Blog

Future Bike Roundup No. 1

Mon, 07 May 2012 05:34:00 GMT

We just came across the photo below, from the February Paralympic Cycling World Championships in LA (via Bike Hugger), and are inaugurating a new blog series with it: The #FutureBike Roundup. In this space we will highlight the most cutting edge innovations in cycling technology. Obviously we are interested in futuristic bike materials here at Power Cordz, and this prosthetic leg, designed for a cyclist, is just the type of thing to kick off this blog series.

Hi-tech prosthetics are nothing new in the cycling world. Here is another version, with a dynamic, tension loaded pedal-foot interface, via Fast Company.

From Channel 4 in London, an interview with Chris Furber, head coach of the British paracycling team on the interface between bike, rider and prosthetic limb.

The New York Times recently profiled Cuban cyclist, Damian Lopez Alfonso, who is going to London for the 2012 Paralympic Games in August. Lopez Alfonso developed his own handlebar setup while training in Cuba, and used it as a fallback, when his state-of-the-art ride failed him in Guadalajara.

Please leave us more links to #FutureBike paracycling innovations in the comments, on our Facebook page, via Twitter or at Google Plus.

Find Power Cordz at the Sea Otter Classic

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:30:00 GMT

The Power Cordz team is staying in Boise this week, enjoying beautiful, wet spring weather. But many of our friends are at the Volkswagen Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California to participate in one of the largest bike expos in the world.

A fish-eye view of the 2011 Sea Otter village.

In support of all the bike people at Sea Otter this year, we set up a special discount code for attendees. To get the code, you have to visit our friends from the Boise Young Riders Development Squad (B.Y.R.D.S.) or from Core Concepts, a Boise-based, high tech/high style clothing maker, and pick up one of the glossy post cards we sent along with them. You will find a discount code on the card!

(Hint: The B.Y.R.D.S have booth #629, west of the Food Court, and Core Concepts is displaying their wares at booth #178 in the first Exhibitor Pod. Map here.)

The B.Y.R.D.S. are a premier youth cycling team based in Boise and they have some 25 riders in Monterey this week to race and gain critical exposure. We have been installing Cordz on their bikes for a few months now, so watch for these guys at the finish line!

The B.Y.R.D.S on a recent hill training ride.

Core Concepts offices are just down the hall from us at our Boise HQ. We have to walk past their sample racks every morning, eyeballing the high performance fabrics. Check out their new stuff if you are down at Sea Otter and say hi to Matt and Josh!

We'll post updates on the B.Y.R.D.S. and other Sea Otter news on our Facebook page, so look for us there.

New SALE! page up at Power Cordz Web Store

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:52:00 GMT

They won't necessarily match every frame, but a set of yellow Power Cordz definitely makes a statement. Our standard Cordz systems in yellow are all marked $20 off for the next two weeks on the new SALE pages in our Web Store.

We are coming up with a bunch of new promotions, including a special discount for folks attending the Sea Otter Classic, among the largest bicycle festivals in the world, starting later this week in Monterey, California. Watch our new Facebook page for an announcement about where to find your discount at Sea Otter (hint: you are going to have to look for Boise people to unlock the discount code)!

But if you are not able to attend Sea Otter, head over to the SALE! page and put some yellow on your ride: Mountain and road brake systems with our classic housing as well as derailleur Cordz are now ~~$59~~ $39, if you are bold enough to go yellow!

A Sign of Gratitude

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:56:00 GMT

In the spirit of the recent Oscar Awards ceremony this past weekend, we'd like to hop off our bikes for a minute, unfurl our speech notes tucked away in our jerseys, and recognize the people who have helped us achieve our recent and continued success.

An Incredible Season

First, without rival, the past six months have been our most successful season since we first introduced Power Cordz in 2005. The roll-out of Power Cordz Prime (our lightweight complete cable and housing package) certainly contributed to the growing exposure and reputation of Power Cordz. What once began as the vision "to provide the best cables for the best riders" has now exploded into multiple products and a brand recognized as a worldwide leader in innovation within the cycling industry.

We could not have done this alone. Thanks to the strong relationships we've developed with our riders and the feedback we've received from you - our riding community - we've continuously improved and enhanced our products to perform when you need control the most.

Our New Reach, Your New Distributors

To design and develop the best products on the market is one thing, but to bring our products to the best cyclists in the world is another. We'd like to recognize our growing list of international distributors that make the purchase of Power Cordz at local and online retail locations not only possible, but easy for riders across the planet. Without your help and support, Power Cordz would not have developed into what it is today.

On that note, we'd like to officially recognize our three newest international distributors.

In Brasil,Triuno Importacao e Comercia Atacadista
From Hong Kong, ProBike Center
Serving Scandanavia, bike-shop.no

With their help, you'll soon find Power Cordz on cycles from Guangzhou to São Paulo to Oslo.

