Bike Diva

RadioShack Customers Donate to Livestrong

PRESS RELEASE

RadioShack Customers Donate $1.3 Million to LIVESTRONG

Fundraising contribution presented on World Cancer Day

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Through the generous contributions of its customers during the holidays, RadioShack has collected more than $1.3 million to benefit LIVESTRONG®, an organization that fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer. Today's presentation coincides with World Cancer Day 2010, which promotes cancer prevention, detection and treatment across the globe. Customers who shopped at THE SHACK's 5,500 locations during the holiday season had the opportunity to make a $1 donation with their purchase.

RadioShack also donated $10 for every purchase of an exclusive limited-edition book -- COMEBACK 2.0 by LIVESTRONG's founder and chairman Lance Armstrong -- documenting the return of the seven-time Tour de France winner to professional cycling in 2009. COMEBACK 2.0 continues to sell for $29.99 on www.RadioShack.com and in stores while supplies last.

"We're inspired by the overwhelming response our customers and employees have shown for the LIVESTRONG campaign," said Julian C. Day, chairman and chief executive officer of RadioShack Corp. "We are exploring new and creative ways to raise awareness of the LIVESTRONG mission to our customers this year."

RadioShack announced last year its sponsorship of Armstrong and Team RadioShack to compete in professional cycling and other events worldwide, including the 2010 Tour de France.

About RadioShack Corporation:

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE:RSH) , headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the nation's most experienced and trusted consumer electronics specialty retailers, offering innovative products and services from leading brands. Our knowledgeable, helpful sales associates are committed to enhancing the in-store shopping experience by listening to our customers, offering advice, and partnering with them to find the best technology solutions that fit their needs. Operating from convenient and accessible neighborhood and mall locations, the company has approximately 4,470 company-operated stores; almost 1,300 dealer outlets; over 450 wireless phone kiosks throughout the U.S.; and approximately 200 company-operated stores in Mexico. For more information on RadioShack Corporation, or to purchase items online, visit www.RadioShack.com.

LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000518/DATH047LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: RadioShack Corporation

CONTACT: Wendy Dominguez of RadioShack Corporation, +1-817-415-3300,
media.relations@RadioShack.com

Web Site: http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/

Cyclist Crashes Near Boynton Beach Inlet

Before I fill you in on the details, the cyclist is okay. Not a fatality, unlike some recent bike vs. vehicle incidents in the south Florida area.

Bike Diva Recovery Ride

I was doing an easy recovery ride on my tri bike this morning. My coach, Matt Goforth, of On Your Mark Performance Center, said I was supposed to do a nice, easy ride, and stay in heart rate zones 1-2 most of the way, and not go above zone 3. In other words, I was supposed to keep my heart rate at under 153 BPM.

It was a bit windy out there this morning, as I was heading north, starting from Linton Blvd. bridge in Delray Beach, I just wasn't feeling it this morning. Bit of a cross/head wind making getting/staying in the aero bars a bit dicey. Spent most of the ride sitting up, riding the cow horns, not the aero bars. Wish I had my road bike instead of the tri bike.

To Ride or Not to Ride

I originally planned on going all the way to the Palm Beach Inlet, but my inner chicken, or maybe it was my spider senses, kept saying, turn around, go home, today just isn't your day to be on the bike. So I was trying to talk myself into doing a shorter ride. Maybe turn around at Lake Worth Pier, or maybe turn around at Boynton Inlet, before I finally decided to turn around just before Boynton Inlet.

My mother-in-law (hey Anne!) flew into Jupiter, from Surf City, NJ a few days ago, to visit friends of hers. We are going up there this afternoon to pick her up, and bring her back to Delray. So I probably didn't have the time to go all the way to Palm Beach Inlet today anyways.

Rider Down But Okay

As I was getting towards the last few condos, before you make the right turn to go up to the Inlet, by the beach, I noticed a mini pickup truck, in a strange position in the road. A cyclist was sitting next to the truck, in the middle of the road, and his mangled bike was next to him. I pulled up to the accident scene, to make sure someone had called 911. A lady walking along A1A was there when the accident happened, and she had already called 911 when I got there.

