WEEKLY RIDE SCHEDULE – We pride ourselves on having the fullest ride schedule in the area, it’s a big part of what we’re all about. Come ride w/ us!

The Tuesday Night Ride - 6pm. Its the biggest ride of the week and most likely in the area. Join us and see why Bicycling magazine proclaimed it “one of the top 50 shop rides in the country”. We offer 4 distinct options for your riding pleasure:

The “Mellow” Group does 18020 miles @ 15-16mph

The “Mild” Group does the full 28 mile loop @ 17-19mph

The “Medium” group does that same loop @ 20-22mph

NEW! The “Long” group heads up Lakeshore Drive for 40-ish miles @ the “Medium” pace (or maybe a touch more!)

All groups are led by Velo-Citizens so no one gets left or lost!

Remember – the last Tuesday of each month is Pizza Night!

The Wednesday Night Workout Ride -6pm. This is a ride for those of you looking for an interval or hill workout w/out heading over to the Grattan Race Series. An “organic” ride - ie no “official” ride leader – you can count on 25-35 miles and a good sweat!

Jan’s Recovery Ride - Thursday @ 8:30am.  This is the antidote to aching legs from Wed night! 25-ish miles @ a “recovery” pace of 17-18mph and it winds up @ the cafe for breakfast!

The Bagel Ride – Friday @ 8:30am. A classic and “very civilized way to start the day”! 25-28 miles, a likely llama sighting and then we hit The Good Earth Cafe for re-fueling & recovery. Ahhhh!

The Sprint Ride / No Sprint Ride – Saturday @ 8am. The Sprint Ride is the fastest ride of the week – folks will get dropped! 20+ miles of zippy paceline work and furious sprints for every “Stop Ahead” sign along the route. A great way to test your legs! (The pack re-groups after each sign until the top of Beeline Hill -after that you are on your own) Little brother The No-Sprint Ride rolls at the same time, bound for the same route but offering a nice 18-ish mph ride to start your weekend.

Women’s 101 Ride – Sunday @ 7pm. Our newest ride is findin’ its legs! Join Velo-Citizens (and seasoned riders) Melissa, Kaat and Sandy for a nice ride and a chance to ask ‘em any and all of those questions you’ve always wondered about. (“Why DO male riders shave their legs?” “What’s Chamois Butter and why might I use it?” etc)

Note: All VCC rides are open to everyone, provided that they A – wear a helmet, B – have at least 1 working brake on their bike and C – agree to adhere to our “road rules” which include (but might not be limited to) riding in a safe and legal manner, protecting the image of the cycling community and watching out for one another, okay?

NEW – THE VELO CITY TRI TRAINING GROUP! We’re really excited about this project! Under the guidance of Mike B and Melissa* we’re gonna offer run/bike workouts, swimming tips, a training plan, seminars on getting started in triathlon, how to rock the transition, etc. Whether you’re signed up for (and stressed out about!) your very first tri or have more than a few under your race belt this will be a valuable (and fun) resource.

Plans are to offer group workouts on Thursday evening and Sat morning beginning on 5/17.

* Mike is the VP of the Tri Club @ Hope and qualified for Age Group Nationals this year. Melissa ran tri-training groups for Gazelle Sports and claims to be able to teach “anyone” to swim. They are both veterans of many events. We’ll be bringing in much of the “local talent” of our area as well…..there’s plenty of it!

Interested? Intrigued? Curious? Come to the Kick-Off / Info Meeting on Tuesday 5/15 @ 8pm. (right after the ride)

(And / or catch either Mike B or Melissa here @ the shop)

CYCLING 101 SEMINARS CONTINUE…..This is our long-term project to de-mystify our sport. After all – no one’s born knowin’ how to change a flat tire or lube a chain, right? Right! So – stop by and we’ll teach you, show you a few of the ”inside moves” and make sure you’re ready to roll! No charge, no stress, no dress code and you don’t even need your bike……just your questions!

May Schedule:

Flat Tires – How to Fix (and avoid) ‘em. Monday 5/21 @ 6pm. This seminar will get’cha ready to deal w/ the #1 mechanical issue and turn it from a ride-ending disaster to the minor annoyance it oughta be.

A Clean Chain is a Happy Chain. Thursday 5/24 @ 6pm. Learn how to clean, lube and care for this critical piece of your drivetrain.

Shifting Secrets – What do I do w/ all these gears?!?!? Thursday 5/31 @ 6pm. Get some insights into the hows and whys of effective shifting. Those gears are there to make your life easier – put ‘em to work!

Are there other topics you’d like to see covered? Let us know! (info@velo-citycycles.com)

FIND US NOW ON FOURSQUARE! Not hip to Foursquare? That’s okay, we weren’t either until our bud Heather filled us in. Foursquare is another online social media thingy – it’s kinda fun and different. Download the app on your trusty Smarty-Pants Phone and then make sure you “check in” every time you stop by the shop. Sweet Special Perks await!

ANNNNND….WHILE WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT OF “SOCIAL MEDIA”…..BE SURE TO “LIKE” US ON FACEBOOK! Here’s the thing – as interesting as we may find this newsletter it goes out once a month. There’s so much  stuff goin’ on around here that once a month just can’t cut it! So – by keeping in touch w/us via FB you’ll hear about everything from the latest new ride to the arrival of fresh Jan cookies. (We promise to not overdo it…..really!)

LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD – COME AND MEET TEAM TYPE 1 RIDER JEFF BANNINK! Man….back in the ’80′s when Jeff “Skippy” Bannink was rippin’ all of our legs off we kinda figured he was bound for glory…and we were right! Jeff is a member of the Team Type 1 Elite Racing Team and has been a key part of their 2- time Race Across America winning relay team. (2009 & 2010) He’ll be giving a short talk and answering your questions about RAAM, the team, life as a serious athlete w/ Type 1 and anything else you wanna ask @ 3:00pm on Saturday 5/26. Come on down!

SO – WHAT DOES TULIP TIME MEAN TO THE COOL BIKE SHOP? Well – aside form the fact that Mayor MC decamps for his beloved desert…not much! We’ll be here, doing our thing and living the BikeLife same as usual. The only change in our hours is that we’ll close at 3:00 on Saturday. And……parking can be tricky. But – all of our rides are happening and we’ll be here so stop on by!

LET’S TALK ABOUT SADDLES FOR A SEC…..OKAY? As a very fit-focused shop we spend (as you can imagine) a LOT of time talking about saddles. It is our firm belief that we cannot tell you which saddle will work for you. (Neither can anyone else) Yes – there ARE saddle “tests” based on your flexibility, the shape of your pelvis etc but (no pun intended) these methods are educated guesses at best. The ONLY way to find the perfect saddle is to TRY them – on YOUR bike, under YOUR behind. To that end (har! another pun) we offer no fewer than 2 dozen demo saddles in mens’ and women’s specific designs. Furthermore – we offer a 30 Day Try-It Policy on every saddle we sell.

Finding the ideal saddle can require some effort….& well worth it!

EVENT CALENDAR FOR MAY (* means more info in the newsletter)

5/2 – 1st Race of the Grattan Race Series. (Every Wed through August)

5/5 – Mud, Sweat and Beers XC Race, Traverse City

5/6 – Cone-Azalia RR

5/6 – Fort Custer Stampede XC Race

5/12 – Kalamazoo Trailblazer Tour

5/12- 6 & 12 Hours of Stony Creek XC Race

5/13 – CALL YOUR MOM!!!!

5/14-19 Green Commute Week*

5/15 – VCC Tri Training Info Meeting*

5/16 – Ride of Silence

5/19 – Zoo de Mac Tour/Party

5/19 – Ride Around Kent Co Tour

5/19-20 – West Mi Stage Race

5/21 – Flat Tire Seminar*

5/24 – Chain Care Seminar*

5/26 – Jeff Bannink / RAAM Talk*

5/26 – Tour of Frankenmuth RR

5/26 – Hanson Hills 100 XC Race

5/27 – Frankenmuth Gran Fondo

5/28 – Memorial Day, shop closed, gone ridin’!

5/31 – Gearing Seminar*

(info on virtually all of these events can be found in the 2012 Michigan Ride Calendar which is available here at the shop)

Well – once again we’ve reached that place where we thank you for reading the QR, for coming on our rides and for supporting our efforts at being the Cool Bike Shop. (Not to imply that we take any of that likely – ‘cuz we do not!) We’re excited for what this season has to offer, grateful that you guys come around as often as you do and looking forward to lotsa rides, races and events.  We hope that you are too!

We’ll see you on (or off) the road………come ride w/ us!

Aaron,  Alex,  Chris,  Jeremy,  Kaat,  Keith,  Mike B,  MC,  Melissa,  Nate  & Sandy – the Velo Citizens

“Bicycles may change, but cycling is timeless.”

Zapata Espinoza

]]> http://www.velo-citycycles.com/mailing/the-may-quick-release-newsletter/feed/ 0 http://www.velo-citycycles.com/news/the-april-quick-release-newsletter/ http://www.velo-citycycles.com/news/the-april-quick-release-newsletter/#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:40:51 +0000 Mike Clark http://www.velo-citycycles.com/?p=347 Ahhhhh April! Even after a summery March and a mild winter there’s just something sweet about April, huh? Oh sure – it can pack a punch, and weather-wise we might not be outta the woods yet but………we’re close!

It’s been a hectic-and-fun “off season” here @ the Cool Bike Shop and we are looking forward to more of the same as we roll into Spring! So – come along for the ride…….

WEEKLY RIDES – This is a HUGE part of what we do and who we are and we sure hope you take advantage of all we have on the menu. (Don’t see what’cha want? Let us know @ info@velo-citycycles.com)

The Tuesday Night Ride rolls @ 6pm. This is our biggest ride on the week and recognized a little while back by Bicycling Magazine as a ‘Top 50 Shop Ride”. We offer 3 groups, each led by Velo-Citizens so no one gets lost or left.

The ‘Medium” group does 29 miles @ 20-22mph

The “Mild” Group does the same loop @ 17-19mph

The “Mellow” group does 15-18 miles @ whatever pace needed to keep everyone together. (Usually around 15-16mph)

There’s quite often a “Hot” Group as well – but no Ride leaders for that one!

In April we offer the” Wednesday Workout“ a paceline-oriented ride to keep that fitness you gained @ the Wed night Indoor Rides fresh! We roll @ 6pm for 35-40 miles.

Jan’s Recovery Ride leaves the shop @ 8:30am on Thursday for 26 miles @ a “recovery” pace of 17-19mph followed by breakfast.

The Bagel Ride clips in @ 8:30am on Friday, does 25-28 miles & ends up @ The Good Earth Cafe for re-fueling. A “very civilized way to start the day“!

The Sprint Ride and it’s lil’ sister the “No-Sprint Ride” depart for the front of the shop @ 8am on Saturday. Traditionally we “work up” to the actual sprints during the month so the ride isn’t full out ’til May. 25 miles, 2 groups, paces of around 18-19mph and 21-22.

