The Top Five Reasons You Need A Bike Fit

Reason #1
You are thinking about buying a new bike. 

(and don't want to make an expensive mistake!)

One of our least favorite things at Cyclologic is having to tell a rider that they bought the wrong size bike. Unfortunately, it happens all too frequently. If you are thinking about buying a new bike anytime soon, please consider trying our "FIT FIRST" process before you invest in your new equipment. We can help you find the bike of your dreams and let you know what it will feel like before you lay down your hard earned dollars.

It doesn't matter to us what brand you are interested in, or where you buy your bike. We want your relationship with your local shop to be as strong as ever, and we would love to help you work with them to make sure all of the details are perfect, from the very first ride! For more information, check out the video below, visit our fit page, or call 480-699-5358.

Reason #2
You are injured or uncomfortable.

(and want to save $370 on our premier service!)

Whether you are injured, or simply want the absolute best possible insight into your cycling performance, our Medical Fit will get you the answers you are looking for. It all starts with a full physical evaluation by the pros at Endurance Rehab.  This is our flagship service  and  provides clients  with  a  blueprint  to  unlock  every  possible  performance opportunity.  This  fitting service  includes  a  personalized  strength,  stability  and  flexibility program developed by a physical therapist to compliment the cycling goals of the individual.

For the first time ever, Endurance Rehab and Cyclologic are offering this amazing service with two additional services at no additional charge! First, you will get two months of access to the Endurance Rehab facility where you will be able to work on the exercises that they have designed for you. Second, when your two months of work are done, we will revisit your fit in our studio so that the "new you" is fully optimized! Combined, this is a $370 value for free! 

In order to qualify your medical fit needs to be completed by July 31, 2018. Please call 480-699-5358 for more details and to reserve your spot!

Reason #3
You signed up for an Ironman.

(and you want to run faster off the bike!)

We have an amazing fit special available right now that can not only make you faster and more efficient on your bike, but also help you run faster when you get off of it! If you book a triathlon or time trial "Fit With Pressure" during the month of June, you will also receive a free BioRacer Aero Session! That is a $150 value for free!

This amazing technology allows us to fine tune your frontal plane, while giving you real time feedback on watts saved and speed gained. As you pedal and practice your position, you will see how different types of postures effect your speed and stability. This is the same technology that is being used by World Champions and Olympic gold medalists to fine tune their winning form, and it is now available for you to use as well! Click here for more details! 

Reason #4
You are tired of getting dropped by your buddies. 

(There is no "and" to this one. We all just hate being dropped by our buddies!)

Tired of struggling up hills while your training partners ride away? Find yourself being left behind on fast descents? Sometimes, it means you are simply training with people who are currently in better shape than you are. That can be a good thing. Riding with people who are faster than you can make you faster as well.

But what if it is not just that they are faster? What if there is something about your position that is holding you back? The Cyclologic Cycling Analysis Protocol hones in on power leaks, and eliminates them from your position. Handlebar width, crank length, foot-pedal interface, saddle position, and saddle type are all areas where a significant amount of power can be lost. We are talking about power you already own! Power you have already worked hard for! Power that isn't reaching the back wheel because it is fluttering away in your pedal stroke. Want free speed? Let's make sure that you are getting the most out of what you already have! Call 480-699-5358, or check out our fit page for more details!

Reason #5
It has been more than two years since your last fit.

Things change. Your fitness, your goals, your equipment... They all change. As they do, your position on the bike needs to be adapted to your new reality. Bike fit is very much like a haircut. It has to be maintained, or things can get out of control! We see most of our clients three to four times a year. Once for a three hour session where we perform a full physical assessment, and two to three additional times during which we modify their positions and equipment to better suit the rider that they have become. 

If you haven't been in the studio in a while, do yourself a favor and call 480-699-5358 and set an appointment with one of our cycling analysis professionals.

Three lessons learned during this morning's ride... Alarm clocks, tubeless road tires, and old (really old) bibs.

LESSON ONE

It was hot last night. On my way home from work the radio said it was 104 degrees, and the temperature gauge in my truck said 110. Either way, it felt like the first real summer day had arrived. 

I started dreading all of those summer morning rides where you roll out with the sun, and it is already 95. 

Ugh.

It's no fun, but you gotta do it. That night, I went to bed, set my alarm and fell asleep with hazy visions of heat rising off of tarmac.

The alarm rang, and not wanting to wake my wife, I grabbed a set of bibs out of the drawer with the lights still off. They turned out to be a twelve plus year old pair that I haven't worn in at least six years. (check in with lesson three below...)

A quick coffee and a banana later, and I am out the door at 5:55am. Guess what?

It was glorious outside! 

Yes... Summer is officially here, but the mornings are still fantastic. My Garmin said it was 64 degrees at the start of the ride. Lesson #1? Set that alarm and make the most out of it! It won't be long before it is 95 at 6am, so don't waste a single morning!

<<Editor's Note... In case you haven't heard, there is a pretty amazing group ride heading out from the shop this Saturday at 6am! More details here.>>

LESSON TWO

If you aren't already running tubeless road tires, then get your giddy-up on and make it happen.

I've been riding tubeless tires on my cyclocross and mountain bikes for a long, long time, but it has only been in the last year that I started riding tubeless tires on the road as well. During that year, they have been nothing short of wonderful. The lower pressure and larger contact patch smooth out rough roads, and make cornering a dream. 

Want to take that gravelly short cut through Papago? Don't worry about it! A good tubeless set-up will handle it with ease!

Going tubeless will definitely open up the terrain you are willing to ride on, but that extra smooth ride and fantastic grip, are only part of the story. They are also an amazing way to prevent flats. Case in point...

A car horn honked behind me today. (I have no idea why. I was in the bike lane, and the streets were deserted.) I looked over my shoulder to see what was up, and when I turned back, there was this huge patch of broken glass right in front of me. I had two choices... I could swerve out into the lane (right in front of the honking car), or I could roll through it.

