Full Stride. Rat Ride.

Bike Shop Rules

2012-01-28T13:32:00.005-05:00

Since it is January in the bike store we would like to take minute to clarify some bike shop rules so our employees and customers have some guide lines to follow.. mainly the definition of Beer o' Clock for Bike Stores.

Beer drinking can commence when:

In season (full time busy): When the open sign is turned off and all customers have left.

A) unless a customer brings in beer with in 15 minutes of closing and there is someone else working the floor then the managers may have one with the customer.

B)Sag support for rides; When the participants start eating lunch and you are done driving. This can be anytime between 11am and 1 PM. If not driving and just wrenching, 1 Beer before the start for Breakfast is acceptable, especially if you were up all night repairing bikes.

C)It is your day off, of course you come in to the shop. Yes you can have one but you must hide it from customers. Please try not to parade around with it in front of the other employees. They are already jealous because you have the day off and just rode 50 miles, now they have to watch you drink beer at 2 PM..Not cool.

Cyclocross Season; anytime during, before, or after the event. Regardless of your responsibilities for the day. Remember to at least have a cookie during registration and do not stand to close to the fire in your costume.

Winter: Here is were it gets tricky. We'll break it down into two types of working environments.

A) Standard day at the bike store. Yes it is slow, no you can not start drinking beer yet. Standard procedure is: your working till 8PM and there has been no customer or phone calls since 5PM 30-45 minutes before close is acceptable.

1) Have hiding space behind counter and gum handy. This will ensure no one will come in. Forget those things and your top vegan, recovering alcoholic Triathlete (no offence to you, its us really) will come in for you to adjust his DI2 and pair his Garmin with his power meter...or you will have to fit a kids helmet with mom watching.

B) Construction Projects. Constructions beers can start noticeably earlier. 4PM is Standard. This would be for such things as doing a build out on a new location, Repainting a current one, figuring out how to add 30 more bike to an existing warehouse/basement ect. There are some additional rules to bike shop construction beers. Keep in mind you have probably told your local municipality you are a fully licenced and bonded electrician, plumber, general contractor ect so watch out for surprise inspections

1) Standard Demo work, anything with a reciprocating saw or sledge hammer; Anytime

2) Flooring, Painting, rearranging, building shelving; 3-4 depending on how the day goes.

3) Electrical work: get AT LEAST 3/4 through the job or 4:30

Special Circumstances(all times of year):

You go out to lunch with a customer, company rep, or you have just finished a group ride: Anytime

You are out of town/going out of town to a trade show, product launch, seminar or 24/60/100 mile race

Anytime

I hope this has been helpfull. Our next installment will be on Shop Flow Charts; When to use them?, How many is acceptable to hang in the shop?

@#%$&$^@&* it's only 2'oclock on a Saturday...

In the Press!

2011-11-28T12:01:00.002-05:00

Sun News and Cleveland.com recently ran a story on our newest store.

"There is so much available here in the line of bike paths. The city has a designated bike lane right here on Front Street, we have the Cleveland Metroparks, which is terrific, and people are commuting more to work now," he said. "This is a fairly under-serviced market. And the area, with its small, older, historic downtown fits us well."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

MRC alumni Mr. Nick Wright just did a article/interview for FFJournal.net on one of our favorite companies..Moots! READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

"A full-time production staff of 15 makes Moots’ frames by hand, about 1,500 annually, through a precision process that entails designing, mitering, machining, welding and finishing. Tube diameters and thicknesses vary with each bike’s size to maintain ride characteristics for the smallest through largest size. For example, a 56 cm Vamoots, a mid-size classic road frame, would use 1 1/2 in. OD top tube (from the seat to handlebars) and down tube (seat to pedals), with a 0.032 in. or 0.035 in. wall thickness, Cariveau says.
In its 15,000-sq.-ft. shop, Moots uses a half-dozen Bridgeport mills that are set up for different tooling, depending on the cut, cope or slot desired, according to Butch Boucher, quality control manager. “We’ve made a lot of our own mitering fixtures for specific tasks, that’s why we have so many mills,” he says. Additionally, Moots relies on Haas Automation and SuperMax Tools machining centers. “We try to set up as many dedicated tools as we can to do our jobs.”

2011-11-14T16:14:00.005-05:00

Cool Happenings...
From the Kona Cog to the MRC Blog, Were Kona's shop of the week!
"Mountain Road Cycles lives its motto “It’s not just a ride around the block, it’s a way of life.”

“We’re a community within a community,” says Jacob English, owner. “We ride with our customers, educate our customers and are very active in our communities.”

English opened the first Mountain Road Cycles shop, Oct 2004, in Chagrin Falls. Three years later came Chardon in 07, and most recently, the third opened the last weekend in Oct 2011, in Berea. All cool, small town settings.

Combined, the managers and staff running Mountain Road Cycles have some 120 years of experience in the bike industry. It’s a history, passion and commitment they live to share.

So what can you expect when you walk into a Mountain Road Cycles shop?

Read the full interview/article here!

How about a cool video from the summer?? Annual W.V trip 2011, featuring music from Jacobs own band Way of Life.

Now thats a whole lot of "way of life talk!" trade mark shop slogans, band names, I guess its what were all about!

Announcing New Trails at Royalview Park

2011-09-26T11:08:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, this summer Cleveland Metroparks has been planning mountain bike trails at Royalview in Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville. The Metroparks chose to work with a small group of CAMBA members on this project, utilizing their skills in trail design. Extensive natural resource studies were done at the same time to ensure the trail is laid out with minimum impact.

Some in CAMBA felt left out by the lack of information during the process. While the process was not “secret” the Metroparks took a low key approach, not wanting to make major announcements until the natural resource studies were complete and the board of commissioners weighed in. This process took many months. BIG THANKS go to the CAMBA members who devoted many hours to this project, instead of riding their bikes this summer!

The addition of these trails was a sensitive issue with some public. Other trail user groups protested vehemently. The Metroparks new draft strategic plan (to which many of you contributed!) is recommending an increase in outdoor recreation and health & wellness initiatives. This is based on consultant work, extensive public input and interviews with community leaders. The Metroparks decided to consider new uses to help meet these recommendations, and kudos to them for taking a more balanced approach for all trail users; hike, horse, and bike.

Many of the Metroparks trails are not in good shape or sustainably built. The Metropark is using the Royalview trails as a learning laboratory for their own staff to learn the techniques and design of building sustainable trails for all park users. They hired experienced Student Conservation Corps leaders to teach and build in this effort. Going forward, the Metroparks will use these skills to rehabilitate many of their other trails.

There are 2 loops in the new system. No definite completion date as it depends on weather and speed of crews. Roughly, Loop 2 may be complete this fall and Loop 1 next year. Watch the web site for volunteer work days later in Oct. Thanks go to Cleveland Metroparks and CAMBA for this work!

http://cog.konaworld.com/archives/category/2012-sneak-peeks

2011-06-28T21:21:00.028-04:00

Check out some of the new 2012 Kona bikes "Sweet"

Life of a Mountain Biker

2011-06-24T08:20:00.004-04:00

Check out this award winning documentary produced and made by our very own Melissa Prax, featuring our very own Robbie Galloway!! MRC employees are amazing!! Give it a minute to load, about 10 min long and well worth the watch

Blossom Parade 2011!!

2011-06-06T13:19:00.006-04:00

Cycling Skills Clinics

2011-05-23T13:34:00.014-04:00

After a seemingly neverending monsoonal spring, we keep hearing from folks that they're behind in their biking goals. But we find ourselves inundated with race and ride opportunities! For those looking to find their legs again (and better than ever before), perhaps it's time for that one-on-one coaching experience. Highly credentialed and a great friend of the shop, Tim Edwards of North Coast Endurance Coaching offers a variety of classes, all sure to leave you with a noggin full of knowledge.

Sign up for a small and personal, full-day skills clinic for mountain biking, road cycling, triathlon/time trials or cyclocross. Invest in your own abilities and move to the head of the pack this season!

2 Reviews in 1

2011-05-02T16:57:00.005-04:00

2 reviews in 1: On Sunday a good size group of us headed out to the Cleveland Metro Parks Canal Way Visitor Center for the very first PAVE de Old Brooklyn to Tremont. The ride put together by MRC's own Paul Hamad, was in the vein of the Spring Classics. Lots of brick roads, short steep climbs, a little bit of trail, and very cool neighborhoods. In tow, was a New custom built Kona Major Jake, ready for an inagural ride. This bike was built as the Road bike for road season and cyclocross for the cyclocross season. All that will be required is a tire and crank swap. The ride was 30 miles in all and this bike was designed perfectly for this ride. The upgraded Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes handled all the steep fast and short desents, while the Sram Force 50-34 crank offered perfect gearing for a true road ride. This frameset simply put rides "amazing" The tapered head/steer tube up front made cornering a dream and spot on. Stiff when needed and very suitable for all day riding describes the rest. Back to the ride. The route had us hitting every brick road from Old Brooklyn down to Tremont then over to Steelyard commons. I had forgotten how many parks and bike trails surround the area. Keep an I out for a sencond one, judging by the amount of fun everyone had. Click here for a map of the ride/route.
My only complaint was Honey Hut was not open, better be next time.

Things are starting to swing..

