Has the off-season got you wondering what to do with yourself? Well right up the road in Asheville, NC we have a bike mechanic school that might benefit some of you. There is always something new to learn about how to take care of your bike and even though you might often still take your bike to the shop learning about what they are doing and how they do it is valuable. So if you have some time on your hands check out Appalachian Bicycle Institute. 

Along these same lines I think there are a lot of you who never clean your chain or lube your chain. This is some pretty simple maintenance that EVERYONE needs to know how to do and should be doing on a regular basis. Sure it depends on how often you ride but I can tell you that during Ironman training I like to wipe my chain down every week and re-lube as needed. My favorite cleaning products are Finish Line Bike Wash which I use to wash the frame and scrub my handle bar tape. Then I spray some Clean Streak degreaser on my chain and spray it off with the hose and then wipe it off multiple times with a dry clean rag to get any dirt, grit and grime off my chain. I finish it off by spraying some T9 lube on the chain AFTER it is dry and then wipe that off with another clean rag. Really this is simply a matter of having the right products on hand and getting in the habit of taking care of your bike. Your drive train will actually last longer if you take care of it. This isn't rocket science folks so buy these products and perform this simple 10 min ritual monthly at least!

Power meters have been all the rage for cyclists and triathletes for years. While I don't believe that a power meter will make you a better cyclist it will certainly give you more useful data and provide many of your trainer rides with a new level of effort because with a power meter it is very easy to see how hard you are really working. While I don't think that everyone has to have one I do think that if you are looking for ways to improve on the bike that this is a helpful tool to have. The reason I mention this now is because NOW is the time to be researching the one that you want (there are MANY models available now) and getting it installed on your bike and learning how it works BEFORE the meat of your season workout begin. If you think this is something you might be interested in please talk with me before simply purchasing one.