Category: Sidesaddle Blog

TERRY TOPS BEACH PARTY.

Gifting Terry Products is a lot of fun!

This is a group of my friends outfitted in the Terry Stretch Mini and various Terry tops at our annual summer beach party a few years back. (Photo-bombed by a big belly!).

We are the crew that host this annual event.

There are roughly 60 people who attend the annual party on the shores of Lake Champlain in North Hero, Vermont.

I am the official Games Director for the party (gunny sack races, water balloon toss…) and also help choose the color theme for each party.

This year I plan to “gift” the Tech Tee in either the lavender or the hibiscus to the crew. Wait – maybe the Mixie Skirt. Decisions. Decisions.

It’s wonderful that so many Terry products work on and off the bike.

I must admit it’s also fun to receive….

Here is the Terry Symmetry bicycle which I received as a gift.

“She” knows her way around most of the roads in the Lake Champlain Islands.

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Contributed by Melissa S., Controller at Terry (4th from left in main picture above)

Check out our currently available Terry Stretch Minis here

Find our current selection of casual tops here
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June 14, 2018
GIRLS BREAKING AWAY.

Must see: two very different views of women, bikes and freedom

As we approach Independence Day here in the U.S. it’s a good time to reflect on liberties we enjoy. Among those are some we could easily take for granted without a reminder of how lucky we are to have them.

For example, in some parts of the world, the simple act of going for a bike ride is subversive, even a revolutionary gesture – if you’re female.

Two movies exploring aspects of this popped up recently, one in my Netflix stream, the other on the indie festival circuit. Both are well worth a closer look.

Wadjda is titled for its heroine, a young girl in the ‘burbs of Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia. She is feisty, resourceful, charming, and not remotely interested in being conventional.

When she sets her heart on owning a bike so she can beat her (male) friend in a private race, she meets obstacles at every turn. Finally she figures out a crafty path toward her goal.

A girl and her dream bike are at the center, but the story encompasses much more.

We see fascinating glimpses of life in Saudi, and a lot of the drama revolves around how the women in the film cope with the restrictions they face.

The movie skirts around criticism of the authorities that impose these limits, instead presenting them in a matter-of-fact way, while showing how women adapt, find accommodations, or gently subvert the system.

Wadjda is also interesting as the first feature shot entirely in Saudi Arabia – written and directed by a woman at that.

The journey is painful at times, but Wadjda brings an optimistic viewpoint to discouraging circumstances. Ultimately we see the uplifting moments of liberation and simple joy in riding a bike that we cyclists know and love.

The second movie also deals with the challenges facing women who want to ride bikes, but where Wadjda is fictional, Afghan Cycles is real life, and the stakes are much higher.

In Afghanistan, a woman on a bike is defying a host of cultural norms and religious edicts. She does not just face disapproval, but also abuse, violence, even death threats.

This documentary reveals the remarkable young women who dare to ride in spite of daunting opposition. They are staging a different kind of revolution, mile by mile, on carbon frames and racing slicks.

It’s easy to understand why the Afghan women’s national cycling team dissolved under the Taliban’s rule. When the team was reformed more recently, and its riders overcame all the difficulties you might imagine to compete internationally, it was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sadly, the national team folded again. Several star riders were able to use their accomplishments to find asylum abroad. The team remaining collapsed under the weight of corruption and mismanagement.

In spite of this, young women all over Afghanistan are discovering the power of cycling and finding ways to embrace it. Girls are forming cycling clubs without any knowledge of others, or of the national team.

The film’s producer makes the point that the roadblocks cycling women face aren’t really because of religion or culture, but because they are women. In this respect, Afghan society is at the place much of the rest of the world was a hundred years or more ago. Riding a bike was among the most outrageous things a woman could do, but the mobility, independence, joy, and healthfulness of cycling can improve women’s lives immeasurably. These women feel that, and so they ride in spite of all.

