Sleek, Modern Road Bike

The summer cycling season appears to be over, but we still have plenty of brisk, sunny fall days to get out and ride! The Raleigh Grand Sport is a racing style bike that will whisk you down the streets and Prairie Path this fall. This bike is sleek, lightweight and fast.

Frame: Hydroformed Butted Aluminum

Fork: Carbon Composite

Shifter: Shimano 2300 8 spd.

Rims: Weinmann TR18 Double Wall

Tires: Vittoria Zaffiro 700 x 23c

Handlebar: Avenir 200 Series Road

Brakes: Tektro Dual Pivot with Cartridge Pads

We will be glad to give you more information about this bicycle and let you take it for a spin when you stop in.

Blackwell Forest Preserve/McKee Marsh Ride

Blackwell – McKee Marsh – approximately 7 miles round trip

This is our favorite nature ride. Each year we begin riding at Blackwell/McKee Marsh in the very early spring when the snow and ice have melted and the trail has dried out enough to ride. Early spring is a special time of the year to ride this trail since you have a very deep view into the woods - giving the path an expansive wide open feel. And in the early Spring we keep an observant eye out for the first signs of green along the trail. As Spring progresses the woods grow thicker and we see meadow larks, bobolinks, blue birds and woodpeckers among our favorites. Spring wildflowers cover much of the surrounding area of McKee Marsh and you begin to hear the spring peeper frogs. We always stop at one of the several marsh overlooks to see what birds have dropped in at the marsh – great blue herons, great egrets, cormorants, geese, grebes or coots. Birds aren’t the only sightings here, you can occasionally catch a glimpse of deer. In summer the color is green green green, the foliage is at its densest. In the Fall, you have another color palette along the trail, as well as migrating birds, snakes sunning themselves on the path before they hibernate and wooly bear caterpillars – sure signs of the coming Fall.

Ride Details: We park in the lot just beyond the entrance to Blackwell Forest Preserve and begin our ride at the trailhead adjacent to the pond. You’ll pass White Pine Pond and Sand Pond, wind through a shady path and over the Springbrook Creek bridge then on about another mile to Mack Road where you’ll cross into McKee Marsh. Follow this trail to the tee. If you turn left at the tee, just beyond the incline is one of several marsh overlooks. A little further on there is a path to the left – this leads to a small picnic area and forest preserve restrooms. We beeline straight to the picnic area and unpack our Starbucks, fruit and muffins. Breakfast here in the early morning is special – it’s true what they say about everything tasting better outdoors! After breakfast we continue around McKee Marsh usually with several stops to bird watch then pedal back to the parking area at Blackwell.

The trail is well maintained crushed limestone. There is also a short (.8 mile) dirt trail off the main route. The Blackwell McKee Marsh trail is a quick ride through very scenic wetland, prairie and forest. And if you’re looking for more exercise, Blackwell connects with several area trails including Herrick Lake and the Illinois Prairie Path. Here’s a link to the trail maps for Blackwell and McKee Marsh:

http://www.dupageforest.com/Recreation/ActivitiesAndFacilities/Bicycling.html

– bring your binoculars on this ride and keep on cycling!

How Comfortable is Your Bike Seat?

One of the fastest and easiest things you can do to make your ride more comfortable is to change your saddle. Does memory foam and gel foam sound more comfy than your current seat? We have a good selection of all shapes, materials, sizes and styles of bicycle saddles. Whether you want to change the seat on your racing bike, mountain bike, exercycle or vintage ride, we have the right saddle for you.


Our seats feature gel foam and memory foam that contours to your body to cushion your ride. Some of our seats have shocks to absorb road and trail bumps. We also offer a variety of materials depending on what type of riding you do. All-weather materials are great for commuters and students, while other fabrics offer a secure, non-slip feeling. We even have seats with built-in tail lights for riding at night in safety. You can also check out our gender-specific seats.

Already have a seat you like that could use a little extra cushion? We have sheepskin pads and gel pads that attach to your existing saddle.

Stop in to see our selection and make your ride even more comfortable and enjoyable. We will be happy to show you our favorite saddles!

Raleigh Cyclo-cross

If you've never heard of cyclocross I recommend going to Youtube and looking up some of the races. This could be the coolest, fastest and muddiest cycling sport in the world. It's like a cross between road racing and mountain bike racing. Riders navigate down roads, through the rough terrain of the woods and then dismount their bicycles and carry them over obstacles. The Raleigh RX 1.0 is built for the demanding sport of cyclocross, but it's also the ultimate fast, light and agile recreational bike.


Here are some of the features of the RX 1.0-

• Easton carbon fiber fork



• Butted alloy aluminum frame



• SRAM Rival 10 spd. shifter



• Vittoria Cross XG Pro 700X32c tires



• SRAM Rival front and rear derailleurs

The Raleigh RX 1.0 is at the shop now. Whether you are into cyclocross racing or just want a unique road bike, come give it test ride.