Apparently a women pulled in front of the cyclist, and the cyclist lost control and ran into the pick up truck? Not sure if that's what happened, I didn't see another vehicle, besides the mini pickup truck, and a guy was driving that vehicle. Guess the lady didn't hit the cyclist, so technically not a hit-and-run, but leaving the scene of an accident is illegal isn't it? Or maybe she was clueless and didn't know she cut the cyclist off and caused him to crash?

Don't Shoot Me Officer

A police officer arrived, shortly after I got there. The officer approached the cyclist and then we heard a loud bang. At first I thought the officers gun misfired, but it was the cyclist's front tire that exploded. The cyclist looked okay, scraped and bloody left knee. But his helmet apparently got knocked off in the crash. He might have a concussion, which would explain why he was still sitting in the middle of the road - he seemed a bit dazed and confused.

The officer managed to get him on his feet, and over to the sidewalk, then moved the guys bike out of the road. Fire Rescue arrived just then, so I left. Traffic was baking up, not a lot of room for extra bodies, and I kind of felt like I was getting in the way. My inner gossip diva wanted to stay and find out all the details of the crash, but I left that for the professionals to work out.

RIP Road Bike

So the cyclist, besides a scrapped knee, and possibly mild concussion, looks okay. But his bike is history. R.I.P. Giant carbon fiber road bike. It was in pieces, like a jig-saw puzzle. Guess when carbon fiber fails its catastrophic. Cyclist is lucky he doesn't resemble his bike.

If anyone hears anymore details about this accident, let me know, or post the info. up to Face Book.

Take care and ride safe,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

So What’s Next? BikeDiva Food for Thought

In a world where everything is molded by the hands of time the bicycle seems immune to evolution.

The 1st cellular analogue phone was invented in 1973. It was the size of a brick, it had an antenna that was just as long as the phone itself, and making phone calls was its only feature. Now we have sleek, slender phones, that not only make phone calls, they send text messages, emails, capture pictures and videos, play music and movies, have full keyboards for typing word documents, and some don’t even have physical buttons because the whole phone consists of a touch interface.

In the early 60’s the 1st cassette player was introduced. This was the standard for listening to music on the go. It could hold several songs, and it was very portable. Now the cassette player is pretty much extinct after evolving into CD players, and most recently mp3 players. Mp3 players are smaller, they hold thousands of songs, and some even play movies, access the Internet, and more.

Many years ago, bicycles had a frame, two wheels, a chain, pedals and now…well now they’re exactly the same. It’s interesting to the think, but the general construction of a bicycle hasn’t changed since about the 1800’s. Don’t get me wrong; there have been many innovations as far as the type of materials used to build bicycles, the aerodynamics of bicycles, etc., but overall they still share many of the same characteristics as their older counterparts. Everything around us is evolving and evolving rapidly but it seems the bicycle is one of the few creations that remain stagnant. One could argue that the bicycle is so pure in its design that there is nothing that needs to be changed. It’s an interesting argument considering we have seen more advances in the design of toothbrushes.

It’s a curious subject as to why there is such a lack of innovation especially with something that’s used by so many people worldwide. But as the world changes, we will adapt and so will the things we use. Bikes will change to meet our needs, whether it’s for portability purposes, comfort, speed, etc. As things evolve, they either change in form, function, or both. This raises the question, what will become of the bicycle within the next decade or even the next century. Given its track record it’s probably safe to assume that nothing will change, but change is inevitable. Therefore the question is not will they change, rather when will they change? Biking is something that we all love, so is it possible for the bike to enhance our experience as a rider? When gears became more prevalent they made bike riding easier and gave the user more control of their experience. What advances are sure to come in the future that will enhance our experience?

Toxel.com has compiled a collection of creative and unusually bikes, giving examples of how they might change in both form and function. This may give us a little insight about what may become of the bicycle.

This article is brought to you by balancebiketrainer.com. Where we specialize in children balance bikes ages 1 through 5 and review exceptional balance bikes like Wishbone Balance Bikes.

2010 West Palm Beach Time Trial Series

Fantastic news! I just got the schedule for the 2010 West Palm Beach time trail races. This is a series of 15K bike races, which take place near 20 mile bend (4 miles west of Lion Country Safari), in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Here's the information from the website:

Welcome to the 2010 West Palm Beach Time Trial Series. 

