Century Cycles Blog

26,673 miles biked for 5th Bay Bike To School!

2012-05-31T19:52:00.001-04:00

538 bikes parked at Bay Middle School on National Bike To School Day on May 9, which coincided with Bay Bike To School Challenge.

Bay Middle and High Schools showed their pedal power in their 5th Annual Bay Bike To School Challenged by biking a combined 26,673 miles for three weeks on May 7-25, and on average a whopping 59% of Bay Middle School biked each day! They racked up some other big numbers, too:

Bay students saved an estimated 29,340 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from the environment;
They saved their parents $4,466 on gasoline, based on the current Ohio average gas price of $3.75/gallon.
They burned 453,441 calories just biking to school -- or the equivalent of 1,679 Snickers bars!
An average of 474 Bay Middle School students biked each day of the challenge, a whopping 59% of the school’s enrollment of 793 students.
Bay Middle School’s highest ride day during the challenge was May 18, when 611 students (a gigantic 77% of the school!) bicycled.
At Bay High School, an average of 135 students per day biked, or 16% of the school.

Since Bay Bike To School Challenge began in 2008, Bay students have biked 129,476 miles and saved an estimated 142,423 pounds of CO2 emissions. This was the fifth year for Bay Bike To School Challenge.

Main sponsors Century Cycles bicycle store in Rocky River and bicycle manufacturer Raleigh Bicycles teamed up to give away two grand prize bicycles per school. Winners of the Raleigh bicycles at Bay High School were Cullen Brewer and Claire Mercer, both freshmen pictured below.

Cullen and Claire are presented with their grand prize Raleigh bikes by Sean Burkey and Chris Speyer from Raleigh Bicycles (at left), Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan (center), and BHS Principal Jason Martin (far right).

At Bay Middle School, sixth-grader Ellen Brabant and fifth-grader Kate Baeppler won Raleigh bicycles. They are pictured below with Raleigh's Chris Speyer (far left) and BMS teacher Lawrence Kuh, who (along with BHS teacher Eryn Sutterlin) was presented with a new Raleigh bicycle in honor of their commitment to youth bicycling in Bay Village and their leadership, hard work and enthusiasm for Bay Bike To School Challenge.

In addition, Raleigh Bicycles awarded $1,000 Bike To School Challenge scholarships to Bay High School seniors Gideon Lorete and Jamie Kerka.

Raleigh Bicycles also gave each school a $500 award for exceeding its bicycling goals during the challenge, to use for fitness and bicycling programs, and committed $750 to the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation and Bay Village Green Team for the “Share The Road” signs throughout the city.

The Bay Bike To School Challenge t-shirt design contest was won by Elyse Sopa, a junior at Bay High School. She won a prize package from Century Cycles and Project Earth Environmental Club, and her winning design is featured on the front of the shirt given by Century Cycles to every student who biked to school four days during the challenge.

“Bike To School Challenge is unique and is the best of its kind in the nation,” said Chris Speyer, Executive Vice President of Raleigh Bicycles, who travelled to Bay Village from the company’s headquarters near Seattle, Washington, to personally present the awards. “We work with over 1,400 bike stores around the country. I have never seen a bike-to-school program that generates the level of participation and excitement that this one does. It is a credit to the tremendous amount of commitment and work by the schools, your local bike shop Century Cycles and the entire community to engage and inspire the students. Raleigh Bicycles is extraordinarily proud to be part of Bike To School Challenge and will be back next year as a sponsor.”

Speyer also noted that bike stores in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, California and Minnesota are inspired Bay Village’s program and are eager to use it as a template for their own bike-to-school efforts.

Other sponsors who contributed prizes and support to make the program possible were Honey Hut Ice Cream, Subway of Bay Village, Bay Village Kiwanis, Bay PTA, Project Earth Environmental Club and the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation. Grand prizes were also donated by Bay Village Recreation Department, SportsTime Ohio, Cleveland Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Earth Day Coalition and Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park.

Rocky River Bike To School: 12,240 miles biked!

2012-05-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

Rocky River Middle School on May 7, the first day of the challenge.

Rocky River Bike To School Challenge concluded at Rocky River Middle School on Thursday, May 24, with praise from the city's mayor, lots of prizes and awards, and biking numbers that were way up over last year! During the three-week program on May 7-24, Rocky River Middle School students:

Biked 12,240 miles on their bikes, up 32% from last year's total miles.
Took 3,825 bike-rides to school (average round-trip commute: 3.2 miles).
273 Rocky River Middle School students biked each day of the challenge on average, or 44% of the school’s enrollment of 620 students. This was up significantly from last year’s average of 191 bicyclists per day.
The highest ride day May 11, when 344 students (56% of the school) bicycled.
Saved an estimated 13,464 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from the environment.
Saved their parents $2,047.50 on gasoline, based on the current Ohio average gas price of $3.75/gallon.
Burned an estimated 208,080 calories just bicycling to and from school.
Rocky River Bike To School Challenge began last year. Rocky River students have biked a total of 21,523 miles and saved an estimated 23,675 pounds of CO2 emissions during the program’s two years.

“Your choice to ride your bike to school and to other parts of Rocky River has made a significant difference in your health, the health of the environment, and the health of our city,” said Rocky River Mayor Pam Bobst in her address to the students at the school-wide assembly on Thursday. “Rocky River Bike To School Challenge has been so successful. For that, we thank you, we applaud you, we admire you, and you are inspiring our entire community.”

Mayor Pam Bobst poses with her Rocky River Bike To School Challenge t-shirt.

Main sponsors Century Cycles bicycle store in Rocky River and bicycle manufacturer Raleigh Bicycles teamed up to give away grand prize bicycles to 6^th grader Hanna Chapman and 7^th grader Laura Banks (pictured below).

Laura Banks with her new Raleigh bicycle, presented by (l to r) Sean Burkey/Raleigh Bicyles, Scott Cowan/Century Cycles, Mayor Pam Bobst, Principal Megan Rose, BTS organizer/teacher Wendy Crites, and Chris Speyer/Raleigh Bicycles. Hanna Chapman was absent from the assembly.

