Cycle Friendly Cafes in New York

From the skyline of Manhattan to the trails at Prospect Park, New York is the perfect place for cyclists that enjoy colder temperatures, and don’t mind it when Jack Frost is nipping at their nose, and they are not alone. Many New Yorkers enjoy road cycling - throw in a vibrant coffee culture with some of the following favourite establishments and you know that this city has a lot to offer those on two wheels.

Baconery Café
Located at 911 Columbus Ave
www.baconery.com
Living up to its name, bacon is the name of the game at this cyclist friendly café. Delicacies range from unique to the downright weird, and include sandwiches with cool names, bacon macaroni, and bacon pecan pie, and even though they may sound strange, they are actually pretty good. Located to the north of the Columbus Avenue bike lane, this café is within easy reach of the Central Park Loop, which makes it an obligated visit during your daily session. The café endorses cycling culture in a very visible manner through its sponsorship of the Asphalt Green Women's Cycling Team. As if that weren’t enough, cyclists can park their bikes inside the establishment during cold and rainy days.

Brooklyn Roasting Company
Located at 25 Jay St.
www.brooklynroasting.com

Brooklyn offers some of the best pastries in the world, and Brooklyn Roasting Company brings them all together in a cyclist friendly establishment which offers different types of organic certified and sustainable coffees. Take a break from pedalling and sit down to relax while drinking one of their wide range of coffee based beverages, while replenishing your carbs with a donut, sandwich, and other treats. Besides the exquisite food you will also find great company and like-minded riders to make your stay complete. If your bike needs a tune up, there are a few specialised shops nearby who can do the job while you wait.



The Cannibal
Located at114 East 29th St.
www.cannibalnyc.com

The Cannibal is a cyclist friendly joint in the heart of New York that serves as a quaint and cozy café during the day, but transforms into a lively bar once the sun goes down. Its menu includes items such as charcuterie, cheeses, and other small plates, but the real attraction is its beer menu, which lists 450 beers for you to choose from. This establishment was named in honor of Eddie Merckx, known as “The Cannibal”, and who won the Tour de France on five occasions. The Cannibal has become a regular hangout for members of the cycling community because it offers televised races and other cycle related events, making it a favourite for fans of the cycling culture. Another plus, is that you can usually run into cycling celebrities, such as Roger Hammond, just hanging out with the patrons on weekend nights. The Cannibal is the place to be when you want to live New York’s night life on your two-wheeler.



The City Bakery
Located at 3 West 18th St.
www.thecitybakery.com  
If there is one cyclist friendly café in New York, this is it. It has been created with the cycling crowd in mind,

and if you bring your bike with you when you visit, you can get up to 15 percent off your purchase, and let’s just say that the food is absolutely delicious, so you will get a great cup of coffee with a heavenly croissant. On a cold day The City Bakery offers hot chocolate and other goods to warm you up, and once you walk in you are sure to want to stay to enjoy the friendly company of other cyclists.

Juice Pedaler
Located at 154 Prospect Park Southwest
www.juicepedalernyc.com
Many things make Juice Pedaler an obligated stop when you visit New York, but its wonderful fireplace, which will offer you a break from the cold of Winter, its bike shop and its café are the reasons why you will find other sports enthusiasts and cyclists here year round. Juice Pedaler offers a nice ambiance, healthy snacks, and has become a reunion place to catch up with friends.  From steaming espresso to juices made out of seasonal fruits, coupled with a delicate pastry this is the place where you can get a brief respite from the hectic traffic outside. When the weather warms up, you can curl up with a good book and get some rays on the deck and garden while your bike gets worked on at the shop.


New York is the city that never sleeps, making it a paradise for cyclists from all over. There is always something to do, a place to visit, or a sight to see, and that is not counting the myriad of activities available year round.  Bicycle culture is growing roots in New York, and is taking the city by storm, so don’t be surprised to find that you are not the only one who will don a helmet mid week to go for a ride down one of the many paths into the city.

The Creation of the "New Golf" and "Golfing Widow"

A long long time ago in the last millennium, there was a term phrased to those wives who did not see their spouses in the early hours of the morning, away from home for long periods at a time, only to return back too tired or distracted to spend the best time of the day remaining with their loved ones. These were the golfing widows of yesteryear, who have now been slowly replaced by the latest breed of spouse - the cycling widow!

