Wait … don’t close this window.

Come on. Relax. We all need a frank discussion of our delicate areas and how to make them more comfortable over long (and sometimes short) sessions on the bike, either indoors or out. Because no one likes pain, and our goal here is simply to help you avoid a tender tush – by using chamois cream.

But before we get to the specifics of slathering, a few things that should be obvious:

First, wear cycling shorts. If you already do, skip this paragraph. If you don’t, know that a) the seams on the crotch of your pants do not play well with your perineal area and b) you needn’t squeeze into spandex to get the benefits of a cushioning chamois (pad) between you and the seat. If you equate tight-fitting cycling apparel with sausage casing, there are many baggy men’s and women’s padded shorts available. Remember, too, to always wash your shorts after you ride. The bacteria left behind in a sweaty chamois is a catalyst for rump rebellion.

(And although you’d think it goes without saying, wear your shorts right side in. The photo you see here – and we are not making this up – is of an actual finisher of a century ride in North Carolina who didn’t realize he’d ridden all 100 miles this way until we asked for a cheek-to-cheek selfie. “You know,” he said, “I thought I felt some chafing down there.”)

Second, the even more obvious: Don’t wear underwear under your cycling shorts. Those of you who don’t can skip this paragraph, too. Wearing tighty whiteys under your kit causes fabric-on-fabric friction, the pedaling equivalent of rubbing sticks together to make a fire. Hot crotches may be great for hungry hikers (there is actually something called The Crotch Pot, perhaps an homage to Robin Williams in “Good Morning Vietnam”) but not so much on the bike.

Third, the sort-of-equally obvious: Use a good-fitting and well-fit saddle. If your perch is already all-day comfy, this is the last paragraph you’ll have to skip. If you’re struggling with your saddle, a bike fit is a great idea. Let a pro look at your position and you might find out that it’s you, not the seat, causing your owwies. If it is the saddle, then consider switching to something more favorable to your ergonomics and riding style.

OK, now that we’re through that, there are several reasons to use chamois cream with cycling shorts, comfort and hygiene chief among them. But there’s also tradition, which is how we got here in the first place. The origins of the cycling chamois – named for the goat/antelope found in Europe’s mountains – are fuzzy, but its use in wool shorts began in earnest in the 1940s. (Wool + skin + motion = chafing, and pro riders were cranky.) The first chamoises were made of sheep leather (later, softer deerskin), which were supple at first but when washed and dried took on the texture of coarse-grit sandpaper. That begat the use of cream, with lanolin (wool oil) the key ingredient. Applied directly to the pad surface, they brought back the leather’s soft texture.

(In American cycling circles, the go-to chamois creams for years were Bag Balm and Udder Butter, both more than 100 years old now and originally made for treating tender cow teats. Look in some cycling kit bags today and you’ll still find the green tins or yellow tubes, respectively, of those ancient products – the lubricious equivalent of downtube shifters.)

Skip forward to the ’80s and ’90s, when synthetic pads made of material like Coolmax (developed in 1986 by DuPont) replaced leather. Always soft and supple, impervious to washing and often made with antimicrobial material, synthetic pads were and continue to be game-changers. Now with contoured shapes and padding of various heights and densities, the new breed of chamois can comfort even the fussiest fannies.

Or, mostly.

When there’s a pool of perspiration down there – which can strike equally in summer or winter riding, and particularly during long trainer sessions – going without chamois cream is an invitation to irritation. It may take the form of redness, rawness, up to and including saddle sores, which are potentially serious abscesses that form under the skin and hurt like sitting on a nail.

(If you’ve never had a saddle sore, know that those of us who have would rather eat bees or stick a fork in our head than ride with one again.)

The quality and location of the stitching that bonds the chamois to the shorts can likewise be a point of friction. No two brands are alike. Where a pad in one pair of shorts may fit like a glove, another may turn out to be a long-ride irritant that requires some derriere dab.

The next question: What chamois cream to use? There are basically two kinds, those made with a base of mineral oil or petroleum jelly (often called “petrolatum” in the list of ingredients), like Paceline’s Chamois Butt’r, and those with a base of natural ingredients (animal, vegetable or plant oils), like Doc’s All Natural. Some have cooling ingredients like menthol, camphor, eucalyptus, aloe vera and/or witch hazel. There are also women’s versions, like Her from the Chamois Butt’r brand, with special female pH formulas.

What you choose comes down to a matter of personal preference and what works with your body. Some skin-care professionals will tell you to run screaming from this ingredient or that ingredient. Your riding buddies may tell you that they’ve used nothing but Vaseline for years and years; some will tell you that Vaseline will ruin your chamois. Still others might say that pure coconut oil is the way to go and that the only drawback is smelling like a sweaty piña colada. Treat every recommendation with a pinch of salt and try for yourself.

The how-to-apply-it question offers other choices. There are some old-schoolers who still apply the cream directly to the pad, a vestige of the leather days. And there’s nothing wrong with that (although some people don’t like the “I’m putting on a soggy diaper” feeling). Mostly, though – and an informal poll of the home office here at Performance confirms this – the most common way to apply cream is directly to your skin.

Before you pull on your shorts, gently rub the cream on your contact areas, the sit bones and the underside of your thighs, or anywhere you think friction will be a factor. Apply enough so that you have a layer between your skin and the chamois, but not so much so that you’re slip-sliding around (which causes more friction). Generally, “enough” is a large-coin-size amount, either a quarter or half-dollar size.

All Performance stores also carry single-use packets of Chamois Butt’r, perfect for sticking in a saddle bag or jersey pocket if your backside needs a mid-ride refresher.

Finally, if you find yourself at a ride without any chamois cream and someone offers you theirs, know this rule: If it comes in a tube, squeeze away; if it comes in a tub, no double dipping. Your buddies will thank you.

And if you use chamois cream, period, so will your bum.

Holidays and gifts are inevitable, like death and taxes, although unlike death and taxes there is most often an upside.

There’s the joy of giving, of seeing the face of your gift recipient, young or old, light up in a megawatt smile. There’s the joy of receiving, both in getting something nice and knowing that someone’s thinking of you. In those spirits, whether you’re buying a gift for a cyclist or making your own cycling wish list, we’re here to help.

But, very occasionally, there’s the joy of getting even.

Understand, we’re not advocating using the holidays as a revenge weapon. Sometimes, though, we find ourselves in the awkward position of holding our nose and buying gifts because we’re obligated. And so, because no one else will, we step into the breach with the best of both worlds, the Performance 2018 Holiday Gift Guide – and The List Of Things You Can Give Because You Have To.

• The office gift exchange: Under $20
• Friends: $21-50
• Family Members: $51-100
• Kids: $101-250
• Your significant other: $251-500
• Yourself: The ultimate gift, where price is no object

The office gift exchange

Depending on your work environment, the annual holiday swap can be fraught with danger. You roll the dice when you draw the name out of the hat. It could be the coworker who:

• Clips their toenails at their desk? Gift: A bag of galvanized nails
• Stinks up the place by reheating salmon in the microwave? An air freshener
• Drinks the coffee but never buys? A mug that says “Cheapskate”

Or it could be the coworker who’s always cheerful and who always brings donuts on Fridays. For them, these under $20 gifts:

Performance Water Bottles: $6.99 to $8.99

The Performance bottles hold 600ml, 800ml or 1000ml of your favorite hydration, fits perfectly in to the standard water bottle holders, and is made of BPA-free plastic.

TransIt Speed Wedge: $12.99

Pearl Izumi Women’s Select Short-Sleeve Jersey: $19.97

Forte Grip-Tec 2 Bar Tape: $19.99

Nothing makes a bike feel like new more than fresh bar tape. Grip-Tec 2 helps absorb shock and imparts a great grip and feel, which enhances control.

For more gifts under $20, click here.

You can’t pick your family but you can pick your friends, but some of the acquaintances you pick can have their own, shall we say, eccentricities. While you don’t want to give them a gift that will quickly turn them into ex-friends, there are ways to share a fun holiday message. If they:

• Re-gifted the blender you got them last year? Another blender
• Bring domestic beer to the party and drink all the imports? A case of generic “beer” … preferably light beer
  
• Got too drunk at your wedding and made that speech? A dog muzzle

Then there’s the true-blue friend who even let you crash on their couch during your experimental phase. For them, these gifts from $21-$50:

Forte Cabot Softshell Gloves: $29.99

When the mercury starts to drop, then it’s time to break out the comfort and cool weather protection of these babies. Softshell Drytex fabric is wind-resistant, water-repellent and highly breathable, and white silicone finger/thumb details are touch-screen compatible.

