Apparel for the city

New arrivals to our Chelsea store: To help you be dressed for city cycling, adding to our Levi’s collection, we just got new gear from Chrome.

Ride early and often.

New arrivals: Windbreakers, shoes and bags from Chrome

Strong Legs Series: Stephanie Kaplan

Through June, we are featuring our cycling athletes in our “strong legs” series. This week, meet Stephanie Kaplan, New Yorker, bike commuter, racer on Asphalt Green cycling team, and one of five women selected nationally for the Specialized women’s cycling ambassador program.

Stephanie Kaplan with her Specialized Amira

How did you get into cycling?

I rode around when I was a kid, and commuted a bit when I moved to New York, but it wasn’t until 2006 when I left New York for the Peace Corps that I really fell in love with cycling. When I got to Burkina Faso, which is in West Africa, the first thing they do is give us each a mountain bike for transit. I used it to get everywhere – literacy classes, I put a box on it and rode into town or to cart around my stuff.

In Burkina Faso, people don’t run for fun, but biking is big. One day they had a bike race in my town – The entire village and surrounding villages came to watch, and I’d never seen anything like it. They paraded around the winners…it was a huge deal.

So you brought the love of bikes back with you from Africa?

Stephanie fell in love with cycling while she was in Burkina Faso in the Peace Corps

Yes, when I got back to the city, I knew I wanted to get a bike, and bring some of the ‘Peace Corps’ lifestyle back with me. I bought a Specialized Dolce and joined the New York Cycle Club. I signed up for their SIG program.

SIG teaches you everything: How to clip in, how grab your water bottle while riding, how to ride in a group. I’d never ridden over the bridge before, but with SIG I gained great skills and confidence. The fact that the program is free is amazing. It takes your entire day – but it’s pretty awesome.

I got into triathlons from there, but eventually fell in with Asphalt Green and started doing road races, and dabbled in cyclocross. I would love to mountain bike in New York, but for now it seems like road racing is simplest! I also commute to work by bike.

What races have you done this year?

I just did the White Plains Crit, I’m doing the Harlem Crit this weekend. This year has been more local races – CRCA open races, club races. The Prospect Park women’s races have been really neat this year – but I’ve also traveled to St. Louis for the MO-PRO Crit Series and plan on heading there again for Gateway Cup…I love riding/racing in new places!

What is your first bike memory?

I grew up in Alabama. When I was young, my brother and I used to convince my mom to let us ride our bikes to lunch by ourselves. It was some Chinese buffet restaurant, but we thought we were so grown up. Honestly, I don’t know now why we wanted to go there, but I remember it was really fun.

What advice do you offer to people who want to start bike racing?

The NYCC SIG program is really good. No matter your skill level, there is a SIG for you. Racing is so much fun, but because of the high speeds and risk involved it’s not always the best environment to learn in – especially since often the beginner women are racing with the experienced and higher category riders, so SIG is a good place to grow, and there are also development programs popping up, such as the one at Asphalt Green.

Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to other riders. People think, “Oh, you’re so fast, you probably won’t want to ride with me” – they think that because we’re racers we only go Mach 5. I like to go fast – but I also like to ride to get coffee and eat muffins. [Laughs] And when I’m commuting, I don’t bike to work fast, I just bike to work!

I encourage people to just get out there and get over the fear that you’re going to be slow or that you don’t know what you’re doing. Introduce yourself to others riders. If you don’t put yourself out there, you’re never going to get better.

That’s another reason the women’s ride series is so important. Riding doesn’t always have to be competitive; it can be fun and social. Races are competitive, but clinics and groups are nice ways to learn and get involved.

You are an ambassador for Specialized women’s cycling program. What is your vision for women’s cycling in NYC?

Stephanie was thrilled to be selected for the Specialized women’s cycling ambassador program

I see a huge number of women rallying together and wanting to create a community just for us. Velojoy, WeBike, CRCA – I see women starting to be united across all styles of cycling to create a women’s community and create a voice for us. It’s nice to see bike companies jumping on board too, like Specialized, to create some truly amazing products made just for us…they passion they have for getting women on bikes is pretty amazing.

In New York City overall, I’m excited to see more cyclists and that cycling is growing as a genuine mode of transportation. People will respect the bike lane when there are more people in the lanes and more riders out there, and more women will feel empowered to get on a bike when they see other women doing the same. The growth is promising for a stronger, safer community.

Why do you ride?

I ride for the freedom of it. The riding I’ve done, the places it’s taken me – especially riding in New York City…it’s given me so much courage and confidence. You get to see things you’d never have seen: parks, farms, new communities. The places your bike can take you and the people you meet is awesome.

As for why do I race, I like racing because you can be competitive no matter what level you ride. If you do well, you can move up a category, or ride a different race. In my former running days, usually the strongest person always wins. But bike racing takes as much strategy as strength.

I also ride for the friends. The girls I ride with have become my best friends. Even the people we compete against, we know we have a common thread. Like we all got the memo, we know about this fun sport and how great it is.

The ultimate question: How many bikes do you have?

[Laughs] Well, right now I have three, but my husband is trying to get me to cut back to two bikes. I have my commuter bike, a Specialized Crux, my new road bike, a Specialized Amira, and my old road training bike. I love my Amira! It’s a crotch rocket!

If you could ride anywhere in the NYC area, where would you ride?

I really want to get into mountain biking again!

Stephanie lives in New York City and is the communications director for African Services Committee in Harlem. She invites women to join her for the women’s summer ride series, at 6am on rotating Friday mornings at Central and Prospect Parks.