2011-04-17T09:24:00.007-04:00

It's mid April already and the cycling season is in full swing!There are a ton of great rides and events over the next month or so..Keep up with all of them on the MRC Rides,Races, and Events Page or on the MRC Facebook page..
Quick list of things to come:
Thurs April 21st; Free Gearing Clinic 6:00pm, Both MRC Locations
Sunday May 1st; Pave de Old Brooklyn, experience a new Spring Classic
Sunday May 8th; Buddhaful Spin Group Rides and Sunrise Salutations, Polo Fields 7:30/9:00
Saturday May 14th; Tour De Solon.
Sunday May 15th; MRC's TEAM CRC Chippewa Creek Road Race, Brecksville reservation.
then.....2 weeks to .....Blossom Time Parade, MRC's biggest party of the year
Then on to June, July and August: Sunday in June, Right Side of the Road Tour..and so much more..

Other Fun Facts: How do the researchers at NASA's John Glenn Reasearch Center get around on their MASSIVE complex that looks like something out of the TV show lost (seriously, there are some weird looking buildings and train tracks to now where)On their new fleet of Kona Africa and World bikes! Thats right NASA now rocks and rides Kona. What will the first bike on the moon be? and they better not let a bunch of fixed gear hipsters up there.

race face closes its doors...

2011-03-12T10:32:00.000-05:00

more here...
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Race-Face-Closes-the-Doors.html?trk=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

race face has been a great component company, and has a loyal following (including yours truly). this is sad news; however, when one door closes, one opens. so lets see what happens in the future with the former employees...

Frostbike Recap

2011-02-25T12:08:00.006-05:00

Where to begin...Last Thursday Nick,Russ,and Jacob headed up to balmy Minneapolis for the Quality Bicycle Products(our largest and best parts supplier) annual Frostbike trade show. This used to be a "mini" show and has quickly turned in to one of the industry's premier events. Lot's of seminars,vendors,happy hours,and all around "get ready for the season" vibe.
The first night included a stop at One on One bikes, a Bicycle Studio, Coffee shop, all around cool place. Classic bikes from the 30's to the 90's mix with present day beauties. There may be 15 new bikes on the floor, and 200 in the basement. A cool, unorthadox approach, but impressive. When Nick asked "should we be scared of anything in the basement?" and the response was "just the scary old man" Ididn't really belive them...WOW. We should get one of the those guys for the Chardon Basement! Friday was a bunch of seminars, as well as Sat morning. These are the real deal, designed to help us serve you better and run our business better fot the future. Mountain Road was even featured in the Social Media seminar (as a good thing!)Then on to check out all of the great vendors including Garmin, Michelin, Selle Itaila, Shimano, Sram, Pearl Izumi, Smartwool, Cateye and soo soo many more.We are all refreshed and ready for the season....
...that was until we tried to come home Sunday morning. Huge storm, cancelled flights, lost baggage, frozen car...and next thing you know we are home at 3AM on Tues. None the less, big props to QBP & their LEED certified building, truly a leader in the bike biz, helping us help serve you better...
and Russ achieved his dream of meeting the Michelin Man

the name is ART VANDELAY......

2011-01-29T13:10:00.001-05:00

Circulus from machine project on Vimeo.

It's January so......

2011-01-08T12:28:00.003-05:00

Since it is snowing and Cleveland and cold and we are not currently drinking beer and racing pugsley's we can only dream right....

So after perusing Bike magazine and looking at all the fancy pictures, KBtambo bike tours and hotel looks pretty good. Who doesn't want to Mountain Bike around Machu Picchu??

Or perhaps a bit closer to home...The Land of the Water Falls sounds pretty good for both Road and Mountain . It's been a few years since I have been there but the riding is some of the best around. Plus you get to say " I'm riding in Transylvania"

OR sit at the computer googling the Orly Owl. However if you are on a bike trip, riding your bike with friends, somewhere in the mountain, deserts, or through ruins I think it wise to relax and have a good time.....no throwing your bike !!!

Seal of Approval

2010-12-29T14:35:00.001-05:00

Product we like: Enduro's fork seals. A bit more info here.

For the second time, we replaced the stock seals on about a four-year-old Fox F32 Talas Terralogic that, after years of what we'd consider hard riding on a Moots Zirkel, looked like this:


Yuck!

Enduro's upgraded seals boast dual-lip seals under the wiper that keep the muck from your favorite trail, park, or landfill off your stanchions, while keeping your fluids in the fork. We've replaced them on a dozen or so models of Fox forks. So far, no leakage with these blue babies:

So fresh and so clean

Spotlight: Bikes 4 Kids

2010-12-12T16:08:00.000-05:00

As we're in the holiday spirit of Christmas giving, we'd like to give a nod to Kim Schaefer and his non-profit bicycle donation program, "Bikes-4-Kids."

Started in 2005, Bikes-4-Kids has steadily grown as "there are always more kids than bikes...each year we are able to reach out to more and more great children," Kim says.

Customers frequently ask us what they can do with their old kids' bikes. We offer to take them off your hands, after which we fix 'em up, and donate them to programs like Bikes-4-Kids. It's a win for everyone - you don't have to worry about leaving a bike on the curb, and people like Kim repurpose used bikes for deserving kids.

This past weekend, we donated over a dozen used and gently used bikes. Kim even had to make two trips with his truck.

So next time you're wondering what to do with that old Huffy, Diamondback, or Giant in your garage, bring it on by. It's sure to find a home.

major jake...

2010-11-06T14:43:00.000-04:00

head tube.

i just picked up the new major jake, and i wanted to put up this shot of the head tube, esp. because of our last post.

i think you are able to really see the shaping in this picture, from the larger diameter tapering to a smaller diameter.

as stated...this frame is amazingly light, and i am very excited to build it up, and get out on it.

i have recently retired my cross bike of ten years, so this will be a drastic change for me, but one i am looking forward too.

My New Orange Crush...

2010-10-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

...comes in full carbon. Can't get my mind off of Kona's 2011 Major Jake.

We've even displayed it in a spot that you can see from anywhere on the floor.

Let's take a look at this stunning beauty that's been turning heads since it came in the door:

First impressions:

Our Major Jake is a 53cm, paired up with a carbon Kona CX Race tapered fork/carbon steerer. The massive head tube has a 1-1/8" top and bottoms out at 1-1/2" - a nice cozy anchor for the fork.

Fork and head tube aside, the taper emerges as a total necessity if not just for extra strength when you consider the fat hexagonal down tube that's almost as wide as the BB30 bottom bracket shell.

Seamlessly bound to the flared 34.9mm seat tube and topped off with a flattened top tube (not that you'll need any extra help getting Major Jake on your shoulder), the frame heralds a whole new kind of stiffness for when you're cranking away.

Throw in some internal cable routing and warrior-like orange and white graphics on black carbon, and you've got yourself one hell of a frameset. We've weighed it in at a feathery 3.1 lbs (frame+fork). Don't worry, it won't blow away in the wind.

On the wall now in Chagrin.

2010 CRC Creek Cross Recap

2010-10-19T19:22:00.000-04:00

Do I see a new Jake The Snake there?

Hopefully everyone's caught their breath by now after Sunday's 2010 Creek Cross CX race in Solon. Results were posted early Tuesday on Chagrin River Cycling's (CRC) site.

The weather couldn't have been better for a cross race. Sunny, cool, and little-to-no wind.

Winding through the Bartels' grassy property on the southeast corner of Richmond and Solon roads in Solon, the roughly 1.25-mile course led riders through a sinuous snarl of seemingly endless switchback turns.

With mostly dry conditions and no run-ups, riders faced only two back-to-back hurdles, a 10-yard heap of deep, wet gravel, and quick narrow tree-weaving. The spiraling course initially funneled everyone into a tight squeeze around a stack of hay -- a rabbit hole, or eye of the storm, if you will -- before spitting everyone out onto the bulk of the course.

To make things interesting, each race began with a chaotic Le Mans-style start, in which riders set up their bikes about 200 feet ahead of the starting line -- and upon "Go!" everyone ran to retrieve their rig and proceed down the course.

Here's the Category A guys at the start:

Thanks again to CRC and The Bartels for hosting the race, and to Lynn Marut for officiating. Stay tuned for more race info at Northeast Ohio Cyclocross Series.

Kona Blast Product Launch, Bellingham WA

2010-08-29T10:53:00.000-04:00

Kona Blast 2011 Recap.

One Kona Launch in the wraps. Locating in Ferndale, Washington, we arrived in the city of Bellingham, about a two hours north of Seattle. Great location on the water and with Galbraith Mountain looking over the city. This was Kona’s 1st private launch and they did a perfect job of mixing business with killer riding. It’s always a great experience to be immersed in what I would call the “Kona Culture”. This company lives and breaths all things bike, from their Africa Bike programs to the new Operator DH, Kona is all about your ride in all sense of the word.
Kona has a stunning line up this year! New highlights include the 2x2, a Magic Link Full Floater that changes between 80 and 100 mm. perfect for N. Ohio’s XC. They have revamped the Cyclo Cross line up, with lighter Jakes and a Full Carbon Cross bike coming in at $3000. These will be on the floor just in time for cross season. One of the simple yet stunning bikes was the World Bike, a simple 3 spd. The name Nunu is back in a perfect XC hardtail machine. The 29er line up expands a bit, and a new all around full suspension bike the Tanuki comes out.
After a morning of some actual work it was out to the demo crew to get set up with bikes for the ride. One really fast group, led by Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks ( who have got to be the most down to earth pros ever! More on that later), one medium pace ride, and one recreational ride. I am the lucky guy who gets to ride a Cadabra build for the Sea Otter Classic. Scandium frame, Sram 1x10 drive train ( I am now fully sold on 1x’s or 2x 10’s, no going back) Rock Shox Black box fork, this puppy weighed in at 23lbs for nearly 7” of travel. I settled in about mid pack of 40 or so riders an up up up up up up we went. We climbed about 1500’ of steep but relatively easy single track then the real fun began. Cory, a rep was our ride leader, took us around the trails on the top with names like intestine to ----- well you get the idea. The decent was amazing. Tight, twisty and down does not begin to describe it.! All said a great 2 ½ hour ride.
After a few celebratory beers with fellow dealers, it was off to the Kona USA HQ for some beers, BBQ, and basketball. Tons of vintage Kona’s hang on the walls marking the company’s great history. Then came the basketball game. In the first round my team of 5’8” dealers took on Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks. I think the score was 11-0. Lets Just say they race 23” Kona Hei Hei 29ers.
The following day came meetings with all the inside Kona peeps. Kona has a great “ Family” of employee’s and dealers. It is clear they are not like any other company in the industry. The core values share many of MRC’s values. The bikes are innovative, sensible and just like MRC, it’s not just a ride around the block, it’s a way of life.
A quick stop in Seattle for the night also showed an amazing bike culture. As we sat having a beer in Olympic Park ( home to Space Needle) I watch hundreds, and I do mean hundreds of local riders coming by, listening to a free concert and socializing. This is what they do on a Friday night…..

sram xx product demo...