Performance Leadout Anti-Fog Eyewear: $39.99

Built around a highly durable TR-90 frame, the Performance Elite Leadout provides full coverage, with an anti-fog treatment and 100% UVA and UVB protection for optimum clarity and eye protection.

Forte Pisgah 2 Tubeless-Ready Mountain Tire: $39.99

Developed on some of the toughest trails in the Pisgah National Forest, these are available in 26- 27.5- and 29-inch sizes, all featuring a 2.35-inch width. They’re ideal for XC riding or any epic ride that demands climbing as well as fast, technical descents.

Forte Boulevard Pedals: $49.99

Our best-selling Forte pedal is now even better, with a longer platform that is lighter, too. But it retains the features that have made the Boulevard a favorite for all kinds of riding: a durable aluminum body, sealed cartridge bearings, 4 degrees of float and compatibility with Shimano SPD cleats.

For more gifts from $21-$50, click here.

Family members

Conversely, if you can’t pick your family members you can at least pick gifts that deliver heartfelt a message (which naturally depends on the feeling in your heart at the time). For example, if they:

• Keep asking when you’re going to get a real job? A crystal ball
  
• Are constantly looking at their cell phone? A neck-mounted holder
• Always plug up the toilet? A monogrammed plunger

Then there’s the relative who never asks you to look at their photos from Tuscany and always brings you an outstanding bottle of spirits for the holidays. For them, from $51-$100:

Performance Elite Zonal Jacket: $69.97

It’s a perfect fit for those cold, rainy days, made using a warm and soft, yet breathable and moisture wicking bonded fabric that is both wind and water resistant. Its semi-form fit, articulated elbows, and full-length zipper are perfect for extra relief from over-heating.

Forte Corsa Carbon Seatpost: $69.99

Give an excellent upgrade for any bike or build where they need to shed grams and improve comfort. The unidirectional carbon fiber shaft helps absorb vibration from the road or trail to smooth out even all-day, epic rides.

Performance Elite Aero Road Helmet: $79.99

The need for speed doesn’t end with your bike. Performance’s Elite Aero Road Helmet lets the air zip over your head without the turbulence of many-vent helmets yet keeps your head cool.

EVOC Hip Pack Race 3L with 1.5L Bladder: $99.99

Free yourself and a take a load of your shoulders with the EVOC Hip Pack, the perfect companion for long summer trail rides. It’s made of lightweight nylon with a protective coating, 3D Air Mesh and a comfortable EVA back padding. Also includes a 1.5-liter reservoir and an extra bottle holder.

For more gifts from $51-$100, click here.

The kids

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that as the kids get older, the less fun they are to buy for. Once they’re through the Santa phase (special note to kids who accidentally opened Mom’s laptop to this page: Santa is definitely real), there’s not a lot of excitement in clothes, money or Starbucks gift cards. But you could have to buy for:

• The one that looks suspiciously like the mailman? A DNA test
• The philosophy major? An empty box
• 35 and still living in the basement? White T-shirts with actual sleeves

Then there are the kids, young and old, who are on Santa’s nice list. For them, Christmas is fun for the both of you when you give these gifts from $101-250:

Fuji Lil’ Rookie Push Bike: $119.99

Give your little rookie cyclist a boost of confidence. Ideal for teaching kids how to balance, push bikes help kids conquer their fears. Built with a lightweight and durable alloy frame, it’s perfect for holding up to the wear and tear. It also includes wide, 2.125″ tires for extra help with balance and a sticker sheet to make the bike their own.

Giro Sage Boa MTB Shoe – A Performance Exclusive: $129.99

The Sage Boa cycling shoe offers the comfort you’d expect from Giro with the quick adjustments provided by a Boa dial. With a single dial and set-and-forget front strap, you can quickly get in your shoes and get on the trail, road or indoor class.

Selle Italia Women’s Diva Gel Flow Saddle: $129.99

Your significant other

Buying for a spouse, partner or significant other can be tricky because you don’t want to be the one to get the gift that years from now will be a comical holiday memory. Then again, what about the one who:

• Buys a gift for you, but it’s really for them? Your favorite movie (maybe even on VHS)
• Gets flowers at the gas station down the street? A lottery ticket, already scratched off
• Forgot your anniversary because of the fantasy draft? The itinerary for your upcoming friends-only trip to Hawaii

Then there’s the one who always makes the coffee or takes kids to the park so you can have “alone time.” For them, gifts from $251-500:

Garmin Edge 520 Plus Cycling Computer: $329.99

Give them advanced navigation and challenges built right in, not to mention a bright color screen, preloaded Strava Live Segments and the Garmin Cycle Map with turn-by-turn directions.

Giro Factress TechLace Women’s Road Shoe: $349.99

Our lightest weight women’s road shoe, it has a revolutionary closure system that couples the benefits of laces with the convenience of a Boa dial. Power transfer is bolstered by the EastonEC90 SLX2 carbon fiber outsole, which is among the lightest, thinnest and stiffest pedaling platforms on the road.

Fuji Adventure 27.5″ Mountain Bike: $384.99

Nothing can end a ride earlier than a lack of comfort, and when it comes to the trail, comfort is of vital importance. The Fuji Adventure mountain bike is designed to ease your stress on the trail, instead of add to it. With premium features like an aluminum frame, front suspension, and easy to use components, the Fuji Adventure is ready to fulfill your greatest trail need.

Performance Wheelhouse – Stan’s NoTubes Arch MK3 Mountain Bike Wheelset: $399.99

To get a super wide, custom built wheelset at a killer price, Performance starts with Stans NoTubes Arch MK3 rim design. Wider and stiffer than Stan’s predecessor, Arch EX, Stan’s NoTubes Arch MK3 29 inch wheels are built to last and ready for anything.

For more gifts from $251-$500, click here.

Yourself

You actually used your gym membership at least once. You helped an elderly person cross the street. You let friends use your Netflix account. Come to think of it, you don’t really need a good reason to get yourself a great gift. Let’s just say you deserve it – so go big or go home, with an ultimate gift:

Wahoo Kickr Power Trainer: $1,199.99

It’s THE trainer for serious indoor workouts, and now a modular part of the ultimate training experience. With more than 2,200 watts of resistance for up to 20% simulated grade, the Wahoo KICKER gives you a realistic ride feel, plus accurate power measurement (+/-2%), iPhone control, open 3rd party software options and the smoothest indoor riding on the market.

HED Jet 5 Plus Disc Road Bike Wheelset – A Performance Exclusive: $1,399.99

HED joined the wide-rim revolution with their Plus series. Now they bring wide to road disc bikes with the Jet 5 Plus Disc. They have the same aluminum spine/carbon fairing construction as the Jet 5, but without a braking surface and with disc-specific hubs.

Fuji Sanibel Cruiser Electric Bike: $1,499.99

It’s a laid-back cruiser that will get you to your destination without breaking a sweat. The rear hub is equipped with a 250-watt pedal-assist motor that amplifies your pedaling, making your ride a breeze. Hills and long distances are no match for the Sanibel. With five assist modes, including walking mode, you’ll be able to take on gravity with ease.

Marin Wolf Ridge 8 Full-Suspension 29er Mountain Bike: $5,299.99

If you’ve REALLY been a good boy or girl this year, treat yourself to the ultimate full suspension mountain bike that can do it all – be it all-mountain, cross country, or enduro. It has a full carbon fiber unidirectional frame that features the revolutionary 160mm travel Naild R3ACT-2 Play suspension system with the widest range of climbing-to-descending capacity on the market. With SRAM GX Eagle 1×12-speed components and Shimano Hydraulic brakes, and RockShox suspension fore and aft, this rig is race- and smile-ready.

And for more ultimate gifts, click here.

By Abby T.

Hi there, my name is Abby and I’m the Social Media Coordinator here at Performance Bike. I was given the Fuji Brevet a few months ago for a fall photo shoot and I can see why it was chosen – it really is a gorgeous bike. Full carbon frame and fork, Dura-Ace components, disc brakes – the total package.

I knew it was a smart-looking bike, but how would it ride?

