The end of 2010

Group ride photos







Great ride today! It was beautiful, no breeze, lots of sun, and awesome company. I'm glad you all came out to ride; it was good to see those of you who've been busy lately. I hope you all had a good time, and make good use of your "raffle" items. I've been reading that nutrition guide, and there's some good info so check it out.
We at Bicycle Village wish you all a happy holiday season and hope to see you in 2011!!



Group rides resume on Saturday, January 8th. Be safe and see you all then.
Jenn

Tomorrow's ride

Well, the weather is looking promising - I think the roads/trails will be dry for us to ride. Bring whatever bike you want :) We'll play it by ear depending on who shows up on what bikes. We're just out to have fun and see each other one last time before the end of the year. We'll have a raffle for some great stuff, so don't miss out! See you all tomorrow morning; we roll out at 10:30am and it's supposed to be chilly, so bundle up.

NOTE: Don't forget, the shop is closed for the holidays on the 25th and the 1st - group rides will resume on Saturday the 8th.

Last ride of 2010!

What a great ride we had Saturday. It seems we've learned how many layers of what clothing works for each of us! While it was a little chilly starting out, once we were moving we were fine. And it was a gorgeous day!


the view from Chatfield

This Saturday the 18th will be our last ride of 2010 (the shop is closed the 25th and the 1st for the holidays). It's only Monday, but the weather report is looking good. I have something special planned for you all, and hope to see your smiling faces! It would be great to have as many of you there as possible - all of you summer riders who've been busy with the holidays, this is the day to come back (hint, hint: Mary, Guy, Mike, Lynn, Dave, Matt, Jill, Dori, Frank, Ryan and others!) The ride will be short and easy, so this will be perfect for those of you new to group rides who want to see what it's all about and meet the veteran riders - Renay and Debbie, just for you!!

If you plan on coming this Saturday, please comment in this post or send me an email at bicyclevillagesw@gmail.com so I know how many people and what kind of bikes to expect for route creation. Even if it snows, we're still going to meet and have a good time, so take a break from all the holiday buzz and come on down!

And a big THANKS to all of you who come out on Saturdays. It has been a pleasure getting to know you and riding with you, and even better to see how you've improved this year (and helped me to improve). I truly appreciate each and every one of you and wish you all a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2011 - keep riding, and see you on Saturdays!!!

Winter Rides!!!

I can't believe it's December and we're still riding! (hope I didn't just jinx us for Saturday!). We've been very fortunate that while it's been cold, the roads are clear and we're still able to get out there. It makes me happy that you all are bundling up and coming out every week - with the limited daylight during the work week, the only time most of us ride is on the weekends, and it's great to have your company. I'm pleasantly surprised with the turnout of those new to group rides! We certainly enjoy having you and hope the weather doesn't deter you from coming back.

These winter rides are very enjoyable and relaxing - it's just about getting outside and enjoying the weather and people. As we get deeper into winter, we'll probably slow it down to more of a social ride pace, break out the mountain bikes and just cruise. We can also throw in some "training" rides or intervals once a month or so by heading out to Chatfield to do some hill repeats and the like. I'm open to ideas and want to hear what YOU want to do! Please leave a comment or email me with your thoughts and ideas.

Every time I check the weather it seems to change - right now it says rain/snow on Friday, and 10% chance of rain Saturday with highs in the low 40s. We'll play it by ear, and ride if we're able. If the weather plays out like it currently says, I'm thinking we'll be able to ride, though we might need knobby tires. Check the blog/Facebook on Friday for any updates.

Through winter, if the roads are clear we'll take road bikes; if there's a chance of snow or ice on the ground but it's rideable, we'll do a slower paced "coffee" ride with knobby tired bikes. If you're ever in doubt, click on the "View my complete profile" button under ABOUT ME to send an email to bicyclevillagesw@gmail.com

Thanks again to all of you who have been braving the cold and coming out. It's been a great 2010 riding season, and you all made it that way!
Click here for pictures from this year's rides.

Holidays!

The holiday season is officially upon us! Looking through the window it's almost hard to believe - bright blue skies, the lack of snow. Then I open the door, and the subfreezing temps remind me it's nearly December!

Fortunately, we can dress for warmth! So far, the weather is looking promising for Saturday. The forecast says 51 degrees, and what better way to work of this evening's meal and avoid the shoppers than going for a brisk, winter bike ride? Bundle up in layers, and be ready to go at 10:30am from the shop. I'm thinking we'll do the counter-clockwise loop out Belleview and down 470 trail through Chatfield, back up the South Platte to Bear Creek and around. Right around 30 miles.

