If you're into cycling, you might have heard about Robin Moore aka MC Spandex. He's the guy who made the music video last year about Performance.
Well he's at it again. This time he's off the road and hitting the woods. And it's awesome.
Here's his first video from 2009. Performance:
And now...Get Dirty:
Showing posts with label mountain bikes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountain bikes. Show all posts
2010 Tour Divide winner
Earlier this year we told you about the Tour Divide. Well, Matthew Lee claimed his sixth Tour Divide victory in the early hours of today.
He covered the 2,745 miles, through snow, rain, hail, winds and intense heat, in 17 days, fifteen hours and 13 minutes.
Oh, and a bike thief.
While in Grants, New Mexico Lee stopped for a burger.
To paraphrase the story as I understand it (as reported on the race forum), Matthew was eating a burger, watching his bike out the window, when an unsavoury character strolled up, stared Matthew in the eye and cycled off. Thankfully, the bike was recovered during a chase through town and brought back to McDonalds, where it was recovered by Matt.
You can keep track through the official SPOT leaderboard as the rest of the racers attempt their finish.
As for the Washingtonians in the race, three of the original six remain. Those are Dave Preston, Seattle, WA; Mike Prochaska, North Bend, WA; and Derek Richert, Seattle, WA.
Prochaska is ahead of the other two, with all three having recently crossed into New Mexico.
Helmets save lives
Think that helmets are dumb and not cool? Well you might want to think again. Helmets do work.
Tour Divide mountain bike race
Earlier this year we showed you a preview for Ride the Divide.
The film was about the Tour Divide mountain bike race which spans from Banff, Canada to Mexico.
And the 2010 edition kicks off today.
Racers will ride 2711 miles in this race which traverses the Continental Divide. They'll end up climbing over 200,000 feet during the race. This year's race has 48 riders and you can keep track on the event through live updates on ustream.
And of the 48 riders, six of them are from Washington. The Washington natives are: Eric Bruntjen, Roslyn, WA; Brett Foster, Kirkland, WA; Kent Peterson, Issaquah, WA; Dave Preston, Seattle, WA; Mike Prochaska, North Bend, WA; and Derek Richert, Seattle, WA.
The Tour Divide is an completely self supported ride. That means that racers must carry all of their gear and supplies with them throughout the ride. And unlike more "traditional" bicycle races, there are no set start and stop spots besides the start and finish line. The clock runs continuously once started.
She or he who can ride the fastest while making fewer, shorter stops usually wins. With an average time-to-completion of three weeks in the saddle, TD is the longest–arguably most challenging–mountain bike race on the planet. It is a contest for the ultra-fit but only if ultra-prepared for myriad contingencies of backcountry biking.
And the riders must be prepared for anything. From single track trails to long dirt roads. And they'll be spending 16+ hours a day in the saddle through some of the densest areas of grizzly and mountain lion populations in the country.
The route is unmarked and riders must navigate their way through five different states and two Canadian provinces. Services are often 100 miles or more apart and remember, this ride is through the mountains where the weather can change in the blink of an eye.
Last year's winner was Matthew Lee. It was his fifth victory in the Tour Divide. He covered the course in 18 days. This year again Lee is registered for the race. We'll see if he can make it six.
We'll keep track of the race here.
Kranked 8
I saw this video over on Washington Adventures.
While there is pretty much no way I could ever come close to these guys. The stuff they do are amazing. The video is great. Plus the fact that each rider is wearing a different color really makes them pop from the surroundings.
Check it out.
While there is pretty much no way I could ever come close to these guys. The stuff they do are amazing. The video is great. Plus the fact that each rider is wearing a different color really makes them pop from the surroundings.
Check it out.
Spring means bicycles!
Wow. What a weekend. I apologize for no Outdoor Photo of the Week on Sunday.
Actually on Sunday I was out with Jeff at the Bonney Lake Bicycle Shop of Sumner as he was buying a new road bike in preparation of our ride down the Oregon coast for the People's Coast Classic for the Arthritis Foundation.
And he got a sweet Felt bike that I'm sure you'll be seeing in upcoming Northern Ranger videos.
After Jeff got his bike, we attended a bicycle maintenance class at the shop put on by Jim Stevenson.
Jim is the same guy who did the bike fitting that I wrote about last year.