Raleigh Bicycles gave Rocky River Middle School a $500 award for exceeding its bicycling goals during the challenge, to use for fitness and bicycling programs. The company also honored middle school health and fitness teacher Wendy Crites (pictured below) with a new Raleigh Capri road bike for her ongoing commitment to youth bicycling and her leadership of the Bike To School Challenge program in Rocky River.

Wendy Crites, second from right, is presented with a new Raleigh Capri road bike from Raleigh Bicycles.

The Rocky River Bike To School Challenge t-shirt design contest was won by 8^th grade student Clara Sandu for the second year in a row. She won a prize package from Century Cycles, and her winning design is featured on the front of the shirt given by Century Cycles to every student who biked to school four days during the challenge.

Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan presents t-shirt design winner Clara Sandu with her prize.

Other sponsors who contributed prizes and support to make the program possible were Honey Hut Ice Cream, Subway of Rocky River, Rocky River PTA, SportsTime Ohio and Starbucks.

For more information about Bike To School Challenge and to see photos and videos, go to www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow the program at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

Tall Towpath Rider? Try a 29er!

2012-05-30T18:16:00.002-04:00

This post was inspired by a recent inquiry we got via email:

Q. I am 6 foot 4 inches. I ride the Towpath Trail about 50 to 100 miles per week. I'm thinking a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels in a 23-inch frame size would work well for me. Do you have a bike like this?

A. There are a lot of good choices for bicycles for avid Towpath Riders.

A "traditional" hybrid bike is usually our first recommendation for the Towpath Trail. These include the Raleigh Route 3.0 and Route 4.0, and the Giant Cypress and Cypress-DX.

2012 Raleigh Route 4.0

All of these bikes provide a very upright, comfortable design that works well for casual and occasional bicyclists. The Raleigh models come in a 23-inch (XL) frame size. The Giant models also come in an equivalent X-Large size, which they call a 22-inch frame.

For any rider looking for a more sporty-looking bike that can handle unpaved trails, plus have the flexibility to tackle commuting in all conditions, the relatively new category of "performance hybrids" fit the bill. These bikes, such as the Raleigh Misceo and Misceo 2.0, have a more aggressive riding position compared to traditional hybrids; and usually have higher-quality components to handle the rigors of more frequent riding.

2012 Raleigh Misceo

Plus-size folks who ride plus-size mileage may want to consider a 29er mountain bike for their Towpath adventures. What's a 29er? A traditional mountain bike has 26-inch wheels, while a 29er is designed around the larger-diameter 700C rims found on road and hybrid bikes, but with fat mountain bike tires. (Need a primer on wheel and tire sizes? See this article -- Tech Talk: Know Your Tire Size.)

With a 29er, you get the best of both worlds--the larger diameter wheels are more efficient (like a road or hybrid bike), but you still get the flexibility of riding off-road terrain. Even if you don't plan to ride technical off-road trails, you get the confidence of knowing the durability of a mountain bike is with you for the long haul.

We have a variety of 29er mountain bikes in stock ranging from the entry-level 2012 Raleigh Talus 29 ($649.99), to the full-suspension 2012 Giant Anthem X 29er 2 ($2,399.99), to the race-worth carbon-fiber hardtail 2012 Giant XTC Composite 29er 1 ($2,499.99). All of these can be ordered in Extra-Large (22-inch) frame sizes.

2012 Giant XTC Composite 29er 1

For those looking to take a serious adventure wherever the road leads them, and wherever the road may end and the trail goes, Surly Bikes offers the Ogre, an all-steel rigid 29er (no suspension) mountain bike designed from the ground up for all-road and off-road touring. For the 6-foot-4 (and over) rider, it's even available in an XX-Large (24-inch) frame! We've got one with an 18-inch frame in stock that you can check out and test-ride. It's also available as a frame and fork only, so we can build it up using any components to suit your needs.

Surly Ogre

In honor and thanks to all who have served our country

2012-05-25T09:37:00.000-04:00

Please note that all three Century Cycles stores will be CLOSED on Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day. We extend our gratitude to all who have served or are serving our country in the armed forces.

We'd like to recognize and honor our own Paul Gallmeier of the Peninsula store, who served in the US Navy from 1967-71. Paul served aboard several ships in Southeast Asia, including the USS Wrangell, which supplied fuel and ammunition in support of the Vietnam War effort.

LEFT: Boatswain Mate Second Class Paul Gallmeier, USN
RIGHT: Paul in 2011 with his Raleigh Alley Way bike

Define your dog. Ride a bike.

2012-05-24T19:09:00.003-04:00

Chris Walters from the Century Cycles store in Medina doesn't just take our slogan "Define your life. Ride a bike.™" to heart himself. Not only is his girlfriend Trish sporting one of our spiffy t-shirts, but their dog Vinnie likes it as well!

You can show how you define your life by riding a bike, and it's easy, because you get one of these t-shirts FREE with any new bicycle purchase!

Not in the market for a new bike? That's okay, you can also purchase one of our t-shirts for the low price of $14.99. We've got them in Men's sizes Small through XX-Large in Black, Denim Blue, and Army Green; Women's sizes Small through X-Large in Lime Green, Periwinkle, and Mocha; and boy's and girl's (and dog's) sizes Small, Medium, and Large in Royal Blue or Pink.

CC crew in Medina CRUSHES Bike To Work Day!

2012-05-19T15:11:00.002-04:00

Left to right: Don, Ed, Petch, Cathy, Justin, Chris, and Christopher

Congratulations to the staff at the Century Cycles store in Medina for 100% participation in Bike To Work Day for 2012 yesterday!

Did you bike to work this past week? If so, share some of your pictures and/or stories with us, and we'll share them with the rest of our blog readers! Send to info@centurycycles.com.

Back by popular demand: Endura Hummvee 3/4 Baggy Shorts

2012-05-18T04:50:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, we stocked the then-new Hummvee 3/4 baggy cycling shorts made by Endura, an innovative company based in Scotland. They were designed to meet the rigors of mountain biking, but their practical and comfortable style proved to be very popular with commuters, messengers, Towpath riders, long-distance touring cyclists, and even law enforcement.

