The Chainlink

The Chainlink's Blog (31)

One Day 100 Bikes – Featuring Filmed by Bike

Most of us ride hundreds or thousands of miles each year.  Commuting, road riding, cycle-cross, crit-racing, BMX, off-road… you name it, we ride it. It’s easy to take cycling for granted, as well as the many transportation choices we all enjoy.  Imagine an environment with no options other…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on August 21, 2018 at 9:30pm — No Comments

2018 Chicagoland Tour de Cure

More unified and inclusive than ever before, with route options for the whole family!

The Chicagoland Tour de Cure is the American Diabetes Association’s signature…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on April 28, 2018 at 9:30am — 4 Comments

Martha's Top 5 Bike Movies

It never hurts to start putting a few movies on the ‘must watch’ list for cozy winter nights – or long indoor trainer rides! Has anyone seen the new HBO mockumentary Tour de Pharmacy? I’ve just added that to my own list. What are some of your favorite cycling movies? Weigh in below! My top 5:

 …

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on February 18, 2018 at 3:00pm — 9 Comments

Farm Roads: Tips for Riding Outside of Chicago

By Yasmeen Schuller

I used to ride on farm roads when I lived in Wisconsin for a year. When I read the article (see below) from Bicycling Magazine, I thought I'd add a few tips of my own:

Expect Hills, Sometimes Gravel

Once you get outside of…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on February 18, 2018 at 3:00pm — 6 Comments

Winter Training - How to Make it Effective, Safe and Fun

While winter doesn't necessarily prevent cyclists from staying outdoors, Chicagoans have to be realistic about the dropping temperatures. At a certain point, training outdoors just isn’t very agreeable or efficient due to temperatures and road conditions.

 

Enter indoor…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on February 16, 2018 at 2:36pm — 6 Comments

Five Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes

Spidermonkey Cycling Girls’ Ride

How do you measure a year?

One of the things I love about our sport is the measurability. In a subjective world, it’s nice to have an outlet for determining success by numbers and efforts, in some…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on January 26, 2018 at 10:00am — No Comments

Ride Report: Ill Kanza 2017

A few months ago, familiar with and in full support of the ladies #ssgravelcrew who had kicked tail at gravel races across the greater plains, my friend Lauren and I looked at each other and thought, We should do this. Also, full disclosure, I admired their grit and have bought a few bandannas because they are freakin’ GREAT bandannas, and I say this as a #bandannaenthusiast and flagging scholar.

She’s the co-captain our…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on November 19, 2017 at 9:36pm — 1 Comment

Behind the Scenes of a Bike Fit

Rachel Wills of Velosmith

By Jasmin Welter

Anne Barnes (of Live Grit) and Rachel Wills (of Velosmith) are two Chicagoland ladies that can make your bike rides better - and faster. As professional bike fitters,…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on November 12, 2017 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Spectating the Ironman (How to be an Iron Sherpa)

By Lisa Luttenegger 

Remember that friend, cousin, teammate, wife, or boyfriend you had a few months ago? Chances are you haven’t seen much of them, or if you have, you are likely well-aware of the Ironman race they’ve signed up and are training for. And if you’ve seen them in the 10 days leading up…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on September 7, 2017 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Ride Report: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scenic Shore 150

By Mark Wilson

The Scenic Shore 150 is a 2 day, 75 miles each day bike ride from Mequon Wisconsin (just north of Milwaukee) up to Sturgeon Bay in Door County. A good friend of mine decided to ride this year with his sister’s team, another friend and I decided to take him up on his offer to join in.…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on September 1, 2017 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Three Quick Bike Maintenance Tasks You Might Not Be Doing

By Geoffrey Harding

The purpose of this article is to shine a light on three quick and easy things that you should get in the habit of doing that will help keep your bike on the road and save you some money during your next bike tune-up.

 

Wipe Down Your Chain

Try to keep an old…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on August 23, 2017 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Trip Report: Bike Duluth Festival & MTB Clinic

By Carmen A. Aiken

Earlier this summer, I visited my friends’ farm off the Mississippi, where I toured last year. As we weeded the leeks, I mentioned an upcoming bike festival in Duluth, MN, a couple hours North. We’d been talking biking and my friends encouraged me to check it…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on August 18, 2017 at 9:30am — 2 Comments

Humbled by the Hills – Ride Report on the Horribly Hilly Hundreds

200km | 11.000ft of elevation | 8:20hrs

I started cycling in 2014 and have grown substantially as a cyclist since then. So when my friend Zach brought up the Horribly Hilly Hundreds (HHH) back in February, I was immediately intrigued. I like climbing and we don’t get nearly enough of it…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on August 3, 2017 at 2:57pm — 9 Comments

Pelotonia: Riding With a Purpose

Over the past three years I have fallen madly and deeply in love with cycling. The challenge to push my physical limits, the adrenaline rush on a descent and the camaraderie of fellow cyclists make me feel more alive than any other sport.

At the same time I was exploring and expanding this wonderful…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on August 3, 2017 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Graffiti and Gears: City Touring for Chicago's Youth

A view from the front of the June 2017 Pedal to Pullman Adventure Cycling Tour, Photo courtesy of Tom Limon

By Sarah Dandelles

 

Tom Limon started his city bike tour company, Adventure…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on July 13, 2017 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

Product Review: Tifosi Davos Sport Sunglasses

By Shawn Conley

When I was asked to review these sunglasses, I was ecstatic. I already own a pair of Tifosi Pavé. I absolutely love those sunglasses, and the chance to own another pair of Tifosi sunglasses I thought would be a treat. That being said, I must remain objective in my review of this product.

After receiving the news that the new sunglasses were being shipped, I went on the website to see what’s…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on July 13, 2017 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Product Review: Tifosi Synapse Sunglasses With Light Night Fototec

By Anna Affias, Photo by Ronit Bezalel

Anna received a pair of Tifosi Synapse optics with Light Night Fototec and immediately put them to the test, wearing her new pair while racing at the Skyway Criterium Series last Spring. Weather conditions changed significantly through out the week, putting…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on July 13, 2017 at 9:00am — No Comments

Product Review: Tifosi Synapse Sunglasses With Interchangeable Lenses

By Lisa Lutt



We live in a world of high-tech gadgets and unlimited choices. It’s hard to find reliable direction and, more often than not, many of us end up settling for things that can make or break a ride. I don’t say this lightly;…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on July 13, 2017 at 8:30am — No Comments

Book Review: Hitting Reset - Yoga for Cyclists

By Jasmin Welter

I never considered myself a “yoga person.” Upon many friends’ urging, I’d given it a try, check-ing out several studios (both the fancy and the traditional kind), but none convinced me to keep up a practice. Enter a book that made me change my attitude – Hit Reset by Erin Taylor (Ve-lopress, 2016).

Hit Reset…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on June 23, 2017 at 3:22pm — No Comments

Product Review: Dreamwave Explorer Bluetooth Speaker with Bike Mount

By Sarah Dandelles



I’m not really a gadget person. I like riding bikes, but I’m not even a big bike-gear person. I’m definitely a functional bike person, though, and I cross over into the décor zone for special occasions (fine, I’ll admit it - any holiday or event...). While some riders “ooh” and “ahh” over components or each…

Continue

Added by The Chainlink on June 23, 2017 at 2:30pm — 3 Comments

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service