Bikeridr

Flashride

Sheldon Smart — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:39 +0000

I’ve heard of a flashmob, but I hadn’t heard of a flashride until today. My initial reaction: Brilliant.

Today, hundreds of cyclists are set to meet at The Mall to the Houses of Parliament, in London to ensure that legislators truly have them in mind when they table the issue of cycling safety, in wake of the ‘Cities Fit for Cycling’ campaign launch by The Times.

I’ve taken part in a local Critical Mass ride here in Edmonton. This was a couple years ago, and to be honest, though at the time I enjoyed it and found it to be very positive on the whole, I still wasn’t totally sure I really ‘got it’. I still wondered if it didn’t create more ill will, than good. I understood what the organizers were trying to achieve, but despite the largely positive reaction that I saw from the motorist, I wasn’t sure CM was truly succeeding in getting its message across by riding en mass through downtown during rush hour on a Friday. I am a cyclist, and a passionate one, and I’ve been behind the wheel stuck behind a CM event and to be honest, I’ll admit that all it did was irk me. It was a Friday. I was excited to get home and get on with my weekend, and here are a bunch of people on bikes seemingly holding me up for no good reason, other than to purposely hold me up. In that moment, it took some perspective to see beyond that line of thinking, and actually view it as a positive, and peaceful demonstration for cycling awareness and safety. Should you be interested, you can read my original thoughts on the day that I rode with the CM group here.

There is another way to look at this kind of peaceful demonstration, though… And it wasn’t until I read this article today about the flashride that I was reminded of it. Sure, being inconvenienced by a bunch of slow moving cyclist is going to be seen by most motorists as a piss off – but sometimes, it takes a large peaceful demonstration to create the awareness you need to achieve the social change you’re looking for. The visual created by a mass ride is impactful. It proves that there are in fact a lot of cyclists out there, and that they come from all walks of life, and not just a bunch of cliché waster, pan-handling hippies, giving the finger to The Man. To the contrary, the cycling demo spans the spectrum, from the homeless, to middle-class families, to the C-level exec who rips it up in local Cat 2 road crits.

Bikes are the transportation of the people, and in my opinion, we always need to keep bike transpo in mind when it comes to a healthy community, and of course city planning. The Love London, Go Dutch campaign helps to do exactly that, incenting candidates in the upcoming London Mayoral elections to focus on the safety of ‘vulnerable’ road users, like cyclists and pedestrians, in their transportation policy.

As vehicle traffic, bike traffic and pedestrian traffic all increase in our communities, and the risk of accident incident rates increase, it’s great to see major cities, world class cities like London taking the lead, and addressing the associated challenges. It sets a good example, and will help blaze the trail for the rest of us.

CX Worlds – North America vs. The World

Ken Hurd — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:32:07 +0000

Humbling.

When looking for adjectives to describe the Cyclocross World Championships in Koksijde, Belgium that’s definitely one adjective that comes to mind. Ryan Trebon was the only North American rider that managed to crack the top 20 (18th) – and was also the only member of that crew to finish the race – Jeremy Powers (26th) and rest of the US squad along with the lone Canadian, Craig Ritchey (51st) were all pulled from the course. Many spectators on this side of the pond were left wondering what happened.

With Belgian riders swarming the top seven positions, why were our riders were so outgunned? Post-race interviews confirmed that it ultimately came down to a very specialized course composition:

“This is like golf. This is like St. Andrews, and not every golfer can play St. Andrews to their potential.”
– Tim Johnson (source)

On the women’s side even Meredith Miller (20th) conceded that North American riders simply don’t have anything that would prepare them for a course like this:

“We don’t have anything like this in the US, playgrounds, a few volleyball courts or something like that but nothing where it’s all the way around the course. It’s one thing to be able to ride the sand, it’s another to be able to go down it and then know how to dismount and keep your momentum, there’s so much to it.” (source)

Still, some may question, why we weren’t able to muster a stronger showing… Why our athletes haven’t been prepping for conditions like this on an international stage – But I would argue that they’ve been spending their time on something much more important, something that when we look back at this stage of North American cyclocross they will be remembered for.

