Bikes Needed for Bikes for Tykes

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Published on Thursday, 05 December 2013 12:02

The Bikes for Tykes program is behind on donations for this Christmas.  If you can spare a childrens bike or a few dollars, please donated to this worthy cause. 

Via http://goo.gl/TlEk04

Every December, the Members of Realities For Children present Bikes For Tykes to local children who have suffered abuse or neglect. The Christmas Season can be a sad time of year for these local kids, so we come to brighten their day bearing gifts of bikes, helmets and safety gear! You can help us in our effort to reach them this Christmas Season, just read on below to find out how!

At the bike distribution, we provide each child with a helmet to ensure safe riding. Bicycle mechanics are on-hand to properly adjust seat height, select the correctly sized helmet, install training wheels, and help the children pick out the “right” bike.

We would like to extend a grateful thank you to all the bike shops that donate their time and support to Bikes for Tykes! We truly couldn’t do it without them. 

To make a bike donation, please visit one of these bikes shops before Sunday, December 15th, 2013.

The Phoenix Cyclery

1532 E. Mulberry, Suite D, Fort Collins

493.4517

Lee’s Cyclery

202 W. Laurel, Fort Collins

482.6006

Lee’s Cyclery

931 E. Harmony, Fort Collins

226.6006

Breakaway Cycles

2237 W. Eisenhower, Loveland

663.1726

Lees of Loveland

4880 Thompson Parkway, Loveland

667.8735

To financially contribute to Bikes for Tykes:

Make checks payable to:

Realities For Children Charities

1610 South College Avenue

Fort Collins, CO 80525

(cash and credit card will be accepted at the office)

Make a secure CC donation here

Please note Bikes For Tykes in the comment field.

Georgia Gould's Tips on Cold Weather Cross

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Published on Thursday, 05 December 2013 10:22

Gould during the 2013 World Championships. Racing cyclocross when it's really cold is tricky. I'm talking below 25 degrees cold. The first races of the day, 8am kinda cold. 

Obviously, you want to dress warm enough to keep your hands and feet functioning as they should but you don't want to wear so much clothing that it effects your performance.  You don't want to add a bunch of bulk and weight. On the other hand, with the physical demands of cross, you have to consider the potential for overheating. Overheating means sweating, sweating when it's 18 degrees is bad, very bad.   

Since Georgia Gould has raced cx in some pretty abysmal conditions and this weekend's races are looking quite abysmal, we decided to solicit some tips from her.  Her's what she suggested. 

What to wear, what to wear...

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Published on Wednesday, 04 December 2013 11:33

We all know a lot of die hard bike commuters. They're kinda like disgruntled postal workers, Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Chris Johnson is at the top of my list of this special breed.  Few people I know commute as regularly or as far as Chris does. The time of Chris' commutes is also a little on the crazy side. I remember chatting with him during the lead up to the USAPC as he was getting ready for his 12 mile ride home well after midnight.  His ride from central Fort Collins to the Budweiser Events Center takes him about 50min during adverse conditions. With a little organization, Chris says he can get ready for an ultra cold commute in about 5 minutes.

Here's a list of what Chris wore during today's 9 degree commute. 

•  Showers Pass: soft-shell jacket, liners and crosspoint gloves.
• Smartwool: neck gaiter, base layer, ski socks.
• First City Cycling Team team issue winter jersey.
• Underarmour winter base.
• CJ's custom drying rack keeps everything organized, dry and ready to roll. Endura Stealth extreme bib long tights.  (Endura makes winter bibs with no chamois so they're both a little cheaper AND you can wear summer bibs under as a base layer and not have to wash the winter gear so often)
• Two light winter caps; one brimless with sunglasses over the cap, one with a small brim snug to top of glasses.
• Wolvhammer Winter spd boots.
• Cannondale Caadx10 bike.
• Schwalbe Marathon Winter Studded tires.
• Cygolite front and rear lights.
• A couple of pairs of boot warmers in pockets just in case.
• Goretex Windstopper balaclava on standby. 
• Helmet cover on standby.
• Tip: Keeping a single handwarmer on the back of your neck right at the ol brainstem keeps you feeling more comfortable even when my extremities are pretty chilly.