Anyway, it's been busy. But I'm back. And for those of you who enjoy biking, look for more bicycle related posts.
Including a post about Tyler Farrar. Don't know the name? Well you should. He's world class bicyclist from Wenatchee, Washington. So tune back in!
Actually on Sunday I was out with Jeff at the Bonney Lake Bicycle Shop of Sumner as he was buying a new road bike in preparation of our ride down the Oregon coast for the People's Coast Classic for the Arthritis Foundation.
And he got a sweet Felt bike that I'm sure you'll be seeing in upcoming Northern Ranger videos.
After Jeff got his bike, we attended a bicycle maintenance class at the shop put on by Jim Stevenson.
Jim is the same guy who did the bike fitting that I wrote about last year.
Anyway, it's been busy. But I'm back. And for those of you who enjoy biking, look for more bicycle related posts.
Including a post about Tyler Farrar. Don't know the name? Well you should. He's world class bicyclist from Wenatchee, Washington. So tune back in!
Duthie Hill mountain bike park
In case you missed it, yesterday the Seattle Times had a great article about a new mountain bike park that is going in near Issaquah, WA.
You can read the full article here.
Since I'm currently located in the Issaquah area, I was stoked to read this article. The place sounds awesome.
It features the world's longest log ride, a boardwalk, huge drops, wooden structures and varying levels of difficulty throughout. That means both the expert and the beginner can have fun at the park.
The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance worked to get the park built in cooperation with King County Parks. Currently EMBA members have volunteered over 6,000 hours of work on the park. I also found out the schedule and we're planning on heading out there to help.
The grand opening of the park is on May 22. But that will just complete Phase One of the park. Phase Two is expected to be completed in April 2011.
And you can bet that in the near future the Northern Rangers will be out there for a ride and video.
You can read the full article here.
Since I'm currently located in the Issaquah area, I was stoked to read this article. The place sounds awesome.
It features the world's longest log ride, a boardwalk, huge drops, wooden structures and varying levels of difficulty throughout. That means both the expert and the beginner can have fun at the park.
The Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance worked to get the park built in cooperation with King County Parks. Currently EMBA members have volunteered over 6,000 hours of work on the park. I also found out the schedule and we're planning on heading out there to help.
The grand opening of the park is on May 22. But that will just complete Phase One of the park. Phase Two is expected to be completed in April 2011.
And you can bet that in the near future the Northern Rangers will be out there for a ride and video.
I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Park
After much anticipation, I got the video up. This weekend the Northern Rangers headed out to the I-5 Colonnade Mountain Bike Park in Seattle, Washington. Here's a short preview of the area:
Radical Reels Tour
If you're into outdoor videos then you've heard of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
I just found out today that the Radical Reels Tour will be coming to Washington in March.
Faster, Steeper, Higher, Deeper. Radical Reels complements the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour & focuses on dynamic, high-adrenalin films featuring sports such as skiing, climbing, kayaking, BASE jumping & mountain biking.
Here are the dates, times and info about local showings:
Capitol Theater, 206 E. 5th Ave., Downtown Olympia
Tickets: $12 general, $2 off for Mountaineers members. Available through the Alpine Experience and Olympic Outfitters, or at the door.
I also found the trailer online. Pretty sweet.
I just found out today that the Radical Reels Tour will be coming to Washington in March.
Faster, Steeper, Higher, Deeper. Radical Reels complements the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour & focuses on dynamic, high-adrenalin films featuring sports such as skiing, climbing, kayaking, BASE jumping & mountain biking.
Here are the dates, times and info about local showings:
Thursday, March 11 at 7 pm
Mountaineers Program Center - 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle
Tickets: $10 Mountaineers members, $15 general. Available at The Mountaineers or by calling 206-521-6001.
Capitol Theater, 206 E. 5th Ave., Downtown Olympia
Tickets: $12 general, $2 off for Mountaineers members. Available through the Alpine Experience and Olympic Outfitters, or at the door.
I also found the trailer online. Pretty sweet.
White Style 2010
It was another beautiful day in Washington today. And I was wishing I was outside mountain biking.
Yet, for as lovely as a winter as we've had in the Northwest, a lot of the country has been having snow. So they are still thinking about snowboarding season at the moment.