The 15k Time Trial Schedule is:

1. February 14th
2. March 7th
3. April 25th
4. May 16th

Registration will open at 7:15 am with the 1st rider off at 8:01am. We changed the registration and start time to accommodate those who travel from outside Palm Beach County. We looked at several race event calendars and made a concerted effort to schedule the Time Trials so not to overlap a local race or cycling event.  We look forward to you participating in the 2010 West Palm Beach Time Trial Series.

Hope to see you there!
Mike & Joan Purdy
West Palm Beach Time Trial Series

Above: Members of On Your Mark cycle club, at last years WPB TT series.

Right now, I plan on doing all of the time trials. I already had my 2010 race schedule figured out, before the time trial schedule came out, but fortunately, I don't have any other races scheduled for those days. Cool beans!

Although only 4 time trial dates have been set so far, I am pretty sure Mike will schedule additional races as the season progresses. I'll keep you updated as I find out additional information.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Bicyclist Killed on Rickenbacker Causeway Today

A bicyclist was killed in a hit and run accident on Rickenbacker Causeway in Key Biscayne this morning. Here are a few links to information regarding the accident.

1. http://www.transitmiami.com/2010/01/17/bicyclist-killed-in-hit-and-run-on-the-rickenbacher-causewy/
2. http://miamibikescene.blogspot.com/2010/01/cyclist-killed-on-rickenbacker-causeway.html
3. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1430338.html

Here is a link to another story that includes a short video: http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/MI141357/

A few pictures from the accident, just awful: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YyubEiyuK1o/S1OyGhOvr4I/AAAAAAAAChE/azHcvO7fWTo/s1600-h/photo2.jpg.

Here's the "mug sheet" on the person that hit the cyclist: Carlos Bertonatti

Name of the cyclist hit and killed has been released: Driver charged after cyclist hit and killed in Key Biscayne.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims family.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Tropical Cyclocross Race - January 31

I just got this brochure emailed to me. I didn't even know about this race. Cool beans. Another race for anyone that's into cyclocross racing. Can be done on a mountain bike too.

Website: www.cyclocrossmiami.com

Take care,

Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

How Many Calories do you Burn if you Run a Mile vs. Bike a Mile?

If you have been looking at TV for the past month you probably noticed that there has been a ramp up on weight loss supplement and exercise equipment commercials. Advertisers know that this is the time that most people make New Year’s resolutions and start to try to lose weight. Most will choose a weight loss supplement and try to lose weight the easy way. But there is never a easy way to lose weight. Every weight loss program calls for some type of exercise. Well, let me take that back, any well known weight loss program that is worth anything. Most will say that you need to get thirty minutes of exercise in daily either by weight training, walking, running, riding a bike or some other exercise. But most miss the mark when it come to speaking on which will help you to burn the most calories during each session. Well, I am not going to concentrate on every exercise just mentioned, except for running and riding a bike.

Running is a great exercise for those looking to lose weight, because running usually takes up so much energy the exercise will your increase heart rate and will help you to burn between 100-150 calories per mile. This not etched in stone. The amount of calories per session burnt will depend on your body mass. A person running burns calories at a net rate of 1.53 calories per kilogram of body mass per mile. This sound complicated. I know it did to me when I first started studying on the subject. But it is very simple and is calculated as so. A person running can burn 70 calories per mile for every 100 pounds of the individual’s body weight. I weight approx 270 pounds at 6'3", so ((270 * 70) / 100) is 189 calories per mile. Now, let’s take a look at bike riding.

I love to ride my bike. If I could ride my bike to the majority of places that I go daily I would. It is great exercise and just keeps your body humming. Bike riding take a little more energy than running. It also exercises all major muscle groups at the same time. Calorie loss with bike riding also depends on body mass and weight, but another factor is also introduced. How much effort is taken when biking? Are you using light, moderate or vigorous effort to peddle and ride your bike? For example a 30 minute ride going 10 to 12 mph with a 150 pound person would yield 200 calories burnt, while a 250 pound person would burn 340 pounds. If the person would to up the speed he or she would burn even more calories per session. Here is a chart explaining. As you can see bike riding yields the best result.

Activity 30 minute duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calories burned

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150-pound person . . . . . . 250-pound person
light effort (10 to 11.9 mph) . . . . . . . . 200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
moderate effort (12 to 13.9 mph) . . . . .270 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450
vigorous effort (14 to 15.9 mph) . . . . . 340 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 570

This article is brought to you by balancebiketrainer.com.  Where we specialize in children's balance bikes ages 1 through 5 and review exceptional balance bikes like the Strider Balance Bike.