They are actively choosing to stay home and help develop the sport. Rather than head off to Europe and attempt to gain the skills they need to master more ‘Euro’ courses, they’re duking it out across the US, signing autographs, filming behind the scenes documentaries and just generally being awesome. And it feels like North America is listening.

When asked about his series ‘Behind the Barriers‘, Jeremy Powers alluded to the burgeoning interest in the sport:

“It was always a goal to bring attention to ‘cross and to the personalities that are involved in it. In cycling there’s the Giro and the Tour de France. So it’s just a really great time to showcase cyclocross, to show where it’s headed and where it’s at now. It’s something to be a part of.

You know, it’s always been a hard thing if you’re a fan of ‘cross. You know there’s a race three hours away and say, “Man, is that something cool that I should go to?” So if you see it on TV or on your computer and think, “Hey, that looks like something that might be really fun. There’s a venue, there’s beer, there’s free stuff. These guys look like they’re cool guys.” It’s something that people can be a part of, even if virtually on the internet. I’ve seen it all year long. People are like, “Oh, I saw the show and wanted to come out and meet all these guys.” They want to be part of it. That’s a great feeling of accomplishment I’ve had. I feel like I’ve made a difference growing our sport. It’s everything I wanted it to be.” (source)

Over the past few years cyclocross has emerged from the shadows of being almost a fringe sport, to something a lot of people either know about, or are asking about (yes, even here in Canada). Cyclocross bike sales must be exploding judging by the number of makes and models available – I’m sure this is partly because of their rugged nature (I can attest that they make great all-rounders/commuters), but also because of the mainlining of the sport.

With that said, we’ve got one year before the World Championships hit home turf. Not only with this be a solid opportunity for our athletes to compete on familiar ground, but it should also provide prime opportunity to really increase the level of exposure in North America and show sports fans from coast to coast that there just isn’t anything more fun than bundling up, grabbing your cowbell, enjoying some beer & frites and cheering and heckling until you go hoarse!

Bring on Louisville 2013!

Related side-note: The Koksijde World Championships are being rebroadcast today on SportsNet, if you haven’t already, set your PVRs!

No related posts.

Yes, I’m Now On Strava

Sheldon Smart — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:57 +0000

After much chiding, I finally relented and signed up with Strava. ‘Another online social network…really? Really…?’ Yes. And if you’re like me, and a bit frayed around the edges with already trying to keep up with Facebook, Linked In, and Twitter (maybe others), then adding yet another place to log into and catch up on probably isn’t what you’re looking for. I know I wasn’t… But, here’s the thing. I ride, and if you’re reading this I assume you do as well. If you ride like I do and you’re already tracking your ride data (me via Garmin) and uploading it to an online website, like Garmin offers for free, then maybe you’ll be swayed like I was to move over to Strava.

Now, I’m a total newbie, and I haven’t spent a bunch of time looking into everything Strava has to offer, outside of Ken’s article, which he posted awhile back on the Strava App, so if you want a detailed breakdown feel free to read it, or visit the Strava site. But, from a top level, the basic idea of a social network that helps motivate you by linking you within a network of other riders who track data is appealing to me. I can see who else rides where I ride, and I can compete with them based on my GPS data (I use a Garmin 500, but these days you can also use an Android or iPhone – could it be any easier?), which sounds like a lot of fun. I can track all my training data, and see the training data of others, peers/adversaries, and pros from around the world – in fact Tim Johnson is my first follow (appropriately enough it was a tweet Tim put out on the weekend about Strava that finally got me to take the plunge). Plus you get virtual awards, so ‘virtuawards’! I’ve already been awarded the 6th fastest time up Gallagher Hill. Of course, I was doing steady-state repeats on that hill when I logged that time, so as soon as the snow melts a bit, I’ll go back and rip up it and try and take first place. Knowing I’m in 6th, what other option do I have? So, you see, for a guy like me, who rides, trains, tracks data and loves to compete, Strava could be, where it’s at.