I took the Brevet on three different rides to get a true test of its compatibility. The first was on a casual Sunday stroll of about 35 miles, then a longer 50-mile endurance ride, and finely a harder tempo ride of 40 miles.

The first ride was to a local bakery and back. The pace was a casual, brisk pace of about 17mph, with some nice hills thrown in. I figured it would be a good way to get comfortable with the feel and handling before I did any harder efforts.

The Brevet quickly made a good first impression with my friends. As we set off, I felt comfortable and when we hit a series of three large hill climbs, I climbed up with ease. When you put the Brevet into an easier gear, the bike just seems to glide up due to its lightweight frame. Descending hills was just as easy. (If you’re nervous about descending at a fast speed, the Brevet just feels solid and stable underneath you, so it gives you a ton of confidence.) I also found that with the top-notch Dura-Ace components, shifting is smooth and precise. Even after 35 miles, the Brevet was still comfortable to ride, and I honestly felt just as fresh as when I started.

The second ride was a longer 50-mile endurance ride with my coach and some friends. The pace was going to be a bit quicker with more climbing. Honestly, coming from a mountain biking background, I am a die-hard disc brake fan. My own road brake is outfitted with some nice Ultegra calipers, but the comfort level is not the same. Getting to ride the disc-brake equipped Brevet was a lot more familiar and a total game-changer.

As we set off, we kept a steady pace of 19-20 mph. and about halfway into the ride we hit some nice, gradual hills, but with just a quick drop of a few gears, I never felt like I was struggling. We hit a few gravel stretches as well and with the plusher 28mm tires the Brevet handled this with ease.

Even after 50 miles on the bike I didn’t feel as fatigued as if I were in an aggressive riding position. The Brevet’s upright endurance geometry really allows you to stretch out and enjoy the road.

For my last test ride, I decided to really push the speed and handling of the bike. A friend asked if I’d like to join him on a harder-tempo-style ride, so I loaded up the Brevet and met him for the challenge. It would be a similar route as the first ride, but at a much quicker pace of 21+mph. As we hit the first set of three climbs I really stood up and laid down some power and the Brevet responded right back. Standing up in the saddle, the bike feels stable underneath you (it isn’t as sharp and snappy as a more aggressive bike), but it is far from a laid-back touring bike. I also found that as I increased my effort, I didn’t feel as physically taxed due to the upright geometry. The ride ended up being two hours of high effort and the Brevet helped me add a few more PRs to my usual route.

After spending all this time with the Brevet, I am more than pleased with its performance. It’s a super light, comfortable ride that smooths out the road while you churn out the miles. I hadn’t considered adding another road bike to my garage, but don’t be surprised if you catch me on that Brevet in the future.

Below is a sneak peak of our Top 10 Bikes selected for our upcoming Black Friday sales event. The bikes featured are based on customer favorites, top sellers, overall performance, and straight up fun factor. In other words, these bikes are the best bang for your buck.

2018 FUJI BREVET 2.3

The Fuji Brevet 2.3 Disc isn’t just a women’s version of the Gran Fondo. It’s been designed from the ground up, with a women’s specific frame, to provide optimal comfort, speed and performance. This is an awesome, lightweight carbon road bike that gives you plenty of power in the climbs and handles confidently downhill. If you’re interested in checking “century ride” off your list, this is the bike that will help you do it.

• C5 high modulus carbon frame and FC-440 carbon monocoque fork
• VRTech vibration damping material incorporated into the frame and fork
• Shimano 105 2×11-speed drivetrain
• TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors
• Vera Corsa DPD22 disc wheelset utilizes 12mm thru-axles front & rear
• Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 700×30 tires

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2018 FUJI GRAN FONDO CLASSICO 1.1

OK, we’ve already mentioned the Gran Fondo, and for good reason! The Gran Fondo is one of our favorite bikes around the office. Like the Brevet, this is a full carbon endurance road bike, only minus the disc brakes – hence “Classico”. If you want to keep it real and stick with tradition on a long century, the Gran Fondo Classico is the way to go.

• High-modulus C5 carbon frame with endurance geometry
• FC-440 carbon monocoque fork with tapered carbon steerer
• Shimano Ultegra 11-speed components (shift/brake levers, derailleurs) ensure smooth, precision gear changes
• Oval concepts alloy, compact crankset with 50/34T chainrings plus 11-32T Shimano 105 cassette ensures you have the gears to handle a wide variety of terrain
• Press Fit BB86 bottom bracket shell enhances frame stiffness

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2018 FUJI ROUBAIX 1.1

This bike has been tested by elite riders around the country and given the stamp of approval. Incredibly lightweight for an aluminum road bike, it’s designed to be slick in the wind and fast on the road, with plenty of stiffness for power (as light as it is).

• A6-SL super-butted alloy frame removes frame material from low stress areas to decrease frame weight while maintaining frame stiffness
• FC440 full carbon fork with tapered steerer tube
• Internal cable routing for clean aesthetics and long cable life
• Shaped tubing near the bottom bracket maximize power transfer
• Asymmetrical chainstays maintain lateral stiffness and aid in improved pedaling efficiency

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2018 FUJI WOMEN’S ROUBAIX 1.1

The women’s version of the Roubaix 1.1 is nearly identical to the men’s version, with some women’s specific features, like appropriately sized geometry and a custom Oval Concepts saddle.

• A6-SL super-butted alloy frame removes frame material from low stress areas to decrease frame weight while maintaining frame stiffness
• FC440 full carbon fork with tapered steerer tube
• Internal cable routing for clean aesthetics and long cable life
• Shaped tubing near the bottom bracket maximize power transfer
• Asymmetrical chainstays maintain lateral stiffness and aid in improved pedaling efficiency
• Oval Concepts Women’s Specific Saddle

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2018 FUJI ABSOLUTE 1.3D

The Fuji Absolute is one of our bestselling bikes. Designed to be efficient and affordable, it’s also extremely versatile. With features like rack and fender mounts, wider sized tires, hydraulic disc brakes, and a stiff and durable aluminum frame (with comfortable, upright geometry) – the Absolute is the perfect bike for commuting, exploring local trails, or cruising around the neighborhood.

• Fuji A2-AL Custom Butted alloy frame with FC-440 Carbon Fiber Fork
• Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes, 160mm rotor front, 140mm rotor rear
• Shimano Sora 9 speed shifters, front derailleur, and rear derailleur
• Vittoria Zaffiro, 700x28c tires with Phalanx flat protection

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2018 FUJI SILHOUETTE 1.3

The Silhouette is the women’s specific version of the Absolute – so you’re going to get that customized and comfortable fit. Aside from that – the Silhouette is every bit as fun to ride as the Absolute.

• Fuji A2-SL frame is lightweight, durable, and sports women’s-specific geometry
• FC-440 disc carbon fiber fork is lightweight plus helps smooth out road vibrations
• Shimano Sora 9-speed derailleurs combined with Rapid Fire shifters ensure quick, precise, and easy gear changes
• Hydraulic disc brakes supple plenty of stopping power in all weather conditions
• Vera Corsa aluminum wheels with 700×28 Vittoria Zaffiro tires

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Marin Rock Spring

Designed as an affordable yet competent trail-ready mountain bike, the Marin Rock Spring 1 & 2 feature durable, butted alloy frames, suspension forks with 100mm of travel, dependable Shimano components, and powerful disc brakes, for a ride that rolls fast and handles with confidence. If you’re new to mountain biking and want to see what it’s all about, these bikes are the perfect gateway to your new adventure.

Pro Tip: These bikes are only available at Performance and are part of our Right Fit program.

Right Fit matches the rider with the right wheel size based on frame size. For Right Fit bikes, sizes XS-SM will be available only with 27.5″ wheels. Sizes M-XL will only be available with 29″ wheels.

Bike Sizing:

• Size XS: 27.5″ wheels
• Size S: 27.5″ wheels
• Size SM: 27.5″ wheels
• Size M: 29″ wheels
• Size ML: 29″ wheels
• Size L: 29″ wheels

Click Here to Learn More About Right Fit Bikes

2018 BREEZER RADAR PRO

Gravel and adventure riding continue to gain traction in popularity and the Breezer Radar Pro is the perfect answer to that demand. With a chromoly steel frame and fork, this bike is prepared to handle whatever crazy adventure ride you have in mind.

