On a brisk Saturday morning in early May, Terry team members Colin Sturgess, David Howard, Serena Wilcox, Jeannette Segale, Karyn Lewis and Megan Peek (from BCBS) all joined me on the Burlington waterfront for the first Wellness Revolution weekend ride of 2019, along with approximately 30 participants!
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Jeannette prepares her group for the long-ride.
The bright green Giro helmets made quite a visual. Everyone was timely, and happy to help! I could not be happier with the morning, a wonderful confidence-builder in the series of workshops and group activities of our ever-popular Wellness program.
Our group began riding on the bike path, and two chain drops later we assembled at Leddy Park, where the participants were given 3 options for ride length.
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Karyn in her element, leading and inspiring!Dave, Colin, and Lisa – ready for action.
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Option one was to continue to the Causeway for more mileage (led by Jeannette and Serena). Option 2 was a North Ave option to practice road riding (led by Karyn and Dave) and option 3 was to return on the bike path (led by Lisa and Megan). All the while Colin kept track of us from his truck…not an easy task.
All three groups prevailed and a truly good time was had by all! Some of us have “barely been on a bike in decades,” others just needed a brush up on their urban cycling skills. It’s wonderful to see the groups come together, women young and young-at-heart gain confidence in their skills, and everyone enjoying cycling more as part of a healthy lifestyle.
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This is the time of year to get your ride calendar booked. Here are a few upcoming women’s cycling events, a few of which we are sponsoring.
Tour de Fleur, May 5, Billings MT
The Tour de Fleur is an annual May event that celebrates women, spring and the joy of bicycling. Launched by Billings Trail Net Executive Director, Kristi Drake, this TDF welcomes riders who decorate their bikes and themselves in floral regalia and set out amid a shower of fresh petals tossed by encouraging fans and family members. Terry will be there so come say hello, or better yet, sign up to ride here.
Cindyrella Classic, May 11-12, Wisconsin
Mother’s Day weekend benefit rides with optional routes and all kinds of goodness.
PIGTAILS at Prairie Trail is a fun bicycle event geared towards women. One-day, 48-mile springtime fun ride starts and ends in Ankeny’s Prairie Trail and rides the High Trestle Trail.
The 32nd annual edition!! Little Red is a woman-only event that raises money to fight breast and ovarian cancer through the research efforts of the Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Spend the day riding through the beautiful Cache Valley in Northern Utah, with a choice of five different routes.
Be a part of the largest women’s mountain bike event in the world at the 10th Annual Beti Bike Bash. Whether you like to ride, race or just enjoy riding with your friends, the Beti Bike Bash brings together the cycling community in a unique and supportive environment. The highlight of the weekend is a women’s mountain bike race catered to all levels. If you want to learn more skills and gain confidence on the bike, join the VIDA MTB Series clinic on Saturday, and check out the Little Bellas for ages 8 to 13.
Idaho’s premier ladies-only bicycle ride that boasts 5 scenic distances (from 10 to 100 miles), catering to beginners and accomplished riders alike. Fully supported (by prince charmings) and lots of fun.
Every spring, groups of savvy cyclists descend upon Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton. For a few short weeks, select roads in these select parks are open to cyclists only as the Park Service prepares to re-open to the onslaught of RVs and vacationers. Roads are plowed out, no services are available, animals are awakening and the natural features are all yours.
Solitude and Post Ride Facial at Mammoth Terraces
For some, this is an annual must-ride. For others, it’s on the cycling bucket wish list. For the Missoula Montana crew, it’s a traveling party complete with costumes, mothers-in-law on tandems and kick-off bloodies at the Two-Bit Saloon in Gardiner.
7 year veterans, Kylie & Kirsa
Of course it’s not without its challenges as weather can be extreme, animals unpredictable, cell service nonexistent and you need to be totally self sufficient. I find it a true test of apparel and bike packing. This year was a particularly excellent testing opportunity for GORE’s new Infinium technology (coming Fall19) which combines GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® into a shockingly light but thermal package. Look for it in the Fall19 Terry catalog.
In addition to Yellowstone, the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park and Grand Teton opens for cyclists in late April, providing a car-free experience that will spoil you forever.