Hope to see you on there.

Strava Cycling App

Cycling ‘Threads’

Sheldon Smart — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:26 +0000

Following up on, and in response to Ken’s most recent post, ‘Ode to the Parka‘, or something like that, I thought it’d be cool to do some looking around to see where the best cycling threads are coming from these days.

Obviously, Rapha, from the UK, is going to sit at the top of my list. Rapha offers a unique blend of cycling performance capability and modern urban style I haven’t found anywhere else… It’s an undeniably attractive combination, providing cycling wear that can also often be worn ‘off the bike’ (Ken, this stuff was made for you). Collared shirts, jeans, trousers, have never really been considered performance cycling wear, but now, thanks to Rapha they kinda are. I wear my Rapha shirts at the office no problem. Rapha’s success has been driven even further through clever collaborations with designer Paul Smith. Need I say, it’s nice stuff. Maybe not cheap, but very, very nice. Coles Notes: Highest quality, artistic detail, spendy, incredible fit and performance, distinct yet understated, and very hip.

Assos, from Switzerland, has always been right at the top for me as well, when it comes to really cool, and well-made cycling gear. And, not to be outdone, they’ve also launched what I call a lifestyle line, offering cycling gear you can wear both on and off the bike. Style-wise I can’t say it pulls me in as much as Rapha, but you can bet your last Swiss franc (euro), you won’t be disappointed with the quality, and if the ‘sportier’ look is your thing, then Assos has got you covered. Coles Notes: Ultra high-end quality, spendy, understated, very high cool factor.

Sugoi, from Canada, is a hallmark brand around the Edmonton scene. You’ll see lots and lots of it on any group ride, and there is good reason for it – the cost is less, than say, Rapha or Assos, but the high quality is still there. Sure you give up some finer styling details, but I’ve never been dissatisfied with the look and quality of my performance Sugoi gear. Now, searching their website, I didn’t notice any lifestyle line sections, but a huge advantage Sugoi has over the brands above, is their well-established Custom Gear. You can design your own complete team kit, and have Sugoi make it. That’s awesome! Coles Notes: Good quality, well priced, nice looking, your basic ‘go-to’, well-known for great custom gear.

Louis Garneau, from Canada (thought it was from France), is a similar level of gear to Sugoi, at least to me. It’s sporty looking, I’ve heard it’s well made, and seems to be decently priced, plus they offer a wide range of options for all riding and racing clothing needs. Louis Garneau is also a big player when it comes to Custom Gear. I see quite a few local teams wearing the stuff, and it looks pro. Coles Notes: Good quality, decently priced, well-known and trusted brand, popular for custom gear.

Pearl Izumi, from Japan, comes in as another one of the main players here. I have some of their stuff and like it quite a bit. They offer ‘cool’ sporty styling and designs, plus I found a lifestyle line on their site that I didn’t know about. The men’s jackets look pretty darn snazzy to me. Coles Notes: Good quality, edgy-sporty designs, reasonably priced.

Gore, maybe best known to most of us for their innovative development of the famous ‘Gore-Tex‘, has come on pretty strong around here. I see it in a lot of the local bike shops now, which means they’re offering both quality and good pricing. I find Gore wear to be simple looking – not to be confused with boring, just really modern, clean designs that are going to allow you to easily wear it on and off the bike. Personally, I really like the look of Gore stuff, and can see myself adding it to my gear more and more as time goes on. Coles Notes: High quality, reasonably priced, but getting up there, modern/clean designs. Pretty cool, I think.

