Snow day...

Today's road ride has been canceled due to the snow that fell overnight, the snow that is predicted to be falling, and us not being able to determine the condition of the road. It has been a great winter for riding, I guess I shouldn't complain.

Snow day...

Today's road ride is canceled. I was going to switch it to a woods ride but the news people were asking people to avoid being on the road. Sorry... See you soon.

Ride canceled 1/14/12

Based on a real feel temp of 16, the ride is officially canceled. Ronny will be at the shop to open up for anyone who still decides to go. We don't take these decisions lightly, while we would prefer to ride, the safety of the riders is paramount. Thanks for your understanding.

See you soon,
Patty

Wednesday MTB Ride at 7p at Camden Co College

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CCC Mtn ride is canceled

Tonights mountain bike ride has been canceled. Looks like a lot of rain is headed our way right around go time.

Eventually, we will get one of these rides to go off as planned...

Brandywine Ride is leaderless for a few weeks

Weeknight rides

For the week of Monday,September 26th, our evening rides will start at 5:45p. The loops will be shortened to accommodate for the fleeting daylight. Please be sure to have a rear blinkie light on your bike for all the remaining evening rides. Safety first!

The Ride to Vegas: Final Thoughts

To get this right, I need to start at the beginning: I had two weeks notice for this ride from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas. I always want to do these epic adventures, but two weeks? My family knows I thrive on this stuff, so they always support me no matter how unreasonable my request. Thank you so much Rich, Jim, Sophia, Henry, Susan, Mom, and Dad for encouraging my whims and taking care of business and family whilst I participate in these ventures. I always ask too much but you indulge my need for growth and adventure.

Thank you:
Nancy LaRocque, for organizing, inviting me and cat herding all week! You did an amazing job.
Nic Sims, for telling Nancy I'm good for a laugh, for pulling me untold amounts of miles and for always providing a silly face, story or gesture. Entertainment plus.
Glen Adams, for being my Voice of Reason when I thought the altitude would put me "in the van", for speaking so calmly while I panicked, for pushing my sorry self up a big climb at the expense of your much needed energy, and for acting like none of it required a thank you.
Simon Dunne, for constant encouragement and a wheel to draft that left me in a vacuum. You smiled all the way from SLC to LV. It didn't go unnoticed.
Kim Hughes, for entertaining me from the airport pick-up to the bar in Vegas. You added that much needed female touch to a mostly male endeavor.
Chris D'Alusio, for your constant kindness and understanding, and your amazing company up a 30
mile climb. I really enjoyed the opportunity to hang out and chat. I'd say I want to be you when I grow up, but we both know I'll never grow up.
Anthony Sinyard, for dragging me around, coming back to ride and chat with me when I was riding by myself, humoring me, and letting me share the margaritas!
Rebecca Rusch, for encouraging me to push harder and not just give in. For making me laugh everytime you call me PattyCakes and for all the fun side conversations post-ride. There are some things neither of us will ever understand!
Greg Martin, for similar encouragement, tolerating my incessant dinner chatter and for keeping me in the pace line.
John and Johnny from High Desert, for keeping me in stitches with your two-man stand-up act and friendly encouragement every step of the way.
Dan from Victory Velo and Shane of NorCal for looking around to make sure I was still in it and providing much needed friendly faces and kind comments when I was struggling the most. Knowing how strong you are, yet how compassionate you could be was a huge deal to me.
Doug Emerson from UBikes, it was like having an old friend to hang out with every day. We could compare how we were feeling and make a team decision on how to proceed. I can't imagine having done it without you.
Glenn Fant of NorCal, you speak with your legs. Your talent amazes and inspires me but the best part was watching you talk about your son. Your passion for cycling is secondary to your passion for family and that speaks volumes.
Ben Capron, you are always light hearted, smiling and fun to be around. Just being near you makes things better. Can't wait to get going on NICA with you. It's going to be awesome!
RaeLynn, my roommate, you are inspiring. It's amazing what you can do given what you've been through. Keep up the good work, sister!
Michael Robertson, photographer extraordinaire, your work is beyond compare. Sorry for the deer in the headlights! I enjoyed getting to know you better. Now, get to a doc who can help you and get back on your bike.
Mark, Mark, Simon, Tim and Noah of Western Spirit, you took such good care of us and cooked us the most delicious meals! I can't wait to plan a sweet mtb trip with y'all. You rock!
Patrick, Daniel and Robert, it was great riding with you both. Keep up the great work.

These types of challenges teach you what you are made of and give you the opportunity to forge bonds of friendship that will last a very long time. I truly appreciate the opportunity I was given and I hope that I contributed something to each of your experiences, as well.

