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The wheels are spinning for
National Bike Month!
 Greetings!
I am finally warming up after what had to be one of the most challenging TOSRVs in recent memory. But, as always, it was great seeing all our old (and new!) friends! We also broke in a TOSRV rookie, Josh, who took a break from the Rocky River store to join me this year and did a great job. What was also great is seeing over 800 students bike to school last Monday, May 3, in Bay Village. It was an awe-inspiring sight - one of the best I've ever seen in my 18 years in the bike business. But then I had to count all the bikes in the racks! (See photo above.) Seriously, though, with all the terrible news recently about obesity rates and environmental disasters, Bay Bike to School Challenge shows how just one group of students and their teachers can be a ray of hope. Now I've got to run - I'm under strict orders to find a funky set of PJs to wear for the Pajama Party Night Ride and these things just don't shop for themselves. Hope to see you at one (or all!) of the great events we have planned for National Bike Month! Cheers,
Scott Cowan, Owner
Century Cycles
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 May is National Bike Month, and here in Northeast Ohio, we're celebrating in our own unique way with Cleveland Bicycle Week from May 15 through 23. Various organizations are planning events to promote bicycling for fitness and fun all week!
See below for details about the special events that Century Cycles has in store for Cleveland Bicycle Week!
For information about all of the events planned for the week around the area, go to www.clevelandbicycleweek.org. |
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Pajama Party Night Ride on the Towpath Trail!
 We're putting the old-fashioned slumber party on two wheels as we transform our regularly-scheduled Night Ride on the Towpath Trail on Saturday, May 15 into a Pajama Party Night Ride!
The free festivities begin at 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Peninsula store at 1621 Main Street: - Pajamas not required, but encouraged!
- Cycle-your-own smoothies!
- Decorate yourself and your bike with free glow-in-the-dark goodies!
- Ride begins at 8 p.m.
- Slumber party snacks (popcorn, cookies, and Twizzlers) at the ride turn-around point!
- Spin the Water Bottle for Cycling Truth or Dare!
- Hang out in the Winking Lizard party room afterwards!
As always, our Night Rides on the Towpath Trail are free, but for this ride, we will be collecting voluntary donations to benefit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association's TRAILS FOREVER Legacy Fund.
You can find more details on this and all of our Night Rides on the Towpath (including directions to the store) at: www.centurycycles.com/for/nightrides
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2010 Bay Bike to School Challenge
sponsored by Century Cycles and Chipotle
 Now in its third year, the Bay Bike to School Challenge (BTSC) kicked off on May 3, with over 800 Bay Middle School and Bay High School students and staff riding to school.
New for this year, you can follow all of the action during the three-week program on Facebook! Go to:
www.facebook.com/BayBikeToSchoolChallengeThe Challenge ends on May 21, with the presentation of the Golden Sprocket Award to the school with the highest number of riders, prizes from Century Cycles, Chipotle, Raleigh Bicycles, Giant Bicycles, Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park, Main Street Cupcakes, Tifosi Optics, Vanitylab Salon, Bay Community Pool, Project Earth Environmental Club, Bay Skate and Bike Park, Mitchell's Ice Cream, Earth Day Coalition, and more!
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Ride of Silence - Peninsula
 Century Cycles and the Medina County Bicycle Club are inviting people to join them in a Ride of Silence in Peninsula, Ohio. That evening, Rides of Silence will be taking place in Cleveland and around the world to honor those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways and to raise awareness of cyclists' legal rights to share the road with motorists.
- When: Wednesday, May 19, 2010, 7:00pm
- Where: Lock 29 Overflow Parking Lot in Peninsula (just off Route 303 in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, on Mill Street, across from Terry Lumber)
Cyclists will ride a short loop for 12-15 miles at a silent and slow 12 mph pace. It's a cause especially important to the crew at the Century Cycles store in Medina because a longtime customer was killed by a car while riding his bicycle in Medina county in 2007.
Helmets are required. This event is free and open to the public. No registration necessary. For more information, please call Century Cycles in Medina at 330-722-7119. For more general information about the worldwide Ride of Silence movement, visit www.rideofsilence.org.
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SUPER SEVEN SALE!
Century Cycles staffers regularly commute to work and do errands by bicycle, and they have tested and tried a lot of products along the way. They share their knowledge and experience on this list of their seven favorite accessories that can help anyone bicycle more. In support of Cleveland Bicycle Week, Century Cycles has them all on sale at 20% OFF their regular prices from May 15 - 23 (no coupon necessary; in-store sales only; while supplies last).