When it comes down to it, I’m with Ken on the whole, ‘necessary duality’ of cycling clothing. I’m not sponsored, so I need to shell out for everything I own, and therefore it only makes good sense that when I do put my money down, that I’m getting some cross-over functionality – at least with some of the big ticket items, like shells/jackets. And though I dearly love all my Rapha gear/clothing, and I’ve threatened to wear my collared shirt with my new knicker bibs to the next CX race, I’m not likely going to do that (much to everyone’s chagrin, I’m sure). I do however enjoy the fact that I have some gear that rolls with me both on and off the bike – and the thing I like the best is most often the ‘fit’, because they just don’t make baggy cycling gear, which is self-explanitory… the stuff simply fits me. And like Ken always says, ‘what’s cooler than biking? Looking cool, while biking…’ of course.

If you’re aware of any ‘off the beaten path’ cycling clothing companies not listed here, we’d love to hear about them, so drop us a comment, or send us an email.

Ode to the cycling jacket

Ken Hurd — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:35:31 +0000

For better or worse, I’m not one of those guys who has a jacket for every event. Sometimes I wish it were different, but this was the hand I was dealt… My clothing needs to multitask, and yes, that includes some of my cycling gear as well. Now, this isn’t to say that I’m going to rock my bib shorts to the next company picnic, but for something like a jacket, it needs to exist beyond the bike.

I'm not nearly 'snooty' enough to rock his bad boy.

Style vs. Utility. Form vs. Function. Call it what you will, it’s oftentimes a rare and wonderful occurrence when the two carefully meet and we’re able to reap the rewards of their lovechild.

Luckily, one of my favourite cycling garments seems to straddles this delicate balance perfectly.

The cycling jacket is perhaps one of the few almost perfectly designed articles of clothing. As evidence of my claim I call to bear the following five points:

Handy, out of the way pockets
Lightweight
Handles weather well
Complimentary fit
Perfect for new dads (you can fit an almost unlimited amount of bottles, binkies, and bobbins in those pockets ;-)

Truly the cycling jacket nears perfection, but it does however suffer from one fatal flaw which I think prevents it from being adopted as a mainstream article of clothing:

No front pockets

There’s simply no where to put your hands should they get a little nippy. On the bike this obviously poses no concern, since having your hands in pockets poses an arsenal of risks, but out and about town, it’s an entirely different matter. I’ve taken to simply carrying a light pair of gloves with me, which I store in my middle rear pocket but this may not be adequate for all users.

When I first headed down this path my main concern was fitting my Costanza wallet comfortably and still being able to drive with it. Thankfully, something in which you can easily cram a banana, power bar, cell phone and a handful of gels has more than enough room – And because I place it in the rear-side pocket, it swivels around comfortably when I drive ;-)

Out and about I’ve gotten numerous compliments both on the style and fit of my jacket as well as the practicality and uniqueness of the rear pockets.

Now, this type of gear multitasking may not be for everybody – especially the purists out there. But most people have a favourite piece of gear… What’s yours?

Cycling ‘Threads’

Top Ten for 2012

Ken Hurd — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:07:29 +0000

It just wouldn’t be the New Year if we didn’t crack things of with a Top Ten list!

The past year was a transitional year for both Sheldon and I, but was still full of great memories and lots of riding. Looking to 2012 we’re optimistic that it will be even more grand!

Out with the old and in with the new ;-)

Ken’s Top Ten

Sheldon’s Top Ten

Training With Power!

Sheldon Smart — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:46 +0000

Motivation – in the off-season we’re all looking for it. Without it, we’d never get off the couch. If you’re talking about just ‘riding’, finding motivation can be pretty easy – riding is a blast, and all about fun! Personally, I’m up for going for a ride pretty much anytime. But, if we’re talking about getting on the bike for training purposes, that’s a different story… Training is mostly about hard work, and if you’re training hard, there usually isn’t much ‘fun’ to be had. So, we need another motivator, or at least I do – something that is going to get us into the gym, on that stationary bike, or out on that winter ride. For me, it’s results. I’ve found that I respond to results really well, and I know I’m not unique in that, but I admit, I am a bit surprised just how pumped I can get about training, when I can actually measure and see the results of that effort. And it’s training with POWER that gives me those metrics, that keep me coming back for more.