But what if you combined the snow and mountain biking? Well, then you'd get this:
Yet, for as lovely as a winter as we've had in the Northwest, a lot of the country has been having snow. So they are still thinking about snowboarding season at the moment.
But what if you combined the snow and mountain biking? Well, then you'd get this:
Tolt McDonald Park
Note: We shot this on Thursday, but thanks to a power outage that night, and a busy weekend, sorry for the delay in getting this up.)
Location: Carnation, Washington
Trail Description:
The area is covered in singletrack trails with manageable hills. The main trail starts directly across the Tolt river from the parking area. Cross the bridge and then head up the really big hill. After about one mile the trail levels off. The first accent is pretty difficult. Once you get to the top, there are tons of winding trails. Make sure to bring a map or else you're almost certainly going to get lost.
How to get there:
From Seattle, drive East on I-90 to exit #22 and turn left towards Fall City. From Fall City, drive North on Hwy 203. You will cross a bridge and enter Carnation. Start look for the entrance to Tolt-McDonald Park on the left, across from the middle school. Follow the park's road to the parking lot at the end.
Location: Carnation, Washington
Trail Description:
The area is covered in singletrack trails with manageable hills. The main trail starts directly across the Tolt river from the parking area. Cross the bridge and then head up the really big hill. After about one mile the trail levels off. The first accent is pretty difficult. Once you get to the top, there are tons of winding trails. Make sure to bring a map or else you're almost certainly going to get lost.
How to get there:
From Seattle, drive East on I-90 to exit #22 and turn left towards Fall City. From Fall City, drive North on Hwy 203. You will cross a bridge and enter Carnation. Start look for the entrance to Tolt-McDonald Park on the left, across from the middle school. Follow the park's road to the parking lot at the end.
A bike shop post on craigslist
I like to browse the "Best of List" on craigslist.com. Here's a great one that I found. Straight out of Seattle. You know this stuff really happens.*disclaimer* JustSON did not change the original context of the post, we simply edited it since we're a family friendly blog
A few things from the bike shop.
Date: 2009-05-27, 4:05PM PDT
Whoo-hoo Seattle, the sun is out! Let's discuss a few things before you fumble with swapping the unused ski rack for the unused bike rack on the Subaru.
So yes, you've noticed the sun is out, and hey!- maybe it would be cool to to some bike riding. Let's keep in mind that the sun came out of all 600,000 of us, so for the most part, you're not the only one who noticed.
Please remember that when you walk into my shop on a bright, sunny Saturday morning. It will save you from looking like a complete moron that huffs "Why are there so many people here?" Are we all on the same page now about it being sunny outside? Have we all figured out that we're not the only clever people that feel sunny days are good for bike riding? Great. I want to kiss all of you on your forehead for sharing this moment with me. Put your vitamin D starved fingers in mine, and we'll move on together to some pointers that will make life easier.
SOME POINTERS FOR THE PHONE:
- I don't know what size of bike you need. The only thing that I can tell over the phone is that you sound fat. I don't care how tall you are. I don't care how long your inseam is. Don't complain to me that you don't want to come ALL THE WAY down to the bike shop to get fitted for a bike. I have two hundred bikes in my inventory. I will find one that fits you. Whether you come from the north or the south, my shop is downhill. Pretend you're going to smell a fart, ball up, and roll your fat ass down here.
- Don't get high and call me. Write it down, call me later. When I have four phone lines ringing, and a herdlet of people waiting for help, I can't deal with you sitting there "uuuuhhh"-ing and "uuummm"-ing while your brain tries to put together some cheeto-xbox-fixie conundrum. We didn't get disconnected, I left you on hold to figure your message out.
-I really do need to see your bike to know what is wrong with it. You've already figured out that when you car makes a noise, the mechanic needs to see it. When your TV goes blank, a technician needs to see it. I can tell you, if there is one thing I've learned from you f***g squirrels, it's that "doesn't shift right" means your bike could need a slight cable adjustment, or you might just need to stop backing into it with the Subaru. Bring it in, I'll let you know for sure.
- No, I don't know how much a good bike costs. For some, spending $500 dollars is a kingly sum. For others, $500 won't buy you one good wheel. You really need to have an idea of what you want, because every one of you raccoons "doesn't want to spend too much".
