November 18th, 2015 at 10:08 am
I know it's not a new phenomenon, but it seems like lately there is a lot more mainstream news about Cyclocross racing; already hugely popular in Europe, it seems like Cyclocross is having its “moment” in North America. Cyclocross, combines elements of mountain biking and road racing, but with a twist: when the going gets tough, the tough sling their bikes across their shoulders and run with them.
Many participants cite the relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere that permeates Cyclocross events as one of the biggest draws. For a lot of people, it's a great way to get in a hardcore workout while having fun and maybe even a cool adult beverage*. Cyclocross races are not as fast as standard road races, and cyclists tend to enjoy more space during the race. There's also the added bonus of softer surfaces (grass and mud, for example) if a fall is in the cards. The season tends to run autumn through winter, with national championships in Canada and the US happening in November and January.
What do you think? Have you tried Cyclocross? Tell us about it by commenting below or sharing on Facebook!
*Alcohol and wheels don't mix. Please don't drink and ride.
Source(s): Wikipedia The Washington Post
Photo by Dave Haygarth
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June 25th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Attention cyclists! Bicycles with SR Suntour forks are being recalled due to the possibility that they will break, and that the wheel could come off the bicycle, posing a potential risk for injury.
Affected bicycles include Cannondale, Diamondback, Giant, GT, INA International, Schwinn, Scott, and Trek; they will be fitted with the SR Suntour bicycle fork models M3010, M3020, M3030, NEX, and XCT. The serial numbers will start with a K and end with a number between 141101 and 150127. For a complete list of affected forks and bicycles, visit the SR Suntour recall website here. You can also phone their customer service line from Monday to Friday between 9 am and 4 pm Central Time at 1-888-820-8458.
So far, there are fifteen documented incidents of the bolts on the forks breaking or separating from bikes; two of these incidents involved minor injuries like bruising, cuts, or scrapes.
If you think you have been injured because of a faulty SR Suntour bicycle fork, call us right away to discuss your case.
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June 23rd, 2015 at 2:20 pm
Depending on your level of enthusiasm for competitive bicycling, you may never have heard of Nairo Quintana. Quintana has been described as the “cycling superhero of South America” in a recent article by the Wall Street Journal. The title doesn't seem that far off; in the last five years, 25-year-old Quintana has placed first overall in fourteen major racing events, most recently at the Tirreno – Adriatico in March 2015. He won that race definitively, in the midst of a raging snow storm.
Next week, Quintana will race in the Tour de France, arguably bicycling's most important race. Will you be watching?
Join the conversation on Facebook!
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February 27th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
There are so many bike and trail projects on the go this year, it's starting to seem like 2015 is turning into the Year of the Bike, at least in Detroit. Here are some of the bigger projects you need to know about.
- E. Jefferson Bike Lanes: Are you ready for this? The first separated (or protected) bike lanes are coming to Southeast Michigan! These lanes will be added to E. Jefferson between Alter Road and Lakewood. There is also a plan to extend these bike lanes to the E. Grand Boulevard entrance of Belle Isle.
- Riverwalk: The Chene Park East and Chene Park West sections of the Riverwalk should be completed this year.
- Link Detroit: Slated to be completed this summer, Link Detroit will extend the Dequindre Cut from Gratiot to Mack. It will add a trail into Eastern Market on the north side of Wilkins. Bike lanes have already been added along St. Aubin from the end of the cut to Hamtramck, and more will be added (along with a ‘Midtown Loop') from Eastern Market to Midtown. Additionally, three bridges over the Dequindre Cut are being replaced. Finally, three bike and pedestrian counters will be added to the new section of the Dequindre Cut in order to measure how much use these areas are getting.
- Cass Avenue Bike Lanes / Midtown Loop: Both MDOT and the FTA noted that streetcar rails being installed near the curbs where bicyclists ride is creating a hazardous situation for cyclists, and their response is to add bike lanes from W. Grand to Lafayette along Cass Avenue, some of which will be buffered. That's in addition to the mix of bike lanes, sharrows, and paths that connect Cass to the Riverwalk. In order to make Cass Avenue more appealing to cyclists, new bike repair stations and air pumps are being installed as well. Finally, automated bicycle counters will track usage in the area.
- Connor Creek Greenway: While this trail is relatively small, it is the product of a lot of cooperation between different organizations… and it's almost finished! Conor Creek Greenway will be extended, starting at Connor along E. Outer Drive to Van Dyke, then crossing Eight Mile and winding up at Stephens Road. It will be part of the Showcase Trail between Belle Isle and Wisconsin, and should provide many green bike lanes along those parts of the pathway in Warren.
- Inner Circle Greenway: This 26-mile pathway flows around the City of Detroit by connecting existing trails. The pathway will run through Hamtramck, Highland Park, and Dearborn as well. About half of the pathway is complete, as it is a connection of several existing trails. Detroit Greenways Coalition is working with partners to plan and secure funding to complete the pathway.
Hopefully, all of these projects will help make cycling safer in our city. If you were injured in a bicycle accident, we are here to help! Contact us as soon as possible.