I rolled through it. 

hisssssssssssssssss... hissssssssssssssssssssss....

Both tires punctured. I felt a little bit of sealant spray onto my legs, and kept right on rolling. Assuming it is safe to do so, that is what you are supposed to do when you puncture a tubeless tire. Keep rolling, and let the centrifugal force push the sealant inside the tire into the hole. A few pedal strokes later, the hissing stopped, and I pulled over. I wiped the glass off the tire, gave them a squeeze to make sure they still had enough air in them, and continued on. 

If I had been on regular tires, this would probably have been the end of my ride. A double flat with only one spare tube would have required a cell phone call for a ride back home. Needless to say, I enjoyed the extra hour of riding a lot more.

There are lots and lots of road tubeless options out there. My current favorites are the Bontrager Aeolus 3 wheels paired with Schwalbe Pro One tires. 

While pricey, this set-up is lighter than most other regular high end wheels, even with the disks. They spin up with little to no effort, grip like King Kong, and hold speed as well as wheels twice their depth.

Regardless of which equipment you choose, take my advice and follow these rules:

1. Use only tubeless specific wheels and tires. There are companies out there that claim to be able to mount tubeless tires to regular rims, but I do not recommend it. It is very, very important that the bead of the tire and the rim be seated securely, or you risk rolling the tire during hard cornering.
2. Replace the sealant every six months or so, and add additional sealant after significant punctures.
3. If you don't own an air compressor (and who does...) invest in a Bontrager TLR Flash Charger Pump (pictured left). This cool tool makes it a breeze to not only properly seat the tubeless tires when you first mount them, but it is also great at clearing dried sealant out of the valves. 
4. Speaking of dried sealant in the valves, I've found that they get gummed up less if you store the bike with the valves on the bottom half of the wheel so that the sealant drains out of them and into the tire.
5. Even though you are MUCH less likely to get a flat, you still need to carry a spare tube, tire levers, and pump (or CO2 cartridge) with you. Better safe than sorry. 

Many of the new wheels are tubeless ready, so there is a good chance that if your bike is less than two years old, that you may already own wheels that can safely be run tubeless! If that is the case, all you will need to get up and running are some tubeless tires ($50-120 each), some tubeless rim strips, tubeless valves, and a few ounces of sealant.  If you need to get tubeless wheels, you can plan on investing anywhere from $600 to $3000 depending on how light and aero you want to be. 

If you want to learn more about going tubeless, and the improved ride quality and flat protection that they offer, stop by the shop and ask for Adam or Barry. We'll walk you through all of the ins and outs, and help you find the best match for your budget. 

LESSON THREE

Those twelve year old bibs I wore this morning? Yeah. That was a bad idea. Replace your kit frequently, and give your old stuff to someone you dislike. 

Saddle Pressure Technology, A message for both riders and fitters.

FOR THE RIDER

This is the same saddle... On the same bike... Under the same rider... But holy smokes! Look at the difference! The craziest thing about this image is that visually, there was no indication that the rider was perched that far forward on the saddle, and the rider himself was not aware of it either. Video analysis showed that he was actually pretty close to being in the right place in space. His previous fitter was in the ballpark with regards to saddle height, crank length optimization, cleat placement, and knee/pedal spindle alignment.

The problem was that because the fitter did not use GebioMized saddle pressure technology, they didn't know what part of the saddle the rider was actually sitting on! If you are a rider, and you are having saddle issues, the answer might not be a new saddle. Your current saddle might be perfectly appropriate, if it were moved in space underneath you to a more appropriate place.

If you are a rider dealing with saddle issues, and want to learn more, please give us a call at 480-699-5358, and we can answer your questions about how the Cyclologic Cycling Analysis Protocol, combined with gebioMized saddle pressure mapping technology, can take the guess work out of saddle discomfort issues.

FOR THE FITTER

Take a look at the above image. See that big yellow spot of pressure on the nose of the saddle on the left? That is enough pressure to cause numbness in a rider. If you are not using a gebioMized pressure mat to see how your rider is actually interacting with their saddle, you have no way of knowing that pressure spot is there. 

Without a pressure mat, and the training needed to use it, you are completely blind about one of the most important interfaces between your rider and their bike. How do you know whether or not you need to ask the rider to scoot back on the saddle, or whether it would be better for you to scoot the saddle forward underneath them? How do you know if you can't see it?

The short answer is that you don't.

Using pressure as part of your cycling analysis protocol is a complete game changer. A gebioMized saddle pressure system allows the fitter to:

• See where the rider is actually sitting

• Validate saddle recommendations to your clients

• Provides insights into pelvic and hip stability

• Offer custom saddles to your clients

• Identify potential crank length issues

• Determine appropriate saddle widths

• Select the correct saddle, the first time

• Separate yourself from other fitters in your market

And that is just scratching the surface. 

If you would like to learn more about gebioMized saddle pressure technology, please call 480-699-5358 and ask for Barry or Claudia. They will schedule a time for you to remotely view our workstation here, and for one of our analysts to walk you through the system. 

If you want to get some hands-on experience and training, please consider attending our Cycling Analysis and Contact Point Optimization classes this March. Spaces are extremely limited, so contact us today to reserve your spot.

All Hail King Julius!

Everyone remembers Cupcake, right?

Cupcake rocked. Cupcake rolled. Cupcake took no prisoners.

And yet despite being a nearly perfect bike…

Cupcake just got replaced.

By Julius.

Julius is Cupcake’s carbon fiber big brother. He’s a Trek Boone, and he has almost immediately become my favorite bike. I ride this bad boy everywhere. Asphalt, grass, gravel, technical single track, you name it, and this bike can handle it.