We decided to bring the Humvee shorts back, and now in the new, improved Endura Hummvee 3/4 Lite version!

The 3/4-length shorts go just below the knees, for a modest look that helps keep the sunlight and thorns off of your skin. The new lightweight nylon outer material is considerably cooler than the original Hummvee, and mesh rear panels were added for more cooling. The material is doubled in the seat area for extra durability where you need it most. The shorts are coated with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish to keep the splash from puddles and unexpected rain showers at bay.

More features from the original Hummvee shorts included are front hip pockets, side cargo zipped pockets, integrated stretch belt, seam-free inseam panel, and a removable padded liner short.

We decided to go with a new Stone (light gray) color, rather than black, for even more cooling comfort.

Now in stock in all three Century Cycles stores, Endura Hummvee Lite 3/4 Shorts in Men's Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large, and Women's-Specific Endura Hummvee Lite 3/4 Shorts in Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large.

Everyone has a chance to win a Raleigh bike for Bike To School Challenge

2012-05-17T10:51:00.003-04:00

Hundreds of students have been bicycling to school for 2012 Bike To School Challenge (BTSC) this month for a chance to win a new Raleigh bicycle and other grand prizes. Now parents, teachers and EVERYONE has a chance to win a bike from BTSC sponsor Raleigh Bicycles in an online video contest that runs now through the conclusion of BTSC on May 25.

To enter, go to Raleigh’s website, www.myreasonstoride.com, and submit a video about why you ride a bike or what riding a bicycle means to you. Tag your submission with “CenturyBTS.” The most compelling video will win a Raleigh Revenio 3.0 men’s road bike or a Raleigh Capri 3.0 women’s road bike (retail: $1,299.99), awarded by Raleigh Bicycles in early June when the video will also be highlighted on Raleigh’s website.

The videos don’t have to be professional (cell phone videos are fine) or lengthy. Students participating in the Bike To School Challenge program are also encouraged and invited to submit videos. Videos must be submitted by May 25, 2012, the last day of Bike To School Challenge.

Reasons To Ride is Raleigh Bicycles’ initiative to create an interactive quilt designed to bring together a community of people and their stories – what motivates or inspires or compels or brings joy when riding a bike. As a major Bike To School Challenge sponsor, Raleigh Bicycles is also donating two Raleigh bicycle grand prizes per school, a $500 award for each BTSC school that exceeds its bicycling goals, two $1,000 scholarships for Bay High School seniors, and daily prizes such as buttons and stickers.

For regular updates and more information about Bike To School Challenge, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow it at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

2 Wheels for 1 Home: Ronald McDonald House Night Ride on June 2

2012-05-15T15:10:00.004-04:00

Enjoy two-wheeled fun to help one very special home -- and our ONLY Night Ride in Cuyahoga County! -- at the 3^rd annual Ronald McDonald House Night Ride on the Towpath Trail sponsored by Century Cycles on Saturday, June 2, at 8pm. This is a family-friendly 12-mile nighttime bicycle ride that starts and ends at Thornburg Station in Valley View (8111 Rockside Road, at the intersection of Canal and Rockside roads, next to Yours Truly restaurant).

The cost is $20 per person in advance until May 31, and the first 200 registrants will receive a free event t-shirt. Night-of registration is $25 per person. All of the proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. To register and for more information, just head on over to www.centurycycles.com/goto/RMH.

All skill levels and ages are welcome to participate in this casual ride (not race). Plan to arrive a little early to make sure your bike is ready to ride and you have a chance to enjoy the pre-ride festivities.

At 7 p.m., attendees can check in, register for a pre-ride raffle, and Century Cycles mechanics will be conducting free pre-ride bicycle safety checks. At 8 p.m., the ride will depart south on the Towpath Trail, to enjoy the nocturnal sights and sounds of the area’s most popular bicycle path. Bicyclists will ride six miles, enjoy snacks and beverages at the ride’s turnaround point at the Station Road Bridge Trailhead, and then bicycle back to the ride’s starting point.

Every Night Rider can make a difference. The advance registration fee of $20 is the same amount families are asked to donate nightly to stay at the Ronald McDonald House while their children are receiving medical care from nearby hospitals, although families are never turned away due to inability to pay. (On average, the actual cost to the House for a family to stay is over $80 per day.)

The fine print: Everyone must have their own bicycle and wear a helmet. A bicycle headlight is also required; the Towpath Trail is unlit at night and very dark. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Free Bike Cleveland membership for Bike To Work Week

2012-05-14T09:06:00.001-04:00

In celebration of Bike To Work Week starting today, bike buyers will roll away with more than just a new ride at Century Cycles. This week they will also receive a free membership in Bike Cleveland, the area’s new bicycle advocacy organization!

That's right -- we're offering to pay the individual membership dues in Bike Cleveland (a $35 value) for anyone who buys a bicycle of $500 or more from ourstores in Rocky River, Medina and Peninsula during Bike to Work Week from May 14-18, 2012.

“We want to make it easy for our customers to support bicycling in Northeast Ohio and have as many bicycling opportunities as possible,” said Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles. “When someone is a member of a local bicycle advocacy organization like Bike Cleveland, they are helping the area become a more bicycle-friendly and bicycle-oriented place to live.”

Here's how it works: Bike Cleveland membership forms will be offered to buyers of bikes $500 or more at all three Century Cycles stores. Once completed, the forms and dues payment will be submitted by Century Cycles. If someone prefers a family membership at $60, they simply pay the $25 difference and that membership level will be processed for them.

Now is a great time to join Bike Cleveland, Greater Cleveland’s bicycle advocacy organization working to build livable communities by promoting all forms of cycling and advocating for the rights and equality of the cycling community.

To learn more about Bike Cleveland, Cleveland Bike Month, and all the activities planned for Bike To Work Day on Friday, May 18, go to www.bikecleveland.org.