• Durable and rugged Breezer butted chromoly steel frame and fork
• Custom 20-speed SRAM drivetrain delivers smooth shifting over tough terrain
• SRAM hydraulic disc brakes provide reliable, all-weather stopping power
• WTB wheelset is tubeless compatible, and comes with matching tubeless WTB Riddler Race tires

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2018 MARIN GESTALT X10

Built around a lightweight, butted aluminum Series 3 frame, with gravel-oriented features like wide-range gearing, 1x crank, disc brakes and clearance for up to 35mm tires, the Gestalt X10 is one of cycling’s best kept secrets, and more than willing to take you well beyond the pavement, with plenty of comfort and compliance over rough roads and uncharted territory.

• Lightweight and durable Series 3 6061 alloy frame
• Lightweight carbon fork with aluminum steerer for responsive handling
• SRAM Apex 1×10-speed shifter with SRAM GX rear derailleur for smooth, precise gear changes
• 42-tooth Narrow Wide single chainring combined with 11-42T 10-speed cassette provides a wide range of gear options
• Tektro Spyre-C Road mechanical disc brakes for all-weather stopping power
• Rugged Schwalbe Kojak 700×35 tires with Kevlar puncture protection

SHOP NOW

The feeling of freedom that comes from riding a bicycle, ingrained in us from that first pedal stroke as kids, has become for many veterans a way to reconnect with themselves, their families and the world. Having since been adopted as recovery therapy by the Veterans Administration, what began as an experiment only 11 years ago is now a movement, with dozens of national and local organizations whose sole focus is to help, heal and even save veterans’ lives through cycling.

You can meet and ride with members of the military this weekend at all Performance Bicycle stores, as we join with veterans and the national organization No Vet Alone on this, the 100^th anniversary of the end of the first World War.

These are some of their stories.

The terror

As a Marine corporal taking part in the humanitarian deployment to Somalia that was Operation Restore Hope from December 1992 to February 1993, Carlos Vera faced the violence and horror that came with a country ripped apart by civil war. President George H.W. Bush had sent Americans to help the United Nations secure food supplies, and they were caught in the middle of rival clans fighting for control of the country.

Vera said he was prepared for some of what he and his corps mates went through. Some, but not all.

“We lost one of our Marines to sniper fire. That was one of the things they’d do to us,” Vera said. “But we trained for that. We trained for the sniper fire.

“We didn’t train for the famine and starvation of all those Somali people. We didn’t train for that kind of death.”

With the warring factions stealing even basic food aid, more than 300,000 Somalis had died of starvation by the time the Americans had arrived. Millions more were displaced and clinging to life. The faces of the dead and dying men, women and children burned into Vera’s brain like horrifying lasers and remained there for years afterward, haunting him.

“The biggest problem was shaking the images and hearing the screams,” he said. “I’d wake up with night terrors. I’d see the dead people standing there at the foot of my bed.”

The apparitions stayed with him after he left active duty in September 1997 and became a major cause of his post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. He descended into anger, aggression and depression, unsuccessfully treated with a half-dozen psychiatric medications.

“I got really bad, I mean really bad,” Vera said. “I went a long time with it. I really needed help.”

He found it in 2014 in the form of a cycling program at the Veterans Administration in California’s Bay Area. Initially hesitant to ride the bike – “I fought it because they’d take me places that I’d never been, and it would always trigger the thought that we’d be in an ambush” – Vera found relief that pharmaceuticals couldn’t provide. Mile after mile, his world opened back up to him.

“I started to enjoy life. I started to see the beauty of life,” he says now, living in Portland, Ore. “You know, I was always thinking about just going from Point A to Point B, to scan and look for threats. On the bike, I see the beauty of the trees, the lakes, the trails.

“To me, it means a lot more than physical activity. I sometimes still see the images of the people dying and suffering, but I’ve come to terms with that now. And when I’m having an off-day, I just get on my bike and climb a steep hill and get all my aggression out.”

The seed

John Wordin was a former professional cyclist and director of the domestic Mercury Cycling Team through its final season in 2002. He has been around bikes for all of his adult life. As the founder of Ride 2 Recovery, the nonprofit group now called Project Hero that organizes cycling support nationwide, Wordin has seen thousands of veterans take to the road on bikes and find peace, freedom and themselves. Now he has founded a new group, No Vet Alone, with a similar message to spread.

“The way I describe it: Do you remember the first day you ever rode a bike without training wheels? That’s the feeling you get,” he said. “It’s independence. It’s freedom. It’s wind in your face. It’s a sense of normalcy.”

It’s an idea that began 11 years ago, when Wordin hosted a severely burned Army veteran for the weekend at his California home. Wordin said the inspirational spark came from trying to get his friend to just get on a bike. At that moment, his personal passion turned into a possibility.

“He hadn’t really done much. He had gained a lot of weight, was on medication, and he was taking additional self-medication,” Wordin said. “I started teaching him how to ride to see how it affected him, and then I went riding with him and a group of riders from the Palo Alto (Calif.) VA, and I knew immediately that this was something big.”

Wordin and the Palo Alto VA held their first event on Sept. 30, 2007, with just a handful of riders. But the following January, Wordin found himself meeting with Jim Nicholson, the Secretary of the Veterans Administration. Out of that was born the symbiosis between the VA and cycling to treat injuries physical and mental and the continuing catastrophic fallout from them both.

Example: A report released in September cites more than 6,000 veterans committing suicide each year from 2008 through 2016.

“When you’re dealing with physical injury, depression or other mental-health issues or you feel like you want to end your life,” Wordin said, “being able to get that freedom, with no boundary limits, it’s like shackles and chains have been removed.”

The challenge

Airman First Class Delvin McMillian contacted Hantavirus while in the Air Force in 2001, at age 21. The illness caused massive organ failure that cut off the blood flow to his extremities; to save his life doctors were forced to remove both legs, half his right forearm and his left hand. Dreams of one day becoming a pilot vanished with the reality of life as a quadruple amputee.

His limbs gone, McMillian found in their place a competitive drive he hadn’t known before. Within four years he was active in wheelchair rugby, becoming a standout player and, in 2010, a member of the U.S. National team.

It was that same year, on a flight back from a rugby tournament in Tampa, Fla., that McMillian was spotted by an employee of United HealthCare, then a national sponsor of Wordin’s Ride 2 Recovery. The conversation focused on cycling, and on Wordin’s program for veterans. McMillian’s mind was gradually steered toward a new goal.

“My first reaction was, I wasn’t sure about it. Cycling had never been something I’d been interested in,” he said. “Like most kids, I’d ridden my bicycle around until I was old enough to drive but not since. But I figured I’d give John a call and see if it could be a new challenge for me.”

The challenge was Wordin’s, too.

“He called me up out of the blue one day,” Wordin said, “and he just said, ‘Hey, I saw some pictures of an event you did, and I want to do that. Can you do that for me?’”

Up to that point, no. Wordin had never made a road bike for a quadruple amputee. No one had.

“I called up Shimano and had them send me every braking and shifting system they had for mountain bikes, road bikes, tri and BMX,” he said. “I set all those parts and handlebars in the warehouse, and every day I would spend a few hours working so the guy could shift, brake and steer. I ended up coming up with something and it worked like a champ.”

McMillian flew from his home in Alabama to California to try the bike, which shifted with Shimano’s first electronic groupset. Being attached to the pedals proved a challenge, and he went through every cyclist’s rite of passage by falling while clipped in. But he found on the bike a new way to channel his drive. Within weeks, he was taking part in a six-day, 350-mile Ride 2 Recovery through Texas.

“It was definitely challenging but man, was it fun,” McMillian said. “I was with guys who were used to riding like 400 miles a week, and that was something I thought there no way I could do. But there I was.

“Who’d have thought I’d be riding 40, 50 or 70 miles in a day?”

He’s done multiple weeklong rides since.

The bond

I first met retired Air Force Lt. Col. Stu Carter in 2008 during RAGBRAI, the weeklong ride across Iowa and the largest event of its kind in the world. He was riding a tandem with no one in back, only a helmet and a name, “Sonny Sonnenberg.” I jokingly asked him where his stoker was.

“Heaven,” he replied.

Lt. Col. Kevin “Sonny” Sonnenberg was an Ohio Air National Guardsman who died when his F-16 crashed in Iraq the year before. Carter, the founder of the Air Force Cycling Team for active members and veterans, rode the tandem alone from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River, all 471 miles in Sonnenberg’s honor.