It came from the Trek Factory Race shop as a frame and fork. I ordered up the new Dura-Ace mechanical/hydraulic groupset, a pair of Aeolus 3 wheels, a Zipp carbon bar, and bing-bang-boom, I have a 16.5 pound cross bike.

That’s right. 16.5 pounds with pedals, cages, and computer mount. That’s re-donk-u-lously light. This bike is designed to go anywhere and do anything, so I am going to describe three different rides I routinely do on it... Road, traditional cyclocross, and technical single track.

ROAD

I mounted up a set of Bontrager CX0 TLR tubeless tires, and jumped into the Cyclologic Saturday morning group ride. I was a little worried about three things.

Gearing, rolling resistance, and descending.

I needn’t have been.

I had chosen a 50/34 set of chainrings as a sort of compromise between true cyclocross gearing and my normal 53/39. I was concerned about spinning out on some of the descents at the end of the ride. My cadence ended up being higher than normal, but by tucking in at the right times, I had no problem staying with the group. If we had been up over 40mph, I would probably have been in trouble, but at 35 there were no issues at all.

IsoSpeed Decoupler keeping things smooth!

Riding size 33 cyclocross tires should have put me at a big disadvantage, but it didn’t. The center line down the tread rolled super fast. I was able to take my normal pulls at the front without slowing down the group at all. And smooth? Holy smokes… 50 psi combined with the IsoSpeed decoupler in the back of the Boone made the road absolutely disappear.

One of the things that makes a cyclocross bike a cyclocross bike is the height of the bottom bracket. It is higher than a traditional road bike bottom bracket to allow the rider more clearance over barricades, logs and stairs. Doing so makes the bike incredibly agile over technical terrain, but the higher center-of-gravity that accompanies it has the potential to make high speed descending less stable. I can tell you without reservation that this is not a problem with the Boone. Trek has come up with some sort of special magic that makes this bike feel impossibly solid underneath you. It descends like a rocket. I have never once felt the slightest bit unsteady on it. I am sure that part of this is the care we took in planning out my position, but I have been set up the same on other cross bikes that felt decidedly twitchy on fast fire-road descents.

TRADITIONAL CYCLOCROSS TERRAIN

What more can be said about a bike that was designed with the help of Katie Compton and Sven Nys? The Boone is quite simply a perfect cyclocross race bike. Sand, grass, mud… It eats it up.

Bontrager Aeolus 3s are FAST...

My normal ride starts with a mile of easy spinning on asphalt, and then merges with the Scottsdale Green Belt. It is a 6 mile stretch of grass that meanders north/south through town. There are tons of off camber and rolling sections, with lots of hidden dips and roots to keep you on your toes. It’s shocking how well the Boone holds speed in the grass. The CX0 tires transition beautifully between the paved bike path and the grass, and the Aeolus wheels spin up as fast as anything I have ever ridden.

At the southern end of the green-belt, I hop off of the grass, and onto the dirt path that wraps around Tempe Town Lake. There are huge sand volleyball courts to practice in, and miles of uneven, unmaintained dirt access roads west of the lake that follow the Salt River drainage area. Sit back and push down on the pedals, and the Boone floats through it all.

This is one of the only places where a southern Arizona rider can practice riding in the mud. After a rainstorm, water from all over the city drains into this area. The Access road becomes a soupy mess, and things get slippery. The Boone has tons of clearance, and mud build-up has never been a problem.

I’ll say it again… The Boone is the best cross bike I have ever ridden.

Granted, Julius is set up with the absolute best possible combination of parts. The Dura-Ace groupo is flawless, and the Aeolus wheels are a revelation. But even with lesser parts, you’d still have the Boone frame at the center of it all. As you’ll see when we get to the technical trail section below, I changed wheelsets, and the bike is still a complete ripper.

TECHNICAL SINGLETRACK

I was not expecting the Boone to be very good on trails…

The only smooth place in Papago...

Boy was I wrong. The first time I took it into Papago Park and Phoenix Mountain Preserve (connected conveniently by a long stretch of dirt road along the Arizona Canal), I rode all of the trails that I normally ride on my mountain bike, and encountered only one issue.

That issue? Tire volume. The CX0s, as good as they are at everything else, just don’t have enough volume to keep me from bottoming out on baby-head rocks. Also, the sound of those rocks smacking into the $2400 Aeolus wheels made me more than a little nauseous.

I ordered a set of Paradigm Elite TLR Disk wheels, and some Clement MSO X-Plor 40 tires to shoe them with.

Problem solved.

Drop-offs, rock gardens, short steep descents… This new set up handles it all with zero issues. The Boone is more than capable on Arizona singletrack. These wheels and tires do not have the absolute top end speed of the Aeolus/CX0 combo, but that’s fine. Different tools for different jobs.

The Arizona Cross series? Aeolus.

Trail 100? Paradigms.

Chino Grinder? Aeolus.

Am I giving up my mountain bike? No.

I still need the suspension for long technical descents like you find at Whiskey 50, or on National Trail on South Mountain. (I’m a little nutty, but not *that* nutty.)

That being said, the versatility, and sheer fun factor that the Boone offers has me reaching for it more often than any of my other bikes.

Julius is a keeper. Riding this bike is the definition of fun. It does it all, and does it well. 

The ENVE Upgrade... Yes. You deserve it.

Indulgent.

Luxurious.

Decadent.

Sublime.

These are not the words normally used to describe bike parts. In the case of the Cyclologic ENVE upgrade package, they are, however, entirely fitting. We took what was already an impossibly good looking bike, and not only improved the performance, but made it a damn site more sexy as well.

Pretty nice, eh? The upgrade consists of four things. The wheelset, handlebar, stem, and seatpost. There is a lot to cover here, so pour yourself an extra cup of coffee, kick your feet up, and settle in.

