UV technology.

Keep it up Specialized, innovation at all angles.

S-Works Road Shoe: Body Geometry at the Most Crucial Point

Everything happens through the feet.

Always pushing the envelope, Specialized has designed their lightest and stiffest road shoe to date. Weighing in at a mere 200g (1/2 pair 42) and with a stiffness index of 13 for the carbon sole, this S-Works Road Shoe screams performance. However, the true benefits of this shoe are realized with the body geometry fit, the best fitting and most efficient road shoe Specialized has made yet. In this newest model, Specialized has minimized bulk by thermowelding nearly all parts of this shoe together, eliminating the need for stitching. The tongue is more sleek and supple than other brands road shoe, or even previous models of S-Works road shoes. This saved material from the tongue has been allotted to the midsection as well as creating a more defined heel cup. This alone has significantly increased the efficiency of the shoe by nearly eliminating heel lift as well as significantly eliminating other unwanted lateral movements that decrease efficiencies of road shoes.

Specialized‘s investment in research and technology becomes more and more apparent every year. Stress testing is utilized to determine stress points. These stress testing results are then utilized to determine where material can be eliminated, and where it needs to be added to reinforce areas that are prone to stress. Such technology is how Specialized has developed the Smartweld technology, producing some of the best riding aluminum frames on the market. The S-Works Road shoe has been designed in the same manner, the result has been the asymmetric optimized Powerline carbon sole which is ultralight and realizes a stiffness Index of 13.0. The asymmetric design is a result of eliminated material where it is not needed and reinforcing areas where it is needed. Producing a super stiff yet light carbon sole, all power transfer to the pedal, nothing is lost.

As previously mentioned, the development of this shoe has not been about simply eliminating material, and resulting weight; the development has been about eliminating material where it is not needed but supplying material where it is needed. The result of which has been a more sleek fitting, supple, lightweight, yet very stiff shoe that performs better than any other. These are quite ambitious goals. The result has not come up short. I personally own the S-Works MTB shoe which has undergone the same research and been designed in the same manner, I have been riding mine for over a year now. My personal review of the shoe coincides with other expert’s product reviews. The toe box fits better than any other shoe I have ridden, the supple tongue is comfortable on the forefoot yet not bulky, and heel lift has been eliminated. The thermowelding has not only eliminated bulk, it has reduced the occurrence of hot spots or uncomfortable pains that occur over distance. Personally, I ride mine 100 miles and am still not bothered to leave them on for my post ride meal and coffee, comfortable yet snug with nearly no unwanted stretch and play. I would highly recommend them.

The two independent Boa® S2-Snap dials micro-adjust on-the-fly and this system is easily replaceable. The Body Geometry sole and footbed optimize hip, knee, and foot alignment, the result of such is increased performance as well as comfort. This shoe comes in four colors schemes as well. If you are not a fan of the super bright white/white design or of the flashy asymmetric cosmetics in both the white/red, and white/black designs, the the black/black design (personal favorite) is sure to please. You can’t go wrong with all black everything.