Bikes

How To: Bike to Work

May 12-18th is Bike to Work Week, ending on National Bike to Work Day, Friday the 18th. We're all for ditching the car to get out and pump our pedals, so Outdoor Sports Center employees have pledged to ride a total of NN miles on Bike to Work Day.

If you're looking to join the cause and don't have a bike or your commute is long, consider checking out an E-Bike, like the Specialized Turbo Vado 6.0. It has 3 boost settings, meaning it’ll make your commute a breeze and get you to the office on time. Built-in powerful headlights in the front and rear means cars will be able to see you on the road even if you have late nights at the office.  Whether you’re riding through the trail or on the road, the Turbo Vado 6.0 can conquer both. Plus, climbing a dreaded hill is a breeze with its assisted pedaling.

To help you have a safe commute, we've put together 5 helpful tips for Bike to Work Day below.

How can I carry everything I need for the day?
Narrow it down to the essentials by planning ahead the day before you ride and leave a change of clothes at work, with your toiletry bag and an extra pair of shoes. Remember to bring plenty of water, and stay safe with a helmet, a GPS, sunscreen, sunglasses to block bugs, and biking gloves. If you still need to bring your lunch and paperwork we recommend a backpack that is sturdy, and clips over your chest to prevent slipping down. For the ladies, try not to carry a purse while riding, because they can easily throw off your balance and cause distractions.

How can I make myself presentable before the work day begins?
The best bet is to leave extra time in the morning to allow your heart rate to lower, so you can cool down and then freshen up. Lucky for you there are tons of products that allow you to skip the shower and still look and smell presentable. We recommend keeping body wipes, deodorant, dry shampoo and extra socks at the office for just this! Don't forget to stretch, to prevent sore muscles and help your body recover.

How can I make sure I'm safe?
It goes without saying that you should always wear a helmet! Other than that, alert your co-workers the day before that you will be biking to work, so they know where you are. On the off chance that anything should happen, it is also a good idea to wear a Roadrunner ID bracelet. Listening to your headphones while biking can be dangerous, but if you want to listen to music or your GPS, keep the volume low and only use one earbud.

What if I have to ride home in the dark?
The more visible you are on the road, the safer you'll be. By law, you are required to have a light on your bike after sundown. We suggest a blinking light on both the front and back of your bike. It is also just as important to wear reflective gear, on your helmet or jacket.

What hand signals do I need to know?
Always use your left hand when signaling to cars when you are making a turn. Holding your left arm out straight means you are turning left, and holding your hand up with your elbow bent 90 degrees means you are turning right. When coming to a stop, hold your left hand down with your elbow bent 90 degrees.
 

Bike Service Pick-up

Let us take the hassle out of bike repairs. Schedule a time for us to pick up your bike right from your home for a faster and more convenient service than ever before. The best part is our pick-up service comes to you at no additional cost. Call today to book an appointment.

All Neighboring Towns
Our pick-up service is avaialble in Wilton, Ridgefield, Redding, Weston, Westport, Norwalk, New Canaan, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge. Not sure if you fall in our service area? Give us a call at (203) 762-8797

Easy Scheduling
We know life gets busy, so let us pick up your bike right from your home to make bike tune ups and repairs, hassle free. Our certified bike mechanics will diagnose your bicycle at the shop and call you with a quote. Once you have approved the quote, they will fix your bike and let you know when its ready. Our van pick up is operating during regular business hours Monday–Friday 10 am to 6 pm.

Put safety first without sacrificing your schedule and get the whole family's bikes tuned for spring. Our Outdoors Sports Center van can easily fit all of your family's bikes secured in the back. Check Out our Full Bike Service Rates.

Full Service Bike Workshop

Outdoor Sports Center has a very experienced and professional workshop staff. Whether you need a tube and tire change or a complete custom build for your next race, at our bike workshop you are always in good hands. We offer competetive pricing on skilled service for any bike. We have more bike mechanics and technicians than most bike shops, so we are able to give our customers the best possible service in the shortest amount of time. Minor repairs or tube and tire changes can be performed on the spot and the turn around on a tune-up can be as short as same day. We are proud to have a mechanic on our staff with the highest level of certification a mechanic can hold from the Barnett Bicycle Insitute. He is the only Certified Elite Mechanic in the state of Connecticut, so you can be sure that the level of expertise you are getting is the best available. We are as passionate about riding as our dedicated customers, so we work hard to get you out riding again as soon as possible.

Workshop Rates

GURU Fit System

The best bike starts with a proper fit. Our bike shop offers a new revolutionary approach to finding your perfect bike on the GURU FIT SYSTEM! This advanced computer scan technology can measure your exact specifications to help you select the right size and model for your riding style. Whether you're in the market for a new road, mountain, cyclocross, triathlon or recreational bike, the GURU Fit System will scan its database of over 10,000 bikes to find a perfect match!