I started playing golf in my early twenties because my friends played – they were all better than me – and from what they told me it was a great way to "network". If anyone wanted to network with the sad case who shot twice the par on every round I sure didn't meet them! Previous jobs allowed me to play on work time when invited by suppliers, but again no real value came out of these events that would go for half a day. I never truly believed that golf was going to create strong business networks, if anything it gave a great reason to justify the pastime to the better half on the belief I was forced to play for work.

For the past few years a number of people have been proclaiming that cycling, and road cycling in particular, is the new golf. This phrase was coined by a Melbourne banker, Craig Bingham who noted that affluent middle-aged men were using cycling in the same way that they'd previously used golf – to have fun, keep fit and make business contacts.

Just recently, the 3rd largest business deal in history was done on bikes. Vodafone and Verizon's 30 billion dollar deal was done between two cycling CEO's that have ridden together for years, and the final negotiation happened over dinner. The ability to mix business into a social and health focused sport, brings out the strong level of camaraderie, positiveness and removes the barriers that a suit and tie can have.

Cool Rides in the San Francisco Bay Area

As one of United States’ most bike-friendly cities, San Francisco is a haven for beginner, intermediate and advanced bikers. The growing number of bike lanes, coupled with the picturesque landscape, present excellent opportunities for athletic-minded individuals looking to work up a sweat and give their muscles a good workout! If you are a road cycling enthusiast visiting the Bay Area for the first time, you cannot afford to miss these rides.

Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito

 Cycling over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge is a memorable experience in itself. Enjoy amazing views of the bridge, city, cafes, shops and the Mediterranean-style village of Sausalito. You can choose to start at Fort Mason and ride seven miles whilst marvelling at the scenic vista surrounding you. If you feel up to it, you can continue riding to the ferry terminal in Tiburon. You are sure to pass (or get passed!) by a few dozen riders – tourists, solo riders and hard core groups – many of whom will almost always catch a bite to eat or coffee after returning by ferry to Pier 41.

Fort Funston

 Lying on San Francisco’s sandy bluffs, Fort Funston is a popular ride on a manageable windy day and clear skies. You start at the Golden Gate Park and ride about four miles to get to Fort Funston’s recreational area.

Hawk Hill Loop

 If you seek a challenging 10+mile ride, Hawk Hill Loop is a good option. You start along the west side-walk (check in advance for construction activities and detours resulting from the same), keep to the left off Alexander Road and be ready for the steep climb on Conzelman Road to get to the Hawk Hill Overlook. You can also go via Bunker Road. In either case, great views from the top are guaranteed, so make sure you don’t forget to carry your phone or camera along!

Valencia Street Cruise

 Many people ride along Valencia just to escape the frustrating car-parking experience here. You’ll find Valencia stretch is a pleasurable and easy one; it is also a good place to meet and greet fellow cycling enthusiasts shops, food and scenic views in plenty. Thankfully, there are just as many well-defined bike zones on the road and near-rowdy (in a good way) riders who love to fill the cafes in their lycra and are accepted by the locals.

Bike Fit Benefits....and Cost

How did I get in a situation that dropping $350 on a bike fit was justified? Twelve months ago I would have laughed at any rider that spent that amount of coin on something that should take all of 20 minutes and a good eye.

My position on this has flipped recently after completing the first stage fit at my LBS using the Specialized Geometry Body Fit System. Since May, I suffered a lot of knee pain after completing rigorous training building up to a 600 km event. Pain  in the patella saw me off the bike for a few weeks, and just when things felt good, the next ride would take me back a big step. It took a few months routine to then take the advice of a few friends and book that bike fit.

Dropping big dough on a bike fit just didn't make sense but at my wits end, there weren't too many options left. Deciding to go with the Specialized system, I wasn't too sure what to expect. Surely it wouldn't take 3 hours to complete?

Rocked up to the store with bike and lycra in hand the process made sense as the pieces started to fit together. A detailed pre-fit discussion went through questions and a checklist finding out the type of riding I do, discomfort matters and goals over the next 12 months. Next was the physical, which was an area of concern to me due to being a larger rider and flexibility being an issue with tight hamstrings and quads. Measurements and tests found my left leg was marginally shorter than my right (only by millimetres) but was told this can have an impact on the bike, both with power transfer and discomfort.

After close to an hour, it was time to get on the bike sitting on a trainer and the cameras started to roll (both front and side). Amazing after some explanation how noticeable the body was misaligned on the bike. Everything always looks ok looking down when riding, but to see the playback was a surprise - knees rolling, arms stretched and hips moving on closer inspection.