NEW RIDE! Our latest ride is the “Basics For Women” Ride which happens Sunday @ 7:00pm. Come and ride w/ Velo-Citizens Sandy, Kaat and Melissa, as well as many other friends of ours and learn the ins and outs of group riding, communication, drafting, roadside repairs, etc. Future post-ride discussions will cover nutrition, clothing, bike maintenence and anything else you’d like to learn!

Note – all VCC rides are open to anyone wearing a helmet, riding a bike w/ at least 1 working brake and willing to suscribe to our “Rules of the Ride” which are as follows:

We’re going to ride in a safe and legal fashion,

We’re going to look out for one another and protect the reputation of the cycling community, and we’re gonna have fun!

“CYCLING 101 SEMINARS ANNOUNCED!” New at this whole cycling thing? Wondering how to fix a flat, lube your chain, use your gears? Well – here’s a chance to pick up that info in a simple Q and A format. No charge, no stress, no worries! Let us help you get ready for the road!

Flat tires – How to fix (and avoid) them. What to carry- how to use it – and a few tips to make a flat the minor annoyance it should be and not a ride-ruining challenge.

Sat 4-7 @ 3:00 / Mon 4-9 @ 6:00 / Mon 4/23 @ 6:00

Chains – How to clean ‘em,  lube ‘em, maintain ‘em. Modern bicycle chains are wonders of mechanical minimalism but the more gears you have (in the back) the skinnier they are and the faster they wear! Learn the right way to maintain your chain!

Mon 4-16 @ 6:00 / Fri 4-20 @ 6:00

Gears & Shifting – making sense of all those gears @ your disposal. Learn the how and why of shifting your bike, cadence and how to be a more efficient cyclist.

Thursday 4-19 @ 6:00 /  Monday 4-30 @ 6:00

More seminars planned – watch the FaceBook page to stay in the loop! (Requests? info@velo-citycycles.com)

NEW STUFF WATCH! Spring is like Christmas here @ the shop – w/ cool new clothing, bikes and gear rollin’ in nearly every day. Here are a few recent arrivals that come to mind……..

Ibex summer-weight wool jerseys and bibs. Wool for hot weather? We know – we weren’t sure ourselves. So in standard VCC fashion we’ve been tryin’ it – during March’s “heat wave”, in the Utah desert last Fall…..and it works! We all love wearing wool from Sept through April and it’s ability to wick sweat and add a bit o’ “coziness” sure feels good if you get caught in the rain! Check it out!

Sweet new jersey designs from Twin 6 – Motor! Ace! Speedy Bike Shop! School Girl! Masher! Deluxe!

Skratch Labs hydration mix – Sports Wizard Allen Lim was mixin’ this up in his kitchen while he tended to the riders on the Radio Shack and Garmin teams. Known then as “Secret Drink Mix” it became a cult fav amongst those “in the know”.  CD swears by it and many of our friends and ridng buds have tried it and found it worthy. It incorporates actual dehydrated fruit for flavor, less sugar and more electrolytes. Available in 3 flavors and an “everyday hydration drink” for general good health.

Michelin Pro 4 road tires – a reworking of an old fav, the Pro 4 is longer wearing and more resistant to cuts in the tread. 7 colors in 700x 23 and also available in the currently-favored 25mm size as well.

Stuffits Portable Dryers. – Dunno ’bout you be it seems we get caught out in the rain all the time! These are better that stuffing your shoesw/ old newpapers! 100% natural cedar sewn into a couple of nylon bags – insert ‘em into your wet shoes, gloves etc and…..they’ll dry out a lot faster. Cool idea!

Okay – there’s a taste. Obviously the shop is chock-fulla sweet new road, mtn, ‘cross and fitness bikes from Cannondale, road and tri bikes from Cervelo, fat bikes from Salsa and Surly, ‘cross bikes from Ridley and there are more Co-Motion tandems due in later this month! Add a few Sevens and Gunnars and…there you have it…..a pretty dang rockin’ selection of carbon, aluminum, titanium and steel bikes and frames!

Multi-sport enthusiasts are gonna want to check out our expanding selection of tri-stuff (watch for seminars for beginning tri-folk too!) and our Fat Bike Zone is just that…..FAT!

SWEET DEAL ON RIDLEY X-BOW CYCLO-CROSS BIKES! We’re on record as saying that we firmly believe the ‘cross bike is the most versatile bike there is - in stock condition it’s ready for dirt roads, 2 tracks and mild single-track and is a simple tire swap away from being a full-on road bike – and herte’s a chance for you to take advantage of that AND a great deal on one of the best! We grabbed a full size run of Ridley’s X-Bow model when they put’em on sale so you get a great ‘crosser from the motherland of cyclo-cross (as their ads say “Ridley is Belgium”)

2 versions – equipped w/ SRAM Apex the retail is $1400 or set up w/ Shimano 105 it’s $1600. You can get either one for $150 off OR choose $200 in accessories – your pick!

This offer is good for as long as our supply lasts – after that…..all gone!

REPORT FROM THE FIT TEAM – CHECK YOUR CLEATS! The VCC Fit Team has been busy all winter fitting new bikes, retro-fitting customers bikes from other shops and trying (as always) to learn all we can about the art and science of bike fit. Even w/ a collective quarter-decade + of fitting work (and 1000′s of fits) we’re hungry for more. Recently we’ve noticed a trend of worn out cleats causing knee issues – somehting that was re-enforced to us during an all-day training session we took part in last month. Such a simple thing! Cleats wear, obviously – and as they do your all-important connection w/ your pedals changes….weakens….is altered. Like chains there are too many variables at play to tell you “how long they oughta last” but there’s no doubt that excessive cleat wear can cause issues. If you’re in doubt – bring ‘em in and have us take a look – we’ll steer you right!

REPORT FROM THE WORKSTAND - CONSIDER YOUR CABLES! Jeremy, Nate, Aaron and Alex have been hard at work all winter assembling bikes and keeping up w/ the flood of service work brought on by the nice weather. Their best piece of advice this month? Consider replacing your shift and/or brake cables. It’s AMAZING how a $4 cable can effect the performance of a $1000+ drivetrain! If your bike is more than a season old – or spends any time in the wet – it may well benefit from a new set of cables and housing. It’s a small investment ($40-ish for shift cables, a bit more for brake – depends on a few things) in far better performance. And – for the LAST WORD in ultimate performance – may we recommend Gore cables? Reduced friction, long life, fully sealed, ahhhhhh! ($55-60 installed for shift, about the same for brake)

MEET THE LATEST VELO-CITIZEN! Melissa Werkman came to us last Fall looking to get back into road racing and frustrated in her past efforts to get a bike that fit her needs AND her body. A few fit sessions and a Cannodale CAAD10 later she became a fixture @ our Indoor Rides and then……well……it just seemed like all of a sudden she was around! So – we put her to work. Her passion is in helping new-to-intermediate riders reach whatever goals they might have and she brings a lot of energy and drive to that process! In other words – she’s gonna fit in around here just fine. She has a “real job” (and a worthy one at that) in GR, lives on Holland’s North Side, races as part of the Fusion women’s team and made the podium @ Barry-Roubaix! You’ll see her here during the week a bit, the occasional Saturday and leading one of the groups during the TNR.

BIG RACE WEEKEND COMIN’ UP! Even if bike races hold zero interest for you (and that’s more-than-fine!) there’s a weekend this month that’s gonna make our lil’ neck o’ the woods BikeRaceCentral and that’s kinda cool!

Saturday 4/14 brings us the First Ever DuneCross Race out @ the Felt Mansion in Saugatuck. A benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – this race will be a spectator’s delight that will have riders facing  a course that includes gravel roads, singletrack trails and a long winding stone staircase – all w/ the stately mansion as a backdrop. We are proud to be a sponsor! More info @ www.dunescross.com

The following day is the traditional kick-off to the local road season – The Fisk Knob Time Trial over in Sand Lake. 180 riders will take on the highest spot in Kent County in an individual “race of truth” against the clock. (It’s more fun that it sounds!) A benefit for LiveStrong and presented by the Fusion Team & Atomic Object.

Speaking of dates and such, here’s the…….APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS. (*means more info elsewhere in this newsletter)

Fri 4/7 – Cycling 101 – Flats*

Mon 4/9 – Cycling 101 – Flats*

Sat 4/14 – DuneCross Race*

Sun 4/15 – Fisk Knob TT*

Mon 4/16 – Cycling 101 – Chains*

Thur 4/19 – Cycling 101 – Gears*

Fri 4/20 – Cycling 101 – Chains*

Sun 4/22 – Yankee Springs Time Trial mountainbike race

Mon 4/23 – Cycling 101 – Flats*

Thurs 4/26 – Kalamazoo Bicycle Film Festival

Sat 4/28 – Last Call Band @ Saug Brewery, 6:30-10:30

Mon 4/30 – Cycling 101 – Gears*

So – here we are @ the start of another month and the end of another newsletter! We sure do appreciate all y’all supporting our efforts here as we try to be the coolest bike shop we can be……this is your shop after all, not ours! We’d love to see you here @ the shop, on one (or more) of our rides or out on the trail!

Be well

Ride lots

Be safe

Your friends @ Velo City (in order of frame size) – Kaat, Nate, Keith, Melissa, Sandy, MC, Aaron, lil’ Mike, Chris, Alex and Berger.

“There is something uncanny in the noiseless rush of the cyclist, as he comes into view, passes by and disappears.”

Popular Science Magazine, 1891

Hard to complain (from a cyclist’s point of view) about the weather this winter but still……it’ll be nice to be warm on a ride, huh?

As you would suspect – there’s an whole bunch of awesome comin’ down the pike this month, both @ the shop and along the 3rd Coast in general so let’s maybe go for a ride and talk about it, okay………..?

(By the way – as much info as you are about to read – there’s always more! The flat-out best way to stay “in the loop” w/ all of our shop stuff is to follow us on FaceBook. That way you’ll get 1st dibs on the cookies, 1st tip on sale stuff, 1st word of cool new stuff…etc)

THE VCC SPRING GARAGE SALE! It’s a tradition, it’s a chance to get a sweet deal, it’s….well…..kinda fun! C’mon down on Friday 3/2 & Saturday 3/3  and see what we found in the basement! (Hint – wheels, components, clothing, bars, stems, bar tape, roof rack stuff, a bike or two………and more!)

WEEKLY RIDE SCHEDULE – Our pride n’ joy and one of the things that we’re most serious about. Our rides are open to anyone w/ a helmet, one working brake and the desire to ride!

The Tuesday Night Ride rolls @ 5:30 for around 20 miles @ 18-20mph. We’ll be back in time to get ready for VELO YOGA.

Jan’s Recovery Ride clips in @ 8:30am every Thursday. We do 23-27 miles @ 17-18 mph and then grab some carbs @ the bakery.

