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Welcome to Bikeland’s Newsletter.
A warm thank you to our wonderful customer’s for their business and loyal support that has enabled Bikeland to proudly serve our community with one of the top bicycle shops in the State! Our goal is to make your shopping experience an enjoyable one each and every time.
May 2006
2nd monthly Newsletter
 
   
July 18th “Alpe D' Huez”
Tour De France Viewing Party!

Folks, set your calendars because Bikeland is proud to present our first “Alpe D' Huez” Tour De France stage viewing Party at the Fox & Hound Pub and Grill on July18th. Come and join in on the excitement while we watch this year’s most prestigious cycling race on the planet. There will be Wine tasting and cheese, food, fun, games and prizes for all ages.


Let us know if you'll be able to attend RSVP



Bikeland now offers BG FIT Professional Fittings:


Interested in getting a professional road or time trial fit?

Bikeland has two certified and experienced BG FIT specialist and is now proud to be the only store in the entire Houston area to offer professional BG FIT for our great customers.

Body Geometry Fit Integration Technology has been developed by the world’s leaders in bicycle fitting expertise, none other than Dr. Andy L. Pruitt Director of Boulder Center for Sports Medicine and bio-mechanics and time trial specialists Todd Carver. Andy has over 30 years of experience in making bicycle fitting a science and is responsible for the elite of elites, athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Floyd Landis, Peter Reid, 3-time World Ironman along with hundreds of professional cyclist and thousands of everyday riders.

Do you want to prevent cycling related injuries?
Pedaling a bicycle is a very repetitive motion. It is not uncommon for cyclists to accumulate over 5000 revolutions in 1 hour of riding. During your bike fit our fit technician will review your medical history, flexibility and take into account your cycling goals and any potential physical problems while adjusting your bike. Your seat height, fore-aft position, cleats and wedge placement (if needed) will be adjusted to help reduce injury potential and improve your position on the bike. Adjustments to your stem and handlebars may also be made. Recommendations for other changes (bars, stems, etc.) may also be discussed.

Do you have a cycling related injury?
Correct body posture on the bike can prevent injury, eliminate pain, make cycling more enjoyable and even improve performance. Clients first undergo a medical evaluation to pinpoint any potential problems, such as previous injuries, current pain and strength and flexibility inequalities. Afterwards, our specially trained staff members evaluate the client on their own bike. Measurements are taken and adjustments are made to the bike. Recommendation for other changes may also be discussed, as well as potential medical follow-up including specific stretches and/or exercises to help reduce pain while cycling.

Rule number one:
Bike fit is a marriage between the bicycle and the rider. If the two are incompatible, the marriage will fail. The bike can be adjusted to the riders anatomy in multiple ways, such as moving the saddle up and down or changing the stem. The body can be adjusted only in minor ways, such as with a carefully designed stretching program. This leads us to the second rule.

Rule number two:
Make the bike fit the body, don’t make the body fit the bike. It is easy to adjust the bike, but difficult to stretch or contort the body into some preconceived “ideal” or “pro” position. For example, long legs coupled with a short torso and arms require a bike with a relatively short top tube/stem combination, which is referred to as reach. Stubby legs and most of the height in the torso requires a bike with a long top tube and stem. Forget what your favorite pro rider looks like…unless their body is a carbon copy of yours (which it’s not). Make your bike reflect you, not your hero.

Rule number three:
Dynamic fit is better than static fit. This means that fit while pedaling the bike needs to be considered when fine tuning things such as saddle height and cleat position. Static formulas for deciding saddle height are only starting points. They must be overruled with dynamic findings, such as observing the rider on a trainer.

A pedaling rider is constantly moving on the bike. A rider actually rises slightly from the saddle with every down stroke. So, ideal saddle height is different when one is pedaling compared to just sitting motionless. The degree of ankling (how much the ankle articulates through the pedal stroke) also plays a role in saddle height. There is nothing wrong with static bike fit formulas as a starting place, but for a proper fit, it is critical to observe the rider while pedaling.

