Don’t miss out — you have until midnight Sunday night to save up to 30% on everything at terrybicycles.com. May we recommend …
This is an exceptionally manageable ride in a congested area with many bike paths and well-lined bike lanes. Even the Golden Gate Bridge, with many camera-laden pedestrians is cycle friendly.
1. Corte Madera to Lombard St in downtown San Francisco: round trip 54 miles along Paradise Drive, rounding Tiburon peninsula and cruising past floating houses before crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on down through Presidio.
2. Sausalito to Lombard St in downtown San Francisco: round trip 16 miles following Bridgeway and Alexander Ave, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on down through Presidio and along Old Mason St and Marina Ave.
Best Western Corte Madera: Best of the Best Westerns. Inexpensive, good restaurants and beer pubs close by.
Casa Madrona Hotel (Sausalito): moderately priced hip hotel in downtown Sausalito with spectacular views of the bay and San Francisco skyline.
Enjoy a glass of wine or a craft beer at sunset on the upper deck of the Barrel House Tavern in Sausalito.
Bicycle Odyssey, Mike’s Bikes, Sports Basement
Of another sort, obviously. It occurs to us that like the crazy cat lady, we ride close to the edge of reasonable behavior when it comes to our bike passion. Just how far can one go before being dubbed the crazy bike lady?
Don’t miss out on our AWESOME sale; 30% off our select group of bike-friendly dresses, skirts and footwear. Enter DRESSBM6 at checkout and receive your discount. Plus, you’ll get FREE SHIPPING over $50 on your order so it’s a doubly great deal.
From moms who work for us, to our lovely mothers who got us rolling way back when, we feel SO LUCKY to have these red hot mama remembrances to share with you. Happy Mother’s Day to all…
“I don’t have anything funny or particularly interesting, however, in London, 1943, WWII still on, I would ride to school on my bike every day with my books on my back and sometimes a hockey stick or tennis racket across my handlebars. It was along Fulham Palace Road, across Putney Bridge and up Putney High Street with cars and buses all around me. I was 15/16, wearing school uniform and no helmet! Summer weekends my friend Jean and I (still good friends) would take off on our bikes with no plans and ask farmers if we could camp in their field for the night. Would not happen today! I don’t know what a blog is but this is all I’ve got!”
“When my parents were first married and my dad started a new teaching job “down South” in England, in the late 1950s, they spent a lot of their free time roaming the countryside on an old tandem bike. As far as I know that was all the cycling my Mum ever did. It wasn’t until after she passed away, and my sister found a small pile of postcards that Mum had originally sent to her parents, that I got to see exactly where they had ridden together. She had sent cards from some of the same towns I rode through myself when I explored the back roads within a day’s hard ride from Reading, where I went to University.”
“My mom is 85 years old and still rides her stationary bike almost every day; yes–with a Terry saddle!”
My mom’s childhood cycling memories are some of her favorites. She grew up in a beautiful Western New York town with endless tree lined streets, Erie canal views, and best friends to fill her cycling summers. She still speaks very fondly of her 1940’s Victory Bicycle which was her birthday present on May 7th, 1945, the day Nazi Germany surrendered in WWII. It was a Monday and school was closed due to the big news.
Here’s the story behind that bicycle – a wonderful slice of American History.
“We look alike: the only difference is the color of the Bella Short seams. Ruthie goes pink and me, gray as my hair could be. From downtown tapas and art galleries to gentle mountain climbs, a great first big road ride with my 24 year old.”
“Growing up in a single-parent household posed its challenges, but my mom did it with grace having little support or assistance. Her love for “everything” outdoors has stayed with me and as I reflect back with Mother’s Day fast approaching and Bike Month upon us, I’m taken back to when I was kid and we shared a 3-speed bicycle (not enough money for two).
All my friends had cool bikes and I was stuck with the “old lady” bike (gears meant nothing back then). I wanted a “cool” bike like everyone else and much to my delight… one summer day, mom came home with a new bike! It was purple, sparkly, all mine and just perfect – like mom. Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Bike Month!”
“I don’t ever remember my mother going near a bicycle, but back in the 60’s, she volunteered to be the Cub Scout leader for my brother and his buddies. This photo was the day the big idea for their project was to ride bicycles to the local hot spot in town and pick up trash. I can’t imagine Helen on a bicycle–with this band of boys–headed down the cemetery hill to the Hi Hat drive inn, but she led the way and lived to tell about it. She retired from Cub Scouting shortly thereafter.”
