Author: John Capobianco

Categories
Sports

Echelon Cycles Hits the West Village

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The competitive world of bike shops in New York City has recently witnessed the rise of a small shop in the West Village. Established in 2009, Echelon Cycles is co-owned by Daniel DeNigris and Pablo D. Castro. Together their goal is to offer a full service bike shop that caters to all types of cyclists, from the everyday commuter to the serious triathlete.

Being a cyclist, I make it a point to visit any bike shop that I pass while traveling around the city. I have been cycling for over 30 years and have worked in shops on and off during that time. Upon my first visit to Echelon, I was overly impressed by their inventory. Most shops feature a few major manufacturers but Echelon features Scott, Focus, Wilier, Colnago, Jamis, Fuji, Kestrel, Breezer, Montecci, SE, Masi, Haro, and Dahon. They currently have more than 500 bikes in stock, so chances are good that they will have the bike for you. Yet another unique feature is their lifetime service warranty – an offer that you won’t find from many bike shops. The sales staff is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable and both Daniel and Pablo are always present to further assist you with your needs.

The implementation of Citi Bike in NYC has hurt shops such as Echelon with regard to entry level and commuter bike lines.  However both owners agreed that despite the lower sales, more people are now riding bikes. The addition of bikes to the city streets increases bike awareness to motorists and makes it overall much safer. In addition, many riders will eventually want their own bikes once they discover the convenience of traveling on two wheels. Thus, sales will improve in the near future.

Echelon Cycles also offers a wide selection of parts, accessories, cycling apparel, personal fitting and repair services. This shop is about pleasing the customer in every area. One visit to their restroom confirms this….attention to detail.

-John Cap Capobianco M.Ed.

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Categories
Sports Technology

Reynolds Aero 58’s… First Report

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Reynolds Aero 58 wheel set was voted 2013 Wheel of the Year by Triradar.com. Regardless of whether you agree with the award or not, the true test of any wheel is determined by the cyclist riding the wheels. I recently had the good fortune of obtaining a pair, and I have been more than impressed. The requirements for any set of aero wheels are basically the same: Are they fast, stiff, and stable in cross winds? Well, I will report that the Aero 58’s are stiff and very fast. The cross wind stability will soon be determined.

This clincher-only wheel set comes in three rim depths: 58mm, 72mm, and 90mm. I am a road rider, so I prefer the 58mm wheel because it is most suitable for my riding style. Most triathletes/time trialists would opt for the 72mm or 90mm wheel, but I would not hesitate to recommend the 58’s because of their efficiency.

My only issue, albeit a small one, was a brake adjustment. I ride a 2013 Trek Madone 7 series which has the rear brake mounted below the bottom bracket. This design presented a few minor problems, as I had to adjust the width of the brake to accommodate the slightly wider rim design. Once completed, I installed the proprietary Cryo-Blue brake pads. These pads have enlarged water slots to dissipate the water more quickly. This reduces the delay between applying the brakes and slowing the bike. Carbon wheels have been known to be slow-stopping in wet conditions, but I have not yet been caught in the rain to determine the 58’s performance. Hopefully in my next report, I will be.

In the past four days, I have logged over 250 miles on these wheels and they have performed flawlessly. They felt extremely light when climbing and cornered as well as any smaller carbon wheel rim I have ridden. I immediately noticed their ability to accelerate quickly which was surprising for a wheel of this rim depth. Once up to speed, they hold speed amazingly well. I noticed the swiftness of the wheels immediately as I was flying downhill past teammates that I normally never overtake. I have not yet encountered heavy winds or rain, but I am confident that the wheels will perform impeccably. So, to sum up my first report, these wheels are beyond impressive! I look forward to reporting further on the Reynolds Aero 58s.

Read here all the specifications about the Reynolds Aero 58.

—John Capobianco M.Ed.

Categories
Fitness Health Lifestyle Living

Bontrager XXX Carbon Paradigm Saddle: The Complete Package

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Bontrager’s Paradigm XXX Carbon saddle

Carbon saddles of past years have a reputation of being extremely light, but stiff and uncomfortable. Bontrager set out to change that reputation with the Paradigm XXX Carbon saddle. This inForm BioDynamics (Bontrager’s methodology for product development) saddle offers the correct skeletal support by offering three widths; 128mm, 138mm and 148mm. The proper width can be determined by visiting a Trek Bontrager dealer and sitting on their special padded seat. This will establish the width of your ischial tuberosity (sit bones) which confirms the correct saddle width to suit your needs.

The XXX Paradigm is constructed of a carbon fiber reinforced shell, with a contour relief zone eliminating contact on the soft tissue areas. Both comfort and performance are created by the deliberate placement of zone density padding. To further reduce weight but increase strength, this saddle utilizes over sized carbon rails which require a special seatpost clamp. The saddle weighs in at a feathery light 145 grams for the 128 mm width saddle. All three models are 270 mm in length.

I have been using this saddle now on my 2013 Trek Madone 7 series for the past month and have logged nearly 1,200 miles. My longest ride was 162 miles and I was amazed at the level of comfort it provided. It took a week or so to break in, but cycling enthusiasts know that to be the case with any new seat. My previous saddle was the Bontrager Evoke RXL Carbon. It too was amazingly comfortable and remained so after two years of use. My decision to give the XXX Paradigm a try has proven to be a bargain at the retail cost of $249. It is the complete package.

– John Cap Capobianco M.Ed.

Categories
Fashion Industry News

The Paramount Hotel Hosts New Martone Cycling Co. Pop-up Store

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Martone Cycling Co., the bicycle company owned by Lorenzo Martone (Marc Jacobs’ ex-fiance) is launching a new product today.

The Marton-E bicycle is debuting in the company’s first pop-up store at the Paramount Hotel in New York, open today until April 18th. The new electric bike promises a sweat-less and stylish experience via its rechargeable battery. It will be sold along its collaboration line of accessories designed by the artist Justin Teodoro, that includes iPhone cases and clothing. Enjoy the ride!

–Paris Amaro