Blackburn Portable Pump - Review by Colleen Hughes

In all honesty, this is the best portable pump I have ever used.

It's small, which would allow it to fit in most bags. It even has a mount for your bike. It has a sleek design and I would even say it is actually aesthetically pleasing. The foot lever is a key part of the pump; I didn't have to squeeze both feet together against the bottom, as I have had to do with previous pumps.

The best features of the pump are the large handle (which clamps tightly against the pump itself for storage) and the flexible hose. The handle allows for the use of your entire hand and is actually comfortable to use; I didn't experience any pain at all. The flexible hose makes it so much simpler connect to the valve. If I could make any changes, I would add a gauge. But, when it comes down to it, I would just have to pump until I can't pump anymore, and it would be plenty of pressure.

Blackburn Airstik Long Neck Evo Pump

Ergon Grips

The evolution of the grip has stayed the same since the first bicycle, sure the materials have changed, but that's about it.  The Ergon Grips offer a huge leap forward for grip comfort and technology.  Its one of those products that you use and think to yourself, why the heck did I not think of this first.  They are on all of my bikes and I have been getting them as gifts for my family members that ride.  Worth buying, no question.

Sport Legs

Wow so this stuff is amazing.  Truly unreal how it works.  It does exactly what it says and the strange picture on the front of the bottle shows.  No leg burn on the hills and sprints that usually hurt the most.  I usually feel a lot of burn when riding with friends, since most of them are faster than me.  Sport legs gives me the extra help I need to hang.  It also doesn't have any garbage in the ingredients which makes me comfortable in using it all the time.  Buy it and try it, it works and you will be hooked like me.

Zym Tablets

So I have been a Gatorade fan for a long time now.  I use all variations of Gatorade product, Powerade, and other sport drinks.  Zym is far superior to everything else I have tried.  It tastes so much better, no nasty sugary after taste.  It works too, really replenishes me when I am riding and I even use it at work sometimes.  Highly recommend the stuff.  Its easy to bring with you in the tube and just drop a tablet in your water.

ZYM Endurance 

ZYM Catapult

GORE Mistral gloves, seriously!

As the days awash in summer’s warmth begin to sink beyond the horizon, I knew it was time to begin my annual quest for the most elusive article of quintessential cold weather cycling gear, a pair of decent gloves. In the beginning I think of all the attributes I desire in such a glove, weather tolerance, warmth, fit, and overall resilience to day-to-day wear. Upon taking those criteria into deep consideration, and after hours of mind wrenching contemplation, sleepless nights, and little soul searching the answer reveals itself. GORE mistral gloves.

I dipped my fingers into a freshly purchased pair, courtesy of Village Cycle Center, and I must confess, it wasn’t but a few seconds and I soon found my whole hand submerged. Normally I don’t rush into such a commitment, but the shoe fit, except the shoe was glove of course. First things I noticed was how comfortable, and stylishly fitting they were, caressing every contour of my supple digits. It was apparent that whoever tailored such a garment was extremely proficient, and no doubt belonged to highest echelon of expertise in their trade. GORE was kind enough to include modest padding along the palmar arch, long elastic cuffs, grippy portions on your brake engaging fingers, as well has reflective elements to enhance visibility. They are not entirely waterproof, but the WINDSTOPPER fabric shred’s moisture quite effectively, and even when damp they provide warmth that only a mother’s embrace could rival, and ever since the global ban on using baby whale skin as fabric was mandated, windstopper is the only textile that even comes close to comparison.

I consider it a transitional glove, appropriate for autumn and spring. Once temperatures fall below freezing, these will not cut it, though I did have some success fitting a thin pair of liners beneath them. Some may consider GORE products to be a little pricey, the mistral’s being around $50 msrp, to them I respond, “You go to Hades, you won’t need any gloves there!” but seriously, when your riding in the cold, your hands and feet, being your outermost extremities, must endure the brunt of the chill, it’s worth the extra cost.

GORE Bike Wear Mistral Glove

Never stop spinning - A Sportlegs review

We've all been there, hammering like a machine, only you're not a machine and there's that burn slowly creeping down your legs. Thankfully, the future is here, and we no longer need be tortured by too much lactic acid thanks to Sportlegs.


As we all know, our muscles use lactic acid(or lactate) as fuel. Our muscles make it out of glucose, and keep a little snack of it around. However, when we start to exercise hard, we burn though what we've got on hand real quick. In urgent need of fuel, our muscles cook up a big old batch of the stuff, usually far more than we can actually make use of. The excess floods our legs, causes that ever so familiar burn. Lactic acid left in our legs unburned leads to soreness after riding too.

The Sportlegs concept is pretty simple. Load yourself up with a little bit extra lactate before you start riding, and you don't have to contend with the massive spike when you're body starts struggling to keep up. And boy howdy does it work. I can spin longer and harder with no burn, and when I do finally start to get some lactic acid buildup, it's milder and goes away quicker. Take a few more mid-ride(or just drop two in your water bottle for the same effect with no mid ride pit stop) and post ride soreness is noticeably reduced. It's a rather strange feeling, as I've grown so used to the burn in the last 20 years of riding. I've been using Sportlegs for about a year now, and I still find myself anticipating pain that doesn't come. Just remember, cyclist bum Sportlegs like drunks bum smokes, so get the big bottle.

Monday morning bicycle commuter station

Today was our first day for our Monday morning commuter station. Lots of waves, smiles, hellos, bells being rung, and air for tires. Coffee and loob for everyone!
We will be out there every Monday morning to support those who ride. We believe that every week is bike to work week, and so we decided to bring forth our own commuter station.

Check in at our commuter station on your smart phone at our Village Cycle Center Bicycle Commuter Station

Getting ready to ride your bike, but it needs some bike love?
Here is a coupon for $20 off a tune-up package!

Early morning loob and coffee for everyone! Stop by and say hi!