Tag Archive for: bike

5 Reasons You’ll Love Kerrville Triathlon

Read these 5 reasons why you’ll love The Most Scenic Triathlon in Texas

Kerrville Triathlon Festival is entering its 9th year in the scenic Texas Hill Country town of Kerrville. From its beautiful course to the different distances offered, Kerrville Tri offers something for triathletes of all ability levels. This beloved triathlon is quickly turning into an annual destination weekend for triathletes and their families. There’s a 2-day expo, spectator-friendly course, and a free Kids Fun Run on Saturday. If you don’t already love #SmokinGoodTri you will after reading the 5 reasons below!One of the 5 reasons to register for Kerrville Triathlon: it's a destination weekend!

Destination weekend

Plan with your triathlon friends, bring the entire family, or both! Kerrville Tri is the perfect destination weekend. There are events for everyone, a 2-day expo showcasing the latest gear, and plenty to do in Kerrville. Eat delicious food at Grape Juice or explore nature at Kerrville-Schreiner Park. See what else there is to do when you begin planning your destination weekend!

Different distances

Kerrville Triathlon offers distances for triathletes of all ability levels. The Debra Zapata Sprint takes place on Saturday, is perfect for new triathletes, and features aquabike and relay options. The quarter and half events will take place on Sunday. The quarter offers an aquabike option, while the half has aquabike and relay options.

The Most Scenic Triathlon in Texas

If you haven’t experienced the Texas Hill Country yet, then punch your ticket at the Kerrville Tri! The Most Scenic Triathlon in Texas features a swim in Nimitz Lake, a bike ride through the Hill Country, and a run along the Guadalupe River. Participants and spectators alike love the views offered on this course. Soak it in and enjoy every second!One of 5 reasons you'll love Kerrville Triathlon: cross the finish line and float the Guadalupe River!

Float the Guadalupe

After you cross the finish line, relax with a cold beer (for 21+) and enjoy post-race fajitas grilled by Jack and Adam’s Fredericksburg. But the party doesn’t stop there! Bring your own tube or grab one of ours and recover in the Guadalupe River! The cool waters will help your muscles after you cross the finish line.

#SmokinGoodTri swag

The #SmokinGoodTri swag is second-to-none! The belt buckle finisher medals are both fashionable and functional. Wear it around your neck or add it to your wardrobe. The ribbon velcros so you don’t have to cut the ribbon to wear your medal with your belt. Add the custom, soft shirts and you’ve got a winning combo! You’ll look good in these shirts and tell the world you crossed the Kerrville Tri finish line. Don’t forget about the BOCO hat, perfect for race day and training runs.

We know there are many reasons to love Kerrville Tri, but these 5 reasons are our favorites! Make sure you’re registered today. Start planning with friends or family and join us in the Texas Hill Country on September 28-29. If your reason didn’t make the list, let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

2019 Finisher Medal Reveal

Introducing the 2019 Kerrville Triathlon Festival Finisher Medals!

Get excited! We are about three months away from this year’s Kerrville Tri through the scenic Texas Hill Country. Taking place on September 28th & 29th, get ready for your swim-bike-run adventure packed full of fun. Watch the video below to get the first look at the finisher medal, that doubles as a sweet belt buckle.

Give yourself the motivation you need to keep training by seeing what awaits you at the Kerrville Tri finish line!

Milestone Mileage Checklist for your Bike

Use this milestone mileage checklist to keep your bike riding like new

Did you just buy a new bike? Perhaps you just had a complete bike tune-up before you began training for Kerrville Triathlon. Maybe you had some parts replaced during the offseason. Whatever state your bike is in, you want your trustworthy ride to last as long as possible! Adhere to this milestone mileage checklist and follow the mileage timeline. Pro tip: click the checklist below, download the PDF, and keep it handy at all times!

