Check it out! Next weekend, free lift tickets and demo rides from Trek, Gary Fisher, Kona and Santa Cruz at Seven Springs Ski Resort. Live bands, inexpensive $2.00 beers, and plenty of well groomed downhill and cross country trails to ride these cool new bikes on.
Trek will have on hand a couple of the new Session FR and DH bikes along with a few of the new Remedy's.
Hope to see you at one of the demo's over the next couple weekends!
Bob
With all the rain we've seen in the last couple weeks has really done a job on all the local off road trails as they suffer from a lot of standing water. This has given me a great opportunity to ride a bit more on the local roads with my urban bike and also get to share some rides with my newest riding partner "Hanna" (my youngest daughter).
In between all the storms, we get a day here or afternoon there that the sun is out in full force, but we just haven't seen the usual Ohio summers that tend to have a few back to back days of sun which allow the trails to become dry and fast! Hopefully, this will begin to take place soon, hey?
A few days ago, Hanna and I packed up the Element and drove to one of her favorite spots along the Sippo Valley Trail (section that goes from Massillon to Dalton) to get in a few miles. I took along my camera (of course) so I could practice my picture taking ability while mounted on my bike. Check out the photo album (urban rides) for a full list of photo's from this ride.
Bob
Going up to the 18th floor I am. Well, 
I ventured to downtown Pittsburgh yesterday to watch the final stage of the Tour of Pennsylvania (a under 23 road race that finished up on the streets of downtown Pittsburgh) as a guest of Don Mosites.
Don (owner of the Trek Stores of Pittsburgh) held a party on the 18th floor in one of the downtown Pittsburgh towers inviting family, friends and a bunch of cyclists to observe the race from an "overhead" perspective. This particular tower (located on Fort Pitt Blvd) is made up of many condo's and apartment suites that have some excellent views of this fabulous city. Great views of downtown, Station Square, Mount Washington, just to name a few.
Several guests decided to check out the race up close till the big rains and threatening storms moved in which actually caused a suspension to the race for approximately 15 minutes (tornado warning).
It was a really good time and I'm already working on pitching my wife that it might be time to relocate to Pittsburgh. 
What a great cycling city. So many of the spectators that came to watch the race came via bicycle; quite a few messenger bags strapped to a lot of backs throughout the evening.
Thanks Don for hosting the party and all the great views!!!
Bob
Sponsored by Trek and the greater Ohio Trek Retailers
Those early teen years for young girls. For those of us Dads with young daughters, I think you might be able to relate with me here on this one. There comes a time (just as they hit their teen years) when they develop a huge case of "attitude", along with "I know everything-idous" and think their dad is the absolute worst. Above all, they tend to "tune out" their Dad and not talk or listen to our fatherly advice.
Well, that's how my youngest daughter (Hanna) had reacted to me over the past couple years till recently. Up until last summer, I had been Hanna's softball coach since she was 8 years old bringing her up through the ranks of competitive travel softball. 
The entire family spent our summer weekends in various cities participating in softball tournaments, and occasionally a softball clinic. Heck, we even spent many winter nights in batting cages and inside cold barns perfecting her hitting, fielding, pitching and throwing mechanics.
When she reached 13, she came to me and said softball was no longer fun and didn't want to play any longer. Wow, this hit me hard (to say the least), but I could tell as her father and coach she was serious and wanted some time away. I had really enjoyed coaching her and all my players but decided to step away from coaching as well.
It's been a challenge of late dodging the storm fronts that have been passing through area 106 keeping many of the local trails wet and some and in some cases even closed (west branch). The one trail though that mother nature seems to keep an eye out for is the Mohican State Trail. It seems to rain all around the area, but misses this trail. Even with a rainfall, it doesn't take long for the trail to dry out.
Josh and I were able to make it out the other evening and get some miles in (12 actually), hoping the rain would stay away of course till we got our ride in. As we approached Loudonville, it was sunny and most of the serious, dark rain clouds were off to the north. It became one of those epic rides because all the conditions are perfect!
I was excited to get back on the HiFi 29er and the big wheels again. As much as I like the Fuel Ex design, since taking all those spills last week at West Branch just reminded me how much I enjoy the big wheel traction of a 29er. This was Josh's first ride of the season since he decided to stay off the mountain bike till his senior baseball season came to an end.
fol-ly - lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight. A foolish act or idea. This is the Merriam-Websters definition of what I experienced this morning (Sunday). Sunday, June 15th as most of us know as Fathers Day today, and is one of those days that I get a "free pass" from the family and can spend the entire day bike riding if I wish without any guilt from my wife or daughters. Heck, they tend to push me out the door (truth be told, when I'm gone they'll run to friends house to swim all day), so when I awoke this morning at 7am, I decided to gather up my gear and made the decision to venture off to West Branch State Park (near Ravenna, Ohio). At 7am, I'm the only one in the family that gets up early on the weekend while rest of the family sleeps since they all stayed up till about 1am.
(check out the grips Sue and Jeff are sportin...)
Trek/VW team members are all using a new grip this season thanks to a sponsorship with "Esi" 100% silicone racing grips. I noticed that Jeff Schalk, Chris and Sue where sportin these grips on their Fuel's for the past Mohican race. I couldn't help but ask Chris what he thought of these grips in which he gave them high marks and highly recommended that I give them a try.
So I thought, what the heck, I'm always willing to try something new, especially since my #1 choice for a grip is how much it aids me against numb hands. 
I've tried several Bontrager grips (my house brand of course), but many of our styles are very slim and lightweight, but just don't help me with my hand numbness. I had been using Oury grips (the big oversized style of grip) but was intrigued in talking to Jeff and Chris about these Esi grips.
Continue reading "Wanna be like Jeff? Check out these new grips..." »
I know, this looks nasty. Trek - Ohio Valley team rider Jason Leaman apparently was biten by a bug during his Mohican 100k adventure last weekend. He and wife Lisa noticed the red puffy area following the race and decided to check with the family doctor to be on the safe side.
The doctor said it was just a regular bug bite and since he was exercising the bite went straight into this blood stream and caused the streaks. Ouch!!
Hope your healing up now Jason. Congrats on your finish Jason.
Bob
