Here at the Cool Bike Shop we are up to our ears in the season. Lotsa rides, lotsa folks pickin’ out new bikes, having work done on their current ones, finding reasons to stop by, hang out or go for a ride. And that’s pretty much what it’s all about , huh? As per usual – there’s a ton of stuff going on and we’re gonna try and tell you about all of it so here we go…………………

FACEBOOK! This is where we gently suggest that you become a fan of our FB page. What’s in it for you? Up-to-the-minute info on rides and events, occasional “FB Folks First” tips on sales or new stuff and that warm secure feeling that comes from being ”in the know”. (It’s so easy that even resident Luddite MC can do it. Go to FB and search for “velo city cycles”.)

WEEKLY RIDE CALENDAR – This is a huge part of what we’re about as a shop – making our cycling community bigger and better! (We don’t care what BikeSnobNYC says, you can have a “cycing community”!) Take a look @ the schedule and join us!

Tuesday Night Ride- 6pm from behind the shop. The biggest ride of the week – attracting upwards of 50-60 riders at times. We offer 4 groups – the ‘Hot” group is self-led and does the 29 mile loop @ a 24mph+ pace. The “Medium” group is led by at least one Velo-Citizen and does the 29 mile loop @ a 19-21 mph pace. The “Mild” group is also led by Velo-Citizens and does the 29 mile route @ a 17-18mph pace. The “Mellow” group does a 19-ish mile loop @ a 15-16 mph pace and – you guessed it – is led by a Velo-Cit.

Extra-Special Tuesday Night Rides – the 2nd Tuesday of each month (the 13th this month) is Family Ice Cream Cruise Night! We rolll @ 6:30, bound for Captain Sundae’s along the multi-use path. (Don’t say “bike path”!). Bring your trailers, cruisers, trailer-bikes, etc. Prizes (okay – free ice cream) for best Hawaiian shirt and funkiest bike.

And – the last Tuesday of each month (the 27th) is Pizza Night! Hang out @ the shop after the ride and have a slice or three. (Maybe a refreshing frosty adult beverage as well!)

Thursday Recovery Ride – 8:30am from behind the shop. This is a 25-ish mile ride designed to “spin out” tired post-race legs. Pace is usually in the 18-ish range and we hit the bagel shop afterwards.

Thursday Night Lights Ride – We roll @ 8:15pm for 35-45 miles in the twilight. Join us and see why night group road rides are sooooo cool! 18-19mph pace.

Friday Bagel Ride -  A classic! 8:30am clip-in, 25-28 miles @ a 19-20mph pace and then a stop @ The Good Earth Cafe. Come see why it’s such a “civilized way to start your day”!

Saturday Sprint Ride -  A 25+ year tradition! Rolls from the front of the shop @ 8am for 25 fast-n-furious miles. Lotsa wicked quick paceline work seperated by sprints for all the stop ahead signs. Did we mention that it’s kinda fast? Great way to test (or improve) your fitness. Optional “No-Sprint Ride” as well – same time and route, less pain and panting.

Please note – all VCC rides assume that the participants are down w/ our values – namely riding in a safe and legal manner, using proper group ride etiquette, being safe and watching out for one another. We require helmets, at least 1 brake and lights for any pre-dawn or post-dusk rides.

SPECIAL RIDES FOR JULY. In addition to our Weekely Rides we have some other stuff going on as well. Check it out……

Danielle’ s Dirt Rides – Hit the trail w/ pro racer and all around sweetie Danielle Musto and get some tips on technique, training, hydration, whatever. She’s a nationally ranked endurance racer and the only rider we’ve ever sponsored. Meet her @ Luton Park in Rockford (at the new trailhead) for a 6:30pm roll-out on 7/19. Looking ahead plan on rides on 8/2, 8/16 & 8/30 as well.