How it Works:

The GURU Fit System has two key components: a robotic bike and a 3D scan camera to capture your exact measurements. The new Connect 2.0 camera, can shoot more frames per second to measure precise body angles and alignment, all while you are sitting and pedaling on the GURU bike. Our technician will then make adjustments in real-time so that you can compare the feeling of each different setting. The bike will adjust at an incline and decline to simulate different riding conditions, to guarantee you are comfortable no matter where you are riding.

We offer two types of sessions:

Sizing -- For anyone who wants to test a variety of bikes or make fine tune adjustments to their current bike. The prices of sizing and fitting sessions include the modifications that are made to the bike (only additional parts cost extra).
Road, MTB (15-30 mins) A sizing session is complimentary when you are buying a bike from Outdoor Sports Center.

What's included:

1. Our 3D scan camera will capture your exact measurements, in seconds and search the GURU Fit Systems computer database to find a bike as a starting point.

2. While sitting and pedaling on on the GURU Bike, the motion capture 3D camera will measure your precise body angles, so the technician can fine tune your bikes: saddle height, handlebar reach, and handlebar height to make proper adjustments.

3. After we discover your preferences, you will test the bike on an incline and decline to simulate different riding conditions and ensure you're comfortable and safe! In the end, you will have the best brand, model, frame size and stem size that fits you!

4. We can then use the x/y coordinates to fine-tune an existing or brand new bike! 

Fitting -- A more in-depth process, where we zero in on every part of your bike to correct alignment issues, for your body, speed and performance.
Road/MTB, TRI (1-2hrs)

What's included:  After going through everything in the sizing session, we will work more closely with you to ensure maximum performance by:

-Evaluating riders history
-Monitoring cleat positioning and recommending shoe inserts
-Adjusting crank length, based on your height
-Testing different handlebar widths and saddle options
-Correcting saddle height, and handlebar reach as well as height
-Testing limitations though power resistents
-Show body positioning with live video feed
-Final fit coordinates emailed to you
-X/Y Coordinates transferred to your bike at no additional cost

Staff Mountain Bikes

We've zeroed in on a few of our most avid mountain bikers here at the store to learn more about their most prized possession: their bikes. Read on to find out what styles they ride, what custom pieces are they love the most, and their favorite parks and trails.

Santa Cruz Tall Boy LT (2015)

Type: Trail Bike

Owner: Will Maxwell

What do you love about this bike?
It's a great all-around bike that can do anything and go anywhere. It has a dropper seat post with a trigger to adjust the seat while you ride, so you can adjust for uphill or downhill riding. It's got a carbon frame, making it super light - only 26 pounds.

What parts of this bike are custom?
The entire bike is custom; I bought the frame with the fork and added every other piece, all from different brands. The most significant of these components are the handlebars, the cranks, the 29-inch I9 wheels, and the SRAM X11 drivetrain.

What is your favorite spot to ride?
The Wilton Town Forest is my favorite local spot, but overall, Highland Mountain in New Hampshire.

What will be your next purchase for this bike?
It's perfect! It needs nothing.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I spend about a half hour a week cleaning, tuning, and making minor adjustments. I ride a few times a week so I always try to make all the necessary adjustments to keep it in good shape for the next ride.

How long have you had this bike and how many miles have you ridden?
I built it in September of 2014 and have put about 200 miles on it.

Cannondale F29 5 (2014)

Type: Cross Country

Owner: Evan Tobey

What do you love about this bike?
It has a lockable fork; when unlocked it gives full use of the front suspension, but I can lock it when climbing to stiffen the suspension and climb more easily. The Lefty fork also allows a tire/tube change without removing the wheel.

What parts of the bike are custom?
Nothing is custom; it is very enjoyable right out of the box and ready to rip!

What will be your next purchase?
I'd love to get a fat tire bike next, such as the Specialized Fat Boy, so I can ride in the woods year-round.

What is your favorite spot to ride?
Locally I like to ride Bennets Farm State Park in Ridgefield, but overall my favorite spot is Ascutney Mountain in Vermont.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I spend about an hour a week making adjustments.

When did you get this bike and how many miles have you ridden?
I got it in September 2014 and have ridden about 300 miles.

Foundry Auger (2014)

Type: Cyclocross

Owner: Mike Horton

(We don't have this bike in stock, but a very similar bike that we do carry is the Cannondale Super X.)

What do you love about this bike?
I love that I can ride this bike to work but also use it on gravel and dirt trails. (Although they have dropped bars like a road bike, Cyclocross bikes are made for trails and races on flat-to-rolling, off-road terrain). It has disc brakes, a high tire clearance, and an all-carbon frame, so it's super light.

What parts of this bike are custom?
I added new handlebars, stem, and saddle to give the bike a better fit and make it more comfortable.

What will be your next purchase for this bike?
Nothing! It's complete and doesn't need any additions!