The Bagel Ride is a timeless classic that happens Friday @ 8:30am.  Plan on 26-ish miles, a possible llama sighting and then re-fueling @ The Good Earth Cafe.

ONE MORE MONTH OF INDOOR TRAINER RIDES!- We’ve been getting ‘tween 13-25 riders for each ride and that’s awesome. If you haven’t joined us yet – what’cha waiting for?!?!? Come on down and sweat w/ the rest of us! It’s as much fun as riding the “Nowhere Bike*” can be!

Wednesday @ 8pm / Saturday @ 8am

(*Thanks to Derek & Kirsten for the best description of riding a trainer we’ve ever heard!)

ONE MORE MONTH FOR VELO YOGA AS WELL! – Sad but true…..once again our “Yoga Season” has to yield to the forces of outside rides and the lure of dry pavement…but not yet! We still have 4 more sessions planned under the leadership of Heather Allegrina, yoga instructor & avid rider. Her class will give you more strength, better flexibility and improved balance – 3 things that cycling requires….but doesn’t provide.

$10 class fee goes towards establishing the John Allegrina Memorial Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students @ GVSU.

“CRAZY BASTARD WEST” RIDES - These are our “Adventure by Bike” riders (if we may borrow a line from our good friends @ Salsa. We meet @ the Hamilton Food Center on M-40 at 2:00pm and head down into the Allegan Woods area using seasonal roads, 2 tracks, single tracks and snowmobile trails. Fat bikes & mountainbikes have become the weapon of choice, but a ‘cross bike will do as well. Figure on 2+ hours and bring along your sense of wanderlust! There’s a coffee shop in the back of the market for post-ride fellowship & re-fueling. CBW Rides are set for

SUNDAY 3/4 AND 3/18

 THE RETURN OF THE PINEAPPLE BOB CLASSIC! - The “P Bob” is one of our favorite Fun-Raiser Rides every Spring and Fall! 3 route options – a 35 mile all pavement loop and then 30 and 50 mile loops using all the dirt and gravel roads we can find.

Afterwards plan on hanging out back at the shop for tacos and such!

TRAINERS AND ROLLERS ON SALE! - Now’s the time to hook yourself up w/ a new Cycle Ops indoor trainer or set of  Kreitler rollers! Our remaining inventory of trainers, rollers, accessories and DVD’s are now 35% off!

ALL FALL/WINTER CLOTHING NOW 30-40% OFF AS WELL! – Let’s face it….like it or not there’s still gonna be some cold rides in your future so why not grab yourself some warm-n-toasty stuff from  Ibex, Castelli, Pearl Izumi & Cannondale? Tights, knickers, jerseys, jackets, gloves, booties, hats….if you need it to stay warm on a ride it’s on sale!

IT’S TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE RIDE TO CURE DIABETES! Our shop is proud to be a full-on supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ride to Cure Program for over 7 years. Registration is open now (@ ride.jdrf.org) and you could join members of the West Michigan Team as they ride in Vermont, Wisconsin, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley or Tucson! Our Mayor MC has been the coach of the Mi team since it’s inception and now serves as the Co-National Head Coach as well. He’ll tell you that the many many JDRF Rides he’s attended are the coolest thing he’s ever done on a bicycle and if you know him at all…..he’s done a few things on a bike! Riding for JDRF could change your life – and there’s something extra-special about combining something that you love (like cycling) w/ a Greater Purpose…it’s POWERFUL! Stop in and talk to MC or Ride to Cure Head Mechanic Jeremy if you have any questions or wnat some more info.

Speaking of JDRF……..a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that participated in the Salsa Mukluk raffle to support JDRF! We raised a lotta $! And mucho congrats to winner Vince Hanneken of Holland!

PUT THESE EVENT DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR NOW! – Yep, never fear, this edition of the QR will have an Event Calendar like always. However – there are a few dates that we think are extra-special and we think you oughta make a special note….!

4/14 – DuneCross Race @ Felt Mansion. This 1st ever cx race in Saugatuck Township is a benefit for JDRF and will be a blast! Get the scoop @ www.dunecross.com

6/24 – The Allegrina 100. The best century of the year! It’s more than a ride – it’s a celebration of life and love, it’s a 10, 30, 60 or 100 mile ride, it’s a post-ride feast, it’s…well…..it’s pretty special! This year the ride takes place @ the Felt Mansion. For all the delightful details visit www.allegrina100.com or find it on FaceBook!

8/18- The One Day Ride Across Michigan is a 152 mile tour from Montague to Bay City. This is also a benefit for JDRF and a complete blast (and highly recommended!) www.odram.com but you guessed that, right?

THE WEST MICHIGAN MOUNTAIN BIKE ALLIANCE PRESENTS “PEDAL DRIVEN, A BIKE-UMENTARY” – Mark the date and make sure you’re free! This “movie night” is a benefit for the WMMBA and for Parkinson’s Research @ the Van Andel Institute. The movie offers a look at solutions to land access issues across the Western States and Canada. There are three, count ‘em three chances to catch this flick!

Tickets are $25, doors open @ 6:15 and the film starts @ 7:15 (at all 3 venues)

Wednesday 3/21 @ Seven Steps Up in Spring Lake

Thursday 3/22 @ The Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids

Thursday 3/29 @ The Park Theatre in Holland

More details @ www.wmmba.org

MARCH EVENT CALENDAR (*means more info elsewhere in this newsletter)

3/2-3/3 – VCC Garage Sale *

3/4 – Crazy Bastard West Ride*

3/11 – Inside Out Cx Race, Greenville.

3/18 – Crazy Bastard West Ride*

3/21 – Pedal Driven Movie Night, Spring Lake*

3/22 – Pedal Driven Movie Night, GR *

3/24 – Barry-Roubaix Race, Middleville

3/25 – Pineapple Bob Classic*

3/29 – Pedal Driven Movie Night, Holland*

3/31 – Lowell 50 Gravel Race

So, we’re gonna call that good for this edition of the Quick Release. Needless to say there are PLENTY of reasons to be excited about this season! (We sure are!) We’d like to take this chance to thank you all for making this winter so much fun and helpin’ it fly by so fast – it’s been a hoot, huh?

Stop in and see us when you have a sec, there’s likely to be coffee on (our new as-yet-unnamed Velo City blend!) and if your timing and karma’s good enough – fresh cookies too!

We’ll see you on the road or trail – ride safe and ride lots!

Jeremy,  Chris,  Sandy,  Nate,  MC,  Alex,  Aaron,  Kaat,  Keith & lil’ Mike – your buds here @ Velo City

“I love the bicycle. I always have. I can think of no sincere decent human being, male or female, young or old, saintly or sinful, who can resist the bicycle.”

William Saroyan

]]> http://www.velo-citycycles.com/news/the-march-quick-release-newsletter/feed/ 0 http://www.velo-citycycles.com/news/the-february-quick-release-newsletter/ http://www.velo-citycycles.com/news/the-february-quick-release-newsletter/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:01:40 +0000 Mike Clark http://www.velo-citycycles.com/?p=340 So……this is February? Yep – we double-checked. This is the 2nd month of 2012 and as this is being written the sun is out, the roads are clear and FaceBook says that the parking lot @ the Yankee Springs trailhead is packed! Folks are riding outside and it kinda sorta feels like Spring here @ the Cool Bike Shop. 

Now….we Third-Coasters know better than to put away the snow shovels and pack away the XC skies just yet…right?….but let’s enjoy it while it lasts, okay?

O-kay!

As you might expect – lotsa cool bike stuff happenin’ here @ the shop so c’mon in and let us show you around……

WEEKLY OUTDOOR RIDE CALENDAR - Such a huge part of who we are and what we’re about as a shop, our Weekly Rides are a blast! Join us!

The Tuesday Night Ride rolls @ 5:30 for about 70 minutes and 20 miles. You’ll need lights. The primary goal of this ride over the “winter” is to get out, stretch our legs and get back in time to get ready for VELO YOGA.

Jan’s Recovery Ride is @ 8:30am on Thursday. We’ll ride 25-ish miles @ 17-19mph and then stop for a lil’ brunch.

The Fat Thursday Ride meets @ the Riley Trails parking lot @ 6pm. Designed as a weekly celebration of our new favorite bikes this ride is intended to get’cha out on a fat bike (either yours or one of our demos) and show you just how much fun they can be!

The Bagel Ride “clips in” @ 8:30am on Friday. The usual route is the “Llama Loop” – about 26 miles – and winds up at The Good Earth Cafe for re-fueling. A “Very Civilized Way To Start The Day”!

WEEKLY INDOOR RIDE SCHEDULE- Even w/ clear roads and moderate temps there’s a place for intense indoor training. It’s easier to watch your heart rate, do intervals, one-leg drills etc. Mayor MC claims to have invented the concept of group indoor rides – at least around here. We don’t know if that’s true but we do know that he was organizin’ them as far back as the mid ’80s so……..could be. So – bring your trainer and bike and we’ll supply the fans, the space, the training DVD’s, the TV the company and the witty repartee. It’s as much fun as going nowhere fast gets!

Note – you are welcome to store your trainer, wheel block and even shoes here if that makes life easier for you. We haven’t been able to make room for bikes this winter however.

Indoor rides are Wed @ 8pm & Sat @ 8am.

VELO YOGA CLASSES GOING STRONG – You’ll be strong too, as well as more flexible when you treat yourself to the original yoga for cyclists! Let yoga instructor and avid cyclist Heather Allegrina show you how more core strength, flexibility and balance can make you a happier rider. As she says ” Cycling requires all three of those things – but gives you none!” The class is at 7pm on Tuesdays (right after the TNR!) and goes until 8:00. The $10 fee goes towards the establishment of the John Allegrina Memorial Scholarship for Non-Traditional Students @ GVSU.

“OTHER” RIDES – There are usually several other rides – “official” or otherwise – leaving from the shop every week. Crazy Bastard West Rides, Shut Up & Ride Club rides, impromptu fat bike beach rides, trips up to GH, etc. Some (not all) of these rides will be posted on our Facebook page so at the risk of repeating ourselves – the besy way to stay in the loop (especially a loop as busy as ours) is to follow us on FaceBook! You’ll be the first to hear about Jan Cookie deliveries and new stuff too!

SALE STUFF – As the shop continues to fill up w/ all sorts of rockin’ new gear we gotta make some room! As it happens – that turns out to be a good thing for y’all! Here’s a glimpse of some of the deals we have going this month –

All Fall/Winter riding gear 30-40% off! Oh sure – it’s nice NOW, but we all know that’s not gonna last, right? Might as well gear up! All warm gloves, hats, booties, tights, knickers, l/s jerseys, and related stuff from Castelli, Pearl Izumi, Cannondale, Ibex, Smartwool & others is now on sale.

Get 20% off the Cycle-Ops JetFluid PRO or SuperMagneto PRO trainer!

We still have a very limited selection of 2011 bikes as well – you can get yourself a sweet new Cervelo, Cannondale or Electra right now at up to 30% off!

Fine Print: All sale prices apply to stuff in stock only, no special orders.

