SIZE DOES MATTER

SO...

Remember when "THEY" said size didn't matter???... 

Well.... They lied!!!!

WHAT!!!!  WHAT!!!  WHAT!!!!

Heeeeyyyyyy.... I'm not talking about thaaaaat....

To go please... and make it fast!!!

I'm talking about proper bike sizing... geez!!!

So, we've all been to the circus and seen these guys..

And we'll often goof around and jump on equipment that we realize is either way too big or too small for us and end up looking like this... 

  














6 pack of tiny



Or worse yet...  because of limited finances or whatever, we've gotted on ill fitting equipment, in positions that are... let say...  awkward at best for us to ride in....

My first year of racing Cyclocross, was on a borrowed steel road bike that was 2 sizes too big.  It was heavy as hell, not to mention a freaking safety hazard every time I did a flying remount.  As soon as I could afford to buy a real cross bike that fit me, you bet yo butt, I went out and got one.... pronto!

So...  Let's see... a frame too short kinda looks like this...

Hey... what kinda bug is on that license plate????


A Frame too big looks kinda like the one on the right...


and.... you guessed it... in comparison... a frame way too small is Billy on a frame waaay too small....

Ummm... this is gonna leave a mark... isn't it???


Let's see what happens when we get on the right bikes...

Wow... much better! 


The trick is to talk with a shop that knows what they're doing (any guesses?)... Come on!!!!

Super Squirrel to the rescue????  Ahhhh No!!!



Not a great photo but you get my point

 

So, In short Sports Fan.... Size does matter and while we are on the subject... so does fit!

If you want to be professionally fitted to your bike... be sure that a certified fitter takes care of you... not some dude on your team...  who is eye balling your saddle height 5 minutes before the race, with a string dangling off your knee cap with a weight tied to the end of it, and then says... "you're good to go"! 

We have 2 certified fitters and we'll be happy to set you up with an appointment and get you set on your bikes to help you maximize your performance.

Have fun out there

Ride Safe!!

Talk with you soon

The Peanut Gallery  



TIME TO SHAKE OUT YOUR CROSS GEAR!!!

That's right Sports Fans...

Here's your Cyclocross count down...

If you haven't started already....

In the next 2 weeks, many of us will be starting cross specific training... possibly jumping on our cross bikes for the first time since LAST SEASON....


In 4 short weeks, many of us will be attending some version of a Cross Clinic... brushing up on rusty cross skills

As a cheap and shameless plug... Blue Steel Cyclery will be putting on a Cyclocross clinic on Sept 1st, but act fast because space is limited and we're closing it out at 64 attendees.  Check it out on bike reg. 


And... then!!!!  In 6 weeks...   Ohhhhhh, NOOOOOO!   The actual racing season starts!  

You guessed it!  We'll be coughing up a lung in our first Cross Race out in VT.... or some other place in New England. 

Racing up the side of some mountain, wondering what the hell we were thinking, when we signed up for the damned race on bike reg!!


So...  don't add insult to injury, by jumping straight into the fires of hell, on a bike that you've ignored since last winter. 

Hey Dude!  It's hot in here!

 
Come on... if you are anything like me...   after your last Cross race, which for me was LAST January, the last thing you wanted to do was bike maintenance... so, I did what any responsible individual would do.


I tossed my cross bikes in the basement and ignored them.... until.... ummmmm.... HOLY CRAP!!!!  I ONLY HAVE 6 WEEKS BEFORE MY FIRST RACE!!!!

And here they come!  Rounding the first bend...




So.... now what?????


Well...  before you jump on your bike cold turkey and start blasting over the barriers

Oops!!  That's gonna leave a mark



Through the woods 

Part of the Chain Gang!





and all over creation

Now... doesn't this look life fun!!!






 ... here's a few things you might want to check out first...


*  Pump up the tires... and make sure you don't  have a slow leak


*  If you have tubulars... make sure the glue is still good.  If you see an edge of the tire peeling away from the rim... NOT GOOD... Time to re-glue!!!


*  Check your tires for wear... if you want to get a little more wear out of your clinchers...  you can always rotate the front to the rear...but only if they are clinchers...  I wouldn't recommend rotating tubulars.  If a tubular is worn, replace that bad boy !!!


Because we are hard on our equipment in Cross... it will wear out faster... sooooo
*  Check the chain for wear... and, since it's been sitting, be sure to add chain lube


*   Check brake pads for wear... if pads or at 1/2 life... go ahead and replace


*  Check chain rings & cassette for wear... those wear on fast in Cross particularly the chain rings


*  Check bolts on chain rings to ensure they are tight...  


*  Check seat collar bolt... that has a tendency to snap due to mounts and dismounts!


*  Check your handle bars to make sure they are tight and make sure your headset is tight


*  Make sure your wheels are secure in the frame and tighten down the skewers


If you find anything outside of the above acts or looks weird on your bike... bring it to a bike shop and let one of the pros figure out what's going on with it... save yourself the frustration, hand gestures, and the excessive swearing... 

Doing this to my bike after I attempt to repair it, always makes me feel better.



Plus, I've found from personal experience that the maintenance cost goes up after I try to fix something first...


It's cheaper if I go directly to the bike shop vs. trying to fix it and then go to the shop. 

Since we're closing in on Cross Season...  I'm be posting blogs every 2 weeks.

Have fun out there

Ride Safe!!

Talk with you soon

The Peanut Gallery