The Ride to Vegas: Day 6 the last ride

The day started early for the fast guys that were choosing to ride another 120 miles. They rolled at 6:45a. The rest of us ate breakfast and loaded bikes, gear and bodies into the vans to be shuttled out part way. They decided that my group would ride 50 today and the casual pace group would ride 30 or so.

At the drop off point, it was drizzling so we gathered the appropriate gear and got going. The terrain was rolling hills, challenging at times but offering recovery in between efforts. We had a great group. I was highly entertained by John and Johnny from High Desert Bicycles in NM. They are like watching a stand-up act that is always in progress. World Champion Rebecca Rusch and her boyfriend Greg chose to join our group this day, as well. They worked extra hard all week physically pushing one of our riders to keep her in her group. My friend, Doug, from UBikes Boulder was also a welcome addition as we were feeling pretty like-paced all week and he's a Moorestown native so that makes him a cool guy. Patrick from Red Kite Prayer, Robert from Right to Play, and Simon from Specialized rounded out our group.

We mostly tried to keep it together. J&J rode off for a bit by themselves, no doubt continuing their schtick. I was mentally feeling closed in by trying to maintain other rider's climbing paces, so I went ahead during a flat fix and pedaled some solo miles.

We got to the designated meeting point for the three groups and started to roll with the slower group, riding easily so the big boys would catch us. They had 14 flats en route so they were further back than expected. We mistakenly thought the bike path from here on would be about 10 miles before our arrival into Dirt Demo. Too many miles later, we were all hungry, tired and ready to be done when we finally saw Dirt Demo ahead of us.

We arrived to cheering and lots of cameras but were more interested in finding the food that awaited us. They popped open about 8 bottles of Champaigne and we celebrated the finish of a great 6 day effort. It's always bittersweet when these things end. Our bonds and our memories will last a long time, but it was good to know we wouldn't need to get back on our bikes again soon!

The Ride to Vegas: Day 5

It's all about the altitude. I'm a sea level flatlander, so Day 5 put many doubts into my already less-than-confident self. It was a 118 mile ride day with a serious climb not too far from the start. The group is strong and can climb at a pace I just can't sustain, and the altitude at the 5800' start was causing me to panic. My friend, Glen, was the voice of reason, once again, and settled me down. Reminding me of all the techniques to take in more oxygen, he really got me back to sanity. With a helpful hand on my back, he kept me moving until I was back with the big boys. My new friends, Dan and Shane, were very encouraging along the way and my buddy Doug from Boulder was more than willing to drop off the back of the group at around 50 miles so we could pedal at a sustainable pace. The scenery is more enjoyable when you can look up!

Nic Sims, from Specialized, dropped back to ride with us and we rolled right along- quickly ticking off the miles. Along the way, we picked up another rider, Patrick, who had been shuttled out to start a bit into the ride. In a few more miles, we latched onto Noah from Western Spirit- our guides for the week. This day we had a beautiful, long descent near the end. It was easy to get up to 45mph but I ran outta gears at that point.

There were quite a few challenging "bumps" (climbs) in the road over the 118 miles but we hung together really well and made the full 118. After such a rough start, it really turned into one of the better rides of the week. It was the perfect decision for Doug and I to drop off. I still felt like I could have done ten more if needed.

We ended up in Mesquite Nevada that night. It was the plushest resort/hotel this week. We had some time to get our massages and relax by the pool before dinner and we stayed up a while after talking about the day's events and realizing that our trip was almost over. It always seems like a long ride but it passes very quickly.

Day 6 will take us into Las Vegas. Actually, Boulder City where the Interbike Dirt Demo is being held. Sounds like we will shuttle out a ways then ride 40 miles. The Big Boys will ride the full 120.

Five days down, one to go.

The Vegas Ride: Day 4

Another chilly start today, but 53 is better than yesterday's 48! We rolled out of Panguitch at 9a under sunny skies but headed into questionable conditions. I had planned to do the 30+ mile climb by myself but Chris D'Alusio (Director of Advanced Research for Specialized Bicycles) had other ideas. He had done an extra 50 miles yesterday and was looking for a "recovery ride", so he joined me up the mountain. The grade was never more than 6%, so it was nice to have someone to chat with and ride alongside. The miles passed pretty quickly considering it was all uphill. I struggled with breathing at times as we started at 6636' and went up to 10,630'. Glen Adams from Specialized had schooled me earlier on how to get past the dizziness by breathing in deeply through my nose and exhaling through my mouth. That helped for the dizziness and stopped me from panicking, but didn't have any effect on how fast I could turn the pedals! I've learned through the years to ride within my limits so it just meant going a touch more slowly as I adapted to the altitude. Chris and I had a nice conversation and I found out that he spent some time, in his youth, living, racing and making pizza in Philadelphia!

