Bicycling To Chat With Folks Who Allow You To Smell The Flowers

When I bicycled back and forth on Alta Drive from Summerlin to downtown Las Vegas and back all the time, I always stopped at a house that had roses along a low brick wall lining its front lawn.

I remember chatting with a gentleman by the name of Harry, who happened to be a bicyclist, too, of all things.

Well, just yesterday morning, I bicycled down the big hill of Alta to downtown and stopped to chat with this lady at the house.

I told her I was a bicyclist who long admired the roses lining their front lawn.

And I asked about Harry.

Well, this is Marianne, and she informed me that Harry died a few months ago.

It was sad to hear, but I did tell Marianne that I always enjoyed seeing their blooming rose bushes along Alta Drive, just west of the Rainbow intersection.

Marianne told me she was a retired mathematics teacher who know volunteered at the Assistance League of Las Vegas.

I told her I knew her husband from stopping to chat with him during my Alta Drive bicycle excursions.

It's the beauty of the bicycle -- fantastic human-powered, engine-free transportation with the chance to connect to people on the street.

It's also why I can't bike in groups. I stop to chat with people when I pedal all the time.

And these bicycle adventures are all in my new book, Bicycle Man: Life of Journeys.

Buy a book by emailing me at asnel@LVSportsBiz.com

Tifosi's New Sledge Models Rock

I have my new favorite bicycling sunglasses.

To handle the bright sun of Las Vegas and the Western United States, I'm wearing Tifosi's new Sledge model, Crystal Orange with Clarion Blue lens.

The photo above is the sunglasses modeling itself along the famed Red Rock scenic drive outside Las Vegas.

Tifosi's bread-and-butter is its high quality sunglasses that sell for less than triple figures. In this case, the Sledge models are priced in the $69.96-$79.95 range.

I love the orange frame, which feels light but durable on my face. And the large lens surface blocks all harsh sun glare. As you can see, the frame is sturdy enough that it supports my rear view mirror quite nicely.

There are three other Sledge models -- Crystal red with a Clarion Yellow lens, Matte Black with a Smole lens and Matte White with a Smoke lens.

Each option includes two additional shield lenses: a clear lens and Tifosi’s high-contrast AC Red lens. With Sledge, cyclists are equipped with the ideal tint for any lighting condition.

Bicycle Stories recommends the Sledge sunglasses by Tifosi.

Bicycle Stories Recommends Tifosi Optics: High-Quality Bicycling Sunglasses at a Reasonable Price

One of the bummers of the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the Sea Otter Classic event in Monterey, California this weekend is that I will not be able to visit the Tifosi Optics sunglass booth, where I enjoy chatting with Tifosi reps.

I wear Tifosi sunglasses when I ride my bicycle and take walks and hikes because the company's eyewear is outstanding quality at an affordable price.

In fact, let me show you the collection of Tifosi sunglasses I wear for my outdoor activities.

The Tifosi sunglasses have a variety of styles and one will fit your taste.

They're not as expensive as the super high-end sunglasses, which is why Tifosi is a great deal for the buck.

Bicycle Stories recommends Tifosi and look for its newest sunglasses in May.

Athlos Sports Apparel Pivots To Create Face Covers

Kudos to Dave Manchester for pivoting work at his Athlos sports apparel company to make protective face covers in this age of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I got to know Dave and Athlos at Interbike, the bicycle industry's trade show in Las Vegas. You may recall he created a gorgeous bike jersey featuring LVSportsBiz.com and my former dog, Pugsy.

Now, Dave is leveraging the company's resources to help with the supply of masks and to help maintain incomes of Athlos' employees. Check them out:

You can go to the Athlos site here to order up the protective face masks.

Stay safe, be healthy and be vigilant about protecting your health.

Need a Healthy Energy Boost? Try a 3BAR

Today was a stunning day in the metro Las Vegas area and it was also a great day for a solitary bicycle ride in Red Rock Canyon outside Las Vegas.

