Tires pumped, water bottles filled (yes Jordan you must take water with you), helmets, gloves, sunglasses on and we are ready to hit the streets.  Today, being Canada Day, we decide to start riding from our driveway and just point our front wheels in any direction and see where in or out of  our fine community we end up at.

The weather is absolutely perfect.  The temperature is a cool 17C and it is clear with a few white clouds in the sky.  What a day to be outside.  This is my first ride with my new Continental GP 4000 Force & Attack tires.  I pump the front Attacks up to 110psi and the rear Force up to 116psi.  WOW, I am amazed at how smooth the ride is.  I feel like I am almost floating.  Oh well don’t tell Aaron or Jordan, I need as much of an advantage over these two young bucks as I can get.  They will have me hurting soon enough.

So we find our selves heading away from Kitchener towards Waterloo and the thought hits me,  “We have turned down how many different roads today without even a thought or concern about our safety or whether we are at risk.  How fortunate we are. This being Canada Day, how can we not think about  Canada’s finest men and women serving in Afghanistan who can’t go anywhere without a real concern about their safety on the roads over there.  Do we truly appreciate how good we have it here in our great country of Canada!

Thank You to our fine men and women of  the military who serve us and the world so bravely, so that we can work, play and yes, even ride without a care as we go about our community in the best country in the World .  Tonight, we all should remember them and their families  in our prayers.

Every time I’m out riding I am amazed again at how much one really misses when we travel by car.  It is refreshing how really beautiful our communities are and how easy it is to enjoy and experience this when we travel by bike.  The amount of wildlife can be great to see.  Birds, little ground creatures and even an abundance of groundhogs.

A great day, a great country and a great time with my son and friend.  Isn’t this one of the important reasons why we work so hard all the other days?

Happy Canada Day!

Robert

A meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in the Rotunda at City Hall in downtown Kitchener, Ontario to present the proposed cycling network and policies that will be included in the Cycling Master Plan.  Participants can view the proposed facility types, summaries of previous consultations and maps of the proposed cycling net work.

The draft master plan will be presented to the City Council in June for their approval.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

City Hall Rotunda, 200 King St. W., Kitchener, Ontario

If you would like more information but are unable to attend the above session, visit www.kitchener.ca

or call 519-741-2232

or TTY 1-866-969-9994

or email Ron Schirm at ronald.schirm@kitchener.ca

——————————————————————————————————————————

If  you have a cycling event to be announced, let us know, and we’ll do our best to get the word out for you.

I can almost see her shiver in anticipation.  What sleek lines.   Doesn’t her carbon fibre look amazing, shimmering in the sunlight.  The weave of the fibre underneath the resin.  As someone who always has hated a white coloured bicycle, I can’t believe that the white paint actually looks great.  (Yes it was me who said that a white bike actually looks good)  I guess that the Monocoque High Modulus carbon fibre rear stays can make any paint job look world class.

This year my new bike is a Rocky Mountain Prestige 70CR.  Equiped with a combination of Shimano DuraAce and Ultegra components, along with many weight reducing upgrades.  The Carbon FSA crankset – stiff and very light.  The Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels spin real fine.  I prefer to use Look Arc carbon pedals, since they are about the lightest road pedal out there.

My carbon fibre FSA stem is quite light.  It’s sitting on top of 4 carbon fibre FSA stem spacers.  Of course I use my Terry titanium rail Butterfly leather saddle.  We’ve seen many a pain-free km together the last couple of years.  Add 2 Tacx water cages and a Blackburn micro high pressure pump and I’m ready.

All I need to do is get home, fill my waterbottles, strap on my cycling shoes and snap on my helmet.  Lets go!

Wait -  NOOOOOOO

I don’t know where I put my cycling shoes and my helmet after last season.

I hate it when my hands ache or go numb.  Over the years, I have talked to many riders who’s  hands and forearms hurt or are numb on rides.  This can be a problem all too familiar to bikers.  Basically this is caused by excessive pressure on sensitive areas of the palms of your hands and incorrect positioning of the hand on the bike’s handlebar.I think that Ergon grips may just be a cyclist’s answer to a comfortable numb free ride.

Ergon grips provide 100% contact of your hand onto the grip using an anatomically shaped grip.  This causes the pressure on your hands to be reduced / removed, preventing your hand from getting sore or numb.  Also, overstraining and aching wrists can be prevented.

For many adult tricycle riders electric assistance is a feature that they would like to have and will make them more mobile. 

