Tour de France 2010

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Watch the le Tour on Sat. for the time trials where we'll know for sure if Contador can keep his yellow jersey, of if Schleck will surprise everyone and pull off a surprise ride!


Tour de France 2010

Commuting 101 : Don’t Have a Shower?

I like the last tip in this article... :)




One large complaint or worry for beginner bike commuters is the lack of showering, or showing up sweaty to work. This is a valid worry and shouldn’t be overlooked as your employer, co-worker or client may not appreciate the “biker look.”

Top tips if you don’t have a shower at work

Photo Credit : Fritz

• Wear wicking clothing. I actually avoid wearing padded shorts in the morning as it creates a “funk” that you can’t avoid. If my commute is shorter in distance I find a comfortable saddle and wear a stretchy, breathable pair of shorts. Either a jersey, or tech-t on top, comfortable shoes or maybe my cycling shoes for longer distances.
• Action Wipes. No joke, go buy them. I’m not paid or bribed to say this (I have to say that by law,) but Action Wipes are in all my saddle bags and in my desk at work. A quick “pocket shower” with Action Wipes and re-installation of deodorant and I’m fresh!
• Bring extra clothes. Don’t worry about working up a sweat as you can use your Action Wipes to clean up and then put on all new clean clothes. Also, I am talking to put on a whole new outfit from top to bottom, putting on clean clothes and dirty socks doesn’t give you the same “fresh” feeling.
• If you may need it, keep a spare at work. This means everything you can’t do without, because we are talking about clothes currently I will mention those but recommend extra tubes/lube/tools at work too.
• If all else fails, start stinking in very important meetings and maybe they will install a shower at your work place.

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Types of Fenders

A mini series on Yearly Bike Fenders, today we will be discussing the different types of fenders there are and the benefits of each.

Full Coverage Fenders

One of the best systems of fenders are called full coverage as these cover up the most of your tires. The rear fender mounts at your bottom bracket and wrapping up around your tire. In some areas you add a buddy flap which adds distance to the fender and can even drag on the ground, keeping the spray off your buddy riding on your wheel. Make sure you purchase the right width for your tire and frame clearance. Purchase Full Coverage Fenders at RealCyclist.com

Clip On Fenders

The easiest way to install fenders are the clip on style. They can be attached in the morning if its raining, or fairly quickly prior to a ride. The downfall to this style is they aren’t full coverage. This means it will keep the spray off your back and face but may not keep your bike and feet clean.

Other Types

There are other types of fenders, such as stubbies, fork mount, seatpost mount and such. All these help keep the roster tail off, or the spray out of your face but to me don’t make the cut. If you are going to rock a fender, rock it full and proud.

I’ve asked on Twitter for you guys to share your fender photos, please leave a comment or email me with the photos so we can include them with an article later this week!

Join the conversation on Twitter @BikeShopGirlcom.

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