FOR YOU INVENTIVE TYPES AND DO-IT-YOURSELFERS:
- Just because you think is should exist, doesn't mean that it does. I know that to you, a 14 inch quill stem makes perfect sense, but what makes more sense is buying a bike that fits you, not trying to make your mountain bike that was too small for you to begin with into a comfort bike.
- If some idiot on some message board somewhere says that you can use the lockring from your bottom bracket as a lockring for a fixie conversion doesn't mean that A: you can, or B: you should. Please listen to me on this stuff, I really do have your best interests at heart.
- I love that you have the enthusiasm to build yourself a recumbent in the off season. That does not mean however, that I share your enthusiasm; ergo I won't do the "final tweaks" for you. You figure out why that Sram shifter and that Shimano rear derailleur don't work together. While we're at it, you recumbent people scare me a little. Don't bring that lumbering thing anywhere near me.
A DEDICATION TO ALL THE HIPSTER DOUCHEBAGS:
-If you idiots had any money, you wouldn't NEED a vintage Poo-zhow to get laid. Go have an ironic mustache growing contest in front of American Apparel, so that I can continue selling $300 bikes to fatties, which is what keeps the lights on.
- Being made in the 80's may make something cool, but that doesn't automatically make something good. The reason that no one has ridden that "vintage" Murray is because it's crap. It was crap in the 80's, a trend it carried proudly through the 90's, and rallied with into the '00's. What I mean to say is, no, I can't make it work better. It's stillcrap, even with more air in the tires.
SO YOU'RE GONNA BUY A BIKE:
Good for you! Biking is awesome. It's easy, it's fun, it's good for you. I want you to bike, I really do. To that end, I am here to help you.
-Your co-worker that's "really into biking" knows all. Stop asking for his advice. He could care less about you having the right bike. He wants to validate his bike purchase(s) through you. He also wants to sleep with you, and wear matching bike shorts with you.
- You're not a triathlete. You're not. If you were, you wouldn't be here, and we both know it.
- You're not a racer. If you were, I'd know you already, and you wouldn't be here, and we both know it.
- So you want a bike that you can ride to work, goes really fast, is good for that triathlon you're doing this summer (snicker), is good on trails and mud, and costs less than $300. Yeah. Listen, I want a car that can go 200 miles an hour, tow a boat, has room for five adults, is easy to parallel park but can carry plywood, gets 60mpg, and only costs $3,000. I also want a unicorn to blow me. What are we even talking about here? Oh yeah. Listen, bikes can be fast, light, cheap and comfortable. Pick two, and we're all good.
ABOUT YOUR KIDS:
Your kids are amazing. Sure are. No one else has kids as smart, able, funny or as good looking as you. Nope. Never see THAT around here.
- I have no idea how long you kid will be able to use this bike. As it seems to me, your precious is a little retarded, and can't even use the damn thing now. More likely, your budding genius is going to leave the bike in the driveway where you will Subaru the bike to death LONG before the nose picker outgrows the bike.
- Stop being so jumpy. I am not a molester. You people REALLY watch too much TV. When I hold the back of the bike while your kid is on it, it's not because I get a thrill from *almost* having my hand on kid butt, it's because kids are unpredictable, and generally take off whenever possible, usually not in the direction you think they might go. Listen, if I were going to do anything bad to your kids, I'd feed them to sharks, because sharks are F***ING AWESOME.
I hope this helps, and have fun this summer riding your kick-ass bike!
Memorial Day weekend in Washington
This weekend is Memorial Day. That means an extra day of freedom. What are you're plans?Well, if you're a last minute decider, I ran the numbers, Googled the results, and added my own bias into the mix and in no paticular order, here are the JustSON Top 10 Washington state destinations for the extended weekend.
1. Paradise, WA - Nothing beats Mount Rainier in my opinion. And for a long time I wanted to be a park ranger. Still might try it if this writing thing never pans out. I haven't been up to Paradise since they opened the new vistor's center. If you live in the area, and have never been up to the mountain, you're missing out on a lot.
2. Cougar, WA - Explore Mount St. Helens. There are a ton of great stuff around the area to discover, from the visitor center to the ape caves to the lava canyon.
3. Anacortes, WA - Ferry to the San Juan Islands and you won't be disappointed. This is a great trip with plenty to see. Some of the highlights include: ferry ride, scenic views, great dining, whale watching, histroic landmarks, Mount Constitution, and sea life.
