Specialized Gift of Gear 2012 plus free Bike n Bean kit on all 2012 Road Bikes during the Tour De France

In conjunction with Specialized 'Its my Tour' and 'Gift of Gear' campaign this 2012 Tour De France, Bike n Bean are offering a great package on selected Specialized Road Models, including Tarmac, Roubaix and Allez.

Tour De France Package ($450 Value) 

on selected 2012 Specialized Bikes in stock:

• Bike n Bean Jersey & Knicks
• Specialized Speedzone Elite Altitude Computer
• Specialized Zee Bottle Cage Side Loading
• Specialized Airtool Road Mini Frame Pump

Check out the 2012 models this package refers to - Tour De France Specialized 2012 Package

Click on the picture below to be entered into the Specialized 'Its My Tour' competition.

Win the ULTIMATE Tour Down Under Experience for you and a friend:

Winner will receive:

2 Return Airfares to Adelaide

5 Nights Accomodation

Specialized Road Bike

S-Works Shoes & Helmet

Specialized Kit

An opportunity to ride with a Specialized Pro Team

Its My Tour- Specialized Tour De France Comp

Best Tour De France (TDF) competition- the Winner and Friend will attend Tour Down Under, airfares & hotel included, Bike & Gear plus ride with the Specialized Tour Pro-Team! 


Thanks to Specialized Australia for a great competition! 


Click on picture below to go to Entry page and T&C's.

ONE LUCKY WINNER AND FRIEND WILL ATTEND THE TOUR DOWN UNDER, SPECIALIZED STYLE!

THE WINNER AND FRIEND WILL RECEIVE:
• Return Airfares
• 5 Nights Accommodation
• Specialized Road Bike
• S-Works Road Shoes
• S-Works Prevail Helmet
• Full Specialized Kit and…
• A once in a lifetime opportunity to ride with a Specialized Tour Pro-Team!

TO ENTER: Like us and enter here:
http://www.facebook.com/SpecializedAU/app_190322544333196

Free Community Bicycle Training Sessions

Bike n Bean support Whittlesea BUG and AustCycle Beginners Cycle Training Sessions.

The first session is on 29th July 2012, details below:

This is a relaxed session run by qualified Austcycle Trainers where you can learn at your own pace.

Held at Whittlesea Council Offices carpark, 25 Ferres Blvd, South Morang.

Women Only Session 
Sunday 29th July 
10am to 12pm 
Light Lunch Provided

Mixed Session 
Sunday 29th July 
1pm to 3pm 
Snacks Provided

Registrations Essential 
For more information or to register please contact 
Tori on 0438 574 213 or email whittleseabug@gmail.com

Sponsored Junior rider, Liam takes out U17B win at Shepparton Junior Cycling Tour

Our sponsored Junior Rider Liam Hood won 2 stage wins, 4th in the TT and took overall GC 

at last weekends Shepparton Junior Cycling Tour.  

Liam taking the Stage win

He will be racing the Combine & Club TT champs this weekend, then Canberra and Eildon Junior Tours coming up next month. Good luck Liam- keep the Bike n Bean flag flying! Thanks to dad, Richard for some great photo shots too!

Liam receiving his winners sash!

Results from Cycling Victoria:

The tenth annual Shepparton Junior Cycling Tour took place on Saturday and Sunday, with 156 young cyclists taking to the start line at Dookie. Participants came from all corners of Victoria, as well as from interstate, and showcased their talent over three stages consisting of two road races and a time trial.   With $1500 in prize money up for grabs, there was a competitive spirit in the air and the tour produced many standouts. Jordan Stannus had a particularly convincing win over Callum Scotson in the under 17's, after Scotson - among several other riders - was disqualified for crossing the centre line during the Stage One road race. Although he earned first place in Stage Two and won the time trial over Stannus by 14 seconds in Stage Three, it was unfortunately not enough to put him at the top of the rankings.                         Whilst it was disappointing, Shepparton Cycling Club President Edward Dalle Nogare said that it was important they took a zero tolerance approach to this rule. There were a total of eight disqualifications.   The following cyclists had clean sweeps in their categories:   Race Category Name Club JM13 Zachary Marshall Bathurst CC JM15 B  Hamish Burke Mudgee CC JW17 B Nicole Clark Warangatta CC    And first place overall in the other categories were as follows:   Race Category Name Club J11  Travis Stewart Bathurst CC JW13 Georgia Cummings Carnegie Caufield CC JW15  Beth Rees Wagga Wagga CC JM15 A Thomas McFarlane Leongatha CC JW17 A Alexandra Manly Central Districts CC JM17 B Liam Hood Brunswick CC JM17 A Jordan Stannus Carnegie Caufield CC

