The Outspoken Cyclist – 07/07/2012

Is it weather or climate? I have no idea, but I do know it’s freakin’ hot in northeast Ohio right now. Twenty-eight years ago, I moved away from the Missouri heat, and now it’s tracked me down and wants to spend the summer sleeping on my couch. And the Arizona heat, sensing a vacancy in Missouri, has taken up residence there this year. Oy!

But you came here to talk cycling, so let’s dive right in. First up is a return appearance by Chuck Harmon and Rachel Apple and their group of students from the Bronx Lab School, who are cycling around Ohio this week as part of the school’s innovative “Explore Weeks”.

If you’ve ever wanted to maintain or repair your own bike, Daimeon “Daimo” Shanks can help you with that. A former pro tour mechanic and co-owner of The Service Course (a repair-only bike shop) in Boulder, Colorado, has written a new book called Essential Bicycle Maintenance & Repair. The book targets the DIYer, and includes anecdotes from Daimo’s days wrenching on bikes in the pro peloton.

Finally, if you’re a mountain biker looking for a bucket list challenge, consider the TransRockies Challenge, coming up in late July. It’s a 3, 4, or 7-day mountain bike stage race in the Canadian Rockies with full nightly camp support. On the line from Seattle and Vancouver, we have Aaron McConnell & Simon Parker to tell you about this unique event, and how you can enter.