From the monthly archives:

August 2009

Who decides what bike you want, or Would Cesaer have wanted a Cervelo?

31 August 2009

Cesaer probably wouldn’t want a Cervelo, since he couldn’t have known about them. The job of marketing companies is to make you aware of their products. I am amazed at some big bicycle companies marketing brilliance. They are able to make bicycles “win” races without athletes and make you want a particular brand so badly [...]

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Testimonial from Jeff Etessam

30 August 2009

I get lots of letters of appreciation from folks who like the fact that I buck the status quo and think outside the box. Here is an email plus a testimonial I received today from my friend Jeff Etessam in Dallas. Thanks Jeff!
Kevin,
Second ride this morning was just as good as the first. I [...]

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How much does your bike really cost? Don’t forget the new parts.

29 August 2009

I recently wrote in the KGS Bikes Ezine about “How do you run the math?” regarding the real value in custom bicycles.  A client commented to me after reading it that there was another huge benefit to buying custom other than the obvious “it fits you like a glove” benefit. This person had bought his [...]

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Passing Gas – How to get the most and use the least.

25 August 2009

There is a dirty little secret that some really good triathletes know. Sprinting skills pay off big time. The two reasons to have great sprinting speed are to confidently pass a competitor and to make the best time through rolling hills.
From my bike racing career, surges and periods where the peloton went anaerobic were common. [...]

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It’s a frame up!

24 August 2009

In expanding to Austin I have had the opportunity to meet many new people and talk about the value of a custom bicycle. Interestingly enough, I have been getting inquiries about the possibility of getting a new custom frame and transferring the parts from the existing bike. It must be a sign of the times [...]

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In defense of the bicycle over anything else

17 August 2009

KGS Bikes sponsored the Sweet and Twisted Triathlon in Austin yesterday and we had a tent set up so we could chat with folks after the event while they were enjoying the food and drinks and conviviality. While I talk a lot about the way people defend their bikes and their bike shops, I overheard [...]

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Power Trumps Aero, to a point – Good news for triathletes and time trialists

15 August 2009

While bicycle technology has changed by leaps and bounds, fitting concepts, particularly with triathletes, have remained remarkably constant. Dan Empfield of slowtwitch.com writes in his article, F.I.S.T. Axioms, 1) Most pro triathletes ride alike, 2) Fit and trim age group triathletes can easily adopt the same positions ridden by the pros, 3) Bodies are smart [...]

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Bike Lane Justice, from Velo Chic NYC

7 August 2009

I have written about some of the problems with bike lanes, including trash and cars occupying them. Check this blog post from my friend at Velo Chic NYC with some great pictures of bike lanes with trash, potholes, a car parking in the lane and the constabulatory issuing a ticket to a scofflaw.

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Bicycle fitter vs. designer-What’s the difference?

5 August 2009

I was on a ride this weekend and a friend was introducing me and stumbled when describing what I do for a living. I realized that I need to improve the definition of what goes on at KGS Bikes. I figure if I heard this confusion once, it happens a lot behind my back!
KGS Bikes [...]

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