Hope to see you on Saturday! And have a great holiday.

SNOW-vember!!

It had to come eventually! So glad we took advantage of the great weather we had last Saturday. It was truly a picture perfect day.



Outside of a couple of flats, and my cleat trouble (leading to a very entertaining dismount at the shop!) it was a good ride.



Weather reports keep changing for this Saturday. If we are able to ride, we'll head out to REI. Clear or not, it's supposed to be chilly, and what better place to warm up than at Starbucks! Be sure to dress in warm layers, and check back here and/or our Facebook Page to see whether or not the ride has been cancelled. The plan is to update both by 8:30am on Saturdays IF WE CANCEL. If it's really ugly out, we'll update Friday evening.

Just a couple of tips for cool weather riding:

Dress in layers - you'll warm up as you ride, so wear something that's easy to take off and store while on the trail. Leg/arm warmers are great, as they come in many different levels of "warm", and they are easy to remove, store, or adjust on the ride.

Wear breathable, moisture wicking materials. Merino Wool is especially good in the cold as it moves the perspiration off of you before it turns to sweat. This helps maintain your body temperature, and keeps you dry - we've all experienced that clammy feeling you get when you work out in the cold; you start to warm up, sweat, and then your shirt sticks to your back and suddenly you're shivering. The proper clothing can help with this (and it doesn't have to be "cycling specific" - regular, cold weather base layers are just fine; just make sure they're long enough to cover your back while you ride).

Don't forget your head, ears and neck. Wear a lightweight beanie under your helmet (they make thin ones just for cycling), grab your ear-cover-headband-thing, and make sure your jersey or baselayer comes up high enough on your neck to keep you comfortable.

Gloves - our hands are right out there in front taking a lot of COLD wind on them, and those summer, mesh gloves aren't going to cut it. Make sure you have gloves that keep you warm enough to be responsive. We've all experienced hands so cold that you can't even move your fingers, you don't even know if you actually shifted, and they hurt when you try to force them to do something like squeeze your brakes. Keep them warm!!

When it comes to the legs, make sure whatever you wear isn't going to get caught in your chain - long socks help a lot, and compression socks will help keep the blood moving; really cold and I'm wearing tights; you may even wish to try embrocation (WARNING - do not do this for the first time at a ride!!! Also, do it after you put your shorts on).

Lastly, just because it's cold outside, doesn't mean you won't dehydrate. Bring your fluids just like you would any other time of year, and remind yourself to drink it even if you don't feel thirsty.

Personally, I love those crisp, winter rides. You often have the trail all to yourself cutting a new path in the snow!! Then you happen upon the guy walking his dog who looks at you like you're crazy....

Until then, enjoy some more pictures from last Saturday's ride. Hope to see you all this weekend!

November is here!

And the weather is looking GREAT! I had to go check my calendar to make sure it really was November - weather reports are predicting temps in the 70s for Saturday. Perfect riding weather if you ask me!

Since we are moving into winter and the morning temps are a bit chilly, we'll be starting rides at 10:30am. Arrive at the shop around 10-10:15 to check in, check your tire pressure, fill up your water bottles and get any necessary items like an extra tube or a energy snack.

This week, we'll try a new ride taking the 470 trail east of the South Platte, up Colorado to Big Dry Creek Trail back to the Platte and around. It's about 31 miles of "rolling" terrain. Nothing too big and scary. We can stop at Peet's Coffee at SouthGlenn to refuel.

Below is the route map - hope to see you all there!

October Riding!!!

What luck we've had this month with weather on our rides! While last Saturday started out a bit chilly, it turned into a great ride with a quick pace to REI and back. So far, the weather is looking good for this Saturday, too. Let's close out October with a good ride up Ken Caryl and down Deer Creek into Chatfield. I don't know how much longer we'll be able to do rides like this one, or Red Rocks, so let's take advantage of it!!!
We'll head out at 9:30am, so arrive ready to roll with a spare tube, drinks and snacks. Hope to see you all there, and have a great week until then!

Group Ride for Saturday, October 23rd

What gorgeous weather we're having! Last week's ride was beautiful, and near perfect. This week is looking to be about the same, with temps in the 60's through the weekend. We'll take advantage of it with a recreational ride out to REI and back. This is always a fun, 30 mile ride, and it should be pretty riding up the Platte with the trees all in color. Don't forget to bring some arm warmers or a light jacket for the beginning of the ride, but expect to warm up once we get moving!

Also, keep an eye on the blog and the Facebook page for new a departure time for winter rides - starting in November, we may leave a little later so it's not as cold when we head out. If/when we change it, you'll see it here on the blog. For now, we're still leaving at 9:30am, so arrive about 10-15 minutes earlier to check-in.

See you Saturday!

Fall Riding....

What a gorgeous day Saturday started out being - if not for the HORRENDOUS head wind we encountered coming up C470 trail, it would have been perfect. Oh well, they can't all be "nice" rides.

However, this Saturday is supposed to be nice out, and we're taking advantage of good weather while we have it. It's been some time since we've done any climbing, so we'll tackle Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks this Saturday the 16th. Check the weather before heading over in the morning to see how to dress. I'm finding that arm warmers are the best thing this time of year, as I tend to overheat with too many layers on my body, but my arms also get chilly when exposed to the wind. And with how quickly our weather changes here, it's nice to be able to slip them off mid-ride when the temperature picks up. Light layers are also a good option, something that rolls up small enough to stuff into a jersey pocket when you get warm enough to take it off. Switching to full fingered gloves seems to work wonders, too, as once my hands get cold, I'm done! Do whatever works best for you to keep you comfy in the ever changing fall weather.

Hope to see you Saturday, and we roll out at 9:30am. Here's the route:

Group Ride - Saturday, October 9th

I noticed this morning that there is snow on the mountains - fall is finally upon us! Tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful, though, partly sunny with highs approaching 70. Perfect riding weather! Come on down and join us before winter hits. We roll at 9:30am! Hope to see you there for this 29+ mile recreational ride.

Group Ride - Saturday, October 2nd

Wow! I can't believe it's already OCTOBER! You'd never know it with this heat. Fortunately, Saturday is supposed to be gorgeous, and not too hot. So come on down and ride with us.
This week we'll make the loop from Belleview to 470 and down with the detour through Ken Caryl to Deer Creek, and back up the South Platte (Route Map below). We'll leave at 9:30am, so arrive a few early to checkin.
Hope to see you there!

Bicycle Village Education Series

What: Bicycle Village Education Series

Who: Elite Multi Sport Coaching / Bob Seebohar MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS - Olympic Sport Dietitian and Coach

When: October 13th Bicycle Village Aurora
November 10th at Bicycle Village Colorado Springs
December 1st at Bicycle Village Westminster

Time: 6pm to 7:30pm

Topic: Bob Seebohar will be discussing the concept of Metabolic Efficiency Training
Be ready to learn
• Burn more fat and preserve your carbohydrate stores,
• Eliminate gastrointestinal distress and
• Lose weight and body fat at the same time.

By using science combined with real-life practices, Bob is able to provide athletes of all ages and abilities an easy understand of nutrition concept that are able to implement without counting calories!

Bob Seebohar, MS, RD, CSSD, CSCS

Bob Seebohar is a nationally known board certified specialist in sports dietetics, an exercise physiologist, a strength and conditioning specialist and a USA Triathlon Certified Elite Coach. He was previously the Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Florida and most recently, a sport dietitian for the US Olympic Committee. Bob traveled to the 2008 Summer Olympics with Team USA and was the sport dietitian for the Olympic Triathlon Team. He currently owns his own business, Fuel4mance, which provides sports nutrition services and performance testing to athletes of all ages and abilities.
 
Bob was the sport dietitian and strength coach for Susan Williams, the 2004 Olympic Triathlon Bronze medalist, was the personal coach of Sarah Haskins, 2008 Olympian in triathlon and is the personal coach of Jasmine Oeinck, 2009 National Elite Triathlon champion.

Bob has an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sport Science, a masters degree in Health and Exercise Science and a second masters degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.

Bob has authored the books “Nutrition Periodization for Endurance Athletes: Taking Sports Nutrition to the Next Level” and “Metabolic Efficiency Training: Teaching the Body to Use More Fat”. He has also co-authored the book, “Nutrient Timing: The Scientific Approach” which will be published by Human Kinetics in 2011.

Practicing what he preaches, Bob is a competitive endurance athlete having competed in hundreds of multisport races, most notably six Ironman races, the Boston Marathon, the Leadville 100 mile mountain bike race and the Leadville 100 mile trail running race. In 2009, Bob successfully completed the Leadman series in Leadville which consisted of a marathon, 50 mile mountain bike race, 50 mile trail run, 100 mile mountain bike race, 10 kilometer run and a 100 mile trail run in the span of 7 weeks.

coachbob@fuel4mance.com
www.fuel4mance.com

Ride recap - Sat. 9/25

What a great ride it was!! Could the weather have been any more perfect?? We made some good time down to REI, as we arrived in about 52 minutes. Even with lots of pedestrian traffic, we still rode well. And I'm happy my tire held air all the way back to the shop!! Here is the final route we took today. Hope to see you all next Saturday!

Saturday, September 25th

Fall is certainly upon us - I'm loving these slightly chilled mornings!!! It's still early in the week, but the forecast for Saturday calls for temps in the 70s. Sounds like perfect riding weather to me! This week, we'll head up the South Platte to REI, with a detour around Sloan's Lake on the way back. It's a relatively flat 36+ mile ride and if you've been riding all summer with some time in the saddle, you will be fine. We'll label this one Recreational/Intermediate because of the distance. As always, it's NO DROP - just come prepared to have fun!

Recap of today's Social Ride

What a beautiful morning it turned out to be. I was worried when I woke up and it was drizzling, but the clouds were gone by the time I reached the shop.
It was fun doing a nice, relaxing ride today - thanks for bringing out your "other" bikes! :)



We enjoyed a nice romp around Johnson Reservoir, before heading through some new territory for us all to the South Platte.





Perfect weather for us to enjoy some conversation at Hudson Gardens.




I'd say it was a good ride! Welcome Rachael!!! Thanks for joining us, and we'll see ya next week.

Here is the official ride route and profile:

Ride Route - September 18th

Happy Friday everyone! Below is tomorrow's route. We'll take a leisurely ride around some lakes, down the bike paths and across the South Platte, up to Hudson Gardens where we'll take a break and chat some, before riding back to the shop. It's a nice 15+ mile ride, perfect for the beginning cyclist or group rider, and gives us a chance to relax and socialize a bit on the ride. The weather is supposed to be a little chilly in the morning, so make sure you layer your clothing if you get cold easily (like I do!); based on the reports, a lightweight jacket should be fine just to keep the breeze out.
This ride is rated "E" for everyone, so bring those cruisers, hybrids and mountain bikes. For all you regulars, let's mix it up a bit and give those road bikes a break :) I'm bringing my Trek Navigator just for kicks!
Don't forget to bring an extra tube - just in case - and expect to have a good time! See you all in the morning, and be ready to roll at 9:30!!!

Weekend Events - September 18th & 19th

There's something for everyone at Bicycle Village.

Saturday we'll do a Social/Recreational No Drop Group Ride - these rides are perfect for the first time group rider, those who are new to cycling, or riders looking for a nice, casual ride. We'll take a easy pace, and stop for some coffee along the way to chat and rest before continuing. Bring out the mountain bikes, hybrids and cruisers - I'm still working on the route, so stay tuned!!!!

Sunday we're holding another Mountain Biking 101 Clinic. These clinics are perfect for people new to mountain biking and who want to learn some basics including proper shifting, body positioning, and trail etiquette. Call the shop for more details and to RSVP.

Hope to see you at one of these events this weekend!

Ride Route - Saturday, September 11th

The ride for this Saturday will be up to Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks. Don't let the mileage on this ride fool you! It's rated as intermediate due to the climbs. As usual, we'll take our time getting up there - measure yourself against prior rides, and see just how much you've accomplished over the summer. The weather is looking nice for the weekend, and it should be a great ride!
If you have ideas for ride routes, let me know. I like to keep things interesting for you all, and welcome your suggestions - afterall, these rides are for YOU!! I did a pre-ride today of the Sanderson Gulch route that I posted 2 weeks ago, and there was a bit of construction along that way that makes me hesitant to do it right now.
For the following Saturday, the 18th, I'm planning a beginner ride to reward you all for the climbs we'll be doing this Saturday, and to give the recreational riders something to look forward to.
Like always, we'll roll at 9:30am. Make sure you arrive a bit early to check in, make sure your equipment is ready, and stock up on liquids and snacks! See you Saturday!

Ride recap - Saturday 9/4

What a great ride we had! We averaged 15 mph, with quite a few miles consistently at 20 mph on the flats. The breeze felt nice considering the temperature. Attached is the the route map and elevation profile for our ride, as well as some pics.
Thanks for starting off your weekend with us, and hope you all have a great holiday!

Ride Route - September 4th

Wow! It's hard to believe September is already here....where did the summer go? Labor Day Weekend is almost here, and we have a great ride planned for you. YES! We WILL be riding this Saturday, so if you're in town, come down and join us!
I've been looking for some different routes for us to take, and think I've found something nice - we'll be both on the road and on bike paths, go around a couple smaller reservoirs, and explore some new places. Check out the route below, and hope to see you on Saturday at 9:30am!

Recap - Group Ride for the 28th

What a great ride we had! An excellent group of riders and nice weather makes for a good time. We really kept a good pace going for most of the ride - until the 470 trail where we slowed it down a bit to make way for all of the people walking in the 3 Day Walk for the Cure. We even stopped to help a couple struggling with their tire change; now they know how to do it for the next time!

Ride stats: 29.23 miles in 2hr 2mins - A pretty darn good pace considering miles 19-25 were hindered by all the pedestrian traffic :)

See you all next week!

This Saturday's Group Ride - August 28th

This week's group ride will be a nice loop around the area. We'll leave the shop at 9:30am, and head through "the hole in the fence" to the Bear Creek Trail, go east to the Mary Carter Greenway/South Platte Trail, south to the 470 trail, and follow that around and up to Belleview. This ride is just shy of 29 miles. Check out the route and elevation profile below.

This ride is classified as "recreational" in nature which means:
* A great workout if you want to push yourself a little bit
* You try to ride once or twice a week
* Just getting back into the sport after sometime off
* Your commute to work is too short...you want more!
* Feel the distance/speed of the Int. group is too much
Avg MPH: 10-15mph
Avg Distance: 25-35 miles
Suggested Bike: Beginner Road, Hybrid

Saturday is looking to be another warm day with temps pushing 90. Make sure you hydrate in the morning on the way to the ride, and bring lots to drink with you. We'll stop to refill on the ride if we need to. Cycling is a lot more enjoyable if you're comfortable and safe - please alert one of the group ride leaders if we're going too fast for you, you need a little break, or you start to feel overheated. We've all been there before!!! Nothing ruins your love of the sport like a bad ride, so talk to us, and let us know what we can do to make it fun for you :)
See you all Saturday!

Deer Creek Challenge - this Sunday, August 29th!!

Get off the fence and into the saddle!


Bicycle Village is sponsoring the Deer Creek Challenge, this Sunday, August 29th. It's got the hardest century ride in the US, plus 62-mile and 33-mile courses. There are still a few spots left to register!!


*Fully loaded aid stations every 7.4 to 16 miles
*15% of the course is newly paved - like butter!
*Limited traffic for safety
*Courses will be freshly swept
*Post-ride barbecue - free massages and free beer
*Guaranteed registration for 2011

Group Ride for Saturday, August 21st

This Saturday we'll head out the South Platte trail to REI. This is an out and back recreational ride of 31 miles, and we'll take it at a moderate pace. It should take us about 2 1/2 hours total with approximately 2 hrs of ride time. We'll stop at REI for a break and a latte before turning around and heading back. Always a fun ride!
As usual, we'll leave the shop at 9:30am, so arrive early to check in, fill up your water bottles, and stock up on any tubes or energy bars.

See you Saturday!

Advance Ride #3 Summary - Golden Gate Canyon

What a beautiful Sunday morning for a ride. We all met in the parking lot of BV Southwest for a bagel breakfast and free samples of GU products including their new endurance product Roctane. Once our carbs kicked in, the gang of 12 led by our fearless leaders, John and Anaka, all departed BV Southwest for Golden Gate Canyon. Sunny skies, a slight breeze and beautiful scenery escorted our entire ride. A quick pit stop was made in Golden to refuel and replenish our water supplies for the climb up the canyon. Light chatter between riders could be heard despite the long climb to the top. Once at the top, everyone was more than ready for the 14% downgrade back down the canyon. Some rolling hills were all that was left between us and home. All riders made it back to the store just in time for lunch.

Rides for this weekend - August 14th & 15th

This weekend we have a ride for everyone! Come on down and join us for one (or both!) of the following rides:

Saturday will be our usual No Drop Group Ride up Dinosaur Ridge and down through Red Rocks. We'll roll at 9:30am so arrive early to check in.



On Sunday, Advanced Group Ride #3 will leave from the shop at 7am with a meeting time of 6:30am. Arrive early to enjoy some bagels, as you will need to fuel up for this 65 mile training ride up to Golden Gate Canyon!!! GU Energy is the nutrition support for Sunday. Don't forget to register for this FREE ride at www.ezregister.com/events/1704

Recap: Sunday, August 8th - Advanced Group Ride

Despite a slight last minute change in our route plans, we had a great ride leaving the BV Littleton store this morning. The second of three advanced training rides (for any upcoming century that riders may choose) took us up and over a variety of challenging climbs. The nine in our group were a strong bunch which kept Dave, Jacquette and myself spinning our wheels and up out of our saddles to keep up and take our turns in the lead. Fueled with great Hammer nutrition products and bagels, we set out on Belleview. We were convinced to add a little extra elevation gain to our route by going up through the Willow Springs neighborhood. Exerting a little extra juice to make it up the steep climb, rider Damien actually broke a spoke which "handy wrench" Dave was able to remove, loosen up the opposite spokes, and keep the wheel true so Damien could complete the entire ride safely and without any other issues. Avid hill climber (I'd say hill specialist) Ray pushed the pace for the group down through Morrison and up West Colfax past Red Rocks and Matthew Winters Park. Good thing we had Michelle up from CO Springs to give Ray a run for his money up the Frontage Road on the backside of Lookout Mtn. The group made great time and celebrated with refreshing drinks at the top of Lookout.

The quick descent down the front-side switchbacks dropped us down into Golden. Taking Jackson Road out again to West Colfax, half of the group really felt like they hadn't had enough pain for one day and added a few "stoplight" sprints to keep everyone on their toes. Catching some speed back past the beauty of Red Rocks, took us back through Willow Springs, with one final climb back onto Belleview and finished with some pace-lining to take us back to the shop.

Total ride time was a little over three hours for 43 miles covering over 3200' in elevation!! You can check out our route here: http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/co/-littleton/467128130289616996

Thanks for the great ride and I hope everyone used some of the Hammer Recoverite to speed their recovery and we look forward to everyone joining us again next week.
-Malia, Jacquette and Dave

Ride route for August 14th

Here is the route for this Saturday. It's got some nice climbs up Dinosaur Ridge and Red Rocks, before we head down into Morrison and back.

We will have an alternate route looping through Bear Creek for beginners wishing to avoid the bigger climbs.

See you all on Saturday!!

Group Ride Summary for August 7th

Another great turnout today (Welcome back, Dan!). It was a good ride, and everyone enjoyed themselves. A big shout out to Jason for bringing Mike to ride with us while out visiting.

Stats for today: 31.12 miles covered in 2hr 25mins (now, my GPS doesn't shut off when we stop, so if someone has an "actual ride time", please let us know).

If you're looking for something to do tomorrow, come join us for our Advanced Group Ride Series to leave the shop at 7:30am, or attend the Mountain Biking 101 Clinic at 9:30am (we'll meet in the parking lot of the Home Depot at Quincy/C470).

As always, great to see everyone! Have a safe week riding, and we'll see you next Saturday!

Group Rides for Saturday, August 7th

With such great turnouts the last couple weeks, we'll run two rides on Saturday.

Here is the route for the Recreational/Intermediate ride - a nice 31+ loop through Deer Creek, and over Chatfield before looping back via the Mary Carter and Bear Creek.



For the Social Group, we'll do a nice 23 mile loop down to Chatfield. We can adjust this route as needed. The only thing that matters is that we ride and have fun! And anytime on a bike is "fun" :) So come join us - bring your hybrid, comfort or mountain bike, and let's ride!!



Lastly, don't forget our Sunday events - Training Ride #2 for Deer Creek Challenge will meet at 8500 Deer Creek Canyon Rd. and Mountain Bike 101 Clinic will meet at the Home Depot Parking lot near Quincy/470.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Saturday Group Ride

What a turnout we had on Saturday! 13 riders in all, and lots of new faces. It was great to see so many of you out there. It was a hot and long ride up to Golden, a bit too much for some, and apparently not enough for those of you who continued up Lookout Mountain!!! In order to keep our rides safe and fun for everyone, we'll plan both a beginner/social ride of 15-25 miles AND a longer intermediate ride. This way, everyone can ride with us! We'll keep posting routes on the blog and Facebook in advance so you can check them out to decide which group you want to ride with depending on how you're feeling on any particular Saturday.

Thanks again to everyone who came out. I look forward to riding with you guys on Saturdays, and love it when we get some new faces out there who become regular weekly attendees! See ya Saturday!

Deer Creek Challenge Training Ride #1 Summary

This past Sunday Bicycle Village (Littleton) had 15 riders attended our first Training Ride for the upcoming August 29th Deer Creek Challenge. The 44-miler was every bit a climb as promised! After reaching the top of Deer Creek we shot down to Turkey Creek, heading left till we reached Hillsdale Pines. While most consider the climb up Highgrade more difficult...there's nothing "easy" about the short, steep pitches of 14% grade encountered on Hillsdale and City View! Either way the rest stop at Pleasant Park is always a welcome relief.

Bicycle Village's mechanic Kevin Flynn was a saving grace to those struggling to access their lowest climbing gears or stop annoying chattering and pinging sounds. Great company was had with rider Matt and many learned some tried and trued nutrition points by Power Bar rep Tim Hola. Thanks for the freebie product Tim!
Some notable quotes from our riders on the Power Bar Products:
“I found the Powerbar Perform drink to be a lot lighter than Gatorade and better tasting.”
“The Gel Blasts were great and they don’t stick in my teeth.”
“I like the Powerbar Gels because of the 200mg of Sodium. This eliminated the need to carry salt tablets.”
“I was happy to see that Powerbar makes Energy Bites. Sometimes on long rides like this it’s nice to have something different than a bar.”
“The Powerbar Tangerine Gel with 50 mg of caffeine and 200mg of Sodium was perfect for a ride like today! Thanks Tim for the samples you rock!”

BV manager Brian Nelson was a sport to open early for us riders and provide the yummy bagels. The group was balanced enough to split into two and all finished safe with proud smiles having bitten off a big chunk of the Deer Creek Challenge ride.

Although the early cloud cover deterred some of the heat, one rider thought he was in over his head and another was struck with painful quad cramps during the climb. We may have lagged a bit behind the last group but together we pulled each other in and the three of us managed to rehydrate and finish the ride strong. Our motto: "Never leave your wing-man!" ;)

A brief run down on cramping: "Heat" Cramps are caused by an imbalance of electrolytes in the bloodstream, (necessary for muscle function) and are primarily lost through sweating of sodium. Once this balance is off, the muscles may start to contract involuntarily, and that's a cramp. Heat Cramps can be stretched, but until the electrolyte imbalance is corrected, they won't disappear. And here's the real kicker - if one muscle group is cramping because your system is low in sodium, it's quite likely that other muscle groups are not far behind. Stay aware and ahead of sodium loss through nutrition intake and hydration!

"Fatigue" Cramps would be less related to your electrolyte balance and more related to overworking your muscles, especially keeping the muscle in one position. Fatigue Cramps can usually be alleviated by stretching the offending muscle.

I hope you will return to join us for Training Ride #2 on Sunday, August 8th, and maybe meet some new riders too! Please register at www.ezregister.com/events/1703 and be sure to check the blog this week for a map of the 54-miler and start time.

Jacquette Tara
Bicycle Village - Aurora

Busy and Exciting Weekend!

There's a lot going on at Bicycle Village this weekend!!

Tomorrow we have our No Drop Group Ride up to Golden. We'll roll out at 9:30am, so arrive at the shop by 9:15. We'd love to have you ride with us!

Training Ride #1 for the Deer Creek Challenge is set for Sunday at 8am. You do need to preregister for this FREE training ride, and can find the link below under the "Deer Creek Challenge" post or on our Facebook Page.

We've also got a great sale going on. Do you need to stock up on tubes? Come on down! Starting Friday July 30th if you buy two tubes you get two more for free!! You can never have too many tubes right? We also have gloves on sale starting at $9.99 and shorts starting at $24.99 and that is just a sample of what we have on sale! Hurry - sale ends August 1st.

So, stop by and join us for one of these rides or just to pick up some things at a great price. Hope to see you!

Advanced Group Ride Series **UPDATED**

***Please note the change in format for these rides***

Training Ride #1: 44+ miles
Sunday, August 1st, 8am
Ride Lead and Nutrition Supported - Power Bar
Starting Location:
Bicycle Village Southwest
8100 W. Crestline Ave., Unit B-1
Littleton, CO 80123
Registration Link: www.ezregister.com/events/1693
Download the map to your Garmin GPS: http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=804127991832565956

Advanced Group Ride #2:
Sunday, August 8th, 7:30am
Ride Lead and Nutrition Supported - GU Products
**NEW** Starting Location:
Bicycle Village Southwest
8100 W. Crestline Ave.
Littleton, CO
Registration Link: www.ezregister.com/events/1703

Advanced Group Ride #3:
Sunday, August 15th, 7am
Sag Supported with Aid Stations
Starting Location:
**NEW** Starting Location:
Bicycle Village Southwest
8100 W. Crestline Ave.
Littleton, CO
Registration Link: www.ezregister.com/events/1704

Ride to Golden - July 31st

Here is our planned route to Golden for Saturday. This ride will fall under the Recreational/Intermediate catagory - we'll keep a moderate pace, and there are a couple steady climbs as we get to Golden. You can view the route map and elevation profile below:



See you there!

Great Social Ride!

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Social Ride on Saturday. We had a great group, and nice weather. It was good to see some new faces at the ride - we always enjoy making new friends!

This Saturday we'll be taking a ride out to Golden. Future rides are in development, so check back weekly to see what we're up to and join us!!

Social Ride this Saturday the 24th!

You asked for it, so here it is! This is a great place to do your first ride. It can be intimidating joining a group where you don't know anyone. You may arrive with thoughts like: I hope I can keep up. Can I make it all the way? Will they take bathroom breaks? What if I have a flat tire or break down? These rides are geared for fun, and lots of visiting. We are just looking to make friends and be outside.

This is a nice, gentle, 17 mile loop, and we'll take a break at Hudson Gardens. Avg Mph: 6-11mph; Suggested Bike: Hybrid, Comfort, Cruiser, Mtn Hardtail

Great ride today!

Thanks to everyone who came out and endured the heat! At least the trees and breeze helped a little bit. Next Saturday's ride will be posted by Tuesday. We've had a request for some hills and also a route to Golden - there will be something for everyone at least one weekend a month, so check back to see if the route posted works with your riding ability. And keep those requests coming!!
Hope everyone has a great week - try to stay cool!

No Drop Group Ride Tomorrow!!!

We've got a great ride planned tomorrow to ride the Platte to REI.

Future ride routes are in development and will posted with a calendar so you all can see what we're doing and decide if that fits your riding style. What would you like to see? A family/beginner cruiser ride? Something with a lot of hills? More distance? Let us know so we can make routes for YOU!

Hope to see you tomorrow - we roll at 9:30am.

July 17th Ride

We're going to mix things up week to week between recreational and intermediate/advanced rides. This Saturday we'll do a recreational ride up to REI and back. We'll roll out from the shop at 9:30am.

Check back later this week for the route for next Saturday the 24th.

The weather has been great, although a bit hot!!! Make sure you hydrate before the ride, and bring plenty of fluid with you to sip on during :) Hope to see you on Saturday!

July 10th Group Ride

What a gorgeous day for a ride! We had a great group with us today, and enjoyed a nice loop that included a couple nice climbs up Ken Caryl and back down Deer Creek, and up Chatfield Dam. We kept a moderate pace rolling down the South Platte Trail before heading back to the shop. A couple of rain drops cooled us off the last mile or so back, and were indeed welcome!!

Here is today's ride profile. Stay tuned for upcoming rides to be posted later this week. We hope you'll come and join us!

NO DROP Group Ride tomorrow the 10th!!!

Tomorrow is Saturday and that means no drop group rides at Bicycle Village Southwest. Join us at the store around 9am and we'll roll out around 9:30am. The weather is supposed to be nice, so come on over and make some new friends while enjoying the fresh air!!
Hope to see you there!

Bicycle Village Southwest No Drop Group Rides!!!

Thank you for visiting our blog! Summer is here and we're excited to be out and riding - join us! Rides leave the shop around 9:30am every Saturday morning.

Weekly Group Rides at Bicycle Village are a great way to regularly meet other cyclists in the area. There is a lot to be learned about cycling from riding in a group, not to mention the camaraderie you will feel while riding with other cycling enthusiasts.

These are "No Drop" rides, meaning that we never speed off leaving anyone behind. Bicycle Village provides rider support for flat tires and cycling tips for those in need of guidance. The rides generally cover roughly 20-30 miles and average speeds anywhere from 12-16 mph. We're just out to have fun, and as the saying goes...The More, The Merrier! There's no reason to be bored riding alone!

We look forward to riding with you. Call the shop if you have any questions: 303-978-9699

June 19th - Red Rocks Loop Ride

Kevin led a great ride through Bear Creek, up Dinosaur Ridge, across Red Rocks and down through Morrison. The morning started off at the perfect temperature, and although it got warmer as the ride progressed, it was still a nice day.

We had several first time group riders, and Angie and Dan did well tackling the climbs before them. Good job!!! We'll see you both again soon!