During the race season, you always have the benefit of that direct feedback. If you train hard, eat and rest well, then you’ll race well – you’ll see your result. If you slack, you’ll see the result there too. A race performance is always going to be the ultimate measure of our performance, because that’s when and where it all matters. But, when the race season is done, in my opinion, (PE) perceived effort training can only take you so far. I can’t really tell if, week after week, my training program is working, if I’m training too hard, or too little… It’s all a guessing game. Sure you can set some loose metrics attached to PE, but it’s all too vague for me, and certainly not much of a ‘motivator’… Now, give me a measurable number like watts/kg, that I can track and see improve, and now you’re talking.

I’ve had a POWER TAP for three seasons now, but it wasn’t really until this off-season when I started using the ‘Real Rides’ video series from Vision Quest, that I started to really understand how to train with power. The videos give you a visual dashboard that displays the vitals of the riders, like VQ founder Robbie Ventura, showing his cadence, heart rate, perceived effort, and power, the whole time. As you try to follow along as Robbie and his VQ crew grind up real climbs, or race in a real race, and you record your own efforts, you get a ‘benchmark’ for yourself. It’s this benchmark, your average power, your peak power, etc… during these sessions that give you an accurate picture of where you’re at, fitness-wise. You also get to know yourself, and your own PE zones, using these videos. You get to know what a 5 out of 10 feels like, versus a more sincere 8, or 9/10, which is where you spend a lot of time in the Real Rides videos. You’re being asked to put in honest efforts, and in doing so, you’re registering honest power data, that you can measure yourself against, ride after ride, week after week. And let me tell ya, seeing your numbers go up is a great feeling. So much of the guess work is gone. You know your training program is working. You know you’re getting stronger.

For me, the results were speaking for themselves, but I still wanted to better understand the training with power concept, so I did a little digging around, which of course raised some questions. I was about to do some more digging, but then it occured to me, who better to answer my questions than pro US Postal Service team member and Vision Quest coach, Robbie Ventura himself.

Q & A with Robbie Ventura:

Outside of actual race performance, is power the best metric for assessing your progress, and the effectiveness of a training program?

Yes – if your power is going up at a given intensity, or duration, then you are improving and what you are doing is working. If your power starts to go down for given effort then it may be time to take a rest. On a daily basis if you train consistently you can see changes in power and determine your training direction based on them. You still need ‘how you feel’ to play a big role in the process. If you feel great and the power is high, then all systems go – if you feel bad and power is high, that is OK too. If you feel bad and power is low, then you need to rest. How you feel and the power you are putting out are the two most important pieces to solve the training puzzle.

Do you find power to be a motivator, at all levels of racer, Beginner, up through to Elite?

For sure. The key to motivation is improvement. If you can see measurable improvements it motivates all athletes. Getting stronger and measuring that growth is the reason we train. We work with so many levels of athletes and one thing is consistent – as your power goes up, so does your motivation and feeling of excitement about our sport.

What are the drawbacks, or pitfalls of relying on power?

When you measure something there is always the chance your power will go down. This is depressing at times since we work so hard to grow. Chances are, though, you just need rest. If you train hard and rest you will get stronger, that is a fact. However sometimes at the end of a big training block we get tired and our power suffers – this is hard mentally for you because you just busted your butt. You have to believe in your plan and understand that you cannot grow without rest and when your power starts to drop that is a signal that you may have gone a bit too far and you need a rest. Also, sometimes knowing that you have to be at a certain wattage to be competitive, and you cannot get there, is tough, but the reality of power is something that makes sense when you’re considering your goals and what makes sense for you in the short term.

What are your thoughts on power profiling? Is it an effective way for coaches and teams to identify what kind of rider a person is, and how best to train them to maximize their natural ability?

