“Got the shorts and rode a comfortable 100 miles Saturday!”
Sheilah began cycling early in the spinning-craze years, and is a spin instructor when she’s not out on the road.
She loves the camaraderie as well as the health benefits of cycling. This photo was taken two weeks ago when a group of friends wanted to do a “century” just for the fun of it! She said that she couldn’t have done it without her Terry Bella Shorts.
Today, she is completing the “Louisiana MS 150” from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana to McComb, Mississippi and back again.
3 cheers to Sheilah for supporting the MS Society and for inspiring others in their endeavors!
About the Terry Team: This is a monthly shout out to dedicated Terry fans who are part of our illustrious sisterhood of athletes and adventurers. We ride through wind and rain. We sweat. We dream. We discover. We push ourselves to and past our limits. We take each day and ride it to its fullest. Sound like you? Send your story to customerservice@terrybicycles.com.
Last week I ventured out on a fall ride to my favorite apple orchard; Thanksgiving pies must be planned!
Temps were in the high 50’s and a little cloudy with warmer weather and sunshine expected in the afternoon, a perfect combination for my Terry Grand Prix Wool Cycling Jersey, cozy new Breakaway Knickers and the new, warm and wonderful Woolies Socks.
The wool jersey adapts incredibly well to spring and fall weather fluctuations…a New England necessity! The knickers are imperative for protecting ones knees in temps dipping below 65 degrees, and my Terry socks capped off the perfect fall ensemble.
The gal at the Orchard told me she uses Macintosh apples for her pies. I’ve never used this variety and have decided to do a test run this weekend and see how they fare!
Many thanks to Shelburne Orchards for a great Fall destination!
Tomorrow’s apple pie recipe:
In a bowl Combine:
8 Macintosh Apples…peeled, cored and sliced
2+ Tablespoons Flour (depending on apple juice)
1/2 cup of Sugar
Heavy sprinkle of Cinnamon
Light sprinkle of Nutmeg and Salt
Squeeze of Lemon
6 Small Chunks of Butter
I generally bake my pie shell for 10 minutes, cool slightly and fill with apple mixture. Cover the pie with outer pastry shell, crimp top and bottom shells together, cover edges with foil and bake @ 350 degrees for about 30 minutes (removing the foil half way through the baking process).
Remove from the oven when the crust is golden brown and bubbling!
Until next time,
Lisa Wilkes (Red Wheels)
About Lisa: If you’ve had the pleasure of talking to a “real person” at Terry, chances are good that it may have been Lisa or one of her team. As a former bike coach and our Customer Service Manager, she’s full of personal inspiration and professional expertise when it comes to getting comfortable with saddles, choosing the right apparel, answering questions about cycling and a few other specialties that are guaranteed to help improve your attitude, if not your ride!
You’ve thought about it, now is the year to do it – go on an overnight bike tour. What are some of the things you need to know?
Just get out and do it. Traveling by bicycle takes many forms and there are lots of resources to help. Bring only a change of clothes and a credit card, and you can go as far as you’re willing with the same clothes washed in your hotel sink. With racks or a trailer on your bike you can become self-sufficient, camping and cooking wherever it strikes you.
Bicycle travel happens at a slower pace than your weekly group ride. Give yourself permission to enjoy the journey. Stop at the antiques store or enjoy a picnic lunch at the side of a creek. These are opportunities that don’t always present themselves when driving. Remember that you’ll be riding for more hours in a day than you’re used to. Keep your energy level up by eating small meals and snacks throughout the day. And no matter how delectable, that rich exotic gourmet meal with wine at the country inn may not be your best choice. Simple energy rich dinners will leave you feeling ready to ride the next day.
Any trip will be better with preparation. Make sure both your body and your bike are ready for multiple days of riding. It’s not necessary to carry a lot on a bike trip but you should have a few first aid supplies and the tools and know-how to fix a flat tire. Keep your clothes simple. Plain darker colors help you blend in at your destination and hide dirt. Always bring two pairs of bike shorts so you can wash one each night. The weather can change quickly so a rain jacket is a good accessory.
The first time I heard the word “bikepacking”, a light went off in my head – I knew this was going to be my activity of choice for my Surly Pugsley (named Wednesday). The activity is defined very much as it sounds, a combination of biking and backpacking, an off-road tour, and can last for weeks or less than 24 hours. This type of adventure has absolutely exploded in popularity in the last 5 years and along with it, specialized bikepacking gear has entered the bike scene.
Bikepacking equipment, like most bicycle accessories, range from the high-end, ultra-technical, chic, custom bags to very basic and minimalistic parts to facilitate gear attachments.
Porcelain Rocket specializes in beautiful, functional and custom bikepacking bags that minimize bulk and maximize awesome –
Outpost Handelbar Roll by BlackburnOutpost Seat Pack by Blackburn
After buying all of the special equipment, I was champing at the bit to head out on the trails and yet, I waited 5 months to set off on my first bikepacking trip.
The biggest factor in my hesitation was wanting to make sure I went on the best trail, something remote and endlessly beautiful, something not too difficult but challenging enough to keep it interesting. This trail may indeed exist but it is not the trail we ended up traveling. After much deliberation, Wednesday and I set off towards a section of the Cross VT Trail on a late Friday afternoon. There was a moment of hesitation as we started off towards the rail trail–that it would be crowded with large families and dogs–but it turned out to be just treacherous enough to leave us bounding down the path in total solitude.
Unsurprisingly, bikepacking is my new favorite activity – it has the capacity to be a huge adventure on a grand scale but also exists as the perfect weekend micro-adventure. Somehow carrying everything you need to survive (for less than 24 hours) on two fat wheels, straight into the forest makes even the most mundane surroundings absolutely marvelous.