The closer we got to the top, the colder it got. Temps got as low as 39 degrees. At this point it was intermittently hailing and raining, so we were equally cold and wet. We caught up to Doug Emerson of University Bicycles in Boulder CO, as he was having a mechanical issue. We continued on with Doug and the rain and hail was now really pelting down hard. Fog was rolling in so we were losing our visibility as well as our ability to be seen. This is a scenic route and a Sunday, so there was a moderate amount of traffic as well. The top starts to roll a bit, so the ups were matched with some downs and our speeds increased exponentially. It was at this point that I realized I needed to seek out a support van as my brakes were not adequate in the conditions and my fingers were frozen, despite having full-finger gloves on. I was wearing arm and knee warmers, jersey, vest, long sleeved jacket and rain cape, yet was still shivering beyond control.

I realized that it was bad when Chris said "I can't believe they left us up here". (By that he meant, I can't believe they left You up here, as he continued 17 more miles to the bottom after I climbed into the van.) They hadn't left us, they were just up around the corner and out of sight at that point. They had had other frozen riders to pick up and get to the hotel, so there were less support vans. Nancy, our trip planner and fearless van driver, followed Chris down the sketchy descent. We could see his arms shuddering from the cold and he did a controlled weave heading into every corner to scrub the speed that his brakes weren't able to lessen. I sat in the van, shivering, while watching his amazing control and technique on the descent. It was quite a relief once he had descended out of the fog and we could see the ground was dry.

Almost to the bottom, we could see touring riders, poorly dressed, headed up the mountain. I could feel the pain they were about to experience, but could do nothing about it. Back at the hotel, my room not quite ready, I grabbed a peanut butter sandwich and hung out next to the heater while the gals made my bed and cleaned my bathroom. A nice hot shower and a Coke later, I am back to "normal" and ready to set my sights on tomorrow's 118 miler into Mesquite Nevada.

The Ride to Vegas: Day 3

Today's ride was from Richfield to Panguich Utah. Not a lot of elevation change today so the boys ramped the pace up quickly. There was an enticing, empty, bike path for miles before we had to hop out onto the road. The scenery was absolutely amazing and almost able to take my mind off the burning in my legs. Chris D (key to the design of the Venge!) and Ben Capron (of NICA High School mtn bike league) did a nice job of keeping me in the pace line after the group split and the pace went to 28. At the 55 mile mark, I couldn't stay in so I dropped off and settled into my own pace. It was nice to be able to look around more and enjoy, rather than having to focusing on not losing the wheel in front of me. I spent the next 24 miles cruising over beautiful roads, looking over my shoulder for the group I thought was right behind me, and hearing Phil and Paul in my head. "She's on the rivet, sadly, there's no way she'll hang on and not get caught by the chase group". Strangely, I made it back before being caught and still ended up finishing my 79 miles with an 19 average.

The gang then decided that we needed to get in the van and go see Bryce Canyon. So we took an incredible road trip that was beyond breathtaking. After dinner, we grabbed a bunch of bricks behind the motel and built a frame for a sweet bonfire. The police haven't shown yet but it's only a matter of time! Three days in with three more to go and I'm having an awesome time. Wish you were here...

The Ride to Vegas: Day 2

Knowing that I'm a "tweener" (I'm just hanging onto the fast group but too fast for the second), leaves me with a small measure of trepidation every morning before the ride. Will I be strong enough to hang onto the Big Dogs or will I have to do a big solo effort today? While the altitude (5200' at the start) isn't overwhelming, it still taxes my system more than my normal riding conditions. We started the day in Nephi UT and ended in Richfield, 74 miles later. It was a fairly flat day, only 1457' elevation gain, but that just meant we would ride at a much faster pace. I got in the mix so I wouldn't fall off the back when the dial got turned up. I vowed to Ride Smarter this go around and I held to my promise. I sat in the pace line, moving up to within two or three of the front, then dropped to the back and took cover. I wondered all day when the rope would snap and I would be riding on my own. As luck would have it, we were moving so fast that the 74 miles were done before I ran outta gas. The best part is we are staying at a Holiday Inn Express so I should be capable of pretty much anything tomorrow.

The Ride to Vegas 2012 Day One

Our first day on the road left Salt Lake City shortly after 8am this morning. We rode 80 rolling miles, then headed up Mt Nebo. It was a 113 mile ride with 7162' of climbing elevation and a max of 9400'. We rode the first 79 miles at an 18.8 average. I was shocked to not be gasping as I passed the 7000' and then 8000' signs on the side of the road. The climb was 20 miles! The sweeper van grabbed me at 97.08 miles after 6 hours 24 minutes on the bike. My legs both locked up as I got off the bike and I stood there propped up by my Amira for 5 full minutes (in excessive pain) before shuffling toward the van. The evening massage was excruciating but necessary, so I "manned up" and dealt with it. Now I'm hanging out in recovery tights, hydrating. I want to send major props out to my riding partners for all their support and for letting me hang off the back of the way too fast for me pace line. I love you all...

