The Friday Connection

Happy Friday!

What happens when your bike gets stolen? You might get it back. You might not. In Boise there have been a string of bike thefts. Boise Police are offering up a bike registration program to help cyclists. Fill out this easy form to register your bike today!

Park Tool School

Remember us telling  you about the great class at Idaho Mountain Touring we talked about? The class where you take apart your bike and put it back together? Well it is finally here! For those of you interested in Idaho Mountain Touring's Park Tool School here are the dates:

Road Bike Repair 101
June 15, 2010 (Tuesday)    
June 17, 2010 (Thursday)


Mountain Bike Repair 101
June 29, 2010 (Tuesday)
July 1, 2010 (Thursday)

Cost: $65

(We have heard a lot of good things about this class.)

Boise Bicycle Congress: Commuting for the Ladies

You know you're a sucker for cycling information when you spend your birthday discussing wicking fabrics, funky tan lines, and bike helmets with perfect strangers instead of enjoying a pitcher of margaritas with the girls. What was the reason? It was the Sixth Community Bicycle Congress: Workshops for Women Who Want to Commute by Bike held on March 24, 2010 at Boise State University (BSU).

The workshop was more of a gathering of varying degrees of commuter types. Everyone from die-hard riders to newbies were there, all sharing information. George C. Knight, a professor at BSU and a chair on the ACHD Bicycle Advisory Committee, facilitated the day's forum.

I was able to stay for two of the three speakers for the evening. One was from Idaho Mountain Touring and the other from Title 9 Sports. Both shops are located in downtown Boise. 

Annie, who is with Idaho Mountain Touring (IMT), began our workshop. She shared different types of wicking fabrics popular for commuting. (Wool, can you believe it?! Merino wool, that is.) It doesn't smell, it regulates temperature, and you can get it in thick and thin varieties. She also said you could, and would, spend some money on quality cycling apparel. However, if you hunt for good deals you can find them. 

She also pointed out that planning your commute ahead of time is essential to your success. She favors http://weather.noaa.gov/ for getting daily weather updates.

And did you know that IMT is putting on a bike clinic of (2) 3 hour sessions that teach folks how to work on their rides? They are . . . when exactly, I am not sure (I have an email into the shop to find out more). It is tentatively scheduled for April sometime, but I will keep you posted.

We also heard from Mindy of Title 9. She brought a backpack full of wash and wear (and stuff in your panniers) clothes—togs specifically made for active lifestyles. All fabrics were of poly-blends, Moreno wool, and/or Modal to wick sweat and enable iron-free wear. Title 9 has some great casual chic apparel for the active ladies in all of us. (I'd buy the whole store if I could.)


Mindy also stressed using "sport washes" for wicking fabrics to keep to keep them smelling good. She said she was able to find these at the Swim & Run Shop and IMT.

What was most enlightening about the congress was listening to the other commuters share their wisdom. The handful of women (and one man) attending were between the ages of 34 to 60 years of age. One woman spoke of regularly commuting to work from Meridian to Boise. She's been riding for three years. Another lady rides her bike EVERYWHERE. She even has a BOB Trailer for big trips to the grocery store. Inspiring, right?


These ladies were full of tips, too. Here are a few random side notes you might want to put in your memory bank. 

• Emerald is one of the safer roads in town. (It has a bike lane.)
• Helmet covers can help with the inevitable helmet hair when it rains.
• A handerchief in the summer is a must to keep the sweat out of your eyes.
• Chamois Butt'r
• Browse in the store to see how bike shorts fit and then purchase them online for the best deals. (Shorts can vary widely by manufacturer.)
• Sierra Trading Post can be a great place for inexpensive riding goods.  
• Triathlete shorts are a good option if you are looking for a thinner chamois.  
• A small fan can make a great desk accessory to help commuters cool down. 
• Baby wipes rock for sweaty cleanup.
  

The part of the congress I didn't get to attend focused on systems that help minimize flats and actual flat tire repair. All in all, it was a worthwhile clinic for new and old commuting types. The good news? There are still three more workshops to attend. 

In fact, there is one tonight from 4:30-7:00 p.m. (Tuesday, April 6, 2010) at Boise State in the Student Union Farnsworth Room. Get on over to BSU and get your bike bell ringing!

See what the Bicycle Congress has to offer you. 

The Seat of Change

Do you remember the Perils of the Stock Seat? If not, let me fill you in. Debbie has a stock seat on the old Scott, which has been a source of much discomfort.
We rode our bikes down to the Saturday Market yesterday. We were there to help promote the Be Outside initiative (yes, you should check out the link). And while you are downtown (8th & Main), you need to check out the cool mural created by Girl Scouts and Ward Hooper that runs along Main Street as part of Be Outside. After we had lunch, and generally goofed around, we decided to take the trek to Idaho Mountain Touring (IMT) in search of items we did and didn't need.

Upon walking through the swoosh of sliding doors we took a direct left to the bike seats, er . . . saddles. Now, if you have never bought a specialized saddle for your ride, know that there a few different varieties. And if you don't know what you are doing it could be a little overwhelming. Luckily, we had a knowledgeable salesperson [cycling guru] who came to our rescue to set us straight on the saddle situation. He first had Debbie sit on what looked like flat, milky Etch-a-Sketch. (Yes, just a little awkward.) This little doodad showed the impression of where her sit bones were, which allowed him to offer her a more comfortable and appropriate seat suited for her.

She walked away with a slim, women specific saddle. The biggest thing to note is that the slim design will be much more comfortable than a larger, seemingly more padded kind of seat. There will be a lot less friction with the smaller version. At a price tag above $60, it isn't cheap, but definitely worth it. And IMT put the new saddle on her seat post for her, too.

How worth it is the new seat? Debbie instantly felt a difference in the new saddle. We'll check in with her in a couple months, as she racks up some mileage and see how she feels then.