First, a brief word about the parts that came stock on the Orca. They consisted of very solid, and surprisingly lightweight, aluminum FSA compact bars, stem and seatpost, and the always fun Vision Tri-Max 30 wheelset. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these parts. They perform incredibly well, and Orbea deserves kudos for their choice in sourcing them. This isn't about any deficiencies in the stock parts, it is instead about how amazing, and totally worth it the upgraded pieces from ENVE are. 

Got it? Good! Let's get going!

The wheels are perhaps the most eye-catching part of the package, so let's start there.

ENVE SES 4.5

These wheels are, in a word, stunning. They do everything well... and when I say, "well," I mean really, really well. Climb. Descend. Corner. Accelerate. Stop. You name it, and these wheels can do it.  When it comes to weight, the ENVEs are pretty much king of the hill. They come in significantly less than their competitors. They are so light in fact (1328 grams) that in order to get something with a similar rim depth that weighs less, you would have to spend an additional $4500 for the Lightweight Meilenstein Clinchers. The Meilensteins come in at a gobsmacking 1105 grams (for the set!), but that weight savings (223 grams) will cost you a whopping $20 per gram! 

Aerodynamics? Once again, the ENVEs more than hold their own. They consistently test at or near the top of every category in the wind tunnel. But we don't ride in wind tunnels, do we? What do they feel like in the real world? I've got a thousand or so miles on these in a variety of wind conditions, and I can say without question that they are flat out the fastest mid depth wheels I have ever ridden. In calm conditions, they accelerate like a shot, and once you reach speed they hold it with ease. But lots of wheels do that... 

...in calm conditions.

It's easy to be aerodynamic in still air. What happens when things get more complicated? Well, this is when the ENVE 4.5s really shine.

Even in strong blustery conditions, they behave impeccably. Instead of being pushed around by the wind, it feels almost as if I am being shunted through it. There's no jarring panic filled moments when semi-trucks whiz by. They have had perfect manners in every wind condition I have encountered.

(Disclaimer: I am not a small rider. Depending on what time of year it is, I tip the scales at anywhere from 170-180 pounds. It takes a lot of air to move me! A lighter rider might do better on a lower depth wheel like the ENVE 3.4.) 

Unlike most other feather weight wheels out there, the ENVE 4.5s are also super tough. I have had to bunny hop pot holes on multiple occasions, I've had pieces of metal and rocks kicked up by passing traffic smack into the carbon fairings, and I have plowed into and over tons of road debris that I didn't see coming until it was too late. The ENVE wheels? Still perfectly straight and true. 

I can't recommend these wheels enough. These are last year's version. The new ones have been upgraded with a tubeless compatible rim, and start at $2700. Are they pricey? Yes. Are they worth it? You betcha!

ENVE SES AERO ROAD BAR, STEM, and computer mount

Clean lines. Ergonomic genius. Ridiculously light weight. The ENVE SES cockpit is simply as good as it gets. 

Let's start with the clean lines... 

I'm more than a little bit obsessed with simple, clean, well thought out, uncluttered work spaces. I'm the guy that doesn't have any app links on his cell phone touch screen. Same goes for my laptop desktop screen. I go to great lengths to have as few items as possible on my kitchen counters. 

The ENVE SES bar and stem scratch that itch for me when I am on my bike. Intuitive internal cable routing, integrated computer mount and bar-end plugs, smooth transitions... Aethetically, there is nothing about this set-up that I don't love. We have a lot of bikes on our sales floor, but this is the one that people consistently stop and stare at. It looks that good.

And as good as it looks, it works even better! The ergonomics are impeccable. The flat top of the bar is super comfy while climbing, and was wind tunnel optimized for aerodynamic efficiency. The drop outs flare slightly, and slot effortlessly into your hands as you transition down from the hoods. The 77mm reach feels natural, and allowed me to run a 1cm longer stem than I normally would. 

Normally, a bar with this much shaping would come with a weight penalty. Not this one. The bar weighs 233 grams. The stem comes in at a paltry 126 grams, and the computer mount adds an additional 20 grams. That's a grand total of 379 grams! That's less than many bars weigh all by themselves! 

Because this is made by ENVE, you don't have to worry about the weight savings coming at the cost of stiffness or safety. This set-up is rock solid. In the year or so I have been riding it, there hasn't been a single creak or wobble to be found. Heck... If it is tough and stiff enough for a sprinter like Mark Cavendish, it should work fine for the rest of us! 

                                                             (photo via ENVE.com)

The handlebar retails for $400, the stem for $265, and the computer mount for $45. Again, this is not the least expensive option on the market, but it is certainly one of, if not the, best.

ENVE Seatpost

Here's what I have to say about the ENVE seatpost.

I installed it...

...and I haven't thought about it since.

It hasn't slipped, budged, tilted, or moved.

Rock solid. That's exactly what I want out of a seatpost.

I want it to disappear and just let me ride.

The fact that it looks this good and weighs next to nothing are (very) pleasant bonuses.

The ENVE seatpost comes in at 178 grams and retails for $275. In my opinion? When you get something that works this flawlessly, it is worth every penny.

Conclusion

The Cyclologic ENVE Upgrade is the perfect compliment to my bike. It looks amazing, and performs even better. All told, it is 1885 grams of carbon perfection that will dramatically improve the performance, comfort and looks of your ride.

Is it worth it? Of course it is. 

What is Cyclologic?

It is happening more and more frequently. Someone wanders through the front door, and says, "So, I've seen the sign outside, and a friend told me to check you out, but... what exactly are you? A bike shop? A fit studio? What's with all of the pictures of the pros?"

We understand the confusion. We do wear a lot of hats in the cycling community. So we figured we should take the opportunity to explain it. Below you will find out a little bit more about who we are, and what we do. 

Cyclologic is a cycling analysis Studio

Cycling Analysis... This is what we are best known for. We use cutting edge tools, combined with the most current science based protocols to make sure that every cyclist is as comfortable, efficient, and powerful as possible. We provide this service to everyone from world champions to first time cyclists. Each and every rider, no matter what their skill level, receives the exact same treatment, and goes through the exact same process. 