This bike fit approach aids our experts in analyzing your cycling gait in real time. This method is used to analyze motion in 3 dimensions using specific reference points and various angles for viewing specific anatomic landmarks, which allows our technicians to accurately analyze cycling gait. This information is then used to make appropriate changes to the bike. These changes can greatly improve performance, prevent injuries and make cycling more enjoyable

Rule number four:
Cycling is a sport of repetition. A cadence of 90 revolutions per minute is approximately 5000 revolutions per hour. A six-hour century would require 30,000 pedal revolutions. Every pedal stroke is almost identical, so it needs to be in the safest position to allow for this sort of repetitive activity. A saddle that is 5 millimeters too low on a six-hour century can lead to major knee problems over time. Because of this, the most important bike fit for a cyclist is the first one, to assure a long, comfortable, healthy cycling career.
It should be noted that our bodies change on a regular basis, therefore, bike fit is not static in its nature, but is dynamic throughout our cycling lives. Your position today is significantly different than it was earlier in your life. We should not expect the novice cyclist beginning their cycling career at middle age to be able to perform comfortably in an aggressive race position. Many people are entering cycling as a sport on the heels of an injury from another sport, and those injuries need to be addressed in their position on the bike.
Once you understand these four rules and reasons, you will begin to see how our fit method uniquely caters to the cyclist’s individual attributes to maximize their comfort and performance on the bike. That’s what gives Bikeland’s BG FIT the power to change riders lives for the better.

FAQ's - Bike Fits

Who can benefit from a bike fit?
Cyclists of all abilities can benefit from a bike fit. Recreational through elite cyclists can enjoy a more efficient and less injury-prone position. Bike fits can not only improve your performance on the bike, but may reduce injuries such as knee or back pain or help prevent things such as "hot" foot. Cycling should be a pain-free sport and your position on the bike is an important factor. We like to make the bike look like you, not make you look like the bike. That is, your body is unique and may or may not be symmetrical. The bike should make up for your uniqueness or asymmetry. The correct position for your friend probably isn’t the best position for you.

What is the difference between the Dynamic bike fit and other bike fits?
The dynamic fit incorporates a static or 2D bike fit while taking into consideration viewing your pedaling motion from several angles. From this, we can look at you from any angle and get data regarding your cycling gait. If your knee alignment is off, we can quantify exactly by how much. Also, the dynamic bike fit involves collecting information while you are pedaling under typical riding efforts, not just spinning easily. The other bike fits involve taking measurements while you are still. This method gives us the most accurate information regarding your position on the bike. It also gives you more feedback to see what you look like before and after your new position.

Are Bikeland bike fits different from other bike shop bike fits?
Many reputable bike shops can give good bike fits. The primary difference that other shops are offering is a static bike fit. There is nothing wrong with static measurements as a starting place; however Bikeland specializes in dynamic fit techniques. This method involves what can be referred to as the Q-factor or squaring individuals up on the saddle, correcting knee and cleat alignment issues and diagnosing and resolving aches and pains. Although good bike shops can fit healthy individuals, they don’t have the knowledge that our specialists have, which aids them in diagnosing and treating leg length discrepancies, forefoot varus, neck/back pain, and other medical conditions that can affect your comfort and performance.

Do I need a bike to get fit?
Yes, we like to fit people to their existing bikes. So, you do need a bike to get fit. If you do not have a bike and are looking to buy a new one, you should first visit Bikeland to purchase a well fitting bicycle. We are experts in selecting the correct bicycle size. Once you have a bike, you can schedule a professional BG FIT bike fit with Bikeland. Our bike fit is not meant to help you select specific bike frame sizes, geometry, etc. Every bike manufacturer uses different standards, and a quality bike shop like Bikeland can help you with that type of bike fit, and get you on an appropriate frame. From there, a BG FIT bike fit at Bikeland can make the fine adjustments to make cycling pain free and enjoyable.