The Air Force team was the forerunner of military cycling organizations, by then more than a decade old, and the link between the teammates became evident as we rode together on the backroads of the Hawkeye State.

“There’s a sense of worth, a camaraderie with other military people that they like to be with. They’re comfortable riding with guys who have had similar experiences,” Carter said recently from his home in Arizona.

In the decade since that Iowa ride he founded the veterans’ cycling support organization VeloVets; his newest is the group’s chapter in Sierra Vista, south of Tucson and home to Fort Huachuca and thousands of veterans. He has built tricycles for disabled vets, some as old as 87, and continuously works to bring veterans into the sport.

“A vet will go to a therapist to work on his or her emotional state, and if that therapist has served in a war zone too that credibility goes a long way to pulling down the walls,” Carter said. “When you ride with other vets, who know what you know or what you’ve been through, it’s the same thing. The walls come down.”

Air Force retiree Pat Ryan agrees. He lives in Washington and Arizona, wintering in the desert and riding nearly every day, or mostly. Many of his rides are with fellow vets, and he’ll be among a large number of veterans who’ll meet for the No Vet Alone/Performance ride in Tucson.

“Veterans need a way to stay fit, and they need a way to clear their heads,” Ryan said. “Bicycling lets them do both, and it creates an opportunity for vets to be with other people who have experienced a reality similar to their own.

“That’s healing in itself. That’s mental clearing.”

McMillian said the support he receives from ride mates helps him reach his own goals, whether it’s been the next ride, the next mile or the next climb.

“When it comes to cycling, especially on something like a Ride 2 Recovery, you’re with other veterans alongside you, encouraging you and helping you out,” he said. “Every time I come upon a steep hill. I’m like, ‘Man, this is grueling.’ But you know what? You’ve got guys alongside you who will help you out. They help you through it.”

The incentive

Ken Kingsley, 72, lives in Sierra Vista, Ariz., too. He served four years in the Air Force at the beginning of the Vietnam era, from 1963 to 1967. He rides with Carter’s VeloVets group and marvels at the disabled veterans he sees in the area powering up climbs without complaint.

“There’s very little ‘woe-is-me’ crap going on and that impresses me,” he said. “I’d be bitching and moaning every foot, much less every mile.

“But they seem to be nonplussed by their disabilities. They tend to ignore it. That makes you want to be out there with them. They’re an inspiration, really.”

McMillian knows that he inspires when other cyclists see a quadruple amputee riding a road bike. There’s little doubting that. And yet he can be equally uplifted by others.

“One of the thing about riding with veterans, somebody alongside you might be in an even worse situation with limb loss, but they’re out there, doing the miles,” he said. “Just to see somebody who might be worse off, it’s an encouragement.”

Vera has become an evangelist of sorts. Once withdrawn and angry, now he’s openly cheerful, spreading the word about the cycling-veterans connection to everyone he can.

“I love talking about it now. Had you asked me back in 2014, I would not have done this interview,” Vera said. He has since introduced his brothers, also Marines, to the freedom that comes through pedaling.

“Now that I’ve seen how it has helped me, and my family, now I want to talk to whoever, whenever.”

Wordin said he needs more preachers because getting the word out is the hardest part. Recreational cyclists, he says, are more than happy to join veterans’ rides – when they hear about the opportunity. That’s a big reason he’s partnered with Performance on this Veterans Day weekend – for the visibility that a one-day, nationwide event can bring.

“I created this program 11 years ago and there’s been tens of thousands of people who have come through it,” Wordin said. “You look at what it does for people in terms of improving mental and physical health, reducing prescription drug use, reducing stress. The saving of, the changing of lives, families and marriages. It motivates me to want to do more.”

You can find out about the Performance Bicycle rides this weekend here, or by calling your nearby store. You can learn more about No Vet Alone at its website.

And, most importantly, you can just ride with a vet whenever and wherever you get a chance. Offer them a pull. Or a push. Or words of encouragement.

And say thanks.

Let’s face it, between work, family, and everything else, finding the time to exercise can be quite a challenge. Kudos to all of you out there who are making it work. For the rest of us, we often get stuck in an endless rut of starts, stops, and do-overs, mixed with a healthy dose of inactivity and apathy.

These days, there are a lot of fitness options out there; go to your local gym and not only do you have access to an array of workout equipment, but there are classes for just about anything: yoga, Pilates, cross-fit, water aerobics, Zumba, Capoeira, kickboxing, ballet, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, pole dancing … the list goes on! And of course, most of the time the classes are at an additional cost to you, on top of your regular gym membership.

To be honest, I’ve always avoided the gym. Not that I’m proud of it, but between pushy sales reps and excessive monthly membership fees, I’ve always felt there must be a better, less expensive way, to stay fit.

Indoor Cycling Classes

My first year of college I needed a physical fitness activity, so I chose bowling.

The next semester I kicked it up a notch and signed up for a spin class ¬– and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! It was at the YMCA with a group of about 15 students. The instructor was cool, the equipment worked, and all I needed to bring was a towel and a bottle of water (no cycling shoes needed).

Years later, I’ve come to realize my spin class experience was under ideal conditions. Unfortunately, many cycling classes today are often less than satisfactory. From over booking and limited time slots, to broken down bikes, to being stuck on a waitlist, bad instructors, and expensive monthly fees, sometimes an indoor cycling class is not all it’s cracked up to be.

So, what next?

Interactive Trainers

Investing in your own, personal interactive trainer can gain you a huge advantage over some of the other fitness training options out there.

But before we get started, let me just say that for a little over a hundred bucks you can get a decent fluid trainer. While it’s not interactive, you still get a good workout. So, for those of us on a strict budget, the Travel Trac Comp Fluid Trainer is a great option for indoor exercise.

It should also be noted that the next step up from a traditional trainer is a smart trainer – another great option, usually landing somewhere in the $300 to $500 dollar range. However, while “smart” trainers can send info to a cycling app, an “interactive” trainer can send and receive information. So, if you really want to take things to the next level, an interactive trainer can provide a wealth of options, data, and resources to keep you on track and keep things fun and engaging.

CycleOps Magnus

One of the most affordable interactive trainers out there, the CycleOps M2 uses Powertap power meter technology and dual ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth Smart connectivity to get you all the data you need to keep track of your progress and improve your level of fitness. Add to that a virtual training program like Zwift, and now you have a vast array of training options, from structured workouts to fun interactive group rides. The M2 also features electromagnetic resistance that allows you, or the software, to control the level of resistance you’re experiencing, from 0 to 1500 watts. 15% gradient

Elite Qubo Digital

The Elite Qubo Digital Interactive Trainer is another great, affordable option. Like the M2, it features magnetic resistance that can be adjusted by a wireless unit and uses ANT+ protocol to communicate with accessories like heart-rate monitors, cadence sensors and power meters. These accessories, however, are not included – unlike the M2, which does have the built-in power meter to measure the data. However, the Qubo does offer a free one-year subscription to Elite’s “MY E-Training” app that lets you track and manage your workouts, and access advanced training sessions, videos and workouts. In addition, the Qubo has a cool, fast fixing system that allows the bicycle to be clamped and released with a single action for easy setup and breakdown.

Elite Direto

Here’s where things get interesting, because we’re now entering the first of the wheel-off style trainers, which have some added benefits from wheel-on trainers. First, there’s no wear on your tires or cassette with a wheel-off trainer. This can be a huge time and money saver in the long run. Plus, wheel-off trainers tend to have a more realistic feel and are way quieter than wheel-on or traditional trainers.

The Elite Direto Interactive Trainer has an integrated Optical Torque Sensor that measures power with +/- 2.5% accuracy, it’s small and compact, easy to use and easy to store, and easy to transport – AND it’s compatible with both road and MTB frames as well as Shimano, SRAM, and Campagnolo 9/10/11 speeds. The trainer interacts with all the latest training apps, like Zwift.

With Elite’s own “My E-Training” app, you can have access to and train with My RealVideo, create video playlists, use pre-set training programs, and access map races from around the world.

Tacx Neo Smart

The Tacx Neo Smart Interactive Trainer is one of the most advanced, and most striking, trainers on the market today. The sleek design packs some serious technology to give you the most efficient, toughest, and most realistic training you’ll find on any trainer. And as an added bonus, it omits laser lights on the floor when you pedal!