Cyclologic is a Concierge Service Solution

Cyclologic is proud to offer a concierge service department whose primary goal is to get you and your bike back out on the road as quickly as possible. Just call ahead and make an appointment with one of our world class service technicians. They will be waiting for your arrival, and will start working right away. Many repairs can be performed while you wait! Hang out, drink coffee, watch a race on our big screen TV... Before you know it, you will be on your way with your bike tuned and ready to ride. 

Cyclologic is a World Class Retail Destination

Tired of getting the "bro" treatment at your local shop? Give Cyclologic a chance to earn your business. Our CHO (Chief Hug Officer... Yes,  that is a real position at Cyclologic.) will greet you with a smile, offer you a coffee, and help you find the right person to answer your questions. Whether you have questions about a new tri bike, a holiday gift for the cyclist in your life, or the best type of chamois cream, we have got you covered! The best brands, the best service, the best shop, and the best experience in the Valley.

Cyclologic is Your Ride Headquarters

The Cyclologic Saturday Morning Group Ride is known nation-wide as being an alternative to the normal pell-mell anarchy that most shop rides have become. Depending on the week, we offer 2-3 groups that ride in a double pace line that rotates away from traffic. Riders in the front of the group pull for up to two minutes before calmly pulling across. If you don't want to pull, no problem! We just ask that you stay to the back of the right hand line. There is no attacking and no half wheeling. We communicate information about road debris all the way back through the group, and obey all traffic laws. We talk, watch out for each other, and have fun! Oh... and let's not forget the coffee, bagels and laughs at the end!

In addition to our Saturday group ride, Cyclologic is also your source for mid week rides and travel as well! We have water, an ice machine (coming just in time for hot summer riding!), changing rooms, and comfy couches to hang out on. Our shop is located right at the base of the best riding in the Valley, and we would love to sit down with you and map out your next adventure. Live in the mid-west, north-east, or somewhere else that gets too cold for winter riding? Take a bike vacation to beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona! Ship your bike to us, and we will build it and have it ready and waiting for you when you arrive. It is December, and we are still in short sleeves!

Cyclologic is a Technology Company

Our passion for "what's next" has led us to the creation of a no-limits technology company that is set to revolutionize the motion capture and analysis industries. MOTIONMETRIQ is that company. Launched at Interbike 2017, and partnered with Noraxon, MOTIONMETRIQ is the next big thing, and we can't wait to show you what we have planned. We will be integrating this new technology into our fit studio in 2018.

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This is just a brief description of what Cyclologic is, and the services we offer. If you would like to learn more, please feel free to give us a call, or better yet, stop by and see for yourself! 

Happy Tour de France Day!

I was in a bit of a hurry during this morning's Cyclologic group ride. I wanted to get back so I could see as much of the race as possible. What race?

You know what race.

THE race!

The Tour de France, of course! That's right... It's Tour de France time again! We have three incredible weeks of racing ahead of us, and for the first time in years, the fight for yellow looks wide open. There is a Team Sky rider in yellow... and it's not Chris Froome. Nairo Quintana lost his most powerful ally in a horrific crash, but turned in one of his most impressive time trials to date. Contador, Aru, Porte and the rest of the contenders kept their tinder dry, despite the pouring rain... AND IT IS ONLY DAY ONE! 

But back to this morning...

When we got back to the shop, I immediately pulled up the live feed for the last half of the TT. We all gathered around, drank coffee, ate croissants and French cheese, and watched in real time, as the riders battled the clock, half way around the world. 

We've come a long, long way.

I grew up in a very small town a very long way from anywhere. As a kid, I had a consuming fascination with all things Le Tour. It was a frustrating obsession. We were very isolated from the rest of the world. For a long time, there were only three TV stations (none of which covered the race), one country/oldies radio station, and a small local paper.  I usually wouldn't even know who won the race until months after it ended. There was no internet. I had to wait for the next time my family and I would travel six hours to the closest B Dalton bookstore. I would sprint to the magazine rack and look for the latest issue of VeloNews. 

I'd sit down on the floor, and read it cover to cover while my family shopped.

I'd read it again during the long ride home. I remember the ink smearing onto my fingers.

I kept those magazines in stacks in the corner of my room, and would reread them constantly. My favorites were the ones that had Hinault or Roche on the cover. I'd carefully cut the covers off and thumbtack them to my closet door.

Now?

If I'm not watching it live, I get live updates on my phone. I know who won at the exact same moment that the winner's themselves do.

Is it better now? 

Of course it is. Absolutely.

But...

I'll never be able to recreate that feeling.

The feeling of weeks and months of anticipation finally being fulfilled. 

Viva Le Tour.

******************

PS- There's another big difference I forgot to mention. Back then, I rode a yellow, Huffy BMX bike that easily weighed 30 pounds or more.

Now? I've upgraded just a bit. 

Is it better?

Of course it is. Absolutely.

But...

...

Actually, there is no "but". 

It is WAY better!

Orbea Orca M10 Team- First Impressions

I'd been dreaming about riding an Orca. Picturing the build... Running and re-running the numbers through our database. Making sure I knew how it would fit. I built the bike up in my imagination until it realistically had no shot at meeting expectations. It couldn't possibly be as good as they said, could it? 

When it finally arrived, I was chomping at the bit to get it out on the road. We threw it together, ball-parked my fit, and I headed out the door. More on that later. For now, let's talk a little bit about the bike. 

Out of the box, the Orca M10 is a SOLID race bike. At $5499, it is quite possibly the most bang for your buck of anything on the market. The frame is Orbea's current top of the line OMR version being raced by the Cofidis squad. It is decked out with the aforementioned Dura-Ace 9100 mechanical groupset (a more thorough review coming later!!!), a full FSA cockpit, and Vision Tri-Max 30 Clinchers. 

