Cyclefest and Pauls Ride for Life this Saturday

Join us this Saturday for Paul’s Ride for Life and Cyclefest at the Reston Town Center pavilion!  Paul’s Ride for Life kicks off at 8 am for a 10, 20, or 50 mile ride along the beautiful W&OD. Proceeds from the ride benefit the Washington Regional Transplant Community.   The Community Canteen will be welcoming back riders with free coffee and pastries.  Park your bike in our free Bike Valet (courtesy of EX2 Adventures) and stick around for The Bike Lane’s Cyclefest Expo.  Ride some of the top bikes in the world!  Trek and Felt will have their demo trucks filled with road, mountain and tri bikes!  The Bike Lane will be bringing our Niner mountain bike demos for you to take out for a spin on the trail. Bring the kids and their bikes out for the Bike Safety Rodeo sponsored by Trails for Youth! The rodeo starts at Noon until 2:00 pm.  Also, we will have live performances from TUNNEL- an up and coming Prog/Alternative/Rock band based in the Washington, DC.  Check out the expo from 10-3 pm we will have vendors and local clubs including Saris, Camel Bak, Yakima, MORE, Team Z, Team in Training, Evolution Cycling, MS Ride, Tour de Cure, Reston Bike Club, Positively Chiropractic, FABB, Wilderness Voyagers, Pedal Pushers and more.  Enter to win a Trek 7.3 FX and other raffles!  See you Saturday.

 

Now Selling Catlike Helmets

The Bike Lane is in the process of bringing in Catlike Helmets!  These are the most popular helmets of the Peloton due to their honeycomb like venting, comfort, and weightlessness.  They protect your noggin while keeping you cool with 39 vent holes and dual flow technology.  With its soft straps and highly adjustable retention system, the Whisper Plus helmet is most comfortable on the market.  The Bike Lane is taking pre-orders for the Whisper Plus at our Reston location ONLY now through March 31!   Please call the shop at (703) 689-2671 or email adam@thebikelane.com to place your order before March 31.

The Bike Lane is now RENTING bikes

After years of planning and expanding, The Bike Lane has a fleet of Trek FX bikes to rent to customers!  We are really excited about our new rental program.  Now you can rent a bike for an out-of-town guest or if you are in town on business and need to get out and ride!  Even if you live in the area and don’t have a bike, come rent one.  It is a great way to enjoy the beautiful fall weather.  Currently, we are ONLY renting bikes out of our Reston shop.  We’ve made it pretty easy too.  Just reserve your bike online and pick it up on your scheduled pick up day.  Your rental includes a helmet and a flat repair bag.  We also rent locks and car racks. We’ll see how this goes and probably expand into renting road bikes and kids bikes in the spring.

Reserve your bike online!

The Bike Lane Burke Relocation Ride

On Sunday The Bike Lane in Burke relocated to West Springfield. Fifty five customers showed up to ride the shops bike inventory down Old Keene Mill Road with a police escort. It was the best 2.2 mile ride the shop has ever done! Thank you to Bruce Buckley for taking some great pictures of the event.

Cyclefest 2011

Cyclefest 2011, a set on Flickr.

The Bike Lane’s 5th annual Cyclefest was the biggest one yet! It was a gorgeous day at the Reston Town Center. The Bike Lane hosted over 25 booths for local cycling clubs, organizations, and vendors such as Trek, Yakima, Camelbak, Mavic, Felt and more. Paul’s Ride for Life kicked off the day with over 300 riders. Trails for Youth hosted a kids bike safety rodeo and BMX shows kept everyone entertained. It was a great day and we look forward to going big next year.

A big thank you to Paul’s Ride for Life and our vendors: Team Z, MS Ride, Tour de Cure, Positively Chiropractic, Team in Training, the Reston Bike Club, Amyazing Youth Tri, Fairfax County, JCC, Mon Ami and Community Canteen, Wilderness Voyageurs, Evolution Cycling Team, Pedal Pushers Club, FABB, NVRPA, MORE, Trails for Youth, Washington Regional Transplant Community, Trek, Felt, Camelbak, and Mavic.

Be AMYzing Reston Youth Triathlon

The Bike Lane is proud to sponsor Amy’s Amigoes for their first annual Youth Triathlon.  We are so impressed with all of the work and effort Amy’s friends have put forth in memory of Amy and in support of such an important cause.  We are also very excited to be a part of getting kids getting into the sport of triathlon.    Please read below what Amy’s Amigoes are all about and support this much needed research.

We could not have written this any better, so it is directly from the Reston Youth Triathlon website.