(I couldn't figure out how to post pics from my iPad but I'll do that when I get home)

Until tomorrow!
Patty

Good Morning Irene?

If it was a normal rain storm coming, we would take our chances and ride under grey skies. But because of the threats of high winds, etc., we will err on the side of caution and cancel today's ride. Monday's weather looks promising, we will see you then!

Brandywine ride is canceled

Out of respect for the trails, the Brandywine ride has been canceled for Sunday, August 21st. There has been too much rain and we don't want to leave the trails in rutted condition. Thanks for your understanding.

Too much rain

We got quite a bit of rain on Friday, so the Sunday morning mountain bike ride has been canceled. Sorry kids, but we are trying to obey the Rules of the Trail. The trails at Camden County College dry quickly if you are looking for an alternate ride location.

Thanks,
Patty

Tues Night D Ride...

...is cancelled due to weather. Seeya Saturday!

No ride today

The Brandywine ride has been canceled due to rain. We are choosing to be responsible as riding wet trails causes trail damage. See you next time!

April showers bring ride cancellations

The Saturday rides are canceled due to wet weather. See you Monday night!

Casual Tuesday

Threats of rain and very high winds have us pulling the plug on the D ride tonight. In the meantime, we have a D ride on Saturday at 8am!

Ride Time Change

The Saturday road ride moves to 8am this weekend. Sadly, this in NOT an April Fool's joke. All rides (D, C and B) go off at the same time.

D= 22 miles at 12-14 mph, C= 35 miles at 14-16 mph, B= 38 miles at 16-18 mph.

Most weeks, members of the B group opt to do extra miles, so come prepared for up to 50 if you'd like to join the overachievers and do some extra miles!!

Now, cross your fingers for better weather.

Patty

No woods, yes road

Barring precipitation or temps in the teens tomorrow, we are meeting at the bike shop at 9a for a 2.5 hour road ride. The Brandywine ride is canceled until April 24th. I will be road riding in Spain in early April and don't want to risk injury before the trip. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Patty

Sleep in this Saturday

Looks like the winds will be dangerous, so we are choosing to cancel the Saturday rides for safety reasons. Check this out, they're calling it a High Wind Event. Just when we thought it would be nice riding weather...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS THAT A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE.

Get your indoor chores done this weekend, as it will be great riding weather really soon.

Patty

We'll be riding soon

This yucky weather and these icy roads will soon be a distant memory. Todays rides have been canceled for safety. Put March 14th on your calendar. The weeknight rides start in 37 days!!

I know you know this, but...

The Saturday rides have been canceled. One day soon, there will be sunshine, warmth and streets filled with laughter, not snow... But for now, we ride inside.

Think spring,
Patty

Too cccccold

Sorry kids, the AW ride has been canceled due to extremely cold temperatures. We will try again next week...

Too icy

Once again, for the sake of safety, the Saturday morning ride is canceled. Cross your fingers for the weather to change and get rid of this snow and ice... Hope to see you soon!

Beginner mountain ride...canceled

The snow is falling and is supposed to continue, so we are canceling the 2p Beginner Mountain Bike Ride at Gloucester Twp Park.

Saturday ride is canceled

Old Man Winter just keeps coming to visit. There is light snow falling and the 'feels like' temp is going to be 23 at 9a so, therefore, I have no option but to cancel the road ride. The good news is that we are only just over 60 days away from the weeknight rides starting!

Rules of the Trail

The unseasonably warm weather has given us lots of melt-down, thereby making our beloved Brandywine trails too wet to ride Sunday. As much as we all want to ride, we need to abide by the rules of the trail and stay off them when they are in this condition. Camden County College might be in better shape as it dries much faster than other area trail systems. Or be completely sure and hit the road!

Happy New Year to you all and see you soon,
Patty

Weather guessing

Based on forecasts that include Weather Warnings about dangerous travel, I am forced to be the responsible party and cancel the group ride at Brandywine today. Even if only small amounts of snow fall early on, travel on the way back home could be "dangerous" (according to the forecasters). Thanks for understanding. I really want to go but feel like I need to make the decision for safety. See you all soon!

In the name of safety...

The Saturday morning ride has been canceled. The temps were very low overnight and the real feel is still below 25 degrees. Anything that had a chance to melt yesterday is likely now ice on the road. Sorry for disappointing those who wanted to head out today but we need to make the call based on the safety of our riders.

Tuesday Nite MTN ride canceled

The Tues Mtn ride at Camden County for 12/14 is canceled.

Seeya next week.

Thanksgiving ride

Based on forecasts, radar maps and dark skies, I am canceling the holiday ride. The temps are too cold to risk getting everyone out there and having the forecasted rain start to fall. I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday and I will see you Saturday morning at 9am.
Although closed today, the shop is open Friday from 10-7p for all of your shopping needs. Don't forget to stop by on Small Business Saturday. Register with American Express and they will credit you $25 for shopping at a small business and using your AmEx card.