As their revolution takes hold it can’t help but move their country forward too.

Read more about the movie Wadjda on the New York Times. It is on DVD and streaming services. Afghan Cycles was showing at festivals in early 2018 – look out for its wider release.

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June 12, 2018
COAST TO COAST ON A TANDEM.

Work and pleasure both revolve around cycling for the intrepid Flucke duo, Peter and Tracy. Perhaps not so unusual, except for the extent they will go to enjoy themselves. Taking time off from their business, a consultancy with a focus on cycling issues for municipalities and law enforcement, they like to go for a ride … across the continent.

They have racked up three tandem rides across the country now, and turned the adventures of the first trip into an entertaining book: “Coast to Coast on a Tandem, Our Adventure Crossing the USA on a Bicycle Built for Two.”

Anyone who loves cycling and touring will find a lot to enjoy. Adding to the stories of the spectacular terrain and daunting trials you might expect on such an ambitious tour, the book is woven together with two strands that make for an absorbing read. Tracy and Peter recount their journey in diary fashion, alternating with each other’s reflections and responding to one another as they make their way across the country.

At times it’s a little like eavesdropping on a private conversation, so we don’t just get to see each event from two (often amusingly different) points of view, but learn a lot about the interplay of the personalities of this interesting couple, on and off the tandem.

“Coast to Coast on a Tandem” is available on the Flucke’s website. Check it out for a fun summer cycling read.

June 6, 2018
THE ALPAN WAY.

Inspiring Design.

Maloja (pronounced “mah-LOW-yah”) has captivated European adventurers for years, but has now broadened its availability internationally. We’ve been avid fans of this sports fashion brand since they introduced the world’s best cycling jean for women 2 years ago. They know how to design, source fabrics and bring a remarkable level of street style and wearability to activewear. Headquartered in a former stable in the upper Bavarian pre-Alps region of Germany, Maloja has managed to be unique in a world of same-old same-old.

This season, they’ve united Japan with their alpine culture and we’re thrilled to offer the result – pieces that will transport you to pagoda and passes, to coastlines and climbing regions. In their words:

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese term for imperfect beauty. The aesthetics of the Zen-Buddhist expression has been woven into the fabric of Maloja since our inception. Attention to detail, valuing the old, repurposed items, simplicity and honesty. A unique way of perceiving things is the essence of Wabi-Sabi. Simple, quiet, unpretentious things that radiate presence, authority and beauty, just like the mountains…

Duana Mandarin-collared blouse & Sidonia Freeride Shorts

Multi-sport Rahel top and Frida Short with vintage Japanese print-spiration

Andrea tie-back (or front) top; Lisa wrap-front pant

Pischa Skort – Wabi in front and Sabi in back

May 29, 2018
A SPECIAL INVITATION FROM GEORGENA TERRY.

Please Join Me…

Something wonderful happened in 2008. An iconic women’s cycling event, the Wild Goose Chase, was created by Terry and Gore Bike Wear. I first bicycled at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in 2006 when a family wedding brought me to Maryland. Cycling at Blackwater is magnificent. Miles and miles of lightly traveled flat roads wind through habitat which is home to bald eagles, osprey, and numerous other species. The seeds were planted then: wouldn’t this be an incredible place for a cycling event!

Held on the Eastern shore of Maryland, the ride is now hosted and organized by the Friends of Blackwater. The 2018 (10th anniversary) ride takes place September 8 and 9 in Cambridge, MD. Since its inception the ride has raised over $170,000 dollars for Blackwater.

The Wild Goose Chase celebrates not only women and cycling, but also the ecology of the fragile marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a critical habitat for many species.

That’s not to say the event is only about the ride. Saturday at the Wild Goose Chase offers the opportunity to improve your cycling skills through workshops organized by the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club – Women’s Group and to learn more about the Refuge during a guided bike tour on the Wildlife Drive. Up for something else? Kayaking is also an option!

