Velo City Cycles

THE QUICK RELEASE

An Electronic Newsletter from Velo City Cycles

October, 2009

Hey! So – October already huh? How did that happen? Well – it’s okay (it’s even more than okay) ‘cuz there’s lots of cool bike stuff going down ’round these parts in October! Read on for a Bike Show Report, news of rides, races and events, talk of new stuff and lots more!

INTERBIKE SHOW REPORT – MC and Berger went out to Las Vegas for the 2009 edition of the Interbike Show and saw a lotta stuff! Some of the highlights include:

Castelli’s new bibshort w/ virtually no seams.

Salsa’s Big Mama full-suspension 29′er ATB.

Giro’s new 200 gram helmet. (That’s light!)

The ‘Cross Vegas cyclo-cross race.

Cannondale’s ultra-swank Synapse road bike line-up.

Electra’s new line of retro town bikes.

2XU’s comprehensive line up of compression wear.

Cervelo’s sweet lookin’ S1 road bike.

New Rolf wheels @ both lower and higher price points.

There was tons more – they both limped home sunblasted and “over-Vegased” from 2 full days @ the Outdoor Demo riding all sorts of bikes on the rocky dusty trails of Bootleg Canyon and 2 full days @ the Expo Center checkin’ out all sorts of bike-related coolness. (Not to mention the ‘Cross Vegas race, the Cervelo party, that red-eye flight back……..whew!) For a daily show report and to find out why we now refer to the classic fist-bump as “gimme some Tyler” around the shop visit www.clubvelo.blogspot.com

As we roll into the Fall/Winter season and turn our attention to frosty outdoor rides, sweaty indoor rides, yoga classes, tune-up classes and the like you can bet that we are also digesting all we learned @ the show and you’ll start seeing the fruits of our labors showing up soon!

SHOW SCHWAG SPECIAL! BE THE FIRST TO CALL OR E-MAIL W/ THE MESSAGE THAT YOU JUST GOTTA HAVE THE EMBOSSED BOTA BAG MC SCORED @ THE ELECTRA BOOTH AND IT’S YOURS! THERE’S JUST ONE SO MAKE YOUR MOVE!

WEEKLY RIDES IN OCTOBER – This can be a tricky time o’ year for rides due to the weather and light conditions. Basically we’re good w/ keeping rides going as long as there is any interest so for this month we’re gonna go w/ the regular Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sat rides as well as a few dawn Patrols and the Fun-Raiser. So……..

Tuesday @ 6:00pm – We might not have 3-4 organized groups as the numbers dwindle but we’ll make sure everyone has fun and no one gets left behind. You will need at least a blinky tail light and a head light is strongly recommended. We’ll go for 25 miles or so.

Thursday @ 8:30am – The so called “Recovery Ride” is more of a nice cruise these days. 17-19 mph average for 20-25 miles and a bagel stop. Think about lights! (Think hard!)

Friday @ 8:30am – The official “Bagel Ride” covers 25-ish miles @ a 20-ish mph pace and always ends @ The Good Earth for a civilized start to the day. Yep – you guessed it….you need to consider some lights!

Saturday @ 8:00am – The Sprint Ride still rolls out for 25 furious miles sprintin’ for stop ahead signs. The fastest ride we offer but there is the “No Sprint Option” that leaves @ the same time and does the same route w/out all that fury and pain. Lights? Sure!

Please note -participation in any VCC ride assumes that you are down w/ our ride ideals – we obey traffic laws, share the road, look out for one another, practice safe cycling group ride etiquette and suchlike, dig? We also insist that you wear a helmet and that your bike has at least 1 brake and respectfully request that you refrain from using your aerobars in the group. Thanks.

EXTRA-SPECIAL OCTOBER RIDES! “Rocktober” is a special kinda month and it deserves some special rides, don’cha think? Us too – so here you go………

DAWN PATROL! Have you been wonderin’ how you can get 70-90 miles in before breakfast? Join us on 10/2 or 10/23 for one of our (in)famous Dawn Patrol Rides! We roll from the shop @ 5:00am and get a buncha mile sin before joining up w/ the 8:30 Bagel Ride to finish things off. Dark? Yep! Cold? Probably? Fun? For sure!

OCTOBER’S FUN-RAISER RIDE IS THE PINEAPPLE BOB CLASSIC! You can read more about the FR Series in a bit but you don’t wanna miss the October edition! The Pineapple Bob Classic is the 1st stop on the Fall ‘09 Fund-Raiser Tour and it belongs on your “Do Not Miss” list!

Date – 10/11

Time – 2:00pm

35 and 50 loops utilizing pavement, gravel and occasionally dirt roads – but nothing that a standard road bike can’t handle (with a bit of care and skill) Maps will be provided and there will be lotsa yummy munchies back @ the shop. (Rumors that Keith’s gonna bring some of his vaunted homebrew are semi-comfirmed as of 10/1 – but he’s a big talker)

SPEAKING OF THE FUN-RAISER SERIES…….here’s the deal. Our FR rides are designed to…well….raise your “fun level” by pairing up some good rides w/ some good eats and the occasional dose of irreverence. (Yeah – we got that). We offer them from Oct through April, there’s no charge (unless we do something @ the pub) and they are open to everyone.Traditionaly they are some of the biggest rides of the year!

OCTOBER 11 – PINEAPPLE BOB CLASSIC – Covered that!