Saturday D ride starts again in the spring

Thanks go out to all the D riders who came out on Saturdays for our group rides! The C and B groups will continue through the winter and the D group will start up again in the spring. Please join us in the woods on Saturday afternoons at 2p, starting November 6th, for a Beginner Mountain bike ride. Stop in or call the shop for more information.

The Saturday C and B rides move to 9a starting November 6th.

Extending the season

We had a change of heart, the Monday and Thursday road rides will go off this week at 5p!! And now, this will be the last week for our evening rides. Thanks for a wonderful season of riding!

Forecasted heavy winds

With safety in mind, I feel it necessary to cancel the Saturday ride. The prediction is for 20-30mph winds with heavier gusting over the next bunch of hours. Sorry for any inconvenience...

Tuesday Night Lights

Grab your bike and your lights and join Adam at Gloucester Twp Park (Next to Camden County College on Peter Cheeseman Rd) for a 7pm mountain bike ride. Follow the park road back and it's the first lot on your left. Call the shop for details. 856.468.5115

Mountain ride moved

The Sunday mtn ride is moving to Camden County College for tomorrow. I'm concerned that the Brandywine will be too muddy. The Monday/Thursday night road rides will roll at 530p this week! See you on the trail/road.

Park Tool School dates...

New Park Tool School dates have been announced. Check out the schedule and sign up now, class sizes are limited to 4!

Tuesday Night D Ride Cancelled

Monday's road ride

The Monday night ride has been canceled based on unfavorable weather predictions and 'green' all over the radar. It's already getting dark early, to have gray skies and potentially foul weather added to that is dangerous. Thanks for understanding. We will roll Thursday night at 6p if the weather allows.

New Rules!

It's that time of year again where daylight is fleeting. We institute new policies at this point to help maintain the highest possible level of safety. To that end, all riders must have a functioning, rear blinking light on their bike to participate in our evening road rides. If you don't have one, please plan ahead or pick one up at the shop before the ride. In addition, our normal "everyone stops for a flat" policy does not apply this late in the season. We need every minute of daylight to get our riders home on time so please be prepared to fix your own flat and get yourself back. Thank you for understanding and being prepared!

The Sunday ride

Rob's Sunday road ride has been canceled for rain. Join us Monday night at 6p. Don't forget your rear blinkie light. They will be required on all evening rides from here on out. Thanks!

Ride canceled, pizza is still on

The radar is showing a big storm heading our way so we are going to cancel the ride and focus on eating pizza. We have moved the party start time to 6p. Come play!

Follow us on Facebook!

You may have noticed fewer blog posts lately - that's due to most of our daily updates being done on our facebook page-  (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Deptford-NJ/Action-Wheels-Bicycle-Shop/47486207634) so check it out!

You will still find ride cancellations and updates on our blog, but most other news, pics and events will be found on 'the Facebook.'

Rain, rain, go away...

Looks like some heavy rain possible this evening, so we've decided to call the Monday night ride...seeya Thurs!

Weather guessing

Looking at the radar, we have decided that it wouldn't be prudent to head out on the road this morning. Looks like some nasty weather headed our way. It would be so much easier if it was just raining on us right now. But someone has to make a decision, and so we have decided to cancel. Enjoy your day and best of luck to everyone doing the ACS ride or the GCC mountain bike race tomorrow!!

See you soon,
Patty

Zipp 101's!

One of the hot new wheelsets of the season has arrived: the new Zipp 101's.

Tuesday Night D Ride Canceled...

Due to the extreme heat today we are canceling the Tuesday Night D Ride...seeya Saturday!

OOPS!!

I meant to say see you at 8a!!

It's NOT raining!

The weather guessers were off again (at least they're consistent) and it looks like the weather will be fine for our Saturday morning ride. See you at 9a!!

Patty

Rain out

The Brandywine ride has been canceled for rain. We will try again next week.

Patty

2009 Orbea Blowout!

Save huge on remaining 2009 Orbea bikes:

Onix TDE, red, 51 and 54 cm. Was $2650, NOW ONLY $2050

Onix TDA, blue, 51cm. Was $2150, NOW ONLY $1650

Ordu, carbon, 54cm.  Was $6250, NOW ONLY $4050

Tues Night D Ride canceled...

Tues Night D Ride canceled due to rain

Sunday Mtn Ride

Today's ride at the Brandywine is canceled due to rain. If the current forecast holds (haha), we will be out there next Sunday morning at 9a.

Tuesday Night Ride (4/13)

Canceled due to wet weather.

Monday Nigth Ride Canceled for 3/29

Tonight's Monday Night ride is canceled due to the rain...but it's looking great for Thursday! Seeya Thursday Night at 6PM!