2010-08-11T13:54:00.000-04:00

i was lucky enough to hit sram's product demo today. the sram van pulled up with a truck load of bikes all decked out with sram xx 2x10 mountain system.

as a shop we could get all the literature on a product. get talked up about it from our reps. but until you get a chance to ride it...that's another story.

the 2x10 system is an amazing system, and it is nice to see it already trickling down to some of sram's other groups, so you don't have the sticker shock of xx.

the advantage of the 2x10 system is:
weight. it's a lighter system than anything else out there.
cross-shifting. coming into a shop we tell you all the time not to do this. well this is what it is made for. it gets rid of the granny gear and riding big to big is not a problem.
shifting. the chainring ratio; the small ring is exactly 2/3 of the big ring. this allows crisper shifting up front. four point up shift locations. and with this ratio, the chain is always engaged on the chainrings during shifting. what does this mean? you never loose power during your shift, even under load.
cassette. the main body of the cassette is a single piece forged stainless steel piece. except for the 'low gear'; which is aluminum.
less clutter. the brake levers, shift levers, and the lock out for the shock are all able to be on one clamp with their patiented match make technology.
custom fit. the shifter levers are able to be rotated 30 degrees for reach. and the brake levers are able to be adjusted for reach also.

so if you're looking to upgrade your existing drivtrain, or interested in a new bike; i'd seriously take a look at what sram is doing, both on road and off. come on in and talk to us about it.

the beginning of...

2010-08-05T19:16:00.000-04:00

august is never too early to start thinking about cyclocross. this is a new site that i found for the cleveland area 'cross races; neocx.

it just started up, and it will be nice to find all the races in one spot, instead of me checking at least three different sites to get the info. on all the races.

so get those cross bikes out, bring 'em in to get work on, and start riding; because cross season will be here before you know it.

Giant Product 2011, Deer Valley

2010-08-04T01:04:00.000-04:00

Why is this a great industry?? because the people, product, and lifestyle. After a busy "Right Side" Tour on Sunday I headed out to Deer Valley, Utah; for Giants 2011 Product Launch. After Trying to pack up in the morning...do I bring the body armor..wait it won't fit ....wait what am I missing, I made the trek out.
Tues: Product meetings 8-3...then ride. That sounds like a good day! 2011 looks great! Great speech from Elysa Walk, General Manager of Giant USA. Great Trails at Deer Valley. 5 Runs in, 3 with a Giant Trance( 5" travel) 2 w/ a Faith ( 7.6 Travel). The Faith just handles like a bike that should be 28 lbs. Awesome.. Then out to Olympic Park for dinner, drinks and a killer show of future and former Olympic skiers in their training ground. It was a true athletic spectacle. Most impressive by far was Giant's General manager taking the first run. Video footage to follow, but not quite that tech savey in the mountains.
Now they have to bus all the dealers ( the top 10% of Giants Dealers mind you) back to the hotel...Back to why I love this industry. As soon as we get on the bus someone says " we need a beer run", the next guy says " we want to got to the bars on Park City's main st"...more "beer run" request follow. Mind you the driver of the big bus is just supposed to take us back to the hotel. BUT the bikers win, he will take us on a beer run and take the others to the bar, then the rest back to the hotel. After the quick drop off at the local store we emerge with beer and get back on the bus... now this is where the difference occurs...the next dealer emerges from the store and hands out ice cream bars with chocolate to every one on the bus....

hanging out at the Clinic...

2010-06-25T07:59:00.000-04:00

last wednesday the shop was invited down to the Cleveland Clinic for, what i would call, a fitness expo. more than a dozen local fitness and health clubs and shops were on display, and M.R.C. was the only bike shop there.

i was on hand as the representative of the shop, and was talking to people about cycling in general. mostly dealing with the many different types of bikes that are available to people nowadays. bikes for commuting. fitness. the bikes that go beyond the traditional road bike and mountain bike.

also the health benefits that cycling offers. low impact cardo.

so, thanks to the Cleveland Clinic for having us, and we look forward to helping out again in the future.

Hey People

2010-06-01T15:09:00.000-04:00

Become active in our local community!!! Safe Routes to School Chagrin Falls and the Chagrin Falls Alternative Transportaion Study NEED your help

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL:
Please take a moment today to fill out our volunteer form:
Just go to our website at this link - http://saferouteschagrin.com/main/get-involved/volunteer-to-help/ - and click on the volunteer form link. This will allow you to save it to your computer, then open it up and submit it without having to print it out or attach it to an email. (you can also access the volunteer form at this link - https://acrobat.com/#d=CX5S3LOKJlmSpJJwJtLnDA)

On the same page, you can click to view the powerpoint presentation from our last community meeting which has an overview of all our projects that were funded with the $577,000 grant.

Our next meeting has been changed to Tuesday, June 15th from 7-8 pm at the Chagrin Falls Public library. We know some of you will need to bring your kids with you, so we will have a make your own ice cream sundae party for you and your kids at the library that evening. We will also have a game for the kids to play while we have our meeting. Hope you can come and learn more about what we're doing!

TRANSPORTATION STUDY
Also, the Villages of Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Moreland Hills, Orange, South Russell, along with Cleveland Metroparks, Geauga Park District, South Russell Multipurpose Trail Foundation and planning consultant Behnke Associates, are studying route options for non-motorized transportation (including bicycling and walking, and they need YOUR input. Please go to the Village of Chagrin Falls website to take a short survey (it says due in may, but they still want additional responses to truly represent our community - tell your friends too!) - http://www.chagrin-falls.org/
The Safe Routes to School Chagrin Falls Team

2010-05-14T10:53:00.000-04:00

Join Mountain Road, Felt Bicycles, and the Cleveland Tri Club for " CLUB Night" Tonight only!!!!
Where: Chagrin Location
What: Felt Demo's 3-9, the demo rig will be here full of bikes!
What: Club Night 7-9. Come meet the Tri Club, free demos and mechanical clinics, discounts, food and drink. Sponsored by Sram, Felt, and Zipp

A Classic Returns. This Sunday May 16th is the Chippewa Creek Road Race! Brecksville Reservation. The course is a 4 mile loop with three main sections. There is a 200 ft/1 mile climb, a rolling gradual ascent with several sweeping turns, and a one mile high speed descent. The FELT DEMO TRUCK full of Felts to test will be on hand!

Safe Routes Chagrin Falls Grant Awarded!!

2010-04-17T16:19:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chagrin Falls Granted $577,000 in Funding from ODOT for Safe Routes to School
~ Funded Projects will Enhance Appeal of Walking and Bicycling to School ~
Chagrin Falls, April 12, 2010 – The Ohio Department of Transportation has awarded funding of up to $577,000 to the Safe Routes to School program in Chagrin Falls for specific projects to enhance safe walking and bicycling. The $11 million in federal transportation funds to be invested this year represents the most ODOT has provided through its Safe Routes program since it began in 2004. Chagrin Falls is one of 41 communities across the state to receive funds and ranks as the third highest recipient of funds, trailing just behind the City of Columbus and the City of Lancaster. Projects planned by SRTS-Chagrin Falls include new sidewalks and paths in the vicinity of the schools, a pilot crossing guard program, increased visibility of school zones and promotion of safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers through educational programs, contests and materials.
“Chagrin Falls is already well-regarded as a walking community, with a variety of shops and businesses within walking distance of homes and an attractive downtown district, and this funding allows for us to build on that strength by making it more appealing for kids to walk and bike to school,” said Mayor Thomas Brick.
“The SRTS Team is very pleased that ODOT has approved funding for nearly all of the projects we proposed in our School Travel Plan. A lot of research and creative problem-solving went into the development of our projects and the fact that ODOT is funding them is a credit to all the solid groundwork laid by our Team,” said Kathryn Garvey, SRTS-Chagrin Falls team leader. “That said there are still quite a few details to be worked out before we can be assured that our projects will go forward. For example, a final project scope agreement needs to be established with ODOT. The scope agreement will determine the final amount of funding and when these funds will be available. ”
The Safe Routes to School program in Chagrin Falls was launched by a group of parents who wanted to support the kids who enjoy walking and biking to school by making it safer and more acceptable for them to do so. A comprehensive analysis, called a School Travel Plan (STP), was completed by the Chagrin Falls Safe Routes to School team and submitted to ODOT last year. The study was based on input from over 300 parents, students, law enforcement officers, Village and school representatives, community members and traffic engineers. According to the STP, over 82% of all parents responding to a survey indicated that improvements need to be made to the walking environment for students in Chagrin Falls. The study found that about 17% or 130 students in Chagrin Falls walk to/from school on average in good weather. Of those who live close enough but do not walk, 54% would like to be able to walk to school. The STP unearthed the barriers preventing those students from walking and biking to school and proposed specific solutions.