The area is also the historic stomping ground of Harriet Tubman. Maryland has constructed a fabulous state park adjacent to Blackwater that celebrates the life of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

Join me late on Saturday afternoon at a cash bar reception at ride headquarters and then enjoy some sumptuous Eastern Shore cuisine at one of many excellent restaurants in the area.

Sunday morning, the Official Wild Goose chase ride begins. Choose from rides as short as 22 miles to as long as 63 miles. Before you head home, we’ll treat you to a buffet lunch. For more information, please visit http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/wild-goose-chase.html

Looking forward to riding with you at Blackwater,

Georgena

May 29, 2018
BIKE TO WORK CLOTHING FOR COMMUTING IN STYLE.
Terry staff recommend favorites for bike to work clothing

Bike to Work Day – May 18th this year, 2018 – gives many people a great reason to try a two wheeled commute for the first time. Of course that can call for quite a bit of preparation. Besides bike maintenance, physical fitness, and getting comfortable with urban cycling, a big obstacle to jumping on the bike is having suitable bike to work clothing.

In fact, you don’t need any special clothes at all to ride a bike, just something comfortable, and maybe layers to deal with changing temperatures and the possibility of wet weather.

But if you need to look professional at work, and sometimes join friends to relax after hours, you’ll want something suitable for each part of your day. Changing and keeping track of clothing starts to be a logistical challenge. Also, if you are commuting by bike regularly you’re going to expect more from your bike to work clothing.

Here’s what Terry staff have to say about the best pieces in our line for your bike to work clothing collection.

First, the Transit Collection.

Wouldn’t it be great if one outfit could do it all?

Moving smoothly from morning ride, through a day at the office, to an evening on the town is a lot to ask of an outfit. Comfortable to ride in means the cut and fit have to be just right, with good moisture control, and comfort through a range of temperatures; fitting in in the workplace means the striking the right balance of all-day comfort and professional appearance. To make the transition to evening once in a while calls for extra style and personality.

Not many pieces can do all that, but we created the Terry Transit collection with all these challenges in mind.
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Transit Dress

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Transit Top

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On the Transit Dress and Transit Top:

Melissa (accounting): Relaxed fit for comfortable riding. No need to change when you get to the office. Very stylish for the office.

Serena (sales): Easy-peasy to throw on quick and be ready for meetings all day, and a post work drink!

Phil (ecommerce): If you decide to play hooky and take the scenic route to work, you can walk right into a meeting in that dress if you get there a few minutes late.

Soleil – sun protection and versatility make a great bike to work clothing choice

The Soleil collection is another line with great qualities for bike to work clothing – performance fabrics, great comfort and versatility, and dresses up wonderfully.

Lisa (customer service): My Soleil cycling tops are the best. Not only do they protect my fair skin from the sun, but also allow me to go right from bike to desk and still look well dressed. If I pair the top with a cardigan or blazer, I’m even ready for a meeting or lunch.

Some of our other bike to work clothing favorites:

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NEW Chill 7 Short

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Sun Goddess in Vendée Gold

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Serena:
- Chill short for those who have a long bike commute. The simple construction with minimal panels is very comfortable, and with my favorite chamois that breathes well on steamy days! See more on the Chill 7.
- Sun Goddess jersey in vendee/gold. The high viz yellow will help traffic see you on the morning/evening rush-hour commute.
Jeannette (customer service):

Femme Cap
Terry Knicker
- The Femme cap is a must! The light weight hat keeps my hair from having the “helmet head” look when I arrive at work. And the visor part of the hat has just the right amount of protection from sun glare
- The Terry Knicker is perfect bike to work clothing! The chamois in this knicker is heavier than our other knickers. This makes the early season break in time more tolerable for sit bones and other body parts. The compression in the fabric keeps muscles warm on cool Spring mornings.
Bike to work clothing recommendations from Terry customers

A couple of our customers have also weighed in on Terry items that make great bike to work clothing, through product reviews.

