Gravel Time!

The time has come, we are upon the first Spoke-N-Sport Gravel Ride of the year and I’m pretty stoked! Right now the National Weather Service is forecasting mid 50’s and a 10mph (We’ll say 20mph for now, because they always get the wind off by about 10mph!) south wind for 9am on Saturday!

Why Gravel?

About 4 years ago I started commuting to work on my bike. I live in Sioux Falls and work on the north end of Harrisburg. I had two options on routes to work...Live or Die. Alright, maybe not that extreme but the options were, Cliff Ave on pavement or Southeastern Ave on gravel. I didn't even attempt Cliff, with the lack of shoulder, heavy traffic and minimal daylight at 5:45 when I'm heading to work it didn't seem like an option. I started using Southeastern and also started really enjoying what gravel provided; the scenery, the wildlife, the unique farm yards and houses. Gravel give you the opportunity to go at your pace, you don't have to worry about a constant stream of vehicles going by at 55mph (I rode 67 miles on gravel this past Saturday with a group and I can only think of 2-3 vehicles that passed our group in that time!). You can stop and take pictures at that bridge with the sparkling brook going under it. Also, the sound of gravel under your tires never gets old.

Do I need a gravel bike?

Yes! You need a bike that can ride on gravel! A fat bike, a mountain bike, a cyclocross bike, a city bike, a commuter bike, a touring bike, a gravel bike...I think you get my point, about any bike will do! Your full carbon triathlon might not be the best option, but you know your bike best and how strong it is and how comfortable you'll be. If you're not sure if your bike is up for the challenge of a gravel ride, bring it into the folks at Spoke-N-Sport and they'll tell you if it's capable or make recommendations to help it out! Also, if you don't have a bike or yours is out of commission, give the store a call and check out their rental bikes! Riding gravel can be a bit more fatiguing on you body due to the rough terrain and uneven roads. But it's fun!

So, about this weekend...

This Saturday, April 8th we're going to be leaving Spoke-N-Sport at 9am. They will have somebody there with the store open if you need to grab something quick or have a question. If you're looking for a rental, be sure to call them as soon as you can to get that information. We will ride out of town via bike trail and city streets. Expect a pace of 12-15mph for the ride, saying that it will be a no drop ride though. Pack supplies needed for an unsupported ride; snacks, hydration, tools, tube and/or patch kit, pump or CO2, etc.

If you can't make it Saturday, we've got more gravel rides coming up this summer. I really hope you can grind some gravel with us!!

Keep Grinding!
Jaron

Saturday Morning Gravel Rides April 8th, May 6th, June 3rd, and July 1st.  The Saturday Morning rides will leave from Spoke-N-Sport at 9am and will be 25-40 mile round trip.

June 15th and August 17th we’re going to do Family Ice Cream Gravel Rides. The Thursday evening ride will be around 8-10 miles and feature an ice cream stop part way through the ride. These will leave from somewhere on the outer edge of Sioux Falls or a surrounding town.

Follow Me:
Instagram - @jarondw
Strava - Jaron DeWit

Follow Spoke-N-Sport:
Facebook - Spoke-N-Sport
Instagram - @spokensportbikes

Introduction to Your Gravel Ambassador

Hello! My name is Jaron DeWit. I am one of this year's Spoke-N-Sport ride Ambassadors. This year I will focus on gravel rides and cyclocross. I thought I'd share a bit about myself and why I think you should ride with us.

I live in Sioux Falls with my beautiful wife and two wonderful daughters. I work in Harrisburg and when I get to cycle commute to work, I enjoy a 16 mile round trip ride to work. I grew up in Sioux Falls about 2 blocks from Cherry Rock Park and that meant great access to the bike trail. I spent countless hours roaming Sioux Falls by bike. My friends and I would make trips to Falls Park, the library and other areas of town to get some childhood mischief done.

I always rode “childhood” bikes, but in 1996 I had saved up and bought my first “real” mountain bike at the Bike Barn! This opened up new roads (or shall I say off-roads!) I got in hours of time at Leader's Park (pre Falls Area Singletrack), time in the trails behind Tuthill, and I knew all the offshoots from the bike trail.