It doesn’t hurt when I ride, is there any reason to still get a bike fit?
The old saying, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, doesn’t hold much truth when it comes to your position on the bike. We see many cases were people ride in a wrong position for years without pain, but suddenly have knee pain. Although we can help them, we can’t help but say, “If only we could have corrected their position five years ago…” Getting fit to your bike may prevent future injuries from occurring. Additionally, a properly fit bike will enable you to perform at your best.

How do I prepare for a bike fit?
Make sure your bike is clean and in good working condition. We will bring it indoors and set it up on carpet, so please bring in a clean, well maintained bike. If your bike is not functioning properly, it can be difficult to do a good bike fit. Bring or wear your cycling clothing, because we like to fit you while you are dressed as if you are going out for a ride. Checking anatomical angles and looking at knee alignment are harder when you are wearing baggy clothing. Check your cleat screws! Before you come, make sure you can remove your cleats from your shoes. If your cleat screws are stripped, we can't adjust your cleat position, which will probably be a significant part of your fit.

The bike fit is not a fitness test, so you don’t need to alter your training or nutrition prior to your appointment. However, we will make you work a little. Sometimes greater workloads can bring out certain abnormalities in your cycling gait.

I have two bikes; can I get fit on both?
If you have more than one bike, there are two options. From your bike fit visit, you will get a sheet that has all your bike measurements on it. From the information on this sheet, you should be able to duplicate the new position on your other bike(s). If your other bikes are different (mountain, time trial, road), the position may be slightly different, but we still can show you how to set your other bike(s) up using the measurement sheet. If you do want to get fit on both bikes, we offer a discounted rate. Each additional bike after the initial fit is $100 and we will lengthen your appointment by 30 minutes.

Professional BG FIT & Biomechanical Assessment:

Professional Bike Fit includes:
• medical history and flexibility assessment
• custom cleat alignment and custom insole fitting (Insoles not included)
$200

-Additional Bike (at same time)
$100

-Standard Static or 2D Bike Fit
$50 (free with purchase of road or triathlon bike)

Custom Cleat Alignment and Insole Fitting
(includes insoles and varus/valgus shims)
$100

   
Bikeland Group Rides:

Road: Bikeland leads weekly Saturday morning
road rides leaving the store at 7:00 am. All rides are
leader assisted, no drop rides. There are 3 different
skill levels, pick ride that you feel comfortable with..
Click here for more details on these rides.

Mountain: Bikeland also offers weekly Mountain
bike rides at 8:30a.m.on Sunday mornings at
Cypresswood.

Directions to Cypresswood trail:
Trail is on Cypresswood between Kuykendahl and
Stuebner Airline, on the south side of the street,
across from where TC Jester meets Cypresswood.
(TC Jester does not go all the way through at this
time.)

This is an easy trail with some fun technical areas
for those who want a challenge. All levels of abilities are welcome to come. No one will be left behind.

For more information on rides in our area.Click here

Interested in joining
Bikelands Racing Team?

So you think you have that competitive spirit in you? Wanting to improve your cycling and not too sure how to go about it?

Soon you will have the opportunity to become a part of something exciting and new. A chance to prove what great cyclist you are.

Bikeland will be announcing a road and mountain bike team assembled and ready to race before the fall cup racing season begins.
More to follow soon, for more information
Contact Bikeland



Bikeland Demo & Rental Mountain Bikes:

Bikeland now has full suspension bikes available for Demos or rentals. Come out with us and test ride what we feel and believe are the most incredible mountain bikes on the planet!
For more details call Bikeland today.



