Should Have Snow Pics

But, I forgot the camera ... again.

So, get out and SKI!

Most of all, thanks to one and all for your support during the past year. 2009 is not going to start off on a positive economic note, but should improve as we move forward, so there is no excuse for not getting new skis and, of course, a new bike. So, we'll see you in the shop real soon!

Let it Snow!

PLEASE???

Winter Riding

I know that it's ski season, but there are still plenty of people riding their bikes. Some commuters and some mountain bikers and some die hard road bikers. It's awesome to see people braving the weather to ride. For those who disdain cold weather though, like me, there is the trainer. The picture is my bike on my trainer in my living room. I watch movies and peddle away. Today, I watched L. A. Confidential ... great movie.

What's the forecast?

It's Snowing!

Look out the window ...

This Saturday is Nordic Skiing Team Day @ Revolution. We'll be joined by representatives of Rossignol and Atomic. There will be wax clinics and refreshments will be served. We'll throw in free ski straps, a water bottle, a scraper and give you 30% off any ski bag with the purchase or lease of skis. In addition, you get an extra 5%, for a total 20% off clothing, gloves, hats & etc. and there will be drawings for prizes.

It's Cross Country Ski Season

Just think, if we lived in Syracuse, NY we'd be up to our armpits in snow! Not only that, less than 100 miles from the site of the World Series, there's a foot of snow on the ground!

Pretty soon! Better hurry and get geared up.

Team Night is now Team Day ... Saturday November 15, 2008. Wax Clinics, Rossignol and Atomic Representatives and special deals. Don't miss it!

It's Patriotic - Ride A Bike!

I'm always going on about how important it is to ride a bike. Well, guess what, this poster was sent to me by none other than W him self! How do ya like them apples?

Save A Varmint

I was just looking at the International Bicycling Fund's web site, the link is: http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/benefits.htm fifty plus reasons to ride a bike. Towards the bottom is an interesting topic to think about. To wit, if we all rode and stopped driving, there would be no more killing of innocent varmints, defined as an objectionable animal or person. Just think, each of us could have a deer and a possum and a squirrel and a skunk (my personal favorite) and a garter snake ... the list just goes on ...

Anyhow, just one of the many reasons to ride. Get rid of that car!

BUY A NEW BIKE!

Stimulate the economy, buy a new bike! It's patriotic. How about one like this?

Get Out and Ride!

It'll make you feel better. Why, I'd be willing to bet, that if everyone in the USofA rode their bikes today, that the whole financial crisis would be solved - it's just that simple, or is it?

The Last Four Months

Golly, I forgot that you're supposed to blog every day ... sorry. Anyhow, I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that nobody reads this blog anyhow. Just in case though, here is an update on what has been happening, from the Revolution perspective, in the local bicycling scene since my last post.

Most importantly, the people of greater St. Cloud have begun to find the shop. As has been the case for some time, these are savvy shoppers with an eye for a bargain. We have really been encouraged however, by the number of bike buyers that have gone to all of the other shops in town and then come back to ours to make their purchase. We can't say this enough, thanks to all of our clients that have recommended us to friends ... we really appreciate very much.

Next, is an interesting phenomena that has occurred since the beginning of July. That is, when gasoline was at $4.00 per gallon, we were as busy as a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest. Now that gas has dropped back to $3.50, sales have slowed a bit. My guess is, that reliance on the automobile is so much a part of the American psyche, that a fall from July's gas price levels is considered a positive and has granted "permission" to drivers to get back in the car. Nationally though, bike sales are up and the prospect for a continuation is relatively high. Let's hope that bike sales are, in fact, counter-cyclical.

Speaking of bike sales, I wonder just how far Trek had to go to get Lance back on his bike. I would never criticise lance Armstrong for anything. In my mind, the man is a genuine hero. What he has done, on and off the bike, e.g., raising cancer awareness, sets a paradigm for all of us to aspire to. Not only that, but his success at the Tour is the single most important element in the popularity of road cycling in this country. It is my fervent hope therefore, that Lance does not end up like many retired athletes when they grasp at a come-back.

Anyhow, back to the shop. Winter will soon be upon us and that means that it is almost Cross Country skiing season. I really wish that we'd get some big rain between now and the freeze. We need water in the ground to create snow conditions in the atmosphere. More snow means more sales but ... let's face it though, everybody has fun in the snow!

Let it snow!

Er, The Nice Weather is Here?

Since my last post, we've had three snow storms ... it would be most unfortunate if all my predictions were as accurate. NO MORE ABOUT THE WEATHER!

Have you all been riding to work? After the snow and the cold and the flu, I've finally gotten back on my bike. It's simply the best way to get to work that there is. We put a ride versus drive cost calculator on the Revolution Home page - http://revolutioncycleandski.com - at these prices, you can afford a new bike REAL fast. That's only the half of it though. There's the whole freedom thing and the knowledge that you're not contributing to the whole global warming thing and the whole carbon footprint thing and a few more that I can't think of off of the top of my head. The real point is, it's a whole lot better to ride a bike than to drive a car no matter what! So get out there and ride. Thank you.

Spin Into Spring

Whew, this has been a VERY long winter. I know, it's only March 6 and this is Minnesota and it is going to be negative 10 degrees tonight but, hope springs eternal and the nice weather is right around the corner. Why, it was light at 6:20 last night.

What all this means, is that it is time to get back on your bike. Time to be out on the road or the trail and simply enjoying the extraordinary realization that a bicycle is THE most amazing machine on Earth ... period! A few years ago, Scientific American did an article in which it was stated that the bicycle is the most efficient means of locomotion. This is abundantly obvious to any and all cyclists. Throw that road bike onto the big ring and get the old RPM's up ... amazing! What power! What speed! What puke ... ooh, I forgot to train this winter. Anyhow RIDE!

Write, What?

It would seem, that there is more to this blogging than what one supposed when one took on the awesome responsibility of agreeing to keep the legions of Revolution Cycle and Ski fans entertained with a (daily) blog. Sorry for the U Tube stuff - it's easy and people under 30 really need to get into Monty Python. Their satire is as relavent today as it was 30 years ago - most of us need to be reminded not to take ourselves too seriously.

Here is a topic that we've been debating; does the bicycle industry have any (economic) counter cyclical properties? Huh? If you think about some of the factors that may depress consumer spending, such as the price of gasoline, what better way to counteract it than by riding a bike?

Let us know what you think.