Dawn Patrol! A production of the “Shut up & Ride Club”, DP Rides leave @ 5:00am from the back of the shop to get 50-some miles in before joining up w/ the Bagel Ride. They happen every other Friday so that means 7/9 and 7/23 this month.

The Midnight Century! The “S.U.&.R.C.” strikes again! Rolls @ 6:30pm from the shop to try and get a century  (100 miles) in by 1am or so. Make sure you have battery life for the 4+ hours of dark!

More info on the “Shut Up & Ride Club” on our website. (www.velo-citycycles.com)

SUMMER SALE STUFF! It’s getting to be that time of the season…….time for you to get the hook-up on some of the cool stuff you’ve bene craving.

All jerseys now 20% off! We have over 20 styles of jerseys in men’s and wmn’s sizes from Pearl Izumi, Twin 6, Cannondale and Terry and now you can get ‘em for 20% off!

Helmets on sale too! Get 25%-40% off selected helmets from Giro and Lazer!

Fine Print Dept – all sales limited to current stock

GROUP RIDE SKILLS SEMINAR ON 7/12 – Wondering what the “rules” are? Not sure what it means to “take a pull”? A bit intimidated by the whole idea? This is for you! We’ll cover some of the basics so that you know what’s expected of you when you join a group ride. ( Like on Tuesday night for instance). No pressure, no dumb questions – just a chat! See you here @ the shop @ 7pm!

ODRAM! ODRAM! ODRAM! ODRAM! ODRAM! ODRAM! ODRAM! – The One Day Ride Across Michigan is back after a 1 year hiatus and we couldn’t be happier! It’s now a fund-raiser for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Ride Team here in West Mi and we thing that’s a Cool Thing too!  The date is Sat 8/21, the distance is 152 miles and it’s a blast! We recommend that you sign up right now! (www.odram.com or we have apps here @ the shop)  By the way – rumours that the Shut Up & Ride Club is planning on riding back from Bay City to Montague the following day (“MARDO”) are true! Details soon.

LAST CALL BAND LIVE AND ROCKIN’ IN JULY! This is where MC has the nerve to hijack our newsletter to spew about his band. Maybe if we just ignore him he’ll go away. (Hint – not likely) Anyway – if you are so inclined and have a taste for the sort of rootsy rock and old country stuff that they do, here ya go  -

Wed 7/14 – Wickes Park in Saugatuck 7pm, part of the Summer Concert series

Sat 7/24 – New Holland Brewery 10pm-1am

Sat 7/31 – Saugatuck Brewery 7-11pm

And yes – you can follow ‘em on Facebook – “last call band” will get’cha there

RIDE, RACE AND EVENT CALENDAR FOR JULY. (a * indicates more info elsewhere in this newsletter)

7/9 – Dawn Patrol*

7/10  – Midnight Century*

7/10 – Boyne XC Race

7/10 -Helluva Ride Tour

7/11 – Kalamazoo Tour

7/11 – Covered Bridge Tour

7/12 – Group Ride Skills Seminar*

7/13 – Family Ice Cream Cruise*

7/14 – Last Call Band in Saugatuck*

7/17 – Holland Hundred*

7/17  – Kalamazoo Criterium

7/18 – Ride Around Torch Tour

7/19 – Dirt w/ Danielle Ride*

7/23  – Dawn Patrol*

7/24 – Last Call Band @ New Holland Brewery*

7/25 – Coast Guard Tour in GH

7/27 – Pizza Night after the TNR*

7/31 – Last Call Band @ Saug Brewery*

EDITORIAL (In other words you can skip this part and not miss any ride or event info)

This past Saturday I was hit upside the head (once again) by just how dang cool and positive bikes can be. I was on a ride w/ our JDRF team in the afternoon (yup, had a Saturday off!) and that always puts me in this kind of mood ‘cuz the folks on the Team are SO passionate and SO determined to make the world a better place through their efforts. Many of them have (or had) no direct connection to Diabetes – they don’t have it, it’s not in their family  – but there they are, in the saddle getting ready to ride in VT or Death Valley or whereever, putting their muscles where their mouths are and leaving their mark on the world.