A ride down the Illinois and Michigan Canal

One of our favorite rides is along the I&M Canal from Channahon, IL to Morris, IL. Although we only ride this 15 mile section, the trail extends 50+ miles all the way to LaSalle/Peru. The I&M canal trail is an old towpath. In the mid-1800s through 1933 when it was closed, mules and horses pulled barges using this towpath. Along the route you’ll pass several locks, a locktender’s house, an aqueduct and even an old mule barn. You’ll also find a shelter or two built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Dresden Island Dam, old railroad trestles – there really is something of interest around every turn. All the while you are cycling along the canal, and for quite a ways you also have the Illinois River on your other side.




And if the historic sights aren’t enough, wildlife is abundant. Last week we saw 3 deer, 2 muskrat and a beaver before we even rode one mile. As we rode further there were many more deer and muskrats, as well as green herons, great blue herons, frogs, turtles, fabulous giant lily pads and the calls of many song birds. We’ve even seen white pelicans here stopping for a break during their migration.





There are many opportunities to picnic along the route or you can eat in Morris – there are a number of restaurants to choose from as well as an ice cream store. Morris is a great place to re-energize for the return ride. There are four “primitive” restroom facilities along this route which aren’t easy to locate unless you know they’re there – here is a link to a DNR site which has detailed maps to help.

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/main.htm%5ClTrail


The trail from Channon to Morris is well-maintained crushed limestone. The path is very level, which makes it an easy ride. From Morris west we’ve had problems with trail washouts – if it’s been rainy and you’re headed west of Morris I would try to contact the DNR to check on washouts.





In the spring you see amazing wildflowers and in the fall the colors are brilliant! If you are riding on a hot summer day you’ll be pleased to find that 90% of the route is in the shade. It’s only a 45 minute ride from Glen Ellyn to Channahon – so pack your bikes and head out of town for the I&M Canal – enjoy!

Dual Sport Bike

The Gary Fisher Utopia is a Dual Sport Bike that you can ride through loose gravel trails one day and down city streets the next. This flat black hybrid is aggressive enough for trails and smooth enough for the city. It features an aluminum frame and all the quality components you'd expect in a Gary Fisher bike. Here are the specs for the Utopia-

Wheels

• Shimano M475 disc hubs

• Bontrager Ranger disc rims

• Bontrager LT3 tires

Fork

• SR Suntour NRX

Components

• Shimano Deore front derailleur

• SRAM X7 rear derailleur

• SRAM X5 9-speed

• Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes

Cool kid's bikes

Here is something for the kids- the boy's Schwinn Aerostar and the girl's Schwinn Stardust. These bikes have the fun accessories and vibrant colors that the kids want, and the safety features that mom and dad are looking for. This bike will fit appropximately ages 5-9, depending on the size of the rider.

First, here are the safety features parents want to see in a quality kid's bike.

• Low standover height makes getting on and off a breeze


• Integrated kickstand for stability


• Steel chainguard and fenders keep little legs and fingers away from moving parts


• Pads on the handlebars and stem

Now for the fun stuff the kids love. The boy's Aerostar comes in two color combinations: metallic midnight blue with red trim and black with fire engine red trim. It is accessorized with a cage and water bottle. The girl's Stardust is available in pearly white with pink trim and magenta with purple trim. Girls love the streamers flowing from the handgrips and the detachable bag on the handlebars. These bikes have safety and style for the kiddies!

Flashback to the 50's

Here's one of the unique bikes hanging around the shop. It's a Schwinn Phantom. Yes, the same classic Phantom that every boy wanted to see under the Christmas tree in the 1950's. The Phantom was introduced in 1949 and sold in three colors- black, green and red, with black being the most popular model. This cruiser featured chrome fenders, a working headlight and tail light, horn on the tank, white-wall balloon tires, a luggage rack, springer front-end and a leather seat. The Phantom is eye candy for the bike lover!




The Schwinn Phantom is the ultimate cruiser bike. The demand for retro styled bikes began in the 1990's and Schwinn reproduced these bikes for the company's 100 year anniversary. If you want to ride in style we carry new models from Schwinn and Raleigh that evoke the classic style of the 1950's bicycles.




Happy cruising!

A single-speed bicycle with traditional style

One of the sharpest looking bikes at the shop right now is Raleigh's Rush Hour Flat Bar. It features the classic details of the old wood-track racing bikes. But this one's not for racing- it is appropriate for any type of recreational riding in the city or on the paths. It's the high quality details and retro essence that make this single-speed bike so special.

The Rush Hour embodies traditional, streamlined design. The frame is Reynold 520 butted tubing. It's steel, not aluminum, just like the classic bicycles it was inspired by. It has a flip-flop style rear wheel, which means you have free wheel and direct drive options. The Rush Hour features alloy sealed track hubs and aerodynamic aluminum rims in a baby blue hue that contrast with the bright white tires. One of the nicest details on this bike is the British-made Brooks leather saddle and grips.

The Rush Hour Flat Bar represents the essence of cycling and is quite possibly the most attractive ride you'll find. If you're looking for a traditional single-speed bicycle, check out the Rush Hour.

Ride on!