What is your favorite spot to ride?
The Housatonic Valley Rail Trail in Trumbull.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I give my bike a weekly 20-minute check-over to make sure everything is tuned up and good to go.

How long have you had this bike and how many miles have you ridden?
I've had it since October of 2014 and I've put around 2,000 miles on it.

Specialized Stump Jumper 29er Elite FSR (2015)

Type: Trail Bike

Owner: Shane McCabe

What do you love about this bike?
The full suspension is great; FSR is Specialized's patented full suspension system. One of its key features is an inertia valve that senses the movement of the trail but not of the rider, which reduces pedal bob. It has 29-inch wheels which help the bike keep its speed up.

What will your next purchase be for this bike?
The next addition to this bike will be a new wheel set; I would love to get Stan's Flow rims with Chris King hubs.

What parts of this bike are custom?
The bike doesn't have any custom parts... yet!

What is your favorite spot to ride?
Huntington Park in Redding.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I haven't had this bike long enough to need to do any work to it, but it took about an hour and a half to build.

How long have you had this bike and how many miles have you ridden?
I got it in April of this year and have put around 80 miles on it so far.

Specialized Demo (2014)

Type: Downhill

Owner: Eric Gance

What do you love about this bike?
This bike is made to perform on steep downhill runs. The rear shock is by Öhlins and is a crossover from motocross; the suspension is easily tuned to the rider's size, riding style and track.

What parts of this bike are custom?
Everything! I started out with just the frame and added all the other components. I just ordered a new set of 26-inch wheels from Industry Nine; staying with 26-inch wheels for hitting big jumps and drops in the bike park. While most downhill bikes come with a 1x9 drivetrain, I put a 1x10 on mine.

What will your next purchase be for this bike?
My next addition to this bike will be new Bladerunner pedals from Deity, which have excellent grip.

What is your favorite spot to ride?
Highland Mountain in New Hampshire.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I spend about an hour every two weeks making minor adjustments and tuning.

How long have you had this bike and how many runs have you done?
I got it in November of 2014, and I've ridden about 45 runs.

Specialized P1 Steel (2010)

Type: Dirt Jumper

Owner: Christian Friberg

What do you love about this bike?
I love that it has a rigid fork and not a suspension fork. Apart from being more technically difficult to ride, it's also faster than using a suspension fork.

What parts of the bike are custom?
I have grips from Specialized and a seat from Nice.

What will be your next purchase?
I'm thinking about getting a downhill bike, most likely a Specialized Demo.

What's your favorite spot to ride?
I like riding at Highland Mountain, but I spend more time riding the pumptrack and dirt jumps that I built with my friend in his backyard.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I periodically adjust the chain tension and true the wheels, but apart from that it's bulletproof!

When did you get this bike and how many miles have you ridden?
I got it in the summer of 2011, and this is my fifth season riding it.

Santa Cruz 5010 Carbon S (2015)

Type: Trail Bike

Owner: Greg Newkirk

What do you love about this bike?
It's a light travel bike, so it doesn't have too much travel for cross country riding, but it's still nimble enough for technical terrain. It's got a dropper seat post that I can adjust while riding, and I can also adjust the rear suspension depending on the terrain. The rear suspension is the Fox Float CTD, and I can switch between climbing, trail, and downhill.

What parts of this bike are custom?
Nothing yet!

What will be your next purchase for this bike?
I plan on getting carbon handlebars and carbon wheels to make it lighter, and the wheels will also help make it stiffer.

What's your favorite spot to ride?
Huntington State Park in Redding.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
It's too new! I haven't had to work on it at all yet.

When did you get this bike and how many miles have you ridden?
I got it in April of this year and have probably put about 50 miles on it.

Specialized Demo (2013)

Type: Downhill/Freeride

Owner: Will Maxwell

What do you love about this bike?
It has long travel, which is great for downhill; the Cane Creek double barrel shock and Rockshox Boxxer fork provide more than 200 mm of travel. The drivetrain has a narrow-wide chain ring with a SRAM XO rear derailleur, which allows the bike to be ridden without a chain guide.

What parts of this bike are custom?
Everything is custom; I started with just the frame and added every component. My favorite addition to this bike is probably the LG 1+ crank set from E13; they're purpose-built for downhill and very resilient.

What will be your next purchase for this bike?
New 26" wheels from Industry Nine.

What is your favorite spot to ride?
Highland Mountain in New Hampshire.

How much time do you spend working on your bike?
I work on it after every ride for about 30 minutes.

When did you get this bike and how much have you ridden it?
I got it in the spring of 2013 and have gotten three great seasons out of it so far.

Our bike shop staff is a team of dedicated experts who can help you find the perfect mountain bike for your style of riding. We sell top brand mountain bikes, from cyclocross to park bikes and everything in between. Our mechanics can help you customize your bike any way you want, and are always here whenever you need a tune-up or a repair.