Since the Greg Lemond era in the 80’s, when US cyclists watched the 7-11 team win races they could hardly qualify for, I’ve been a fan of professional cycling. I fondly remember watching Lemond beat Fignon by eight seconds in the final time trial of the 1989 Tour de France. All of us in the family-owned bike store cheered and jumped around that tiny black and white TV as he crossed the line, which was a legendary finish. Laurent Fignon was the stereotypical French classic bike racer, shunning the advice of everyone and losing the race that had been his to win. I caught the “Tour Bug” bad that year, and those near me have suffered a little ever since.
My daughters knew that July each year meant Dad was going to upgrade the TV service to get the Tour, and some days he’d even watch the coverage twice! I’d excitedly jump close to the TV and point to look at some small detail “Watch, look at that, he’s just about to attack! GO GO GO!”. The thing I have loved about professional cycling was that I could relate to the smallest details, and get emotional at how much they suffered in the mountains. I know that pain, and I’ll feel it again this week if I’m lucky. Watching Marco Pantani in his prime would take your breath away. Marco looked like the little kid in class that everyone picked on, until the Pyrenees came up. Marco owned the mountains, and he literally danced on his pedals up them. He’d stand and sprint up roads we would not walk up, tire a little, begin to sit down, and just as the saddle touched his rear he’d jump back on the pedals. This would go on for as long as 45 minutes. He suffered, and you suffered with him, watching his face and feeling what he felt. He was a small man in stature, but a giant when things got tough. You could not help but feel encouraged by his will to win.
I have LOVED watching the Tour. But seeing how any American is shredded by the Euro-press has been disappointing. Watching each champion accused or proven of being chemically enhanced is at the least disappointing. Lance battled the press for many years, Floyd blew it. Michael Rassmussen seems to have blown it. Teams are getting booted from the tour left and right this year. Riders had to sign an agreement that if they’re proven to have been “medicated” they must pay their entire 2007 salary to the UCI, and they’re still getting caught. The Tour de France will not be ended by this continuing scandal, but my affection for it has. I really don’t care who wins this year, and if a US rider wins I can only sympathize for his friends and family.
What does this mean to us, as retailers? Think of your next customer, with a fragile interest in road riding. All they’re hearing is “Roadies are Dopers” from the tour coverage. (Denials have been going on for years, but a clean pro sport would have cleared this up years ago.) Truly interested riders will not be affected, but the new riders will be disinclined to join a group with that reputation. Will it have an effect on sales? I hope not, but I may know better.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
New Jersey vs. Quick Release Wheels: Bicycle Retailer 6/15/2007
New Jersey Passes Bill Banning Quick Release Wheels
By Lynette Carpiet
JUNE 15, 2007 -- TRENTON, NJ (BRAIN)--The New Jersey bicycle business may be in serious trouble unless retailers and suppliers take immediate action. State legislators earlier this week approved a bill banning the sale of all bikes equipped with current quick release wheels and tabbed tips.
Under the bill, it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick release wheels unless they met performance specifications that are not commercially available. Assembly bill A2686, which was introduced in February 2006, passed in the assembly with a vote of 77-3 and is now headed to the Senate Commerce Committee.
While originally drafted to ban quick release wheels on children’s bikes, the bill was recently amended to include bikes with 20-inch or larger wheels. It also stipulates that the secondary retention device on a wheel meet certain specifications, including that it activate automatically and always prevent wheel separation.
“It’s being promoted as a bill intended to protect children,” said Bob Burns, Trek’s legal counsel and spokesman for the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association. “But the language would make every bicycle with quick release currently for sale in New Jersey illegal. This bill is not intended just for children’s bikes.”
Furthermore, Burns said there’s currently no secondary retention device on the market that would comply with the bill. “No system always retains the wheel,” he said. “Even the bolted axle, if the bolts aren’t on right, the kid’s in trouble. As of right now, there’s nothing on the floor that meets this definition and nothing on the horizon that is commercially proven.”