Then the adjustment (and extra cost) began.....

Starting on the engine, taking the sit bone measurements, it became obviously I wasn't sitting on top of the saddle, rather on the sides where the saddle curves downwards. Would explain the lower back pain, which I had become accustomed to on any 100km + ride  (putting it down to "part of the sport"). So out came the 155mm saddle, flat as a pancake and looking as comfortable as bed of nails. By the end of the session, the initial discomfort was almost non evident, giving me some comfort we are on the right path.

So down to the seatpost and up it goes. The cleats are shifted and the pendulum is brought out to align them to level cranks. Innersoles to compensate for the collapsed arch in the feet gave a strong sense of comfort and contact to the pedals, which were widened apart from the cranks with washers to get the legs closer to vertical. Under one cleat goes a film of angled plastic which better aligned the left leg to vertical and remove some of the shortness.

I knew before I started that an integrated handlebar/stem would be an issue. A new bar and stem was in order including a more compact profile to make transition to the drops was in order. Also a 80mm stem (from 100 mm) and a lift in the handlebar height relaxed the shoulders a fraction and naturally fit into the hoods.

More video, more playbacks and more minor adjustments took us up to 3 hours. Advised to complete a few light flat rides to get use to the new setup and they offered a test saddle for a few weeks to ensure comfort is fine before final commitment.

Being on a trainer in a room does not replace the open road, and to say the results after 4 rides is great is an understatement. My nemesis hill in Brisbane (Mt Cootha) was to be the test on the knees and it proved to be a enjoyable (well, no knee pain at least) which is a good sign that something worked.

A two week follow up appointment is set to go through any further adjustments, get my feedback on any issues and commit to a final saddle choice. Spending $800 on the bike fit including all new components was a jaw dropper at the time, but to say the dividends should be paid over the next few years with pain free knees will take the pain out of the wallet!

For more on this fit system visit http://www.specialized.com/us/en/hub/bgfit

Cycling Friendly Cafes in San Francisco

Following the great feedback of our previous post, we are fortunate enough to have one of our readers take up the effort to writing about her local spots in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.....

San Francisco offers both calm, leisurely rides alongside the bay as well as challenging trails for riders of all ages; and when you are new in town, there are several good guided tours that will lead you through the most scenic parts of town. Because of its cycle friendly atmosphere, San Francisco also offers a wide variety of rider friendly cafes where you can grab a nice cup of coffee, coupled with a snack and a tune up for your bike. Let’s take a ride into the world of cycle friendly cafes in San Francisco, where you can plan to get some air while enjoying some of the best company in town.

Mojo Bicycle Cafe
Located at 639 Divisadero Street
http://www.mojobicyclecafe.com/

Right near San Francisco’s iconic Fulton Street, this gem of a cafe offers indoor parking for your ride and a full service bike shop. The fun begins after you have locked your bike to the rack, and stepped out back, where you will find a virtual paradise that allows you to curl up on a sunny afternoon while you enjoy a good book and the sweet breeze coming in from the bay. Stay for the happy hour and marvellous cheese plates, enjoyed by hipsters and fitness buffs alike. For those who can’t help but stay connected to the outside world, a free WiFi signal is available for all customers. The coffee shop is open all week, although the bike shop closes on Mondays. Even so, when you are looking for the heart of San Francisco the Mojo Bicycle Café, this is the place to go.

The Rapha Cycle Club
Located at 2198 Filbert
http://www.rapha.cc/san-francisco

If you are passionate about riding or any of the aspects of cycling culture, the Rapha Cycle Club is the place to be. With its fully stocked shop, its quaint cafe, and live racing area, you are bound to be impressed. The Rapha Cycle Club features a gallery for cycling photography and mementos, while its coffee and food are top of the line, and make for a great way to begin or end a wonderful ride down the Golden Gate Bridge, located only a few minutes away. The coolest feature offered by this cyclist friendly location is a weekly group ride held by patrons each Saturday, but if you don’t want to ride with the pack, they also have cue sheets outlining some of the best paths you can take on a solo ride.

Velo Rouge Café
Located at 798 Arguello Blvd.
https://plus.google.com/109528356762352703186/about?gl=mx&hl=en

This small cycle friendly café is an obligated stop on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge, especially if you are a fan of local cycling culture. Some of the tables are crafted with old bicycle parts, contributing to the cycling experience of the area. The establishment offers breakfast and lunch, and has a wide variety of beverages on its menu. Its outdoor seating is perfect for enjoying a sunny day while you watch the bicycle crowd head down to the bridge for a leisurely ride, and even though you must park your bike outside, its big windows will let you keep an eye on it at all times. The Velo Rouge Café is easy to spot from a distance thanks to the bicycle hanging over the front door, which helps to add to the quaint ambiance of the shop.

