The Specialized FLUX Lights Go With the Flow

 

"She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life"

-Susan B. Anthony



Think like a car.  What do drivers see?  Where is their attention?  In this era of distracted driving, our bright kits and reflectors are no longer enough.  As road cyclists, it’s time to think like the drivers that we share our streets with.  They need to see us - and Specialized FLUX lights do just that.

I had an eye-opening experience last weekend during a long ride. While waiting on the shoulder for my friend, a car stopped alongside me to share a few words.  "Your taillight was bright even from the bottom of the hill.  With my sunglasses, I could not see the girl behind you at all in the broken shadows." 

 




FLUX Elite Headlight

FLUX Expert Taillight

I've put the FLUX Elite headlight and the FLUX Expert taillight to the test for the past few weeks.  The Specialized lights are visible from 1/3 of a mile away during day, night, dawn or dusk.  The FLUX’s smooth design looks great on your townie hybrid as well as your carbon road bike.  On the technical side, it's water-resistant with built-in USB charger, boasts great battery life (14 hours of strobing) and casts a wide beam of light.  Since riding with the FLUX, I've felt a difference in the flow of traffic around me as I’m being noticed in a safe and positive way. 

As road cyclists, what are we up against?  Attracting the attention of drivers from a greater distance.  Protecting our rear blindspot.  Complementing our bright reflective accessories with even brighter LED lighting such as FLUX.  And raising the bar on safety by thinking like a car.

 

Your Ride Your Rules

Riding With the HookUp Bib



“Look away!  It’s coming out of me like lava.”

- Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

 

I had to laugh.  When I received my new SL Pro Bib Shorts with its easy-release HookUp, I couldn’t help but think about the riotous food poison scene in Bridesmaids.  Dresses were destroyed.  There was no time to gracefully remove taffeta gowns.  What does bathroom humor have to do with cycling?  Plenty, as we’ve all experienced during our long distance adventures.



The Specialized Women’s SL Pro Bib Shorts with HookUp are here and I couldn’t be more excited.  If you ride with traditional bib shorts, you know the cycling bibs have shoulder straps that attach at the waist band.  This keeps the chamois (pad) in place.  No sliding, bunching or shifting.  Proven comfort.  Unfortunately, the traditional design does not have women in mind when we receive the call of nature.  There is nothing worse than disrupting a good ride to take off your gloves, jacket and jersey for a pit stop!  Specialized Women’s HookUp has solved our problem by adding a small magnetic clip just above the waist on the lower back.

 As a bib loving rider and Specialized Women’s Ambassador I wanted to be first in line to well, HookUp!  So, as soon as the HookUp bib came into stock I was definitely in and off on a long ride that would guarantee a pit stop or few.  Specialized shorts are my favorite anyway.  I love the fabric and how it breathes.  The chamois is specifically designed and tested for maximum comfort for a woman.  The leg cuff is a fold over design that doesn’t pinch or ride up.  No brainer, I knew I would love the short.  It was the magnetic HookUp bib connector that I really wanted to test out.  It did not disappoint.  It’s location on the lower back is easily reachable and with one quick slide you are un-hooked.  The magnetic design of the connector makes it even easier to reattach.  It almost re-attaches itself.  Not only is it easy to get out of I was unable to feel the connector when I rode.  There was no extra material causing added heat and the short and chamois stayed completely in place.  Thank you Specialized Women for caring about our comfort and designing such a smart bib short!

HookUp!

Winter in a Bike Shop: Strengthening Relationships With Our Women's Based Business

"Do one thing everyday that scares you"  Eleanor Roosevelt

Winter in a Mid-Atlantic bike shop, or any shop, is brutal.  Here at Twenty20 Cycling Co. in Baltimore, our sales season has been further slowed by the coldest winter in a generation.  As warm spring rides seem far away, we found ourselves with the common problem of overstock in women’s apparel – and no steady stream of female customers.  Our challenge was how to connect our customers with our inventory.

Kris Auer, owner of Twenty20 Cycling Co, presented an idea to host a private gathering for our loyal female customers.  By offering 30-40% discounts and hands-on service, Kris’ idea translated into an enormous turnout.  We cleared out most of our overstock on a bitterly cold Tuesday night.  When I shared our story with Marissa Herold, Women’s Business Manager at Specialized Bikes, she asked if I would write about what made it a success.

As Specialized Women’s Ambassador, I organized the sales event with a focus on how women buy cycling apparel.  Women want to feel comfortable and welcome in the shop.  We want to talk with other women who have cycling experience.  And we want our gear to reflect our personality and who we are.

Our plan was to host a wine and cheese after-hours private sale.  I invited groups of women cyclists who ride together and encouraged them to bring a friend.  I crafted a fun and engaging invitation through Facebook and email.  Beyond the sale prices, Kris was on-hand to provide even deeper discounts for women who purchased more than one item.

As our guests arrived, they were warmly greeted and directed to socialize before shopping.  Everyone got caught up with each other’s winter woes and chatted about their cycling plans for the spring.  While checking out the displays, the light conversation continued as women helped each other with their selections and sizing.  We have a spaciously comfortable changing room that was occupied non-stop.  Kris and I stayed engaged with everyone to answer questions and to provide suggestions.

By the end of the evening, we had sold nearly half of our inventory as well as non-sale items like shoes, nutrition and accessories.  The event also created an opportunity to start conversations about the Specialized Women's specific bikes for anyone considering an upgrade this year.

What did we learn?  Women want to feel welcome in their bike shop and to feel special from the moment they enter.  We want to trust the expertise of the staff and to share their enthusiasm for cycling.  By fostering our local relationships, we improved our winter sales and have many female customers to carry into the busy season.