No matter the distance, you should check the tire pressure in your #bike's tires before every ride! Click To Tweet

Don’t let your bike fall into disrepair

100 miles

  • lube chain
  • check tire pressure (Pro tip: do this before each ride)

500 miles

  • wash and clean like a pro
  • lube cables
  • check wheels for true and roundness

1,000 miles

1,500 miles

  • check cassettes and chainrings for wear
  • check bearings for smoothness
  • change cables and housings

3,000 miles

  • change cassette
  • overhaul bearings



Learn How Threads per Inch Affects Your Bike Ride

Learn about TPI and make sure your bike has the tires you need

Curious about TPI? So are a lot of other cyclists and triathletes. In short, TPI stands for Threads per Inch. Take the time to learn about TPI, how it can impact your ride, and what bike tires we recommend. This knowledge can be beneficial during your Kerrville Triathlon training!

Tires are made with threads. Lower-end tires have lower counts which tend to make them heavier and provide a harsher ride. Higher-end tires have higher thread counts which allow them to ride smoother and contour to bumps on the road better. On some tires, the threads are mixed in with Kevlar or some other type of durable fabric. This makes them more resilient to flats. It is important to note that a higher TPI tire is not more prone to flats than a lower TPI tire. No matter what the threads per inch is on your tires, there are steps you can take to prevent flat tires.

Threads per inch and the tires you need

Tires with lower threads per inch are less expensive and are more common for training use. Higher TPI tires are more expensive and tend to be used for racing or for riding roads where you are looking for a smoother ride.

For a great low TPI tire, we recommend the Vittoria Zaffiro Tire. For those of you looking for the high TPI tire consider the Vittoria Diamante, the Vittoria Open Corsa, the Vredestein Tricomp, or the Continental Grand Prix 4000.

Check with James Balentine at City Limit Cycles to see if these tires are still good options.

Simple Steps for Derailleur Adjustment

Follow these derailleur adjustment tips to eliminate shifting issues

Experiencing issues shifting as you begin training for Kerrville Triathlon Festival on Sept. 28-29? Try your hand at a derailleur adjustment with these simple steps.

Derailleur designers provide a simple way for you to dial in shifting. You don’t even need tools (although, it’s easiest to make and check adjustments when the bicycle is supported in a repair stand). Keep in mind, these steps are for derailleurs that are not damaged or bent. If you suspect that it is, it needs more than this simple adjustment and you should call James Balentine with City Limit Cycles.

To adjust the derailleur, look at the point where the cable enters the rear derailleur. See that round, knob-like piece? That’s a barrel adjuster. It’s used to tune the derailleur adjustment.

Standing behind the bike, the barrel adjuster is turned either counter-clockwise or clockwise in half-turn increments until the shifting hesitation is cured. Which way do you turn it? It depends on what type of hesitation you’re experiencing. The most common problem is slow-shifting into easier gears (toward the spokes) due to the cable stretching. But, it’s also possible that you’re experiencing the opposite.

This rule will help you remember which way to turn it. If the derailleur is hesitating when shifting toward the spokes (the more common problem), turn the barrel toward the spokes (counter-clockwise). If it hesitates shifting away from the spokes, turn the adjuster away (clockwise) from the spokes. Turn it only a half turn, shift multiple times to check the adjustment, and repeat as needed to eliminate all hesitation.

Pros and Cons of Bike Frame Materials

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Bike frame materials breakdown

If you’re in the market for a new bike, you might be overwhelmed with the different types of bike frame materials from which you can choose. Be prepared; know the type of bike you want and what you want it to do. When researching online or speaking with a dealer you need to be prepared with as much knowledge as possible. Comfort, weight, corrosion, and repairability are major factors to consider when searching for your next bike. Read our list of pros and cons for different bike frame materials. This will come in handy when purchasing your first bike or upgrading from your current ride!

STEEL

Pros:
•  comfortable
•  absorbs shock
•  durable
•  repairable
•  “skinny tubes” = classic looking
•  can be almost as light as titanium

Cons:
•  heavier than aluminum
•  rusts if not maintained
•  “skinny tubes” = old school

ALUMINUM

Pros:
•  can be very lightweight
•  new aluminum is more comfortable
•  resists corrosion, does not rust
•  stiff for good energy transfer

Cons:
•  the low end has a harsher ride than steel
•  not as repairable as steel

CARBON FIBER

Pros:
•  very comfortable
•  stiff for good energy transfer
•  does not rust
•  “cool factor” and aero

Cons:
•  can be expensive
•  hard to repair

TITANIUM

Pros:

•  comfortable, similar to steel
•  does not rust or corrode
•  lightweight
•  durable

Cons:
•  usually more expensive
•  difficult to repair due to the strength of the material

Registration is Open for 2019 Kerrville Triathlon Festival

Registration is open for the 2019 Kerrville Triathlon Festival as of Friday, February 1st. The 9th annual Kerrville Triathlon weekend will take place September 27-29, in Kerrville, Texas. Last year, more than 1400 triathletes competed in eight different events. They included a swim course in Nimitz Lake, bike course through the Texas Hill Country, and run course along the Guadalupe River. All participants who register on Opening Day will automatically receive an additional $5 off.