I used a pair of the Visions as my primary wheels all last year on a different bike. They are quite remarkable for the price. Buttery smooth hubs, moderate aerodynamics, super high spoke tension, and above average good looks. When shoed up with my standard Specialized Turbo tires (26 width), they do everything very well, and nothing poorly. Climb, sprint, corner, descend, cross winds... You name it, the Visions deliver. 

The drivetrain? Shimano knows what they are doing. Dura-Ace is still Dura-Ace. It's flawless. Quiet. Crisp. Precise. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the new 9100 was that I didn't give it a single thought the entire first ride. It just disappeared. Zero missed shifts. You can't ask for more from a drivetrain. I'll be digging into the new Dura-Ace further in a later blog post, but for now, let it be enough to say that so far, it has been perfect.

The FSA cockpit and seat post were stiff, light, and beautiful. They matched the aesthetics of the bike and the ergonomics were top notch.

The bar itself was a little wide for my scrawny shoulders, but it was close enough to my fit to be serviceable. We torqued everything down and headed out.

My first ride was somehow both jaw-droppingly exciting, and impossibly infuriating all at the same time. How so? Well, I need a different crank length and saddle than what comes stock on the bike, and unfortunately, the correct parts were not going to be available until the following week. But did I wait?

Heck no! I took it on a 45 mile jaunt with the Cyclologic Saturday Group Ride! And how did it go? I'll give you the bad news first... The crank being too long was extremely uncomfortable. I was all over the saddle, and my hips were killing me. (More on crank length optimization coming soon too!)

The good news? The Orbea Orca M10 is a flat out racer's dream come true. I have been racing and riding bikes for 35+ years. I have ridden just about everything. In all that time, and in all those bikes, I have never ridden anything that accelerates as fast as the new Orca. Period. If you push down hard on the pedals, the bike shoots forward. And the steering? Darn near telepathic. The Orca responds to the slightest bit of input. This is not a bike designed for a cautious rider. It is at its best, and most enjoyable, when you are going fast. Preferably, full gas.

The new Dura-Ace 9100 is soooooooooooooo gorgeous! 

The second ride, we installed the correct crank length, and saddle, and instantly, any negatives I had about the bike disappeared. My hips quieted down, my cadence increased, and the Orca somehow got even faster. 

So there you go. I've got a rocket ship of a bike that handles and performs like an absolute dream... But did we stop there? Heck no!

Being Cyclologic, we decided to kick things up a notch... BAM! (Apologies to Emeril)

Presenting, the all new Orbea Orca M10 with Cyclologic ENVE upgrade!

The ENVE flat top aero bar is an ergonomic dream come true.

Check out this crazy cool integrated computer mount!

Those wheels!!! How amazing does the matte/gloss finish of the frame look next to the same matte/gloss finish on the wheels?!? Pretty freaking amazing, that's how amazing.

Am I allowed to say that a seat post looks sexy? Good. Because I just did.

We took what was already an insanely fast bike, and turned it into a pro-tour level, no compromises dream bike. If it was a motorcycle, the stock Orca M10 would be a fully blown street racer that snapped your neck back with every acceleration. Something a little like this:

Image via Ducati.

With the Cyclologic ENVE upgrade package thrown into the mix? It's a little more... How do I put this?

Special.

Image via MotorSport.com

Yeah.

The Orbea Orca is that good.

Stay tuned for more updates. I'll be writing in more depth about the Orca, Dura-Ace 9100, crank length optimization, and the ENVE upgrade in the next few weeks. 

For now, just sit back and enjoy the view. 

I know I am.

Ben Serotta and Modomio

Sit back and relax a bit. I'm going to tell you a story. It's a little long, but trust me... The payoff at the end is totally worth it. 

The blue tint is what got me... Inside, under the shop fluorescents, the tubes were almost black, but out in the sun, where the bike belonged, they *sparkled* metallic blue. The carbon tubes in my Serotta Ottrott ST were unlike anything I had ever seen before. They were perfect in their naked glory. There was no need to hide any imperfections under paint, because... 

...there were no imperfections.

The carbon tubes were joined to shaped titanium lugs. The finish was impeccable. There wasn't a single drop of the clear coat from the carbon anywhere on the titanium. It was flawless.

And how did it ride?

It's been more than ten years, and I still have dreams about riding that bike. 

Sublime.

My love affair with Serotta goes way back. I'd always wanted one. I'd watched my heroes Davis Phinney and Andy Hampsten do impossibly beautiful things on theirs. Ben built bikes for the best, most discriminating riders in the world, and now...

He had made one for me.

And it was a beautiful, beautiful relationship.

As a matter of fact I  almost went to work for Ben once. I had been part of his trade show team, and my enthusiasm was evident. At the time Serotta had a one-of-a-kind carbon fiber factory in Poway, California. The front half of the building was a perfect place for a fit studio, and Ben offered it to me. My wife and I had just had our first child, and as much as I wanted to pick up everything and move out there, it simply wan't the right time.

Then we had our second child and life happened, and I had to sell my Serotta. I comforted myself with the knowledge that Ben was still out there making bikes. I could always get another one.

But then...

My friend Paraic McGlynn (who actually did work with Ben... more on that in a future blog post!) called and told me that Serotta had closed their doors.

Ben was no longer making bikes.

I have regretted selling my Ottrott ever since. The cycling community let out a collective gasp, and Serotta owners worldwide took their bikes out on long rides in Ben's honor. It was a sad moment in cycling history.

But don't worry. The story get's better. 

Way better.

You see, Paraic sent me an email the other day. He had just gotten off the phone with Ben, and guess what?

BEN SEROTTA IS BACK!

That's right! Ben is back making bikes again! His new company is called Modomio! ("Modo Mio" translates to "my way" in Italian.)

(photos by Danny Goodwin)

Let me say that again.