Top Cities for biking...

2010-04-08T19:39:00.000-04:00

Number 39 in something good...Not bad

IT HAS ARRIVED!!!!

2010-03-15T14:55:00.000-04:00

The lastest and greatest in technology has arrived at our Chagrin Falls location. The new Felt F2 with the new Dura-ace Di2 electronic shifting!!!!! The front derailleur self trims everytime you shift to a different gear in the back. It shifts like a dream. Flawless shifting in both the front and rear. You can't get any better than that. Retail price on this baby is $5999.99. So come on down and check out this beauty.

new season...

2010-03-13T13:46:00.000-05:00

and new toys.

the new sram XX is out. if you don't know, it's probably the biggest thing for mountain biking since the nine speed groups came out. that being said...ten speed it is.

this is a pic of the new rear derailleur that i picked up a few weeks ago, and finds itself on my cross bike; which is also fitted with new sram red levers. now their system is used with only a double up front. getting away from the triple that is normally found with mountain bike groups. the reasoning for this, is that if you're in the granny gear, you might as well walk; you'll be faster.

:hamad

consistent with sram, is their precision shifting and performance. you get your ceramic and ti all around and brings it weight to 181g.

so if it's time to upgrade stop on in. or if you just want to check out the new derailleur, hit me up and i can bring it up to the shop.

Seven Springs Mountain Bike Park

2010-03-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

Daniel at Seven Springs on a Kona Stinky.
Can't wait for summer!!

Strongman Competition at Frostbike

2010-03-06T20:50:00.000-05:00

Here is a video of John in the strongman competition at Frostbike. He got primed for the event by drinking 4 Dr Peppers, or was it 40? Everyone was impressed. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Look at this one...

2010-02-06T12:11:00.000-05:00

one of our latest builds...Felt F1 Sprint Team Frameset, Campy Record 11, Zipp 404....This might just turn out fast, light and stiff...? Yah I think it might..

Hei Hei

2010-02-06T12:06:00.000-05:00

Need a new 29er? want a great deal? What could be better then this. We have one 16" and one 19" available. 2009 Kona Hei Hei 29. Scandium frame, 80mm travel, Fox...was $2599.99..Now......wait for it.....wait for it......( yes its neil patrick harris's line but).....$1899.99

Disc Brake Facing

2010-01-12T10:50:00.000-05:00

One thing that can be overlooked setting up a new frame or set of brakes is the contact surface on the Brake tab. Many times from the factory we will find a brake that is "just off a bit". The usual spacing adustments don't seem to be enough. This leads to one part of the disc pad dragging or not centering properly at all. Typically this is do to paint covering the mount contact point.

One of Mountain Road Cycles favorite tools is the Park DT-1 Disc Brake Mountain Facing tool. The mechanic inserts this into the front or rear axle, adjust the contact point of the cutting teeth, and remove just enough paint and frame to have a precise flat surface to mount the brake. Here is the whole process

Of coarse we do this on all custom builds and anytime it's needed. You know the saying---The right tools for the right job!

The Mother of all Commuting Bikes.....

2009-12-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

Sometimes collaboration with customers, numerous employees, and small unique manufactures can produce quite the bicycles. Here we have our most unique build of the year. First we start of with a Rawland 650b Dsogn frameset. A great multi purpose frame ideal for commuting, mountain biking or urban riding. Then on to a simple drivetrain; Shimano internal 8spd Alfine rear hub paired to a Shimano double compact crank in front. Thats right a "single speed" but with 2 gears in front for a total of 16speeds. Now what to use for shifters?? The client wants drop bars but Shimano does not make shifters for internal hubs for a drop bar. HMMMMM? Lots o' research and we come up with a VERSA STI style right hand shifter paired with a old school barend shifter for the left.
Wait, we need some good lights. Shimano Dynamo front hub produces the power paired with Lumotech Lights from Peter White Cycles ( we are a dealer). These lights will stay on for four minutes with the bike stopped and have a on/off or automatic on when dark switch. All built up on hand built wheels using Velocity 650 rims. Add some Planet Bike Fenders....and finish it off with Brooks B17 Womens saddle and Leather Bar Tape.

More Bike Shop Rock n Roll

2009-12-02T11:44:00.000-05:00

come check out Jacob and Pauls band Way of Life.

Class Time!

2009-12-02T11:42:00.000-05:00

Class Schedule

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T10:44:00.000-05:00

Looking back on the year there is a lot to be thankful for. This was a hard year for our our fellow Americans with the bad economy and all of its effects. Yet the last year was also one of our best in many ways. Back to the Thankful part. We are thankful for our loyal customers, great employees, all the rides and events put on by our teams, customers, friends, local cycling clubs, our suppliers for working with us to provide you the best product, the new technology both on bikes and on the web allowing us to ride better and communicate better,the riding trips that we and our customers take allowing us to re-energize and remember why we ride,and our families that support us.
We always say we are a community with in a community and that is why we, our customers, and our employees can be thankful for all of the above....

get out and get in...

2009-11-20T07:20:00.000-05:00

to ray's.

i was able to grab some free time yesterday, so i headed out to ray's for a couple of hours.

there's been some changes, and addition to the place. the xc loop has some added fun; which makes it a little more challenging. it is basically the same loop; however, things have been added like logs on the climb up to the bridge. a rocky decent, and various different routes to take around the sport section.

they also added a new room; which i was in no shape to attempt, but it looked like fun.

and the other addition, a little kitty. his world is one giant scratching post.

if you haven't been it's worth the trip and time.

enjoy...

Hitler Wants to Ride his Mountain Bike

2009-11-06T12:48:00.000-05:00

Watch out for the language kiddies

Rays Preview

2009-10-23T12:37:00.001-04:00

Thanks From a Fellow Touring Cyclist

2009-10-13T14:37:00.000-04:00

It's always rewarding in this business when we get feedback from people
that stop in while on a cross country tour. Nick Cizek stopped in for
some emergency repairs and much appreciated advice from Russ Brown. Here
is the email Nick sent after reaching his goal.
Dear Russell Brown,
Thanks again for quickly fixing my bike and sending me off on my way free of charge last Thursday. You asked that all I do was send you an email telling you how my trip went. So here's what happened. First of all, I made it, in large part thanks to you. I told my friend to be at the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls between 3:30 and 5:30 on Friday. I'd meet him there, and he'd pick me up and drive me back to Cleveland. Well, as you know, things got a little behind schedule right away when my bike got messed up and I had to go back to your shop and wait for it to open. I wanted to get about midway between Erie and Buffalo that day, but instead I only made it to the eastern side of Erie by about 7 that night. I took your advice and slept in the backyard of a church, and that was great. Right on the lake, with a nice view of the remaining light of the setting sun over the water. I think I'm going to use that idea much more often now. The only problem with sleeping that night was that I was nervous about the next day. I was supposed to get the majority of my riding done on Thursday since I had much less time on Friday to ride. Being less than halfway, I was worried that I wouldn't make it the next day, even though I had guaranteed my friend that I'd be there. I should add that I don't like electronics very much. I don't own a cell phone. So, any time I go somewhere on my bike, the only electrical things I have are my front and rear lights. No cell phone, no speedometer, not even a watch. So not being in Niagara at the proper time could have created somewhat of a mess. When I woke up Friday morning, it was still pitch black outside, and I figured it would be best to get on my way, figuring it was probably 4 or 5. Not long after I left, I saw a clock at a gas station that read 1:15, and for some reason I decided to just keep going. It ended up being some of the best, most memorable riding of my life. Over the next 6 hours or so, only a handful of cars passed me, so I had the road all to myself, and the temperature was great, and the wind was nonexistant, and I even saw 4 or 5 shooting stars. Anyway, I made it to Niagara with time to spare. I waited a few hours for my friend to get there. And the scenery was great all along the way. I almost always had water in sight, either from Lake Erie or the Niagara River, which I biked along on the Canadian side (I crossed into Canada in Buffalo). The only hitches were the breakdown that first morning, a rare Southwestern wind coming from the lake all day Thursday (I thought I was biking into a headwind, and my dad confirmed later on, saying that he checked the weather out of curiosity and noticed the unusual wind direction), which was rough, and a difficulty figuring out how to get into downtown Buffalo (I got stuck along the lakefront and was cut off from the city by a canal that had no way for me to bike across, and it actually cost me more than 2 hours of time, having biked in the wrong direction for quite a while and then needing to bike all the way back in order to get onto the mainland and into the city). And that wasn't pretty. Western Buffalo, if you've never been there, is a rather dismal place. OK then. I wrote about 50 times more than you probably wanted me to. I'm sure you didn't read all of this, but I hope you enjoyed whatever parts you did. I really appreciate your helping me out Thursday morning. Good luck with your riding in the future.
---Nick

Recent artical interview from Ohio Sports and Fitness

2009-10-13T10:49:00.000-04:00

During a recent training session, I was asked by a newbie what she should look for when buying her first road bike. Her question brought me back six years to when I purchased my Cannondale R600, my trusty aluminum road bike with Shimano 105 components. § To answer that question, and several others regarding the purchase of a new bike, I turned to Jacob English, owner of Mountain Road Cycles, in Chagrin Falls and Chardon.
STACY RHEA: When buying your first road bike, what should the new rider keep in mind?
JACOB ENGLISH: When looking for a new bike, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:
What type of riding will I be doing?
Who will I be riding with and what styles of bikes are they riding?
Do I have any specific goals?
Do you have any injuries or positioning requirements?
These questions lay the groundwork for a sales associate to help you make the best choices. Don’t be overwhelmed by the amount of brands and styles to choose from. In general you and the sales associate will be able to narrow it down to two or three styles that fit your needs and budget.
Once you have narrowed down your choices, have the bike(s) fitted to you and go for a test ride. Although you may not understand the subtle differences between bikes, you will be able to tell what feels better, and what you like about each bike. Be prepared to purchase basic accessories that will enhance your riding experience (i.e. bike shorts, cycling tops, gloves and road shoes).
SR: What about components? Shifters? Crankset? What’s should a new rider be looking for in the components?
JE: For someone just getting into road cycling Shimano’s entry-level groups, Sora and Tiagra, offer shifting integrated into the brake levers and a wide range of gears.
If you are concerned about weight and performance take a step up to Shimano 105. The biggest difference you will notice with the 105s is in the shifters and crankset. Performance and durability are significantly better at this level.
For enthusiasts, Shimano Ultegra and Dura-Ace, SRAM Force and Red, and any Campagnolo components offer immaculate shifting, a big weight savings and precise adjustments.
It is also important to discuss the actual gearing choices. A triple-chainring crankset offers the widest range of gearing. A compact offers almost the same range but with better shifting performance. A traditional double-crankset is going to give you gears on the higher end for speed.
You can read the Rest of the artical here

2nd Single Speed Ride Tonight!!!!