For the past year, the BPSA had been working with Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, the bill’s sponsor, on alternate language that would not prohibit the use of quick releases. The BPSA is now encouraging all dealers to contact New Jersey state senators and voice their opposition to the bill.
While it’s likely that the bill as written would be pre-empted by federal regulations that currently define how a quick release should perform, the law would still be in effect until a successful legal challenge was mounted in the courts.
“Bicycles are regulated by the Feds. If you start getting state-by-state regulation of bicycles, it will make selling bicycles in the U.S. very burdensome and extremely expensive for manufacturers and retailers,” Burns said.
“We need to get the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee to listen to us and get them to consider the impact the bill would have on the bicycle business in New Jersey,” he added.
I've ridden with QR wheels for more than 25 years now, and never had an incident. We sell thousands of QR equipped bikes annually, with no issues that I'm aware of. Isn't it amazing that NJ has just killed all bicycle sales with this bill?
I wonder what's really behind this?
By Lynette Carpiet
JUNE 15, 2007 --
Under the bill, it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick release wheels unless they met performance specifications that are not commercially available. Assembly bill A2686, which was introduced in February 2006, passed in the assembly with a vote of 77-3 and is now headed to the Senate Commerce Committee.
While originally drafted to ban quick release wheels on children’s bikes, the bill was recently amended to include bikes with 20-inch or larger wheels. It also stipulates that the secondary retention device on a wheel meet certain specifications, including that it activate automatically and always prevent wheel separation.
“It’s being promoted as a bill intended to protect children,” said Bob Burns, Trek’s legal counsel and spokesman for the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association. “But the language would make every bicycle with quick release currently for sale in New Jersey illegal. This bill is not intended just for children’s bikes.”
Furthermore, Burns said there’s currently no secondary retention device on the market that would comply with the bill. “No system always retains the wheel,” he said. “Even the bolted axle, if the bolts aren’t on right, the kid’s in trouble. As of right now, there’s nothing on the floor that meets this definition and nothing on the horizon that is commercially proven.”
For the past year, the BPSA had been working with Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, the bill’s sponsor, on alternate language that would not prohibit the use of quick releases. The BPSA is now encouraging all dealers to contact New Jersey state senators and voice their opposition to the bill.
While it’s likely that the bill as written would be pre-empted by federal regulations that currently define how a quick release should perform, the law would still be in effect until a successful legal challenge was mounted in the courts.
“Bicycles are regulated by the Feds. If you start getting state-by-state regulation of bicycles, it will make selling bicycles in the U.S. very burdensome and extremely expensive for manufacturers and retailers,” Burns said.
“We need to get the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee to listen to us and get them to consider the impact the bill would have on the bicycle business in New Jersey,” he added.
I've ridden with QR wheels for more than 25 years now, and never had an incident. We sell thousands of QR equipped bikes annually, with no issues that I'm aware of. Isn't it amazing that NJ has just killed all bicycle sales with this bill?
I wonder what's really behind this?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Change in our Helmet line up
Over the last few years Bell Sports has been reducing their number of skus. As a retailer I appreciate this, it makes keeping good selling items in stock easier. As a rider, it’s a bummer when they drop your favorite. My favorite was the X-Ray Pro, and if you’ve been in a SRMRE clinic lately you under$tand part of the reason. The new top of the line off road helmet (One that does not look like the back end of a Cruise Ship- Sweep XC) is the Variant. It gains an ounce from the X-Ray, and features more skull coverage similar to the Giro Xen. It’s targeted at the same price point, hopefully the fit is the same. Bell Variant Web Site
Then again, that Fox Flux isn’t too bad looking! It has a really short visor, but a nice fit. (Who sold ‘em on the “Bat Cape” back piece? And what the heck is a “Detox Retention” system; is that when they lock the front door on the rehab center?) Fox Flux Helmet Website
Why am I writing about helmets? Because YOU should be replacing your helmet no later than every two years. Immediately if you’ve deformed it in a crash! As an employee, it’s within your benefit package to do it every year, so why not?