Pretty awesome, huh?

And then I came to the shop and what do I find there? The Joybox Express – a 4 piece band from Ann Arbor that is touring West Michigan by bicycle, hauling an upright piano on a custom-built trike along w/ a drum set, a stand-up bass and the guitarist’s rig! And why are they doing this? ‘Cuz they love music. “Cuz they love bikes. ‘Cuz it’s their way of giving back – as they tour they are promoting various worthy causes, the value of fitness, etc. (Read more @ www.joyboxexpress.com) Berger was up to his elbows in the the trike – trying to make sure they could get to GR and the next gig.

And of course – this is all going on  the same day that le Tour was kickin’ off across the pond.

My point here is a simple one – bikes are cool. And powerful. And enabling. And the folks that ride them are even cooler.  MC 7/5/10

So – that’s what we have for you this month. We’d love to see you here in the shop, out on the road or on one of our rides. Be sure to ride safe, watch out for one another and remember……..

“The bicycle is a Truly Great Invention” (BikeSnobNYC)

Ride on!

Your friends @ VCC – Keith, Berger, Aaron, Sandy, Kaat, Alan, Glen, Alex and MC

Why? Type 1 Diabetes is a crappy deal and JDRF is the largest non-govermental source of funding for research in the world. We believe in the mission, we believe in the foundation and we’re glad to help out.

So – think about joining the Team and ride w/ JDRF in Death Valley, Tahoe, Tucson, Wisconsin or VT (in 2010). Visit www.jdrf.org for more details or talk to MC here @ the shop.

Danielle’s Dirt Rides happen every other Monday Night @ various trail areas. She’s a pro mountainbike racer (and a nationally ranked one @ that!) but even more important – she’s a great person and really fun to ride with! All the tips and technique that you could ever want…or just ride! “Clip-in” is @ 6:30pm and here’s the “where/when”:

7/5 – LutonPark in Rockford

7/19 – Ditto

8/2 – Ditto ditto

8/16 – Cannonsburg Ski Area

For years now around the shop we’ve referred to a certain type of customer as a member of the “Shut Up & Ride Club”. Always meant in a postive way, it refers to someone that’s more interested in rackin’ up the miles than cleaning their bike or worrying about the latest cool new thing in Bicycling Magazine. (Now – don’t get us wrong. We are officially in favor of Cool New Things and even cleaning your bike -as long as it doesn’t get in the way of your riding!)

For those folks – and anyone else interested in “rides for self-sufficient cyclers” we present the Summer 2010 Ride Schedule for the Shut Up & Ride Club. These rides are unsupported, mapless and tend to attract riders that know their stuff and their limits. All are welcome but don’t misunderstand the presence of shopfolk as a promise that there will be someone to change your flat tire – again, these are “rides for self-sufficient cyclers”!

DAWN PATROL RIDES – We leave the shop @ 5AM every other Friday morning to get a buncha miles in before meeting up w/ the Bagel Ride @ 8:30. You’ll get 50-ish in plus the 25 or so from the Bagel Ride. Dates are 6/25, 7/9, 7/23, 8/6 and 8/20.

MIDNIGHT CENTURY – We’ll leave the shop @ 6:30pm  and get a “quick 100″ in by 1AM or so. Lights? You damn bet’cha! Saturday 7/10

DAWN TO DUSK DOUBLE (aka the “3D”) – Join the SU&RC for a dawn rollout from the shop and 200miles. Sunday 8/8

NEW! “M.A.R.D.O.” (The Mad Ass Ride Do Over!) Ride back from Bay City the day after we ride there during the O.D.R.A.M. (One Day Ride Across Michigan) ODRAM goes from Montague to Bay City (152 miles) on 8/21 and we’re gonna stay @ a friend’s house and ride back on 8/22. Details later.

More rides to come – stay tuned!