Bike n Bean Preston Mountain Classic 2012

Preston Cycling Club presents the Bike 'N' Bean Preston Mountain Classic on Sunday June 24.

One of the feature events on the Cycling Victoria Winter Calendar, the Preston Mountain Classic is unique in that it finishes at the top of a short but steep climb to Murchison Gap (2km at 8%), thus providing a finale similar to many of the European Classic events such as the Liege-

Bastogne-Liege.

The course also features the moderately difficult climb of the Break O'Day (6km at 2-6%), and the fast descent off the Break O'Day down into Yea.

This year's race features three independent events (Open / Men's Masters / Women's) with details as follows:

Open Event - 135km Handicap (2 laps of 69km circuit) Strath Creek – Flowerdale Yea - Kerrisdale - Strath Creek then after 2nd lap towards Broadford to finish at the top of  Murchison Gap. 135km Course Map and profile   Men's Masters Event - 70km Handicap Strath Creek to Flowerdale - Yea - Kerrisdale - Murchison Gap. 70km Course Map and profile   Women's Event - 70km Handicap Strath Creek to Flowerdale - Yea - Kerrisdale - Murchison Gap. 70km Course Map and profile

Included in the $65 entry fee is a meal at the Strath Creek Hotel, which is also where the post-

event presentations will be made.

Please note that all participants are also eligible to receive a free Specialized Comp saddle with any BG Fit at Bike 'n' Bean.

We look forward to seeing in Strath Creek on Sunday June 24. 

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR DONATED PRIZES

GKA SPORTS FOR VITTORIA PRODUCTS

SPECIALIZED FOR CYCLING ACCESSORIES

MONZA IMPORTS FOR LEZYNE ACCESSORIES

Lets talk the Specialized Ruby

We found this video on a Specialized Ruby and its talking ability!


Our female cycling ambassador, Simone, swears that her's talks too.  Just last week when she and her Ruby tackled the 110km course at the Whittlesea Challenge there was alot of conversations going on as Simone tackled her first long distance ride alone.


Simone's words were:
"Oh my god I have never felt such pain as I did today. I completed 106kms of the 110km ride (I got a lift up the second big hill as I had nothing in the tank). Legs were good, lungs struggled, energy came in waves. I'm not as disapointed as I thought I would be not being able to climb the second hill surprisingly. First time I have ever used gels and they worked thanks to Paul for giving me some advice on that on Saturday at Bike n Bean. My bike held up beautifully as I knew it would after its service.


This cycling is addictive however today it was all about the mental strength working through terrible thoughts in my head to just give up and go home. Keep riding everyone apparently its FUN!"




Ruby's words were:
"This is awesome!"

The Human Performance Technology guru, Stephen Lane, talks winter indoor training sessions

In the past 2 weeks I have ridden outside a total of 4 times. Partially because of time restraints, but mostly because winter has set in and Im not a fan of being wet and cold.  The alternative to outside is some well-structured trainer sessions. It’s a great time of year to focus on some high intensity controlled efforts to enhance that high end race day kick that we always seem to be lacking. The equipment we use for such indoor sessions can dramatically influence the benefits that these sessions can achieve.

All trainers are not equal!!  There is a vastly different feel amongst types of stationary trainers. Magnetic trainers tend to feel a little ‘jerky’, usually because they are a lower priced unit and the inertia created by the lighter rotating mass has less of a real ‘road feel’. Fluid trainers are the next step up and begin do deliver a more realistic ‘road feel’ through greater inertia from heavier fly wheels and the exponential resistance created by the fluid type resistance units. Finally are the real ‘Wind Trainers’. The focus of this review is the LemondRevolution. I’ve had one of these for close to 12months now and there is a lot of good selling points about this unit.