Lemond R. on the Carbon Metro Crop Pant:

Metro Crop Pant
Metro Short – Carbon
- This is my 4th pair of the Metro Crop pants. Love the crop length….hits right at my ankle bone. I have two pairs of black, one olive and now the new carbon. I am 64 and commute to work 90% of the time. These look great at work, perfect for my business casual job. I am 5’8″ tall, weigh 153 and wear a size Large. I would say that this 2nd generation of Metro Crop pant fits slightly looser. I will have to get used to the new pocket locations. I ride even in winter, so if it is a cool day (35 to 40 degrees) I have to add a thin tight under these to keep warm. They feel like ice on your legs without the tights at that temp. I had called and asked Terry Bicycles to make this pant in grey……so thank you for listening!!! The carbon is very nice!
Elizabeth S. on the Metro Relaxed Shorts:
- A great alternative to fitted racing-style shorts. Nice for bike commute and walking around at your destination without looking all tricked-out in lycra.
Shop all our Terry Metro pieces here.

Tailwinds! May all your bike to work clothing serve you well for bike week and beyond.

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May 12, 2018
INTRODUCING DUATHLETE TORY JONES.

We are delighted to welcome world-championship competitor Tory Jones to the Terry Team. Here Tory introduces herself and explains why Terry is such a great fit for her.

I am thrilled to be working with Terry in 2018! I like to imagine myself as an Ambassador for all women, of all abilities for the sport of cycling. I look forward to spreading the love I have for Terry, and sharing how Terry will be an important and central part of my 2018 World Championship journey.

Let me tell you a bit about myself and exactly what Terry means to me.

Growing up, my life was spent blazing down mountains as a Canadian Alpine Ski athlete and National Heptathlete. I was the only child of a Firefighter, and when I lost my mother as a teenager, my life took the path less travelled – I retired from my track career to begin my journey in my father’s footsteps in the fire service. I have always loved a challenge and hence, have spent the past 22 years blazing difficult roads for women, fighting for issues surrounding females in non-traditional occupations and smashing the glass ceiling of equality.

I have catapulted down the steepest ski slopes, hurdled and jumped my way through my teenage years, welcomed four beautiful children into this world and dedicated my life to a profession devoted to helping those in need. I have conquered the infamous Boston marathon, cycled and run my way to success as a National Duathlete and pedaled for thousands of miles through sunshine and sleet.

I am currently a Team Canada athlete, having finished 14th at the 2017 World Championships in Penticton, British Columbia. I will cycle through 2018 as a Terry advocate, athlete and absolute lover of a company that upholds women and our dreams. I will represent Canada and women across the globe on the world stage once again this summer in Denmark, at the Duathlon World Championships.

My life as a female Firefighter has found me living in a man’s world. For years I wore a man’s size 26” pants and cinched up the belt, did my buttons up on the ‘wrong’ side of my dress shirt and wore bunker gear that was simply shrunk down to ‘fit’ a woman. I am 5’3” and 110lbs, and as women our torsos are shorter, our feet are often narrow and our facial structure is different. To perform at my optimal best on the fire ground it is imperative that my gear and equipment fit me properly, just as it is for women to have cycling gear that fit their bodies correctly.

Terry embodies the power of creating clothing that is specifically designed for women. It is fashioned for passionate women with the promise of a healthier and more comfortable tomorrow. I can think of nothing more satisfying than being a part of spreading the message of how a woman’s life can transform through the sport of cycling. An easy pedal through town, the exploration of the open road of the discovery of the rugged mountain beauty by bike – cycling empowers women, spreads the wings of their self-esteem and deepens the bonds of friendship. Simply put, cycling has much more to offer this world than rubber rolling along the ground below. Terry unites women and encourages us to take on terrific adventures!