Bike Cleveland membership is in addition to the several perks that new bike buyers already receive at Century Cycles, including a free t-shirt, free new bike tune-up, half-priced installation of accessories at time of purchase and 10% off all bicycle accessories for three months.

896 Students Biked To School Today for Challenge Kick-Off

2012-05-07T16:21:00.000-04:00

Despite looming gray clouds and a stormy forecast, 896 students biked to school this morning for the kick-off of our Bike to School Challenge, a three-week program in Bay Village, Medina and Rocky River that encourages students to bike to school to help the environment, improve their health and be more physically active, beat high gas prices, win prizes and have fun.

In Cuyahoga county, Bay Middle School counted 424 bikes (52% of the school), Bay High School counted 127 bikes (16% of the school) and Rocky River Middle School counted 203 bikes (33% of the school).

In Medina, Root Middle School counted 97 bicycles (12% of the school) and Claggett Middle School counted 45 bicycles (5% of the school). This is the first year for Bike to School Challenge at the Medina schools, both of which recorded fewer than 2% of their students bicycling before the program’s inception.

“It is an awe-inspiring sight to see hundreds of bicycles parked in front of these schools. It sends a powerful message about the huge impact youth can have on the community with the simple act of riding a bike,” said Scott Cowan, owner of Century Cycles bicycle stores in Rocky River and Medina, which organizes and sponsors the challenge for the schools. “Everyone involved with the program is just thrilled with the response on the first day and is excited for the coming weeks.”

For regular updates and more information about Bike To School Challenge on May 7-25, 2012, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow it at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

2012 Bike To School Challenge starts tomorrow for over 4,000 Ohio students

2012-05-06T20:06:00.000-04:00

Over 4,000 middle and high school students in the Cleveland, Ohio suburbs of Bay Village, Medina and Rocky River begin the 2012 Bike to School Challenge tomorrow, committing to ride their bikes to school for three weeks to help the environment, get more physical activity to improve their health, have fun and win prizes. The award-winning program is May 7 – May 25 and is launching for the first time this year at Medina’s middle schools. (It returns for its fifth year at Bay Village schools and its second year at Rocky River Middle School.)

Kick-Off On Monday, May 7
A significant percentage of the schools’ students are expected to bicycle on the challenge’s first day tomorrow Monday, May 7. Last year on Day 1, a total of 1,001 students biked to school, including 527 students to Bay Middle School (64% of the schoobl; pictured above), and 276 to Rocky River Middle School (44% of the school). The schools participating in Bike To School Challenge are:

Bay Middle School (27725 Wolf Road)

Bay High School (29230 Wolf Road)

Rocky River Middle School (1631 Lakeview Avenue)

Root Middle School (333 W. Sturbridge in Medina)

Claggett Middle School (420 E. Union Street in Medina)

For regular updates and more information about Bike To School Challenge, visit www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or follow it at www.facebook.com/BikeToSchoolChallenge.

Bike To School Challenge vs. National Averages

· In 2011, Bike To School Challenge dramatically increased the use of bicycles as a means of transportation to school. During the three-week program last year, 53% of Bay Middle School biked each day (430 students per day on average) and 31% of Rocky River Middle School (193 students per day on average). Each school’s number of cyclists remains above national averages after the program’s conclusion, according to random bike rack counts.

· Since Bike To School Challenge began in 2008 in Bay Village, Bay students have pedaled a total of 102,803 miles during the three weeks each May. This is in stark contrast to national bicycling trends.

· In 2009, only 13% of students in grades K through eight bike or walk to school (in 1969, that number was 48 percent), reports Safe Routes to School National Partnership. According to Bike To School Challenge surveys and bike counts, currently fewer than 5% of Root and Claggett Middle School students are biking to school, a statistic the program strives to improve.

· A report concludes that changing the habits of just 20 percent of children living within two miles of school to get them to bicycle or walk to and from school instead of being driven would be the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road each year, preventing the emission of over 350,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 21,500 tons of other pollutants. (Source: Safe Routes to School: Steps to a Greener Future, prepared for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by Safe Routes to School National Partnership)

Other School-Related Bicycling Trends

· As much as 30% of morning traffic is generated by parents driving their children to school. One-third of schools are in “air pollution danger zones.”

· From 1976 to 2008, the percentage of overweight children 6 to 11 years old more than tripled. There are many potential benefits of physical activity for youth, including weight control, reduction in the risk of diabetes, stress reduction, relief of ADHD symptoms, and even better academic performance. In an article published January 2012 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers found that participation in physical activity is positively related to academic performance in children.

· Bicycling to school gives children time for physical activity and an opportunity to be outdoors, a sense of responsibility and independence, and the entire community benefits when there is less traffic congestion and better air quality.

How It Works

Students at Bike to School Challenge schools carry a “Ride Card” that is stamped each day they ride a bike to school. When they accumulate four bicycle rides to school, students receive a free t-shirt from main Bike To School Challenge sponsor and organizer Century Cycles bicycle store. The more they bike, the more they can win – every Ride Card they fill up earns them more entries into a grand prize raffle. Safety is also rewarded: They earn twice as many entries if they wear a bicycle helmet.

There are also daily incentives to bike to school. Subway stores in Rocky River, Medina and Bay Village are offering a BOGO Footlong to each student who bikes tomorrow for Day 1. Honey Hut Ice Cream is throwing after-school ice cream parties for those students who bicycle on May 11 (Rocky River Middle School), May 17 (Bay High School) and May 18 (Bay Middle School); and Smuckers has provided an after-school snack for bicyclists to Medina middle schools on May 22.

The program concludes with assemblies at each school, to show the students the environmental impact of their efforts, receive congratulations from sponsors and dignitaries, and draw the grand prize winners’ names. The grand prizes include:

Two bicycles per school from Raleigh Bicycles;
Two $1,000 scholarships for Bay High School seniors from Raleigh Bicycles;
Bicycling accessories and gift cards from Century Cycles;
Gift cards and prize packages from Subway, Honey Hut, Cleveland Cavaliers, local rec centers, and more;
There is a special grand prize drawing for a Cedar Point gift card for the students at each school who biked every day of Bike to School Challenge.
The schools can also win a grand prize from Bike To School Challenge. Raleigh Bicycles has offered a $500 award for bicycling or physical education improvements at each school if it exceeds their bicycling benchmarks from 2011 (or pre-Bike To School levels).