Then again, that Fox Flux isn’t too bad looking! It has a really short visor, but a nice fit. (Who sold ‘em on the “Bat Cape” back piece? And what the heck is a “Detox Retention” system; is that when they lock the front door on the rehab center?) Fox Flux Helmet Website
Why am I writing about helmets? Because YOU should be replacing your helmet no later than every two years. Immediately if you’ve deformed it in a crash! As an employee, it’s within your benefit package to do it every year, so why not?
Join me in Big Bear June 22 at Snow Summit
I’ll be leading a group of Explorer Scouts around the lift and trails near Snow Summit. If you’re at the lift at 9AM that day, join us or just say “Yo”. I think I can get 'em to do 2N51Y/2N08/Towne Trail and 2N10/1E01, and that may be it. Less than 20 miles. There are some restrictions on the bikes that may go up the lift, see www.snowsummit.com for all the ways you could get excluded.
Maybe call or email me to fully confirm this event if you're interested.
Maybe call or email me to fully confirm this event if you're interested.
Tool Inventory
The annual Tool Inventory was started last Friday. Last time we did it, it was in preparation for a restock on tools. It took ten months for that Purchase Order to get signed, and it was waaayyyy out of date by then. (Then= last month.) I am anticipating that this one may be replenished back to stores within 30 days of completion. That prediction is accurate only if everyone gets their homework done, so please don’t wait for the deadline to complete it.
Can you get lucky in a crash? (A grim story of fork whackage on the Fullerton Loop.)
So I’m riding with two other people, and having one of “those” XC rides. The hills you normally climb seated, today you stand and drop all those who you came with. It was a good day, but those are usually dependent on you not losing your rhythm. We took a break after a tunnel section, and looked at the next 15 foot section of roots right before the sand pit drop off. Lately, I’ve just been rippin’ that obstacle.
We take off, and I’m in the back to encourage a little caution for me. I get my speed up, vibrate through the six-inch tall section of roots… and then lose my focus. There’s a ramp of old asphalt you ride, until the little drop off. I’m going slower than usual, and felt like I could look away. Instead of focusing on where I needed to ride, I got distracted by the creek. Nano-seconds later, I’m pointing directly off to the right of the broken asphalt and drop my bike (And fork) directly against the edge. Skateboarders would’ve said “Nice Grind”. The part that made real contact was the brake arch and left upper tube of the Fox Float RLC100 fork. Some of the arch was damaged, and asphalt ground into the upper fork tube. (For those of you not so familiar with this move, it is step one on how to spend $500 for a new fork that you couldn’t afford the first time. Mine is an older fork, but the dollar amount is accurate for the mental trauma.) Like any other injury, I picked off anything extra, picked up anything left behind and tried to ignore it all until I got back to the car.
After much study, I have found that in situations where the anodizing is chipped slightly you may be able to save a fork by intensively cleaning the chipped section and filling it in with clear nail polish. If the surface is still lumpy you may be able to find 2000-grit sandpaper and smooth it out.
Please notice the multiple use of the word MAY, which means that this is definitely a repair you can not do in the store. It’s a crummy repair, but allows you some time to save up to get it repaired/replaced professionally.
We take off, and I’m in the back to encourage a little caution for me. I get my speed up, vibrate through the six-inch tall section of roots… and then lose my focus. There’s a ramp of old asphalt you ride, until the little drop off. I’m going slower than usual, and felt like I could look away. Instead of focusing on where I needed to ride, I got distracted by the creek. Nano-seconds later, I’m pointing directly off to the right of the broken asphalt and drop my bike (And fork) directly against the edge. Skateboarders would’ve said “Nice Grind”. The part that made real contact was the brake arch and left upper tube of the Fox Float RLC100 fork. Some of the arch was damaged, and asphalt ground into the upper fork tube. (For those of you not so familiar with this move, it is step one on how to spend $500 for a new fork that you couldn’t afford the first time. Mine is an older fork, but the dollar amount is accurate for the mental trauma.) Like any other injury, I picked off anything extra, picked up anything left behind and tried to ignore it all until I got back to the car.
