Keep on Riding this Winter with an Indoor Bike Trainer

When the temperature drops below 40 the majority of people will hang up their bikes for the winter. If you're like me, I have to keep myself active on a daily basis. While switching things up to running, skiing or climbing is awesome, I also find that the decreased amount of light and the super cold days I just need something else. So enters the bike trainer. I have found this to be a great way to get in a workout when time is short and the weather is biting. I've put together a list of the different types of trainers to give you an idea of what might be best for you.

There are fundamentally four different types of trainers nowadays; a wind trainer, a magnetic trainer, a fluid trainer and a smart trainer.

CycleOps Wind Trainer

Wind Trainer

A wind trainer is the most basic type of trainer you can buy. The resistance comes from a built-in fan. They feature a single resistance, are easy to setup and simple to use. If you want a trainer that has little to no setup required this will be great for you.

Tacx Booster Trainer

Magnetic Trainer

A magnetic trainer is similar to the wind trainer in the way that it creates resistance, but features adjustable tension. Some trainers feature tension that can be adjusted on the unit itself and others are adjusted via a remote on your handlebars. This adjustable resistance allows you to switch up the intensity based on warm-up, intervals, or cool-down segments. If you want a trainer that allows you to train more effectively, a magnetic trainer will be perfect for you.

CycleOps Fluid2 Trainer

Fluid Trainer

Fluid trainers have been the preference of serious cyclist for several years. This trainer works together with silicone inside the trainer unit to offer increased resistance based on the effort you put into the pedals. This can be a little confusing at first, but think of it this way: when you pedal harder, the resistance increases. This type of trainer takes some getting used to at first, but once you learn how to control your effort in conjunction with the trainer's resistance, it works great.

Smart Trainer

Tacx Vortex Smart Trainer

Smart trainers have been around for a few years and have drawn a lot of excitement lately. What makes them smart? They connect to your computer in one way or another and have some pretty amazing features. There has been an increase in the number of people using a smart trainer in parallel with programs like Zwift. 

Zwift is like an online gaming platform, but without all the animated fantasy characters and violence. You simply connect your trainer via Ant+ (bike communication like Bluetooth) and start riding with other people from around the world. You can go on group rides, climb mountains and draft behind other riders. And remember the resistance changes I mentioned before? This type of trainer will change the resistance based on what kind of terrain you find yourself riding in the program! Riding up a hill? The resistance will be harder. Riding behind another rider? The resistance will be easier. 

Now it may seem that this would be for a really serious rider, but I would argue that this type of trainer ought to be the choice for everyone. It's fun enough that it keeps you interested if your a recreational, novice or even expert rider!

Want a chance to try out one of the Smart Trainers? Idaho Mountain Touring downtown now has an trainer experience station set up!

Mojo HD3s rule the roost in fall.

This from Ibis, "Who can resist a cat selfie with a couple of Mojo HD3s?" - best pic I've seen in a long time.

Why Do we Love Cyclocross so Much?

Oh, Let Us Count the Ways we Heart Cyclocross

It's not fall yet, and far from winter, but we have a minor cool down to about 82 here over the next few days so naturally my thoughts have turned longingly to cyclocross. Make fun all you want, "It's the steeplechase of bike racing, ha ha" but I contend if one was to have just one bike for all riding, a 'cross bike...especially in the Boise area...is the one to have. You can do road rides on it, gravel grind, it makes any of the 8th street fed trails way more fun than on a mtn. bike, and as you can see here, you can even get super rad on some jumps if you have the skizzies like Yoann Barelli. So here's why I'm so excited for 'cross season. 

#1: People dress like superheros, but unlike roadies and XC geeks, they do it in a playful, ironic way.  

Exhibit A: The Flash up there. 

                                                                                 

#2. We now have disc brakes. 

More versatility and more control just means you can get more rad. What they say is true: it never gets easier, you just go faster.

#3. This kind of S**t

I've used this image before because it's just so damn good. That's a guy in a Darth Vader mask in Bend Oregon, launching with style, hot on the heels of another guy who has goth mascara running down his face. King Kong's got nothing on 'cross.

#4 Weather

Tailgating at football games is great for some, but it gets old. When it does, you'll find there's nothing better than 'cross on a cold weekend morning. The colder, the wetter, the icier, the better. Nobody in their right GD mind likes a mild or even hot 'cross day. It was designed to make people suffer...all people, through adverse conditions. The mettle of a man is tested in adversities and he, who remains firm in his beliefs comes out shining...or something like that. Now, how do we make this fun? See #5 and #6.

#5 Heckling

You could make the case that Donger bells and yelling are encouraging, and some people actually use these tools in that way. I know, right? There's something wrong with their world.