The sport of triathlon has grown tremendously over the last few years.  While most participants are adults, a growing number of children are testing their athletic spirit in triathlon  Reston is one of the premier triathlon communities in the area with both highly successful Olympic and sprint distance triathlon  With the long standing Reston Triathlon of 27 years and the Reston Sprint Triathlon of four years, the missing link is a children’s triathlon.  But now, Amy Amigos will make the connection.

The Reston Youth Triathlon, Be AMYazing! inaugural event will be held on Sunday, May 22, 2011.  The triathlon is sponsored by Amy’s Amigos in conjunction with The Core Foundation. Amy’s Amigos is currently a South Lakes High School club, who focuses on raising money for brain cancer research and empowering young adults to live fit and have fun.  Amy’s Amigos formed in 2008 in memory of Amy Boyle, a sixth grader who lost her battle with brain cancer.  Inspired by Amy’s spirit, athleticism and love of life, Amy’s Amigos has participated in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life for the past three years and held numerous fund raising activities to raise more than $24,000 since it’s inception.  The proceeds from Reston Youth Triathlon, Be AMYazing! will go to the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation.

A recent update:

Amy’s Amigos Help Fund Cancer Breakthrough

February 2011 brought good news to families who follow the development of research on diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, the rare brain tumor that took the life of Amy Boyle in 2008 and sparked the beginning of Amy’s Amigos.  Since Amy’s death, Amy’s Amigos has raised money to help Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF) fund research on pontine gliomas.  The result of grants from CBTF and others to Stanford University in 2010 has been the first real breakthrough in understanding the origin of pontine gliomas.  To see the article published by Stanford School of Medicine, go to http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2011/february/pontine.html

Also, below is the process for Bike Lane fans to make a donation to the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation.

1)  Go to http://childhoodbraintumor.org/
2)  Click on the “Give Online”, bluish/purple oval
3)  Fill out donation form and then in the box marked “2 Donation Information”, where it has “Program Area”, select “Event Donation” in the pull down box.  Then under comments write “Reston Youth Triathlon – The Bike Lane”

The National Bike Summit Visit – a different message

The 2011 National Bike Summit has come to an end.  This year was a little different than in years past.  This year the message was not about asking congress to support bike friendly bills, or increased funding for bike projects, or heaven forbid asking for more transportation funds.  No, this year was all about spreading the word that bikes SAVE money.  In a time of tightening our belts, making sacrifices, and cutting funding to just about everything, the message to congress was that the bicycle is GOOD for the economy.  This year it was important for bike shops, bike manufacturers, and tourism companies to make their case to Congress to NOT cut funding for bike projects- this includes Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School, and the Recreational Trail Program.  The message being that if you cut funding to bicycle projects it will have a negative effect on businesses that rely on selling and riding bikes.  Of course, we all know that cutting funding to these programs will have a negative effect on all cyclists.  We all know that getting more people on bikes is good for the environment and for creating healthy communities.  And we all know that walkable bikeable communities are safer and healthier than communities where everyone is stuck in traffic.  We are just starting to see great local programs such as Capitol Bike Share and  Safe Routes to School programs starting to work; if the funding is cut these projects may die out fast.  BUT, that is not what Congress wants to talk about.   No, right now they want to hear about how we are going to make money and save money.  They need to hear about about how many independent bike shops,  large bike retailers, and bike companies are in their district and how much money and jobs are made through cycling- and many of us retailers were there (more than ever) spreading the Small Business gospel.    They also needed to hear about how building bike infrastructure is way cheaper than building bigger roads.  Getting people on bikes takes cars off the roads- and that saves money.

Rick Bartels, Trek Bicycles; David Wiens, retired pro rider; Anne Mader, TBL Owner; Scott Scudamore- all around bike advocate

So I think we made some noise while we were there walking the halls with colorful bike pins.  There is nothing like seeing a bunch of cyclists in suits and ties.  But we looked good and I think our message was clear.  The trick is to keep on congress and make them accountable to what they are cutting and why.  Cutting funding for bike programs is big mistake that will not only effect the health and well being of our communities but will have a dramatic effect on our small businesses.

TBL goes to FIST Training

Well what better way to avoid the cold weather than to travel to California.  Tony and I had a great opportunity to travel to Valyermo, CA for F.I.S.T. triathlon fit training last month.  We spent two days gaining a wealth of knowledge directly from the founder of Slowtwitch.com, Dan Empfield.

We began our journey on Sunday the 16th flying into LAX and ofcourse stopping first at In n’ Out burger before heading to our training.  I have to say it was pretty fun driving out of LA with the rental car beeping at me as I reached the cars top speed.  It is more impressive than it sounds, the beeping started at 75mph.  The Xantusia compound where we stayed was in the middle of the desert outside LA.  The view was amazing and the sunsets were gorgeous.  Mark Montgomery was our host, a former professional triathlete, and his B&B was a perfect repreve from the hustle of Northern Virgina.  There were fitters and athletes that joined us from all over the country and also from Canada.

