Gran Fondo Suggests

A day doesn't pass at Gran Fondo that several customers fail to consult with us about what to eat for maximum performance on those great endurance rides. Sometimes our answer surprises people...

Yes, we know that we are absolute road nerds... We get excited when we find a new little connector or a great piece of road, especially when it is something that we've ridden past for years. We discovered just such a gem when one of the damaged bridges on Leiper's Creek Road near Fly, TN caused us to take a quick left onto Dutch Potts Road.

If you love women and cycling, or both, you'll love this video!

How can consuming a cycling staple like peanut butter not only make your rides better and more energetic BUT also support women headed to the 2012 Olympics for Team USA?

If you ride a bike, then you must know Fly's General Store. For 2010, please join us in celebrating this landmark of the Middle Tennessee Cycling scene. During a recent visit to the store, Mr. Fly told us all about a series of events he has planned for the 120th Anniversary year.

Gran Fondo Cycles is a new Twitter-er! Britton has promised to lead us into the 21st century and accordingly, he has set up a new twitter account for Gran Fondo. If you tweet or just want to know up to the minute happenings at Gran Fondo, please join us on Twitter. If this works, we will attempt to keep you posted on short-run specials, random news and on a slow news day, the latest thing Mazzy(shop dog) has destroyed.

Want to take your cycling to a new place? Looking for a challenge and racing just isn't your bag? Looking for a new group of friends to spend 12 to 14 hours with on the backroads of Tennessee? Just curious about stepping your routes up to something a little more challenging? You may just need to consider "going Ultra"

We will once again start our Tuesday night, Super Beginner Ride Series in May 2010. We will offer these rides every other week always beginning at 6:00 PM from the back of Percy Warner Park, the entrance just off Chickering Road. These rides are designed for individuals who need work on gearing, riding in a group, getting comfortable on their bike, and anyone looking for a few friendly faces to pedal with.

One of the most frequent questions that we are asked at Gran Fondo Cycles is whether we will do a bike fit for a bike that was not purchased from our store. The good news is that Yes - we will be glad to help you out with a bike fit if you are in need.

If you ride a bike very much in Williamson County, you quickly come to see that there are a lot of donkeys and mules 'round here. Neighboring Maury County celebrates some of the most regal of these animals with a week long county festival known as Mule Day. If you are looking for something to see when riding your bike this week, maybe you will want to check out the Wagon Train...

With custom wheels you can achieve all the benefits of todays machine built wheels with reduced costs and added benefits. They provide a more hassle-free wheel without rider weight limits and all the proprietary parts that can lead to long repair times.

Riding your bike in the most beautiful places in the world can be a great aspiration!

"Because the sun is shining..." When I find this answer to the "Why do you ride your bike so much?" question received with a quizzical stare, I sometimes add, "No, really I am training for my next vacation." I highly recommend choosing the ultimate cycling vacation and then fine-tuning your rides to prepare for your big event. Lynn and I recently used a tour of Tuscany with Breaking Away Bicycle Tours as our spring "training" goal.

A lot of customers who are visiting a variety of bike shops in their pursuit of the perfect bike ask us questions similar to “What size bike equates to a Large?” or “If you measured me as a 57, is that the same as a Large?” Well, there’s no short answer here.

One of the number one questions we answer on a daily basis is "Do I really need a custom bike?" We love this question because it gives us a chance to do what we do best - help a buyer find the bike that is perfect for them!

Visitors to Nashville often call to ask about great routes in our area. We love to point visitors to Bicycling Middle Tennessee: A Guide to Scenic Bicycle Rides in Nashville's Countryside (Paperback) by Glen Wanner and Ann Richards. These two local cyclists have done a wonderful job of capturing some of Nashville's great rides in this book. We keep a stock in the store, but out of town visitors might want to order a copy through amazon.com or their local bookseller prior to visiting.

O.K., so riding 100 miles in under 4 hours is not enough of a challenge for you - try doing it on a tandem... Read Jeff B.'s stoker's report from the Sunrise century in Clarksville, TN.

Looking for a great ride? Check the HBC website. There's a ride most every weekend for riders at a variety of levels.