'Cross is about being irreverent, competitor and spectator alike. You can only cheer on your spouse once per lap. You can mentally tear down their competitors literally the entire rest of the time. In terms of output and efficiency, hate wins in 'cross. It only makes sense to heckle, and it keeps you warm.

#6 Alcohol

Before you get your panties all in bunch on this one, take a step back and don't be so prude. Like it or not, cycling is riddled with drugs. It goes from Cytomax for recovery, to Tylenol just to get out of bed in the morning, amphetamines to keep going, then HGH to keep from falling apart. EPO at some point is just to be in contention....and the next thing you know other people's blood is in your blood.

Not so much with 'cross. Sure, it hurts...so why not take a beer hand up? Or stronger, if you desire. If you're in the lead, you're a wussy not to. If you're trailing, there's nothing lost. "Win or lose, we're on the booze," as they say and alcohol is the drug of choice for CX. Given the alternatives, it's a healthy one.

I say, bring on the rain.

Why Do we Love Cyclocross so Much?

Oh, Let Us Count the Ways we Heart Cyclocross

It's not fall yet, and far from winter, but we have a minor cool down to about 82 here over the next few days so naturally my thoughts have turned longingly to cyclocross. Make fun all you want, "It's the steeplechase of bike racing, ha ha" but I contend if one was to have just one bike for all riding, a 'cross bike...especially in the Boise area...is the one to have. You can do road rides on it, gravel grind, it makes any of the 8th street fed trails way more fun than on a mtn. bike, and as you can see here, you can even get super rad on some jumps if you have the skizzies like Yoann Barelli. 

#1: People dress like superheros, but unlike roadies and XC geeks, they do it in a playful, ironic way.  

                                                                                 

#2. We now have disc brakes. 

More versatility and more control; it just means you can get more rad.

#3. This kind of S**t

I've used this image before because it's just so good. That's a guy in a Darth Vader mask in Bend Oregon, launching with style, hot on the heels of another guy who has goth mascara running down his face. King Kong's got nothing on 'cross.

#4 Weather

Tailgating at football games is great for some, but it gets old. When it does, you'll find there's nothing better than 'cross on a cold weekend morning. The colder, the wetter, the icier, the better. What to do there? See #5 and #6.

#5 Heckling

You could make the case that Donger bells and yelling are encouraging, and some people actually use these tools in that way. I know, right? There's something wrong with those types.

'Cross is about being irreverent, competitor and spectator alike. You can only cheer on your spouse once per lap. You can mentally tear down their competitors literally the entire rest of the time.

#6 Alcohol

Before you get your panties all in bunch, take a step back and don't be so prude. Like it or not, cycling is riddled with drugs. It goes from Cytomax to recover, to Tylenol just to get out of bed in the morning, amphetamines to keep going, then HGH to keep from falling apart. EPO is just to be in contention....the next thing you know other people's blood is in your blood.

Not so much with 'cross. Sure, it hurts...so why not take a beer hand up? Or stronger, if you desire. If you're in the lead, you're a wussy if you don't. If you're trailing, there's nothing lost. "Win or lose, we're on the booze," as they say and alcohol is the drug of choice for CX. Given the alternatives, it's a healthy one.

Boise Tour De Fat lands this Saturday

We'll see all you freaks in the morning con mucho gusto!

10:00 am - Ride Registration
11:00 am - Bike Ride  12:00 pm - Fashion Showdown12:30 Ssssnake!
1:20 pm - Slow Ride1:40 pm March Fourth Marching Band
2:40 pm - The Bike is Right! Game show to win a 2016 New Belgium bike3:30 pm - Car For Bike Trade   3:40 pm – Los Amigos Invisibles
5:00 pm - Adios Amigos! (curfew)

http://www.newbelgium.com/events/tour-de-fat/Boise

Liv Ladies group ride hosted by Julia. 8/11. 7:00 PM

Hey Ladies! This Thursday at our Downtown Store (1310 W. Main St.) we have a beginner/intermediate group MTB ride. It starts at 7:00pm, but host Julia will be accepting riders at 6:30. We hope to see you here.

Shimano STEPS Demo Tour this Saturday 10-1 at the downtown store.

Shimano STEPS Demo this weekend,  Saturday, July 2nd from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. 

Shimano's Brant Havro will have four Trek bikes with him, ranging from small to large. STEPS bikes allow a rider to go up to 50 miles per charge and range from 70 to 220 percent assist. 

For this demo, here are a few things to have with you.

    • Drivers License 

    • Credit Card

    • Comfortable Attire

    

Each person that demo's a bike will be required to fill out a waiver and allow Brant to hold onto their drivers license and credit card.  

Come one, come all to check out this slick new drivetrain technology. 

Enve Wheels on Sale - We have the best price on the internet.