I think that it makes sense to some degree but I think it is always skewed with the athlete’s training. I think you need to really train all the systems for a while before you really figure out what you are best at. I think when you take an untrained cyclist and do a power profile you may not be getting a great picture of what the athlete’s true energy systems look like. I say you work the entire aerobic system for a while before you start focusing your efforts on what the profile says you’re best at.

So far, I’ve found all the VQ Real Rides videos are really good. (I use RACE DAY, CLIMB and FORCE). They’re nicely filmed/produced, and interesting enough that I haven’t become bored with them (which happens for me with most vids). More importantly though, I’m finding that they work – I’m seeing improvement. If you’re looking for some new vids to mix it up, and get you going again in the New Year, I’d recommend them.

For more information on Vision Quest’s Real Rides videos, and training services, check them out at visionquestcoaching.com

Training with a Power Tap vs. Heart Rate

Watts per Kilogram video with Dr. Allen Lim & Robbie Ventura.

For more information on training with power, I also found these links useful:

Power Profiling

Training Strategies

Are you interested in getting a powermeter? Here is a detailed article from Cycling Tips:

Powertap vs. Quarq

No handed bike moves

Ken Hurd — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:22:47 +0000

As I sit here in the airport with a half-finished article I know isn’t going to be complete before I board, I thought I’d give you this to perk your spirits on Humpday… Enjoy!

No related posts.

Form & Function: VINER

Sheldon Smart — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:44 +0000

I heard it said once, that having beauty around us in our day-to-day lives greatly enhances our overall quality of life, which I would have to agree with – especially when beauty comes in the form of a bike. In my opinion, the VINER Perfecta that I rode this season, is as as nice to look at as it is to ride and race. And that goes a long way with me because admittedly I enjoy things that operate exceptionally well, but also look good do it – form and function come together in this bike like the two halves of DNA’s double helix.

There’s little question, that the fact that this bike is designed and handmade in Italy, plays into why it looks the way it does. Everything from the unique contours of the top tube, the subtly flared chainstays, to the colour scheme, all make this an unquestionable work of cycling art that literally makes me happier when I see it. And it didn’t just have this effect on me – not a race went by when I didn’t have at least one person come up and ask about that bike and comment on how nice it was. There aren’t many CX bikes out there that can do that.

Now looks, though important, do only go so far. So on the performance side, simply put, this is the best bike I’ve ever ridden and raced. I’ve become partial to the feel of the full carbon frame, which somehow delivers both the responsiveness and stiffness you want in a race, and the comfort you need to keep from having your teeth rattled free from your skull. Initially I was luke warm on the Campi set up, but as the season went on, I came to enjoy that as well – consistently precise, crisp shifting just came to be expected. To me, the only downside to this bike is the wheel set it came with. Fulcrum Racing 7 CXs, aren’t a bad wheel set; they are strong, and track high speed corners really well, but they are a heavy wheel set choice in relation to such a high-end frame as light as this one. If you put a lighter set of wheels on this bike, it would be scream like a lunatic with its hair on fire!

So, even though the CX season still rolls on strong in US right now, I lament that the race season here in Alberta is long over, and I am sitting here reluctantly concluding my review of this bike with this post. Handing this bike back over to SRI Importing will be sad affair.

For those of you looking for something a little out of the ordinary, a CX bike that’s not only fast and light, and all those good things, but also has something special about it, a level of design passion you might not find in a bike from one of the larger manufacturers, a handmade Italian VINER Perfecta just might be for you.

For more info on VINER bikes contact SRI Importing.

Cheers, to Sarns for stepping into the role of ‘The Rider’, for the product vid.

No related posts.

2011 Ultimate Cycling Gift Guide

Ken Hurd — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:50:23 +0000

Ah, the holidays, a time of excellent couplings… Family & friends, rum & eggnog, mistletoe & kisses… Who knows, maybe even a couple of gifts under tree. It is with this last thought that we bring you the Bikeridr 2011 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide.