Finally we have an all in one solution.  The new BELIZE Tri-Rider “Elek-trike” will meet their needs.  The rider will have the freedom to travel far further than on a regular trike and still be able to pedal for exercise. It cruises at 8-10mph and with some pedal assistance will go for over 20 miles.

Built very solidly it has a heavy duty 450 Watt – 24V rear drive system and long lasting 20 ampere sealed batteries. The Tri-Rider “Elek-trike” is not a kit but a complete high quality electric tricycle. Designed and built as a complete electrical unit.  Easy to maintain.

It comes equipped with fenders, basket, front and rear brakes, key switch, battery meter and smart charger. SIZE: W-30″, L-69″, H-42″ (H-38″ with handlebar rotated down).

Available in Red or Blue.  The rear motor is operated with a thumb throttle.  The included battery charger has a light indicator to let you know when it is fully recharged. Recharging the battery packs usually takes several hours depending upon how drained they become.

The BELIZE Tri-Rider Elek-trike is priced at $1699.98 Cdn – built ready to ride.  Also we ship stuff almost anywhere, so the trike is also available in a box to ship.  (of course, shipping and assembly at the receiving end will be extra)

An optional Backrest is available ($69.98 Cdn) which is made of all alloy construction, has easy installation and adjustability, high quality,sturdy and very comfortable, a great accessory for any adult trike.

That’s a lot of awards.  Are we ever grateful too.  Read over this list of awards and see if you don’t agree with me that Braun’s has the BEST staff in the bike industry.

Online we operate an extensive interactive store with over 7,000 unique products.

We also have a vast selection of items in our Ebay store.  It is changing literally every day.  We have a dedicated team that are constantly adding items to our listings.

Kitchener Retail & Service

27 Scott St, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada  N2H 2P8

Phone 519.579.BIKE (2453)   Fax 519.579.8723

kitchener@brauns.com                www.brauns.com

 Guelph Retail & Service

43 Cork St E., Guelph, Ontario, Canada  N1H 2W8

Phone 519.766.4082                  Fax 519.766.4083

guelph@brauns.com                www.brauns.com

 Brauns Online  Web Sales   

Phone 519.579.2453    Fax 519.579.8723

online@brauns.com                www.brauns.com  

Brauns Ebay Sales

Phone 519.579.2453    Fax 519.579.8723

ebay@brauns.com                 www.brauns.com/ebay

There are two main components to our Lifetime Service Program.

• The New Bike Break-in Check
• Service Package (as described below)

Our Service Package Includes the following

1. Adjustment of front and rear braking systems
2. Adjustment of front and rear shifting systems
3. Adjustment of the headset bearings
4. Adjustment of the bottom bracket bearings
5. Tire Pressure check
6. External lubrication of the drive-train
7. Minor wheel truing (straightening of wheels on the bicycle)
8. Visual tire inspection

When you have purchased the OPTIONAL Lifetime Service for your new bicycle from Braun’s you may enjoy any of the above services in one of our service departments whenever you need to.  Just bring the bike in when you can leave it with us.  We’ll do the rest.

For the life of your bicycle.

Now what do you do if you made the mistake of picking up your new bicycle and not purchasing the optional Lifetime Service Program?  We allow you 30 days from the date of pickup of your new bicycle to make the decision to get the optional Lifetime Service Program.  You may either call or drop into one of our retail stores and we will get you signed up.  You will need to bring your copy of the bicycle invoice so that we can complete this for you quickly.  If you desire to do this over the phone, then we will need you to also give us your credit card information to process your purchase of this program.

Braun’s Lifetime Service Program is one of the many reasons that families have been purchasing bicycles from our family for many generations.

See one of our stores for all of the details.

Everything works exactly as it was designed to… (especially if you got your new bicycle from Braun’s )  The brakes are fantastic, the gear changing is extremely crisp, the wheels – well they just spin and spin, like they will never stop going around.  WOW this is what you always imagined cycling was about.  You sit, you pedal, you look around, you enjoy.  What’s that you feel, why it’s the wind in your face.

Sadly though, all new experiences must come to an end.  Eventually, you must return and your first ever bike ride on your new bicycle will end.  You will have to stow your steed where it’s going to live.  You might even lean over  give your bike a pat “Good job”, you say, as you begrudingly go inside.  Then suddenly – a new thought strikes you.  You almost laugh out loud.  Yes of course.  We can go out riding again tomorrow. 

