Saris Thelma

Posted on May 9, 2007 by Ernest

Saris came out with a new rack they call Thelma. Not sure about the history behind the name but if I find out I will let you know.  

Thelma is a receiver rack that carries up to two bikes.  What I like about Thelma is that the bikes sit on the rack versus hanging from it. This is nothing new in the car rack world but it reduces the height that you need to lift the bikes to get them onto the rack.  

What is great about this rack is that nothing that secures the bike actually touches the frame. An aluminum arm surrounded in plastic comes up and grabs/cups the wheel. Then you use a few ratcheting straps to secure the bike in place. To remove the bike you simply roll it out of the front of the rack and you are all set to go. This clamping method is ideal for carrying women’s bikes as it eliminates the need for a top tube to secure the bike to. 
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Something to Think About

Posted on May 8, 2007 by Ernest

I did something I don’t think I have ever done. Rush out to see a movie on opening day. Yup I said it I went to a matinee of Spiderman 3 on Friday. Everything  just fell into place so there I was at a 12:20 showing. I must confess I did it instead of riding my bike! Gasp!

My friend Dan and I went. As we were waiting for the movie to start he got a call from one of his friends. He too was getting ready to watch the movie. Interestingly he had pulled his kid out of school early, gone to the video game store to pick up the new Spiderman game they had pre-ordered. Their plan for the rest of the day was to watch the movie then go home and play the video game for the rest of the day.

After Dan finished the call he looked at me and said “It used to be that you pulled your kid out of school early to goto a baseball game and then went home and played catch.”

That statement has rung true with me on so many levels. It certainly illustrates the changing society that we live in today. Its the habits we teach our kids when they are young that they carry with them for the rest of their lives.  And we wonder why kids these days are so less active.

One positive thing was that they spent ever so valuable father son time together.

Yes it may be an isolated activity a one time event but still think about it.

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Back Into the Woods

Posted on May 5, 2007 by Ernest

I found a little extra time a few weeks ago to get back on a mountain bike. I took advantage of Cannondale having their demo truck at Rosaryville State Park. I hadn’t been on a mountain bike since I did a Trek demo last fall. It is really quite sad that I don’t get out on the trails more. 

It was a gorgeous day and it reminded me how much I miss riding in the woods. It took me back to when I was a kid spending endless hours in the woods behind our house riding our BMX bikes on the dirt trails we built.

Rosaryville is a near perfect venue. Not to hard but not boring in any way either. It is a great place to take a beginner mountain biker but still fun for the more seasoned rider. M.O.R.E. and IMBA have been putting a lot of work maintaining and upgrading the trails lately to preserve them for years of fun to come.
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The Bike Your Health, the Environment

Posted on May 1, 2007 by Ernest

It’s been awhile since I wrote. I debated about a couple of topics I’ll get to each but for today I thought I would write about the bike, the environment and our health.

When you talk to your friends about some of the issues that concern them the conversation may turn to: Obesity, especially childhood obesity, dependence on foreign oil and the length of their commute in the morning, ie traffic congestion. Guess what? The bicycle can help us with all of those issues.

For me one of my concerns is obesity especially childhood obesity and the affects it has on today’s youth. It amazes me how many children are obese. Additionally on my mind and I am sure I am not alone is rising fuel costs.Interestingly the bicycle can help in both of these areas.

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The Coasting Revolution…

Posted on April 17, 2007 by Ernest

The Coasting revolution may be here. I got to take my first ride on a coasting bike today. One of our Trek Limes arrived today. You see when new stuff comes in I am like a kid in a candy store. It just so happens that my candy store is a bicycle store and I have the honor to work with something I love!

I thought this Coasting thing, might be as great as everyone said when my Mom came to me and said, “I want a Coasting bike.” Long story short is I have been trying to get my Mom on a new bike for over three years! I can’t stand to see her on an old steel mountain bike. Makes me completely cringe when I see it, especially with the access she has to all the great stuff I sell. With all of her questioning, her own research and a call to Trek she wants a Trek Lime.

How Coasting came to be:
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