Brick Wheels is the largest bike store in Northern Michigan which allows them to carry an extensive selection of bikes, accessories and cycling apparel. Owner, Tim Brick, opened this store 42 years ago and has always been a pioneer in carrying many products 2-3 years before they become some of the hottest trends. He has a talent for forward thinking in this industry and is not afraid to take the risk of introducing new product, which is why Brick Wheels is so unique and is always a delightful shopping experience.
Why do you think women choose to shop at your store?
We offer a huge selection and variety of everything bike. The longevity of our staff and willingness to go above and beyond for customer service makes us recognized in the community as well as in our shop. We are very proud to show you what we have and what we know.
We have 5 women on staff with a combined 65 years’ experience here at Brick Wheels that have been active in cycling and have various interests so we are able to relate to our women customers in order to make them comfortable shopping here and find the right products for them.
When you enter our store you are welcomed with a pleasing display of all of our women’s cycling clothing along with other active wear. We choose active wear that can be mixed with our cycling lifestyle wear in order to blend with our new demand for bike to work population and also for our more casual riders.
Why do you sell Terry?
We sell Terry because the products are high quality. Also, our customers are huge fans and love to come in and see their favorite Terry gear on the shelf.
When a new-to-cycling female customer comes in, what’s the first thing you tell her about cycling?
Start out nice and easy, enjoy yourself, and progress gradually.
We’re all for having your essentials front and center on your bike, particularly when touring. The challenge is that putting a bag on your handlebar can be a wobbly affair, causing some serious steering issues if things aren’t balanced and tethered appropriately. The good news is that there are many solutions from extremely practical to the purse-onification of style.
Materials range from latest in technical waterproof cordura to classic cotton duck. The original bags from way back were French and had a clear sleeve on top for a map. The map pocket concept has survived as the need persists for on-bike navigation, but the sleeve now must allow for smartphone touch. Most bags are rectangular or squarish in shape, with top flap and outer pockets that allow for all manner of handiness.
One of the highest tech options comes from Thule and has a unique, aero design, click-in attachment and built-in reflective fabric (with a front mesh pouch that’s a handy place for a light/reflector.
Delightful Dill Pickle is definitely more substantial and has a wedge shape that maximizes stowable space.
Arkel splits the difference between new and old school, made of ballistic materials, with waterproof main compartment.
For something a little less tour and a little more purse, we carry the Sunset Handlebar Bag from Timbuk2. One of the easiest to attach (via metallic leather straps), it’s big enough for a bottle of wine (!) and makes a stylish alternative off bike.
Beautifully retro, made in the USA, Acorn makes a variety of bag options for bicycling. The Handlebar Bag is simple to attach (via leather straps) and made of a heavyweight waxed cotton canvas.
Quintessentially British, the Pashley Handlebar Bag is a very chic, hand-stitched leather option with box gusset ends.
Po Campo is another favorite brand, doing it up big for women’s cycling with the Six Corners bag that easily converts to a cross-body option off the bike.
“Buying a bicycle with a Terry saddle and meeting Georgena Terry 22 years ago changed everything for me. I took one look at what she was doing (at a time when NOBODY was focused on making things for women) and knew I’d found a marketer’s dream. I’m lucky to have worked with a passionate team and committed partners who love what they do – this has been the ride of a lifetime.” So says Paula Dyba, Terry VP Marketing and Creative Director, who was honored by the Direct Marketing News 2016 Hall of Femme last month in New York City.
Reprinted with permission from DirectMarketingNews.com, April 8, 2016:
Marketing is more like staying steady on a unicycle while juggling than simply riding a bike. It requires balancing creativity with customer insights, and Dyba knows how to do just that. During her agency days, she helped lead the import launch of then unfamiliar car manufacturer Hyundai Motor America and overcame concerns associated with buying a Korean vehicle. And as VP of marketing and creative director for women’s cycling company Terry Bicycles, she’s pioneered new e-commerce, product and catalog merchandising strategies…
Marketing strategy: My approach is customer-centric…At Terry Bicycles, we’re totally focused on female cyclists, and we’ve built relationships with our customers who absolutely love us and evangelize for our products. At the beginning, we knew there was demand in the market, but the supply chain was stuck. Bike shops just weren’t ready for a “woman’s section” 25 years ago. So, we invented our own marketing channel and went direct to the customer via catalog. It was an instant success and we’ve built the brand, customer by customer, ever since. We put the customer experience ahead of everything we do, and have built a reputation for being the problem solvers for female cyclists.
