Category: Sidesaddle Blog

GOING FOR A SPIN.

As an avid cyclist, it feels odd never having been to a spin class; it’s like being at a family reunion and not knowing the cousin that everyone is talking about. So when I met our incredible Coach Amy, I knew this was my chance to try this indoor offshoot of the sport that I love.

The class was set to start at 6:00am, early but not impossible. My alarm went off and I sprang up to start the day:

Getting ready proved to be more challenging than I had thought. Never having been to a class, I was completely in the dark as to what to expect when I got there. I went with cycling gear rather than regular gym attire; I figured that the gear that can get me through a century should also be able to get me through a 1-hour spin class.

As I was heading out the door, with car keys in one hand and coffee in the other,

I caught a glimpse of my beautiful new bike, George, sitting all alone in the corner.

I thought of how cold it has been, how icy the roads and bitter the winds, and how sad it made me that on the first day of dry roads I was getting in my car to drive to the gym, to go inside and get on a stationary bike. That is when…decisions were made.

20 degrees has never felt warmer. As I rode off, I sent my best thoughts to those who were stuck in traffic, on the way to the gym to ride their bikes inside. Some day, I promise that I will take a spin class, but today was not that day.

Tailwinds!

Whitney McKiddy

March 4, 2015
SOLAR POWER.

Designed in the Netherlands where bike function is paramount, the Rydon Pixio is a very smart new concept for city riding. Loaded with smart features, the Pixio is always charged due to an integrated solar panel that sucks up the sun. Fully charged, it shines for 60 hours and has light output that is moderate (and won’t blind oncoming traffic). It’s simple to mount and sells for 35 euro. They’re new and limited in distribution (currently only available through climatestore.com) but watch for them in an upcoming catalog!

March 4, 2015
A JACKET TO BE SEEN IN.
Shining a light on illuminated outerwear.

As a four-season bike commuter, I expect a lot from my work clothes. They have to be comfortable, professional, and above all else, visible. From the moment I saw it, I knew that the Reflection Jacket from Bench would deliver on all of my requirements – and more.

This incredibly technical jacket is the most flattering that I have seen. I was absolutely blown away when we took a picture with the flash on – the level of visibility is truly remarkable. With many companies creating fully reflective bike wear, Bench stands alone in working with the fabric to create sleek, gorgeous lines that make this jacket a standout – day or night.

The Details:
- woven polyester with full reflective print
- high neckline with storm flap
- extended back hemline for added protection on the bike
- high reach sleeves and displaced shoulder seams for mobility
- adjustable hood
- integrated device pocket with headphone cable routing
- ventilation via eyelets at underarms
- thumb loops at sleeve ends
- semi-fitted
- XS – XL
- $149
Whitney McKiddy
March 4, 2015
CYCLISTS (AND WILDLIFE) ONLY.

Coming out of Hibernation.

The best kept National Park Service secret: open to cyclists before anyone else. Imagine riding through Yellowstone Park and the only traffic jam you experience is a herd of bison on the road. For 10 days to 2 weeks in April, Yellowstone, Glacier, Yosemite and a variety of National Parks open the roads to cyclists in advance of letting the hoards of RVs in.

Yellowstone Park is rapidly becoming a magnet for adventurous cyclists who, in late March/early April, are the benefactors of an extraordinary opportunity to ride from the North to the West entrance of the Park (both in Montana), prior to the season opening to automobiles. Nothing short of transcendent, particularly if you can join the Bozeman cyclists’ unofficial parade (bathing suit and faux fur vest recommended).

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/springbike.htm

Likewise, Glacier Park in northwestern Montana, accommodates cyclists in a similar fashion on famed Going to the Sun Highway which is accessible to bikes for weeks (April/May depending on conditions) before opening to auto traffic.

Yosemite’s Glacier Point Road, a curvy 17 mile ride up to one of the best views in the park, is open for a few days solely to cyclists just after snow plows have cleared the roads and just before they’re opened to park travel.

http://www.kcet.org/living/travel/socal_wanderer/national-park/glacier-point-road.html

From early May until late in September, Cades Cove 11-mile loop road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is open only to cyclists and pedestrians on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/biking.htm

Bicycle-Only Campgrounds: Natchez Trace, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi

http://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/bicycle-only-campgrounds.htm

March 1, 2015
TURNING 30.

The Originals.

2015 marks Terry’s 30th anniversary in putting female cyclists first. Think about it, how many women-specific brands were in the cycling industry, or any sports industry for that matter, in 1985? We’re celebrating all year with our largest line-up of new product introductions and limited-edition 30th anniversary products:

Fly & Butterfly Classic: the originals in their textured leather covers with embroidered butterfly and fly.

Susan B Anthony Jersey: in conjunction with the Susan B Anthony House in Rochester, New York (available this April).

Founded by Georgena Terry in 1985, Terry Bicycles is the original women’s bicycling company that has been committed to getting more women riding through innovative product design. We are 100% dedicated to making cycling a more comfortable, safe and beautiful experience for all women.