2009-10-10T08:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,

Tonight is our 2nd single speed ride of the season. This time it will be at our other store, which is in Chardon. It will start at 6:00 at the shop. The ride should be roughly around 12-15 miles. We will be riding the Maple Highlands Trail to East Branch Reservoir, around the Reservoir and come back to the shop. Also, it does get darker earlier, so lights are an option. Hope to see you all there.

day 2 report

2009-09-24T12:17:00.000-04:00

First up.. Moots. Amazing new RSL frame. 3/2 front triangle fully butted with reynolds TI coupled with 6/4 in the back. Super stiff, ubber light. Press fit BB and a new head tube. Looking at a booth full of Moots is never a bad thing.

So I ask my self....What is this years theme of the show?? Colored and anodized parts? ( yes it is 1990 all over), 2 x 10 or D12 electronic drive trains? when did bikes start needing diagnostic machines? While I live for new technology and it keeps us busy, I found The Nantucket Basket Company and NutCase helmets very refreshing from all the hype.

The new Scott's look great and have killer spec. Felt ...full carbon from 1699. However bikes are not the big theme ( most of the big guys: Giant, Trek, ect. have already shown their bikes at dealer meetings) so it is about accessories and accoutrements. Hey, thats what all of you buy after and for the bike anyway, so it is good to find the best out there.

After a day of scouring the hall, happy hour arrives. Sometimes you stand in line at Sram for 45 minutes to get a Fat Tire....or sometimes Dirt Rag will have a full bar, the red rocker( jeff), and Gary fisher. It is never a bad time to open your day looking at Moots and finish it doing shots with Gary.

For a few more pics

Interbike part one

2009-09-23T11:52:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I headed out to the tent city in the desert known as The Dirt Demo. Every want to have your choice of hundreds of bikes to ride; Road, Mountain, Cross, City, electric assist, anything you can think of... After a couple meetings it was riding time. First up the Scott Genius with dual lock out and travel control for both the front and rear suspension. Full locked, 4" rear-full 6" front, or full 6". Carbon frame. This bike glided over everything. I found my self using the lock outs instead of changing gears in the front. If you want a cross country bike that has all mountain capabilities this is a great way to go.

Next up was the new Kona Cadabra. Great technology that changes Head tube and Seat tube Angles then firms or softens the suspension depending on pedaling forces. On the down hills and rolling ups this bike screamed and felt right at home. If you want an all mountain bike that can go up this is a great way to go. 2 bikes, same travel, one more XC and one more AM, both very capable.

Then it was on to some new technology that Spot developed last year. The Belt Drive. A number or companies including Spot, Trek, and Raleigh are coming out with bikes with the Belt drive this year and the rumor is Felt, Giant and Kona are in the works. Stronger than a chain and a better lifespan a number or bikes will be using this in the future. From the first pedal stroke all I could think was SMOOTH and QUIET. No chain noise and a feeling of immediate engagement. I think we may have to bring one in soon.

Now its off to a day of meetings, catching up with suppliers, free beer, and general bicycle madness that is interbike.

bike racks part deux

2009-09-16T14:38:00.000-04:00

After yesterdays post I found myself trying to load the Moots into the 66 jeep this morning. They apparently did not consider bike transporting in their design process. Realizing it would not fit in the back I opted for the passengers seat. The whole way to work I found myself doing the parental hand across the passenger at every stop. I then had to laugh at my self criticizing someone else's rack choice!

But what could be better than a ride in the jeep with your moots. Thanks taking a bike for a ride.

Something is not right here...

2009-09-15T10:45:00.000-04:00

This is not how a Saris Bones rack should be used...........

Although the Thule Spare Tire rack was a little to tight on the MRC FJ, so maybe they're on to something. Remember all rack companies have fit guilds on their web site to let you know what will work. Stop in our stores and our helpfull staff will let you know the best rack for your car and even show you how to use/install it! That brings me top my next point. Of late we have seen quite a few customers and friends ( yes you know who you are!) "forget" about the bikes on top of the car. At least 7 I can think of. Stay away from the drive throughs, garages, overhangs people! :)

PS. I have only done that 3 times in my life......thats good right??

Way of Life at the Beachland Ballroom

2009-08-27T18:42:00.001-04:00

Come out and hear some bike shop rock n roll! Jacob's and Paul's band Way of Life is Playing the Beachland Ballroom Thurs Sept 3rd. Show at 8:30 and tickets are only $5.00

Giant Dealer Event in Keystone

2009-08-09T15:49:00.001-04:00

Hello all, just got back from the 2010 Giant Product launch in Keystone, Co. Giant and Mountain Road Cycles are excited to offer you the best Giant line up ever. Killer bikes, graphics, spec and ride quality!! We learned a tone about the technology Giant uses on all its bikes. The riding wasn't to bad either. Keystone has a great MTB bike park with runs dropping you about 2500' . Plenty of features and flowing trails. Took out a Faith and a Glory. Giant shaved alot of weight off the bikes and the suspension was dialed. Then took out a TCR Advanced SL on a great ride down to Dillon Lake. Stiff and Fast does not even begin to describe it. Look for the new Giants to be in the stores soon. More info and reviews to follow. A few of us are off took West Virginia next weekend for the annual riding trip. 2 weekends of back to back riding in the mountains..........life is good in the bike shop.

Chagrin Falls Sidewalk Sale is this weekend!

2009-07-22T11:03:00.001-04:00

Mountain Road will have a booth right down on the Triangle. Stop by for huge savings up to 50% off on Clothing, Accessories, and Footwear. We'll be down there Thurs 9-8, Fri 9-6, and Sat 9-6. Select bikes will be marked down as well. Look for the Yellow Giant Bicycle Tent.
See ya there!

Passionate on pedaling to school

2009-07-07T10:25:00.000-04:00

Story from Sun News and Cleveland.com

When Jacob English was a boy growing up in Chagrin Falls, his life revolved around bicycles.
"As a kid," he says, "I competed in Freestyle BMX biking."
That's a sport where participants use their specialized bicycles for all kinds of tricks, from riding along narrow surfaces, to flips in the air, to "flatland" tricks.

Now that Jacob is 32, married to Kimberly English and living in Bainbridge, he is the owner/operator of Mountain Road Cycles in Chagrin Falls and Chardon. He's moved from rotating bikes in mid-air to promoting bicycling.
He works with the Safe Routes to Schools program, which is national and international in scope and aims to help and ultimately encourage students to walk and ride bikes to school.
"I'm the guy working on the biking portion, and trying to educate kids. I'd like to have schools change their policies to allow kids to ride their bikes to school."
According to local Safe Routes member Lorrie DiGiampietro, the group is "working to obtain federal funding to make our town more walkable and bikeable."
It's a cause that's a natural to Jacob English. The former BMX competitor began working for local bike stores at the age of 14.
"It's what I was always good at, so I stuck with it," he says.
He has expanded his interest in types of bikes.
"There's such a broad spectrum of bikes available that there's something for everybody, from kids to absolute enthusiasts.
" It's a fun, healthy, environmentally sound activity that nearly anybody can participate in."
If you think that you have to head to Seattle for great biking, Jacob English wants you to think again. This is a really great time for the Chagrin area in regard to biking. You've got the South Russell trail, and Mayor Thomas Brick appointed a new committee (of which Jacob is a member) to find trails around Chagrin."
His enthusiasm for biking isn't limited to Chagrin Falls.
"The Chagrin Valley and Geauga County has some of the best road riding in the country. The terrain of valleys, rolling hills, farmlands, lots of country roads and no major mountains to climb" are perfect for biking, Jacob maintains.
Among the activities Jacob English and Mountain Road Cycles promotes is an upcoming one is the "Right Side of the Road Chagrin Valley Bike Tour," on Aug. 2, which will benefit The Bright Side of the Road's effort to find a cure for ALS.
As for what advice he has for my readers, it's one I sincerely hope you bicyclists of all ages take to heart: "Wearing a helmet is essential," he says.
Take it from an expert bicyclist.

Is this what happened to Russ?