HEY – WHILE WE’RE TALKIN ‘ABOUT DEALS ‘N ALL….MAKE A NOTE TO ATTEND OUR ANNUAL SPRING GARAGE SALE HERE @ THE SHOP ON MARCH 2 & 3! (More details later via FaceBook and the Mar QR)

DON’T FORGET TO CASH IN YOUR VELO BUX!!! The last day that you can redeem your lovingly collected VeloBux is 2/29/12! After that – they’re only good as bookmarks!

WHAT WAS THAT YOU SAID ABOUT A DEMO FLEET…..? Way to pay attention! In the interest of spreading the word and giving you a chance to try Cool New Stuff we have a pretty decent lil’ group of bikes that exist for your education and enjoyment. Currently the fleet consists of:

Salsa MukLuk FatBikes – 4 of ‘em, Sm, Md and Lg

Cannondale 29r ATB’s – Flash Carbon Md, Flash Ally Md (and a Lg on the way)

Cannondale SuperSix w/ Ultegra Di2 – 56cm

So – wanna see what this fat bike craze is all about? Check out the electronic shifting thing? See if there’s a 29r in your future? We got’cha covered!

STILL TIME TO JOIN US @ THE ULTIMATE CYCLING CHALLENGE! The UCC is a 12/24 hour indoor relay ride on Feb 24/25 to raise funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. We’ve had a tean for years and would love to have you join us. Go to www.ultimatecyclechallenge.com for the scoop and then contact MC here @ the shop to get a time slot!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2012 JDRF RIDE TO CURE DIABETES SEASON! It won’t be news to many of you that as a shop we are hip-deep in supporting ther Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s efforts to ride the world of Type 1 Diabetes. Mayor MC is the Nat’l Co-Head Coach in addition to one of the West Mi coaches and Service Mgr Berber has been the Head Mechanic of the entire Ride Program since ’08. We are also proud to team up w/ Cannondale to sponsor the West Mi Ride Team – a fine band of local riders who have raised over 1 million dollars towards research! This season’s Rides are in VT, Wi, Lake Tahoe, Death Valley and Tucson and range from July to November. Check out www.ride.jdrf.orf or stop in and chat up MC! Find out how you can combike riding your bike & making the world a better place!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT – ARE “WOMEN’S SPECIFIC” BIKES A MYTH?  You’ll hear it in any bike shop – women are different that men. Now – no one’s gonna argue that, least of all me, but we’re referring to bike fit here. I’ve been fitting bikes to people for 30+ years now….and ever since the early ’80s, when Georgina Terry first introduced the “concept” of the women’s specific bicycle, the conventional and virtually unchallenged wisdom has been that women have different skeletal proportions than men. Longer legs, shorter torsos and arms, narrower shoulders, smaller hands, etc.  Women’s bikes have been designed around that notion ever since.

But……..(you heard that comin’, right?) there is mounting evidence that it’s simply not true. In this month’s issue of Bicycling magazine that theory was described as “total bunk” by the Product Mgr of the women’s line of bikes by a major brand. Nor was the first time I’ve heard that. At the Interbike show in 2010 the head engineer of Cervelo told me that they can’t find any soloid evidence to support that theory in 100 years of body measurements compiled by the US Military.

So – here’s the thing. Even IF there is a difference between Gender A and Gender B – so what? Bike fit is about YOU. Not humans w/ your build, not Americans your height or women w/ your shape or dudes with your build. YOU. Here @ Velo City our fitters are going to fit you…..with the right bike for you…..regardless of gender. That’s the only way to do it right.

And that’s the only way we do it.

MC

Okay, gotta go get kitted up and grab some of this day for a ride. We hope that you are doing the same thing. It’s been a crazy winter in a lot of ways so far but let’s keep it rollin’ huh? Thanks s always for supporting what we’re trying to do here @ the shop – it means an awful lot to all of us here! 

Be careful, ride lots and try and stop by to say hi, grab a cookie or cup of coffee and maybe join us for a ride!

Ride on!

MC, Berger, Chris, Nate, Sandy, Aaron, Kaat, Alex,

Keith & lil ‘Mike – the Velo-Citizens.

“I know myself through mountain biking. That’s how I center myself if things are out of whack personally”

Myles Rockwell

But here’s the thing……..we’re good w/ it either way! We’re gonna ride (inside and out) no matter what – we’re gonna celebrate the joy and power of cycling on nice days and foul ones and There Will Be Bike Face!

So – here’s the first QR of 2012…..check out all the stuff we’re planning – rides, events,  classes – and make sure that you stop in and see us!

We’ll be here!

WEEKLY RIDE SCHEDULE: We’re kinda proud of our rides….and people in the cycling world (like Bicycling magazine for instance) have been noticing as well. Here’s the menu for this month and pretty much all winter:

The Tuesday Night Ride (Outside) 5:30 – For the winter the TNR is a short ride (18-20 miles) intended to stake a claim to the roads, get some fresh air and remind Ol’ Man Winter just who runs things around here. Dress warm, charge up your lights and join us. We will be back in time to thaw out for yoga!

The Wednesday Indoor Ride 8:00pm – MC claims to have been leading the area’s first indoor group rides since the mid ’80′s (ask him to tell you the “Connault Story) and we’ve been doin’ ‘em ever since! Bring your trainer and bike – we’ll supply the TV, coaching DVDs, fans and company. We’ll post the scheduled workout on the FaceBook page so you don’t miss a fav! (Note – we don’t have the room to store your bike at the moment but you are free to store your trainer, wheelblock and even shoes here if it helps.)

Jan’s Recovery Ride (Outside) 8:30am – 25 miles @ 17-19mph, a high liklihood of a llama sighting and then a post-ride stop to warm up and re-fuel @ the local bagel shop. What’s not to like?

The Bagel Ride (Outside) 8:30am – Any resemblance to the Recovery Ride is pure coincidence! 25-28 miles @ 18-21 mph and then  we head to the Good Earth Cafe for bagels, muffins, coffee and heat!

The Saturday Indoor Ride, 8:00am – Just like Wed night, except on Sat morning! (In general the Wed night workouts will be longer and more “tempo-oriented” while the Sat morning ones will be shorter interval efforts)

THE “CRAZY BASTARD WEST” RIDES are both a tribute to and our version of a long-standing ride that we’ve enjoyed in GR. We meet at the Hamilton Food Center on M-40 (just south of town) @ 2:00pm on alternate Sundays and head back into the Allegan State Game Area looking for “seasonal” roads, 2 tracks…..who knows? Depending on the weather either ‘cross bikes, mountainbikes or fat bikes rule the day but it’s a classic case of “run what’cha brung”! It might also be the most fun you’ll ever have on 2 wheels! For January the official CBW dates are 1/8 and 1/22.

VELO YOGA CONTINUES! It’s been 3+ years now since we teamed up w/ instructor-cyclist Heather Allegrina to bring the concept of “yoga for cyclists” to the lakeshore. Her class has grown in popularity and spawned imitation. (Awww, we’re flattered, really).   This is atheletic, strenuous yoga – designed by an avid cyclist to make you a better rider. To quote Ms Allegrina – “Cycling requires core strength, balance and flexibiliy – but doesn’t give you any!” This class will!

Tuesday @ 7pm / 1 hour class / no registration required / $10 per session

(All proceeds go to the establishment of the John Allegrina Memorial Scholarship @ GVSU)

STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE!!!!!!What’s that? You were wondering if we had anything on sale? Well, we’re so glad you asked! We always like to kick off the new year by offering our friends some sweet deals on some cool bike stuff so check it out……

ALL CASTELLI CLOTHING 30% OFF!

ALL WOMEN’S FALL/WINTER CLOTHING 40% OFF!

ALL REMAINING 2010/2011 BIKES FROM CANNONDALE, CERVELO, ELECTRA & CO-MOTION MARKED DOWN FROM 15-30% OFF!

(Fine Print – Prices apply only to stuff in stock, no special orders)

2 MORE WEEKS TO EARN VELO BUCKS! You can still accumulate Velo Bucks w/ any purchase of $50 or more. Velo Bucks get you a 10% rebate on your purchases through Saturday Jan 15!

ANNNNNNNNND – for those of you that are already holding onto some – they can be redeemed from right now through Feb 29!

RIDE INSIDE / RIDE OUTSIDE! – If you’re gonna ride all winter you’re going to have to equip yourself to ride either inside or outside – or both! Lucky for you…we got’cha covered either way! Check it out -

For Inside Riding we feature Cycle Ops trainers, Kreitler rollers and all the fixin’s. We have a complete selection of training DVDs and other accessories. We can help you figure out which of the 6 models of trainer will serve you best.

When it comes to Outdoor riding we’re pretty sure that there’s no shop in the area w/ a better selection of gear or experience in using it! We have a tremendous selection of tights, jackets, jerseys, gloves, booties, socks, shoe covers and baselayers from Castelli, Pearl Izumi, Cannondale, Ibex, Smartwool and others. We have winter shoes from Shimano, chemical toe warmers, Smartwool lined footbeds from Superfeet, handlebar mounted mittens from BarMitts and more! We also stock studded tires in 26″ and 700c sizes. Not to mention a full assortment of lights and fenders. If it’s what you need to stay warm and safe as you ride through a Michigan winter – chances are pretty good that we’ve tried it, tested it and – assuming that it works – carry it!

So – if you’re having trouble staying warm or not sure how to get started riding inside OR out…..we got’cha covered!

“Hold the pickles hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us”. Sorry about the fast food reference there – we just couldn’t resist. The point here (and we do have one) is that despite stocking and suplying our shop w/ the products that we think deserve your attention – we can’t stock everything! However – we can and gladly will special order you virtually anything the world of cycling has to offer. Now – are there exceptions to that? Yep – several brand names aren’t available to us (you can probably figure out the first 2-3!) but in general – if you want it, we can get it for you. The next time you’re in the shop ask to see the “Q” catalogs just to get a whiff of what we’re talking about. Lots of Outdoor Stuff too!

DIDJA KNOW ABOUT OUR DEMO FLEET?  Thinking about one of the new “fat bikes”? Looking for a new mountainbike? Curious about Shimano’s new electronic shifting? Well – we have a fleet of demo bikes that will allow you to try some of the latest and greatest on your favorite roads or trails. Our current fleet includes 3 Salsa Mukluks, 2 Cannondale 29′r mountainbikes (alloy and carbon), a Cannondale mountain tandem and a C-Dale Super Six w/ Ultegra Di-2! Stop in and talk to us about making use of ‘em!

MEET AND RIDE WITH PRO RIDER BRAD WHITE! Here’s a chance to hang out w/ a Big Time Pro Racer and ask him any questions about riding, bikes, training or whatever! Brad lives here in Holland when not on the road racing for the United HealthCare Team. He’s raced Pro since ’07 and has accumulated an impressive collection of trophies:

Most Aggressive Rider Jerseys @ the Tours of California, Missouri, Colorado & Utah.