Getstalt Haus
3159 16th Street (at Albion Street)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gestalt-Haus/176088079122935

Equipped with indoor bike racks for those foggy San Francisco afternoons, this bike friendly establishment offers the best of German tradition to cyclists and passersby alike. Its bike themed décor helps you get in the mood for a nice ride on one of the nearby trails, or settle down with a brew after a long, hard ride. Go alone, or bring some company, whichever way you choose you are sure to enjoy the pub style ambiance that Getstalt Haus has to offer.

Ike’s Place
Located at 3489 16th Street (between Dehon and Sanchez streets)
http://www.ilikeikesplace.com/

Ike’s Place is an iconic San Francisco staple, where cyclists can find the best sandwiches in the area after a hard day of pedalling up and down the hilly streets of the city. Stop by for lunch and you are guaranteed a filling meal that will keep you satisfied until the end of your commute. Cyclist friendly, Ike’s Place offers sidewalk tables and a good view of your bike parked outside, plus special offers and deals that are hard to pass up.

San Francisco has a lot to offer, from beautiful sun rises by the bay to parades, festivals and dancing at night. Most of its wonderful locations are accessible by bike, in a place where the city’s government has put a lot of work into special trails that will take you to places you would have never thought existed. So gather up your gear, put on your helmet and prepare to enjoy the wonderful views that San Francisco has to offer, but don’t forget to make a point to stop at the amazing cafes we have listed above, as your experience would not be complete without drinking a cup of coffee or enjoying breakfast, lunch, or even dinner at one of them. Join other cyclists in the quest for a greener, fitter world, or simply bring a good book to read, whatever your fancy, you are sure to find it fulfilled by San Francisco’s cycling culture.

Cycle Friendly Cafes in London

Cycle cafes have received a lot of exposure in the media as of late, mostly because of the cycler-friendly environment they offer, which allows them to become a reunion point for those who would rather get around on their bicycle instead of using other forms of transportation. Cycle cafes combine knowledgeable service with great food and a large selection of hot and cold beverages to refresh the tired rider. Some even offer live sports events for those who want to spend an extra hour or two enjoying the friendly atmosphere, making them a focal point for the cycling community within London and its surrounding areas. Here are some choices for cycle cafes in the London area.

Look Mum No Hands Cycle Cafe - 49 Old Street, EC1V 9HX
This popular venue offers the added benefit of a workshop, where you can either work on your bike yourself, or have a professional take a look at it. This wonderful cafe also offers great food and delicious coffee, wine, and beer. So sit back and relax while you socialise with other cyclists while watching live events maybe even the Tour de France!

Container Cafe - The View Tube, The Greenway, Marshgate Lane, E15 2PJ
This trendy little cafe offers a grandiose view of Anish Kapoor's ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture and the Olympic Stadium. Its great food and relaxed ambiance offer today’s cyclist a wonderful place to kick back and socialise with like minded riders, and if you feel like working out, the community cycle centre is right outside the door.
CycleLab Juice Bar - 18A Pitfield Street, N1 6EY
A great bike shop, which offers professional service for all types of bikes, and a nice little juice bar make this one of the top choices for cyclers in London. If juice is not your fancy, CycleLab also offers coffee, tea, and a good selection of cakes to accompany your favourite beverage.

Lock 7 - 129 Pritchard’s Road, E2 9AP
The oldest and most popular cycle cafe in London, this shop offers bicycle rentals, knowledgeable repairs, and used bike sales, coupled with baked potatoes, a good assortment of sandwiches, hot breakfasts, and great coffee.

                              

FullCity Cycle Cafe - 72 Leather Lane, E1
While small in size, this quaint cafe offers a good repair service in its workshop, and £1 cups of coffee to keep you busy while you wait.

Rapha CC - 81 Brewer Street, W1F 0RH
This new cycle cafe, which opened its doors on July 23, is the flagstone ship of the popular Rapha clothing brand. It offers a good cafe with a nice selection of food and a friendly atmosphere for the London cyclist.

