Many people think that throwing some WD-40 on your bike chain is just fine to keep it smooth - this is not the case.  WD-40 or some such other general lubricant will tend to attract dirt and grit, just the things to avoid for a slick ride.  The drivetrain (chainrings, chain, cassette, derailers) is one of the most important and delicate parts of a bicycle and is important to treat as such.  That said, looking at a shelf of lubricants can be overwhelming; here are some guidelines to help you select an appropriate lube.

The two main categories of lube are “wet” and “dry” lubricants.  In general, wet lubes are better for messy conditions such as winter and spring riding (think slush, water, salt and mud).  A wet lubricant coats your chain and gears sealing the drivetrain and protecting it from the nasty.  Dry lubricants penetrate your chain, displace moisture and then dry out or “set up”.  This is beneficial in situations where dirt and dust is present, such as dry summer trail riding.  In these conditions a wet lube would attract dirt and debris counteracting the lubrication.   A wax lubricant is also a handy option; when this dry lube sets up it leaves a residual layer of wax on the chain, this coating not only sheds dust and dirt but will also flake off when grime inevitably builds up.  Since the coating does flake off it is important to reapply wax lubes more often but the trade off is that they clean your chain while you ride. 

It is important to have a clean chain before you lube otherwise the grime will continue to aggravate your drivetrain.  There are two options for cleaning your chain: a degreasing  agent or saturating the chain with a thin lube and wiping away the soiled excess repeatedly.   Park Tools also sells a chain bath with brushes and scrubbers through which you run the chain before lubing. 

We carry a variety of wet, dry and wax lubes from Finish Line, White Lightning, Rock ‘N Roll, Tri-Fl, Pro-Link and Park Tools as well as degreasers and bike washes.   We’re also always happy to help you pick the right product for your riding style or offer more detailed advice on drivetrain care.

 

Hey everyone!
We stumbled upon this great video on Youtube of actual video footage of Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting during a ride.If you were ever curious on how it worked while riding then check this video out.

 

If this has got your attention then here is a link to a review by velo news. <p>http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/08/bikes-and-tech/reviews/first-ride-ultegra-di2-%E2%80%94-better-than-dura-ace-di2_187814<br /><br /></p>

By the way if this has got you thinking about a Di2 bike come in fast because Shimano says they aren't going to have enough Di2 product to go around!

How to find the right bicycle saddle? Probably the most asked question in a bike shop is what is your most comfortable saddle? This is not an easy question to answer; at North Star Sports VT we educate our staff helping them become saddle experts. The first thing I tell people is that there isn’t one saddle that works for everyone. There might be one person who loves one saddle but another who hates it. Position on Bicycle The position you have on your bicycle and the position of the saddle on the bicycle can affect how comfortable a rider is with their saddle. For instance if you are riding with a very upright posture(higher handlebar height) a seat that has a bit more padding and a wider width might be just what you need. The reason for this is that the more upright your position is the more weight you have on your saddle and your sit bones. An example of this saddle would be a Giant Liberty 1 W’s or M’s saddle also the Serfas EG-8000E E-Gel Cruiser saddle. These saddles are great choices for riders who have an upright hybrid such as a Trek 7100 or a comfort bike like the Trek Navigator 200. These saddles wouldn’t be recommended for riders who have bicycles that have them positioned with more body weight over the front of the bike ex: road bikes, or fitness bicycles. If you were to ride a bigger, wider saddle on one of these types of bikes you would experience chaffing because your thighs would rub on the sides of the saddle due to it being too wide for your cycling position. The lower your body is on a bike the closer your legs are to each other which is why you would develop chaffing on a saddle that is wider than what you need. If you are riding a bike that has a slightly lower riding position (lower handlebar height) such as Trek Fitness bikes (ex: 7.2 FX , 7.3 FX, 7.5 FX) you should consider a saddle with a slightly narrower width such as a Serfas Dorado, Giant Venture 0 or a Bontrager Inform Nebula saddle. All of these saddles have a slightly narrower width with less padding. This will help eliminate any possibility of chaffing and since less of your body weight is on your sit bones and seat you don’t need as much padding. Many saddles in this category have different width options available. (This will be discussed further in the next blog post.) The lowest riding position is found on road bikes and many mountain bikes. These saddles have a much narrower width in comparison to your hybrids and comfort bikes. The reason for the narrower saddle is again due to eliminating chaffing which allows you to pedal more efficiently on the bicycle. Saddles that you could consider would be Selle Italia Max Flite Gelflow, Flite Gelflow, SMP Glider, SMP Evolution and the Bontrager Affinity RL saddle. All of these saddle have a different width and shape to them. The correct saddle for you will be the one that supports your ischial tuberosity bones and allow proper blood flow. This is why the shape and not the padding of the saddle is what will allow you to ride all day in comfort. More discussions on this topic to come!