The Neo uses an onboard computer that does 1000 calculations per second to perfectly simulate the road and give you a very realistic road feel. The Neo is also ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart enabled, so it can connect easily to Tacx apps or third-party software on smartphones, tablets, bike computers and sports watches. This lets you tailor your workout to power output, heart rate, or your own personal preferences.

The max power for the trainer is 2,200 watts and can also simulate a 25% slope. When not plugged in or connected to a smartphone, tablet, or cycling computer, the Neo acts as a fluid trainer, with a smooth and progressive resistance that feels natural and easy to engage. And since the unit is self-powering, you can use it anytime, anywhere.

Wahoo KICKR Power

The KICKR Power is Wahoo’s flagship trainer, and probably our favorite trainer currently on the market. It is by far the quietest of the $1,000+ trainers available and comes with an 11-speed cassette ready to ride with Shimano, SRAM or Campy drivetrains. It gives you the most realistic ride feel around, with an electronic resistant flywheel engineered to replicate the intertia of an actual rider on the road. It also gives an accurate power measurement of +/- 2%, wirelessly connects to your devices to let you control resistance levels, structure interval workouts, and simulate real-world courses.

Next up, Wahoo’s complete setup brings the outdoors, indoor.

The Climb & Headwind

With new, innovative products coming out every year, Wahoo is always on our radar – they’re not just selling fitness machines, they’re selling experiences. And this year we’re super excited to test out their latest additions: the KICKR Climb and KICKR Headwind. Compatible with both the Wahoo KICKR Power Trainer and KICKR SNAP Smart Trainer, the Climb and Headwind create a total, immersed experience.

Starting with the Headwind, this little device wirelessly pairs with your smart trainer and automatically adjusts the air flow based on your speed. The Headwind delivers as much wind power as you would feel out on the road, up to 30 miles per hour.

Finally, for the ultimate in interactive training, the Climb raises and lowers your bike to match ascents up to 20% and descents of minus 10%, and physically adjusts your bike position to mimic real-world conditions. Paired with third-party apps, simply plug in a virtual course and get the same workout as you would if you were physically there.

Whatever your budget, logistics of space, time or aspirations, we’re confident there’s a trainer that’s right for you. If you consider the cost of an interactive trainer is roughly between $500 and $1000 and compare it to the monthly membership fees of gyms and specialty cycling classes, you’ll see the initial investment of a trainer is well worth it. And consider this: the price of a private indoor specialty cycling bike ranges from around $2,000 to $3,000 – and that’s on top of the monthly membership you’re required to pay for their training services.

There are alternatives, to be sure. Your average bike shop will charge anywhere from $10 to $20 or more to fix a flat and is more than happy to help – but it won’t come to you. USA Cycling offers 24/7 unlimited roadside assistance, including flat repair – but only to its members who pay at least $50 a year. Most AAA memberships include bike/rider pickup and transport – but not flat repair. (If you ride with a group there are likely several people who are flat-change experts, taking payment only in the occasional hot or cold post-ride beverage.)

Or you could bypass everyone and do it yourself. Of all the bits of bicycle maintenance knowledge that is easily knowable, how to change a flat is the simplest and, in the long run, the most cost-saving.

For the sake of commonality and brevity, let’s assume you are running clinchers (the tires used with a separate tube). Here’s how to become a flat-repair pro in six once-you-practice-it’s-easy steps.

1. Look for the hole

A quick tip before you start: Don’t ride on your flat. No, seriously, don’t. Even. The bicycle rim is a wondrous thing, but its edges can be like knives when a tire comes between them and the road. Prolonged riding on your flat increases the likelihood that you’ll slice your tire, and then you’re definitely walking, Ubering or Lyfting (and, maybe, cursing).

So … to begin. Whether you discover your flat before your ride or you hear the horrible pffffffffffft! (or worse, BLAM!) out on the road, take the time to look at the outside of your tire. Look for the obvious (bits of glass, staples, tacks and other sharp objects) but also the not-so-obvious. By pinching the tire with the thumbs and fingers of both hands, you often can expose holes that you might not see otherwise. If you find something, remove it. If not, don’t worry.

2. Unseat the bead

Another quick tip: Don’t use a flat-head screwdriver here, or a knife, or anything similarly sharp. Again, just don’t. Never. They can damage rims and puncture tubes and tires. Leave them for their intended applications.

This is where tire levers – those curved-tipped plastic, composite or metal tools – come in. (Although there are instances where they’re not necessary, and this depends on how tight the tire is on the rim or if you have bionic thumbs.) But let’s assume that you need levers, like those from Performance, Park Tool or Pedro’s. The curved-tip end of said tire lever fits under the bead (the hard edge of the tire that sits on the inside of the rim). You may have to manually manipulate the tire a bit to get the lever under the bead, usually by applying thumb pressure. (Pinching the sides of the tires together can help free the tire from the bead, too.)

Holding the seated lever with one hand, stand the wheel on its end and use the other hand to flatten the tire at the point where you have inserted the lever. Then, continuing the off-hand pressure to ensure the bead stays off the rim, push the lever away from you until more of the bead “pops.” Continue pushing the lever until the entire bead is off the rim. (You may see people using two or more levers to remove their tires, but if you apply off-hand pressure to keep the initial part of the bead off the rim, you often can do it with just one. If not, the hooked end of the lever locks onto a spoke, then you use another.)

3. Remove the tube

With one side of the tire off the rim, you can pull out the tube and remove the valve. (For Presta tubes, make sure to remove the round nut, if you use one, at the base of the valve; for Schrader valves, remove the valve cap.) If you have the time and a mini pump, you can put some air in the tube and try to locate the leak, which in turn could help you locate the spot where something went through the tire. Again, if you can’t, don’t worry.

4. Inspect the inside tire casing

Using a new tube inside of a tire that hasn’t been fully inspected is a good way to get a lot of practice changing consecutive flats, assuming you have enough tubes. So don’t. If you can’t find the offending puncture point on the outside of the tire, you might find it protruding from the inside casing, waiting like a vampire fang for another victim.

You can remove the tire completely from the rim, turn it inside out and look closely. Or you can leave the tire on and run a finger on the casing to feel for anything sharp. The problem with the latter: You might find something sharp, really sharp, and cut your finger. Here’s a tip: Pack a couple of sheets of toilet paper in your saddle bag. Yes, toilet paper. (I wrap mine around a CO2 cartridge.) Run the TP gently inside the casing and if there’s something there that could puncture a tube, the paper will most likely snag on it – and then you can remove it or wiggle it loose.

5. Partially inflate the new tube and insert

It’s easier to install a partly inflated tube. A few puffs from a pump or a blip from a CO2 cartridge are enough. If you have completely removed the tire, this is the time you remount by placing one bead over the rim, leaving the other bead off. (You may need to use a tire lever to get the first bead over the rim.) Then place the tube inside the tire casing and insert the valve. It’s a good idea at this point to make sure the tube is all the way around the casing, with no folds or twists.

Two other quick tips: 1) It’s a little thing, but aligning the center of the tire label with the valve hole is a good way to find the valve next time you need to pump your tire; 2) make sure your rim strip covers all your spoke holes. If not, you’ll be doing this all over again because the sharp edge of a spoke hole will pop a tube.

6. Reseat the bead and inflate

The final part is a two-step process that begins with some valve fiddling. Start seating the bead inside the rim at the valve hole, and while doing it push the valve partway up into the tire. Then pull the valve back down toward the hub, locking the bead in place. With your thumbs as levers, begin to move around the rim, lifting the bead up and over the rim. Make sure as you do this that the bead doesn’t pop off “behind” where you’ve already placed it, and be careful the tube doesn’t extrude as you’re seating the bead; that causes the aptly named “pinch flats.”

As you get closer to completing the circle, it could become more difficult to seat the bead. At this point there are two ways to go, and neither is wrong or right. You can use a tire lever, with the curved tip pointing down, to lift the bead over the rim – but be careful you don’t pinch the tube. You can also “roll” the bead over the rim using the top of your palms. (This is best done with gloves on.)

Once the bead is seated, work your way around the tire by pinching in one bead, and then the other, making sure you don’t see any tube sticking out from under the bead. If you do, manually work the tube up and into the casing; pinching works best. If you see no tube on either side, inflate the tire to about one-third of your final pressure and check that the bead line – the molded seam on the sidewall – is visible above the rim all the way around on both sides. If not, deflate and work the tire manually until the bead line is visible. Then reinflate, check the bead line and if it looks good on both sides, you’re good to inflate all the way.