Going for it

It will be a rude wake up call after such nice weather, but we are going to give it a go this morning. Please check the forecast and dress appropriately. It's going to be a cold one but we will have the sun working in our favor. See you at 9am!

Next Saturday, we go back to starting at 8am...

Thanks.

Tues. Night Mtn Ride Cancelled

Due to the rain yesterday and the continuing rain today, the Tuesday Night Mtn Ride at CCC is cancelled. Boo.

Monday Night Ride for 3/22

Tonight's Monday Night Ride (3/22) is cancelled due to the rain :(

Seeya Thursday night!

It's official

I am officially sick of having to cancel our group rides. That said...it is with sadness in my heart that I cancel the first Monday night ride of the season. Looks like good weather the rest of the week. Thursday night will likely be our 2010 inaugural weeknight ride. Join us at 6p in the AW parking lot for an abbreviated version of the regular loops.

Yay!!

Not ready yet

It's still a bit too wet for us to head for the woods. So the Sunday Brandywine ride will not go off today. If we have dry weather for a bunch of days, we might find that it is ready by next weekend. Stay tuned. Thanks!

Sunny and dry!

Looks like we will be taking it to the streets tomorrow, as the weather looks to be sunny and dry. There will still be a chill in the air, so check the forecast and dress appropriately. Can't wait to get back out there and ride. See you at 9am for both B and C groups.

North American Handmade Bicycle Show 2010

Spent the weekend in Richmond looking at some of the most beautiful pieces of functional art I've ever seen...thought I'd share a few of my faves:

http://web.me.com/cathartes_aura/Site/NAHBS_10.html

Old news

It's snowing this morning, so our attempt to get out today has once again been thwarted. We will try again next weekend...

New ride plans

The 9am Saturday road ride is canceled. We will roll just a B+ group tomorrow (as I have no C group leader) at 11 am. This will give the roads a chance to be more clear. If we find that the roads are slick and dangerous, we will turn back. Keep this in mind if you are coming in from a distance. It is most definitely ride at your own risk. The roads were fine last week but we aren't sure what to expect tomorrow.

Just to be safe

The 9am Saturday morning ride has been canceled. We want to make sure the roads are safe enough for our large group of multi-level abilities before we hit the road. Fingers crossed for next week!

Thanks!

Sorry for any inconvenience, but due to the weather AW will be closed Thursday February 11th.
We will be all dug out and open 10 AM Friday morning.

Another one bites the dust

The 4" of snow in Wilmington, combined with the unknown condition of the roads and a 2 degree real feel temperature, have me throwing in the towel on yet another Sunday mountain bike ride. I don't want to put anyone in harms way and I know that if I say Let's Ride, some of you will join me. So, until next weekend...

Another one bites the dust

The 4" of snow in Wilmington, combined with the unknown condition of the roads and a 2 degree real feel temperature, have me throwing in the towel on yet another Sunday mountain bike ride. I don't want to put anyone in harms way and I know that if I say Let's Ride, some of you will join me. So, until next weekend...

Sunday Beginner Ride

Due to rain, snow, cold, extreme winds- it's something every week- we are discontinuing the Sunday beginner mountain bike ride. It will hopefully start up again closer to spring when our order of non-stop sunshine and warmth arrives. Thanks for your understanding.

Rain out

Although it's not raining here, yet, the forecast shows rain at ride time so we are canceling both the beginner mountain bike ride and the Brandywine ride. Sorry kids. I don't want to drag you all to the parking lot only to have the rain start. Maybe if it were warmer...

Join us Monday morning at 9a for a 40 mile road ride. If you have off for MLK Day off, you can spend it with us!

One more time

The beginner mountain ride has been canceled again for extreme cold. Next weekend looks like a heatwave- in the 40s! So look for us then.

The Sunday Brandywine ride will go off at 9am. Meet us in the parking lot behind the Courtyard Marriott for a 2 hour ride. I received an email saying that the trails are in perfect condition so it should be a cold but very fun ride. See you there.

Patty

Pulling the trigger

I'm not going to wait until tomorrow morning to tell you that the Saturday morning road ride is once again canceled. The light coating of snow has led to icy patches and the wind chill is going to be painfully low. Maybe I should start posting when we ARE going to go instead of when we aren't. It would be easier...

Winter Hours...

...are in effect:

Mon-Fri:  10-7
Sat:         10-5
Sunday:   12-4

Yes for one, no for the other

The Brandywine ride is on as scheduled for Sunday morning at 9a. Meet in the parking lot of the Courtyard Marriot on Rt 202, around back. About a 2 hour ride. Lots of climbing.

The CCC beginner ride has been canceled due to very cold temps and wind speeds. We don't expect our beginners will enjoy that stuff.