4. Mazama, WA - Take a drive in the North Cascades. This 132 mile drive throught the Cascades Mountains allows breath taking views of high mountain peaks, deep valleys, waterfalls, rivers and dams. Also, get out and go for a hike in the area.
5. Seattle, WA - If you're more a one-day event person, why not hit up the city? Go to the zoo, the shops, Pikes Place Market, enjoy lunch on the waterfront, catch a Mariners game or a trip up the Space Needle.
6. Snoqualmie, WA - The Snoqualmie Falls provides a great backdrop for pictures and you could eat lunch at the lodge. Or, if you're rich, stay there. There are tons of hiking trails around the area and lots of campgrounds. Take a trip up Mount Si in nearby North Bend, or if shopping is more your thing, then check out the North Bend Outlet Mall. Also, if you like to hit the slots, you can head over to the new Snoqualmie Casino.
7. Port Angeles, WA - The Olympic National Park offers a huge range of items. This area can be explored by bike, car, foot, trail, path, kayak, canoe or even motor boat. There is so much to do here.
8. Lake Chelan, WA - The home Web site of the lake promotes 101 things to do while visiting. On this list is wineries, boating, golfing, river rafting, music, fishing, need I go on. This is one awesome place to visit.
9. Long Beach, WA - Beach. Right there. All you need to know.
10. Leavenworth, WA - Tucked in the mountains is a great little town called Levenworth. Thjs town is rich in history and caters to tourists.
Honorable mention - Brandon's house, Spokane, WA - Joking aside, Spokane is a great place to go for a weekend. The mountains are close by, golfing is all around, Spokies provide excellent entertainment and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho is just down the road.
Close call - Pullman, WA. Hanging out with Ryan Leaf. Wait, this is the BEST places to visit for the long weekend. Scratch that. I vote we just give the Pullman area to Idaho.
Mountain Biking Beaver Lake
Today the Northern Rangers headed out to Beaver Lake. I recently got a new mountain bike. It's a 2009 Specialized Rockhopper. So I was stoked to try it out. Jeff brought his mountain bike, a 2004 Specialized Hardrock. Needless to say, we were representing the Specialized brand today.
We were looking for a good place to try out my new ride and came across a ranking from King 5 and Evening Magazine that ranked the best mountain bike trails in the Seattle area. They ranked Beaver Lake number 3 for for 2009. We decided that we would head out there and give it a try as it's not too far from our office.
It wasn't a very hard trail minus one log bridge that had a big lip to get up onto. You had to ride at it and pull up your front tire to hop the lip. Needless to say, it was entertaining. Here, watch for yourself:
We were looking for a good place to try out my new ride and came across a ranking from King 5 and Evening Magazine that ranked the best mountain bike trails in the Seattle area. They ranked Beaver Lake number 3 for for 2009. We decided that we would head out there and give it a try as it's not too far from our office.
It wasn't a very hard trail minus one log bridge that had a big lip to get up onto. You had to ride at it and pull up your front tire to hop the lip. Needless to say, it was entertaining. Here, watch for yourself:
Product Review: Yakima King Joe 2 Bike Carrier
I recently purchased a new mountain bike (I'll review that later this week once I get to take it out on the trail) and since I drive a Dodge Neon I needed a way to carry it.
My dad has a trailer hitch mount bicycle rack on his car. The main complaint that he had about this form of bike rack was that it was pretty unstable. Because of the 1 1/4 inch mount to the 2 inch rack he has to use an adapter. The adapter adds length and some wiggle.
For what I will be using my rack for we decided the best rack would be a trunk mounted one. This way I could take it off and since I didn't drive a Subaru I wasn't going for a roof rack.
I only needed a rack that would haul two bikes and I looked at the various models out there. After reading some reviews on the models (some people who used them obviously didn't know how to follow directions but I'll get to that more in a minute) I opted for the Yakima King Joe 2 Bike Carrier.
I purchased the carrier at REI last week and got to try it out on Friday for the first time. I was carrying two bikes. My old school, weighs almost as much as my car mountain bike, and my street bike.
I found that the bike rack was very easy to install and the pads that rested on my trunk didn't scratch my car. There are six straps that connect to various points on the trunk. Two up, two down and two to the side. After tightening the straps there was no wiggle in the rack.