Why inflate twice? If the bead line is below the rim and you inflate fully from the start, the tire will have a low spot that will be visible when you spin it and palpable when you ride on it. If the bead line is too high above the rim and you try to inflate all the way, there’s a chance the tube could push out from under the tire and, as you near full inflation, cause an explosion of popped rubber. No one likes that sound.

The bottom line

Although it’s taken you more than 1,400 words to get here, changing a tire is really easy and, like all things, becomes even easier with practice. Taking some time to do it when you don’t need to guarantees that it’ll be a lot easier when you do.

If you’d like some pro help, your local Performance Bicycle shop has free Spin Doctor workshops that cover many basic maintenance skills, including how to change a flat. For a schedule, check out our website or visit a Performance store near you.

It goes without saying, although most times saying it reinforces that they really do. They usually hurt, sometimes a lot. They can be frustrating. They can be expensive, depending on your deductible. They take longer to recover from than we think at first, too, and we can make it worse by rushing back.

It’s that last sentence that sets us up on a spiraling cycle that can have us hobbling around or gobbling medication for far longer than we want or need to. Whether we’re a racer, a weekend warrior or an occasional rider who just loves time on the bike, being on the shelf with an injury requires a patience that most of us don’t possess.

We’re like an antsy child in the back seat on a family road trip. Can I ride yet? Can I ride yet?

We asked Ben Turits, the coach of the Duke University cycling team and a Licensed Massage Therapist, about how to address the physical and mental aspects of being injured, and what we can do to avoid making the comeback more agonizing than it has to be.

What is it about cycling and injuries?

“We do a sport that’s inherently dangerous and it is difficult. There are going to be fun parts and not-so-fun parts of that difficulty. When you feel that initial pain, your body is trying to tell you something, so listen to it. Pushing through chronic pain is going to make your rehab longer.”

So pain is bad, then?

“It’s OK to experience pain. It’s a matter of whether the level is tolerable or it’s at such a level that we have to take a break.”

If something starts to hurt, what’s the biggest danger for a cyclist?

“They are not patient. A lot of times, it’s a symptom of our medical system. One, they’ll go too high up the treatment pyramid. There’s sports therapy, then orthopedics and then surgery. Too often they go directly to a doctor. If you’re giving somebody a hammer they’re going to want to nail something.

“They don’t look for the right level of treatment first. When they go to an orthopedic surgeon, a lot of times they get an orthopedic surgery diagnosis. People will get a spinal fusion and what they really needed was hip flexor and core strengthening.

“People don’t look for the right level of treatment. Looking at a soft-tissue solution first – and finding a massage therapist or DPT [Doctor of Physical Therapy] that is athlete-focused – is important.”

Recover isn’t linear, is it?

“Not at all. You’re going to take steps forward, but a lot of times its two forward and one back. Sometimes it’s a huge step back. For example, this is a big part of concussion protocol. It’s very frustrating for athletes who have had a concussion because they’ll have really good aerobic rides and then they’ll do a workout and they’ll have a headache again.”

What injuries do you see the most?

“Hip- and back-related injuries are really common on the bike. And then knee injuries. Most of them tie back to some hip issue. With knee pain, your knee is just a hinge. It’s often related to pelvic position and hip position, because of hip flexor weakness or glute weakness. Or a soft-tissue imbalance. They often have very simple solutions, initially.”

You hear a lot about riders breaking their collarbone, and that’s an automatic six to eight weeks off the bike. What can you do to stay in shape?

“For collarbone breaks and most shoulder- or upper-body-related injuries, you can get on the trainer. Zwift has been a huge help because people can still feel like they’re riding. Making aerobic fitness a part of your recovery does not set you back negatively.” [Note: In 2016, Australian professional Matthew Hayman won the Paris-Roubaix race 43 days after he fractured the radius bone in his right arm. He credited Zwift with helping him stay in shape, riding on an Elite Drivo trainer.]

How do you get a cyclist, of all people to take it easy?

“That’s really challenging for me as coach. A cyclist’s self-worth is attached to training and competing. You have to counsel them and treat their comeback from injury just like their training. It is part of their training. You have to treat the recovery as though it was your race specialization phase or whatever.”

Is there a mental component, too?

“Very much so. You have to be very sensitive to the fact that, psychologically, it’s a big part of what it does to you as a person. Give yourself a break. It’s OK not to ride your bike a little bit. You need to address your rehab like you would learning new skills on the bike. You may take away from that some really helpful exercises that will sustain you off the bike.

“It’s going to take time to get back to where you want to be. That’s really hard for a competitive person to do.”

Are there things you can do as, maybe, a distraction? To take your mind off being injured?

“When I do an intake and interview with a new athlete one of the first things I ask is, ‘What do you like to do other than ride your bike?’ Reading, watching videos, hunting, fishing. I encourage them to develop a passion for something other than bikes. Because at some point you’re going to be off the bike.

“I have a guy who’s really into woodworking. He had plantar fascia issues last year and he built a table while he was down. He spent some time on YouTube learning. Then he came back and had a rip-roaring ‘cross season last year.”

What else can a cyclist do?

“People need to do their exercises. I always send people home with homework. Making sure that they understand why they’re doing the exercises is important because then they buy into the treatment.

“And then they should always ask questions. Know the whys of why you’re doing this stuff.”

What exercises do you recommend?

“Foundation training, yoga and stretching. It’s like 10 minutes of work every day to strengthen your posterior chain around your spine. If you do that on regular basis, it supports you so well on bike it even helps with your pedal stroke.”

If it comes down to one thing, is being patient most important?

“Patience, but I’d also add in diligence. Train hard but rest harder. It’s so important. People do not understand how seriously pro athletes approach rest and recovery. They take their recovery almost more seriously than they take their training. They know if they don’t do that it will multiply the amount of time to get back.”

What isn’t is that tariffs are here and have mightily affected – or will mightily affect soon – the cycling industry. From bikes to components to the raw materials that make them, the additional tariffs will make much of what U.S. consumers buy in stores or online – much, but not all – more expensive.

But first … what is a tariff? And why impose them?

Quite simply, a tariff is an import tax on anything made abroad, theoretically to raise prices and give domestic manufacturers a competitive edge, even where there is little or no domestic manufacturing.

Like in the bike industry.

Although there is scattered bike building in the U.S., essentially all the bikes sold here are made elsewhere. Of that, fully two-thirds are made in China, including virtually every children’s bike.

Those bikes are already subject to tariffs (5.5% for road bikes, 11% for mountain and children’s bikes) but received an additional 10% tariff when further restrictions went into effect on Sept. 24. Unless China and the U.S. come to an agreement, which is unlikely, that will jump to an additional 25% on Jan. 1, meaning as much as a 36% hike on most bikes.

(Update: At the G-20 summit on Saturday, Dec. 1, the U.S. and China agreed to delay implementing the remaining 25% for 90 days beginning Jan. 1, as the two countries continue negotiating.)

The math is simple, as is the result. For those companies affected, the increase in prices at the port will be passed on to consumers.

“Prices are definitely going to go up for 2019 products,” said Patrick Cunnane, CEO of Advanced Sports Enterprises, the parent company of Performance Bicycle and the Fuji, Breezer, Kestrel and SE brands it sells. But, he added, “nobody’s quite sure what effect it will have on consumer behavior. Will they not buy a bike because it’s more expensive than it used to be? Or will they buy a less-expensive bike and get less value? That’s the question that we don’t know the answer to.”

Geography plays a part in the pricing structure, a further confusion point. For example, a bike that retails for $1,000 and is assembled in Taiwan has no additional tariff. A similar bike made in China could see its price jump to $1,250. And many manufacturers import bikes from China and elsewhere (mostly Taiwan, but also Europe), setting up a potential pricing nightmare for bikes with similar features but different origins.

“It remains a business with a lot of moving pieces,” said Steve Frothingham, the editor of Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, a bike business publication. “It’s not as easy as just saying, ‘OK, everything gets marked up X dollars.’”

It’s also not simple to just move manufacturing away from China, either. Although some companies like Advanced Sports and industry leader Giant build in both Taiwan and China, the capacity of the factories in Taiwan can’t make up all the difference. Other countries in the Pacific rim don’t necessarily have the factory tooling or robust supply chains.