Don't forget to grab your light set and join us in the woods at Camden County College on Tuesday night at 7p.

Call the shop for more info or to borrow lights. 856.468.5115

thanks,
Patty

It's a no go

With a "feels like" temp of 15 degrees and winds gusting up to 28 mph, I once again feel compelled to cancel the Saturday morning road ride. Stay tuned for info on tomorrow's mountain rides. We will see what the weather brings tomorrow.

First 2010 AW Park Tool School

7 hour novice course, which will consist of two 4 hour sessions on consecutive Sundays (9am - 1pm) Topics covered include:

• Tool selection, shop set up and lubrication
• Wheels, tires and tubes
• Brakes adjustment and maintenance
• Derailleur adjustment

Sessions run from 9:00 AM - 1 PM on two consecutive Sundays. Class size is limited to 4 students. Cost is $125.00 +tax ($133.75, due at registration.)

Participants get the chance to learn by working on their own bicycle. Cost includes the Park Tool School Student Manual.

Offered:
January 31/February 7

Ride canceled

Sorry kids- the extra wet holiday week has led us to pull the plug on the Tuesday night mountain bike ride. We will hopefully see less precipitation in the coming days and New Year. Stay tuned to our shop email and Blog for current ride info.

2010 We The People Bikes...

...have arrived! Just in time for the holidays!

More rain

With an 80% chance of rain in the forecast, I really have no choice but to cancel the Sunday morning mountain bike rides. If it was warmer out, I might take a chance on it not being accurate and trying to get the rides in. But with the cold temps, no one will be happy if we are mid-ride and it starts to come down. Thanks for understanding.

Wind chill and woods rides

The "Feels Like" temperature is going to be about 20 degrees at 9am this morning, so we are canceling the Saturday morning road ride. Looks like it will be a bit warmer this afternoon, so get your to-do list done this morning and fit a ride in later today.

Join me in the woods at Brandywine tomorrow morning, on the dirt at 9am, for a 2 hour intermediate mountain ride. It's a little rocky and there is a lot of climbing. Find us by taking the Commodore Barry Bridge to 95S, to 495S, to the exit for Naaman's Rd. Rt 92W (right turn off the exit). Follow about 15 lights to Route 202 and turn left. Less than a mile down the road on the right is the Courtyard Marriott. We park all the way around back. It's about 30 minutes from Action Wheels.

Our beginner mountain bike ride is in the woods at Camden County College at 10am tomorrow morning. You can get a nice taste of mountain biking without the rocks and climbing. This group meets in the park right next to the Blackwood campus of the college. Rob is your group leader. For directions go to: http://www.camdencc.edu/campusdirections.htm

For more info, please call the shop 856.468.5115

Too much rain

The extra nasty weather has left me with no option but to cancel our Sunday morning beginner ride. Sorry kids, but we don't want to damage the trail system. The next ride is our Tuesday night mtn ride at CCC. Grab your lights and join Adam at 7p for a fun night ride!

Crying foul

Due to the wet ground and the prediction of foul weather all morning, the Saturday 9am road ride has been canceled. Looks like some sun in the forecast for tomorrow, so get your indoor errands done today and get out and play in the alleged sunshine on SUNday!

Remember that at the shop today, we are giving away a Specialized EMT Multi Tool (value $20) with any purchase over $30. Get there early as it is while supplies last. This was an email special so you have to mention the offer to get the deal. One per customer, blah, blah, blah.

If the skies are clear in the morning, the Sunday 10am beginner mountain ride will go off as scheduled at Camden County College. Call or stop by the shop today for details- ask for Rob. 856.468.5115

Extreme wind

The forecast for tomorrow is showing extreme winds and gusts that could prove to be pretty dangerous for us on the road. It is with safety in mind that we have made the decision to cancel the Saturday road ride. Join us Sunday morning at 9am at the Brandywine for an intermediate mountain bike ride with lots of climbing or at 10am at Camden County College for a wooded beginner ride.

The Brandywine ride meets in the Courtyard Marriott parking lot off from Rt202. The CCC ride meets in the back lot of the park that is just past CCC.

Clothing Special!

For a limited time buy any full price winter piece (jersey, tight or jacket) in stock and get any in-stock shorts for half off!

One down, one's a go

While the Brandywine ride is canceled due to wet trails, the CCC beginner mountain ride is ON at 10 am Sunday morning. Join Rob for some fun miles in the woods. Meet in the parking lot of the park just after Camden County College on Peter Cheeseman Rd. It's a guaranteed good time!!

Ride time change

The Saturday morning road ride starts at 9am as of this Saturday, November 7th.

Group rides

The weeknight rides will roll at 5pm both Monday and Thursday nights this week. This is the last week for the night road rides as we change the clocks this weekend.