                               

Cadence - 2a Anerley Hill, SE19 2AA
A quick bike fix with coffee and cake while you wait is the signature service provided by Cadence. Whether you go for the bike repair or the great company of other cyclists, you can look out for your bike at the in house racks while you take a break from the hectic environment of the city.

Pearson Performance - 232 Upper Richmond Road West, SW14 8AG
Even though this is the only cycle cafe in West London, the service offered is one of the best in the city. Cyclists from all areas love their in house physio and sports therapy, so if you need to take some time off from your stressful day, book a massage, order a cup of coffee and relax for an hour or more.

                    

As the number of cyclists grows with each passing day, cycle cafes have become a growing trend in and around London, with more locations appearing each day. The concept that sets them apart from traditional cafes is that they are all adapted to comfortably cater to cyclists, with bike racks, workshops, tools, and healthy menus that will help keep you fit. All those we have mentioned above offer great service and a few extras for beginners and seasoned riders alike. Share in the great atmosphere, and grab some leisure time with a few of London’s coolest riders at any of the large number of cycle cafes the city has to offer, while enjoying some of the best food and coffee you can find. Keen to hear from readers their favourite cycling hubs!

A Decline in Cycling in Australia?

Can this be true? Why is it we are seeing more lycra clad groups on the roads every morning and this appears to have has increased over the past decade. We frequent routes with our group and can pass (or be passed) by hundreds of other enthusiasts within a short distance. The number of shops, online sites, bike fit services are growing. Corporate and charity events are held almost every weekend yet the stats suggest a decline....surely not! There are over 1 million bikes sold in Australia alone and now outselling cars......this has to be a myth!

This one had me perplexed when it was brought to my attention by an influential person in the local Brisbane cycling community last week. "the stats show it, Australian cycling is in a decline". I called him on it, giving the above superficial observations to why it wasn't. Is it because we are more recognisable in a riding group that I had this belief. Was it because the lycra we wear is now brighter and more noticeable?

The World Transport Policy and Practice published a detailed report (found here) in 2011 which incorporated statistics from the ABS. The basis of their conclusion is comparing bike trips and regularity of rides to total population on a 20 year comparison.

The findings were that between 1986 and 2006, the Australian population grew by 58%, yet the daily average of bike trips only grew by only 21%, representing a net decline in cycling. Yes, the actual hard number of trips is up, yet the percentage of people participating to total population has declined over 20 years.

So that guy is technically right when comparing it to population growth over a period of time. Makes me think what does means for the next 20 years if that 21% participation rate continues to decline at the same rate.

Here is the conclusion that was made in the report: "Cycling participation has not kept pace with population growth, representing a per capita decline in cycling over the past 25 years. Reasons for this are unclear, although a historical lack of investment in cycling infrastructure coupled with mandatory helmet legislation may have contributed. It will be important to repeat the 2011 cycling participation survey"

Infrastructure and population density around our cities certainly are leading reasons when compared to overseas countries that have embraced urban development with the bias towards other modes of transport other than cars. Australia has always been behind in this area of development and there would be a linkage between our high rate of deaths and serious injury stats per capita compared to other countries.

It is fair to say that there are pockets of higher participation and growth within the types of cycling that are included defined in the report - those that ride to commute to work, mountain biking, road cycling for fitness and other recreation groups.

Interesting when considering what we observe around us.

That First Group Ride

Every rider never forgets those first few group rides. For me it was back in 2007 introduced by a mate who took me on a few sessions on our own to run through a few of the etiquettes and techniques after dropping a cool $1,000 on the first road bike. This was an initiation of the senses between the buzz of the road, feeling comfortable on tyres as wide as ice skating blades and coping with the nervousness of coming up to a red lights and hoping those cleats unclip in time to avoid embarrassment!

So the first Saturday morning arrived and a regular 5.45 am ride around the Brisbane River in Queensland Australia was about to take off. A traditional ride that has been going since the 1990's with a 35km distance and a moderate pace with some elements of sprinting here and there. If I recall it was only 5 km in and the first climb of a short yet sharp Dornoch Terrace gave me that reality check. One lonely ride for the last 30km! This wasn't going to beat me and the next Saturday came and I managed to hold until the sprint on the Corso, where the pace picked up to 40km/hr for over 2kms. The combination of whirling wheels around you and your heart rate pounding harder make the outcome inevitable. Being dropped isn't a great feeling but every week gets that bit quicker and before you know it your latched on like a dog on heat and not letting go!