NOVEMBER 8 – THE CHILLY CHILI RIDE – The 2nd oldest FR and a biggie! Meet here for a 2:00pm ride (30-40 miles) followed by a Chili Fest! Bring a pot o’ your best to enter in the cookoff, bring bread or beer or dessert or just bring your bike an’ your belly! It’s all good.Prizes for “yummiest” and “spiciest”. (No, not always the same thing!)

DECEMBER 13 – THE DESSERT RIDE – How can that be a bad thing, huh? Ride @ 2:00 (distance to be determined) and then eat lotsa dessert and sweets and treat and such.Yes!

JANUARY 1 2010 – THE NEW YEARS’ DAY RIDE – The grandaddy of ‘em all! (MC has ridden on 1/1 for the last 25 years at least). Start the new year right by joining us @ 1:00PM for a ride! We’ll start w/ our traditional ride down the heated, snow-less streets of Dwontown Holland and from there – who knows? Yummy snacks and warm stuff back @ the shop? Do you really hafta ask?

STUFF ON SALE FOR FALL!

Leaves ain’t the only thing fallin’ around here these days! There are some SWEET deals on cool bike stuff down here at’cher fav-o-rite Cool Bike Shop! Here, sneak a peek………

ALL 2009 BIKES 10-20% OFF! Yep – each-n-every ‘09 Cannondale, Electra, Cervelo, Terry, Salsa, Co-Motion & Seven in the shop is on sale! If we have your size this might just be the time!

ALL MAVIC, EASTON & REYNOLDS WHEELSETS NOW 40% OFF! Lookin’ for a quick way to hot rod your ride? Nothing makes a bigger difference than new wheels! Now’s a good time to grab a sweet pair of wheels and upgrade your road or ‘cross bike!

SELECTED SIDI & DIADORA SHOES NOW 30% OFF! New models for 2010 may well mean happy feet for you in 2009! We have a pretty good selection of road and mountain shoes waiting here for you to try on! (And maybe even buy)

CHECK OUT THE “DEAL WHEEL” FOR GREAT DEALS ON CLOTHING FOR CYCLISTS OF ALL SHAPES AND GENDERS! As the warmer stuff comes in the summerweight jerseys and such head for the Deal Wheel……all @ at least 40% off.

(all your typical “sale rules” apply – limited to stock on hand, no special orders, no whining, etc etc etc.)

COOL RIDES, RACES AND EVENTS IN OCTOBER – Plenty goin’ on around here to make ya feel good and lucky about bein’ a cycler here on the 3rd Coast! Check it -

10/2 – Dawn Patrol!

10/3 – KissCross race #3, Highland Park GR www.kisscross.com

10/5 – Macatawa Cycling Club meeting. 8:00pm. New Holland Brewery. Open to all! Learn about cyclo-cross gear. www.macatawacyclingclub.org

10/10 – Colorburst Tour in Lowell. www.rapidwheelmen.com

10/10 – Last Call Band @ Saugatuck Brewery. www.tlcb.com

10/11 – Pineapple Bob Classic!

10/18 – KissCross race #4, Lakeside Park. www.kisscross.com

10/22 – Race Across the Sky movie @ Holland 7 theatre! this is the documentary about Lance Armstrong’s victory over 6 time winner Dave Wiens @ the famous Leadville 100 mountainbike race. 7:00pm.

10/23 – Dawn Patrol!

10/31 – Massive Halloween bash @ Saugatuck Brewery w/ Last Call, Delilah & the Lost Boys and The Concussions. www.tlcb.com

Other places to watch – If you are a “Facebook kinda person” you might wanna take a peek @ these pages for up to date info on a variety of rides, events and advocacy projects:

Pedal GR

Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle coalition

The Motion Initiative

FALL/ WINTER STUFF ROLLING EVERY DAY! Here’s the thing – whether colder weather drives you inside or just makes you that much more determined to ride outside we have what’cha need! Trainers, Spinervals DVDs, tights, jackets, warm jerseys, booties, gloves, hats, arm, knee and leg warmers, ‘cross bikes, ‘cross tires, embrocations galore…all backed up by the experience and knowledge that you’ve come to count on from the Velo-Citizens! Let us set you up!

THE LAST CALL BAND ROCKS “ROCKTOBER”! Join the fun and check out what MC and his musical partners-in-crime are up to!

10/10 – Saugatuck Brewing Company. They’ll be holding forth all night in the Lucky Stone Pub from 8:00 ’til midnight or so.

10/31 – Monster Mash @ The Saugatuck Brewery! Last Call, Delilah & The Lost Boys and The Concussions for your frightful pleasure! Costume contest and all that Halloween-y stuff too! 8:00pm – ’til the witching hour!

More @ www.tlcb.com

Hoo-kay! That’s it for now but the fun just NEVER stops down here @ Velo City! We’d like to take a sec to thank y’all for a great Spring/Summer and invite you to join us for an equally great Fall/Winter! Stay tuned for news of our Indoor Training Rides, Yoga classes and all the other cool stuff we have cookin’!

Be safe, ride lots and we’ll see you out there!

MC, Berger, Aaron, Rhonda, Sandy, Glenn, Keith, Matt & Sam

(Your buds @ VCC)

“I’ve seen mountainbike rides transform people – not just their bodies but their way of thinking. Their spirit.”

Charlie Cunnningham