“The Kerrville Triathlon continues to grow, exposing more triathletes to the Most Scenic Triathlon in Texas and the welcoming City of Kerrville,” said Stacy Keese, co-owner of High Five Events. “We look forward to another banner year while showcasing the beauty of the Texas Hill Country.”

Opening Day Best Pricing

The Opening Day Best Pricing structure for all events follows: Debra Zapata Sprint ($80), sprint aquabike ($80), sprint relay ($140), quarter ($130), quarter aquabike ($130), half ($200), half aquabike ($200), half relay ($260), kids fun run (free), Virtual Kerrville Triathlon, which can be associated with any distance ($45). After Friday, Feb. 1st, all prices will increase by $5.

Participants of the 2019 Kerrville Triathlon Festival will receive a belt buckle finisher’s medal, customized shirts, reusable custom water bottles, personalized race bibs, swim caps, a post-race meal including fajitas and tacos from H-E-B, fruit, snacks, beer and an opportunity to float in the Guadalupe River. Professional timing and photography, a great volunteer crew, hundreds of supportive spectators, and an electric finish line festival will showcase why the Kerrville Triathlon is one of the best triathlons in Texas.

The Debra Zapata Sprint distance, sprint relay, and kids fun run take place on Saturday, Sept. 29th. Quarter distance, quarter aquabike, half distance, half aquabike, and half relay will all happen on Sunday, Sept. 30th. Participants can pick up their packet at the Kerrville Triathlon Expo and Packet Pickup at the host hotel, Inn of the Hills. The expo and packet pickup, which is free and open to the public, will take place on Friday, Sept. 27th, and Saturday, Sept. 28th. Participants can see the pricing structure and register on the website.

Truing Your Wheels: The Breakdown

Truing your wheels at home could save you money and get you back on the road

If you have some free time you should practice a new skill – truing a wheel!  
Before diving into the details, understand what ‘truing’ means. Often times, hitting potholes, curbs, and foreign objects can adjust your wheel, making it different than before. Truing a wheel means to shape it or adjust it exactly as it was before.

What you need:

wheel, spoke wrench, and truing stand( or your bicycle frame)

Truing a severely bent or out-of-true wheel can be more of a task or cause more problems than you are willing to deal with. However, for those small wobbles in your wheel, here are some easy tips to get you back on the road without running your brakes unsafely open.

The wheel consists of:

Truing your wheels when needed allows you to spend more time riding.
Truing your wheels when needed allows you to spend more time riding.

– hub: center of the wheel
– rim: outside of the wheel that the tire is put on
– spokes: connects the hub to the rim
– nipples: small metal pieces holding individual spokes in the rim (the nipple is the part that is tightened or loosened to adjust tension between the hub and rim)

Directions:

  1. find the place where the rim is rubbing the brake pad
  2. locate the spoke nipple that is opposite the side that is rubbing
  3. tighten that spoke nipple with a spoke wrench (Remember to only turn the spoke nipple a quarter turn at a time. To tighten a spoke, turn the nipple clockwise. To loosen the spoke, turn the nipple counter-clockwise.)
  4. always start at the worst spot and work your way from to the least out-of-true spot
  5. keep going until the wheel no longer rubs the brakes

When you’re done, clean your bike with these tips to get it ready for your next ride. Remember: truing a wheel requires tension in the spokes to be perfectly balanced. This generally takes a bit of patience and practice. If needed, call James Balentine at City Limit Cycles. He’ll visit you at home or at work and take great care of your bike.

Chain Wear: What to Know and How It Can Affect You

Know the signs of chain wear and how you can check at home

Most people do not replace their chain often enough. This leads to the gears not shifting correctly and excessive wear on your chainrings and cassette. Chain wear is affected by a few things: riding conditions, riding style (masher vs spinner), and shifting technique.