Thus it goes.  And then, all of a sudden you realize that you have been enjoying your baby for a week or two already.  What a great decision you made in getting her.  Strap on your helmet, put on your cycling gloves, Velcro on your shoes, and lets get going.  But then one day: Wait a minute.  What’s going on?  What is the horrific noise?  Oh my goodness, my chain has fallen off.  What’s going on.  Or you slam on your brakes and a horrible sound emerges from somewhere near your wheels. 

Where did my amazing new bicycle go.  It doesn’t work like it did any more.  What gives?  Well – nothing unexpected has happen.  You have just experienced what is normally called a bike’s break in period.  Every new bike that is ridden goes through this.

New bicycles require a break-in period of 50 to 100 km or approximately 2 to 4 weeks.  New brake and gear cables will stretch, etc.  Bearings may seat causing them to appear to loosen.  Some of the bicycle’s parts may slightly loosen with the initial experiences.  The brakes may make a strange sound or squeal as they seat.  This is all normal and an expected experience for a new bicycle to go through.

So what do you do?  Well, at Braun’s, we recommend that after the break-in period you bring your bicycle into one of our Service Departments when you can leave it with us.  Then one of our professional service technicians will perform the required maintenance to put your baby back where she belongs in perfect working order.  Doing this will extend the life and enjoyment of your bicycle. 

After all she’s done for you – it’s the least you can do for her – wouldn’t you think?

 club@brauns.com

Your NEW Mailing address should include the following…

Your name, Street Address, City, Province, Postal Code

If you could include your old mailing address (labelled OLD) or your Club Tread Member’s Number - it will help us to verify that we have the correct Club Tread Member.

Then we can make sure our system is up to date so that you will not miss out on next year’s mailed Dividend Certificate.

It’s called our Special Ordering System.  Practically every single day we have someone needing something that isn’t normally available.  NO Problem!  We have an extensive supplier network based all over North America.  They in turn have supply networks all over the world.  If it is not in our stock and it is still available in a warehouse somewhere, we likely will find it for you.  Sometimes it may take some time, but we mostly succeed.  We literally fulfill 100’s of Special Orders most weeks.  And we don’t mind doing it.  Just ask us! 

So often we meet cyclists who are shocked that we will take the time to solve their unique special needs for them.  We believe that old fashion customer service is still important and it will always be available at Braun’s.

The “Special Order” Process

1. We figure out with you what it is that you need. 
2. If we don’t know what the Special Order item will cost, then we will either give you a ball park price range or we will do some research, and bring back a price for you to approve. 
3. Once you have approved either the price or price range, than you will be required to put down a minimum deposit of 50%.  Balances are due upon pickup of the Special Order or prior to us shipping it to you. 
4. We order the item(s) for you and call you when they are in if you are picking them up, else we ship them to you.

It can be that simple.  Our purchasing department does all the “hard” work.

Just come into one of the stores, or email us at either kitchener@brauns.com or guelph@brauns.com

Quite simply – If your bike seat hurts, it’s either not yet set up properly or it may be the wrong saddle for you!  If it hurts to ride, you will not ride as much as you otherwise would and you will not enjoy it.  So saddle comfort is really important.

There are a number of details a cyclist needs to consider when selecting their bicycle seat.  Here are the main ones:

1. There are gender specific shapes and widths of seats
2. What is the seat is made out of 
3. What padding the seat supports you with
4.  The positioning of the various padding systems internally within the saddle structure

Then once you have selected the correct seat you need to mount it to your bike in a way that you will benefit most from.  In other words, you need to be comfortable and this is done by having the seat correctly positioned on your bicycle.

1. The (up and down) angle of the seat
2. The fore vs aft position of the seat as it compares to the seat post & pedals
3. Is the seat straight relative to the bicycle frame

This may seem like a lot of things to consider, but if you aren’t comfortable when you sit on your bike seat and start to ride, almost nothing else will matters.

These saddles feature RoyalGel.  RoyalGel has got to be the most comfortable gel ever manufactured.  They put larger concentrations of RoyalGel in the key pressure points where you need it most. 

If that wasn’t enough, the RoyalGel has three way movement.  It will stretch horizontally, vertically and diagonally in three directions.  This reduces pressure points for the rider in the sit bones and soft tissue areas by 80%. 

Now that’s comfort! 

Over both long and short rides Lookin Saddles produce much better comfort than any other saddle in their category. 

One of the most important features of the Lookin design is the cyclists Riding Position.  How you are positioned on the bike seat has a major effect on how the sit bones and soft tissues contact the saddle.  This is what SR focused on with the various saddle designs.  Selle Royal has defined  4 riding positions to better address the rider to saddle relationship.  Sport, Athletic, Moderate and Relaxed.

