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.