Don't forget to join Adam at Camden County College on Tuesday nights at 7pm for a wooded night ride. This is a beginner/intermediate mountain bike ride that requires lights in addition to helmets, water, and flat fix kits.

The Saturday morning road ride will move to 9am starting the first weekend in November (the 7th). We meet in the shop parking lot for a 37 mile loop at either a B or C pace.

The Sunday morning beginner mountain bike ride will start this weekend (barring this crazy rainy weather). It's a 10am ride that meets in the park on Peter Cheeseman Road immediately after Camden Co College.

Call the shop for any further info about the rides. 856-468-5115

Thanks!

Ride cancellations

Both of the Sunday mountain bike rides have been canceled due to excessive rain. Cross your fingers for some sun this week, we hope to see you next weekend.

AW night ride

We're going to roll the Monday night ride right at 5:15 tonight. It will be a shortened loop, of course, to accommodate for the loss of daylight. The Thursday night ride will move to 5pm this week. Please be ready to go on time and have your blinkie light on your bike.

Today's ride, tonight's ride

The Monday night ride has been preempted by the morning holiday ride. So...there will not be an evening ride. Please join us on Thursday night at 5:15p for our next evening ride.

Thanks to all who came out to play this morning. We had a great turnout and a really nice 50 mile ride in moderately chilly temps. Everyone took a turn pulling the group as we cruised out to Parvin State Park and back. The next holiday ride will be Thanksgiving morning. Mark your calendar.

Join us this Sunday for the Covered Bridges Century at Tinnicum Park! We will gather near registration and roll out at 8am...

The Sunday mtn ride is canceled due to the fact that I can't be in two places at once. Thanks for understanding.

Game on

Hi Kids! We're going to give the Brandywine a shot this morning. Grab your bike and your gear and meet me at the Courtyard Marriott on Route 202. We roll at 9am.

Tomorrow morning, we are riding the holiday 50 mile loop for Columbus Day. This is a 9am ride that leaves from the bike shop. Bring plenty of water and energy food. See you there.

Weeknight rides

The Monday and Thursday night rides will still roll out at 5:30p this week. Distances will be shortened to accomodate the daylight (or lack thereof).

Finally- the Woods

We are going to head to the Brandywine this morning for a dirt ride. Looks like there might be a few mushy spots but that the conditions will be rideable. Meet us for a 9am start behind the Courtyard Marriott on Rte 202.

Ride totals- The Komen Ride to Vegas

For those who like numbers:

I rode 513 miles in 6 days
Burned 21,542 calories
Rode in 116 degree temps in Death Valley
Climbed almost 50,000 feet
Descended at 48, 50 and 55mph on 3 separate descents
Did my fastest century, riding 100 miles in just over 4 hrs- avg speed 24.5
Rode gradients of 16 and 18%
Rode at 8000 feet and was still breathing comfortably
Descended 4200 ft out of Yosemite covering 13 miles (passing a pick-up and a motorcycle) at 55mph

Things I learned:

The tarantulas crossed the road to get to the other side
There are coyotes on Mt Hamilton
Wine doesn't help when you can't sleep
A negative attitude breeds negative results
I feel the need for speed
I like to descend more than I like to climb and I LOVE to climb
After 500 miles on a bike, the saddle is less than comfy
You can share a tent with someone you don't know and have fun
You can dehydrate despite drinking 24 ounces every 15 minutes
People you don't know one day can save your butt the next
You don't have to fall just because you crossed wheels at 25mph
Sometimes taking a huge leap will be the best thing you could ever do

Thanks for all of your support!

Days 5 and 6 Komen ride to Vegas

We were up and on the road early to beat some of the afternoon heat in Death Valley. It was another 100 plus mile day and we ended up riding in 116 degree temps. There was one huge climb that took us up over 5000 feet. Luckily, the payback on the other side was another screaming descent. I love to climb but hadn't really gotten my legs here until Day 5. I felt great today and was finally able to settle in. Let me tell ya, 50 miles an hour on a bike...pretty darn cool.

Day 6 We were eating breakfast in the dark to get on the road early. Luckily the heat never got to yesterdays extreme highs. Though we were told 134 isn't uncommon. We completed our last leg to the Interbike Dirt Demo at about 2pm today. The crowds were huge and of course the champagne was flowing.

This was a major undertaking for me. I want to thank Mike Sinyard and all of the wonderful folks at Specialized for making this adventure possible. Also, thanks to everyone on the ride and back home for all of your encouragement. I couldn't have done this without you. A special thanks to Dan, for dragging and pushing me back in the many times I fell off. Kisses to the ChickTrain for all their hard work and determination and to Rachel for keeping us strong mentally when I just wanted to get off my bike. I made many new friends and found a toughness inside that I had no idea was there. What a week. I'm sorry it's over but I can't imagine having to get back in the saddle today!

Total distance that I rode: 513 miles in 6 days