Overall Sprint Winner – Tour of Utah

KOM jersey @ Tour of Utah for a day.

Needless to say – the man has some chops! So – c’mon down to the shop @ 2:00pm on Saturday 1/28 – he’ll lead a short (15-20 miles) ride and then head back to the shop to enjoy some snacks and answer your questions. Oughta be fun!

ALMOST ULTIMATE CYCLE CHALLENGE TIME AGAIN! The UCC is a 12 or 24 Hour indoor relay ride to raise money for Livestrong. It takes place on Feb 24th/25th and starts @ 8pm. For the 4th time we’ll be fielding a Velo City team so stop in the shop or otherwise contact MC (mike@velo-citycycles.com) and join in the fun. More info @ www.ultimatecyclechallenge.com

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS (a * means you will find more about it elsewhere in this newsletter):

Sun 1/8 – Crazy Bastard West Ride*

Sun 1/8 – Inside Out CX Race, Greenville

Mon 1/9 – WMMBA monthly meeting, GR

Sat 1/14 – Farmer’s Fat Bike Race, GR

Sun 1/22 – Crazy Bastard West Ride*

Sat 1/28 – Brad White @ VCC*

Sun 1/29 – MMBA Annual Meeting

EDITORIAL – “JUST ‘CUZ YOU ”CAN” DOESN’T  MEAN THAT YOU “SHOULD”. Probably not a bad rule to keep in mind in general but right now I’m talking about the relatively new phenonenon of the “Fat Bike”. These 4″ wide tired bikes are easily the hottest thing in the shop this winter, we’re riding them, we’re demo-ing them and we’re selling them – and that’s great. However – I’m becoming concerned that once again we (the bike industry) is revealing its historical inability to learn from its past mistakes. So bear w/ me a sec, okay?

Here’s the thing – I was in the bike biz in 1984, when mountainbikes first showed up in West Mich. I bought one right away and the few of us that had ‘em rode all over the place, on any trail we could find. It. Was. A. Blast. But guess what? By 1986 the DNR in this state (and most others) reacted to the presence of bikes where there had been none before in a predictable manner – they banned us from every state park and most of the county ones too. The Michigan MountainBike Association formed right about then ( I know – I wrote the 1st donation check they ever received) and since then volunteers have been busting their butts all over the country – working w/ various Goverment entities, co-operating w/ other user groups, paying their dues w/ work days and otherwise re-gaining access to public lands by virtue of being a responsible user group. Our local chaper of the MMBA – the aptly named WMMBA – has made amazing strides in the past few years – opening new trails, improving existing ones and making West Michigan a destination for mountainbikers from all over the Midwest.

See what I’m gettng at here? Fat bikes are mountainbikes. Simple as that. They have fatter tires and that means that they can go places that “normal” mountainbikes can’t and that’s a huge part of the fun but just ‘cuz ya can doesn’t mean that you should! If we start riding our fat bikes on trails closed to bikes, over fragile environments, on groomed ski trails or private beaches – we will negate all the hard work and progress that the bike advocacy folks have made since 1986.

And that would be a shame!

Please enjoy the awesome capabilities of your MukLuk or Pugsley responsibly! (And for the other 90% of our readers who don’t have a clue what I’m talking about here – I hope you skipped right past this part!)

Thanks, MC

So – that about covers it for this month. As usual the best way to “stay in the loop” on all of our rides and events is to make a habit of checking our FaceBook page on a regular basis. We send out updates nearly every day – including the latest news about new stuff, fresh cookies and special sales. It’s the easy way to stay in touch!

And with that – we’re gonna call it good. We’re gonna thank you one more time for helping us have such a great 2011 and we’re crazy excited for all that 2012 has to offer! More rides! More miles! More people on bikes more often! So – swing by the shop when you have a chance, demo a Mukluk (responsibly!), join us for an indoor ride, an outdoor ride or both. Celebrate cycling with us!

Thats the plan!

Happy New year from your buds @ VCC – Aaron, Alex,  Berger, Chris, Kaat, Keith, Lil’ Mike, Nate, MC & Sandy

“I delighted in the supreme sense of freedom that comes with the first mile of a bicycle journey. No bills, no messy relationships, no job. All I needed was stuffed into 4 sturdy panniers”

Dan Buettner, starting his 12,000 mile, 277 day ride across Africa

THE VELO REBATE PROGRAM is going strong! The details are simple – EVERY time you spend $50 or more w/ us ‘tween now and 1/15/12 we’re going to hand you Velo Bucks Certificates good for 10% of the purchase. Those certificates are good from 1/1/12 – 2/29/12.

So – buy that Salsa Mukluk 3 ($1600) and get’cher self a cool $160 in Velo Bucks! Do some Christmas shopping for the riders on your list and score them the Velo Bucks OR keep’em for yourself!

Remember – every purchase of $50 or more earns you a 10% Velo Bucks Rebate!

THE WEEKLY OUTDOOR RIDE SCHEDULE happens to be something that we are pretty proud of ’round here. We take our position as the hub of the local cycling community seriously & as such we offer a buncha rides all year. Here’s what we have going on this month:

The Tuesday Night Ride rolls @ 5:30. We’ll do an hour or so and be back in time to thaw out for yoga.  Figure on about 20 miles.

Jan’s Recovery Ride leaves on Thursday @ 8:30am.  This time of the season it’s less about “recovery” from a hard ride or race and more about having a nice morning ride. (And a stop at the baked goods place).  Figure on 25-28 miles and a 17-19mph pace.

The Bagel Ride is Friday @ 8:30am. We’ll do the “Llama Loop” (28 miles) and then head to The Good Earth Cafe for breakfast. Pace is generally 18-20mph. A “very civilized way to start your day”!

INDOOR TRAINING RIDES are @ 8:00pm Wed and 8:00am Saturday. C’mon down and sweat-n-suffer w/ a bunch of fellow riders. We’ll supply the TV, fans, coaching DVDs and company – you supply the bike and trainer. You are welcome to store your trainer and wheel block here but (for December anyway) we’re not going to have room for you to store your bike as in years past. That will hopefully change as we sell a buncha bikes (hint hint) or find more storage room.

SPECIAL DECEMBER RIDES – As usual we have a few things cooking that are hors catagorie – check ‘em out!

The Chili Chilly Ride is Sunday 12/11 @ 2:00. One of the most steadfast of our “Fun-Raiser” Ride Series, the C2 offers 25ish and 40ish mile road loops followed by a chili cookoff.  Bring a pot o’ your best chili and compete in the “Hottest” and/or “Tastiest” catagories. (Prizes for both.) We’ll supply the bread, drinks and such – you bring the chili!  Tip sheets provided – we’ll seperate into groups as required.

(Note – making/bringing chili is optional. You can bring snacks, dessert, cornbread or just your appetite!)

The 1st Crazy Bastard West Ride of the season rolls on Sunday 12/18! Meet us down @ the Hamilton Food Center on M-40 for a 2:00pm roll out. We’ll head SW into the Allegan Woods looking for “seasonal” roads and trouble! Road surfaces could include asphalt, dirt, gravel, sand, mud, snow, ice or all of the above! (Lots more CBW rides comin’ up in Jan-Mar! This is kind of a full month.)

The First Day of Winter MukFest is Thursday 12/22. Here’s your chance to try out the bike biz’s hottest niche if you haven’t already. We’ll meet @ the Hamilton Food Center and roll @ 6:00pm. The idea is to wander around back in the boonies and have some fun. We have a few sets  of demo lights available – as well as our 2 demo MukLuks. Bring your ‘cross or mtn bike and we’ll play musical bikes.

The New Year’s Day Ride – Okay, technically not a “December” ride – but we’d hate for you to miss the traditional chance to thumb your nose @ winter and kick off the new year right! We’ll roll from the shop @ 1:00pm (1-1-1, get it?) and get our ride on! Distance and route will be a “game day call” – but we’ll have fun and then head back to the shop for snacks and stories.

VELO YOGA CLASSES COMMENCE  12/6! Developed and led by instructor/ avid cyclist Heather Allegrina, our cycling-specific yoga class will make you a stronger, more balanced and more flexible rider. And that’s nothing but good!

Time – 7:00-8:00pm Tuesday

Cost – $10.00 per session (all proceeds go to the John Allegrina Memorial Scholarship @ GVSU)

STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE!!!!!! Well sure we have stuff on sale – it’s winter! Check out this list – and remember that our Velo Bucks Rebate applies to this stuff too!

All 2010 and 2011 bikes are marked down – if we have your size this might be a great time to get your next bike lined up!

All 2011 Cannondale road & fitness bikes are 10-15% off!

All 2011 Electra Townies, Ticinos & Cruisers are now 35% off!

All 2010/2011 Cervelos are 10-20% off!

We still have a few of the 2009 Cannondale F5 xs mtn bikes as well – they are 50% off! (now $375)

All Women’s Fall/Winter riding apparel – jerseys, jackets, tights, base layers, knickers – now 30% off!

We still have a few sets of wheels – Zipp, Mavic, Rolf, Velocity – @ 25% off!

Fine Print Department – all sale prices apply only to stock on hand, no special orders, sorry!)

LET’S TALK ABOUT OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A SEC – OKAY? Like any machine – Velo City runs on power provided by the ‘engine room”.  LIke most bike shops the “engine room” is the service department. We wanted to take a sec and talk about the folks back there -

Our Service manager is Jeremy “Berger” Berghorst. He’s been here since ’06 and around bikes his whole life. He’s also the Head Mechanic of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fooundation’s Ride to Cure Program – which has him working on bikes as he travels from Vt to Death Valley.

Jeremy’s main man is Nate Guiles. Nate’s fairly new to us – having pulled on the Big Boy Pants of Velo-Citizenship only about 6 weeks ago – but he’s worked at 2 of the busiest shops in GR for the past 6 years, assembling scads of high-end bikes and learning everything there is to know about disc brakes, tubeless set-ups and other mtn bike goodness. Working w/ Berger and Aaron he’s rapidly become equally proficient w/ road stuff and has already learned what a task it is keepin’ MC’s fleet running!

Speaking of Aaron….Aaron Dowling has been here for years, wrenching on bikes, assembling new ones & devising clever solutions for unforeseen problems. He’s part-time now, but still a huge part of what makes our service department rock.

Then there’s Alex Slikkers – bike assembler extradinaire! If you’re riding a bike that he built – you’re riding a good one! He’s been here for 3 seasons now, coming home from school in the winter and working through the summer.

So – what the point here? These guys rock, that’s the point here – and we just wanted to call ‘em out!

SERVICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL FOR DECEMBER! We’d really  like to work on your bikes now – while the boys have the time – and to entice you to think about it we offer you this -

Our “Deluxe” Tune-Up Package (which includes our full tune-up, fresh bar tape and cables) is now only $100! (reg price is $150) In addition we’ll give you 25% off any other items your bike needs during the repair (tires, chain, cassette etc)

We offer fast turn around & superlative work. So – let’s get your bike ready for next season now, huh?

(And need we add that yet again – you’d earn Velo Rebate Bucks?)

This offer good from now until 12/31.

BRING IN 2010 W/ THE LAST CALL BAND! MC and his musical cohorts will be doin’ their thing down @ the Saugatuck Brewery on 12/31 from 8:00 until it’s 2012. No cover, no need to wear a funny hat – just good music, beer and food.

DECEMBER/JANUARY EVENT CALENDAR: Lots goin’ on – how cool is that?!?!? (* means “read more about it elsewhere in this newsletter”)

Tues 12/6 – 1st Velo Yoga! 7pm.*

Sun 12/11 – The Chili Chilly Ride*

Sun 12/18 – 1st Crazy Bastard West Ride*

Thurs 12/22 – MukFest 1st Day o’ Winter Ride*

Sat  12/31 – Last Call Band @ SBC*

Sun 1/1 – New Year’s Day Ride*

1/8 – Inside Out CX Race – Greenville

1/14 – Farmer’s Fat Bike Race – GR

Whew! Is that a ton of stuff to be excited about or what?!?!? We’re looking forward to every bit of it and hope that you are too.

Stop by and see us – the coffee’s on, there are cookies (sometimes – watch FaceBook) and lotsa cool new stuff to check out.

We’ll be here…….and thanks again for helping this be such a fun year!

The Velo-Citizens…MC, Berger, Chris, Nate, Aaron, lil’ Mike,

Sandy, Keith, Kaat and Alex.

“There is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite so worthwhile as

simply messing about on bicycles”

Tom Kunich

WEEKLY RIDES – Weekly rides !?!?!? In November!?!?! Well, in a word…..Yep! There’s a surprisingly large group that rides outside all year ’round and as long as folks keep showin ‘up we’ll keep havin’ rides. Our weekly ride menu is in many ways the very blood-n-sinew of the shop – what makes us who and what we are. (All rides leave from the shop unless otherwise noted)

The Tuesday Night Ride rolls @ 6pm. These days it’s pretty much a full-on night ride so come prepared w/ lights front and rear. 2 groups @ most, both led by Velo-Citizens so no one gets lost or left behind. Plan on 25-30 miles and the last Tuesday of each month is PIZZA NIGHT! (the 29th this month)

Kreple’s Thursday Night Gravel Ride departs from the Holland Christian High School lot on 40th @ 6pm. Be prepared for 35-40 miles of pavement and gravel. Lights required!

Jan’s Recovery Ride is Thursday @ 8:30am. We’ll do 25-ish miles @ a “recovery” pace of 17-19mph then hit the bagel shop.

The Bagel Ride is Friday @ 8:30am. A long-standing tradition and “very civilized way to start your day”, the BR offers you 28 miles, a llama sighting and then breakfast @ The Good Earth Cafe where our private heater often comes in handy!

Note – All VCC rides are open to everyone and every type of bike but we insist that you – wear a helmet, have at least 1 functioning brake on your bike and agree to obey the rules of the road and ride safe.

INTRODUCING – MUKFEST! If you’ve been paying ANY attention a’tall you’re well aware that we’ve fallen under the spell of the Salsa Mukluk! This so-called “Fat Bike” features 4″ wide tires that can be ridden @ air pressures as low as 6-7psi, allowing you to ride on the sand or snow! They have to be ridden to be believed – as they turn an ordinary trail ride into something else enTIREly. (Har!) To help spread the word and the love we’re gonna have a FatBike ride every month and November’s MUKFEST will be on Sunday 11/20. Join VCC’s resident MukFreak Chris D @ Pigeon Creek County Park on Standale @ 2pm. We’ll have our @ demo Muks out there so you can try ‘em. (Bring your ATB or ‘cross bike so we can all share). Watch our FaceBook page for more info as the day draws near……

SWEET DEAL DEPARTMENT - As the temps drop and the daylight fades it can be a really smart time to go bike shopping! Every 2011 Cannondale, Cervelo, Electra & Surly bike in stock is marked down and just might be your dream bike! How ya gonna know if you don’t come and see?

Here are just a few examples:

Cervelo RS, 58 cm. Equipped w/ a full Ultegra group this bad boy sold for $3500 in 2010. Make this one your ride for only $2500! That’s less than the 2012 version w/ Sram Rival! Just one!

2009 Cannondale F5, XS. The best deal in the shop @ the moment…and we have only a few left. This full-on trail-worthy ATB sports a Rock Shox fork, Avid disc brakes and a Sram drivetrain. The retail in ’09 was $750 and the current price is ONLY $375! If there is anyone in your household ‘tween 5’0″ & 5′ 5″….they oughta be looking at this bike!

Cervelo P1, 51cm – The best tri bike you’ll EVER see for under 2 grand is now only $1325! Just one!

That’s just a taste – at the risk of repeating ourselves every 2011 (and earlier!) bike is marked down. The sale price still includes everything that makes a Velo City bike better – superlative assembly, personalized fit and our TLC Service Package – so maybe, just m-a-y-b-e you oughta swing by and look around, huh?

(Fine Print Dept. – All sale prices limited to stock on hand, no returns, etc. Layaways ARE considered however)

RIDE OUTSIDE! – So, it’s a little cooler now, and it gets dark kinda early, so….how ya gonna continue to ride comfortably and safely? You will hopefully not be shocked to hear that we have some ideas! The shop is packed w/ all the gloves, booties, socks, hats, vests, jerseys, jackets, knickers, tights, toe covers, balaclavas, arm, knee & leg warmers from Ibex, Pearl Izumi, Castelli, Cannondale, Smartwool, Defeet and others to allow you to stay warm and dry as the season changes. All carefully chosen by our staff of dedicated year-round riders – we have the stuff you need! We’ll be glad to help you figure out the best way to  build the wardrobe you need too!

And……..you’re gonna want lights! We’ve tried ‘em all and products we have to show you from Serfas & Planet Bike are – to say the least – the set up!

Or……RIDE INSIDE! Too cold? Too wet? Too dark? Too much hassle? We get that, truly we do. That’s hy we also offer you the complete line up of Cycle-Ops trainers, as well as Kreitler rollers & a variety of workout DVDs and such. Indoor training is a remarkably time-efficient way to keep your fitness over the winter – no bundling up, cleaning your bike, etc.

INDOOR GROUP WORKOUTS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER!

SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT BEGIN IN DECEMBER…Our popular Velo-Yoga class, led as always by Heather Allegrina, will commence on 12/6!

WHY YOU NEED WOOL, A PRIMER…….If there’s one thing that nearly every rider here (i.e.- everybody) agrees on it’s how amazing the modern 100% Merino wool clothing is to ride and live in! It’s cozy, it keep you warm when you’rte wet n’ sweaty, it doesn’t stink, it’s easy to wash……..it’s dang-near perfect! A micro-thin wool baselayer from Ibex or Smartwool is the 1st thing many of us put on for the morning ride and the odds are that it stays on all day! The Ibex wool knickers are fast becoming our favorite recommendation for chilly legs and we don’t havfta tell you how much wool socks rock! In short – wool is the BEST thing to have against your skin…head to toe!

We stock wool gloves, hats, baselayers, jerseys, knickers, socks and warmers from Ibex, Smartwool & DeFeet. We CAN cover you head to toe!

IBEX INTRODUCTORY DEAL – TAKE 25% OFF ANY IBEX BASELAYER OR JERSEY IN NOVEMBER!

‘CROSS BIKES (AND ‘CROSS SEASON) ROCK! It could be said that our all-time fav bikes are cyclo-cross bikes. (CD might get over his Mukluk infatuation @ some point). A decent ‘cross bike eats dirt and gravel roads for lunch, is capable of smooth trails like Luton or Bass River and is a tire swap away from replacing your road bike! How cool is that? Besides – the Michigan ‘Cross Race Season is in full swing as this is written – w/ no fewer than 8 races in November alone! We are proud to offer you ‘cross bikes from Ridley, Cannondale & Surly so we have a bike in your price range!

Repeat after us – “Cross. Bikes. Rock!”

ARR THERE MATEYS, BE YE A-FOLLOWIN’ WE ON FACEBOOK YET? Sorry about that, we thought it was Nat’l Talk Like A Pirate Day there for a sec……..however – the question still stands! Given all the stuff we have going on around here the flat-out BEST way to stay in the loop is to follow us on FB. You’ll get reminders of the Weekly Rides, up-to-the-minute Jan Cookie Status,  race reports, the headsup on FaceBook Only Daily Deals, the occasional joke or picture…………and we promise not to get all “business-y” on you! (Hey – if we do you can always “un-friend” us, we can take it!)

RIDE, RACE AND EVENT CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER (& BEYOND):

11/5 Iceman XC Race

11/13 KissCross CX Race – Cascade Park

11/13 Tailwinds CX Race

11/19 Stomach of Anger CX Race

11/20 VCC MukFest – Pigeon Creek

11/20 Tailwinds CX Race

11/20 Einstein CX Race

11/24 Turkey Day, shop closed

11/26 Last Call Band @ The Saugatuck Brewery

11/27 KissCross Season Finale – Smallenberg Park, Holland

12/3 Registration opens for Barry-Roubaix Race

12/4 State CX State Championship Race

12/4 Shop “Crazy Bastard West” rides commence (Every Sunday)

12/7 VCC Indoor Rides start. (Every Wed and Sat through March)

12/11 VCC “Fun-Raiser” Ride – The Chili Chilly Ride!

See? It there a lot going on around here or what?!?!?! Add all the Weekly Rides and other stuff and you got’cher self a full schedule! That’s why we LOVE the cycling scene here on the “3rd Coast” as we do!

So – here we are @ the end of yet another Quick Release…it’s been a fantastic season – and we thank y’all again and again for that – and we’re as fired up as we’ve ever been as we roll into the “off-season” (there ain’t no off-season!) and look ahead to 2012. We’d like to invite you to stop by, have a cookie, chat about last week’s race or tomorrow’s ride or maybe check out some Cool Bike Stuff. We’ll be here………..so we’ll see you on the road or trail!

The Velo-Citizens (in “chronological” order,  you guess which direction) – Alex, lil’ Mike, Aaron, Berger, Nate, Kaat, Chris, Keith, Sandy & MC

“A bicycle, if understood correctly and used to its full potential, is actually a key to a completely different and more rewarding way of life.”  Bike Snob NYC

]]> http://www.velo-citycycles.com/news/the-november-quick-release-newsletter-2/feed/ 0 http://www.velo-citycycles.com/the-staff/nate-guiles/ http://www.velo-citycycles.com/the-staff/nate-guiles/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:14:46 +0000 Mike Clark http://www.velo-citycycles.com/?p=300 The latest addition to our top-notch Service Staff is Nate Guiles. He comes to us after 8 years @ shops in Grand Rapids and he’s way excited to join Jeremy and Aaron here @ VCC! He lives on the west side of GR and has been pretty mmuch a dedicated trail rider for the last few years. (But MC is already priming him for a ‘cross bike!) Nate’s here full time and needless to say – we’re 100% confident that your bike (and our tools) are in good hands!

However – here @ the cool bike shop October means Cyclo-Cross races, gravel road rides and lots of other Cool Bike Stuff ‘cuz after all……that’s how we roll. So – read on about the many ways you can roll w/ us……

WEEKLY RIDES – Still the very center of what our shop’s all about, our October Weekly Ride Menu offers quite a selection: (unless otherwise noted – all rides leave from the shop)

The Tuesday Night Ride rolls @ 6pm, offers 3 groups (all led by Veo-Citizens) and was chosen by Bicycling Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Shop Rides in the USA”.  Chose from the “Medium” group (24 miles @ 21-24mph), the “Mild” group (same loop @ 18-20mph) or the “Mellow” group (20miles @ 15-17mph). Lights are encouraged and the last TNR of each month is followed by PIZZA NIGHT!

‘Cross Practice 101 is on Wed @ 6pm & will give you a chance to pick up some tips on ‘cross technique (barriers, dis-mounts, etc) and a chance to practice ‘em.

Jan’s Recovery Ride is Thurs @ 8:30am. We’ll roll 24-ish miles @ a “recovery” pace of 17-19mph to give weary legs a chance to “spin out” some toxins. Followed by breakfast @ the local bakery/cafe.

Chris’ Gravel Road Ride rolls from Holland Christian High School (the lot on 40th st) @ 6pm on Thurs. Velo-Coach Chris will show you some of his fav dirt roads. 1.5-2 hours, lights required.

The Bagel Ride is Friday @ 8:30am. It covers 25-ish miles @ a 18-21mph pace and winds up @ The Good Earth Cafe for – what else? – bagels! (Or cupcakes, cookies, egg sandwiches, muffins, etc!)

The Sprint Ride rolls @ 8am on Saturday and is the longest running ride in the area. (nearly 3 decades!). 20-ish miles of furious sprints for every stop ahead sign ‘tween here and Saugatuck. Paceline speeds of 24-30mph. The pack re-groups after every sprint until the top of Beeline Hill so c’mon out and see what’cha got!

Please note – all VCC rides are open to anyone and any bike providing that you: wear a helmet, have at least 1 working brake, are equipped w/ lights when appropriate and are willing to ride in a safe and legal fashion.

SPECIAL RIDES & EVENTS THIS MONTH: There’s always extra stuff going on and this month is no exception – check it out…….

The Pineapple Bob Classic is Sunday 10/9 @ 2pm. Part of our famed “Fun-Raiser” Series, the P. BOB is a ride that features a mix of paved and gravel roads. There will be a 35-40 mile loop featuring as much gravel as we can find as well as a 25-30 mile paved only option. Snacks and munchies back at the shop afterwards – feel free to bring something to share. Tip sheets will be provided.

Dressing for Cool/Cold Weather 101 Seminar – Monday 10/10 @ 6pm & Thursday 10/20 @ 6pm. Confounded by the rapidly changing temps and conditions of Michigan’s Autumn? Trying to build the ultimate wardrobe @ the lowest cost? Just tired of wondering whatintheheck to wear? Come on down and let us help! (This seminar will also be offered as part of Kaat’s “Cycling for Women 101 Series – watch the FB page for dates and times)

NEW STUFF REPORT – We’ve been back from the Bike Show for a few weeks now and our efforts there are just starting to bear fruit. You’ll see a lotta cool new stuff  fillin’ up the shop as we roll into Fall.

One the new lines we are most excited about is our reunion w/ Salsa Cycles! We’ve been partnered w/ them in the past (MC rides a Mamasita 29r, Chris a MukLuk, Kaat an A La Carte, etc) but right now we are giddy w/ excitement for the arrival of our 1st shipment of Mukluks, the 4″ wide tire-equipped go-anywhere (and we mean anywhere!) so-called “Fat Bike! The huge tires allows super-low psi (like  6-8!) and that means sand and snow are no prob! Truly a full-on fun machine and they’ll be here any day! (We’ll have a demo or 2 as well!) Our initail shipment will include the already-legendary Fargo as well – a 29r do-all mtn/road/touring monster’cross rig. We are way excited to welcome Salsa back into the VCC stable!

We are also thrilled to offer you Ibex Wool Clothing! Made here in the USA of New Zealand Merino wool – Ibex offers wool base layers, jerseys and fabulous wool knickers and tights. All of the year-round-riding Velo-Citizens will talk your ear off about the wonders of wool if you give ‘em half a chance and y’know what? They’re right! You owe it to yourself to check ‘em out! (Ibex that is, not the Velo-Cits!)

Other new (or new-ish) stuff includes Castelli fall clothing, a fresh batch of VCC kit (including long sleeve jerseys for both genders & wind vests), the revolutionary Veleau bike-mounted hydration system (perfect for anyone that struggles to drink while riding) & a host of other bits and pieces – all vetted by our staff of dedicated bike geeks! If you see it here in our shop that means that we’ve tried it, tested it and believe in it. Simple as that.

Also we are happy to report that the “usual” Fall shipments have arrived and as you’ve come to expect we have pretty much anythign you could possibly crave in the way of gloves, booties, hats, tights, jerseys, jackets, vests, baselayers, socks, indoor trainers, rollers, and such from Castelli, Pearl Izumi, Ibex, Smartwool, Cycle-Ops, Kreitler, Cannondale and more!

We got’cha covered – that’s all we’re sayin’.

SPEAKING OF “NEW STUFF – STOP IN AND MEET NATE! As Aaron transitions to part-time here @ the shop (as he embarks on the next phase of his life) we’d like to introduce you to Nate Guiles, our new mechanic. Nate lives on GR’s west side and has been in the bike biz since 2006. He’s a skilled mechanic but is alos eager to learn the “VC Way” from Jeremy as he takes over the extremely critical task of taking care of the service needs of your bikes. Rest assured that we have 100% confidence in his ability to do just exactly that! He’s looking forward to meetin’ all y’all soon! (And looking forward to his 1st Jan Cookie too!)

STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE STUFF ON SALE! (Didja get that?) As all the 2012 bikes continue to roll in we have reduced the pricesd on all our 2011 bikes from Cannondale, Cervelo, Electra & Surly.  The selectiojn continues to dwindle but if we have what’cher looking for this could be the best time to go bike shoppin’! With 2012 prices trending upwards – the 15-25% discounts we’re offering on 2011 models will result in way more bike for your $!

We’ve also recently re-loaded the Deal Wheel with lotsa summer shorts, jerseys, tee shirts, etc to make room for the avalanche of Fall/Winter stuff.

SUPER-SPECIAL DEAL ON CANNONDALE F5 CONTINUES! They are goin’ fast but we still have a decent supply of that 2009 C-Dale F5 mtn bike we told you about last month. This bike retailed for $750 in ’09 and we bought a big pile of ‘em to offer you a 50% discount! Yup – $375 for a dirt-ready ATB w/ a RockShox fork, Avid disc brakes and a Sram drivetrain! Shucks – those parts alone are worth $375! Here’s the only catch – we only have it in XXS. Due to the way the bike fits that’ll fit most folks from 5’1′ to 5’6″ so if anyone in your fam falls within that range (or ever will!) you really oughta check this bad boy (girl) out!

OCTOBER RACE, RIDE AND EVENT CALENDAR: (A * means more info elsewhere in this newsletter)

10/9 – Pineapple Bob Classic *

10/9 – Run-Up CX Race, TK Lawless Park (runupcx.com)

10/10 – Dressing for Cold Weather 101 Seminar*

10/15 – Colorburst Tour (rapidwheelmen.com/colorburst)

10/16 – KissCross CX Race, Richmond Park GR (kisscross.com)

10/16 – TailWinds CX Race

10/20 – Kitting Up For the Cold 101 Seminar*

10/22 – Mad Anthony CX Race

10/23 – KissCross CX Race, Manhattan Park GR

10/29 – Last Call Band – Saugatuck Brewery Halloween Bash*

10/29 – Tailwinds CX Race, Ann Arbor

10/30 – KissCross CX Race, Caledonia

10/30 – Tailwinds CX Race, Ann Arbor

11/5 – Iceman XC Race

THE LAST CALL BAND GETS SCARY! (some might say that’s old news)At any rate your only chance to see/hear MC’s band this month will be @ Saugatuck Brewing Company’s Halloween Bash on 10/29.

THIS IS OUR MONTHLY PLEA/SUGGESTION TO FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!  (We thought we might try and put it here @ the end this time!) There is SO MUCH  going on here @ the shop that the flat-out best way to stay in the loop, get the heads up and stay off the front is to follow us on Facebook. We;ll let’cha know when the cookeis are here (and fresh!), when we’ve decided to put something on sale, when the next batch of Mukluks has arrived…….and much more! So – find us on FB and “friend” us….it won’t hurt a’tall!

So…..here we are again at the end of another Quick Release. That means that another month has flown by and we’re lookin’ ahead to the next! As always we wanna thank you for coming along for the ride(s), hangin’ out here @ letting us be a part of your cycling life. It means the world to us, it really does!

So – ride lots, be safe and we’ll see you on (or off) the road!

Your cyclin’ buds @ VCC….Berger, Aaron, Nate, lil’ Mike, Sandy, Alex, Keith, Chris, Kaat & MC

“Four Wheels Move my Stuff,  Two Wheels Move my Soul”

(poster we saw @ the bike show – author unknown)

September brings us some of the best ridin’ weather our fair state has to offer, some great events, (Apple Cider Century anyone?) some relief from the heat and……..CYCLO-CROSS SEASON!

Not to mention lotsa cool new bike models and other Cool Bike Stuff.

So – as you may have guesed by now – we’re gonna go w/ EXCITED!

Read on for some details as to why………..

WEEKLY RIDES - Our ride menu is our pride-n-joy & a huge part of who we are. There are a coupla new ones this month so pay attention! (There’s gonna be a quiz!)

Tuesday Night Ride – 6pm.  You’re hip to this one, right? Biggest ride in town? Chosen as one of the “Best Shop Rides in the US” by Bicycling Magazine? Good, we thought so.  4 Groups w/ paces from 15-17mph to 24+, distances from 24-35 miles and all presided over by members of the staff so no one gets lost or left. And – the last TNR of each month is PIZZA NIGHT! (That’s the 27th this month)

Jan’s Recovery Ride – 8:30am Thursday.  Give those weary legs a shot @ comin’ back w/ this ride! 28ish miles @ 17-18mph and a stop @ the bagel shop.

NEW RIDE! Chris’ Gravel Fest – 6pm Thursday. Join Velo-Coach Chris K for a zippy ride on as many dirt and/or gravel roads he can find. You oughta have lights just in case! Great training for ‘cross, Iceman or whatever events you have comin’ up. Just plain fun too!