Not content to simply give you a measly ‘Top Ten’ we’ve pulled some recommendations together for just about every type of cyclist on your list:

The alcoholics,
The ladies,
The men,
The classics,
The techies,
The spendy and
Those who just love the Christmas spirit

It is an epic list, to be sure, and I’m hoping that at least one of these items will satiate the desires of the cyclist on your Christmas list. If there’s something you think I’ve missed – Hit us up in the comments :-D

For the alcoholics:

PocketToolX MAKO Titanium Bike Tool: Made of Aerospace Titanium, the MAKO Bike Tool, named after one of the fastest shark species, will be the best bicycle tool that you have ever owned. Not only is it extremely light weight and compact but can be fully customized by you to best suit your bike. And features a handy-dandy bottle opener!
Screen Printed Belgian Beer Glasses: A true homage to cyclocross – you can enjoy your micro brewed delight in one of four Belgian beer styles.
Leather Wine Rack: This handmade leather bicycle wine rack is perfect for taking wine with you on the go. It easily attaches to any 1″ bike frame with antique brass fasteners, while the hidden clamping mechanism holds the bottle securely. The olive oil treated vegetable-tanned leather will only look better with age.
The Road Popper: Road ‘pops’ have never been easier! The Road Popper was designed it to fasten discreetly to the rails on the underside of the saddle to help keep your bike looking crisp. Finishes range from stainless steel, silver, gold plated, or antique bronze.
6 Pack Frame Cinch: For those not into the vino, this will be a near perfect substitute. Not into beer? No problem, a couple of these will work to secure your polo mallet as well :-)

For the ladies:

Ana Nichoola Apparel: Straight out of the UK – Carefully crafted, unique cycle clothing for the female form.
Women’s ¾ Bib Shorts: If Heidi likes ‘em, you probably will too ;-) Made from a luxury mesh material with a large cutaway section in the back to prevent overheating. There is also an elasticated pocket at the back of the bibs for small items.
Wool Cycling Caps: So stylish it should come with a lock. While waiting at intersections other riders may be forced to steal the cap from your head and ride into traffic to avoid your inevitable turn of speed and chasing them down.
Reflective scarf: You want to be seen but not look like an enormous dork? Then this range is just for you. Vintage fabrics combined with a sense of style and a hint of reflective will enable you to look good, be seen and avoid any crimes against fashion.
Riyoku Urban Bike Gear: Riyoko creates and builds stylish, comfortable and functional bike attire with the cyclist and their moving environment in mind. Support a local (Calgary) merchant!
Bike Spoke & Chain Roller Bracelet: Inspired by the trendies and their fixed-gear bikes, this single spoke and one chain roller bracelet is a great offset to the contemporary urban look. Looks great worn in multiples of two or three.
Crankbothers Multi 17: Sleek. Sexy. 17 features. 1 lightweight tool. Nuff said.

For the men:

Park Tool BBQ Set: A post-ride essential and a fun way to work with your favorite tools. Stainless steel with “pedal wrench” style and “cone wrench” style grilling tools that bring Park Tool Blue to the barbecue.
Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling: The Bike Snob treats readers to a laugh-out-loud rant and rave about the world of bikes and their riders, and offers a unique look at the ins and outs of cycling, from its history and hallmarks to its wide range of bizarre practitioners.
Joyride: Pedaling Toward A Healthier Planet: This great read tells the dramatic and enlightening behind-the-scenes story of how a group of determined visionaries transformed Portland into a cycling mecca and inspired the nation.
Strava – The Gift of Fitness: Strava makes a perfect and unique gift for any avid athlete – it’s the best way to log and analyze your fitness data, then compare and compete with friends online! Strava delivers a premium experience: no ads, unlimited storage of rides, and responsive customer support.
Cinelli Topographic Bar Tape: Much appreciated by pistards for its tacky, tennis-grip feel and luxury leather look, Cinelli Volée is MASH’s preferred tape for urban riding. This special co-branded edition features MASH’s signature use of topographic subject matter.
Repair Stand: An essential for any serious cyclist. I know one of these made my routine maintenance a lot less of a chore!
T-Shirts – Endurance Conspiracy / Twin Six: If there’s one thing the cyclist on your list is guaranteed to be missing, it’s enough cycling-related tees. Top up your supply with these great ones.
Great magazines:: Peloton for the roadies, Singletrack for those who favour knobby tires.
Scalextric Velodrome: For the kid at heart – Why race cars, when you can race bikes?! Specifically Great Britain replica track racers!