Most of us are introduced by others and can be brought into an established group of riders with their own rules and nuances. Whether this is the case or not, there are a few things to consider to make the ride enjoyable for all involved:

Find the right ride for your fitness level - From my own experience above, its wasn't easy and took time to get that rhythm and match the fitness of those more experienced. Most local bike stores will have regular rides that will involve an element of coaching. You need to ensure you know the average speed, the route taken so you know what hills (or mountains) await. Some group rides won't always have a rule of waiting for the laggards, so take the time to find out.


Introduce yourself - It's always hard to fit into an clicky group, but going head first and making yourself known is a quick way to find out more about the expectations of other riders. They too will know you are new to this and adjust their riding to suit. This could mean help by dropping to a slower pace to allow you draft or, if you are in front, them leaving a few more centimetres from your rear wheel to ensure they have time to react to any of your nervous reactions.

Stay consistent - No sudden moves is the name of the game and having some foresight and vision looking a few riders ahead rather than looking down at the rear wheel is the safest way to ride in a group. Soft touches to the brakes when rolling and constant pedal stroking, even when descending is a sign of being in control.

Be Vocal - Whether it's hazards on the road or talking and learning from others, being aware and getting to know other riders will help you build confidence at a rapid rate.

Get over the fears of the first group rides can depend on the expectation you set on yourself and the people you surround yourself with. A welcoming environment will fastrack your confidence.

Riding Etiquette - the Big Three Group Rules

We have all been guilty of making a ride difficult and dangerous to others, whether intentional or not. There's a lot of group riding rules out there and every country or region has a variation of the same set. I thought to focus on the most important - the top 3 that can make the difference between a great ride and a debacle.


Half Wheeling - the single most frustrating move that can turn a group ride into an aggressive smashfest in a heartbeat, and it only takes one person to ruin it for the group. Certainly makes for an interesting conversation post ride. For the uninitiated, this is when one of the two leads decides to pick up the pace by only a very short distance (half wheeling the rider next to them), and the other lead picks up the pace to maintain the new faster speed. If this pattern continues, before you know it the group is at Mach speed, slower riders are dropped and the group has imploded. Totally defeats the purpose of riding as a group to start.

Pacelining & Sharing the Front  - Every group will have riders with different skills and fitness levels. An effective way to improve the average speed and efficiency of the group, even for the slower riders, is to work together by rotating through to the front of the group. Different groups have different methods, 3 of which are shown here. Subject to the group size, road conditions and local road rules the single or circular pacelines are perhaps the safest as the group do not ride wider than two abreast at any time. The best thing about a rolling paceline is the weaker riders can do a short session at the front and rollover to the left and back when they want. This is also a great way to also be social with all riders in the group. Remember not to half wheel when on the font!

Communication - This is includes the pre ride brief and the verbal and visual signals during the ride. A big part is knowing the people you ride with, what the group rules are, as there could be some faster points along the course and clear communication during the ride, including calling hazards such as potholes and parked cars. Too many times accidents can be avoided with quick warnings. Other times sh#t happens and the call goes out too late - that pothole looks shallow but with 20 riders going over it chances are one rider is not gripping the bars well and the dominoes start to fall. The sounds of carbon and steel scraping the road does send shivers down the spine of all of us.

And lets be honest, following the simple rules above looks professional and awesome when a group are uniform on the road.  The following video is testament to this.

STRAVA MADE ME DO IT !!!!

Strava – the site that has turned you and your mates into competitors and given athletes a reality check.

There’s been a lot of conversation for past couple of years to whether this app has been good for cyclists, the local groups they ride with and the broader community. Thought to share some of the bold statements we have all heard within our groups at one time or another:

Strava promotes reckless riding  - Just like tobacco companies don't shove cigarettes down your mouth Strava doesn't endorse bad habits or law breaking. Although the business model is based on gamification, including segments, KOMs and sponsored challenges, nowhere within its application does it promote or glorify recklessness. Strava have been very careful in the language used and way the information is presented first promoting who you rode with  then your personal performance and segments completed within a ride. If you want comparisons there’s a few clicks to get there. If you are one that races home after a group ride, run through the house to upload your file you may fall into one of two categories - one that is happy to be acknowledged by others that you rode today or the second that is eager to see if you took out that KOM on a fast segment. If you fall into the latter group, remember “Strava didn't make you do it!”. This won’t hold up in court like a recent case in the US where a cyclist was killed on a downhill going at breakneck speeds.