2009-06-25T19:30:00.000-04:00

Ever been in our Chardon store and looked down to see Russ's bright Nike Cortez shoes? I don't know how he keeps finding them but he does. over and over for years. and now I know why. Sometime in the 70's he saw this pic and said " those will be the only shoes I will ever wear again"

P.S RIP Farrah

Whirlwind week of riding, sag, and fun

2009-06-18T11:54:00.000-04:00

What a crazy last week. We had a great first Single Speed ride out of Chagrin. 12 Miles and tons of Kona and Surley singles. About 15-20 riders showed up. John and Paul rocked the fixed gears. All around Chagrin then over to Trifles where Kenny hooked us up and fed the hungry. Then on to Sunday. Up at 5 for Sag support on Sunday in June. They had a record 800 riders. Lots o' bikes to fix. Leather had her first bike tour, hanging out by the truck and keeping riders amused as I tore apart crank and headset emergency's. Nothing like driving down the middle of the road with riders on one side and Amish going to church on the other! Next up was Wed. night wet ride. Angie, the new Kona rep was in Town from Fendale Wa. We had to show her the local trails, but of course, it's wed so that means rain. No matter. We had a killer ride in a down pour. Bob, Kenny, Bob 2, Doug, Jimmy, Jason, and my self all showed her how we can't ride bridges in the the rain, while she showed us she can. If Bob crashes on a bridge and we are around to see it, do you hear it? Yes. Thanks for coming out Angie and all the swag and beers! By the end of the ride the sky cleared and good times was had by all. Not to mention we now have a sweet Kona Lisa One 20 Dlx available for demo. Up next is a gearing clinic tonight and a Sunday road ride.....and you wonder how summer flies by?

Chagrin Falls Single Speed Ride

2009-05-31T16:32:00.001-04:00

Get the Down Low.........

Its over..........

2009-05-28T19:15:00.001-04:00

Another great Parade has past. Thanks to the 30 Men, Women, Children, Young Adults , and Dogs who participated!! Wow thats a diverse group of beer drinking, crazy bike riding people! We had no crashes and ran over no little candy grabing fingers. Although I heard Paul ran into the Truck with the Pizza bike. We'll put some more pics on the website and Facebook soon. One upcoming night ride in Chardon this Friday ( 7:30 Mountian Run Station, call 440-279-0374)) and it's on to all the events and rides in June. Look for our Chagrin Single Speed Ride, Sunday in June, and more road and mountain ride. Summer cycling is here!

It's Coming!!!..............

2009-05-19T10:45:00.001-04:00

Thats right it's almost Parade time. The Chagrin Falls Blossom Time Parade is this Sunday at 2:00pm. Chardon will have normal business hours, Chagrin Will be open from 12-1 and 4:30 to 5 for any quick needs. If you would like to ride in the parade contact Jacob@mtnroadcycles.com. Or feel free to stop by the shop from 11:30 -1:00 for Beers and Food on us. Come join the Madness of 20,000 people and kids, and lots of kids! and remember it's not just a ride down the block, it's a ride back up the hill! What type of bikes will we be on?......long crusiers, pizza bikes, 3 wheeled recumbents, tall bikes, highwheelers, plus all the regulars!

American Brain Tumor Association bike trip from Reading Pa. To Chicago Il.

2009-05-08T15:27:00.000-04:00

When you open the doors to your store in the morning you never know who or what will
walk into your store. Last April 16 Barry Noss rolled up to our store in Chardon
with a bike problem. I could tell he was on a cross country trip. He asked if we fixed bikes and when we answered yes a look of relief came over his face. While working on his bike he told us where he was biking from and his final destanation.
The most important was why he was doing this 900 mile bike trip. Barry's wife Gina,
is a survier of a brain tumor that was diagnosed back in 1996. Barry was showing his support for her and helping to support the American Brain Tumor Association. Please check out Barry's Facebook page to learn more about his trip. You will find a link to his page from the Mountain Road Cycles facebook page. Here is a sample of his stories
"I reached a sign that said, "Welcome to Ohio". Took some pictures and headed out. It ends up most of the pictures at the sign I deleted with out realizing so I need to go back some time to get more. I made it to Andover, OH and I got back on route six. It wasn't long and I heard a bang on my bike. Stopped to see what was wrong and noticed that I broke a spoke, again. Decided to try to nurse it thirty miles to the bike shop. Made it fifteen miles and I heard another bang. I knew what it was right away, a second spoke. I decided I was pushing my luck, so I had to find a place to pull over. I caught with the mail lady who was in front of me and asked her for a bike shop that was nearby, she just laughed. I was in the middle of nowhere. Next I asked her if there was a convenient store nearby with a parking lot. Luckily I only had to go a few blocks and there was a BP Station. First I need to thank Ed and the Bicycle Barn for making sure I had the correct tools and making sure I knew how to repair these spokes. Believe it or not it went pretty good. I got them both fixed, I got the tire put back on and I didn't have any extra parts which was a good thing. I had some people watching what I was doing. They were amazed that I had the parts with me, and the tools to fix it. My goal now was to make it to Chardon and the bike shop. Things went good and I made it to the shop alright. I was a little nervous how I was going to be treated walking in and wanting service right away. When I walked in the first thing I looked for was if they serviced bikes. I saw that they did and knew I was in luck. I told them my story, and they couldn't have done more for me. They helped me unpack my bike and they started working on it right away. He replaced six spokes that were damaged, and trued the rim up. It ends up I couldn't have gone to a better place, these guys knew what they were doing. I asked them about my route through Cleveland and they gave me some advise on the best way to get through. They looked over my bike and found a few things that needed straightened out and did it. They told me where the motel was and that they would be in the shop until if I wanted to come back and hang out that I should. I ended up finding my motel room and getting something to eat. I walked back up to town and back to the bike shop just to shoot the breeze a little bit. Once again the guys and the Mountain Road Cycles made me feel right at home. They gave me some good advice and wished me luck. I feel a whole lot more confident going through Cleveland tomorrow knowing that these guys worked on my bike. Went back to the room and did my normal organization of gear and making phone calls. The weather was beautiful today, not a cloud in the sky and a high of about sixty degrees. Expect the same weather tomorrow. I'm pretty excited and nervous about going through Cleveland, it should be exciting getting up to Lake Erie. Well, time for bed, it will be a busy day tomorrow. Rode about 58 miles today. Expect to do about 90 miles tomorrow".
href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Yp1vJ1nOLlE/SgSJKindqtI/AAAAAAAAAHE/BpnQvhUbQUs/s1600-h/n1759037224_7270_6142856.jpg">

ATTENTION ALL SINGLESPEED/FIXED GEAR BIKE RIDERS!!!

2009-05-02T17:04:00.000-04:00

Mountain Road Cycles will be putting on a singlespeed/fixed gear bike ride on Saturday, June 13th at 6:45p.m. The course will be roughly around 10-12 miles and we will be riding around the Chagrin Falls area. The ride will start at Mountain Road Cycles ( Chagrin Location) and end up at Trifles Cafe for some after ride refreshments. We will be having another singlespeed/fixed gear bike ride at our Chardon location in the fall. Check back for info on that ride. So come and join us and have some fun riding around the lovely Chagrin Falls area. (This ride is for singlespeed and fixed gear bikes only. No gear bikes allowed, sorry).

Maybe Cleveland should take note

2009-05-02T16:19:00.000-04:00

Great artical on Cycling and Cities

In any list of the best biking cities on the continent, Portland, Oregon, would certainly come out on top (with some cries of foul from San Francisco cyclists). But there are plenty of other North American cities where people move on pedal power. And in the wake of the 2008 spike in gas prices and boom in bike sales, municipal governments are attempting to make things easier for riders. We’ve measured everything from the League of American Bicyclists’ comprehensive Bicycle Friendly Community ratings to the frequency of informal street races to bring you snapshots of seven places where the gears are turning. (A glossary of terms–including the dangerous races called alley cats—is listed at the end of this article.)

helmets are an...

2009-04-27T08:33:00.000-04:00

important part of any ride. from quick trips to the store, to long road rides, to an easy day in the saddle on the tow path, to epic mountain bike rides. you need a helmet.

these are two new models from bell and giro.

first up; the bell volt. this is their race helmet. it comes with a detachable visor, so it either works great as a road or mountain helmet. amazing ventilation, light weight, and the most comfortable bell helmet that i've put on. the way that the vents are designed, really keep the head cool and comfortable during the ride. if you want/need only one helmet for both mountain and road...this is it.

next is the giro athlon. this is their high end mountain helmet. this is a slimmer design than their xen, and lighter weight. again; these vents are amazing at keeping the head cool on those hot days in the saddle.

why go more high end on the helmet? first; better ventilation. keeping you cooler, keeps you more relaxed, and enjoying the ride. second; weight. lighter the helmet, again the more comfortable you are going to be. if you are not comfortable you are not going to enjoy the ride, and that is what it is all about.

remember...keep your brain safe.

amitibha...

A great clip on the local race scene

2009-04-24T09:07:00.000-04:00

Races at the Lake from ohio cycling on Vimeo.

A lot of Felt Action out there

Group Night Ride on the Maple Highland Trail this Friday

2009-04-23T09:14:00.000-04:00

Join us on Friday April 24th for our first Maple Highlands Trail Night Ride! Meet at Mountain Run Station (12601 Chardon Windsor Rd) parking lot at 6:30. A basic light set and helmets are required. 16 Miles total.