“The other sort of offsetting factor is cost. Even if production moves, the cost of producing something in Taiwan is more expensive than China; the cost of producing something in Vietnam or Cambodia is more expensive than China, because a lot of the supply chain is still from China or Taiwan,” Cunnane said.

Electric bikes, subject to a 25% tariff by the administration earlier this year, are particularly problematic. With a higher price tag to begin with, those electric bikes that come from China will see prices soar. Although most of its electric bikes were made in Taiwan, Cunnane said Advanced will move some production to an existing plant Mexico.

What you likely won’t see unless there is some permanence to the tariffs is companies building new plants.

“The goal [of the tariffs] is to hurt China. The collateral effect is to encourage suppliers to look outside of China,” Frothingham said. “But the situation is so fluid … no one is going to trust making a multimillion dollar investment that would take a year or two years to get rolling when you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

One American manufacturer, Kent International, has a factory in South Carolina that opened in 2014 to build bikes for the U.S. retailers like Walmart and was on track to make 400,000 this year. Because it imports parts from China to build its bikes, parts that will soon be 25% more expensive, company president Arnold Kamler put expansion on hold.

A fortunate beneficiary in the business is California-based Marin, whose bikes are sold by Performance and to independent retailers. It moved its production from Taiwan and China to Indonesia nearly five years ago and that factory is suddenly the most popular person at the dance.

“We’re having an interesting time of it right now,” said Sean Walters, Marin’s vice president for business development. “Manufacturers who have been [hesitant] for the last five years are suddenly interested. But because of Marin USA sales and worldwide sales, and our Performance sales, and the other manufacturers that we work with, we are getting close to capacity. However, as a brand we are really well positioned to weather this storm out.”

Chinese companies do have a way to end-run the system, though, and it involves something known as the “de minimis” shipment exemption. It states that imported goods to consumers with a value of $800 or less face no duties or taxes. Through eBay, Alibaba and Amazon, Chinese firms that sell direct to consumers can therefore move their items at a fraction of what it costs U.S. firms to sell something similar.

“It gives Chinese retailers an advantage – they don’t have to pay the existing 10% duty the additional 10% tariff, and potentially the additional 25% tariff,” Cunnane said. “We said, ‘OK, we’re going to punish China, but we’re going to reward Chinese exporters that export directly to consumers?’”

Cunnane proposed a reduction to $50 in testimony last month to the trade officials in Washington D.C.; thus far, no action.

“One of the arguments I made is that it doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “As a retailer, that’s what’s hurting us more than anything else in the bicycle industry.”

If you think any or all of this issue is partisan, you’re wrong.

The current tariffs may be a deep Trump red, but the de minimis exemption was increased from $200 to $800 in 2016, under the Obama administration. (Because, Cunnane said, the government felt collecting the money for small purchases was “too complicated.”) And when Chinese began dumping low-priced bikes on the American market in 1996 and U.S. manufacturers hollered for anti-dumping taxation, it was the Clinton administration that said no, effectively killing the domestic industry overnight.

Now the trade war is on, and the outcome is far from clear. Only, in the short term, are the casualties.

“Who’s really hit is the bread-and-butter consumer,” Marin’s Walters said. “High-end bikes are made in Taiwan, and even if there were tariffs on those the guy who’s going to drop $3,500 on a bike could probably afford the increase.

“But what about the people who can least afford it? What about the person who needs to buy a bike to get to work, or to school, for transportation? Someone who wants to spend $350 on a bike might not be able to up to $500 to cover this. That’s the guy who’s getting screwed.”

Our whole M.O. here at Performance is to ride bikes as often as possible. But as winter approaches and that temperature starts to drop, sometimes it’s hard to convince yourself to do so. Enter cold weather gear. Having the appropriate apparel will not only help keep the chill factor down – it can mentally prepare, and motivate you, to stay physically active during the off season.

This year, our apparel division went all out and produced some of our finest fall clothing to date. From eye catching, hi-vis colors, super integrated reflectivity, jackets with unbelievable versatility, and innovative fabric enhancements, this fall I can definitely see more rides on the horizon.

Reflectivity & Hi Vis Colorways

Cyclists across the globe have been calling for better visibility and we couldn’t agree more. This year we’ve added new hi vis colorways and an abundance of reflectivity – with reflective graphics, logos, and piping to ensure optimal visibility.

The Elite Krio III and Elite Neve II thermal jerseys are ideal for moderately cold weather or work great as part of a cold weather layering system too. These jerseys feature updated colors, 3 back pockets, one sweatproof zipper pocket, reflective elements, full zipper for maximum ventilation, and a silicone gripper at the hem and raglan sleeves for a comfortable, secure fit.

Shop the Men’s Elite Krio III

Shop the Women’s Elite Neve II

The one piece that has garnered quite a bit of attention this year, is the aptly named, Performance Reflective Jacket. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary lightweight wind jacket. But upon closer inspection, you will notice a silver print pattern that covers the entire garment. This silver print will basically light up like a Christmas tree with reflected light. If you’re looking for a wind jacket that offers 360 degrees of visibility – this is it.

This jacket also packs down small, so it’s the perfect carry along for when you don’t quite know what to expect weather-wise.

Shop the Performance Reflective Jacket

Waterproof & Water Resistant

There’s water resistant and then there’s waterproof. Most jackets offer water resistance, usually in the form of a water resistant coating (DWR = Durable Water Repellent). The coating repels water from the surface and keeps it from penetrating the fabric, but only to a certain degree.

Waterproof, on the other hand, while technically can never truly be called waterproof, provides a better barrier from heavy rain. With features like taped seams, waterproof zippers, and a waterproof rating of 10,000mm or more, it’s a safe bet that your jacket will hold up against some pretty nasty weather.

A quick note on water-proof ratings: the numbers in millimeters represent how much a 1″ x 1″ square piece of fabric can withstand a specific volume of water before it begins to leak through the fabric. In this case, the 10,000mm measurement is the height of water that fits in a 1″ x 1″ tube.

Here’s a general breakdown of the rating system

This year, our most waterproof jacket is the Impasse Rain Jacket. This jacket has a 10,000mm rating, with a 2.5-layer fabric that is both waterproof and windproof, a brushed fabric liner at the collar for comfort, action back for increased mobility while riding, removable hood, and reflective properties to keep you visible.

Shop Women’s Impasse WR Rain Jacket

Shop Men’s Impasse WR Rain Jacket

Functionality

The Performance Adventure Jacket is a new addition to our Fall apparel, and it’s inspiring everyone around here to get outside and ride. The Adventure Jacket is designed to be a casual, everyday cold weather jacket, but with cycling specific features that make it comfortable to wear on and off the bike; an ideal jacket for mountain bike, gravel, or adventure riders.

The jacket is water-resistant, and the seams are fully sealed. The fabric features a four-way stretch technology that allows for better mobility on the bike. There’s a drop shape to the back hem for added coverage and a hidden, lightweight hood conveniently stored in the back of the collar (with a zipped closure). The heavy duty, full YKK zipper and front snap closure locks in the warmth and keeps the chill out; front, hand-warmer pockets keep your mitts warm when off the bike, and provide some extra, storage security when on the bike.

Get the Adventure Jacket

The Elite Zonal and Flurry are our men’s and women’s softshell riding jackets. One of our bestsellers. These are made from a bonded jersey fabric that’s water and wind resistant, with a soft, brushed interior fabric for warmth. The jacket breathes well and has excellent wicking properties to stay dry. Other features include a full YKK zipper, storm-cuff sleeves, drop-down flap and reflective graphics. There’s also a dual-entry kangaroo back pocket for easy access to riding essentials, and a hidden zip pocket on the left for additional storage.

Shop the Elite Zonal

Shop the Elite Flurry

Fabric Enhancements

We wanted to create the ultimate race fit jacket for cyclists looking to stretch their training rides into the colder seasons. Strategically placed thermal insulation panels and laser cut micro perforations are some of the fabric enhancement features that separate this year’s Performance Ultra SL Jacket from the rest of the pack. The insulation panels provide warmth in all the core areas without adding unnecessary weight. The micro perforations provide that extra breathability and moisture control. Other highlights include 360 degrees of reflectivity, sweat-proof zippered side back pocket, forward-set sleeves, storm-cut sleeves, and a DWR finish to block both wind and water.

Get the Ultra SL

All Performance brand clothing is designed and tested in Chapel Hill, NC.

How do you prepare for riding in cold weather? Let us know in the comments below.