Bike To School Challenge Sponsors
Century Cycles is the main corporate sponsor of Bike To School Challenge and helps organize the program for the schools. National bicycle manufacturer Raleigh Bicycles is the other major corporate sponsor. At Bay schools, the program is also sponsored by Subway, Honey Hut, the Bay Village Kiwanis, Bay Schools Parent Teacher Student Association, Project Earth Environmental Club and the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation. In Rocky River schools, Subway, Honey Hut and the Rocky River PTA are also sponsors. In Medina, Subway and Medina Schools are also sponsors

Bay Bike To School Challenge began in 2008

Inspired by a student car boycott to protest high gas prices in 2007, Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan approached his alma mater Bay High School about what he could to encourage more bicycling to school. Bike To School Challenge was born and was enthusiastically embraced by the students and faculty. Participation in 2008 exceeded organizers’ expectations. In 2009, the program was expanded to include Bay Middle School. It expanded to Rocky River Middle School in 2011 and to the Medina middle schools this year. In 2010, Bike To School Challenge won the city’s Project of the Year Award from the Bay Village Community Council.

How far would you drive to get a bike?

2012-05-05T11:44:00.001-04:00

Our customer Judy Dawson came all the way from Detroit because a web search convinced her that Century Cycles in Medina is one great place to test ride and buy a tandem bicycle. Judy has no sight, but she has contagious energy and enthusiasm for all things in life. Her can-do attitude makes riding on the back of a tandem a piece of cake!

Judy is pictured above with her friends David and Amy, as well as Medina manager Mike Petcher. The trio also snuck in a visit to relatives and a local music store, which meant that Judy headed home with a saxophone AND a Raleigh Companion. Judy--you go, girl!

U.S. Bicycle Route System - Build It. Bike It. Be a Part of It.

2012-05-04T09:31:00.000-04:00

During National Bike Month, the Adventure Cycling Association is raising $50,000 to support the creation of the United States Bicycle Route System (USBRS). Donate today or become a core supporter and help raise funds to build this national network of cycling routes.

What is the U.S. Bicycle Route System? It is a proposed national network of bicycle routes. For a route to be officially designated a U.S. Bicycle Route, it must connect two or more states, a state and an international border, or other U.S. Bicycle Routes.

U.S. Bicycle Routes are intended to link urban, suburban, and rural areas using a variety of appropriate facilities. These routes are nominated for numbered designation by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and are cataloged by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) through the Special Committee on U.S. Route Numbering (the same committee that assigns numbers to U.S. highways and interstates)

The benefits for cyclists of all types are numerous, mainly an established and mapped route network that can be used for tourism or everyday transportation, and heightened awareness to all road users of the legitimacy of bicycle travel.

In 2011, 6 new U.S. Bicycle Routes were approved. For more information on the USBRS, history, and current progress, see: www.adventurecycling.org/usbrs

The Adventure Cycling Association has a bi-weekly Bike Bits free email newsletter. In addition to updates about the USBRS, you'll also find news on their over 44,000-mile long touring network, and fun stories related to bicycling and bike touring from around the world. They just passed 44,000 Bike Bits subscribers, and in honor of approaching 45,000, the are going to award a free Adventure Cycling annual membership to the 45,000th subscriber. To subscribe to the email newsletter, go to: www.adventurecycling.org/bikebits

Giant Tops All in Bicycling Editors' Choice

2012-05-03T15:48:00.001-04:00

Bicycling magazine announced the winners of its 2012 Editors’ Choice Awards and Giant Bicycles topped all other brands by winning three of the eight most popular categories. Editors named Giant bikes best in the following categories: Women’s Road Bike, Entry Level Road Bike and Plush Road Bike.

The Editors’ Choice Awards represent the highest honor for Bicycling, the world’s largest cycling magazine with more than 2 million readers.

“Bicycling’s Editors’ Choice Awards represent the cream of the crop in bicycle design and innovation, as companies continue to raise the bar on performance, technology, value and comfort,” said Bicycling editor-in-chief Peter Flax.

The Giant Defy 2 has owned the Entry Level Road category for three years running now. "Taking its third consecutive Editors' Choice crown, the Defy 2 again demonstrated its mastery at manipulating aluminum to give cyclists an impressive ride feel," claimed Bicycling editors.

The "Plush Bike" award went to the Defy Advanced 1, also a repeat winner. "In winning its second consecutive Editors' Choice award, the Defy confirmed its place among the best road bikes of any kind," wrote Bicycling. "We include it in the plush category because it has a slightly upright position, making it more suitable for less flexible cyclists. Overall, the Defy is well suited to endurance-style riding."

And finally, the TCR Advanced W earned Liv/giant its fourth straight title in the Women's Road Bike category. "The Advanced W was the lightest bike of the test group, and felt the fastest and most efficient--especially when the road pointed up," editors wrote.

To select winners, Bicycling’s editorial team narrowed down a field of thousands of bikes to the top 28 candidates. The editors then tested the finalists head-to-head over the course of a month, including a field testing trip in Tucson, Arizona. Winners were then selected on the basis of performance, durability, comfort, weight, value, and price versus their competitors.

Introducing - The Pet Trike!

2012-05-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

Are you cruising around on your tricycle but in need of a way to take your pet with you? Here is a modified Torker Tricycle 3-speed ($609.99), now known as the "Dogcycle." The carrier design is by our customer Lois Sanford, and her "double size dog basket" was put together by Medina store Service Manager Don Barnett.

The trike has a cargo deck from Sun bicycles ($22.99) and an additional cargo basket ($56.99) from Torker that is inverted and hinged on with some creative hardware. It is now ready for your doggie or favorite pet.