Arriving daily at Terry, our new Summer Cycling Collection may be our best yet. From our limited-edition Tour de France themed prints to our high performance new Rebel Cycling Skort, to the latest in cycling accessories, we’ve brightened, lightened and loosened things up this season. Enjoy this preview.
Breakaway Jersey, Newsprint (100th anniversary of the yellow jersey)
Wondering if it’s time to replace your bike helmet?
Here are the facts about when to replace your helmet, and the truth about some myths you may have heard.
Quick version: Replace your bike helmet immediately if any of the following are true:
You crashed while wearing it
You dropped it hard enough to do visible damage
It was made in the 1970s or early ’80s
It doesn’t have a CPSC, ASTM or Snell sticker inside
You can’t adjust it to fit correctly
Many sources say replace your bike helmet after 3 years, apparently to sell more helmets – the reasons often given are not true (see Common Myths About Helmet Replacement).
Snell, one of the major testing organizations, says replace every 5 years, based on what they call a prudent safety philosophy.
8 years seems to be a reasonable maximum bike helmet lifetime, based on one manufacturer’s helmet degradation testing, as described on helmets.org.
Fashion and style are great reasons to replace your helmet: the whole point is to enjoy cycling with good head protection. If your helmet looks and feels good then surely you’ll enjoy the ride more, while being as safe as possible.
More detailed information about when to replace your bike helmet
Your bike helmet was crashed, dropped, or damaged
Tracy Flucke’s bike helmet after her crash, obviously in need of immediate replacement.
If you are in a crash, replace your helmet. A bike helmet is a safety appliance good for one incident only, so if you are in a crash where you are hit or fall hard, replace it. Even a helmet that appears undamaged should be replaced. People often ask, “Why do you have to get a new helmet when you crash?” This is for two reasons:
People who are in crashes often don’t remember hitting their heads, or think the impact wasn’t hard, when in fact they did and the helmet did its job.
The damage to a crashed helmet may not be visible. The outer shell may hide cracks or deformations of the protective foam inside, which make it useless as head protection.
If your bike helmet was manufactured before 1985
Helmets made between about 1970 and 1985 included foams and materials which could not possibly give adequate protection from injury. Standards introduced in the mid-80s removed those substandard models from the market, but helmets from the period still survive. If you have one, destroy it immediately.
Your bike helmet doesn’t have a sticker from a testing standards organization
Any helmet legal for sale in the US will have a certification sticker, from CPSC, ASTM or Snell. If your helmet doesn’t have one, don’t trust it, replace it.
Your bike helmet doesn’t fit well
A helmet can only protect your head if it fits properly, which means it is positioned correctly over vulnerable parts of your skull, and won’t be dislodged by sudden motion and the forces unleashed in a crash.
If the design of the helmet, its shape, or the straps and buckles don’t let you get a secure and comfortable fit, it will not provide adequate head protection. Replace it with one that fits you well.
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Common myths about when a bike helmet should be replaced
Bike helmets should be replaced every three years – bunk
The three years rule is just nonsense. Damage and fit rules apply instead.
Helmets are damaged by long term exposure to sweat and should be replaced – bunk
No helmet material that can be damaged by sweat can pass the standards certification. See the next section. Your helmet may get grungy from sweat and body oils, but that’s a different matter. You can clean it, you know!
The foam used in bike helmets degrades over time – bunk
The EPS foam used in bike helmets is remarkably immune to damage from just about anything other than impact. Liquids, oils, and salts encountered in normal use and storage will have no degrading effect on a helmet at all. If you manage to immerse your helmet in an industrial solvent, then okay, replace that one.
People looking to sell more helmets may tell you the foam dries out, or outgasses over several seasons. This is complete rubbish. Helmet foam is unbelievably stable, and will most likely be intact in whatever our landfills have become by the next geological age.
Hot cars and sunlight damage bike helmets – bunk
A helmet left in a car every day in a hot climate will still be perfectly ok. The heat needed to actually harm a helmet is more in line with a hot oven.
Sunlight will have very little effect on the foam of a helmet. Manufacturers add UV inhibitors to the materials for shells and other plastic components, so sun damage is a myth. If a helmet is faded, perhaps from a fading pigment in the plastic, you might want to replace it for aesthetic reasons, but if otherwise undamaged it should still protect you.