Firstly the main thing you notice is the feel. If you own a power meter you may have noticed that you cannot even come close to holding the same power on a standard trainer compared to the road. The physiology/mechanics of this are a mystery to me however I believe it has something to do with what I call ‘micro rests’. On the road throughout the pedal stroke you get small moments when the rotational momentum of the wheels allow small periods where the muscles rest. On a standard trainer the lack of this rolling momentum removes these ‘micro rests’ causing the inability to sustain higher workloads. On the Lemond I’ve found that the higher rotational momentum of the solid cast iron fan (it must weigh about 10kg!!) makes it much easier to hold the same intensity as on the road. This coupled with the ‘direct drive technology’ (a fancy term for direct gearing instead of the usual tyre rotating the resistance unit) reduces loss of power transfer through the tyre slipping under acceleration which is beneficial because A; You don’t wear out your rear tyre and B; it gives a smoother feel while accelerating.

The Lemond unit comes with a few optional extra’s. You will need a cassette due to the ‘direct drive technology’ that basically requires you to remove the back wheel of your bike and use the Lemond as the new ‘hub’ and fixing point. A bonus to this is that you don’t need a riser block under the front wheel. Secondly is the optional ‘Power Pilot’. It is basically a bike computer specific to the Lemond that records and displays all the usual variables as well as power. The unit has the capability of exporting files in a format compatible to many of the power software packages available such as TrainingPeaks or GoldenCheetah. So analysing your training data becomes super easy and a must if you want to track your progress!!

Overall the Lemond unit has it all. A smooth feel, ease of use, the ability to add a cheap alternative to a power meter and finally road like inertia to make those boring trainer sessions a little more beneficial. If you need convincing then the easiest sell is to try one. Bike n Bean have a unit in the shop which anyone is welcome to come in and try. One quick spin and you will notice the difference. Since selling my story to my fellow Kosdown team mates I think over half of us are now using them at home. If you are serious about getting results and want the best equipment to compliment your hours of hard work then the Lemond is the perfect stationary trainer for you.

Where 2 Ride- Whittlesea

City of Whittlesea have launched their Cycling Campaign, called Where 2 Ride- Whittlesea.

Bike n Bean get a mention, as well as three of our customers/sponsored riders. Have a read through, and get some ideas for your next bike ride route....

Cyclists can access a network of on and off-road bicycle lanes and paths in the City of Whittlesea.
The bike paths and on-road cycling routes ensure that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists can safely share the road, and encourage the use of bicycles as a healthy and sustainable way to get around.

Suggested on-road cycling routes

Local cycling ambassadors have recommended the following 3 on-road cycling routes in the City of Whittlesea.


View the videos below to discover their favorite cycling routes, training programs and refreshment stops.


All of our ambassadors recommend local business, Bike N Bean in South Morang, for bike maintenance and advice.

Cycling ambassador - Shannon Johnson

Shannon Johnson made the move from motorcycle racing to road cycling in 2011.
Shannon’s achievements in cycling so far include coming fourth in the 2011 Belgium Masters Cycling Championships, 2 firsts in the Australian Championships, together with a first in the Jayco Bay Crit Support Series.

Favourite cycling route

This training ride is approximately 60-70kms. Distance travelled will vary depending on the number of laps at both Yan Yean Reservoir and at Hill Street, Whittlesea.