The first day of training began at nine in the morning, we spent a couple of hours going over their philosophy of fit and the tools of the trade.  Dan was emphatic about the fact that the only difference between a pro triathlete and a triathlete is the engine, not the chasis.  This means that most people can ride a set up on a tri bike similar to a pro triathlete without much effort.  We took a break for lunch and Tony and I decided to go for a ride with the other members of the class, Dan and the other instructors.  I have to say riding in shorts and a jersey was awesome compared to the weather that was on the other side of the country.  The scenery was beautiful.  We rode just over 20 miles and climbed 1500ft, plus a sweet descent at 43mph.  Upon returning we dove back into training and witness our friend Graham from Canada getting fit.  After an awesome steak dinner we finished off the night watch Open Range on a big screen under the stars, wrapped in blankets.  That is the way to watch a movie.
Tuesday was a day of fitting the members of the class. Tony and I spent the entire day working with three others fitting each other.  We got to experience the TT position and also work together to become comfortable with the F.I.S.T. fit process.  We took away loads of information and also walked away with numbers for our own Triathlon bike fit.  Tony was fit last and as the pictures show he looks pretty fast on that fit bike.  The rest of the evening found us traveling back to the airport to head back home.  Let me tell you Red Eyes blow!  I forget how tiny plane seats are and whatever you do don’t book a seat next to the bathroom on a plane.  Tony and I arrived back in VA on Tuesday morning and can’t wait to apply all that we have learned.

This was by far one of the best fit classes I have been too.  We are now ready to prepare all of our Triathlon customers for their bikes.  Please feel free to give us a call to schedule a fit or just pick our brains.

The Police Unity Tour 2011

Our customer Robert Burchis a Fairfax County Police Officer based out of the Reston District Station.  He will be riding from Richmond to DC in the Police Unity Tour.  The Bike Lane is proud to support Robert and the Unity Tour.  If you would like to support the riders or learn more about the ride check out the Police Unity Tour website.

The Police Unity Tour was founded in May 1997 by Officer Patrick P. Montuore
of the Florham Park, NJ Police Department, with the hope of bringing public
awareness of all law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and
to honor their service and sacrifices. The Tour started with 18 riders on a four day
fund raising bicycle ride from New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement
Officer’s Memorial (NLEOM) in Washington, D.C. which raised $18,000. This past
May, over 1200 members made the same trip from points beginning in New Jersey,
New York, and Virginia, and the Tour was able to donate 1.325 million dollars to
the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund.

 

In late 2005, the Police Unity Tour pledged $5 million in support of the National Law
Enforcement Museum, expected to be open in 2013. Inspired by their commitment
and motto “We Ride For Those Who Died”, the National Law Enforcement Officer’s
Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has selected the Police Unity Tour to be the sponsor of
the Museum’s Hall of Remembrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having completed $5 million commitment to the museum in 2009, the Police Unity
Tour dedicated the 2010 ride to the restoration of the walls of the National Law
Enforcement Officer’s Memorial. The $1.1 million restoration project included
the re-engraving, coating and sealing of the nearly 19,000 names on the Memorial,
as well as the cleaning of the walls and other Memorial improvements.
Today, there are seven chapters within the Police Unity Tour, with members
participating from over forty states across the country. Chapter IV in Virginia
was created in 2010 and will make its inaugural ride beginning on May 10, 2010.
Chapter IV will travel a route beginning in Richmond, Virginia, through
Charlottesville, Warrenton and into Washington, D.C. over a three-day period
covering 230 miles. Once in DC, Chapter IV will join the other six chapters of the
Police Unity Tour and ride as one into the National Law Enforcement Officer’s
Memorial, greeted by thousands of supporters and survivors.

 

 

 

 

Trek Rummmmmble Fish

Yes, they are here and in perfect time!  The Bike Lane’s Demo fleet of Trek 2011 Rumble Fish (Gary Fisher Collection) have arrived!  And they are sweet!!  If you have not had a chance to ride a 29er this is a great bike to try out.   The Rumble Fish is an awesome trail bike.  Many of The Bike Lane staff have taken these bad boys out to ride in the snow, at the Shed, and Fountainhead.  The overall consensus is “the bike rolls over everything”.  Smooth handling and big wheels make this bike the Ride for any of the logs, roots, and rocks that come when riding on the East Coast.  Come in today and ask about our demos.