Newer bike helmets protect you better, with updated designs and materials – maybe true
It depends what you started with really. If your current helmet meets safety standards, is not damaged, and fits you well, a newer one will not automatically protect you any better, though the newer MIPS helmets are said to offer better protection in more kinds of crashes. Also, more attention is being paid to prevention of concussion now: existing helmet standards were focused on direct impact absorption rather than other kinds of impacts that can produce concussion.
A newer helmet may offer more convenience, comfort, or other features that make it better than your older helmet – all good reasons to replace it if you want. The best helmet is one that offers adequate protection and you enjoy wearing!
Aesthetics and style preference are perfectly good reasons to replace your bike helmet. Actually, given that an undamaged helmet can be functional and meet requirements for many years, you don’t necessarily have to replace a good helmet when a new one appeals to you.
Of course, you can stick with one helmet if you prefer, but if you want to be able to match your helmet with whatever outfit you’re wearing, why not? As long as you are wearing a helmet, why not look and feel good in it?
It’s also not a bad idea to have a spare on hand if you ride a lot, just in case of an accident.
What to do with a bike helmet that needs to be replaced
When a bike helmet fails or must be discarded, make sure it can’t be used again. Someone may find it and not realize it is no longer safe. Remove that possibility by cutting the straps off or breaking it in two.
New options in bike helmets for women offer improved impact protection, and some may even appeal to people who don’t usually wear a bike helmet at all.
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Interesting Innovations in Bike Helmets for Women
We’re fond of our brains, so here at Terry we are firmly in the “always wear a helmet when you ride” camp. However, we get that some people resist wearing a helmet for reasons that are good to them, and there may be certain rides where going helmet-less is a reasonable choice – casual rides in bike lanes for example. They are certainly not immune from risk, but statistics may support being more relaxed about helmet use when rides are completely separated from vehicle traffic. On the other hand, another study indicates that 97% of the cyclists killed in fatal accidents were not wearing helmets.
Why Some People Choose Not To Wear a Bike Helmet
Good idea or not, a lot of people riding bike lanes to commute or using bike share programs go without helmets. Three of the biggest objections seem to be the “mushroom head” look, the problem of “helmet head” for people on the way to the office, and the challenges of lugging an inconvenient object around when not on the bike – shopping or dining, for example.
Thanks to technology, there may soon be some good options for people who resist wearing a helmet for those reasons.
Inflatable Protection For Your Head – the Airbag Bike Helmet
Inflatable airbag bike helmet form Hovding – hovding.com
Riders who don’t want to mess their hair or compromise their personal aesthetics are choosing a novel approach from Swedish company Hövding. It’s based on airbag technology. Riders wear what looks like a bulky collar instead of a bike helmet. The device senses changes in motion and is programmed with data from thousands of bike crash scenarios, so if sudden changes in speed and orientation occur the airbag deploys, covering the head completely before impact.
It seems to offer very good protection for certain kinds of crashes, particularly where a cyclist falls or is hit, and then strikes their head on the road or vehicle. Other possibilities not so much, for example when a cyclist hits a truck mirror, or other situation where impact to the head is immediate.
It has not passed the tests required for sale in the U.S., so it probably won’t be available here any time soon. The technology is also relatively expensive, although prices have fallen as the product has caught on in other places around the world. Check out some of their viral videos – one reason their airbag bike helmets have become so popular.
A Low Profile Bike Helmet – Head Protection on the Down Low
Baseball cap style bike helmet from Park & Diamond – park-and-diamond.com
Another new concept is more of a rethink of the regular molded foam bike helmet. It’s by Park & Diamond, a company with a compelling story and mission. They have introduced innovations that they hope will persuade non-helmet wearers to get protected after all – mostly advances in materials that provide three times better impact absorption with a lot less bulk. It looks more like a bumpy baseball cap, with a much lower profile than a regular bike helmet.
The Park & Diamond is also foldable, stowing in a case about the size of a bike bottle. A beanie version and a wider color palette are on the way.
Now’s your chance to get in on the new introduction. The Park & Diamond baseball cap bike helmet was launched on crowdfunding site indiegogo.com, and there are still deals to be had for early adopters.