Video Review of CycleOps Joule 2.0

ABOVE: CycleOps Joule 2.0 and Joule 3.0

Jeff Helfand, of VeloReviews, commented on my recent blog post about being sponsored by Saris Cycling Group. He mentioned that he shot a video with Saris, at Interbike 2009, and that I was welcome to post a link to the video on Bike Diva.

The video shows a review of the Saris Solo bike rack and the CycleOps Joule 2.0 cycle computer.

Thanks for the video link Jeff!

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Grease Monkey Wipes on ABC's Shark Tank

PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 

 

Grease Monkey Wipes Dives into ABC’s Shark Tank

 

Tune in Friday, January 15 (9 PM ET/8 PM CT) to the ABC Television Network to see Grease Monkey Wipes pitch their portable cleaning solution designed for cyclists, by cyclists.

 

Austin, TX, January 4, 2010 – Erin Whalen and Tim Stansbury, co-owners of Grease Monkey Wipes will be featuring their innovative new product on ABC’s prime-time reality television show “Shark Tank” on Friday, January 15 (9 PM ET/8 PM CT).

 

Grease Monkey Wipes are individually packaged cleaning wipes that use an all-natural, citrus formula to handle heavy duty cleaning. Each non-toxic, pre-moistened wipe can easily remove grease, grime, oil, tar, ink, adhesives, and other stubborn messes.

 

“Shark Tank” from Mark Burnett, executive producer of "Survivor" and "The Apprentice," and Sony Pictures Television is a popular, reality television series that gives ambitious entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their product to a panel of five ruthless, multi-millionaires (known as the “sharks”) with the goal of landing enough venture capital investment to propel their idea forward. 

 

When the Sharks hear a really top-notch idea, and more than one of them wants to sink their teeth into it, a feeding frenzy may erupt. But convincing real-life millionaires to part with their own money is no easy task, because when the idea is poor, the “sharks” will tear into the ill-prepared presenters and pass on the idea.

 

Tune in Friday, January 15 (9 PM ET/8 PM CT) as Erin and Tim demonstrate the features and benefits of Grease Monkey Wipes. And see if they swim away with a deal or become chum for the “sharks.”

 

About Grease Monkey Wipes

 

Grease Monkey Wipes, a division of Kong Concepts LLC, was created by frustrated cyclists who wanted an easy, portable way to clean up after getting greasy from changing a flat tire.

 

Owners Erin Whalen and Tim Stansbury are committed to helping everyone, from cyclists to mechanics to motorcyclists to moms, steer clear of grease and grime. Grease Monkey Wipes are the perfect solution for anyone who finds themselves in need of a heavy duty cleaning wipe that can be taken anywhere.

 

Grease Monkey Wipes can be found online at http://www.greasemonkeywipes.com.

 

For more information on ‘Shark Tank,’ visit http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/.

 

Contact:            Tim Stansbury

                        tim@greasemonkeywipes.com

                        512.914.8534

 

 

#####

Femme Pedals Mountain Bike Group

Happy New Year!

If you are into mountain biking in the south Florida area, check out the recently formed Femme Pedal cycling club. 

From the Femme Pedal Meetup Group Page

"Our mission is to provide all types of opportunities for women mountain bikers from beginners to experts. The Femme PeDALs is a mountain biking club for women of all ages and skill levels who share an enthusiasm for mountain biking and cycling. We make it easier to find compatible women riders by scheduling group rides and events. With fun and fitness in mind, Femme PeDAL rides encourage a safe and supportive environment for women who ride the trails. The sound of "ya-hoo" echoing through the woods implies your adventure with the Femme PeDALs has just begun......"

Club Information

Femme Pedal Meetup Group: www.meetup.com/fem-pedal

Facebook group page: Femme Pedal

No More Mtn Biking for Bike Diva

I am a roadie and duathlete and spend most of my cycling time on either my 2009 Trek Madone 6.5 road bike, or my 2009 Cervelo P2C triathlon bike.

I sold my mountain bike in December of 2008, and bought my Felt Breed, which is a single speed cyclocross bike. So I don't really hang out at mountain bike trails anymore. But many of the girls I used to mountain bike with belong to this group. They have a lot of group rides and activities planned in the coming months, looks like a fun group to join!

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA Bike Diva