We are blessed in Lake Placid to have two great shops to choose from. Both High Peaks Cyclery and Placid Planet Bicycles have been serving our region for a long time. Both stores are eager to show off the exciting new items they have acquired over the long winter and have so much to offer both visitors and locals alike.
Placid Planet Bicycles on Saranac Ave. has a lot of new and exciting things on the shelves for 2013. Co-Owner, Kenny Boettger was particularly excited about a new Mountain Bike that has a 27.5 inch wheel size. This type of bike is brand new to the industry and Kenny says it will achieve a balance between the traditional 26 inch wheeled bikes and the 29 inch wheeled bikes that have been popular on the racing circuit. Kenny feels that the 27.5 inch wheel size will gain popularity and be especially beneficial on the technical trails in our area. The Scott Genius that he had in stock looks to be an awesome ride.
The gang at Placid Planet was also thrilled to show me the new line of Five-Ten shoes they've brought in for 2013. These shoes are a great choice for riders who choose not to attach their feet to their pedals. The unbelievably sticky rubber on the soles of the shoes combined with a good quality pedal will provide a secure platform to push off of while still maintaining the ability to simply step off the pedal. There are also models that are compatible with a "clip-in" style pedal.
Placid Planet's other Co-Owner, Julie Voss raved about the new foot-bed services the store will be offering this year. This computerized system from Footbalance analyzes the foot of the customer and creates a fully customized foot bed for the shape of the foot. Julie says these footbeds will work just as well in ski-boots or running shoes as they will in a cycling shoe.
Placid Planet has also brought in a new Italian helmet company called Kask. This is the helmet of choice for professional cycling's Team Sky, as well as Tour De France winner Bradley Wiggins. Placid Planet now carries their "Bambino" Time Trial Helmet as well as the "Mojito" racing helmet.
2 new bikes from Cervelo are on the rack at Placid Planet. The S5 and the P5 are absolute speed machines. Cervelo has been making aerodynamic bikes for a long time, and these two new designs are simply the latest versions of the genius that has been produced by Cervelo for years.
I also stopped into High Peaks Cyclery on Main Street. Their staff was excited about the upcoming season and ran right over to the freshly stocked Men's and women's Zoic Mountain Bike clothing when I asked to see what's new for 2013. I saw a great selection of mountain bike clothes that had all the vents that I would expect from cycling specific clothing, but I also wouldn't be embarrassed to walk into "The Pub" for a post ride "46'er wearing these stylish shorts or Jerseys.
When I sat down to talk with High Peaks Cyclery's owner Brian Delaney it was clear that he is excited about his value-priced bikes for this season. He immediately highlighted the Specialized Rockhopper, which is a 29-inch wheeled mountain bike that comes with hydraulic disc brakes and a high quality front shock all for a very affordable price.
High Peaks Cyclery's fearless leader also pointed out the Giant Avail women's and Defy men's road bikes. These are entry-level road bikes that are packed with lots of great mid-level features. Looking towards the end of the summer
Brian was really excited to tell me about the brand new off-road race High Peaks Cyclery is hosting at Mt. Van Hovenberg on September 1st. It's called the "ADK 80K." There will be categories for running, cycling, teams, and age groups. With the growth in popularity of these off-road endurance races "The ADK 80K" is sure to be a success.
After my tour through Lake Placid's bike shops one thing is for sure. Lake Placid is a great place to be if you are in the market for some cycling equipment. The shops are well stocked for the season ahead, and ready to help you enjoy the road or trail. It is important to remember these businesses are not just places to buy things. They are centers in the community for all cycling related information. The staffs of both businesses are passionate about cycling, and would love to help anyone discover all the area has to offer for cyclists.