We Chose the Best of the Best in Bike Helmets for Women for 2019
This season the story is all about MIPS, which has become the new standard for achieving better protection from impacts with rotational forces. A standout choice is the Aether MIPS from Giro, which adds a string of innovations for superior impact protection, along with great ventilation and striking good looks. It has attractive comfort features and is pony-tail friendly too.[clearfix]
We are also featuring the top-of-the-line Trace MIPS by Smith, with excellent impact protection and maximum ventilation. The Trace MIPS boasts several eyewear-friendly features, including a system to prevent your eyewear from fogging up. Bicycling Magazine dubbed the Trace MIPS to be Smith’s best bike helmet yet.
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Browse all our bike helmet options here.
Teacher’s Favorite – A Spin Instructor’s Pick for Best Indoor Cycling Shorts
By Karyn Lewis
It’s early March, and here in Vermont, the local Spinning classes are maxed out. Our streets are loaded with ice and people are afraid of the conditions out there, so spinning is the perfect safe alternative.
Terry Chill 9 Short and Soleil Long Sleeve Top in Crystalline/Lime
I have taught two classes a week for over 20 years at the same club. It’s always nice to see all my regulars but also great to meet new participants. Once a month I lead an intro class for beginners. I love to get new people excited and involved in indoor cycling.
My new people always complain about the pain they feel when they ride. My answer to them is invest in a quality bike short. It’ll ease the pain & assure that you continue to ride a couple times a week.
I always hand out our Terry catalog and they eagerly accept it. Their first question is which short are you wearing? I’ve had many terry favorites. The Soleil was my go-to spin short for a couple of years. Then along came the Chill. Now I ride the Chill 7 indoors and out. I’m extremely happy that for 2019 we have three different length options.
I tend to instruct both on and off the bike. That way I can quietly inform someone of an adjustment or correction. The biggest reason I love the Chill is it stays put. No adjustments needed even if I get off the bike 10 times in an hour.
Terry offers a short for every body, every size, every age. Long, short, capri, loose fitting, skirts. I love when my intro people attend my regular class for the first time with their new shorts to model. They are so impressed with how they perform and keep the hurt away.
We will be spinning until June, when I take the summer off to ride outdoors. Whichever your choice, indoor or outdoor, keep on riding!
As a pioneer in the women’s skort movement, and surely an original when it comes to cycling-specific, rarely have we offered “options” in this category. But as the market evolves and our love for skorts grows, we just couldn’t resist these beauties…
Mary Ann vs Ginger: these two won’t leave you stranded when it comes to quick getaways or treks around town.
Metro Skort Lite: What’s new in Skorts from Terry, you ask? NEW for 2019, the Metro Skort Lite is designed to take you from road to trail to office, well, anywhere you wish to go – all thanks to its 2-piece, skirt + liner ensemble that’s lighter in weight, quieter in motion, and of course stylish at all times.
Kelly Kessler has worn many hats at Terry over the course of her tenure: sales, product management, web management, merchandiser and model. She’s always on the lookout for great new products and new ways of getting them in front of our customers.
New Feature Highlights From The Terry Spring 2019 Collection
This year, we’ve been even busier on our product line than usual, and the result is a bumper crop of colorful styles and patterns. The new season’s introductions are visually stunning, but we also came up with a host of technical and functional innovations.
Here’s a round up of some of the most exciting new developments in the Terry line for Spring 2019.
NEW Holster Prima Women’s Cycling Short, with Soleil Flow Top in Mumbai Rising
Holster Prima Cycling Short
An exciting new option for cyclists who need a high compression performance short, combining new levels of comfort and convenience. Holster Prima Bike Short brings you softness, delivered in the gorgeous fabric and non-chafing seam construction; comfort leg bands and high rise waist; a premium performance chamois, and to complete the package: deep, stretchy pockets.
NEW Bike Bermuda with Breakaway Mesh Sleeveless Jersey in Strata/coral
Bike Bermuda Cycling Short
We’re going to new lengths for your comfort! The Bermuda is our longest inseam short to date – at 11″ it gives you coverage almost to the knee. Using the same silky fabric as the Breakaway short, the Bermuda also boasts a high rise waist, gripperless legs, phone-friendly pocket, all at a very attractive price point.