The rubber holders on the bar for the bikes to be strapped on are great too. They open up to add extra support on the bike frame with three separate straps to hold the bike snugly to the rack.
I drove just over 50 miles on Friday over a very windy and curvy road. I kept my eyes on the rack for any movement in the bikes. When I got home I found that the straps were just as tight as when I left and the bikes hadn't moved at all.
This is a great trunk mounted bike rack especially for the price. It runs $135.00 at REI. But I got it at the anniversary sale so saved a good chunk of change.
I've only used it for that trip and some smaller ones of about 15 miles each, but have yet to have any problems.
The negative reviews that I have read about it seem to be more user error than product error. Most of them talk about the straps being loose and lots of movement before they even started driving. I believe that is due to the user not tightening the straps. Another review said they didn't like that it could be removed from the trunk. To this I say, "You bought a REMOVABLE bike rack!" That's not the products fault, that is the users fault.
It is also great because this model not only fits my car, but also my fiance's 2008 Dodge Avenger. She has a spoiler on her car and the Yakima King Joe 2 allows for clearance over the spoiler. You can also open the the trunk with the rack still in place.
I give it a review of five stars for trunk mounted bike racks.
Bicycle fitting means a better ride
May is National Bike Month, and perhaps you've pulled you're bike down from the garage rafters and have decided to ride around the block.
Or perhaps you've been training for that century bike ride that you have coming up this summer.
Whether you're a casual rider, or an advanced rider, you have to ask yourself one question, is you bike fit correctly?
When my dad first told me he was taking his bike in for a professional fitting, I knew that was something I had to see. I had no idea such things existed.
We headed down the hill to the Bonney Lake Bicycle Shop of Sumner.
Here we met Jim Stevenson, customer service and bicycle fit specialist for the shop.
There are three different types of fittings. One for casual riders, one for enthusiast riders and one for elite riders. And since my dad has been training for the last few years to become the next Lance, he was going for the advanced fitting for elite riders.
"I start each fitting with an assessment intake," Stevenson said. "This helps me to understand the rider and their person goals."
The assessment included questions about riding style, how long the rider has been cycling, hours they bike per week and any physical issues that he needs to be aware of, such as knee replacements.
After the questions it was time for the physical assessment.
He checked my dad for flexibility, the angles of his body and had him perform a number of exercises while standing barefoot on the ground.
"Every motion that he is performing will be a motion that is experienced on the bicycle," Stevenson explained as he watched my dad perform one legged squats.
While performing this motion Stevenson noticed something about the way my dad's knees were moving. He pointed out that they were collapsing inward. "This is very common among riders. Remember how that movement looks, and we'll look for it once he's on the bike."
With the bike hooked into a trainer, my dad was ready to pedal. He warmed up for a bit and then it was time for more measuring of angles.
Stevenson was looking for the angles at which my dad's knees were moving when his leg was fully extended. He found that the bike seat was too low and the angle needed to be changed. By lifting the height of the seat, that angle was corrected.
Next Stevenson had my dad pedal more while he studied the movement from the front of the bike.
"Notice anything similar about this movement?" He asked me. And it was true. His knees looked just like they had while he was performing the squat exercise.
"It is so common among riders, but often not corrected," he said. "Poor knee alignment is a very easy way to injure yourself."
To correct this, Stevenson added inserts into my dad's shoes, and replaced the clips on his shoes.
He then hung a plumb bob from my dad's knees to check that the knee was in the correct position with the ground during pedal strokes.
"I would say that about 60 to 70 percent of riders that I have worked with have needed some major changes," said Stevenson.
Stevenson uses the Specialized program for fitting. It is one of five proven methods out there. To become a certified bicycle fit specialist, he had to travel to the Specialized bicycle component university in Morgan Hill, California. While there he spend four solid days completing the Body Geometry & Product Fundamentals of Specialized and the Body Geometry Fit Course.
"The program is not about trying to fit the rider to the bike," Stevenson said. "It's about fitting the bike to the rider."
Click on each photo to make them larger.
Jim Stevenson (right) talks with Al Knopik about goals, riding style and previous injuries.
Stevenson checks Knopik's spin for any discrepancies or abnormalities.
