After four days of high winds and smoke from the Black Forest and Canon City wildfires, we woke up to a sunny June morning on Saturday.   Many of our rental customers are worried about riding conditions.  It remains very dry here, but most trails remain open to mountain bikes.  Some good road riding north of Colorado Springs has been lost until the hot spot clean-up is complete, but the Air Force Academy loops remain open.

We are beginning to hear from our customers in the evacuated areas.  Some had their bikes here for repair, some bikes are lost, and many folks have not been back to their neighborhoods yet.  We have rentals for those who would enjoy a bike ride for stress relief.  We are grateful for all who survived.

Colorado is a state of rugged individualists, so you may expect to see every type of cycling fashion on any given day, even on mountain bike trails.  It is common to see full fashion road kits in the backcountry, right alongside folks riding in knickers and wool jerseys.  The next group on the trail may have a smattering of bike shorts paired with motorcycle logo T’s.   Or even some ski base layer out there in broad daylight.

At Criterium, we recommend quality lycra bicycle shorts with liner-less mountain bike shorts.  This gives the most options for pairing the shorts with something over them (shorts, knickers, sweats), or just as-they-are on the hottest rides.   Those lycra shorts come in handy in the winter for spin class, too.

June marks the beginning of large organized rides in Colorado.     Signing up for an event gives you a reason to schedule riding time–you can call it ‘training.’   That may sound a little better than just going out and aimlessly riding around for the fun of it.   Either way,  somebody at Criterium understands your need to make time for riding.

The Pikes Peak Region is still gaining new trails, so stop in to research a new route or a whole new style of riding.  We are standing by with rentals (to try a road bike or a 29er), on-the-spot repairs, snacks, equipment, and cures for that last-minute fashion emergency.

Many of our customers have discovered that bicycle shorts make riding more comfortable, but they still wear their comfy old cotton T-shirt.    Cotton may work fine in the gym, but for biking, it is the wrong fabric.  It collects sweat on the uphill ride, and then holds it for a chill on the descent, or in the wind.  It feels both hotter and colder than microfiber.  Criterium carries ‘technical T’s’ made of wicking microfibers in addition to the traditional cycling jerseys for men, women, and kids.   Think of them as high-speed T’s.

Just three years ago, mountain bikes with the 29″ wheels were a novelty provided by small manufacturers.  Specialized was the first of the big lines to embrace the 29ers, with a complete line-up in HardRocks, Rockhoppers, Mykas, Jets,  Stumpjumpers,  Stumpjumper FSR’s, Cambers, and Epics.

For 2014, they are adding the Enduro 29 and the women’s Rumor 29 to the product mix.  These early intro bikes are in short supply, so call if you want a test ride before they are sold:  719-499-0149.  We will notify you when your size becomes available.

Still skeptical of the whole 29″ wheel thing?  Try one from our rental fleet.  If you come back to buy, we will refund the rental fee.

Want more choices?   Let us show you an impressive line-up from Cannondale.

Criterium staff are compiling a list of closures and restrictions to trail access this spring.  Some closures (Blodgett Peak, Rampart Reservoir) are because of erosion damage from the Waldo Canon fire last summer. Others are drought, or species-related.

The Forest Service is hosting a public meeting about closures and re-routes in the Bear Creek Watershed.  The native greenback cutthroat trout is endangered, and people and vehicles are crowding this species in the watershed.  The Forest Service is closing 6.4 miles of trails, adding new trails, and re-routing others.  The changes can be reviewed on Thursday, April 4th, 4-9 p.m. on a walk-in basis at the Leon Young Service Center’s Pikes Peak Room – 1521 Hancock Expressway.

Please note that many of the published maps and guidebooks for the region will not have the most current information about trail conditions.  The fines for entering restricted areas are steep.  It is also in our long term interest to work with the public land managers to protect the sometimes fragile ecosystems in the Pikes Peak Region.  Criterium has many suggestions for alternate routes for your bike ride.  Call us if you are in doubt about access.

We stock both socks and jerseys made with bamboo microfibers.  The socks are a good place to start with bamboo–they breathe, stay silky smooth, remain temperature neutral, and wear longer than cotton socks.   Ours are 5″ cuff ‘Colorado’ socks knitted here in Colorado–$9.95.

We are selling Danny Shay jerseys this year that are woven from white bamboo ash.  It adds another step to refining the microfibers, and increases moisture wicking and odor prevention.  We’re not sure how they do it, but it is a renewable resource combined with some very elegant engineering.  These jerseys make a fashion statement, as well as an eco-impact, with bright tartan plaids.  Propaganda and pictures at dannyshane.com.

Weather that swings 40 degrees in a day challenges even the best-dressed cyclist.  It’s the time of year for knee warmers, armwarmers, and a cycling vest.   A good, lightweight vest is a minimal layer that works like ‘Over-Armour’ to preserve your core temperature in variable conditions.     It’s easy to peel off when the sun fires up and the wind dies down, and it will fit in a jersey pocket or a compartment of your hydration pack.