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January 26th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
There's a new hiking and biking trail in Michigan, and it's going to be huge. Michigan's DNR recently held a naming contest for the “showcase trail”, which will stretch across Michigan between Belle Isle State Park in Wayne County, and Ironwood State Park in Gogebic County. The DNR announced the winning name on January 26, 2015: Iron Belle Trail.
Image of the proposed Iron belle Trail by Michigan DNR
Michigan DNR's Parks and Recreation department, along with other partners, is currently seeking funds to help develop trail corridors. Iron Belle trail will ultimately create both a 1,259-mile hiking trail and 774-mile bike path by linking a number of already existing trails between Detroit and the western UP. Several communities will host celebrations and events to mark the opening of different segments of the trail will open throughout 2015.
To learn more about Michigan's latest trail, click here. What's your favorite Michigan bike trail? Share below!
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September 23rd, 2014 at 1:05 pm
The State of Michigan is inviting cyclists and pedestrians to enter a contest to name its newest trail!
The trail, which is really two paths running side by side (one for hiking, one for biking) stretches over 2,000 miles from Belle Isle in Detroit to Ironwood, on the Upper Peninsula / Wisconsin border. The trail is free to use for all, and features spectacular views including parts of the Detroit River Walk and even Lake Superior.
The naming contest is open now (as of September 22) and runs until October 13, with the winning name announced in December. Along with the name, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will develop a logo and trail markers. The contest winner and two runners-up will be awarded with a trip (one each) to: the Porcupine Mountains' Kaug Wudjoo Lodge; or Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel; or a stay in Metro Detroit.
The contest will be judged by representatives from the Michigan DNR's partners on the project: DNR's Michigan Trails Advisory Council, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Recreation and Parks Association, and Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.
There are three ways to enter: online, via Facebook, or by printing and mailing an entry form.
What's your favorite trail? Tell us about it below or comment on our Facebook page.
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August 6th, 2014 at 11:04 am
Cycling can be a grueling and, sometimes, dangerous sport. However, random acts of violence do not normally factor into the dangers associated with riding a bicycle; for most cyclists, dangers include sharing the road with motor vehicles, encounters with animals, or poor terrain.
Craig Premack has a different story to tell about the dangers of cycling. Premack, a 59-year-old native of Burnaby, British Columbia (Canada), was participating in a race along the Trans-Canada Highway late at night on June 1, when he was shot in the forearm. That's right: Craig Premack was shot during a cycling event... in Canada, of all places! Police are still looking for two suspects, believed to have fled in a pickup truck immediately after firing on Premack.
Fortunately, Premack was only injured in this senseless attack. He was found by fellow racers and brought to an area hospital. He will survive, but whether or not he will race again is up in the air, as the bullet shattered the bone in his arm.
To read more about this incident and the progress of the investigation, click here.
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July 4th, 2014 at 9:34 am
For many of us, the Fourth of July is a day for celebration: food, fireworks, and fun. If you're into cycling and looking for something a little different this holiday, why not try a Fourth of July bike ride?
To help you find a ride in your area, Bicycling.com has created a list of their favorite Fourth of July rides and races. Check them out here.
If you signed up to ride, let us know! Leave a comment below and tell us which race you rode this Fourth of July!
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June 24th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Recently, Walk Score released its top 10 Most Bike-Friendly Cities in the United States. If you're a cyclist looking for a bike-friendly place to live, you might want to consider one of these cities:
#1 Portland (Bike Score 70)
#2 San Francisco (Bike Score 70)
#3 Denver (Bike Score 70)
#4 Philadelphia (Bike Score 68)
#5 Boston (Bike Score 68)
#6 Washinton D.C. (Bike Score 65)
#7 Seattle (Bike Score 64)
#8 Tucson (Bike Score 64)
#9 New York (Bike Score 62)
#10 Chicago (Bike Score 62)
Walk Score measures bike accessibility based on four criteria to determine the city's Bike Score: The number of bike lanes, the hilliness of the city, destinations and road connectivity, and commuting mode share, which basically looks at how many other cyclists use their bicycles to get around the area. They award each city with a score from 1 to 100 on each of these four criteria, and the average is the Bike Score.
On their website, Walk Score allows visitors to search their own city to see how walkable the city is and that city's Bike Score. Walk Score's goal is to promote walk-, bike-, and transit-friendly cities. Obviously, there are limitations to this rating system and how the data can be applied, but it's a neat way to see how bike-friendly your city already is, or to search for a more bike-friendly place to move.
What's your city's Bike Score?
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June 13th, 2014 at 11:08 am
Do you like bikes? Do you like baseball? Now you can have both!
Hop on your bike and Bicycle to Comerica Park! The Tigers are pleased to offer a special ticket package to our cycling friends. Only 100 packages are available for each game, so be sure to buy early!
Available for the following games:
Sunday, July 20th Tigers vs. Indians @ 1:08pm
Sunday, August 17th Tigers vs. Mariners @ 1:08pm
Sunday, September 7th Tigers vs. Giants @ 1:08pm
Each ticket package* includes:
- Upper Box Infield Ticket
- Bicycle valet provided by Wheelhouse Detroit (with secure bicycle parking)
- 24 oz. Detroit Tigers "Bicycle to the Ballpark" water bottle
*while supplies last
To purchase tickets, click here.
GO TIGERS!
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