Regardless of what type of bike you’re riding, it is going to need air in its tires.  It’s a good idea to top off your tires before every ride.  For me it is an integrated part of my pre-ride routine, right after putting on my SIDI shoes and right before I strap on my helmet I always check my tire pressure and add air as needed. Not only is having under inflated tires a safety concern, it is also crucial to have appropriate tire pressure to maximize your bicycles performance, and your satisfaction.

This being said, one tool company has really stood out from the rest over the last couple of years with their high quality pumps, at a reasonable price.  Lezyne was founded by Micki Kozuschek with help from industry partners in 2007. Micki is a former professional triathlete, a highly successful industry pioneer (Former companies include Maxcycle, and Truvativ) as well as having a great appreciation for German Engineering.  From the beginning, Lezyne’s goal has been to engineer and produce high end quality accessories holding the same standards as premium high-end bicycle components. After three years Lezyne is an industry leader for cycling accessories, producing award winning products world-wide.  I personally love the highly engineered and masterfully crafted simplicity of the Lezyne pumps because they work well every time and they have class.  Every pump is designed to be highly functional and lightweight, as well as having a certain beauty often connected to German engineering.  All of the pump sizes have high pressure capabilities and carry a two year warranty against manufacturer defects.  A major draw to Lezyne products though is you won’t immediately ask about the warranty when you pick them up because they are expertly crafted using high quality aluminum for the majority of the product’s components. The pumps are equipped with a Flex Hose that threads securely onto your valve head creating an air-tight seal, reducing valve damage during inflation.

If you have an interest in grabbing one of the many Lezyne products and you are in the Burlington Vermont area, come into North Star Sports and mention this blog to receive 15% off any or all of the products we carry! 

 

http://www.lezyne.com/products

You often see people with small computers on their bike handlebars or funny straps around their chests while riding, running or even at the gym. What's that all about? Here are some answers to your questions about, and benefits of using cycling computers and heart rate monitors.

As anyone who has followed a regular exercise regime knows, it does not take long for the same workout to not provide the same benefits for your strengthened body.  For endurance athletes or anyone looking to build and maintain stamina it is important to exercise within a certain range of elevated heart rates.  This is where a computer comes in. 

Cycling computers offer a range of features from simple speedometer and clock functions to cadence (pedal rotations per minute) and altitude changes to track how far you climbed and descended.  They are also available in wired and wireless versions at different price points and level of convenience.  They allow you to mark your progress and brag to your friends; but more importantly for your fitness, they are powerful training tools that help you get the same level of exercise relative to your strength.

Bontrager offers great lines of devices in their Trip and Node series.  If you’re looking to know how fast, far and long your bike path adventure was then the Trip 1 is a good fit, and for less than $10 more the Trip 2 provides a thermometer, your average speed and the option for dual wheel size (some bikes have a smaller wheel for kids or petite people).  Both of these bike computers are wired; the Trip 4 and 5 are both wireless devices that sync to sensors that insert into your bike’s frame – pretty slick eh?  The Trip 4 offers the basic functions plus a couple, while the Trip 5 is a full 10 function wireless computer with a backlit screen. 

The Bontrager Node computers (also in different models) offers still more functions such as heart rate zones, interval training alarms and even nutrition reminders!  Trek offers a similar device with a few extra functions such as a digital compass.  However, even though it’s at a slightly lower price (about $100 USD) user reviews of the Incite Alpine are only luke-warm.

 

Here at the shop we carry and install the lines of Bontrager  Trip and Node computers, Trek’s devices and the wireless sensors that sync to them.  All of our Trek Madone road bikes are equipped with mounts made specifically for the Bontrager Node computers.

 

Do you hate putting your pair of snowshoes on?  Does it take 10-20 minutes of frozen gloveless struggling to do up your bindings, only to have them loosen up within a few minutes?  Let me tell you about the new Tubbs 180 bindings.  This binding is extremely easy to use.  Adjustment takes only a few seconds and you can do it without taking off your gloves or mittens.  There is just one buckle to attach on the top and one strap to hook on to the back.  The Tubbs 180 bindings first came out a few years ago on the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoe and quickly became a best seller as customers enjoyed how simple and effective they were. 

Building on the success of the Tubbs Wilderness Snowshoe, the Tubbs 180 bindings have been added to 2 additional Tubbs Snowshoes which are suited for beginner and intermediate users.  It is my personal opinion is that the Tubbs Journey Snowshoe is hands down the best deal out there for someone wanting to go for walks in the woods or light hiking up some smaller mountains.  This snowshoe has stayed the same price while adding the 180 binding and another great feature, a Climbing Bar!  What is a climbing bar you ask?   A climbing bar is designed to help you walk or hike up a hill without as much effort.  All you need to do is pull up the heel lift feature (also known as a climbing bar), and climb with ease! 

So check out the line of Tubbs Snowshoes with these new 180 binding.  Oh and by the way Northstarsportsvt.com has them on sale !