Apart from hearing that sweet humming sound rising from the wheels or buzzing from the hubs, the bicycle is engineered to be a quiet machine. Hearing the cacophony of squeaks, clinks, and clunks is not only annoying but a sure sign that the bike is sending you a signal of distress. Ignore her calls at . . . read more
By Lina Moreyra and Jan Borstein Back in the day, we used to think that riding on skinny tires, inflated to the maximum pressure listed on the tire sidewall, would enable you to ride faster. We’re talking about 25mm tires inflated to 110 or even 120 psi. When that tire pressure made it feel like . . . read more
By Sharon Alexander and Jan Borstein The suggestion that cyclists always ride as far to the right on the road as possible can, in certain situations, be dangerous. And technically, it’s not what the law states. So don’t hug that far-right, ragged edge of the road when it’s not the safest option. According to Colorado state . . . read more
We could safely say the chain is your bike’s beating heart. Keep it in a healthy state, and your ride will be smooth. Dirt, grime, or a stretched chain will make your ride miserable. Today’s lesson is knowing when to replace the chain. The chain consists of multiple links holding rollers (bushings) and pins together. . . . read more
Boulder County provides lots of bike paths and bikeable shoulders — more than what other counties can claim— but that doesn’t mean that Boulder County has enough. Our bike network still has quite a few gaps, such as a good direct connection between Boulder and Longmont. Alexandra Phillips, the Boulder County Bike Planner and a . . . read more
Hey Big Sis: I’ve had four flat tires this month. Same tire. I change the tubes, but they keep failing. What’s going on? – Flat-bottomed girl Dear Flat-bottomed girl: I can think of several reasons for this: To improve your skills, be sure to attend the next hands-on Fix-a-Flat Clinic. Goathead* season is coming … best . . . read more
Many cyclists are diligent about checking the As (air), Bs (brakes), and Cs (chain) before going for a ride. But are we checking the tension on those spokes too? Spokes are the lifeline to keeping your bike’s wheels straight and true with each rotation, and one ride represents thousands of rotations on your wheels. Make . . . read more
Once upon a time Kai and Karli Gronholm owned Full Cycle Bike Shop in Boulder. Back in 2008 a friend of Karli’s organized a women’s cycling event called Venus de Miles (VdM) as a fundraiser for Greenhouse Scholars. This inspired Karli to start a women’s bike club, sponsored by the Full Cycle Bike Shop, to . . . read more
Hey Big Sis! What should I have in my seat bag? – Wanna B. Prepared Dear Ms. Prepared: We asked a dozen experienced Venus riders what they carried in their seat bags (a couple people keep some of this stuff in their top tube or handlebar bag). Our survey revealed the following items, which we . . . read more
Last fall, Boulder County released its new and super-improved Boulder County Bike Map. The amazing woman behind this endeavor is none other than Venus Bike Club’s own Alexandra Phillips, who also happens to be Bicycle Planner – Employee Transportation Coordinator in the Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting Department. I confess to being a map . . . read more