The Sport Rider (similar to the below picture) usually sits on the seat with a 0 to 15 degree angle of their spine to the seat.  This causes about 40% of their body weight to be placed onto the front of the saddle.  So SR places increase RoyalGel at the front with a modified shape/profile of the actual saddle to maximize comfort.   This style of seat is quite narrow.

The Athletic Rider usually sits on the seat with a 15 to 30 degree angle of their spine to the seat.  The more upright position than the Sport Rider moves the body weight and sit bones farther back.  This saddle has the RoyalGel concentrated further back in the little wider seat.

The Moderate Rider usually sits on the seat with a 30 to 60 degree angle of their spine to the seat.  This rider’s weight and sit bones are further back again than the Athletic Rider, causing the RoyalGel to again be concentrated further back the saddle.  This style of seat is wider again than the Athletic type.

The Relaxed Rider usually is sitting almost straight up at a 90 degree angle.  Sitting on the saddle in this position places 60% plus of the riders weight directly over the back of the saddle.  This version of the seat is widest and has most of the RoyalGel concentrated at the back.

Once you have figured out the most appropriate Rider Position for your riding style you need to select either a Men’s or Ladies style of seat.  Yes there really is a difference and it is important because men and women are really anotomically quite different, especially in the sit areas of our bodies.

Men’s sit bones are generally between 100 and 136mm wide.  Women’s sit bones average in the range of 112 to 148mm.  For this reason SR generally makes their men’s saddles narrower than women’s. 

Its more than just skeletal structure.  In the sit region of the body, a  man’s arteries and nerves average a distance apart of 30 – 35mm.  A ladies arteries and nerves converge into a much narrower and shorter area.  How a cyclist’s soft tissue is impacted in this region will greatly affect that cyclist’s comfort vs pain levels.  Selle Royal has designed anatomical saddles for men that feature a wide pressure relief area on the saddle to accommodate a man’s structure and a narrower more “V” shaped pressure relief area for women.

Sounds a bit complicated.  No worries – We can keep it simple – if you’re a guy get the man’s version.  If you are a lady – get the women’s style.  Don’t worry why – just know that the seat gurus at Selle Royal have studied this a lot and know what they are doing.

So to recap - Pick your riding style, then select the correct gender of seat.  Jump on and ride and gain an amazing riding experience customized to you and how you ride. 

Comfort is a matter of choice!

FREE membership – just sign up in one of our retail stores

Earn Dividend Credits on all your purchases – bikes, clothing, parts, labor, accessories, auto-racks, snowshoes, skate sharpening, etc.

Enjoy Monthly Specials in the retail stores and online through Brauns Online in our Specials Section 

Dividends are paid out to YOU as a club member once a year in November in the form of a Dividend Certificate.

Each Braun’s Club Tread Member receives a club card that is also a key return service.  Just attach the key-tag (club card) to your key ring and if your keys are lost and placed in a mailbox they will get mailed back to us.  We then will contact you when we get them.

You earn Dividend Credits for every thing you purchase from us every time you make a purchase from one of our two retail stores. Members also have access to exclusive monthly specials that are up to 50% off.  Essentially, we pay you to shop at Braun’s through this Club Tread Dividend Program. Braun’s Club Tread Members get their Dividend Certificates mailed to them each November.

Let me start by introducing Glenn, Pat and myself Robert. 

Glenn is Braun’s Guelph Store Manager and is involved  in product selection and program development for the company.  He has been involved in the bicycle industry for 28 years.  This said Glenn has seen alot of changes in bikes and equipment and has quite an interesting perspective on Life with a bike.  Glenn has raced BMX and Mountain bikes.  Glenn is going to share his ideas in the blog on a regular basis.

Pat is Braun’s Assistant Store Manager for the Guelph store.  Pat loves to ride a bike.  If you want to get Pat excited let him get his hands on some brand new bike widget.  Pat’s vast knowledge about cycling will be a great resource for us, all as he shares it in this blog.  Pat loves riding road bikes and mountain bikes.

I’m the stuffy corporate guy, based in the Kitchener store who happens to love cycle touring and have been doing it since I was a teenager many decades ago.  People often ask about the many programs and services that are available to help riders get the most out of their cycling equipment and rides.  I am going to provide the details here in the blog and hopefully keep it interesting at the same time.

We are really excited about the blog and trust that you will find the articles interesting and will comment on them all.  Your comments will help to bring the blog alive.