Women are change makers, and the greatest influencers of all time. We love to share our experiences, encourage and support one another. Women like to share. For this reason I am thrilled to partner with Terry as an enthusiastic Ambassador, to encourage women to empower one another and look within their own hearts to reach beyond what they dream is possible. By participating as a Terry athlete I hope to reach women of all abilities and of all ages in cycling. I hope that as women hear my story, see me training for the World championships and riding in my Terry gear they might be inspired to pedal a little farther and be a little braver!

Women can help build a strong cycling culture within their community. My hope is that Terry can be an integrated and consistent part of that culture. Woman inspire other women, and together we can be the pillar of the hope for an entire generation of new Terry cyclists.

Related: Tory’s son Noah honors his Mom for Mother’s Day: TRIBUTE TO A CYCLING MOM.

May 11, 2018
TRIBUTE TO A CYCLING MOM.

This special post is contributed by Noah Jones, to celebrate his Mom, Tory Jones, on Mother’s Day 2018. Read more about Tory, one of Terry’s sponsored athletes, here.

With Mother’s day around the corner, it got me thinking about my own mother, Tory Jones. I was hoping to share with the Terry community a bit about this special lady, through my eyes. For those of you who don’t know my mother, she is a woman who wears many hats. Her many hats impact several aspects of my life, beginning with my personality. My mom has shaped my personality by showing me how to love and care for those around me with such compassion and generosity – the very way she does, in our family of six and within the multi sport community.

The next facet of my life she impacts is my academic career. Her daily perseverance as a female fire fighter, mother, wife, and as an incredibly resilient athlete through workouts and injuries, has taught me to forge bravely through my life. She inspires me to always give my best effort, regardless of the difficulties or obstacles I may face. “Challenges are merely bumps along the road that will lead you to your dreams,” she has often told me. And I know that my friendly and positive outlook on a bright and sunny tomorrow will shape my future and impact those around me.

My mom challenges me to follow my heart, chase my dreams and inspires me to be the young man I have become. She has taught me that all women deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, and that I should strive to be a positive role model, and to be the very change I want to see in society.

Finally, she has had a tremendous impact on my athletic life. My mom serves as my coach and training partner. Every training ride thrown down on the bike, and each kilometre knocked down on runs, is done beside my role model and best friend – my mother and her many hats!

I hope this article not only pays tribute to my amazing mother Tory Jones, but also demonstrates to all readers how impactful the many roles mothers play on the lives of their children.

So to on behalf of all of your children, and those whose hearts you touch and whose lives you inspire the most – Thank you to every Mother, for being so selfless every single day! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Noah Jones

Related: INTRODUCING DUATHLETE TORY JONES.

May 11, 2018
DISCOVERING PEDAL POWER.

Another great night of the Wellness Revolution with Terry Bikes.

Contributed by Pat Jackson

It ain’t just about the bling.

These are people who really want women to get out on their bikes, feel comfortable, feel confident, and make this a part of their everyday lives. Women who haven’t biked in ten years; women whose bikes have been sitting in a storage shed; women who don’t even own a bike helmet; women who couldn’t even imagine biking in the city.

So we started out with a welcome by Liz Robert from Terry Bikes, giving us the overall picture. In the crowd, big smiles, some nervous laughter, but deep down inside I’m sure each woman there nurtured a desire to break out, to get out on that bike. Even if it has been 10 years.

We were each fitted with a helmet, so no excuse for not feeling ready to go out and conquer. Especially because it was fluorescent yellow and we could be seen for miles. Kind of fun biking in this group of 30-some women and feeling like I belong to some cult because of these fluorescent yellow helmets. Believe me, cars take a wide berth. That’s a good thing.

The following week, we had a Maintenance Workshop at Skirack. Again some nervous laughter, but then a more focused attention on our two instructors who took us through some of the nitty-gritty of popping a chain back on after it came off the sprocket, that dastardly event of changing a flat, educating us about what we should have in our little pack that rides on our bike: a patch kit, an extra tube, ID, some cash, even a glove to keep yourself from getting greased up if you’re doing some repair work. All of these recommendations, along with a compact pump to ride along on your bike can give you the confidence you need to feel like you can venture farther from home.

