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Performacebike.com Coupon Code:

Weekend Only Deals

Copy and Paste Coupon Code 0039700000001367 at any step of checkout to redeem 15% off Shorts, Tights, Tires & Tubes discount. Coupon code must be presented at time of purchase and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Coupon code cannot be combined with any other offer; does not include gift cards, Team Performance memberships or renewals. 15% discount does not apply to shipping, handling or taxes. Offer is good for one purchase only. Not valid at retail locations. Coupon offer expires on 2/3/08.

Product Review - The Camelback Mule

Camelback Mule:
For rides upto 4-5 hours the Mule is ideal and I rarely ride without it. The Mule has a 100 oz Bladder.

During activity, 6 to 8 fluid ounces of water or electrolyte beverage should be consumed every 15 minutes. It's important to note that usually water consumption is sufficient unless the activity lasts longer than 90 minutes, at which point electrolyte beverages are also recommended.
I have owned a Camelback since I started riding back in 1999 I have purchased a few bladders and have a the smaller Camelback Hydrobak which I use for racing. This past Christmas I received a new Mule. I love the additional room and while I miss the Bungee cord type tie downs the new front Carrier works quite well for stashing a jacket or other bulkier items.
The 2008 Mule has 549 cu inches of Storage capacity, has an MP3 player pocket is more comfortable (and presumably cooler I got it for Christmas and Live in the Northeast) to wear. The smallest Organizer is great for food Items and fits a multi-tool, Co2 Pump, and cell phone. The larger organizer easily fits a tube, mini tire pump, and shock pump. Aside from a helmet my camelback is the one piece of gear I most want to have with me on a ride. A well stocked camelback can set you up as the MacGyver of the trails (Although I dont think he every repaired a derailuier)

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS

There are some products that come along and you wonder how you got along without them and then there are those gadgets that are just really cool to have. The Garmin Forerunner 305 fits into both categories.
You you could get the same benefit from using a Heartrate Monitor, Cycle Computer, altimeter, tectonic maps, and a compass but that wouldn't leave much time for riding. This relatively small device (it is big for a watch) Packs a lot of features Including the above mentioned HR, Speed, Distance, ride time, Optional Cadence, Elevation gain and decent. When you get back from your ride you can upload it to Motionbased to overlay the ride over a variety of maps. You can also play back your ride and watch a real-time chart of your statistics. The lite (free) version allows you to view your last 10 rides, whereas the pay version allows you to store and view unlimited rides and provides some additional reporting and filtering features. You can even download yours or other riders previous rides to the Device and then virtually ride against them. This has been a great training tool as well as a way to share and remember the rides you have done. If you perform other activities i.e. Run, Hike, Kyak, etc. the forerunner is for you. If you plan to use it just for cycling you may want to check out the Edge which has some more on device features and mounts directly to the bike.
The Forerunner is around $300 and the Edge is around $375

My Xterra - The End of an Era

The End of an Era - Those of you who know me or have seen me at rides and races may associate me with my Silver Xterra. I know I did. Part of my persona was wrapped up in that truck. I got my 1st mountain bike soon after getting the xterra. Since then I have gone off-roading, camping, Kyaking, Skiing, and took countless trips to places to ride my bike. Before I purchased my xterra I owned a black sedan was playing Jazz guitar on the weekends, smoking and drinking (more than I should) and not getting outside much. I can't say which came 1st the car or need for it. It was probrably a convergence of the two. I will miss my xterra but am liking my Green Element (especially the fact that I can roll my Bike right in). More rides races and trips to come... I hope. Some Memorable trips have been: Limerock CT race where I left at 2:00 AM from home in NJ Slept in my car at the race site till 7:00 got up and had breakfast with the race coordinators. Rode the race then rode 4 hours back home. Four Trips to VT for Nationals, Skiing with my Buddy Jay and the time we rode all the way to Hunter It was too crowded so we rode up to Windham where there was no Parking so we drove into town had lunch and some beers hung out for a while then drove back to Jersey. The Livestrong100 in PA this year and the NJSCS Races.

Putting a twist in your usual group ride

A Variation on a theme.

No This is not a blog article about Joseph Haydn nor is it about the road less traveled rather it is about traveling the same road in the direction less traveled or with a different mix of riders.

This weekend I rode at Hartshorne Woods in the Atlantic Highlands of New Jersey. A trail network that I have ridden many times before with people I have ridden with many times before. The difference this week was that some of the usual riders were not there, this in itself changed the dynamic of the ride. I have experienced this before while riding behind someone faster, slower, more aggressive, or more tentative any of these riders can influence how you experience the trail.

The 2nd and more striking difference was riding the trail backwards. There were sections of the trail I hardly recognized and at times completely forgot where I was within the loop. There was significantly more climbing while riding the trail this way. Riding the trail backwards created some new technical opportunities drop-offs became step-ups and visa-versa. Turn Apexes Changed and the overall flow and personality of the trail was different.

Another thing to try is riding your favorite or local trail in the snow or riding at night. All of these options can change your perspective and create an exciting new ride opportunity out of a familiar favorite.

You can also extend (double it up) your ride by riding it backwards and forwards.