BEN SEROTTA IS BACK!

But wait! It gets even better! Cyclologic is very proud to announce that we are one of only four shops in the world that can offer you one of these bikes.

They are made one at a time, and are as perfect and flawless as anything Ben has ever made. We are so excited to be able to be a part of Ben's return, and can't wait to see the amazing creations he comes up with. 

For more information, please give us a call. We'd love to talk to you about creating your very own, one of a kind masterpiece made by the man himself.

Welcome back Ben. We have missed you more than you'll ever know.

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Check this out! It's Cyclologic's own Paraic McGlynn back when he was the head of the Serotta Fit School! Stay tuned for a blog post by Paraic about his time working with Ben.

Cupcake

This is the story of a man and a cupcake. Or is it about a cupcake and a man? I can’t remember. Oh wait… I know. It’s about a man who loves cupcakes. (mmmmm… cupcakes)

Who is that man? Me.

And boy do I love me some cupcakes.

This is a problem. You see, I am also a man that has two little kids, an exhausted wife (did I mention the two little kids?), a full time job, and 30 minutes a day to myself. That’s it. It’s hard to stay in shape when you only have 30 minutes a day to work out, and a love of cupcakes. Well actually, it’s easy to stay in shape…

It’s just that the shape I’m in lately resembles that of a pear.

I’ve never been the kind of guy that will work-out inside. I’m not going to ride a trainer. I’m not going to buy a gym membership.

I’m just not.

I love being outside, and the thought of staring at a TV screen while I mindlessly churn out miles just sounds awful. I need fresh air. I need sunshine. I need to see the horizon. I also need a goal. I need something to focus on. I need a reason to get out the door that is more compelling than a second cup of coffee.

I’m also a little competitive. If I am going to train for something, I don’t want to just participate. I want to race. I want to give it a little gas. So what do I do? What can I train for in only 30 minutes a day that will deal with both the cupcake problem and my need for speed?

Cyclocross, that’s what.

Arizona has a surprisingly robust cross scene, and a fantastic race series. No, there isn’t very much mud, but there is a ton of sand, and some amazing venues. Cyclocross races (in the categories I would be participating in) last 30-45 minutes. Perfect! I could do that!

Now there was only one problem. I needed a cross bike.

So I did what any self respecting bike geek would do, and I scoured the internet. I read reviews. I poured through the forums. I watched the races, and I compared all of the different models. I am a huge Sven Nys fan, and I was definitely interested in the carbon uber-bike that Trek built for him…

The Boone.

It’s a beautiful, incredibly well thought out bike. I was all but decided on getting one, and was taking one last sweep through the Trek website, when I did something I hadn’t done before.

I scrolled to the bottom of the page.

And then I saw it.

The Crockett.

And I immediately fell in love. That color! It took me back to the late 80s and early 90s. Back to when I first fell in love with cycling. At that time, all of the pro teams were decked out in pretty flamboyant kit. Pink and celeste and neon ruled. It was all very Miami Vice.

I had to have this bike. I asked Paraic to size me up on our size cycle, and boy am I glad that I did. I was all set to order a 56, but the measurements we came to lined up closer to the 58. I can’t stress enough how highly I recommend that you do this before you make a bike purchase. I would have been sooooooooo disappointed to build up that bike and to only then find out that it wasn’t right.

So I ordered the correct size frameset, and started gathering all of the parts I would need.

I already had a set of tubeless cross wheels that I wanted to use. They were a little old, but were built up on super smooth 10 speed hubs. I’d only put a few hundred miles on them, and it seemed a shame to not get them dirty. I bought a tried and true Ultegra groupset, and a Zipp cockpit and seatpost.

I think it turned out pretty freaking beautiful!

I know, I know. Looks are one thing, but how does it ride?

In a word? Deliciously.

I have ridden the Crockett on grass, in sand, and on hardpack desert trails. It handles it all. A few thoughts.

1- Tubeless cross tires and wheels are the way to go. Depending on the terrain, I have run mine at anywhere from 32 to 45 psi, and I’ll never go back to tubes again. The lower psi is super forgiving, and the increased size of the contact patch gives traction for days. Leaning into a loose corner? No problem. Wet off camber section? Easy peezy. No more pinch flats? Hallelujah.

2- Trek flat out nailed the geometry on this bike. The IsoSpeed fork tracks like a laser, and the slightly relaxed rake has saved me on more than one occasion on steep downhills. The longer wheelbase feels stable in the bumps, but I have never felt limited when going around tight switchbacks. Getting the wheels off the ground for bunny hops or step-ups feels as natural as it does on my mountain bike.

3- White bar tape on a cross bike is ridiculous (but it looks soooooooooo good).

4- The Ultegra 10 speed is solid, dependable, a ton of bang for your buck, and... for some reason, feels slow on this bike. The Crockett begs to be ridden fast. It dives into corners and is super snappy coming out of them. It shines out of the saddle, and practically begs you to sprint at every opportunity. As good as the Ultegra 10 speed is, I found myself wishing it would respond just a little faster. I have an 11 speed group set on a different bike, and I am going to switch it over. I’m pretty sure that the extra tension in the 11 speed set will be a better match to how quick the Crockett feels. I guess my almost new 10 speed wheels will have to find a new home as well.

In the end, I have fallen in love with the Crockett. It allows me to ride at the very limit of my ability, and makes me want to ride more. I can’t wait to race it this fall.

A bike this good, a bike with this much character, deserves a name. What did we end up calling it? 

“Cupcake,” of course.

Paint

This is a stunning paint job. The colors pop in the sun.

IsoSpeed Fork

This thing is genius. It gives you added rake for stability, but without making the bike steer like a truck. 

Cockpit

Flat top bar and stem from Zipp, and color coordinated Hudz with matching Bontrager bar tape.