On to the next decade!

March 1, 2015
WE’RE HOT.

Forgive us for tooting our own horn, but Internet Retailer just named us a HOT 100 retail website for 2015:

TerryBicycles.com: Style in motion

Terry Bicycles’ e-commerce site connects with women in motion, whether their interests are riding bicycles, jogging on trails, walking about town or shopping online. The site caters to the interests of these women by packing product and category pages with information. For example the “Saddle” category page shows a saddle with six stars on it that, once moused over, highlight the brand’s unique attributes.

Internet Retailer, December 2014

Don’t worry – we know we have a long way to go to in providing everything you need to get the most out of cycling. We’re committed to that, 100%!

March 1, 2015
LA GATTA PRIMA.

What’s MYN is fine. Discovered recently, we are hot on the trail of getting this premium collection for women into distribution in the US. Designed to put Ladies first, this extraordinary seamless Italian line has us purring for its incredible level of design and detail. Bike shawls, patterned leggings, seamlessly integrated chamois design, seamless leg openings, cat buttons – it’s a lot to look forward to.

March 1, 2015
WINTER READING LIST.

Can’t ride? Escape with one of these.

Mountain to Mountain.

A journey of adventure and activism for the women of Afghanistan. Shannon Galpin

A humbling read, for those of us who can put on a tank top and fly down the road on our bicycles. In this memoir, Shannon Galpin (honored by National Geographic magazine as an Adventurer of the Year in 2013 for her work in Afghanistan) shares the experience of what it takes to ride a bike and organize a woman’s cycling team in a place where women lack the freedom to ride a bicycle. Filled with the highs and lows of harrowing encounters, exhilarating rides and fascinating people, it grips you from start to finish and provides a peek at what’s going on under the head scarves.

I was fortunate to get to hear Shannon speak at a gathering/book signing at Green Bay Cycles in Illinois. Shannon is truly inspiring and a wonderful cycling ambassador for women of the world. Pick up a hard cover copy (or Kindle) of Mountain to Mountain here.

Twenty Thousand Miles to See a Tree.

An around the world Bicycle Journey. Cindie Cohagen.

What an audacious thing to do–go explore the entire world by bike (not surprisingly, she used Terry saddles). Read this interview-style book for the answers to practical questions for all bike-venture seekers. In her eight-year exploration of different destinations, cultures and religions, Cindie shares both her external and internal journeys in vivid detail. Available digitally in kindle here.

A Bike Tour in Myanmar.

A guidebook to nudge you down the road. Judy Bartlett, Liz Montgomery

The perfect motivator for planning an exotic bike adventure. Not only is it fun to read about two middle-aged women on a tandem navigating their way through Burma, but they provide great guidance and support for others to do the same. Available digitally for Kindle here.

Wheelmen

Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France, and the Greatest Sports Conspiracy Ever. Reed Albergotti, Vanessa O’Connell

We know, we know – enough of this already. However, this book is stay-up-all-night riveting. Published late last year and superbly written by two Wall Street Journal reporters, it is an absolute page-turner about the world of bike racing and the incredible lengths that Armstrong and his host of conspirators went to in deceiving us all. Now available in paperback and NOOK Book.

November 12, 2014
WELLNESS REVOLUTION

This past spring, TERRY and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont partnered up in a pilot program designed to promote healthier lifestyles for women through cycling. Since this was the first program of its kind in Vermont, we weren’t sure how many women would be interested in going through a biometric screening process and committing to an 8-week cycling program. Within 48 hours, we had a full session and a huge waiting list. Women of all experience levels signed up to set cycling and health goals for themselves, go on group rides with other participants and learn about cycling through co-sponsors, Earl’s Cyclery, Local Motion and other members of the Burlington cycling community.

The absolute best part of this program was the community that it built. For the participants, the additional benefits were free health screenings, Terry gift certificates, free helmets, bike fits and lots of helpful information. For me, a participant and facilitator, it was completely awe-inspiring to see several women who hadn’t been on a bike since they were six years old, grab an old mountain bike or 1970 Peugeot and ride 17 miles.

Based on the success of the program, we’re planning 2 revolutions for 2015!

Whitney McKiddy

November 10, 2014
AND THE OSCAR FOR BEST BIKE MOVIE GOES TO…

You NEED to see this movie. Buy it, download it, share it with anyone who’s important to you. Rising from Ashes is sensational. The story combines the pain of Rwanda with the joy (and pain) of cycling and takes you on a ride that doesn’t end after 82 minutes. Beautifully shot, scored, edited and narrated (by Forest Whitaker), it’s not surprising that it’s won nearly every film festival it’s entered. Years ago, a co-worker and I stumbled upon Tom Ritchey at a trade show in Germany. He was in the middle of a booth with a wooden bike, coffee beans and these very colorful jerseys. We became huge fans of Project Rwanda and talked his team into making a female-specific version of the jersey. You may remember that we featured it in one of our catalogs, and sold out quickly. If you were lucky enough to buy one, congratulations–wish I’d gotten one!

November 6, 2014