Shown here in Candy Red with Medina's own mascot The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog (also known as Concrete Bunny), the tricycle is ready for hitting the town or leisurely pedaling through the countryside. Notice how comfortable CB is in the pet carrier section! With a dog bed added this is certain to be the trike of choice for the discriminating dog-lover. Order yours today!

Get the Cuyahoga Valley National Park App for iPhone or Android!

2012-05-01T17:16:00.000-04:00

Even with today's news about a foiled bomb plot high above the Cuyahoga Valley, there's good news to be found for Ohio's only National Park.

Last month, in honor of National Park Week, Chimani, the developer of the National Park apps for iPhone and Android, announced that it would make their apps available for free download during the week of April 21-29. However, we were contacted by Chimani President Kerry Gallivan and he has extended this special offer to us through Saturday, May 12. (Thanks, Kerry!)

Like all of Chimani's National Park apps, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park App isn't just a simple directory. In addition to travel guides, you'll find sunrise/sunset data for the whole year, ranger-led events, audio tours by professional voiceover artists, professional photography, tips for hiking, bird-watching, and, of course, bicycling, and much more.

To download the free app, just go to the App Store on your iPhone/iTouch/iPad or the Play Store on your Android device. Search for "chimani" or "cuyahoga valley" to find the Cuyahoga Valley National Park App.

Photos from our Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on April 28, 2012

2012-05-01T14:34:00.002-04:00

Our 18th season of Night Rides on the Towpath Trail started off successfully this past Saturday night. It wasn't looking to promising most of the day, with cold temperatures and rain most of the afternoon. However, the skies cleared later in the day, and the sun was even out for a while.

49 riders showed up, and the trail was in excellent dry condition, making for a cool, but pleasant Night Ride.

Click here if the slide show above is not appearing for you.

Our next ride is on Saturday, May 19, which is the Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail, in celebration of Cleveland Bicycle Month!

For our full schedule of this season's Night Rides, plus more pictures and videos from past rides, and tips for getting ready to ride, see:

www.centurycycles.com/for/NightRides

Photos from Respect The Bike Opening Night

2012-04-30T17:36:00.000-04:00

Second from the left is the amazing Travis Peebles, who organized and
curated Respect The Bike. He's with CC's Tracey Bradnan (at far left)
and we do believe that's Dr. Hoople from Heelsplitter at far right!

The greatest Ohio-built bicycles of the past, present and future are on display during the month of May at the Greenhouse Tavern in a unique exhibit called Respect The Bike. The vision of Travis Peebles of Blazing Saddle Cycle, Respect The Bike features bicycles from pre-1900 through current day builders such as Dan Polito, Rustbelt Welding, Carmen Gambino, and more.

The opening reception was this past Friday, April 27. The bicycles will be on display at the popular Cleveland restaurant through May for Cleveland Bike Month.

We are particularly excited that the exhibit features a bicycle from the collection of Century Cycles owner Scott Cowan. He is loaning his 1941 Goodyear Double Eagle Clipper bicycle to Respect The Bike, which you can see him delivering to Travis in one of the photos below, along with more photos from the opening night event.

Click here if the slideshow above is not appearing for you.

Pajama Party Night Ride on May 19: Bicycle in your bedtime clothes for Cleveland Bike Month

2012-04-28T16:01:00.000-04:00

Century Cycles is once again putting the old-fashioned slumber party on two wheels for its 3rd Annual Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on Saturday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at the Century Cycles store in Peninsula (1621 Main Street/Route 303).

The nighttime bicycle ride in bedtime clothes is in celebration of Cleveland Bike Month in May, and it will benefit Project Night Night. It is free, open to the public, and suitable for all levels of bicyclists. For more information, visit www.centurycycles.com/for/NightRides or call 330-657-2209.

7 p.m.: The festivities start in the parking lot of Century Cycles’ Peninsula store with cycle-your-own-smoothies on the blender bicycle, glow-in-the-dark goodies and bike accessory giveaways, a few rounds of "Spin the Water Bottle for Cycling Truth or Dare,” and the mutual admiration of everyone's excellent sartorial taste in pajamas.

8 p.m.: The rolling slumber party heads to the Towpath Trail for a 14-mile bike ride. At the turnaround point, Night Riders will savor delightfully unhealthy slumber party snacks. After the ride, the party will continue at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula, where an old-fashioned monster movie will play on the TVs in the south room. (Riders are responsible for their own tab at the restaurant.)

The Pajama Party Night Ride is free and no pre-registration is necessary. However, riders are asked to bring a new children's book, stuffed animal or small flannel blanket for Project Night Night, a children's charity that provides nighttime comfort packages to homeless children. Grunt Girl Racing, a local training group, will be collecting, sorting and delivering the donations.

Pajamas are not required but HIGHLY encouraged. Be sure those pajamas don’t hang, drag or get caught in a bicycle’s spokes or chain.

Also required: A bicycle to carry you, a bike helmet to protect your noggin, a bike headlight to light your way (the Towpath is completely unlit and very dark at night), and – if under 16 years of age – an accompanying adult. Riders should park in the Lock 29 Trailhead lot, just north of the store, and will have to sign a waiver prior to riding.

Bay Bike To School Challenge announces Raleigh scholarships

2012-04-27T14:44:00.003-04:00

Bay Bike to School Challenge sponsored by Century Cycles is back for its fifth year with more incentives than ever for Bay Village students to ride their bikes to school. The award-winning three-week program, which kicks off at Bay Middle School and Bay High School on May 7, announces that sponsor Raleigh Bicycles will be awarding two scholarships of $1,000 to Bay Bike To School Challenge participants – one female and one male in the senior class at Bay High School.

To qualify, seniors must complete an application and submit it to the Bay High School Guidance Office by Monday, May 7, 2012. They must then bicycle from home to Bay High School at least 10 days during the Bay Bike To School Challenge on May 7 - 25.