As an adult I’ve enjoyed annual mountain-bike trips with friends to North Dakota's Maah Daah Hey Trail and Northern Minnesota’s Cuyuna. This summer we’re heading to the Chequamegon area in Wisconsin. I also enjoy fun local events like Beresford’s Do The Du duathlon and a few years back I found this crazy little sport called cyclocross that I spend most of my cycling time enjoying! When I’m not riding I spend quite a bit of time advocating for cycling safety in Sioux Falls and promoting any type of cycling in Sioux Falls. On of my favorite things to do is take photos on bike rides. If you follow a Facebook group I started called “Sioux Falls Bicycle Photos” you’ll know that I love propping my bike up in random locations for a picture or two.  In addition to biking, my family and I enjoy crewing for hot air balloons, flying kites, kayaking, and generally spending time outdoors.

This summer we plan to do Saturday Morning Gravel Rides April 8th, May 6th, June 3rd, and July 1st.  The Saturday Morning rides will leave from Spoke-N-Sport at 9am and will be 25-40 mile round trip.

June 15th and August 17th we’re going to do Family Ice Cream Gravel Rides. The Thursday evening ride will be around 8-10 miles and feature an ice cream stop part way through the ride. These will leave from somewhere on the outer edge of Sioux Falls or a surrounding town.

I hope to see you out on the gravel this summer and I sure hope you come out and grind some gravel with us!

Follow Me:
Instagram - @jarondw
Strava - Jaron DeWit

MTB Ambassador Gear Preview - the bike

As the Mountain Biking Ambassador, this year I’m going to be riding the Giant Anthem 2. It is my first new mountain bike in 15 years and I am really looking forward to riding it. I debated between hard tail and full suspension for what bike to ride. With the Maestro technology and great spec on this bike, the debate landed on the side of the Anthem.

Giant Anthem 2

Giant has redesigned the Anthem and turned into an all round xc bike - great for everything from racing to all day epic adventures. I received the bike about three weeks, got it built and had it checked over at the store. So far, I have only been able to ride it on the bike path and in town, so am hoping the weather cooperates and gets the FAST trails dried out soon so I can really get a feel of what this bike has to offer.

Here is part of the official release from Giant - With its all-new lightweight ALUXX SL aluminum frameset, engineered specifically for 27.5 wheels, this agile XC machine delivers confidence and control even on rugged terrain. A new trunnion-mount Maestro rear suspension setup gives you 110mm of smooth, active rear travel. And Boost hub technology improves wheel stiffness for even more control.

In my next post I will be letting you know what parts I have swapped or upgraded on my new bike. As my enduro bros would say,  "I’m stoked to be riding this sick whip and looking forward to pinning it all season long.  Braap!"

Click here for all the specs of the Giant Anthem 2.

Click the links below for some YouTube videos from Giant about the 2017 Anthem and a link to the news page with some great reviews from major mountain bike media outlets.

XC Amplified: Introducing the all-new Anthem Range

Giant Maestro Suspension Technology

Giant Global News

Hello, I'm your new ambassador!

Hello, my name is John Gruber and I'm going to be one of Spoke-n-Sport's Cycling Ambassadors for 2017.  My goal is to create opportunities for you and your family to connect with Spoke-N-Sport and join others in the community who enjoy biking.  Chad and I began talking about this position last year and now my official start date is right around the corner.  I am getting more and more excited! As you can see in the picture below, my love of riding a bicycle started many years ago.  I have always enjoyed nature and combining this with bike riding, I naturally gravitated toward mountain biking.  I worked at Spoke-N-Sport right out of college for approximately three years and this solidified my love of cycling.  In the years after working at Spoke-n-Sport I started a family and this meant adding more bikes to the stable for my wife and kids.  We moved back to Sioux Falls four years ago and now you can spot us enjoying the city on two wheels throughout the year whether on the pavement or in the dirt.

I have already begun planning events for mountain biking and family biking here in Sioux Falls and the surrounding states.  We will be exploring the bike trail, local restaurants, coffee shops and single track both near and far.