Strava has turned us against each other  - I am sure there have been some fallouts of friendships, particularly the hardcore top 2% that live and breathe this cycling as much off the bike as they do on it. If there is a fallout due to a KOM being taken, that says something about the rider more than the app.

Our social rides have become a race! – Has the etiquette on a Sunday ride changed? Do we stop as a group when a rider gets a flat any more? Do we surge ahead on the next corner out of nowhere and for no apparent reason but to get a fast start on an imaginary line on the road? I am sure we have all seen some changes in behaviour to some degree within the regular ride when the majority of the group are on Strava. Depending on the group average pace, this may be a good thing for all, not just the fit 50%. The advice given for years has been "ride in a faster group than your own ability to get results".

Strava has encouraged me to ride more - Some view this as only a personal tool, not a group/competition tool using it to set milestones over the course of a year. Kudos to those that fall into this category. For you its more about the personal win rather than the social one.

Keen to hear other rider's thoughts on this topic and some of the situations they have come across. Please leave your comments below!

Follow up from the "Cyclists Upgrading Dilemma" post

Following on my previous post about the upgrading dilemma cyclists face, I thought it timely to share this review from Cycling News

When we are faced with temptation like this, its hard to say no....

Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL4 Disc Red C2 - first ride review

Original post - the Cyclists Dilemma

The Cyclist's Dilemma - to Upgrade or not to Upgrade?

As a cyclist, the one thing that can keep us up at night and distract us from work is the constant urge to keep up with the latest bikes and components. We all know that feeling when we see a shift away from the old yet reliable groupsets, frames and wheels of the past within our riding bunch to the latest reiterations that have just hit our shores. There are those that lead the change and those that are envious, and some that are happy to be two or more years behind the cutting edge. And lets be honest, the cost of upgrading isn't cheap, with some of us spending more on the sport than on our own cars!

Dura Ace 7800 Series

The strategic direction of the big 3 groupset manufactures (Shimano, Campagnolo, SRAM) has a big part to play in this, particularly their rate of product development. Our post ride conversations over coffee have been about continually comparing, researching and reviewing what's on the market and what rumours are circulating in upcoming versions.

As an example, lets take a simple look at the history of the Shimano Dura Ace series over the past 20 years. The 9 speed 7700 was released in 1996 to critical acclaim and stayed at the top of the range for Shimano for a staggering 7 years until 10 speed 7800 was released in 2003. Pro riders praised this groupset with its quick shifts and weight and its uptake to the masses was confirmed with Shimano smashing their sales turnover for their whole of business well in excess of $2b during its reign.

Dura Ace 7900 Series

5 years later in 2008 we saw the first in the 7900 mechanical series introduced (5 years after 7800). There was a slower uptake to the market based on cycling commentary as there where whispers of something revolutionary to follow in very quick succession. There was a buzz in the air and the sound of a electric shifting one year later and 2 variables of the same series has now become the norm. The 9000 Series in both mechanical and electric were released in 2012 and here we are today with a constant craving to keep up with the pros and our peers.

This is only looking at Shimano's top of the range series. Multiply this velocity of change by the entire Shimano range including Ultegra, 105 and the rest and before you know it we are now in a market with unprecedented turnover of bike components. Then we add our friends at Campag and SRAM into the mix and before you know it, the pace is hard to keep up with (let alone the cost!).

We all look up to the Gods of the Pro Tour and try to emulate their feats in our our regular local group ride. This includes dropping big cash on the same bikes, wheelsets and components. Will we gain that .01% improvement upgrading our frame from last years model to this years? Actually, does it really matter? Is the pain of a domestic argument at home justifying a $4,000 upgrade on a groupset worth it all?

For the true enthusiasts and believers, yes. That is why we ride.

In a Cycling Rut? Shake those Cobwebs!

We have all experienced it one time or another. As a matter of fact some of us are going through it as we speak. It's that period of time where the body and mind just say no to cycling and perhaps exercise in general.

We are all great at excuses and here's some of the classics you may have used in the past:

• It's just too cold - we have all been guilty of using this one and the wind chill factor, it doesn't take much to convince ourselves that a nice warm bed is the best option.
• It might rain - how may times has the forecast been actually right? A 5% chance of rain is not an excuse to sleep in!
• Busy with work and family - this can totally consume us, but remember, a healthy body can make the rest of the day more balanced, no matter how busy it gets.
• Have pushed the body too much - if you have trained and completed a century ride or two, the body does need some recovery days, not recovery months!
• Hungover from a big night - this is probably one we can't contest and give advice on! 