Defining moment: I bought a bicycle. It was at a time when I was working in New York for a big advertising agency pitching car accounts. In between pitches, I went into a bike shop in upstate New York, bought a bike, and the salesperson sold me a Terry saddle. I’d never heard of the company but turns out it was right down the road. I met the owner, Georgena Terry, and I asked her why I’d never heard of her company. She said she didn’t have a marketing person. I left advertising that moment. I felt like I’d found a marketer’s dream. Terry was the first women-specific bike company at a time when women-specific products were not around in cycling, nor really anywhere else. Shifting careers completely from agency to client, from multi-million dollar ad budgets to nearly zero, from cars to bicycles was a huge step and the defining moment for me as a marketer.
Trend watching: For us as direct marketers, our customers’ move to mobile is something we’re not only watching, but also putting tons of time and energy into. It’s changing everything about the way we interact individually, as families, as marketers and as retail businesses. The challenges of presenting a brand in a completely new and super-small format, figuring out how to market in this new arena, and simplifying the buying process is only going to grow and require new tool and new ways of engaging with our customers.
Marketing staff must-have: First, the ability to write well; second, creative enthusiasm/curiosity. One is pretty easy to evaluate and the other much harder. Both traits are critical in an innovative business environment where customer relationships, engagement and product development are necessities.
Advice to young marketers: Find a product category that absorbs you. Find the best company in that category and get yourself in the door at whatever level you can.
Or better yet, walk into your local bike shop and buy something…you never know where that might lead.
The beauty of a bike tour designed for women is more than location deep. There’s great esprit de corps, unlimited laughing, improved confidence and the opportunity to build your cycling skills in the safety of new friends who have “been there done that”, or “are there doing that.” Come join us in Vermont for a very special, very Terry tour.
When: Thursday, June 16th through Sunday, June 19th. Join this relaxed, educational and social gathering that’s specifically designed for women interested in cycling – from those just getting into the sport to those who’ve been riding for years. Learn more about cycling skills, bike fit for women, nutrition, fitness for cycling, and basic road repairs, all while enjoying miles of fabulous rides in the company of like-minded women.
Where: This long weekend version of Sojourn’s award-winning tour of the Lake Champlain Valley, features Vermont’s prized country roads and picture book landscapes. You’ll ride through historic covered bridges and explore quaint villages in one of the most beautiful states in the US. Gentle valley farmland offers miles of fabulous cycling, and the nearby foothills of the Green Mountains provide challenging options for stronger riders.
The Basin Harbor Club, a classic turn-of-the-century lakeside resort, is the perfect setting for this event as it offers tranquility along with a variety of amenities such as watercraft, tennis, golf, and its very own pub. Riders also get the opportunity to purchase the best in women’s cycling clothing and accessories at discounted pricing. Join us for this very special long weekend and make new friends, learn about women’s cycling-related topics, and enjoy this stunningly beautiful lakeside setting.
Previously offered in early autumn, Sojourn is now offering their Women’s Weekend in mid-June to better suit busy schedules, take advantage of longer days and to start the cycling summer on a high note.
Sign up here: Find more details and itinerary, click here: GoSojourn.com/Terry-Vermont-Bicycle-Tour
What to take on a tour? We get asked this question every day so we feel qualified to share our recommendations. Wicking, loose-fit jerseys with open pockets are a wonderful start, but the bottoms are really the critical item of clothing you want to be sure you’re outfitted properly with. We have a whole line of bottoms designed for touring. They are made of super fast drying T-Dry fabric and they’re outfitted with features specifically created for the needs of tourists: zip pocket (big enough for your iPhone) in case you don’t want to wear a jersey with pockets; higher density Flex Air Tour chamois (designed to give you a little extra padding but also is fully perforated for longer distance comfort); and a multitude of length and size choices (5″ shorter length; 8″ regular mid thigh; 10″ long that’s just above the knee; 17″ knicker just below the knee; full length tights in petite, regular and tall; plus sizes in short, knicker and tight).
Outerwear that not only protects from the elements, but gives you a high visibility advantage with traffic.
Giro Riela with recessed cleat bed that let you ride comfortably without tap dancing off the bike
Protective gloves with enough padding & ventilation
And a little something special to wear to dinner…
One less mile in a car. One more friend on a bike. Celebrate all good things that biking has to offer this month everywhere you go and with everyone you know.