There is no GPA requirement for the scholarships, which can be used for any sort of post-graduate educaiton. Representatives from Raleigh Bicycles and the Bay Bike To School Challenge will select the winners based on application essays showing a passion for bicycling and a commitment to a healthy life and/or environment, as well as participation in Bay Bike To School Challenge. The two scholarships will be awarded on Friday, May 25, at the school-wide assembly at Bay High School that concludes Bay Bike To School Challenge.

For more scholarship details and to download an application, go to www.centurycycles.com/to/BTS or www.bayvillageschools.com.

“Raleigh Bicycles is honored and excited to be a part of the Bay Bike To School Challenge,” said Chris Speyer, Vice President of Product Development and Marketing for Raleigh Bicycles, a bicycle manufacturer headquartered in Kent, Washington. “We view this as a unique and inspiring program that promotes a healthy lifestyle for students and teachers alike. Bay Schools and Century Cycles are doing very special things here, and I am glad that we can play a part.”

In addition to offering these scholarships to Bay Bike To School Challenge, Raleigh Bicycles is once again providing the program’s grand prizes (two Raleigh bicycles each for Bay Middle School and Bay High School), which students can enter to win after every four bicycle rides to school between May 7 and May 25. Raleigh Bicycles will also give each school $500 if its students exceed the bike-riding milestones set by last year’s Bay Bike To School Challenge.

“The generous addition of the scholarships by Raleigh Bicycles shows Raleigh is not just a partner in the Bay Schools’ effort to make the planet a better place by encouraging students to find healthy and green methods of transportation, but that they also support the value and importance the Bay Schools place upon education,” said Jason Martin, principal of Bay High School.

Bay Bike to School Challenge sponsored by Century Cycles encourages Bay Middle and High School students to bicycle to school for three weeks in May to help the environment, improve their health and the community, and have fun. The program has had a big impact: Bay students have biked 102,803 miles since 2008, saving an estimated 113,083 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. For complete program information about how it works, what students can win and safe bicycling tips, go to www.centurycycles.com/for/BTS.

Bay Middle School and Bay High School teams up with Century Cycles bicycle store in Rocky River to organize the program, with the support of other sponsors including Raleigh Bicycles, Subway of Bay Village, Honey Hut, Bay Village Kiwanis, Bay Schools Parent Teacher Student Association, Project Earth Environmental Club and the Bay Skate and Bike Park Foundation.

This year Century Cycles is also organizing Bike To School Challenges at Rocky River Middle School (back for its second year) and launching an all-new Bike To School in Medina at Claggett Middle School and Root Middle School.

Bicycle Touring Season has begun!

2012-04-26T11:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's sunshine and warm temperatures made it a perfect day for a bike ride. Coincidentally, the day brought our first bicycle touring visitors of the season to the Peninsula store!

Alex and Shaina are from Massachusetts, and are riding "just for fun" to Shaina's home town of Athens, Ohio.

All three Century Cycles stores get a lot of bike-touring visitors throughout the year, since they are on two major cross-country cycling routes established by the Adventure Cycling Association.The Medina and Peninsula stores are on the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route, and the Rocky River store is on the Northern Tier Route. For bike-touring folks who would like to stay off the roads, there are now several options for camping along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

You can see more pictures of bike-touring visitors of the past several years in our Bicycling Touring Photo Gallery.

We support touring cyclists not only by being a Bike Shop Member of the Adventure Cycling Association, but by carrying and being knowledgeable about a wide range of bike-touring gear. We've got one of the most popular touring bikes in stock, the Surly Long Haul Trucker (as well as the NEW Trucker Disc!), plus expedition-quality racks, bags, and panniers from Arkel, rain jackets and pants from Showers Pass, and more!

What's your favorite part of our Night Rides on the Towpath Trail?

2012-04-24T13:32:00.000-04:00

Our first Night Ride on the Towpath Trail in Peninsula is this Saturday, April 28 at 8:00pm! As we start our 18th season of Night Rides, there are lots of things we look forward to about the rides: the camaraderie with friends, the thrill of riding at night, and the post-ride refreshments at The Winking Lizard.

What's your favorite part of our Night Rides? Take our latest online poll to let us know!

Mark your calendars for this season's special Night Rides:

Saturday, May 19: Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail for Cleveland Bicycle Month
Saturday, June 2: Night Ride to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland
Saturday, July 21: NiteRider Technical Lighting Systems Demo Night

Never biked a Night Ride before? Check out our 5 Tips for Getting Ready for a Night Ride on the Towpath Trail. For photos and videos from past rides, plus the complete schedule of rides for 2012, see:

www.centurycycles.com/for/NightRides

Tech Talk: Cyclocomputers vs. GPS vs. Smartphones

2012-04-21T13:33:00.001-04:00

Cyclocomputers

The venerable cycling computer provides all of the data that most casual cyclists need for their ride. How fast am I going? How far have I ridden? How long did it take? A device for your bike that tells you all of this information and more can be had for as little as $30. Most also give you information such as average speed and a time-of-day clock.

For a few dollars more, you can get more advanced features like a wireless connection between the computer module and the wheel speed sensor, multiple bike calibration, temperature, altitude, and calories burned. The calorie counter uses a calculation based mainly on the rider's weight and the distance traveled, so it is a rough estimate that must be taken with a grain of salt. Some of the newest earth-friendly models also tell you how much CO2 you saved from going into the air by cycling instead of driving.

Some cyclists like to be aware of their cadence, which refers to the rate of rotation of your pedaling, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).

Athletes following a serious training regimen also like to track the power that they generate during a bike ride, which is measured in watts. Some advanced cycling computers can be paired with sensors located in the rear hub, crank arms, or pedals that measure wattage. These specialized components can be a several hundred dollar addition to your bike, but provide the most accurate measurement of power.

Cyclocomputers are powered by one or two coin-type batteries, which typically need to be replaced about once a year. They are reasonably weatherproof--you are not likely to have any issues even if caught in heavy rain during a long ride.

PROS: Small size, lightweight, reliable operation, long battery life.

CONS: No advanced ride-mapping capabilities.

