Velo City Cycles

THE QUICK RELEASE

A newsletter from Velo City Cycles

Feb. 2009 

Hey y’all! Just ‘cuz it’s only early February and it’s been a l-o-n-g winter there’s no reason to fret! Spring will come and we’ll be rolling down the roads, paths and trails of our beautiful state soon enough! Until then - there’s all sorts of stuff goin’ on in and around the Cool Bike Shop so how ’bout you read on and see what’s up?

HOT DEALS ON STUFF FOR COLD WEATHER! Despite our big talk in the earlier paragragh there…the simple fact is that we have a good bit o’ winter to deal with and we’re here to help! Whether you prefer to ride inside or outside this time of the year we’ve got some good deals cookin’ for you to check out! Take a peek…….

20% off all heavy tights, jackets, gloves & booties - Want to keep gettin’ some outside miles in? We understand.Wrap yourself in some great cold-weather gear!

20% off all Cycle-Ops Wind, Magneto or SuperMagneto Pro trainers and rollers. You’d prefer to ride inside? Yeah - we understand, we do too sometimes! Might as well do it right on a new Cycle-Ops trainer.

20% off all Spinervals training DVD’s.(Coach Troy wants YOU!)

FIRST EVER “SEVEN RENDEZVOUS” COMING UP! On Sunday 2/ 8 we are hosting a celebration of Seven Cycles. Our “Seven Guy” Joe W is coming aaaaaaalll the way from Boston to join us and fill us in on what they’re up to for 2009. Join us! (Contact MC for details mike@velo-citycycles.com)

INDOOR RIDES ROLLING ON! ‘Tis true! Our Indoor Training Rides are still a big hit and continue to get folks out of the house and onto the saddle! The drill: You bring your bike and trainer, we provide the space, fans, TV, training DVD’s and company! (You can store your stuff here - ask for details). Times are 8:00am on Saturday and 8:00pm on Wednesday. There are also random “Sunday Special Super Suffer Sessions”……watch the website! (www.velo-citycycles.com)

OUTDOOR RIDES A-ROLLIN’ TOO! The Friday Morning Bagel Ride has missed nary a week all winter and we’re not gonna start now! It rolls from the backdoor @ 8:30am for 20 miles or so and a stop @ the Good Earth for refueling and warmth. And - the “Crazy Bastard Rides” leave from the Hamilton Grocery Store on M-40 every Sunday @ 2:00.Expect some dirt and gravel roads on this one!

TUESDAY NIGHT YOGA CLASS! The area’s original cyclist-focused yoga sessions are going strong (and that’s what you’ll be if you join us!) Instructor Heather Allegrina is an avid cyclist and she takes the class on a journey towards greater balance, flexibility and strength. Time is 6:30pm, the cost is $10. You will need a yoga mat.

FEBRUARY FUN-RAISER RIDE ON 2/15! Join us for the “SOUP RIDE” - a 25 mile jaunt followed by all the soup you can eat over @ the New Holland Brewery! We roll @ 2:00!

(Our infamous “Fun-Raiser” ride series is designed to do just that…raise the “fun level” for our friends in the cycling community. We host a ride every month from Oct-May w/ a theme, good eats and…yes…..a lotta fun! Details of the schedule on our website. www.velo-citycycles.com )

RIDERS NEEDED TO FIGHT DIABETES! If you’ve been around the shop at all over the past 4 years you’ve no doubt noticed that we’ve chosen the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as our favorite non-profit to support. MC has been the coach since Day One and the West Michigan Ride to Cure Team is getting revved up for another great season! Registration for the 2009 Rides is now open and they would love to have you join them! Of the 5 Rides scheduled the Mi. squad will be attending the Killington VT Ride in late August and the Death Valley Ride in mid-Oct. Intrigued? Inspired? We’re not surprised! MC has been heard to say that these Rides are the coolest thing he’s ever done on a bike and he’s done a fair bit of cool stuff. (Not well maybe, but he’s done it!) Feel free to stop in the shop and pick his brain about the program or surf on over to www.ridejdrf.org.

RIDERS NEEDED TO FIGHT CANCER TOO! Join us as we climb aboard the trainers to give the Big C a poke in the eye @ the Ultimate Cycle Challenge! It’s a 12 or 24 hour team indoor relay event to raise $ for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and it takes place on Feb 20/21! We still have some openings on the Velo City team so if you’d like to join us please contact MC (mike@velo-citycycles.com) It’s a minimum donation of $30 to the L.A.F. and we’ll provide the trainer set-up. It’s WAY more fun that it sounds, trust us!

COOL STUFF COMING UP!

Check out this list of upcoming events for happy cyclers. More info here @ the shop for the asking!

2nd Annual Grand Rapids Cycling Film Festival - Sat. 2/7 @ the Wealthy Theatre. (www.grbff.blogspot.com) Don’t miss it!

KissCross Sno-Cross Race - Sat 2/14. (www.kisscross.com)

Michigan Mountainbike Association Annual Meeting - 2/22, Lansing. (www.mmba.org)

North American Handmade Bicycle Show - 2/27-3/1 Indianapolis. (www.handmadebikeshow,com)

COOL PROJECT THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF DEPARTMENT: Here’s a quick note from MC about The Motion Initiative in Grand Rapids: “I had heard about this bike shop / community outreach program and had been meaning to check it out so I made my way over there last week. What I found was kind of inspiring! They teach local kids about bikes and bike repair as a way ot inspire and move them! Check out www.mibike.org and see for yourself! By the way..if you’re ever left any usable parts here this is where they ended up!”

IMPORTANT SAFETY NEWS! READ THIS PLEASE!

Mavic has announced a recall of ALL R-SYS MODEL FRONT WHEELS effective immediately!  If you own these wheels STOP RIDING THE FRONT ONE RIGHT NOW and bring it to us (or any Mavic dealer) to get the details of the recall. Don’t screw around w/ this…..you could get yourself hurt! You can also check out www.mavic.com

So…..we think that oughta do it for this edition of the Quick Release! Lots to be excited about, lots to look forward to, lots to do right now! We hope that you’re riding, or at least thinking about riding and if you have a sec……stop by the shop and say “howdy!

The Velo Citizens