Cables

The cables are routed one each in front of and behind the bar to give me a little more surface area for those long Arizona dirt road climbs.

Details

Lots of spacers right now in the off season. The position will gradually get lower and longer as the races get closer, and my fitness, core strength and flexibility improve.

Pedals

XTR pedals... Simply the best.

Brakes

Stopping power provided by Shimano. They have a really nice finish, and work fantastic. 

Versatility

Note the in-line barrel adjusters. They allow me to run different width rims with a simple, quick adjustment.

Internal Routing

Jagwire cables and housing combined with super clean internal routing keeps the muck from messing up your shifting.

More Details

So clean! I love how the Trek design team thought of everything.

So here's the thing. The Crockett rides so well, and is so much fun, that I can't help but wonder what it would be like to try out a Boone.

Carbon.

Rear IsoSpeed decoupler.

Disk brakes.

Bontrager tubeless wheels.

Hmmmmmm... (Don't tell Cupcake. We don't want her getting jealous.)

Custom EVERYTHING!

The good guys and gals at Parlee just posted this picture up on their Instagram account.

Words fail me. There is so much about this bike that I love. Where do I begin...

Lets start with the obvious. That paint! Holy smokes! No stickers on that frame! The masking and attention to detail is stunning.

And then there are the tires, and the hoods, and the pedals... All carefully chosen to compliment the frame. It is all so well thought out!

Did you know that Cyclologic builds bikes like this all the time? It's true. We can customize anything and everything about your dream ride. From the materials and the geometry to the paint and the accessories. We can do it all. 

Our staff are experts at making sure that everything about your next bike is exactly how you want it. Dream big. Challenge us. We will make sure that everything works, and looks, perfect. We are so passionate about building you your perfect ride, that we even have a dedicated area of the store for us to sit down together and plan things out. 

Call us today and schedule some time. We will show you all of the options, let you know which products work best together, which ones to avoid, and most importantly, which ones are most suited for the way you ride.

Your dream bike is waiting for you... 

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Alchemy Gravel Grinder

RoadBikeAction.com recently reported on Alchemy’s new gravel grinder deemed theAithon. Alchemy produces bikes that are hand-rolled from carbon sheet in Denver, Colorado. As with Parlee, they are quintessential producers of the HORS equipment. Full custom, made to order. We have quite a few clients on them now.

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Parlee + Movado = AMAZING

Everything about Parlee bicycles invokes a love for riding. As a preferred dealer, each Parlee that arrives to the studio is built from the ground up. What we see is an exquisite representation of cutting edge, hand made bicycle design. Bob Parlee and his crew at Parlee understand carbon and They have a focused attention to detail. For us, then, it comes as little surprise that Movado teamed up with them to meld the intrinsic association between cycling and chronometry, which, in a word, is HORS.

                                                      Photo via Movado.com

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Felt Carbon Technology

As experts in the business of cycling, we are critical about the products  we ride, service and provide for our clients. It just so happens that recently there has been a fair amount of press around these very products. From the IA4 (deemed the P5 Slayer) to Parlee and Alchemy there is no loss for details and exacting performance in our lineup.

                                                                Photo via VeloNews.com

The venerable Leonard Zinn – writing for Velo News – relays six reasons why Felt’s production & design produce a better bike. Their carbon layup will suprise you, and we can tell you, as a Felt dealer we build every one that comes into the studio and the details are what you want in a bike. Leonard states as much in his review:

“not a marketing-driven company. Rather, it is a product-driven company, and has been ever since Jim Felt started making custom aluminum bikes with his name on them decades ago. Felt employs a small team of talented engineers, and the company and its product line are too small for them to be dedicated to single categories. Instead, ideas that work on road bikes rapidly cross-pollinate to mountain, cyclocross, and track bikes, and vice versa.”

You can also learn the quick history of Felt Bicycles on their Wiki page where the have history for days. If you’re local to the Phoenix Valley, we’ve got a grip of Felt bikes at the studio including the IA4 below:

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Alexis

Thank you so much for yesterday! I had such a great time. It was so awesome to hear all that information. Thinking about it now I didn’t realize so much goes into a bike fit. I can’t believe the difference it made in the past 2 days. I feel so much more comfortable. You guys were awesome.

Thank you,

Alexis

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Andy

Dear Cyclologic team,

I just wanted to say “thanks again” for the great service you have provided me. In the three years I have been working with you, my cycling life has continued to get better. And consequently, the rest of my life has improved as well. Prior to my first fit, I was in constant pain. My lower back was so tight that it not only affected my time on the bike but affected every aspect of my life. Even with the pain, I had no intention of giving up cycling. I just accepted that as part of my life. Since you changed my position on the bike, my lower back pain is no longer an issue (the chiropractors I worked with are not happy with you though as I no longer see them). With that, my personal life has improved as well. You have gained a client forever. Regardless of where I am living in the world, I will seek you out every time I get a new bike.

Thanks again.

Regards, Andy

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Kerry's Fit-First Testimonial

My bike has always been my partner in crime. I didn’t care that she was a little rough around the edges. I wore my saddle sores and numb toes like badges of honor. That is, until my mileage increased.

“Have you ever been properly fit on your bike?”

This innocuous question would lead me into the capable hands of the Cyclologic team. What I assumed would be a standard process was anything but, permanently changing my relationship to my bike and how I viewed my own physiology.

Whereas Cyclologic’s “Fit First” system would define me mathematically and analytically, it was Paraic and Steven’s ability to breathe life into my data that made my experience profound. Surrounded by digital displays and best of breed technology, I observed the dance between science and intuition as each minute adjustment brought me closer to the perfect fit.

4 months and 3,500 miles later, the obstacles that stood in the way of my optimal performance have been stripped away. I still have to train hard, but I no longer worry about the bike. It’s become an extension of me and my inner bad-ass.

Kerry Hebert
Lead UX Designer/Ardent Cyclist

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