You can follow me on Instagram @johnmgruber and I will also be posting regularly here on Spoke Ends with gear reviews, ride previews/recaps and other stuff related to cycling.  Look for #RideSNS for all ambassador related posts.

Winter Gear: Footwear

Giro Empire, 45Nrth Japanther, 45Nrth Wolvehammer, 45Nrth Wolfgar

If time and money were as abundant as the winds of South Dakota, I'd recommend buying some Giro Empire cycling shoes for the summer and the full line of 45Nrth boots for the winter. Japanther (25 - 45 degrees, Wolvhammer (0 - 25 degrees) and Wolfgar (-25 - 0 degrees).  The You'd cover temperature ranges for winter and look awesome in the summer. Unfortuantely.....there is more wind than time and money and 45Nrth kicks are expensive (but worth it).  If your feet are cold, read on.  The solutions may not be that hard to find.

I use.  Keen winter boots.  I use them because I don't like being clipped in and they keep my feet warm.  I can ride for over an hour at 0 degrees and the piggies can still get to market when I get home.  Before you rush out and buy stock in Keen....be sure to read the rest of the info below for some things to consider when choosing a boot to wear in the winter.

My winter cycling shoes

Pedals

If you are going to ride in the winter (you definitely should), you need to make some decisions.  Are you going to ride with clipless pedals or with platforms?  Generally speaking, clipless pedals have a spring loaded retention system on the pedal that engages a metal cleat on the bottom of the shoe.  This engagement helps you keep your feet on your pedals as well as a host of other benefits.  Platform pedals are just that. A platform with teeth or pins that are meant to prevent your shoes from slipping off the pedals. 

Clipless vs. Platform

Clipless allow for more efficient pedaling, but can also transfer cold from the bike to your feet causing your extremities to get colder quicker.  My dad's a science teacher and I still can't remember if that means metal is a good or bad conductor of temperature.  Regardless, if the metal attached to your foot is cold...your feet will get cold. When riding in winter snow you move at slower speeds using your front wheel as a wedge to wiggle through mashed potato-esque snow.  Platform pedals give you the freedom to easily put a foot down for stability which happens often.  It will also let you self adjust for some fit issues.  Just something to think about.  Toe clips used to be very popular in the 80's and 90's.  I can't recommend them.  Consider a clipless pedal before going with a toe clip.  You will have a hard time finding a good boot that that will fit in a toe clip so I don't feel this is the correct forum to discuss it.

Make your choice wisely.

Circulation

Having been on a few New Year's Day Bike Rides over the years, I've gotten used to seeing what not to put on your feet.  I've seen everything from sandals to moon boots.

Summer cycling shoes are ventilated to keep you cool in the summer.  Using them in the winter will do the same.  The vents will blow air over your feet cooling them as fast as possible. At the very least if this is your only option.....put bread bags between your shoe and your sock or use duct tape on the inside or outside to block the vents.  As well as holes in the sole of the shoe.  

Adding more socks does the same thing in the winter as it does in the summer.  It tightens the fit of your shoes and further reduces the circulation of blood to your feet.  That warm blood needs to circulate to keep you warm all over.  When your body gets cold it already constricts your vessels to keep your core warmer than your extremities.  Tight shoes will only make it worse.  The chills will come quicker and it's downhill from there.

Here's the curve ball.  Sandals!  Bike fit, trail debris, singletrack....those are the reasons I'll never wear sandals, but there are many that do.  The beauty of a sandal is you can add a few extra pairs of socks...loosen those straps and head to the library with warm feet.  Just make sure the outer pair of socks is waterproof.  I'd check out Seal Skinz...they work great for more than just sandals.

Wider sole of the shoe pushes my feet out increasing stress on knee and hip joints and possibly the inside edge of the foot.

