Arleigh Jenkins

Marketing agency background, specializing in interactive marketing and mining data to create stellar ROI. These days I'm back in the bicycle industry as the Southeast Rep for Quality Bicycle (QBP). Lover of interactive marketing, technology, bicycles, latte's & photography. My cycling persona is over http://BikeShopGirl.com. Where I test my theories, writing and photo skills to promote cycling and hone my marketing technique.

All things represented or typed about here are my own personal opinions. Please leave it as that.

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Obox Signature Series

Wednesday Round Up

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Cyclelicious reports on 3 different recalls for the day from Felt Bikes, Burley Trailers and Nirve Bikes.

Velo Orange has photos of their prototype mixte's that will be available early 2010.

The Safe Routes to School Conference started today in Portland.  Follow BikePortland on twitter for more updates. Chic Cyclist gives her impression of the bike share program in Paris called Velib.

Basics : Cycling Computers

There is a great accessory for your bike called a bike computer or cyclometer.   Like a cars dashboard it can tell you many things about your speed, average, time and even get into more detailed things like cadence*, heart rate or incline.  The computer works on your bike by either a cable running from the computer head unit on your handlebar/stem area down your bike to a sensor that zip ties on.  Then a magnet is placed on your wheel, every time the magnet spins past the sensor it sends a transmission to the computer head.  It computes how many times per minute or second the magnet goes around, does some math and tells you your speed/distance.   The wheel diameter is very important as that is part of the calculation to get the right speed/time so make sure to set your computer head unit for your wheel and tire size.  If you change tire sizes, reset the settings. There are many ways to separate computers, especially if you start getting in to a lot of data capturing.  For this article we will start basic, wired or wireless.

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Wired Versions :

Entry Level : Basic featured include speed, time and average speed.  Utilizing a cable that runs from your handlebars down to your front fork on the bike.  They range from $24-35 and many type or colors are available. The Trek 6i and Cateye Mity 8 are my picks in this category.  For this category, go down to your local bike shop and buy what they recommend.  This way they are familiar with set up if you need any help at all.

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Everyday Cycling Clothing

Our poll last week to answer the question "Do You Wear Cycling Clothing" had a great response and one of the common questions were what can I wear if I don't want to be caught dead outside in skin tight spandex?  There are many clothing options out these days that aren't skin tight and do a great job of keeping you dry and comfortable but styling.

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Technical Shirts :

Many people are familiar with the brand Under Armour, or before that Adidas and Nike had a great following for "technical clothing."  This was clothing that wicked away your sweat but breathed well.   There are some technical shirts geared towards riding which have a lower cut back for when you bend over so you aren't exposing anything and built in basic pockets to hold a gel or key.  Budget between $35 - 70 for a good wicking shirt.  Be prepared that polyester is a key make up of these shirts and can trap stink. A couple of my favorites include the Aurora T (pictured right) from Pearl Izumi for around $35.  Also, one that I plan on picking up for the fall is the Sugoi Crossroads Henley.  Perfect for fall riding, grocery trip hauling or mountain biking when it is chilly.

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August Rides and Events

As the month of July is coming to an end, we have had to say good by to the Tour de France, and look towards summer ending, schools starting and some amazing bike rides.  Personally, I will be doing my first real triathlon in August.  What will you be doing?  Here are a few good ideas to start with.

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Wed Nite Race 7.8.09

[gallery link="file" order="DESC"] Officially by the dates we are half way through the Wednesday Night MTB Series.  There was two rain outs, so by the numbers we aren't half way done yet. Last race I DNF'd.  Moving up to Sport was a crappy move on my part, twice as long of a track at the hardest course in the series - US National Whitewater Center. Okay, it's really not a hard trail.. but on a singlespeed, out of shape, dehydrated and on a pretty damn hot day.. the course sucks. Especially when you have to go around the whole thing twice.  So I quit, I rode slowly through the last half of the course after bonking with a co-worker.  Thankfully he was there to get me through the woods. That was two weeks ago, since I have actually ridden my bike, rode a mountain bike off road a couple times and done a little bit of unorganized/thought out training.  This week I had a mission to complete.  That is goal #1 this season, complete the Sport races.  Thankfully Stephanie stuck with me and got me through the course. Last, but not a quitter.  9 more races to figure out what Goal #2 is.

Good Morning

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A short, yet busy, week is slowly wrapping up.  One last day to work (today) and then I'm off Wednesdays through next Tuesday.  The purpose is to go home to Maryland, attend a wedding, and maybe get some bike riding in. (That's the goal atleast.)

There have been many changes in life recently.  All very good, nothing very major, and I'm excited to see what this summer will bring.  Hopefully more time with family, more time on the bike and continuing to push the bike industry around my region.  Starting June 29th I'll be back at the Cool Breeze location for many reasons.  A few were things that have been in the works since we opened the Trek Store 20 miles away.  Partly commuting time, lack of riding time, lack of family time but I also will be stepping into a larger purpose.  A role of high end fitting, more custom bike design and hopefully going to push the mountain bike/commuting niche in the Lake Norman area. In other news, I've changed the shops blog to something both stores can share.  Please update your shop blog URL to CoolBreezeCyclery.blogspot.com.

Dorthy, we aren't in Kansas anymore

Thankfully, the part of the country I live in is the lovely south.  Our "City" of Charlotte, you can lock up your bike with a cable lock on the main streets of the city.  I have seen decent bikes left overnight outside bars when their owners take the long (often stumbly) walk home to be able to retrieve their lovely bikes in the morning.  UNTOUCHED. In DC we didn't carry locks under $50.  The normal price of a lock was around $100 and came with a warranty, stern instructions of use and a "good luck."  Messengers carried around huge chains around their waist during the day as the wrong lock might cost them their bike during their next drop off. While blog hopping this morning I came across a story about a bicycle shop owner, in Toronto, that had in his multiple warehouses over 2,300 stolen bikes.  Now what the hell would you think he is going to do with that? He claims he was keeping them for when gas went over $10 a gallon.   Would he sell the cheap Walmart bikes for $600 a pop? And the bike shop quality bikes for twice the MSRP?
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I am interested to see what happens as the dollar gets tighter and gas prices go up.  Will the theft of bikes incline or will locks be included with each bike purchase?  "You can upgrade this cable lock for a Krptonite U-lock for $39.99."   Personally I have enough bikes, tires and parts to keep me running for awhile.  IF that time ever comes. What is that famous quote that critical mass cyclist love.... "The revolution will NOT be motorized."