Suspension Services

2009-04-09T18:24:00.000-04:00

Did you know Mountain Road Cycles service Fox and Marzocchi suspension forks and rear shocks in house? Common problems and wear include, changing the oil, seals leaking and not holding proper air pressure. We are an authorized Fox and Marzocchi dealer. We can also send out your Rock Shox and Manitou to service centers. Speeking of taking a rear shock off to service we also will rebuild any full suspension frame. Many times pivots and bearing wear out and need to be replaced. These are not easy jobs and require knowledge on frame and suspension design. We can get any parts from Kona, Giant, Felt, Yeti and Moots. If you have another brand feel free to get the parts from an authorized dealer and bring them in for us to overhaul. (we can help you figure out what parts you need. These repairs usally take longer so plan for a 1-2 week turn around. Let us help you get the most out of your bike!!
That brings us to the next point. Tuning suspension. Modern shocks have a wide range of adjustment. We can tune the suspension to you body and ridding style. Do you know what Sag, preload, rebound, damping, platform valve, compression, instant center, lockout,and inertia valving are??? Stay tuned for the next post and we will start explaining!

Kick off the Season SALE!

2009-03-30T12:15:00.001-04:00

April 3rd,4th and 5th is our Spring Sale. Take advantage of the lowest prices of the season, 12 month no interest no payment financing,.......and free HOT DOGS!

Mountain Road Cycles in Chardon has rentals available for the Maple Highlands Trail

2009-03-24T16:13:00.000-04:00

Starting April 1st our Chardon store will have RENTAL bikes available for use on the Maple Highlands Trail. Do you have family or friends in from out of town. Let this be the perfect adventure! We will offer Giant Sedona ST's and Giant FCRs, Trail-a-bikes, and Kids Trailers.
Comfort Bike Rental: Giant Sedona ST $8.00 per Hour

Perfomance Bike Rental: Giant FCR 3 $12.00 per Hour

Road Bike Rental: Giant OCR A1 $20.00 Half Day $40.00 Full Day

Rentals available on a first come first serve basis and subject to waivers.

It is 63 degress out, do you know where your bike is?

2009-03-16T14:02:00.000-04:00

If its not with you on a ride then beat the rush and bring it in to the shop for your Spring Service. In another week we'll be backed up with repairs, right now we can turn them around in a couple days. What is our most popular and needed repair you ask? A Tune - Up with a Drive Train Clean up. What is involved with that you ask? All mechanical adjustments of the bike including brakes, gears, bearings, tension and truing wheels, lubing all cables and pivots and checking all the bolts. We also take off your derailluers, chain, cassette, and crankset; then soak it in our solvent tank and make it all Shine! And who does all this for you..................

Geauga Park Volunteer Bike Patrol

2009-03-10T10:12:00.000-04:00

Work with Geauga Park District Rangers to patrol Geauga Park District's Maple Highlands Trail! Bike patrol members ride The Maple Highlands Trail north and central sections, serving as a volunteer presence for trail users, to answer question, provide basic assistance and report any issues.
Bike patrol members must be able to ride the trails at least two evening or weekend shifts a month. Uniforms and training provided. Geauga Park District Volunteers receive awards and benefits to recognize their contributions.
Mountain Road Cycles also gives 10% off all accessories to volunteers.
Register to be a volunteer today! Contact Geauga Park District's Volunteer Coordinator Holly Sauder, at 440-286-9516, or hsauder@geaugaparkdistrict.org.
SEE YOU ON THE MAPLE HIGHLANDS TRAIL!

farfignugen...

2009-03-08T14:11:00.000-04:00

continues.

a new look for the trek vw. i was getting a little worried about the original fork that was on the vw, so i knew i had to replace it. some rust and such. going the route that i wanted to go, i knew i had to basically get a new headset, and stem too.

i settled on the race face ride stem. it is on their low end, but that wasn't a concern for me, plus the cool 'three-d' face plate sold me.

for the headset i went with the cane creek one-hundred. same functionality at the one-ten, but not a much. little heavier. however; smooth in its use. and it feels really snug to the fork, because of its compression ring. really like this headset.

fork. this took some time. i really didn't want cro-mo. so i picked up the origin eight black-ops carbon. not the best carbon fork out there, but it will do the job for me. i didn't want disc., so my option were limited. i wanted a carbon fork with canti. brake bosses. the thing about their forks...depending on the length, they are able to be set up for a twenty-six or a twenty-nine inch wheel. it comes out of the 'box' set up for twenty-nine; however some simple turns of the screws, move the bosses down, and i'm set up for twenty-six. nice.

together...it all feels really nice, and smooth. the front end is lightened up. more responsive. just an all around smooth feeling, rigid, stable feel to the front end.

took it out for a long ride yesterday, and handled beautifully.

amitabha...

Handmade Show Update one.

2009-03-03T18:55:00.000-05:00

This past weekend Jacob, Russ, Nick, Daniel, Ben, P-File, and Mrs P-File headed out to Indianapolis to check out the Handmade Bike Show. Beautiful bikes abounded the cool city of Indianapolis. This year saw record attendance. Don Walker of Don Walker Frames puts on the show and promises it will be east of the Mississippi again next year. We spent most of the day Saturday checking out bike art. However the majority of the bikes were well thought out, practical and highly functional. We saw many familiar face from Cleveland we'll do a few posts on this great event, but to get you started on drooling ASAP here is the first flicker link. Photos by P-File, more to come from JE and Daniel.

Giant Demo Day At Ray's Indoor MTN Park

2009-02-25T16:47:00.000-05:00

As most of you know the Giant Demo Rig is coming to Ray’s Indoor MTB Park on March 28th and 29th. There will be lots of product to test ride for consumers as well as shop owners and employees. Jeff Lenosky will be there to meet and greet as well as performing. And there will be drawings for prizes including a Giant 2009 STP SS model. Where else can you go and ride $2000 dollar bikes and thrash them around.
So make time in your schedule to be there.

2009-02-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

In an attempt to keep up with the Jones, or in this case just about everyone, we have created a Mountain Road Cycles "group" on Facebook. This may be a good tool to communicate about group rides, times, ect . Or maybe we should get rid of blogs, facebooks, mywastes, twitters, emails on phones, laptops, the office and what were they called? websites? and just spend that time ridding our bikes and playing guitars (not the plastic wanna play rockstar ones).........now what vintage/soon to be back in fashion photo should we use for the profile?? I have to go make some posts, email, ect.

Rays Up Coming Events

2009-02-16T10:45:00.001-05:00

They Ride and Play?

2009-02-12T12:24:00.000-05:00

Hey All, Valentines Dinner and/or Drinks at Trifles....and the entertainment is...a bunch of bike riders!
Jacob and Paul will be playing and acoustic set with Norm, Jamie and Kimberly. Music starts around 7. Covers and originals from the band. If your coming for dinner give Trifles a call for reservations.

Trifles Cafe
440-2478595 516 East Washington StreetChagrin Falls, Ohio 44022http://www.triflescatering.com/

please read...

2009-02-10T10:38:00.001-05:00

and take part...

national park action

we need this, we deserve this...

amitabha...

2009-02-07T11:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my brother in law John we now own a bit of Cycling history! Now on display in our Chagrin store is the original Cast and Crew T Shirt and Hat from the making of the American Flyers movie starring Kevin Costner. A set designer who works with Spielberg and Cameron, John worked on the movie, and after a few hints went through the old boxes to find us these. Thanks! It's a must see Cycling Cult Classic!

2009-02-02T13:47:00.000-05:00

During December of 08 MRC refurbished and donated children's bicycles to numerous holiday gift programs.
Today we received a letter from Women Safe House located here in Chardon. They thanked us for participating in the Holiday Gift program. They also included a excerpt from one of the recipient of the donation bikes.
I'd like to share a little of the letter with you.
"The first thing I need to say is thank you!! You have helped me and my boys to have a wonderful Christmas. Without your help we would not have had such a wonderful Christmas. Words can not even start to tell you how much you are appreciated for all you have done. Just to see the look on my babies face, and the feeling that where running through me. There are people who really care and are willing to help others in need. I would like to give you all a big hug! Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
It's great to get that letter and know that we made a difference in making peoples holidays a little brighter. Next year we will be doing the same thing and hopefully
be able to donate more bikes to more holiday gift programs.

Snow Ride!!

2009-01-30T11:13:00.000-05:00

There I was outside on Wednesday, trying to shovel out the driveway with my 2 girls after another snow storm. I remembered that I needed to go to the store to pick up a couple of things. So I figured since the store was only 5 minutes away, instead of trying to dig the car out, I'll just grab the single speed and ride up to the store. So I hopped on the bike and started riding up there. Let me tell you, with the wind and the amount of snow we got, was even a challenge to ride that day. It took me a little longer to get there but not to bad. I grabbed the stuff I needed and rode back home. After I got home, I said that felt great to get out there and ride. It's been such a long winter, so to get out there and ride for a little bit was wonderful! Hopefully the groundhog won't see his shadow and we will get a early spring. We are all wishing for that after this winter!!

There Here!!!!

2009-01-23T15:08:00.000-05:00

We just got in our first shipment of Scott Bikes. At first glance these bikes are very impressive. They built up very well, no issues at all. The frames are hydroformed fluid aluminum. The way they formed these frames are a work of art. Pictures of these bikes don't do them justice! You have to see them in person to justify the craftsmenship of these bikes. We don't have all of the bikes we ordered in yet, but we did get the in Genius 50, the P3 & P5. We are expecting to receive the remaining order of our Scott bikes very soon. So check back with us soon, but in the meantime come on down to see the new bikes we have and witness of work of art.

Vintage Rides

2009-01-22T17:58:00.002-05:00

I just got done putting the final touches to my Viscount restoration up here at the men's escape center. I pulled her out of the trash a few years ago and she has been waiting in my barn for someone to restore her to like new condition.
The Lambert/Viscount bicycle company has a rather unique story behind them. They set out in the 70s on a brave quest to manufacture high quality frames and components that were affordable. A grand and noble attempt it was doomed to failure. Some of the cool things found on this bike are the sealed bottom bracket and hubs, one of the first aluminum forks (aka the death fork), and the beautifully polished crankset. We have the bike on display at the Chardon store if anyone would like to come up and take a look at it. In the future we will be posting more vintage bikes for you viewing. Stay tuned:)

Cabin Fever?