After much study, I have found that in situations where the anodizing is chipped slightly you may be able to save a fork by intensively cleaning the chipped section and filling it in with clear nail polish. If the surface is still lumpy you may be able to find 2000-grit sandpaper and smooth it out.
Please notice the multiple use of the word MAY, which means that this is definitely a repair you can not do in the store. It’s a crummy repair, but allows you some time to save up to get it repaired/replaced professionally.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Memorial Ride coming up
At Scouting events kids look at me and say "Wow, you've really done a lot". My answer is always "Me, nahhh. You should meet Burt, he's done it all"...
I had a leader that had my deepest respect. He'd ridden across the nation a couple times with his wife, and ridden in many other places around the world. Rides with scary names like "Furnace Creek 508" were his thing. Yeah, 508 miles. Plus 35,000 feet of ascent. Solo, through Death Valley. Burt was the personalization for me of "Faster, further, higher". The stories about any of his rides make me feel like I'm still using training wheels.
This friend, this leader, this fearless hero of mine that was bigger than life was killed in the last year. On a Sunday we'd discussed a route we both liked , and the next day on a high-speed downhill section a Trash truck ended his life. Since then I have been quietly removing the outer chainrings from all my bikes, I don't need to fly downhill any more. As I sat among the hundreds of people at his funeral, it just didn't seem that important any more.
The Memorial Ride is not just about Burt, it's about all the cyclists that have died on the roads. This year it is on May 16 at 7pm. There are 170 locations nationwide, and a few around the world. ALL of the locations will be doing a 10 to 12 mile low speed ride, in silence and single file, to mark the passing of those who loved the sport as we do. There is no cost to the participants. It's a memorial and a quiet protest. This event will have media coverage all over the world in some degree, and it will help to remind everyone to share the road. There's twelve locations in California, five in Arizona and three in Nevada. You could set one up if your motivation is at that level.
I'll be at one. I'll be a little distracted in my memories, but I'll be there. You should do this, standing up for something like this always matters. I'd appreciate knowing if you are, please post a comment.
Links-
Irvine, http://www.sellin.com/silence/
Nationwide, http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php
Home site, http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
I had a leader that had my deepest respect. He'd ridden across the nation a couple times with his wife, and ridden in many other places around the world. Rides with scary names like "Furnace Creek 508" were his thing. Yeah, 508 miles. Plus 35,000 feet of ascent. Solo, through Death Valley. Burt was the personalization for me of "Faster, further, higher". The stories about any of his rides make me feel like I'm still using training wheels.
This friend, this leader, this fearless hero of mine that was bigger than life was killed in the last year. On a Sunday we'd discussed a route we both liked , and the next day on a high-speed downhill section a Trash truck ended his life. Since then I have been quietly removing the outer chainrings from all my bikes, I don't need to fly downhill any more. As I sat among the hundreds of people at his funeral, it just didn't seem that important any more.
The Memorial Ride is not just about Burt, it's about all the cyclists that have died on the roads. This year it is on May 16 at 7pm. There are 170 locations nationwide, and a few around the world. ALL of the locations will be doing a 10 to 12 mile low speed ride, in silence and single file, to mark the passing of those who loved the sport as we do. There is no cost to the participants. It's a memorial and a quiet protest. This event will have media coverage all over the world in some degree, and it will help to remind everyone to share the road. There's twelve locations in California, five in Arizona and three in Nevada. You could set one up if your motivation is at that level.
I'll be at one. I'll be a little distracted in my memories, but I'll be there. You should do this, standing up for something like this always matters. I'd appreciate knowing if you are, please post a comment.
Links-
Irvine, http://www.sellin.com/silence/
Nationwide, http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php
Home site, http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
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