So here's some tips to help get the mojo back!

• Clean and service your bike - like driving a new car, servicing and cleaning your bike can be part of the process of getting back into the zone. There's nothing quite like hearing a ultra quiet bike and not missing a gear change. If you do it yourself, it can be quite a therapeutic process.
• Commit to friends the night before - Having a firm obligation to meet others to force you out of bed at 5.00 am when its still dark is a great motivator to get to bed early and commit . Do this a few times a week and before you know it you will be dragging them out of bed!
• Set 2 alarms on your device - yes you heard right. Nothing like having the motivation to wake up on their first knowing a second alarm will go off in 5 minutes time!
• Go for a walk - did you hear right? Hard to believe but a different type of exercise, particularly walking is a good way to wake the body up and start craving more hardcore endurance over time.
• Retrain the brain - a good technique is to visualise and recall those moments where you were on top of your game. For me it was becoming a stronger climber with repetitions of a local hill at 7% for 2.5 km up to 10 times a session. Reliving this sensation and feeling of self achievement can be the biggest motivator in making it a long term comeback. 

Reprogramming the mind and body to get out of the rut will repay itself with a sense of satisfaction that you were once familiar with. Be realistic with the expected outcomes, particularly in the short term.

So, what are you doing tomorrow?

Teamwork in Business & Cycling

Smiling for Smiddy crew taking a break
near Gympie Australia

This year's Tour de France highlights a lot that's good in the sport. Taking away the tainted past of allegations and charges of doping and what you are left with is a very tactful, team focused race, which sees daily milestones achieved to execute an overall strategy for victory in Paris. Bringing out the best in people, their speciality (whether time trials, hill climbing or descending) culminates to an overall net effect for the team. This applies to work and life in general.

Last April, a team of 20 Smiling for Smiddy riders left Brisbane Australia to undertake the audacious goal of 600 km over 4 days raising money for cancer research. Our process of team management​, even for a charity ride was no different. We identified who was good in hills, who was good on the flats and who needed more support on endurance rides. Identifying​ weaknesses and strengths and complementing skills with the right support was the key to getting a good net result.​

In the business world, this is no different and it starts with the team employed. Identifying and predicting future behaviour and skills before their placement, even if all the boxes are not ticked, allows for better planning and development for any new recruit in a team. Knowing how they acquire, retain and apply information and their likely approach in situations can be complementary to get the most out of them and the group. Identified areas of development can be worked on over a period of time to make them the Froome of the team - so long as they don’t start wearing lycra to the office!

On a side note this dedicated team of 20 riders raised $100,000 for cancer research - For further details on future Smiling for Smiddy events, visit http://www.smiddy.org.au/

Surviving "TDFS" - Tour de France Syndrome

For the cycling loyalists, the Tour de France is the highlight of the year creating a buzz like no other event. Depending on which part of the world you live, the 3 weeks can only be compared to self inflicted water torture grappling between late nights in front of the live telecast, followed by re-enacting feats of greatness the next day on your local ride before a 10 hour work day at the desk.This unsustainable pattern goes on for as long as the body allows and sees most hardcore enthusiasts become irritated, unproductive and worse of all, under-performers on the bike!

Week one starts off like a romantic dream. The pre-buzz excitement, team reviews and tipping with friends sees an unprecedented surge in excitement carrying the enthusiast through the first week. The vision of watching the peloton riding through the French countryside passing châteaus and villages older than the tour itself provide a backdrop that confirms it's as much about the postcard scenery as the team strategy and stage winners. Are we actually watching a cycling race?

Week two arrives and thanks is given to the Tour organisers for the rest days that are given to the peloton. The body has become conditioned to survive on 4 to 5 hours sleep and changed eating patterns sees breakfast become lunch. By now, the body begins a slow shut down process. Our reflexes are slower and the early morning rides are now optional rather than a requirement. 

Week three sees a paradigm shift in strategy - long live the highlights packages, which become our bread and butter come the final week. The realisation has arrived that minute by minute coverage over 4 hours is now unsustainable. Friends and family have disowned those with TDFS and question their  priorities. Highlights packages provide that balance of keeping up appearances yet still getting the fix required to still be the person referred to as "The Oracle" being up to date on all the stats and strategy from the night before.

Three weeks and the imagery of 60km speeds around the Champs-Élysées is an achievement...not for the pro riders but for surviving one of the most gruelling events in the history of sport, and all from the couch. Cycling commitment need not involve a bike or a bead of sweat.