I reached for my road bicycle, my helmet and gloves and two 3BAR energy bars that came in Cocoa Crunch and Tropical-Tri flavors.

The 3BARs are the work of Erin DeMarines from Tampa. There are a lot of energy bars to choose from and I'd recommend Erin's 3BARS, which are vegan, soy free, gluten free, wheat free, plant-based and made from organic ingredients.

They fit conveniently in my bike jersey pockets and they're perfect for all type of outdoor activities and indoor workouts.

Take a look. I'm pretty sure Erin's energy bars have never posed in Red Rock Canyon amid such pretty landscape.

As the story goes, Erin used to make her grandmother's cookies for her personal trainer clients until one one day they asked her to make them even healthier. So voila, after many trials, she turned them into the 3BAR.

You can check the 3BAR website here.

I found them tasty without that sweet aftertaste. It's a nice energy boost without that hunger crash afterwards.

Here are retail prices. Erin says the 3BAR is in 50 stores in the Tampa Bay market. And she has been dropping them off at people's houses for "no contact" delivery during these trying coronavirus times.

Bicycle Stories recommends the 3BAR. Get out there and fire up those endorphins. But do it in a solitary fashion or at least maintain a six-foot buffer for physical distancing to stem the spread of COVID-19. And when you do go out there, bring the 3BARS.

Pump Up Your Bike Ride With This Nifty Convenient Mini Bike Pump That Tags Along For The Ride

You know the feeling well. You're bicycling and in that pedaling zen groove, but then you have that nagging signal that the bicycle is just not moving ahead like it should. There's that sinking feeling that one of your tire tubes is leaking air. You stop and inspect the tire and it's growing flat miles from home.

But then you accept it and know things will be OK.

You have a Pro Bike Tool Mini Bike Pump snuggled next to your water bottle cage, or maybe in a jersey rear pocket because it's that small and convenient to carry.

It's a handy tool that can pump your tire tube to a sturdy 90 PSI and get you back pedaling on the road or trail.



I'm old school, so I don't do the cartridges and instead choose to have the small pump secured to my bicycle frame.

It works easily. A small pump hose attachment comes out of the cylinder and all you do is screw one end of the hose to the pump. One hose end can accommodate a Presta valve, while the other end can handle a Schrader valve. So, just use the end you need for your tire tube and use the other end to screw into the pump.

As you can see, it can be carried on your bike with a small attachment that gets connected to the frame via the bolt that locks your water bottle cage onto your bike.

 
Pro Bike Tool is the name of the company that makes this convenient pump, which has a retail price of $26.49. You can find the pump here.

Bicycle Stories recommends the Mini Bike Pump as a smart tool that can easily come along your ride -- and keep your ride going if you deal with a flat.

For your bike tool needs, here's the website for Pro Bike Tool.

New Bicycle Saddle Brand, Adamo Island, Is Comfy Option For All Types Of Bicyclists

Steve and Laura Toll have come out with a new bicycle saddle brand called Adamo Island.

I have used the Tolls' previous saddles under the well-known ISM brand name. But as I pedaled on the famed Red Rock Scenic Drive outside Las Vegas in early November, I enjoyed the ride thanks to the comfy Adamo Island bike seat. The saddle was unveiled at Eurobike in early September, Steve Toll told Bicycle Stories.

The Tolls originally intended the Adamo Island bike seat to be used by people using eBikes and casual bicycle riders.

"But test riders loved it and suggested it could be for all types of riding," Steve Toll told me.



The Tolls are known for creating the ISM bike saddles, a more narrow saddle used by many tri-athletes, competitive racers and hard-core roadies.

I asked Steve Toll to compare the established ISM saddle with the newer Adamo Island seat brand.

Toll responded, "Think Cadillac and Chevy or Lexus and Toyota or Lincoln and Ford.

. 

The Adamo Island bike saddle is wider and has more cushion built into the seat.

I found it very comfortable and it made the bike ride even more enjoyable.

Bicycle Stories highly recommends the Adamo Island bike saddle.The intro price is $99.88 and it's available at www.Adamoislandsaddles.com