 All Bicycle Fenders: Commuting in Cleveland may not be a sunny day affair -- fenders keep you and your bike clean.- Planet Bike Super Flash Taillight: Maximize your visibility even in daylight with two extreme LEDs that can be seen for up to one mile.
- Topeak Explorer Rear Rack and Matching Trunk Bags: This is an easy on-off system to carry lunch, a change of clothes and other essentials.
- Avenir or Jandd Grocery Panniers: Popular with staff and customers alike, these panniers are a great way to carry bagged groceries, gallon jugs or six pack cartons.
- All Bicycle Locks: Protect your investment with a solid keyed or combination lock when you can't store your bike inside.
 - Reflective Pant Strap: This is a low cost item with big benefits - it keeps your pant leg out of the chain and another way to be seen.
- Blackburn Voyager Light Combo: A super-bright headlight comes with a taillight that can mount to your bike, pack or rack.
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5 Questions: Rich Oettinger
 Rich Oettinger, 39, started working at the Century Cycles store in Peninsula in
June of 2009 after a 19-year career as a semi truck driver. He started on the
sales floor, but with a knack for learning about all things mechanical, he
quickly came up to speed as one of our expert mechanics. He currently lives in
Cuyahoga Falls with his wife and son.
Q. What's your favorite
thing about working at Century Cycles?
A. It's a totally different
atmosphere from sitting alone in a truck all day, having nothing to do except
think about stuff that I shouldn't be thinking about. Here, the people I work
with, including customers, are always generally happy and bubbly, so I never
feel like I've had a bad day.
Q. When did you first start
cycling?
A. Three or four years ago, I realized that I had to do
something to get some exercise, since driving a truck doesn't provide much
opportunity. I started riding a bike, and since then, I've dropped from 320
pounds down to about 265.
Q. How many bikes do you own?
A. I have three: a Raleigh road bike, a Giant mountain bike, and a Raleigh
touring bike that I use for commuting to work.
Q. Which do you
prefer, road or dirt?
A. It's hard to say, because I really just
love all kinds of riding. I love riding off-road, but at the same time, I've
really gotten to love commuting--it's convenient, fun, and a great way to take
your mind off the everyday stresses of life.
Q. What do you like
to do when you're not on a bike?
A. I used to be pretty seriously
into racing radio-controlled cars, but it's been about 10 years since I gave
that up, because to be competitive, you've got to devote your full-time
attention to it. I still like to follow racing sports, though--all kinds,
anything that has a motor. I also really like paintball, spending time with my
family, and doing yard work and other stuff around my house.
You can read the rest of our interview with Rich on our blog.
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 5 Tips: Mountain Biking
It's now mountain biking season in Northeast Ohio! One of the premiere mountain bike trails in our area, West Branch State
Park, officially opens for the season on May 15. Other Northeast Ohio
mountain biking trails are already open, weather and trail conditions
permitting. Ride responsibly, and don't ride when the trails are wet!
Even if you're an experienced street or bike path rider, mountain biking requires a special set of skills unique to the terrain and off-road riding experience. Even if you've ridden through the woods many times before, these tips can help hone your talent and enjoy yourself even more!
1. Lower your tire pressure. 2. Apply front and rear brakes evenly. 3. Uphill: weight forward; downhill: weight back. 4. Speed is your friend when trying to ride over obstacles. 5. Look where you want to go, not where you don't want to go. |
What was your most embarrassing moment on a bike?
Whether you're a casual weekend bike path rider or an experienced professional racer, there are probably days on your bicycle that you would care not to remember.
We've all had these moments; maybe it was a fall that only bruised your ego, or maybe even gave you a concussion. Or maybe you bonked after bragging about how tough you are.
What's your most embarrassing memory on a bike? Let us know by taking our latest online poll. |
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Define your life. Ride a bike.™
Our Stores:
1079 N. Court St. (Rt 42, K-Mart Plaza)
Medina, OH 44256 map
Phone: 330-722-7119
1621 Main St. (Rt 303)
Peninsula, OH 44264 map
Phone: 330-657-2209
19955 Detroit Rd. (between Wagar and Wooster Roads)
Rocky River, OH 44116 map
Phone: 440-356-5705 www.centurycycles.com
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