One of the most important aspects of riding is the angle of the knees during full extension.
Stevenson explains where the seat height should be on Knopik's bike for proper angles while riding.
In addition to explaining to the riders, Stevenson shows pictures of proper form so they can better understand what he is looking for.
Stevenson makes notes while Knopik rides after the adjustments have been made on his bicycle.
"The program is based so much on rider feedback," Stevenson said. "Without communication from the rider, I can't know how they are feeling."
Or perhaps you've been training for that century bike ride that you have coming up this summer.
Whether you're a casual rider, or an advanced rider, you have to ask yourself one question, is you bike fit correctly?
When my dad first told me he was taking his bike in for a professional fitting, I knew that was something I had to see. I had no idea such things existed.
We headed down the hill to the Bonney Lake Bicycle Shop of Sumner.
Here we met Jim Stevenson, customer service and bicycle fit specialist for the shop.
There are three different types of fittings. One for casual riders, one for enthusiast riders and one for elite riders. And since my dad has been training for the last few years to become the next Lance, he was going for the advanced fitting for elite riders.
"I start each fitting with an assessment intake," Stevenson said. "This helps me to understand the rider and their person goals."
The assessment included questions about riding style, how long the rider has been cycling, hours they bike per week and any physical issues that he needs to be aware of, such as knee replacements.
After the questions it was time for the physical assessment.
He checked my dad for flexibility, the angles of his body and had him perform a number of exercises while standing barefoot on the ground.
"Every motion that he is performing will be a motion that is experienced on the bicycle," Stevenson explained as he watched my dad perform one legged squats.
While performing this motion Stevenson noticed something about the way my dad's knees were moving. He pointed out that they were collapsing inward. "This is very common among riders. Remember how that movement looks, and we'll look for it once he's on the bike."
With the bike hooked into a trainer, my dad was ready to pedal. He warmed up for a bit and then it was time for more measuring of angles.
Stevenson was looking for the angles at which my dad's knees were moving when his leg was fully extended. He found that the bike seat was too low and the angle needed to be changed. By lifting the height of the seat, that angle was corrected.
Next Stevenson had my dad pedal more while he studied the movement from the front of the bike.
"Notice anything similar about this movement?" He asked me. And it was true. His knees looked just like they had while he was performing the squat exercise.
"It is so common among riders, but often not corrected," he said. "Poor knee alignment is a very easy way to injure yourself."
To correct this, Stevenson added inserts into my dad's shoes, and replaced the clips on his shoes.
He then hung a plumb bob from my dad's knees to check that the knee was in the correct position with the ground during pedal strokes.
"I would say that about 60 to 70 percent of riders that I have worked with have needed some major changes," said Stevenson.
Stevenson uses the Specialized program for fitting. It is one of five proven methods out there. To become a certified bicycle fit specialist, he had to travel to the Specialized bicycle component university in Morgan Hill, California. While there he spend four solid days completing the Body Geometry & Product Fundamentals of Specialized and the Body Geometry Fit Course.
"The program is not about trying to fit the rider to the bike," Stevenson said. "It's about fitting the bike to the rider."
Click on each photo to make them larger.
Jim Stevenson (right) talks with Al Knopik about goals, riding style and previous injuries.
Stevenson checks Knopik's spin for any discrepancies or abnormalities.
One of the most important aspects of riding is the angle of the knees during full extension.
Stevenson explains where the seat height should be on Knopik's bike for proper angles while riding.
In addition to explaining to the riders, Stevenson shows pictures of proper form so they can better understand what he is looking for.
Stevenson makes notes while Knopik rides after the adjustments have been made on his bicycle.
"The program is based so much on rider feedback," Stevenson said. "Without communication from the rider, I can't know how they are feeling."
The world of mountain bikes
Yesterday I made it official. I have joined the ranks of mountain bikers. Down at the Bonney Lake Bicycle Shop of Sumner I bought a Specialized Rockhopper.
After trying out most of the mountain bikes they had in the store (even some that were WAY out of my price range) I decided on the Rockhopper. They only had the black frame model in and I wanted the red one. They ordered it and it will be showing up next week. So I'll have a complete feature on the bike when it shows up.
Also, last Saturday my dad went down to the shop for a professional bike fitting. I tagged along and will have a feature up about that this weekend.
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