The confidence continues to smolder.

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Then Saturday rolled around and our first group ride, and what a group! This included the Tuesday and Thursday night groups so we had about 60 women with our famous fluorescent yellow helmets. We actually started the day by going through some yoga stretching and some dancing out on the lawn in front of the Terry Warehouse. Stretches, warming up, that got us ready to leap on our bikes and head out on the bike path. As I rode along in this sinuous stream of women out on an early, somewhat raw Saturday morning, the sky threatening rain, it was uplifting to look ahead and see this long strand of wild women, all out to conquer a fear, a doubt they may have had, but were now working at putting behind them, surrounded by like-minded individuals, all doing the same. Bravo!

The next Tuesday evening we met at the Terry Office again for an Urban Cycling workshop. Jason, from LocalMotion listened to our fears, our concerns — and there were many — and gently but fervently explained how to handle each one. He had been doing this for years and was ready to show us how we could break through this barrier also. So off we went, wending our way through Burlington’s streets, slick with rain, but each of us heeding his lessons, implementing them, stopping to regroup, discuss, and then go out for more. We climbed hills, then turned around and headed back down, practicing our braking in such a way to afford much more stability, more confidence. Some who were so fearful before leaving the confines of the office were now sailing down a steep hill, positioning themselves farther back in the saddle, as he had explained, to maintain more control. Even smiling while doing it! Just beautiful!

I’m thrilled to be able to be a part of this group. I felt like I came upon this by chance, and I’m just gushing about each event that we have together. Well I may have been biking for years, in lots of different settings, but I’m still learning lots from each of these gatherings. I’m learning from the teachers, the mechanics, the bike advocates who are out there making life better for us.

But also, I’m learning from the women. Hearing folks murmur with a nervousness that is now subsiding. They’re asking the questions, they’re facing their fears. They’re doing it!

Thank you Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, and thank you Terry Bikes, and to all the local bike shops, enthusiasts, educators, fanatics — and that’s a good thing! — who are partnering with them to get lots of wild women out on their bikes.

Watch out for those fluorescent yellow helmets. There’s no holding us back now.

By Pat Jackson
Photos: Lisa Wilkes

Related: WELLNESS REVOLUTION GRAD RIDES A “HALF-COUNTRY.”

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May 11, 2018
INTRODUCING THE CHILL 7.
TERRY’s Newest Short Solves the Leg Band Problem.

NEW Chill 7 Short

Ask any female cyclist what they hate most about bike shorts and many will say it’s the sausage effect that comes from gripper around the thigh. TERRY has made this a mission to solve and the result is the new Chill Short, available in April 2018. The defining feature of this new 7″ inseam short is the complete removal of a separate leg band, and instead, the seamless integration of 2″ of silicone against the inside leg. The result is that shorts will stay in place while riding without any gripping or pinching against the leg. The sausage effect disappears completely.

FABRIC

TERRY worked with Italian fabric manufacturers to source the right blend of performance fabric and the latest in silicone technology to achieve this result. The fabric itself is a sleek, cool against the skin, high compression blend of 73% nylon, 20% spandex and 7% silicone.

FEATURES
- 4-panel simple construction to reduce potential for seam contact with saddle
- Wide, elastic-free, non-roll waistband with a higher rise for on-bike comfort
- Compression fit aids in muscle support and recovery
- Integrated silicone beads at inside leg endings
- 7″ inseam
- Flex Air Lite Chamois with 4-way Elastic Interface Technology, perforations for maximum ventilation and TERRY soft wing technology that won’t bunch or cause chafing inside short
- Made in the USA
- Sizes XS-XXL
- $139 suggested retail price
For more information, contact: paula@terrybicycles.com
April 25, 2018