Thursday Night Lights Ride – 8:15pm Thursday. Watching the sun set and night fall from the saddle is one of our favorite things! Charge up your lights and come see why! 25-45 miles, 18-20mph pace.

The Bagel Ride, 8:30am Friday. A classic ride and well-known “very civilized way to start your day”, this ride will add 28-ish miles to your weekly total, most likely offer you a llama sighting and deposit you @ our reserved table @ The Good Earth Cafe for breakfast. Mmmm – sounds good ‘cuz it is! 18-20 mph pace as a rule.

The Sprint Ride, 8am Saturday. Legend has it that this ride actually pre-dates VCC by a decade or more……..who can say for sure? At any rate – it’s the fastest and most aggressive ride of the week featuring furious sprints for the Stop Ahead signs and speeds of up to 30+mph. Short (24miles) & sweet! The pack re-groups after each sprint (until they crest Beeline Hill) so c’mon out and see what’cha got!

(Little brother the “No-Sprint Ride” leaves at the same time and does the same route @ a more conversational pace of 18-19mph)

Note – All VCC rides are open to anyone and any type of bike provided that you wear an approved helmet, have at least 1 working brake and are cool w/ adhering to our “Ride Ideals” which are riding in a safe and legal fashion, sharing the road and watching out for one another.

There will always be additional info and updates on our FaceBook page on these and any other rides, projects, events, etc.

IT’S BIKE SHOW TIME AGAIN! (Already? Geez!) Hard to believe it’s been a year but the fact is that a goodly % of the staff will be wingin’ west once again to take a look at all the Cool Stuff this biz has to offer. (Hey, someone’s gotta do it!)

Here’s what we need from y’all – some ideas as to what we should be looking for out there – clothing? Wheels? Electronic shifting? GPS units? More stuff for women, fixxies, off-road, commuting, ‘cross….??????? Drop MC a line w/ your wish list and he’ll route it to the appropriate Velo-Citizen. (mike@velo-citycycles.com).  We want our shop to be your shop y’know!

SPECIAL RIDES THIS MONTH – As per usual there’s even more goin’ on around here than the weekly rides – here are a couple to consider:

Cyclo-Cross 101 Clinic / Ride, 6pm Wednesday 9/7 & 9/21. Got some questions about ‘cross? Looking for advice on how to deal w/ the barriers, get embro off of your hands, pick the perfect tire? Here’s a low pressure / no travel chance to get those and any other questions answered, get some barrier practice and enjoy a nice ride. Led by Chris D, just one of the many ‘cross fanatics here @ VCC this get-together will commence w/ a short Q & A session in the shop then head down to a nearby park for barrier practice and other helpful tips.

Keith’s “Adult Beverage Ride”, 11am on Saturday 9/10.  This is something our resident brewer has been dreaming of for a while and now – it’s time! The route goes from the shop to a stop @ the Saugatuck Brewing Co – then to Fenn Valley Winery – then ends up @ New Holland across from the shop. 45-ish miles, an easy pace and some hook-ups along the way!

Dawn Patrol, 5am Friday 9/9 & 9/23.  Yep, that says “5am”! When we did the 1st Dawn patrol we nevered figured that it’d become a regular deal……..who knew? Still – we do ‘em twice a month and there’s always folks eager to join in the fun! This ride will get’cha 50-ish miles before linking up w/ the Bagel Ride for a total of 75ish before breakfast and that, friends is a great way to start a day!

IT’S TIME FOR ‘CROSS!  “Cross” in this case is shorthand for “Cyclo-Cross”, that crazy form of bike racing that takes place from Sept-Dec all over the USA and Europe. The local ‘cross scene is hopping w/ races, clinics and rides all over the place. Even if you have ZERO interest in racing you oughta make it a point ot watch at least one – it’s basically a bike race combined w/ a circus!

We’re ‘cross-crazy here @ VCC – always have been. The vast majority of the staff races, we offer the aforementioned “Cross 101 Clinics” and as you might expect….we have everything you need to enjoy yourself!

Cyclo-Cross bikes from Ridley, Cannondale & Surly from as little as $1050 and as much as you wanna spend.

Tires and wheels and brakes and embrocation and all the clothing, footwear and accessories you could ever need.

And most important – we’re fueled (as always) by our love for the sport and our burning desire to share it w/ you. We’re here to answer your questions, make sure you know what’s going on (and when) and to help you figure it all out.

(A complete calendar of MI ‘cross races is included in the Event Calendar @ the end of this newsletter!)

THE ‘CROSS BIKE AS UBER-BIKE……..SUBMITTED FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: One trend we’re seeing among local riders is folks taking advantage of a ‘cross bike’s inherent versatility to make it a true year-’round ride. Since a good ‘cross bike is literally a tire swap away from serving as a perfectly capable road bike an increasing # of avid local riders/friends have replaced their road bikes w/ a ‘crosser and then simply switched back to the fatter tires for the ‘cross season.

Now – don’t get us wrong…..we’d be delighted to help you add to your stable – it’s what we do after all – but the fact is that a decent ‘cross bike can serve quite capably as road bike and  ‘cross bike! And that’s what’cha call a great deal!

So w/ that in mind…….feel free to stop by and ride one of the many Ridley or Cannondale ‘crossers we have here for you to check out. At the races you’ll see MC and Chris on their new Ridleys, Aaron and Berger rockin’ Cannondales & Kaat riding the same Seven that she’s ridden 4000+ road miles on this season. (See what we mean?!)

HUP HUP HUP!

SPEAKING OF GOOD DEALS…….check this out………………….!!!

Every 2011 bike from Cannondale, Cervelo, Co-Motion, Surly and Electra is now marked down from 10-25% !

Given the price increases we’re seeing on 2012 models thus far  these deals look even better!

(The usual “fine print” applies – sale prices only apply to bikes in stock)

SUPER SPECIAL CANNONDALE MTN BIKE DEAL! 50% OFF!!

We’ve just been offered a remarkable deal from our friends @ Cannondale on a 2009 F5 Feminine Mountain Bike. This is a completely trail-worthy bike, ready for the local trails, the Iceman race or next Spring’s trip to Moab. It features a light aluminm frame, a Rock Shox fork, Avid disc brakes and a solid list of drivetrain & wheel components.  Again – this bike is ready-to-rock!

The only “catch” is that it’s only available in one size – XS. Now – due to Cannondale’s frame design we’ve fit women on this bike ranging from 5’2 to 5’6′ so it’s not as limited as you might think.

We’ll have them in stock in a week or so….every time we bring one in we sell it – so you can sit on it, ride it around and see for yourself. If there is anyone in your family that might fit on this bike – whether they are looking for a solid bike to ride back and forth to school or one to race the 12 Hours of Pando or anywhere in between – you really need to check this bike out!

 (Okay – “Hard Sell Mode” -off, but we are excited about this bike!)

2009 Retail $750.

Now – $375!

Yep – Three. Seventy. Five.

HEY! WHATEVER HAPPEND TO THE “FUN-RAISER” RIDES?!?!?!? Great question and we’re glad you asked! With the calendar as crowded as it is in the Fall ‘now days we struggle to find an open date for our series of food-themed Fun Rides. You’ll see more in the Spring but there will be 2 this Autumn! Mark your calendars!

10/9 – The Pineapple Bob Classic is the grandaddy of all Fun-Raiser Rides and the inspiration for Crazy Bastard Rides near and far! 30-40 miles of asphalt, dirt and gravel roads and then back to the shop for tacos! 2:00pm

12/11 – The Chilly Chili Ride offers you a chance to ride your bike and then eat as much chili as you can hold! More details later! 2:00pm.

THE LAST CALL BAND RIDES AGAIN! No matter how we try we can’t seem to kep MC from high-jackin’ the QR to blabber about his band.  Sorry about that. Here’s the scoop on a coupla chances to see & hear ‘em:

Sat 9/24 – Saugatuck Brewing Co. 7-11pm

Sat 10/1 – Park Theatre w/ 2 other bands doing a benefit concert for Community Action House.  Details on FB in a bit.

RIDE AND EVENT CALENDAR FOR SEPTEMBER: (* means more info elsewhere in this newsletter)

Wed 9/7 – ‘Cross 101 Clinic/Ride @ VCC*

Wed 9/7 – CX Training Race#1, Kent Co Fairgrounds.

Fri 9/9 – Dawn Patrol*

Sat 9/10 – Keith’s Beverage Ride*

Sun 9/11 – KissCross CX Race #1 – Plaster Creek Park, GR

Wed 9/14 – CX Training Race #2 – Kent Co Fairgrounds

Sat 9/17 – Harber Springs Tour

Sat 9/17 – Tailwinds CX Race

Sat/Sun 9/17-18 – 12/24 Hours of Harbor Springs XC Race

Sun 9/18 – KissCross CX Race #2 – Highland Park, GR

Sun 9/18 – Cycle For Life Tour, Holland

Sun 9/18 – Tailwinds CX Race

Wed 9/21 – CX Training Race #3, Kent Co Fairgrounds

Wed 9/21 – ‘Cross 101 Clinic/Ride @ VCC*

Fr1 9/23 – Dawn Patrol*

Sat 9/24 – Last call Band @ SBC*

Sun 9/25 – Apple Cider Century, Three Oaks

Sun 9/25 – Stomach of Anger CX Race, Lansing

Sun 9/25 – Pando XC Race

Wed 9/28 – CX Training Race #4, Kent Co Fairgrounds.

Fri/Sat 9/30-10/1 – 2 Be Continued 24 Hour Road Event to Benefit LiveStrong,  Zeeland.

Sat 10/1 – Cry Baby Classic XC Race, Harbor Springs

Sat 10/1 – Last Call Band @ The Park Theatre*

Sat/Sun 10 1/2 – White Pine Trail Tour

Sun 10/2 – KissCross CX Race #3, Kalamazoo

Sun 10/2 – Tailwinds CX Night Race

Sun 10/2 – CX Race Traverse City

Sun 10/9 – The Pineapple Bob Classic*

Info on all these events is available here @ the shop – just ask!

So – see what we meant waaaaay up there @ the top of this letter? There’s a ton of cool stuff comin’ up this month, plenty of reasons to be excited for September and hopefully a reason or 2 to stop by the Cool Bike Shop and say howdy. We’ll be here, holdin’ down the fort, unpackin’ all the cool new stuff, assembling all the sweet new bikes and adding everything we can to the West Mi cycling scene.

Stop by when you get a sec, have a Jan Cookie (FaceBook’ll tell ya when they’re fresh!), pick up a copy of CycloCross magazine, check out the new Cervelo S5 (hottest 2012 model so far by a looooong shot!) or that sweet deal on the ’09 C-Dale F5……or maybe to just hear about  last weekend’s race or tomorrow’s ride.

That’s what we’re here for, y’know?

See you on (or off) the road……be safe & ride lots!

Your buds @ VCC:

 Keith, Berger, Aaron, Sandy, lil’ Mike, Kaat, Chris & MC

“Train your weakness & race your strength.”

Chris Carmichael