For the classics:

Vintage Merino Wool Jersey: Ah, what better than the cozy warmth of a merino jersey. Long sleeve, short sleeve, whatever the person on your list might prefer.
Raleigh Urban Bike: It might not be a classic yet, but it’s on it’s way. Done in the messenger style, the Raleigh Rush Hour is an urban bike in blank form. Fresh white, wood, silver, and trimmed with thick leather on the seats and bars, this bike begs to be settled into and utterly dogged.
Full Wood Fenders: Hand crafted wooden trim, for your bicycle.
Bike Chain Cufflinks: Your choice of Shimano, SRAM, or Campagnolo ;-)
Recycled Belt with Fixie Belt Buckle: Belt and belt buckle are totally constructed with recycled bicycle parts. The belt is made with a recycled bike tire and the buckle is made with a recycled bicycle cog, chain, and spokes… Heck, they’ll even make the belt out of your favorite worn tire if you like!
Rapha Silk Scarf: A timeless classic. The fabric has been treated with a special solution to make it sweat and shower resistant and the edges have been hand stitched for a luxury finish.

For the techies:

Garmin Vector: Measuring power where it matters, the Garmin Vector allows you to see the whole force of the pedal stroke. Calculating total power and cadence while reporting right and left leg power separately.
Garmin Edge 500: Loaded with data, Edge 500 tracks your distance, speed, location and elevation with high sensitivity GPS. Add an ANT+™ compatible heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor or compatible power meter for a finely-tuned analysis of your ride.
Lupine Betty 12: A bundle of energy and tremendously bright as it is, our Betty plows even through the darkest night. When you switch it on for the first time, it does not only produce light but also this kind of wow that makes it unmistakably clear: Betty is the queen of the night.
Road ID: In the event of an accident, if you can’t speak for yourself, your Road ID will. It’s not just a piece of gear – it’s peace of mind.

For the spendy:

Rapha/Independent Fabrication XS: In 2008 Bill, Guy Andrews, John Bradley and Simon Richardson each rode the XS as they rode an homage to Anquetil’s Crazy Bet, tackling the Glandon, Galibier, Alp d’Huez and the Tourmalet over back-to-back sportives in France. This bicycle has to be considered one of the best ever for any rider racing a sportive.
Chris King Espresso Tamper: Born from an appreciation of the coffee making process as much as the coffee it produces. We worked in collaboration with the Portland, Oregon based America Barista & Coffee School to develop a professional grade espresso tamper with precise dimensions, exceptional feel, and the iconic shape that every cyclist recognizes as the very best.
Rêve Ultimate Grand Tour Experience: Ride a fully supported grand tour (read our synopsis here)
Ciclotte Exercise Bike: Featuring a complex dual satellite epicycloid transmission, a carbon-and-alcantara adjustable saddle, a touch-screen display, pedals placed closer to the saddle for correct biomechanics, a slender, unicycle-style frame, and unique carbon handlebars. Getting in shape never looked so good (or cost so much).

For the Christmas spirit:

Donate to World Bicycle Relief: A bicycle in the hands of a student, healthcare worker, or entrepreneur in rural Africa is truly life changing. The need is great. Help share The Power of Bicycles today. Make a one-time or recurring donation.

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