Know the signs of chain wear and how you can check your bike at home.When the conditions are wet the chain is going to wear out faster due to the dirt that gets in the rollers of the chain. Wet weather also tends to wash the lube off of the chain much faster. Cleaning your drivetrain can extend the life of your chain. If you ride at a low cadence you will wear the chain out faster than someone who rides at a higher cadence. The last major thing that affects wear is shifting technique. If you tend to cross chain a lot (riding in the big ring, big cassette cog or small ring, small cassette cog) then you will put more wear on the chain and chainrings.

The easiest way to check for chain wear at home is to measure 12 links of your chain. A new chain measures 12 inches per 12 links. Anything over 12 1/16 inches is too long. This bike tool measures it quickly and costs less than $10. A ruler also works just fine. You should expect to get anywhere from 1500 to 2500 miles out of a 10-speed chain and about 2500 out of a 9-speed chain. You can help your chain last much longer if you take good care of it, keep it clean, shift correctly, and ride at a higher cadence.

Check out our other blog post to see when other parts need replacing.

‘Tis the Season – for the Offseason!

Don’t allow this year’s training to disappear during the offseason

Offseason to a lot of triathletes means taking time off from October to March to help re-energize for the following season. Others focus on different sports to get out of the winter elements. The rest just simply take time off.  How can you train during the offseason and keep triathlon fun on a year-round basis?

The goal should be purposeful training — focus on a few key elements with your training.  A great place to start is working on your physiology and the changes you can make over the winter months.

During #triathlon offseason, two key components to altering your physiology include increasing power-to-weight ratio and improving your cardiovascular network. Click To Tweet

Some athletes start the tri season in February in good cardio shape, but have added some extra holiday weight. Some have gone to a few too many holiday parties. They’ve ignored the fact that they are going to rev things up next season and start from square one. It is best when your body weight doesn’t fluctuate up and down. Keeping it constant is best for your cardiovascular system.

Running

Continuing to run can help maintain body weight during the offseason.

Add a half marathon to your winter calendar and continue training in the offseason.

The best way to keep the weight off is to run, but not like Forest Gump! Have a plan to continue running by entering a half marathon in the early part of next year. There are two great events coming up: 3M Half Marathon and the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon. The key to improving your physiology and keeping the weight off is to work on your stride rate. This means faster, possibly shorter strides during your long runs to improve the cardiovascular development in your legs. Try to pick up the stride rate without increasing your pace per mile or effort. A faster stride rate will help you develop capillaries deeper in the muscle. This will help fuel the legs better and flush lactic acid quicker. A good 3-6 weeks of this technique will help you keep the weight off until its time to work on the strength building phase of your training plan. Maximizing your power-to-weight ratio will allow you to find greater efficiencies across all three sports in triathlon.

Swimming

In addition to working on a faster stride rate in running, there are other ways to increase the cardiovascular network using the other sports.  In swimming, you can incorporate longer, aerobic sets with shorter rest intervals. A good example would be 4-6 x 800s as a workout. Of course, you may say “how boring can that be?” So working on your technique during these sets is a must. Try taking a technique clinic to make sure you learn the proper forms of efficiency swimming.  Long sets with bad technique can set you back rather than move you forward.

Cycling

Cycling in the offseason can improve your cardiovascular system.

Cycling in the offseason can improve your cardiovascular system.

With regards to your cycling, keeping a heavy emphasis on high cadence work will also aid in increasing your cardiovascular network. This may keep you in smaller gears than you are used to and maintaining your cadence at 90+ rpms for 70% of the ride time. If you don’t have a cadence meter, a good substitute is to count one leg for 15 seconds and multiply by 4 to get your rpms. During the winter months, we find ourselves riding indoors and on a trainer more often. Focusing on high cadence in these indoor sessions will give more purpose to your training. Spin classes are a good place to work on this. However, using your own bike with a trainer is best as you keep your body position constant to how you will be riding on the road.

Setting goals and having a purpose for your offseason training will help you stay motivated and focused during the winter training.  Best of all, these few tips will help you have a much more successful racing season in 2019.