Ahhhhh, it is so nice just to ride

Saturday I joined an event sponsored by Trek dealers for an Awareness for Breast Cancer Ride. The local ladies cycling clubs had a really nice turn out. I really enjoyed the 25 mile ride led by the teams sponsored by our local bike shop (LBS). I got to chat with several friends and make new ones. I had a blast rolling along inside a large peleton and the best was coming down the last road to the end with a ripping tailwind.

I would like to digress for a moment just to talk about your LBS. As cyclists we run the gamut just like folks everywhere regarding buying stuff. Some of us are such great mechanics we could buy everything on ebay and do all the work ourselves and that would be that. Others rely heavily on our LBS, even though you could get things online much cheaper. I fall somewhere in between where I can do basic mechanical stuff but don't know what I don't know so I try to find the mechanic I really trust. I also look online at any of the many sites to find the best price. IMO, supporting your shop when you can is a really good thing. They give back to the community like the event above and are great ambassadors for our sport- or should be.

Even though the media is bemoaning the economy right now, bicycles are selling well. No, not the mountain bikes from several years ago, and not the lightest sexiest "I am the next Lance" carbon bikes, but real bikes for real people. Bikes that will provide reliable transportation whether you are only riding down the block to the coffee shop or commuting day and night, winter and summer, rain or shine to work. Please always encourage folks to go to a LBS to buy a bike. There are many horror stories out there about the discount retailers and the high school kid paid minimum wage who really doesn't know what they are doing assembling that bicycle. There are other stories about that $200.00 bike that is made with substandard components and may even be dangerous. So, support your LBS and if you have more than one, find one that is friendly and welcoming to all customers and has a really great mechanic.

OK, stepping down off the soap box now, that's enough. I will fill you in on Sundays ride tomorrow.