Winter Cycle Clothing- Specialized's attack on cold weather

Perfect bike wear has to surround you like a second skin, optimally regulate your

body climate at all times and keep everything warm even at temperatures close to

freezing. 

Specialized offers you a comprehensive assortment of shorts, tights, jackets and 

jerseys that leave no wish unfulfilled. Here is some examples of what we have in stock.

Arm Warmers starting at $49

Knee Warmers starting at $55

Headgear starting at $39

Toe Covers starting at $35

Jackets starting at $140

Here's some cool information on Specialized clothing technologies to ensure that cold, wetness and sweat do not distract your attention from the pure riding experience. Specialized have three technologies that they use in their clothing range: Airtek, Windtex and Zero Wind.

The Darkness is Coming- Prepare Yourself!

OK so it may sound a bit dramatic, but with the clocks changing, but cyclists will need to light up when commuting to and from work or out on a early or late ride.


We reviewed these lights last year at a Supplier Show, and were very impressed with the size and power these lights give. 

Mini Drive RRP $75

Compact 150 Lumen light built for night riding. Uniform Power Beam reflector and lens assembly produces a dual purpose beam pattern that illuminates both near and far terrain without sacrificing visibility in either field of vision. 100% CNC-machined aluminum housing. High-capacity Li-ion battery is rechargeable and replaceable. Programmed with three steady modes and two high-visibility blinking modes. Comes with two durable Composite Matrix handlebar mounts (31.8mm, 25.4mm) with thumb screw for easy installation and secure attachment. USB charging cable included.

Power Drive RRP $100

300 Lumen cycling light purpose built for night riding. Uniform Power Beam reflector and lens assembly produces a dual purpose beam pattern that illuminates both near and far terrain without sacrificing isibility in either field of vision. 100% CNC-machined aluminum body and battery cap. High-capacity Li-ion battery is USB rechargeable and replaceable. Programmed with three steady modes and one high-visibility blinking mode. Comes with two durable Composite Matrix handlebar mounts (31.8mm, 25.4mm) with thumb screw for easy installation and secure attachment. USB charging cable included.

Super Drive  RRP $120

Super-bright 450 Lumen cycling light, designed for on and off-road use. Uniform Power Beam reflector and lens assembly produces a dual purpose beam pattern that illuminates both near and far terrain without sacrificing visibility in either field of vision. 100% CNC-machined aluminum body and battery cap. Lens hood directs light away from the rider’s eyes. High-capacity Li-ion battery is USB rechargeable and replaceable. Programmed with three steady modes and one high-visibility blinking mode. Comes with two durable Composite Matrix handlebar mounts (31.8mm, 25.4mm) with thumb screw for easy installation and secure attachment. USB cable included.

Check out a video by Lezyne on the lights (they mention US RRP prices in case your wondering)

Bike n Bean Ladies MTB Team -Race report Round 2 Vic Enduro You Yangs

Well it wasn't a great start to the day - our first stop was a chemist to get Kylie some cold & flu tablets after waking up to a nasty cold. Then it was off to the You Yangs for round #2 of the Vic Enduro series.

Perfect riding conditions, slightly cool and overcast with the occasional patch of sunshine (also a great day to test out our newriding glasses - Oakley Flak Jackets with photochromic (transition) lenses - that's right, no more swapping lenses when the sun comes out!!).  (NOTE Bike n Bean are Oakley stockists and can custom make glasses to your requirements and arrange for optical lenses, just drop in or give us a call)

Oakley Flak Jacket XLJ

The course was set through the Kurrajong Plantation - not very technical and hilly but great fun and undulating enough to keep you pedalling the WHOLE time! Even when the heart and lungs felt fine your quads were hurting.

We hadn't bothered to look at the leaderboard until after our 9th lap when we realised we were only minutes off 3rd place. I sucked down a gel and powered off on the 10th lap, leaving a message with Kylie to give it all in her last lap.

Kylie hammered out the 11th lap and on the 12th lap I could see our competition at the end of the first fire trail. My legs were screaming at me but I kept pushing. Unfortunately, at a switch back she saw me chasing and she hit the gas! I pushed until the finish line, ending just 15 seconds behind in 4th place.

Our final two laps were our fastest for the whole race - amazing what a bit of competitive spirit can do for you! Between us we rode a total of 140km's in just over 6hrs.

The riding glasses were fantastic - the lenses continually changing to suit the light conditions so you were never squinting on the fireroads or struggling to see in the shade of the trees.

Overall a fantastic race - even though Kylie had to spend all day Sunday in bed recovering :-)

Next race will be in Mt Beauty on the 29th April - see you there!

2012 Annual Preston Junior Carnival

Bike n Bean had the pleasure of sponsoring the 2012 Annual Preston Junior Carnival on March 4th.

We sponsored 2 Specialized S-Work Helmets for the Girl and Boy Cyclist judged to be the most outstanding performer of the Carnival, who were Alana Field in the Junior 13 Girls Group and Luca Tarticchio in the Junior Boys Group.

2012 Preston Junior Carnival Champions

Luca was kind enough to donate his helmet to a fellow Preston Cycling Junior Club who has just recently fallen off his bike and broke his helmet.

Our very own sponsored Bike n Bean Junior rider, Liam Hood took the win for the Bike n Bean Junior 17 6 Lap Handicap.

Benefits of a Bike

Our very own store owner Nicola recently was featured in the Herald Sun 'Body & Soul' edition 10th March on the Benefits of Bike riding.  For the full story, click here.

Get fit fast

Nicola Davis, 33, Kinglake Mountain, VIC

"Before I fell pregnant, I was a recreational cyclist. I attempted the odd commute into work but that was it. However, after the baby was born my cycling-mad husband Paul decided to start up a bike store and cafe. I quit work to help him and without my city wage, our car became a luxury. We used bikes instead.

"I was amazed how easy it was. I'd put my baby in a front-mounted baby seat to drop her at creche and would cycle up to 15 kilometres to do chores without even thinking about it.

It was definitely a fantastic post-pregnancy workout.

"Now that I have a second daughter, I pull them both along in a Chariot CX2 bike trailer. It has a big storage compartment for shopping and great water protection so if it rains, it's only me who gets damp! As I can unhook it and use it as a pram, it's very convenient when we go to the shopping mall. People are always interested in it so it's been a great conversation starter.

"I've even convinced my mum to ride a bike and she's getting more confident by the day. In fact our next family holiday is to cycle the rail trail from Beechworth to Bright and she's coming along."

Specialized Women's Ride Month

Welcome to all our Female riders.  We have a Ladies/Beginners Ride from our store on Sundays at 8.30am.  Check Facebook for dates and who will be leading the ride.  Our normal leader is Simone, who is our Specialized & Bike n Bean Female Ambassador.


As its Specialized Womens Ride this month, we are having our ride this Sunday 18th March at 8.30am.  Free coffee to all those that attend. Its a casual pace upto Whittlesea along Plenty Rd. Its a no drop group, so any ability is welcome.


For a great chance to win a female specific Specialized Road (Ruby) or Mountain (Fate) bike with Specialized gear (Total value $3600), enter this competition and tell them in 25 words 'why women should ride'.  Click here to enter. 

http://www.specialized.com/au/gb/bc/SBCWhatsNewDetail.jsp?article=10550