• Start in South Morang and head north along Plenty Road (10km).
• Turn right on to Arthurs Creek Road and travel through and then left on to Recreation Road (1.4km).
• Once you arrive at Yan Yean Reservoir, Shannon likes to complete a series of 10-20 laps (approximately 20km) around the park. 
• Once complete head back out on to Recreation Road and then right on to Arthurs Creek Road (1.4km).
• You will then turn right on to Plenty Road and head north towards Whittlesea Township (6.7km).
• Continue along Beech Street and you will go past the Whittlesea Showgrounds on your left and then turn right into Hill Street (1.3km).
• Shannon prefers to do a number of repetitions of this short hill climb (11km). The view looking out towards Mount Disappointment will keep you motivated for a number of laps.
• Once complete head back along Beech Street and turn left into Church Street (1.2km). 
• There are many cafes and bakeries to choose from but Shannon is particularly fond of the Whittlesea Bakehouse located on the left hand side (210m).
• After your delicious lunch and coffee break head south down Church Street to Laurel Street (190m).
• Turn right onto Laurel Street and then left on to Plenty Road (250m).
• Travel along Plenty Road back to your starting point in South Morang (16.1km).

Suggested refreshment stop

Whittlesea Bakehouse
34 Church Street,
Whittlesea
P: 9716 1318

Cycling ambassador - Simone Evans

Simone is the Bike ‘n’ Bean Female Cycling Ambassador who enjoys the social and fitness benefits of cycling. She conducts weekly rides for beginners to intermediate groups.

Favourite cycling route

This training ride is approximately 36km.

• Start in South Morang at Bike ‘n’ Bean, Axis Centre.
• Head north along Plenty Road to Beech Street, Whittlesea (18km).
• Stop off at the Caltex petrol station for a drinks break.
• Head back along Beech Street and onto Plenty Road (1.2km).
• Head south along Plenty Road and back to Bike ‘n’ Bean, Axis Centre South Morang 18km).
• Stop at Bike ‘n’ Bean for a well-earned coffee. If it is just in time for lunch you cannot go past Espresso Vivere.

Suggested refreshment stops

Bike n Bean

795 Plenty Road

South Morang

P:9437 8501

Espresso Vivere
795 Plenty Road
South Morang
P: 9407 1299

Cycling ambassador - Lauchlan Denny

Lauchlan is our youngest cycling ambassador at only 16 years of age.
Lauchlan’s achievements so far include completing a 9 day solo cycling trek from Melbourne to Sydney to raise over $11,000 to benefit disadvantaged school children in Kathmandu, Nepal. 
He has also been awarded an ESS Athlete Development Scholarship. Watch out for this young talent as many have already suggested he could be the next Cadel Evans.

Favourite cycling route

This training ride is approximately 87km.

• Start at Waterview Drive, Mernda, turn left on to Plenty Road (500m).
• Continue along Plenty Road and take a slight right on to Macmeikan Street, Whittlesea (11.3km).
• Head north on Macmeikan Street towards Beech Street (1.6km) and go through one roundabout.
• Head north-east on Yea Road, turning right onto Healesville-Kinglake Road (11.7km).
• Head south-east on Whittlesea- Kinglake Road towards Macs Road (12.6km).
• At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Heidelberg-Kinglake Road (12.5km).
• Turn right onto School Road (2.4km).
• Continue onto Hildebrand Road (4.4km).
• Turn left onto Cottles Bridge-Strathewen Road (550m).
• Head north on Cottles Bridge-Strathewen Road towards Barreenong Road (550m).
• Turn left onto Mine Road (2.6km).
• Head south on Mine Road towards Hurstbridge- Arthurs Creek Road (1.1km).
• Turn right onto Hurstbridge-Arthurs Creek Road (4.2km).
• Continue onto Arthurs Creek Road (4.3km).
• Head west on Arthurs Creek Road towards Running Creek Road (5.5km).
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Plenty Road (2.1km).
• Head south on Plenty Road and turn left at Hazel Glen Drive (2.1km).
• Take the first right onto Schotters Road (550m).
• Lauchlan prefers to stop off on the left hand side at Mernda Bakery Café. Here you will find a selection of daily baked bread, pies and cakes.
• Head south on Schotters Road and turn right onto Bridge Inn Road (1km).
• At the roundabout take the first exit onto Plenty Road (1.4km).
• At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Waterview Drive, Mernda (650m).

Suggested refreshment stops

Mernda Bakery Café
107 Schotters Road
Mernda
P: 9717 5834
Flying Tarts Bakery and Café
888 Whittlesea-Kinglake Road
Kinglake West
P: 5786 5800