Learn: Racing clinic with Henoch

We want to help our customers enjoy the cycling they do. Some people want to ride occasionally, or just around the park.

For others, you want to learn how to ride competitively – and aren’t sure how to get started.

That’s why we offer the “Introduction to Racing” clinic, taught by Henoch Getz. Here he is last week at our SoHo shop; he’s teaching the clinic this week at our Brooklyn shop.

In addition to giveaways from Power Bar (yum) and Lazer Helmets (swanky!), you have the chance to apply what you learn the following week – at an optional track race with Henoch and other attendees, down at Floyd Bennett Field!

Attendance at the clinic is mandatory for the race portion. Registration is still open for tomorrow’s clinic in Brooklyn.

Introduction to Racing | Henoch Getz

Strong Legs Series: Sheldon Warner

Through June, we are featuring our cycling athletes in our “strong legs” series.

This week, meet Sheldon Warner, a mechanic in our Soho store and a father figure to much of our staff, teaching newcomers how to ride safely in the city, and enthusiasts how to improve their competitiveness.

Strong Legs Series: Sheldon Warner

How many bikes do you have?

I think I have six. No, seven? [counting] Eight! My favorite bike right now is the Trek Superfly. It’s fast, light, good braking and can handle the road bumps and distances. I take it everywhere.

How long have you been riding?

My first memory on the bike is sneaking down to the river when I was 10. We weren’t allowed to go, but I snuck out with my friends. I put a better gear on my bike so I could keep up with them.

The bike saved my life! I was getting into trouble, but bikes kept me on a good road.

You changed the gearing on your bike, at only 10 years old?

Yes. I used to jump ramps with it. That’s how I broke it. [laughs]

For a long time, you were a competitive bike racer. What did you race?

I did all kinds of races: series, track, distance. I was a good sprinter, but I prefer the pursuit stuff, because you have to use your head. In shorter races, you don’t have time to think, you just grind. I loved winning, but I also loved the strategy of it. A longer race is like a big, moving chess game.

I don’t race anymore, but I still train like I do. I ride every day with a core group of friends. We go at least 40 miles. At least once per week we do 70 to 80-mile rides.

What advice do you offer to people who want to start bike racing?

I tell people to get rollers and learn to balance. Watch races and learn techniques. But most importantly, find a group or club to ride with, so you learn how to ride with others and how to improve. Good racers need to not just how to ride but how to ride with other people, to ask questions, to recognize strength, to pace each other. Groups are good for that.

A lot of new racers get on the bike and go, but they ride selfishly, they don’t know how to be attentive to others. Riding with a group will help you learn the important fundamentals of group riding and techniques, how to use your gears, how to keep your RPM up, how to train.

You’ve taught a lot of our staff how to ride safely in NYC. What advice do you give to people learning to ride in NYC?

It is important to respect the others around you, and to communicate with others on the road.

On the bike, the person in front of you has the right of way. There are times to slow down, pass respectfully, communicate. If you are going slow, respect others around you, too. Keep to a side, so riders can pass you respectfully.

Riding respectfully also means signaling to people. Don’t assume they see you or that people should know where you are going. Make it obvious to the drivers where you are going by communicating with signals all the time. Signal when you are turning, or if there is something they need to know.

What attracted you to working with bikes?

I denied being a cyclist for years. But after so long, I had to say it: I am a cyclist. I raced because I was good, an athlete. But now, I do all the same stuff – ride, laugh, push, suffer – I just don’t have to pay to do it! Working in a shop lets me touch and do what I love. The bike connects me to my life. I love the adrenaline and the endorphins. But also I love the freedom. If it’s raining, I get wet, but I’m not stuck waiting on a train. On the bike, nothing is stopping me from where I want to go. There’s a lot of freedom in bikes.

So, eight bikes?

[Laughs] I have my eye on a Madone road bike. But in New York, it’s always a question of where you’re going to put it!

When he’s not at our SoHo store, you can see Sheldon biking and skating in Prospect Park. (Often with one of our staff.) He welcomes you to stop in and ask him for tips on riding and racing.

Women’s ride in Central Park

We had a BLAST knowing so many women showed up en masse to join our women’s ride yesterday at Central Park.

About 70 women rolled through the park with the Specialized-lululemon pro team. What a way to show some NYC love to the team as they head to the races in Philly this weekend.

“Mommy, so many bikes – and they’re all girls!” exclaimed one child at the sight.

The under-age spectator was NOT invited to our after-party in Chelsea. But we’re glad the rest of you we’re able to make it. A fantastic end to a fantastic day.

And this officially kicks off our women’s ride series – don’t miss it:

Women’s Ride Series: Fridays @ 6am, meet at Engineer’s Gate (5th Ave at E. 90th Street)!

See you then!

NYC women celebrate bike share!

Thanks to the huge turnout of women who joined us this morning for our bike share celebration and ride.

Together with the Specialized-lululemon team, Citibike and the NYC DOT – and special appearances from Janette Sadik-Khan and NY’s own Evie Stevens – We learned that 30% of NYC’s new bike share memberships are women. We want to see it get to 51%. Women ride – and we celebrate it.

Congratulations to NYC on the new bikes. Welcome, new riders!

Family ride at Prospect Park!

This spring marks the 3rd anniversary of the amazing of the Prospect Park West bike lane – join the the community on June 2nd for a family fun ride celebrating the neighborhood mainstay!

We’ll be there offering prices for best decorated kid’s bike, best family costume, and most biking family.

Plus, there will be cookouts, raffles – and of course, bike rides!

Join in the Prospect Park family ride – June 2