Basic Bike
Maintenance Class?
Join us Tomorrow for Tune-Up

Looking for some help on how to change a flat? Well, we have the clinic to help you – come in to our store or call and sign up for our next available class every Wednesday @7:00p.m.and let our licensed cycling coach & certified mechanics teach you the basics from how to fix a flat to adjusting brakes, cables and more… Service Your Bike



Mechanic Tips of the Trade

With the summer heat finally here and cyclist riding more than ever, we have a great maintenance tip to keep your bike running well. Our Service Manager Jeff Bruno has a great service tip to share:

Know When To Replace Your Sprockets
While the act of replacing your cogs and chainrings is simple, knowing when to do so isn't. What constitutes a worn sprocket is measured in mere 100ths of an inch_not easy to see at a glance. Even worse, the consequences of doing the wrong thing in the drivetrain department can be very hazardous indeed. Luckily, all potential ugliness can be avoided with a little preventive maintenance.

WHAT IS THE BEST REGULAR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE?
Riders who spend 8 to 15 hours per week on the same bike need to replace their chains a minimum of three times a year, and should consider replacing their chains up to six times per year if the terrain is muddy or extra dusty. The elements are very hard on drivetrain, components, and especially the chain. There are 116 separate bearings between the cogs and the chainrings. Recreational riders who ride 5 to 8 hours a week should replace their chains twice a year. Casual riders (less than 5 hours a week) can simply replace their chains at the start of every year.

WHY CHANGE THE CHAIN INSTEAD OF THE SPROCKETS?
By keeping your chain fresh, wear on the cogs is greatly reduced. When a chain wears, it grinds away at the cogs and wears them out. If you replace your chain at regular intervals, the sprockets will last five times longer than the chain. If you continue to ride on a worn-out chain, you can expect to wear out both the chainrings and rear cogs.

WHY DOES MY MIDDLE CHAIN RING HAVE CHAIN SUCK?
The middle chain ring is the most commonly used chainring, so it wears out first. Chain suck occurs when the teeth of the sprocket refuse to release the chain drawing it up and over. The solution to chain suck is almost always new chainrings.

WHAT CAUSES CHAIN SKIP?
Worn out parts. When a chain rides up on a worn rear cog, it fails to get a firm grip on the angled teeth. The chain inches its way up each tooth as the cogset spins until the chain eventually skips off, causing the cranks to jerk forward on hard pedaling efforts (very dangerous to your knees).
What should you do if you suffer chain skip? Immediately stop riding the bike until you replace your cogset and maybe your small and middle chainrings as well.

WHICH CHAINRINGS WEAR OUT FIRST?
The ones you use the most. If you have a bike with aluminum chainrings, expect the granny and middle chainrings to wear out first. If your bike has a steel granny, it will last longer and the middle chainring will show signs of abuse sooner. If you have a steel granny and steel middle ring, they will still wear out before the big ring. The big ring takes the least abuse because you aren't in it as much.


Don't want to get your hands dirty? Bring your
bike to Bikeland and let our helpful mechanics
take care of it for you!


Employee’s Corner:

Danielle Grainger - Our newest member of the staff, cyclist and full-time sales. Loves long walks on the beach and intimate candlelight dinners.
Favorite saying: “ Trust me, it wasn't me "
What I ride on the road: Specialized Dolce

Jorge Rodriguez - Manager - Keeps the owner sane....My background is road racing for ten years raced in South America for café de Columbia. Now certified USFC cycling coach
Favorite saying: "Trust me, you don’t want to know!"
What I ride on the road: Specialized Tarmac Comp.
On the dirt: Specialized Epic FSR Comp

Jeff Bruno - Our resident wrench...Over 13 years experience wrenching on any bike you've ever heard of. If he can't fix it, nobody can.
Favorite saying "Yeah, I might ride tomorrow…"
What I ride on the road: I’d rather not say… It’s a frameset I bought when I worked in a shop in Virginia from a brand we don’t sell at Bikeland. In the market for a Tarmac and a Pista, though.
On the dirt: Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert

Travis Watts - Full-time Sales. Just ask him, he can do just about anything on a bike, fixing or riding!
Favorite saying “Leave me alone, I’m tired"
What I ride on the road: Specialized Roubaix
On the Dirt:
Stumpjumper FSR Expert

 
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