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.

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!

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 !