2009-01-19T10:26:00.001-05:00

The snow and ice are not going to melt anytime soon. Nokian steel studded tires are a great option to keep you from slidding on the ice. We have sold a number of these for people still commuting. One guy road into the store with these last Thursday. I think it was about -3 degrees at the time. Props to him! 240 studs will grip the slippery stuff. These are available in both Hybrid and Mountain sizes. (26x2.1 or 700x37). I have found them a great fit for "fitness bikes" like the Giant FCR or a Kona Dew. We keep a set in stock in the 700x37 or we can order it for you in just a couple days. Sounds like the perfect thing for the Vultures Knob Cyclocross Like Experience!

Giant Dual Fit Indoor Cycle

2009-01-14T13:13:00.000-05:00

I just got done assembling a Giant Dual Fit indoor exercise cycle.
The temperature is up to 12F now. I thought I'm not going outside to ride so why not put in a few miles on the Dual Fit. I was very surprised at how smooth and
quiet this unit is! I felt comfortable, turned on the supplied computer and pedaled
away. Well, a few miles turned into 10 miles in no time. I felt I got a good
workout not only in my legs but also in my arms. With this exercise cycle you can
workout your arms and legs together or independently. I look foward to going
home and using the one I bought my wife.

When all else fails to excite..

2009-01-09T17:32:00.000-05:00

Threw on the Carharts and stepped outside to do some chores. Replenish the wood suppy for the wood brurner and snowblow the driveway. After a few passes and loads I started looking at the bikes hanging in the garage. What to do? Take down the Griswald style Xmas lights? Head in for a round of PS3? Not going to put on shoes and gear, the ray's bike with the Kona platforms is at the shop. Then I saw the Suntour Toe Clip and Strap pedals on the the Specialized. Why do I need bike gear when I have a full Carhart suit on? I am wearing my Craft beanie. Off I went. Sun was setting, and the snow falling, I was plenty warm. Came back with a smile on my face, thinking about what a story this bike was.

This was my first "real" mountain bike. It took me to my first XC race. A 1991 or 92 Handmade S-Works hardtail, Suntour XC pro parts with grease guard port holes, Future shock and a Dura Ace rear derailluer. We found out short cage Dura Ace worked great with the Suntour, just like Downhillers will run them today. Yet I was young and needed some money so I sold it for, I don't know, $350. Yahh, sell a $3000 USA made bike for a few bucks, real smart. Then about a year ago a customer brings in a bike somebody gave him. The bike had been in a abandoned building. It was the same bike....not the same model, actually MY BIKE. It Had the same silly paint, "El Diablo" on the top tube, that I had so poorly painted. I promptly traded the customer, had KEI repaint the frame, and had John rebuild it for me.

Just like 1992, no bike gear, no clipless pedals, just a great ride.

new brakes...

2009-01-04T09:32:00.001-05:00

for my cross bikes. avid redesigned the shorty sixes for thousand nine. upon first inspection, they seem to be more 'stable' than previous years. they are lighter than before.

they are also front and rear specific. this is made apparent by the different pads. the rear is your 'average' cartridge pad that you'd find on a road bike; however i'm sure that there is more to it than that. then the front is your 'average' cross pad set up. i'm sure that there is some science and engineering behind that, but i couldn't find any thing on the net, or on their site.

the interesting thing that they come with is three different length straddle wires. the longer the wire (with a steep angle) they will provide you with a firm feel; however you lose out on leverage. conversely with a shorter wire with a lower angle, you get a softer feel with more leverage. i thought this added feature to be pretty cool, and to add some personalization to the brake itself.

i look forward to using these brakes this season. i've always liked the shorty's, and these improvements ought to be welcomed.

enjoy...

amitabha...

Forget Cyclocross

2009-01-02T11:56:00.000-05:00

looking for a gear...

2008-12-29T15:36:00.000-05:00

calculator? well if you have an iphone or ipod touch, then check out this little app for such a device.

need to calculate your gear inches, gear ratios and the like; on the go? well, then you are set.

or to examine your 'skid patches' on your fixed gear bike?

almost makes me want to pick up an ipod touch or iphone.

amitabha...

Handmade Bike Show is Coming!

2008-12-24T10:52:00.000-05:00

The 5th annual North American Handmade Bike show is coming to Indianapolis Feb 27th-Mar 1st! Normally way on the west coast, this is amazing opportunity to see handmade works of bicycle art just a few hours away. Above you can see last years prototype Co-mootour, now available from Moots. Just take a look at this gallery from Cycling News and you will realize the endless possibilities of the bicycle. Art and function combined together. Most of these builders are making these bikes right here in the USA. Some have state of the art facilities, some have jigs in there garage. So you want a handmade bike? Do you want the frame to be made of Wood, Steel, Titanium, Aluminum, Bamboo or Carbon? Do you want your Steel frame with lugs? Horizontal drop outs with and eccentric Bottom Bracket? Belt Drive or Chain? Handmade racks built into the frame? 700c, 650b, 29", 29-26 combo(96er), or 26" wheel size. Would you like a matching stem? Go to the Show and find out. You will see us there.

clothing...

2008-12-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

is the most important accessory that a cyclist is able to have.

a couple of days ago a friend of mine was asking what kind of clothing he needed to ride in cold weather. i pointed some essentials out to him; some he had, others he needed. this is the inspiration for this post.

in cleveland, you are able to ride all year round; regardless of weather. of course there are a few days that are un-ridable, but other than that...you're good to go. with the proper clothing, you won't notice how cold it really is. i've spent years building my clothing collection. now, during the summer it is easy...jersey, shorts, gloves (or not); done. winter is another beast.

there are many options out there; for many weather conditions. you don't want to be too hot, or too cold. some essentials would be; a base layer, good tights, wool/cold weather jersey, jacket (and not one of those 'wind jackets'), and don't forget a good pair of socks. and if you feel you need them...winter shoes.

personally; i have about three base layers, three different pairs of gloves, four different styles of wool jerseys (not to mention my heavier cold weather jerseys), one winter jacket, many other jackets, bibs, knickers, tights, shoe covers, winter shoes, and a ton of socks.

granted; this is all over a course of many years, but it has become a wise investment in my riding during the winter, and cold days. so the only thing that is able to hold me back is...me.

amitabha...

Slash Rides a Redline

2008-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

I found this old video of Slash from Gn'R riding a Redline Bmx (the bike is looks to be from 83 or 84) around a sound check. You'll have to get though the Gap ad first. I can see how Jack Daniels, BMX bikes and rock stars can mix well. It's a little long, but watch to the end cause the 180's on the stage ramps are sweet! Be for warned for bad language. Years ago I met Slash at a show and the only thing I had on my for him to sign was a business card. He looked at the card and said "like regular bikes? I love bikes!"

Snow on the ground?

2008-11-29T10:55:00.000-05:00

With the snow falling around Northeastern Ohio we start to thinking of future and past cycling trips. As you've seen on the MRC site every year a group of us head to Slaty Fork/Snowshoe WV. However as I think back to all the other places my tires have touched. For a couple years we took a break from W. V. to head to Tsali North Carolina. Where as W.V. has roots, rocks, bike climbs, downhill/freeride and back country, Tsali was fast flowing hardpack and Eastern Slick rock. Think a Really big West Branch with a granite Moab down the road. They even have a bike wash and the trails are shared with horses. One day the the horses use trail A and B and Mtb's use C and D. The next day it switches. What a concept?? Then theres all the after Interbike trips. Go hit Vegas for a few day then drive to the Mecca that is Moab or down to Flagstaff and Sedona. The Bell Rock Trial offers great hiking and riding. What about the Laurel Highlands in Western PA. Only 3 hours away. Check out the Frank Loydd Wright Houses then ride the Allegheny Trail or the great road riding around there. A few of us have been talking about doing the whole Pittsburgh to D.C. thing next year. Need warmth? Rent a beach cruiser in the Florida Key's and see how many islands you can hit (one rumrunner per island). One of the best parts of this job is listening to customers tell their cycling stories and responding about our own. I love hearing (and getting postcard/pics) about them riding the Tour Routes or their latest Backroads adventure. The point is get out and experience new rides, come in and talk about it in January when there is 3 feet of snow. It will make next season or that hour on the Trainer dreaming about it that much better. Just think there are people planning a bike trip to Cleveland to ride Rays right now

2008-11-24T15:38:00.000-05:00

New Ink for the arms??

2008-11-24T14:31:00.000-05:00

This is sure to keep you entertained!

Just click and drag parts and you to can create your own trichopperaerobmxfreeridekidstrack bike.

2008-11-19T21:11:00.000-05:00

To some... an obsession...to others .... a way of life..... to us just a ride around the block. Every ride can be just a ride around the block...around the block in the woods, in another state, another country....Kenny's good for that. It is and should be that simple. So happy trails, road, grass, and whatever else may bite you.

What Happens at Pool Day Stays at Pool Day.

2008-11-19T17:28:00.000-05:00

Three days of Interbike (the bike industries huge trade show in Vegas) make you very hot and thirsty! Russ, Ben, Nick, Jacob. The Mirage Pool.

The 2009 Kona Shonky Park Bike

2008-11-19T15:35:00.000-05:00

The 2009 Kona Shonky park bike. Just the bike you want to
take to Ray's Mountain Bike Park. Instock now!

MRC Team at Chagrin River Cyclocross

2008-11-13T16:12:00.000-05:00