My only advice, no matter your equipment or how much time you have, ride out and spend a night under the stars.
It’s that glorious time of year again when the days get cooler and beverages get warmer. Whether or not the lack of light is your cup of tea, we can hopefully agree on one thing – fall fashion is great. With sweaters and boots, thermal tops and fully reflective jackets this is shaping up to be the best season yet.
I can vividly remember my very first rides in 1999. I had signed up to train and ride 100 miles in Lake Tahoe, and my saddle pain seemed insurmountable. Finally, I looked at my coach and said, “I can’t do this, the pain is too intense.” He looked back at me and using his charming French accent said, “go get a saddle with a cutout and I’ll see you next week.”
I hobbled to my bike shop and repeated the words of my coach (without the accent) and, I am happy to report, my shop put a Terry Butterfly on my bike. Best bike upgrade ever!
The rest is history…I rode a very comfortable 100 miles in Lake Tahoe and a few thousand more.
A good bike fit and good, padded, breathable shorts (without your underwear) will also help you achieve saddle comfort. I was very lucky to find a great saddle so quickly and I have great sympathy for those struggling with this endeavor.
The moral of this story is to keep working to find the best saddle for your needs and reach out for assistance if the road gets rough.
Tailwinds,
Lisa Wilkes
About Lisa: If you’ve had the pleasure of talking to a “real person” at Terry, chances are good that it may have been Lisa or one of her team. As a former bike coach and our Customer Service Manager, she’s full of personal inspiration and professional expertise when it comes to getting comfortable with saddles, choosing the right apparel, answering questions about cycling and a few other specialties that are guaranteed to help improve your attitude, if not your ride!
Some things are better by bike – including beaches.
As a tour leader for Adventure Cycling Association, people often ask me what my favorite bike trip is. While that’s a bit like asking who my favorite child is, in this case the answer is easy – it’s our Introduction to Bicycle Touring out of Eugene, Oregon.
Bicycle travel is about discovering great places at a pace that allows you to enjoy them. This trip offers that, plus the chance to discover something about yourself. Participants have come to challenge themselves to learn new skills and push their limits while meeting new people. I can offer them all that, plus the chance to see one of the most beautiful areas this country has to offer. After two days learning the ins and outs of self-contained bicycle touring, we set off for the Oregon Coast.
First it’s up and over the Coast Range. The climbing through the forest is tough but is rewarded by stunning Pacific Ocean views. We camp on the beach and then ride south past Heceta Head lighthouse and the beginnings of the massive sand dunes along the south coast. We shop and eat seafood in Florence before turning inland again. Then it’s back over the mountains for our return to Eugene.
In four short days on the road, this trip has it all. Challenging climbs, sweeping descents bring stunning views. There’s the chance to camp on the beach and eat seafood at the coast. We top it all off with dinner at a small town restaurant with amazing pie. What could be better?
– Joyce Casey, Adventure Cycling Association Tour Leader
I hate to say it but, as the TDF Peloton came into Paris this year it was a bit anti-climactic; the GC champion had been named and Sagan had the green jersey in the bag.
That being said, La Course existed in complete contrast – it was SO GOOD.
The contenders lined up with barely anyone one the sidelines for support and heavy rains threatened in the not-so-far-off distance. These racers could have held back, played it safe for 12 laps and had a quick and dirty sprint finish but instead they gave it everything they had.
The only thing that the video does not serve proper justice, in my opinion, is the initial breakaway by Anna van der Breggen. From the moment she tore off I was at the edge of my seat. Some may say she broke off a bit early and there was a moment at the final sprint where it didn’t look like she could hold off. It was amazing, there was this intensity that was nothing like we saw in the previous week’s stages. She pulled it forward with Marianne Vos roaring for her teammate to fly first through the finish and as she did – she secured the 1st place title would stay with Team Rabo/Liv for the second year of La Course History.
Here’s to preparing for the next La Course, I hope to see you all there –
Whitney McKiddy
A big thank you to Le Tour de France for the video and images copyright: Cor Vos.
You never know who you might bump into at a 4th of July parade. Take the Schwend family–Darren, Christi and 6-year old Berkeley–on a summer vacation trip with their new custom Triple in limetime green. Outfitted with S&S couplings, Campagnolo components, disc brakes, Phil Wood hubs and Terry saddles, it was an impressive sight to see on the roof of a vehicle. Darren was kind enough to answer some questions:
Q: Where’d the idea for the Triple come from?
A: We have been tandem enthusiasts for years. We had a tandem bicycle on our wedding invitation. We procured a custom Erickson tandem from Glenn Erickson in 2003 and have ridden it in Europe and all over the western United States. Our son Berkeley was born in 2009 and we started towing him in a trailer in 2010. He outgrew the trailer in 2014. We ordered our big green triple from R+E Cycles in Seattle and 8 weeks later we had it. It’s the best way to ride with a child because we can cover lots of distance and it’s only about a 15 pound addition to the bike when compared to the tandem.
Q: What was the biggest challenge?
A: Loading and handling an 11′ 4″ bicycle.
Q: Favorite ride on it so far?
A: San Juan Island in Washington. It’s a beautiful ferry ride on an equally lovely island. Theodore Roosevelt national park in the Badlands is a close second.
A: I’ve tried many saddles and Terry saddles are by far the most comfortable high performance saddles. The perfect balance of comfort and size to allow for freedom of muscle movement.
Q: Finish this sentence. The family that bikes together…
A. Has fun together and stays fit and happy together.
Our thanks to the Schwends and to R&E cycles for the great photos.
