Biking pays off for you and the enviorment

There are countless reasons to bike. Weather its for health, transportation, and/or fun, it’s positive for both you and the environment. Think Global & act local. Check out these fun facts below and head over 1world2wheel.org for more tips and information. Oh and don’t forget to watch John Burke (owner of TREK) talk about the 1world2wheels program.

Facts for your health:

-The average person looses 13 pounds their first year of commuting by bike.

-Just three hours of bicycling per week can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%

-A 140-pound cyclist burns 508 calories while peddling 14 miles in an hour.

 Facts for the environment:

-The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling from 1% to 1.5% of all trips.

-Each U.S. rush-hour auto commuter spends an average of 50 hours a year stuck in traffic.

-In 2003, cars stalled in traffic wasted 5 billion gallons of fuel.

 Facts for children:

-In 1964, 50% of kids rode to school and the obesity rate wa 12%...In 2004, 3% rode to school and the obesity rate was 45%.

-Between 1960 and today the average weight of a 6-11 year old has increased 11 pounds.

Source: 1world2wheels.org

Patch Kits are Here!

We just got a Shipment of On The Route (OTR) Patch Kits. We will be handing out these OTR Patch Kits all over the city this summer during cycling events and rides. These will be great to throw in your jersey or bags for extra security on long rides. They come with instructions, buffer, glue, and 6 medium sized patches. Good for a majority of punctures.

A good rule of thumb for all you who are intimidated to patch your own tube. Dont be. Its really simple, the key to a solid patch job is patience. After locating the puncture and buffing away any grime, the key is to let the thin film of glue set up for at least 5 minutes or until the "wet" look is gone. A good contact and firm pressure on the correct side of the patch should get you rolling again.

See you guys soon!

2011 Bontrager Tires

Goodbye, flats!

Winters grip is slowly loosening its hold... and maybe this 40 degree weather has made you think of playing outdoors again. Well as our stock of 2011 Gear rolls our way, we decided to share with you some info on Tires. The right tire in the Chicago area, almost always, is a punture resistant type. If most of your riding is pavement and traveling, we recommend the Bontrager line of Hard Case Tires. Here are a few specs and differences between the flat resistant models.

Plus

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Bontrager's first line of defense involves sub-tread puncture protection which prevents glass and stone from pushing through the tread and puncturing the tube. The Plus belt or co-extrusion, varies in thickness and material by intended user and tire type, enhancing puncture protection with minimal weight penalty.

Available on many Bontrager road and hybrid tires, Plus is ideal for riders seeking a fast ride with some anti-flat protection.

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Hard-Case

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Bontrager's second line of defense provides triple flat protection:

1. Aramid breaker belt to ward off tread punctures from glass and stone
2. Anti-cut casing, bead to bead, that resists cuts from glass and sharp objects
3. Anti-pinch sidewall support to prevent snake-bites when running over obstacles and hitting holes

Upgrade to Hard-Case tires when your route involves road debris or patches of gravel--and right after the winter thaw.

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Hard-Case Plus

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Bontrager's third line of defense is the best of both worlds, combining the benefits of Hard-Case with the proven sub-tread protection of Plus for a tire that accelerates quicker, rolls faster, and lasts longer than competing brands.

1. Aramid breaker belt to ward off tread punctures from glass and stone
2. Anti-cut casing, bead to bead, that resists cuts from glass and sharp objects
3. Anti-pinch sidewall support to prevent snake-bites when running over obstacles and hitting holes
4. Sub-tread Plus co-extrusion, for 21% more tread protection than Hard-Case

Upgrade to Hard-Case Plus when you seek the ultimate in flat protection.

2011 Gary Fisher Collection 29er's

Yes Sir! We have the 2011 Trek Gary Fisher Collection 29er's in-stock.

Check out this video with Gary Fisher, on why his 29er's are so special, including the G2 Technology.

People For Bikes Pledge. Please Sign For Yourself & Fellow Cyclist.

A note from the folks over at People for Bikes. Please sign the pledge and pass on to fellow cyclists. Thanks

-OTR

We're writing to you today with one simple request: ask a friend to sign the PFB pledge today. If each one of us recruits just one friend, we will instantly double the size of our movement from nearly 200,000 to 400,000. With twice as many supporters, we will double our clout and dramatically enhance our capability to make bicycling in America safer and more appealing for everyone who rides.

As some extra motivation, anyone who signs the pledge during the month of February will instantly be entered to win one of five Timbuk2 custom peopleforbikes.org messenger bags stuffed with other awesome PFB swag. (Don't worry; you can still enter the giveaway even though you've already signed the pledge. Just fill out this form).

As you know, signing the pledge is easy and only takes a few seconds. You can check out our latest blog entries to learn more about why it's so important to get all riders to raise their hands in support of better biking now by signing the pledge.

We also want to send a shoutout to the thousands of PFB supporters who have shared their stories and photos about why they ride on our story gallery. If you ever need inspiration to get back on two wheels, spend a few minutes reading through the gallery, and then share your own story.

Snowpocalypse 2011

I have never seen Chicago this immobilized in quite a long time. Tom Skilling on WGN News says this was a "once in a career storm". With somewhere over the 20 inch mark, we got Pounded! I rode home through the mild part of the storm on Tuesday around 4pm. I was lucky enough to get home before messes of accidents arouse all over the City. What I could only describe as a Winter Hurricane with out a cyclone, left an amazing aftermath Wednesday after 3pm. I went out for a ride around the streets to assess the snow, man am I so glad I sold my car, I would not want to dig out of that. Above is a picture the side streets the City has not yet had time to plow. I couldn't get very far on side streets, but my Fatty cross tires helped so much! Hope all is well. We will be re-opening today, if you are on a bike or passing by and need something, come see us.

Please Bring This to Chicago!

Even though we don't really have any hills anywhere, I would love to see a Red Bull Hill Chasers Event somewhere in Chicago. Heres what Red Bull had to say about the event. 


"To settle a long standing battle between bike disciplines. Who will be the fastest in a short uphill sprint in Bristol’s city centre? A night time dual uphill eliminator race for all bike disciplines: BMX, Mountain Bike, Road Cycling and Fixed Gear." 


Not Sold? Check out this video, Look like a fun night.


Red Bull Hill Chasers - Bristol - 29/01/11 from The Foot Down on Vimeo.