GPS

With the popularity of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in automobiles, it was not long before this technology trickled down to the world of bicycling. The devices use the network of satellites in orbit around the earth to determine your postion. By measuring and tracking changes in your position, the GPS unit is able to calculate the same information as a traditional cyclocomputer--speed, distance, time, average speed, etc.

Some GPS models also provide a calorie counter; like cyclocomputers, it's a rough estimate, but since it can also take changes in speed and elevation into account, it can be somewhat more accurate.

Since the GPS device does not require any sensors mounted on the bike to track you speed and distance, no bike-specific calibration is required for installation. This makes it easy to move your GPS from one bike to another; you can purchase additional mounting brackets to make it a one-step, one-click process. The device is typically enclosed in a sealed waterproof case, so you won't have any issues out in the rain.

The big advantage to GPS computers is that your ride data can be integrated with real map information. After your ride, the data can be uploaded to either your personal computer or an online service, which then shows you your route on a live map, where you can zoom in on specific features, like streets, roads, and hills. The software saves all of your past rides, so you can compare your performance over time on the same route. You can even compare your rides with others, compete against your friends, and share your routes on social media sites.

Once you have saved routes in your GPS software, these routes can be loaded onto your GPS device before you head out on a ride, and the device can give you turn-by-turn directions for following the route. Even the least expensive bike GPS model from Garmin (the Edge 200 for $149.99, pictured at left) has this capability. More advanced models, such as the Garmin Edge 800 ($449.99, below right) have a full-color display just like car GPS models, so you can see a live map right in front of you to help you find your way during a ride.

GPS units require that ability to maintain communications with the satellites. This works well in remote areas, but can be an issue if you're riding off-road in wooded areas with heavy tree cover. The map data is stored within the device itself, so you may have to purchase periodic map updates to have the latest street and road information.

Most GPS units have a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (just like most modern mobile phones) that provides from 12 to 18 hours of use between charges, so you're good to go for a couple of rides before you have to recharge. This may not work well for you, though, if you are doing long-distance touring and don't have access to electricity for several days on end.

The fitness electronics industry has devised a standard that allows GPS and similar devices to communicate with optional hardware. This standard is known as ANT+. You can purchase ANT+ devices to extend the features of your GPS, such as speed/cadence sensors, power sensors, and heart rate monitors.

PROS: Live route tracking and route following, elevation tracking, easy multi-bike setup, good battery life for day riding.

CONS: Battery life not suitable for long-distance touring, map data updates usually must be purchased.

Smartphones

The advanced models of modern cellular telephones, such as iPhones and Android phones, have a GPS device built into them. This is usually used by the phone's map application to help you find local businesses near your location, but it can also be used to track your route while riding just like a dedicated GPS device.

You can download apps for your phone from several different popular services, such as Strava, Endomondo, and MapMyRide. These apps are usually free to use the basic features, and provide a paid option to unlock more advanced features. Which features are free and which are included only in the paid version will vary from one company to another.

These apps and their companion web sites provide the same kind of features that you get with a dedicated GPS unit. You can keep track of your ride, upload it when you done, view it on a map, compare it to past rides, and share and compete with your friends.

When you want to track a ride using your smartphone, you can activate the app at the beginning of the ride, and just keep the phone in a bike bag during the ride. Or, you can purchase a handlebar-mounted phone holder so you can use the phone's display to get a live view of your speed, distance, and current location. If you ride in all weather conditions, you'll want to invest in a high-quality waterproof case to protect your investment.

Bluetooth is a standard used by cell phones to connect to wireless headsets and other devices, and most of the GPS apps for smartphones are Bluetooth-compatible, which means you can purchase a Bluetooth-enable heart rate strap to add heart rate monitoring capability to your smartphone! There are bike cases available from Wahoo Fitness that add ANT+ connectivity to your smartphone as well, so you can take advantage of the full range of ANT+ fitness devices available (speed/cadence sensors, power sensors, and heart rate monitors). There are also smartphone cases available that add power measurement by taking additional factors, such as wind speed, into account.

The smartphone GPS apps get their map data live over the Internet, usually from Google Maps. This means that the road and street information is always up-to-date automatically, without any need to buy or install map updates. However, you must be in a coverage area for your cellular data plan in order for the app to work, and the usage counts against whatever limits you may have in your data plan.

It sounds like if you already own a smartphone, there is no reason to buy any other electronic device to use on your bike. However, the one big drawback to smartphone GPS apps is that they are a large drain on your phone's battery life. If you're doing an epic day-long ride (possibly even shorter), and you bonk or have a mechanical breakdown out in the middle of nowhere, you might be left with no juice in your phone just when you need it the most! A smartphone will likely take up more space on your handlebar compared to a dedicated bike computer or GPS.

PROS: Live and current map data, full-featured phone, GPS, and bike computer in one device.

CONS: Poor battery life, will not work in areas with no cellular data service.

Free bicycle fairs in Medina, Bay Village and Rocky River

2012-04-19T17:39:00.002-04:00

Before over 4,000 students in Bay Village, Rocky River and Medina can take part in the Bike To School Challenge on May 7-25, they and their families need to get their bikes ready to roll -- inflate those tires, adjust those seats and check those chains! That's why each program is hosting a bicycle fair that is FREE and open to EVERYONE in their communities who want to bicycle more this spring and summer:

Medina Bicycle Fair: Tuesday, May 1, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Medina High School Senior Commons (park in Lot D)
Bay Village Bicycle Fair: Wednesday, May 2, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Bay Middle School
Rocky River Bicycle Fair: Thursday, May 3, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Rocky River Middle School

Each fair will be giving away free bicycle helmets to the first 20 families who attend, provided by Century Cycles and Raleigh Bicycles! In addition, bring your bike and get:

A free bicycle safety inspection by a professional bike mechanic from Century Cycles (who will inflate those tires, adjust those seats, and check those chains!)
A free bike license or registration by the local police department
Information about bike commuting and the Bike To School Challenge program
See displays from Bike Cleveland and other supporters and sponsors of each school's program

For more details about each Bike Fair and all the Bike To School Challenges, go to: