Too much fun, don’t ever ride an e-bike This past weekend we had an E-Bike demo over at Norbrook Brewery in North Western Connecticut. The E-Bike giggle was in full effect! There are few things as fun as riding an E-Bike for the first time. The idea of an E-bike to many folks can seem intimidating.  Many of us started riding because of the mechanical simplicity of a bike and the freedom it provides. The E-bike is a wonderful complement to any quiver. A lot of people who would have never considered riding one before got the chance to at the demo with great success.  Be on the lookout for more  E-Bike Demos in the next couple weeks.  Thanks to Corey from Pedaling Downhill for the youtube video, click to check it out!

The Wave… Waves come in so many forms, out there in the ocean, every minor league baseball game ever, teen novels about fascism(Stasser,1981).  But what about an interspecies wave?  Do Seagulls wave at sharks?  Do plants wave at insects?  Do cars wave at cyclists?  In many cases, those in a car are trying to get from point A to point B.  They need to get to where they want to be and the journey does not matter.  Thus their relationship to the road becomes very transactional and almost burdensome.  “I must cover this land to get to where I want to go.”  Cyclists on the other hand have a totally different relationship to the dirt and asphalt under their tires.  The road is the catalyst for adventure.  The road is what brings to life the bike, takes it from a hanging fixture in a home to a living breathing thing. So here we are, two separate groups sharing one space with very different goals and motives.  Sounds like the makings for a great novel. But there is one tool in the cyclists’ se

  Fear vs thrill, the balancing act. Bikes are scary. There is without a doubt buckets of fear associated with riding a bike. Even just tipping over from standing, your head can hit the ground at more than 15 miles per hour. The sacks of meat that are our bodies are pretty darn soft. Yet at the same time flying feels incredible.  If you are intrepid enough to ride a bike there is undeniably a sense of fear. But really it's like balancing a chemical equation: 2 Molars of fear and 1 Molar of skill renders 4 Molars of thrill. I can remember so clearly the first time I lived this equation. I was at the top of some hiking path that I definitely should not have been riding a bike on in south county. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. But I got to the top of the hill, took a big chug out of the Poland Springs water Bottle I had stuffed into my very loose aluminum water bottle cage. I then went on to give my chunky plastic pedals a spin, but not before I got off the bike

  Santa Claus is coming to town and he wants to make sure your  bike  is running tip-top! The ever-persistent passive attitude of the cyclist.  It can seem cool and nonchalant.  The “I am such a strong cyclist that my wattage cottage can overcome poor shifting or there is the “I can hit any jump on the east coast with my blown shock”.  While these might sound like something Jaryn is contractually obligated to say, they are in fact not cool.  Yes, there are some of us who look more comfortable riding a  bike  than walking, but chances are that’s not you.  It’s definitely not me, I look bad doing both.  You might have a respectable FTP or can get through the Gronk with only casing the last three jumps.  But I’m telling you now,  bikes  need to be taken care of especially for mortals like ourselves So if you are looking for a gift for any cyclist in your family, give them the love of a fun  bike  to ride.  Make sure their rig is in top-notch condition ready to rip any day of the week.  No