NEW Terry Zipper Cycling Skirt with Mixie Tank bike top in Hill & Dale
Zipper Cycling Skirt
Bike friendly, ultra-practical and stylish too! The Zipper Bike Skirt brings an innovative approach to solving problems encountered in some parts of the world by female touring cyclists – frequent wardrobe changes to allow for both appropriate dress and comfort. Now one garment makes the transition easy and convenient. The Zipper also adds some unique flair, with strategically placed zippers that tighten everything down or unzip to allow a little colorful expression with extra freedom of movement.
NEW Terry Chill 5 Cycling Shorts with Soleil Long Sleeve Bike Top in Strata/Green
Chill Cycling Shorts
Now in a full array of leg length options: 5, 7, and 9 inches. The Chill series offers the flattering comfort of legs that stay in place without leg bands – no bulges, no pinching, no dreaded sausage effect! The Chill is a high compression, high comfort short that quickly became a firm favorite among Terry staff.
NEW Wayfarer Short Sleeve Bike Top in Strata/Green
Wayfarer Short Sleeve Top
It’s not all about bottoms – we also unveiled a great selection of new cycling tops for Spring 2019. The Wayfarer is a highlight – an all new relaxed fit bike jersey for all day touring comfort. We developed it around a performance fabric that feels as good as natural fiber, tailored it for a flattering silhouette, and loaded it with features for cycling convenience and comfort.
How To Avoid Cycling Discomfort – 7 Things You Need To Know to Be More Comfortable While Riding Your Bike
Ouch! You planned on a 50 miler and it was all you could do to suffer through the first ten miles. Finally, you just turned around, and to alleviate the discomfort, stood on the pedals most of the way home. Your soft tissue area feels like it’s on fire!
This can be caused by a multitude of things, but these steps can go a long way to improving the situation. This is the advice we give most often here in Terry Customer Service, when customers are having problems with cycling discomfort.
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Save the Chamois Butter for later:
First, let’s agree that many cyclists find chamois butter really helpful. That said, if you already use a chamois cream or “butt butter” but still have pain issues, it might actually be contributing to the problem. Chamois butter is fabulous, however, if you experience a burning sensation while riding – it could be the butter. This is because the cream can inhibit the breathability of the chamois, which can cause irritation, rubbing, a burning sensation, and a lot of discomfort. In many cases the real problem is finding the right chamois and saddle for your anatomy and riding position. Once that is taken care of the other problems take care of themselves.
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Careful with your Laundry Detergent:
A good detergent option for washing your bike shorts gently but thoroughly.
Do use a gentle non-perfumed, skin sensitive natural laundry detergent. With the chamois directly against your skin, you don’t want added irritation from unnecessary chemicals or dyes.
Fun fact: Team Sky added a truck to its Tour de France entourage, equipped with a separate washing machine for each rider in the squad, to handle the laundry for the riders after each day of racing. All the problems with saddle sores – which plague pro riders, as you might imagine – magically went away. That certainly says something about the team’s huge budget, but also something about the bacteria at work on our chamois padding. Wash with care!
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Dry Cycling Shorts the Right Way:
A little sunshine goes a long way.
Do not place your bike shorts in the dryer, as this can dry and stiffen the chamois. A poorly conditioned chamois can cause a lot of discomfort when cycling. Do turn the shorts inside out, and hang outside in the sun, whenever possible.
In winter drying shorts and chamois can be a challenge. Sunshine is best, but gentle warmth in a heated space works well also – not too close to the heater, which can be just as harmful as the dryer.
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Personal Soap for Your Own Cleanliness:
A soap brand the author has had success with.
As with laundry soap, choose a natural, perfume & dye free soap for cleansing your own sensitive areas.
Avoiding chemical additives can reduce the chances of irritation and avoid cycling discomfort.
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Adapt to Deal with Aging:
Like it or not, as we age our skin gets dryer… everywhere. Be sure to wear comfortable shorts and ride on a saddle that is designed for the type of riding you do. Read more about choosing the best bike shorts for your needs here.
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Take Care to Optimize Your Bike Fit:
Bike fit is so important to overall comfort that it gets its own articles:
Ensure you have the right saddle for your body type and riding position. Our saddle selection guide should help narrow the search. If you’re experiencing pain, a leather saddle (as opposed to synthetic) will conform to your body better.
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Let me know in the comments if you have any other good tips to avoid cycling discomfort.
