Om Cycling

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Review: Fizik R4B Road Shoes

Review: Fizik R4B Road Shoes

Cycling shoes don’t last forever, especially when you ride and sweat lots. Over time, they just collect sweat, road spray, and dirt and need to be replaced. I got a solid two seasons out of my Giro road shoes, and I headed to the shop to see if they had anything that would work. I have a hard time finding shoes that are a good fit, as I have really odd feet. They are not the same length at all, which I am told is common. They are really wide at the balls of my feet and reall

Media Monday: Omcycling Rides the Welland Canal

My Love for Tires Never Tires: Part 1, Trying Tubeless and Wide Wheels

My Love for Tires Never Tires: Part 1, Trying Tubeless and Wide Wheels

Spring calls, and riding outside is becoming a lot more enticing. I cannot wait to get out more and explore. Last year as usually happens after a long Buffalo winter; the roads were awful. Potholes, gravel, salt, and glass were everywhere. The first thing I did was to get out the tubeless set up. It was time to rekindle my love for road tubeless. I had given up the summer prior when I wore out a set of Schwalbe Pro Ones, and they simply would not seal anymore. I was really pi

Why Getting Your Head Kicked In Is Not Always a Bad Idea

Why Getting Your Head Kicked In Is Not Always a Bad Idea

The other day I took my upgrade to CAT 4 for road racing after talking to some friends on a coffee shop ride. I had been hesitant to pursue it, and I doubt that based on my results anyone would force it on me. So I asked out loud at 22 mph in a paceline, "What do you think I should do?" One friend commented, "You better get that upgrade and get out there next year and win." This wasn't really what I expected to hear, nor was it what I was looking to hear! We laughed and talke

Two Days of Buffalo Stage Race: Once You Stop Learning, You Start Dying

Two Days of Buffalo Stage Race: Once You Stop Learning, You Start Dying

Albert Einstein once said, “Once you stop learning, you start dying.” A learning experience would be a good way to describe this past weekend’s Two Days of Buffalo Stage Race. There was a lot to learn, and that was the beauty of it all. The event started with a short time trial of 4.5 miles followed by a 30-minute circuit race a few hours later. Day two was a relatively flat 26-mile road race. These distances and times are for the men’s cat 5, obviously "higher" categories ha

Safety on the Road

Safety on the Road

Last week, I experienced something new. I never thought that this would happen. It was an event that really made my heart race. It wasn’t a good thing though. I was hit by a car. I was stopped at a red light behind a car. When the light turned green, I quickly started up and entered the intersection. I was 75% of the way through following the car in front. Just as the car in front passed through, a car from the right ran the red and drove right into me! Shortly after, the dri

Review: Suomy Sfera Helmet

Review: Suomy Sfera Helmet

I guess maybe I am losing it, buying another helmet, but I really love the Suomy Gun Wind helmet that I bought this spring. I have so many helmets that just don't quite fit right, but the Gun Wind was perfect. When I saw the cheaper Suomy Sfera aero helmet, I saw it as an easy way to replace lots of helmets that don't quite fit. Okay, let me explain. The Sfera in matte black is a fantastic looking helmet that will go with just about any kit I have, unlike the Gun Wind that I

A Beginner’s Guide to Cycling, Part 5: Actually Going on Your First Ride

A Beginner’s Guide to Cycling, Part 5: Actually Going on Your First Ride

Okay, you have been bearing with me for days, and now you are actually going out on the road. You know how to get the bike ready, and you practiced some skills off road. Today, let's look at where to go, how to try to track what you accomplish, and how to put it to good effect. Start with a good route Your first ride will go better if you pick a good route to start off on, avoiding crazy traffic and seeking good pavement. I would recommend that you try a park or bike path out

City Routes: Two Parks and a Lighthouse Route

City Routes: Two Parks and a Lighthouse Route

Riding a good route is always lots of fun, and by good route I mean one that has good options. The routes I ride have lots of options for workouts and adding mileage. They also have spots to stop for supplies, air, drinks, and nutrition. Today, I want to share a good solid ride that will give you lots of good options that I will point out along the way. I hope that you like this first installment of City Routes. The Two Parks and a Lighthouse Route is one that I ride all the

A Beginner’s Guide to Cycling, Part 1: The Benefits of Cycling

A Beginner’s Guide to Cycling, Part 1: The Benefits of Cycling

I am gathering feedback on the blog, and an old friend asked me about buying a new bike. She explained in an e-mail that she had read a bunch of information, and she wanted to get into riding but could use some help. I promised to try to help. This might be my toughest assignment yet! This is the first in a multi-part piece on getting started. Even though the question was about what to buy, I think there is a little background to cover first and a little follow up on how to g

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