Boston Velo Update

Just returned from the NE Velodrome tonight after some combined A/B Category racing due to a smaller turnout, probably because of the iffy weather. In any event, good night, w/ some hard efforts. Warm-up, Scratch Race, then a Handicap Race [2 heats & final], a Miss 'n Out, and then we had an instructional 30 Lap Madison Race with an impromptu how-to clinic by the Cycle Loft's own Kurt Begemann. Didn't have great legs tonight, but that's bicycle racing, nevertheless a good night's outing--always something to learn to continue making progress. Oh yeah, but as for the update on the Velo project, as of about 7pm last evening, inital expectations on the number of responses had been exceeded, with over 800 completed surveys. Great work everyone.! Let's keep talking it up and getting more folks to the www.bostonvelodrome site for the survey. The harder we push now, the better it will be in the long run. All for now. TP

eSole Custom Footbeds & USA Cycling

Hot off the press! eSoles LLC, in conjunction with USA Cycling is now offering a $35 discount on its ePro Custom Footbeds to USA Cycling members. At the Cycle Loft, we've been fortunate to have the first 3D Caputure Scanning System Kiosk in the country since March 2009. Please see the USA Cycling website for more details and then come on in to the shop for a free scan--please be sure to bring your USA license to recieve the discounted pricing for these fully custom, shoe specific, cycling footbeds.

Cycle Loft at Trexlertown Track

A couple of weeks ago, I loaded up my trusty track bike and headed south to the country's (world's?) most active outdoor Velodrome--The Valley Preferred Cycling Center, aka Trexlertown, T-Town, formerly known as the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. Kurt and I made the 5 hour journey to the track primarily for the "Try the Track" Clinic that was going to be coached by some of the country's leading trackies: notably Marty Nothstein, Bruce Doneghy, Paul Pearson, and our own, Kurt Begemann. Having only ridden the 14 degree banking here locally at the New England Velodrome in Londonderry, NH, I didn't really have any idea of what riding 28 degree banking would be like--but I found out soon enough. I know I should've taken some pictures of standing on the infield in the pit area of the panoramic view of the white concrete track rising and surrounding us, but of course that would have been too easy--next time I reckon because it was truly a pretty awesome sight to behold. Not to mention that fact that once riding around the track, it really boggled my mind trying to understand just exactly how it was that I was riding upright at such an angle, ah, no matter, the point is that I was and wasn't sliding down the banking. Anyway, here's a pic of myself, Kurt, and Jackie Simes IV, and up and coming under 23 track riding, who just so happens to be a 4th generation track rider.

The Opening Night of T-Town's World Bicycling Series was just held this past Saturday night, as Friday night was cancelled because of rain. Both Jackie and Kurt did well securing several cash Preemes, with Jackie taking the win in the 5 Lap Scratch Race FINAL. He did so in stunning fashion on his new Parlee Z1 Track Bike aplomb with custom Stars & Stripes paintjob.

You can check out some pics of both riders here, taken by Anthony Skorochod of www.cyclingcaptured.com:

Kurt: http://www.cyclingcaptured.com/gallery/8480481_VLwT9#557842858_m7f6W

and Jackie: http://www.cyclingcaptured.com/gallery/8480481_VLwT9#557845535_KFTXu

More to come soon enough. We're planning a couple of Field Trips to T-Town. If you have any interest in coming along to ride what is just a spectacular venue, then drop us a line here at the shop ride@cycleloft.com and we'll help sort you out. Til then, keep riding, we'll be at the track in NH this Wednesday night, weather willing. JP

Boston Indoor Velodrome

Hi all, this is some seriously cool news, a spectacular development if you will. As we speak [type,] there is a group of people putting together a proposal to bring an indoor Velodrome to the Boston area. Just imagine being able to ride indoors during the foul weather months...very cool prospect indeed. But it's not just going to happen by itself. This is a perfect opportunity for all cyclists, and non-cycling sports fans to voice their opinions. Please visit http://bostonvelodrome.com/ and take the survey, should only take about 5 minutes. This will help garner some attention for the project and help inform the powers at work what on the road reality is. So please, take few minutes, do the survey, then email or call or whatever all your cycling friends and contacts to do the same. The greater the survey response, the greater the chance is of this project coming to fruition. Boston has a long hallowed history of track racing, it's ancient history for some, but this would be an incredible occurance for cyclists and the city, state, region. Please help us grow the pie! Now go, click http://bostonvelodrome.com/ and survey. Thx, JP

Getting Rollin'

Jeff here, Friday afternoon, just getting started with this blog-thingy folks, so I promise, there will be a blog here, just getting cookin', don't you worry none. Til then check Twitter http://twitter.com/cycle_loft for the latest in shorthand, believe me, this blog will be verbose, for sure. Best, TP.