Bike Fit

Bike fit is often forgotten when considering winter riding gear.  As I stated above, I use Keen snow boots.  You can see from the picture that the soles of the shoes are very wide (and thick...more on that later).  This pushes my feet out from the center of my bike.  This causes an extra strain in my pedal stroke.  The stress on my body has increased because my pistons (legs) are no longer moving up and down...they are moving from the center of the bike....out.  Additionally, fat and plus bikes have a larger Q-factor (space between the pedals.  Does this mean you shouldn't wear boots or ride fat or plus bikes?  Nope.  If you are going to race professionally you may want to find some long term solutions to decrease your Q-factor.  This will increase your pedaling efficiency, power and comfort. You do have the option of pedaling through the pain and just getting used to it.

Left crank is much wider than right crank.  Increases the Q-factor.  

My Keen soles are thick.  They are a lot thicker than my summer cycling (with clipless pedals) shoes.  That insulating thickness keeps my feet warm.  I need to adjust my saddle up about an inch in the winter to accommodate a taller shoe.  The 45Nrth Wolfgar is even thicker yet.  They have a thick insulating layer to prevent the coldness of winter and metal (clipless pedal cleats) from chilling your piggies.  I'd guess you'd need to raise your seat 1" - 1 1/2".

Length of your boots may also create some issues if you are using clipless pedals.  Added insulation to the front of the shoe may interfere with your front wheel in sharp turns.  A little overlap is common....a lot of overlap puts you on the grounds.  Less of an issue if you have platform pedals.

Resolution

Pick the pedal that will work well for you.  Keep in mind, riding on winter ice and snow you may want to start off with platform pedals that let you get your feet to the ground quicker than your head or hips.  Find a boot that is warm and lets you wiggle your toes.  Remember your knees and hips may get a bit sore because of Q-factor.  Check your seat height if the soles of your boots are thick.  Then ride as much as you can!

Why a Custom Bike?

To many bike buyers, the word 'custom' has a an impossible connotation to it. They think that the involvement in producing something meant for specifically for them means that they must know exactly what they want. I believe that this is very far from the truth. One of the most awesome advantages of working with a custom company like Seven is that you have experts that are able to distill you into your bike. Much like you would hire an architect for your dream home, Seven  (and Spoke-n-Sport) can create something truly unique, incredible and precisely for you. Below is a brief synopsis of what the process looks like in most cases. 

Day: 1

Stop in....let's just talk about bikes a bit and find out what you see yourself doing on your new bike.  It might be bike trail rides...it might be cross country tours or anything in between. We'll fill out a form and and submit it.  Rest assured it will be your bike at the end.  Your bike means it will look the color you want, accept the accessories you need and handle like it was made just for you.....because that's what you are getting.  A bike built from the ground up to fit your needs and desires and dreams.  

Day: 2 - 12

Seven wants to talk about bikes too.  They will contact you via email to set up an interview that will take 10 - 15 minutes.  This might be the nerdiest part of the build.  Don't be nervous. They've been doing this for over 20 years.  They know what to ask.  It's like going to the doctor.  A doctor knows all the names of every bone, joint and muscle.  A doctor won't use those terms with you because they would only return blank stares.  Same with the folks at Seven.  They will make you feel very comfortable and ask all the right questions in the right way.

Day: 12 - Day 17

This....this is when it starts to get real.  Lines and color on paper.  Your favorite bike ever is now being mocked. We'll go over those details with you.  We'll even set up a bike or fit bike so you can feel what your new bike will feel like.  There will probably be some changes. That's why we're doing it.  This may take a few visits.  Once you LOVE it.  We will all sign off on it and send it off to be made real.

Day: 18ish

Once all the paper work is done....then it gets built.  Pretty easy.  Welding, finishing, painting...packaging.  The most common question we hear is, "How long will it take?"  The answer lies somewhere between 5 - 8 weeks.  There are some situations where it may take longer.  The more detailed the paint, the longer it will take.  Sometimes there are availability of component issues.  You never really know but 5 - 8 weeks is a pretty good estimation.

Day: New Bike Day

This part is up to you but let me tell you....there is something about starting out with a love a desire an obsession and finally getting a chance to see it...then throw a leg over it and take it for a ride.  It's beautiful...it's energizing...it's the opposite of closure...it's New Bike Day.  Give us a call and let's find a time to talk about your dream bike.  Let's make it happen today.  

Peter...your bike guy