Hey Folks,

We have this ENVE M 60 27.5" wheelset with DT 240s hubs and an XD Driver - 6 bolt rotor mounts on sale right now for what is the best deal on the internet, by far. Google it. These are new, and about $400 less than what anyone else has them for at $2300. It's an amazing wheelset for an awesome price....no catch. What are you waiting for?
Go here or here for more.

For the record, it's the wheelset pictured to the right (not the 50's pictured above):

Axles are 15mm standard thru axle front, 142X12 rear.

Ibis Demo!! Come see us to try out a Mojo, an HD3, a Ripley, or a Ripley LS

May 5, 4-7PM - Advocates for the West Fundraiser

Now featuring a premiere of the trailer for Idaho the Movie 2

Short Track MTB Racin' in Boise - It's a Series!!

TREK FEST Starts Thursday

This...Is... Happening

2015 Road and Mountain Bikes are on sale.

All 2016 Road bikes in stock will be at least 10% off.

This is the only time of year we offer 12-Month 0% financing. 

And then there's the usual finds that will be out on the tables, ie helmets, pumps, seatbags, gloves, bottle cages, and take off parts all at screaming values. Come in, stock up, and get ready for summer.

Club Ride - Now Online and in Meridian

Ladies-only maintenance clinic in Meridian this Thursday

We have once again aligned our forces with the Treefort Music Festival

Proud Community Partners of Boise's Treefort Music Festival March 23-27

The Treefort music festival is coming soon and encompasses all of downtown Boise. We have everything you need to keep the fists pumping including free water, information, backpacks, fanny packs, sunglasses, IMT tire pump stations set up all around town, bike rentals, and more. Come see Boise play host to hundreds of bands traveling from within the Treasure Valley or as far as Western Europe, the Middle East and Australia. We will be there in full force with butt bags, bad sunglasses, loud shorts and an only mildly-discerning palate for sound, spirits, and scent.

Spring, and then Summer and Fall

Bring on the bike rides, the hikes, the campfires and the refreshments. Time to refuel with laughs and BBQ. Sticky your hands with dirt, soy sauce, and proper grease. Give in to your hankerin’ for a basket of fries. And catsup like you just don’t care.

Girl…you get your catsup.

Final Winter Sale starts tomorrow...and we still have great snow

 

We got a new IMT van. Watch out!

This sucker is gettin cleaned out and trucked off to an event near you. 

Just a rad shot...

...to remind you it's just about riding time again (if not already). 

and almost as good:

That is all for now.

Women's Bike Clinic - Join Us Feb 25th (that's next Thursday, ladies)

Movie Premiere Time! Jumbo Wild at Idaho Mountain Touring Boise March 15. Details below

Here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure. 

Outdoor Magazine best RECOGNIZE!

FREE Wax Clinic from SWIX, just in time for the Boulder Mountain Tour

Women's Group ride Sign Ups (hosted by Liv Ambassador Julia C.) are now in Store

18 and Life: an ode to the 90's

The 90's were awesome. To be clear I'm not living in the past, I was a terrified geek in the 90's, and I'm not about to try to relive that... just saying if you weren't around you kind of missed out. Let's put it in perspective, we all started listening to some really good but kind of silly music, and none of us knew about the importance of fresh veggies and protein until The Zone. Literally, a book had to come out and tell us that those two things are important to healthy living.

I don't know how we got through it, but then again I have no idea how everyone didn't die in the 80's.

Let's get back on track, if something happened in cycling, we either had to be there at the actual event, or wait a couple months until the pictures came out in print magazines. Print magazines. Words printed on real paper. The pictures were from the same guy who wrote the story and he had to go to a place and wait to have them actually developed.

I remember once speaking into a payphone. In a booth and everything.

Concerning the road side of cycling, there was Indurain and Pantani and later Lance, all doped to the gills and crushing each other. Cipo was in there, too. I guess I have to say "allegedly" at this point, though it's all pretty much been chronicled. Cold war being over and all, that was our new arms race. I remember hearing from a euro-pro that Indurain, and I was a fan, wasn't even that great of an endurance athlete. "His breathing was loud and not natural when he overtook you." It was a glorious, deadly, tragic time to be watching athletes.

There were the bad trends as well. Regrettables like Skid Row's guitarist sporting an ear-to-nosering chain.

And then there was John Tomac ruling the entire mountain bike world on a drop bar bike. Do you even know how far ahead of his time this guy was? Let's look at one image:

Skinny tires, less than 3" of suspension (be honest), cantis and drop bars. Change the wheel size and that's a semi-modern gravel bike. He even cut the number plate to hell. When I'm on a lonely fire road, I try to look like that guy. In fact, I'm always trying to basically be that guy. 

More 90's fodder to come.