We'd also like to extend our continued gratitude to all of our distributors and retail providers. Without your support, riders across the globe would never feel the difference in control that Power Cordz provide.

Thank You (Yes, You)

Finally, we want to thank you. Yes, you. As you read this you are learning more about the industry that affects the sport you love. We recognize that you take time out of your day to read about changes and trends in the industry and we respect you for using your knowledge to advance the sport.

Cycling is more than a hobby, more than a sport - it's a lifestyle. Chances are if you are reading this, you already believe this and are part of a community that believes this.

We are proud to be a part of this community.

You've made an impact every time you reached out to us. We take every comment made on our Facebook page or various online forums in which we participate into consideration. In fact, the feedback you've given us has directly influenced everything from our new Grommet Clasps to the color options available in our housing and cordz. We're always looking for ways to improve our design or offer better customer service, so let us know if you ever have any ideas.

Everyone

You can help us change the industry for the better. In many ways, you already have.

Power Cordz Grommet Clasps: New, Powerful Protection

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:12:00 GMT

Our team just loves coming up with solutions to issues. This week we'd like to tell you about the new Grommet Tie-Off Clasps that are shipping with all Power Cordz sets and systems.

For the whole story, come check out our visual tour.

(Clicking this link will take you to our Facebook page. You do not have to be a member, or give any personal information, in order to view the slideshow.)

Bike 2 Work: And the Winner is...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:43:00 GMT

BIKE 2 WORK: Top 3

If you followed our Bike 2 Work Photo contest, you know what some of our riders were up against - both in terms of weather and competition!For those of you who have just joined us, last week we called out to the Power Cordz cycling community on Facebook and asked for photos that matched the following criteria:

Post a photo of you riding to work in the comments sections of this event and you'll be placed in a raffle to WIN a FREE set of Power Cordz derailleur or brake cables!

*Photo Ideas*

-Gearing up for the morning ride
-Strapping on warm-weather gear
-At the office, shop, studio, etc. with your bike
-Out on the road (find a friend to snap this one!)

*Submissions*

-Each submitted photo must be accompanied by a quick blurb about the photo, such as your bike build, where you work, or a little encouraging advice (140 character max).
-Multiple photos may be submitted, but only one per day.

We had some excellent submissions, so let's see some of the best of what we saw.

Runners-up

3 Ankul Assavaviboonpan

Ankul writes: "It's beside me every single workday."

2 David Schroeder

David writes: "I always get the best parking spot in my office building!"

And the WINNER is...

Kaveh Farahmand

Kaveh writes: "Who needs a bike rack when the OC Metrolink provides Bike Cars.... Love the commute to and from Integrated Computer Technologies."

Congratulations, Kaveh, for a photo that truly captures the lengths we will go to as year-round bike commuters! Kaveh entered a number of photos into the contest that captured his full story as a Bike 2 Work commuter. However, we made sure to judge each photo by its individual merits. The whole team thought Kaveh's photo demonstrated his commitment to riding come hell-or-high water. We think any area, such as Orange County, that offers Bike Cars on their metro is headed in the right direction, so to speak.

Congratulations, Kaveh, on your great photo and for winning a set of Power Cordz brake or derailleur cables! For those who want to check out what Kaveh just scored, well, check it out!

Bike 2 Work Photo Contest

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:45:00 GMT

It's getting darn cold all over much of the Northern Hemisphere right now. More and more of us are feeling the bite of winter's teeth and it's growing more difficult to keep riding each morning. So let's stick together and let the bike commuter community know we're still riding!

It's easy: find our contest by clicking the Facebook logo above. Post a photo of you riding to work in the comments sections of the event and you could be selected to WIN a FREE set of Power Cordz derailleur or brake cables!

Photo Ideas

-Gearing up for the morning ride
-Strapping on warm-weather gear
-At the office, shop, store, studio, etc. with your bike or gear
-Out on the road (find a friend to snap this one!)

Submissions

-Each submitted photo must be accompanied by a quick blurb about the photo, i.e., your bike build, where you work, or a little encouraging advice (140 character max)
-Multiple photos may be submitted, but only one per day.

You have from Friday Jan. 13th @ 6:00am EST to Friday Jan 20th at 12:00pm EST to post that photo.

We'll announce the winner on Monday, January 23rd right here on our blog, so be sure to check back.

Most importantly...KEEP RIDING! We're with you all the way.

Best!
The Power Cordz Team

Freedom vs Influence: What do you choose?

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:03:00 GMT

In this post-holiday season lull, we finally have a free moment to pick up a few dusty "Best of" gear lists from our favorite cycle rags. Flipping through the pages, we will become inundated by adverts claiming fantastic specs and solutions to problems we didn't know we had. So what do you do?

Our advice?

Before picking up that magazine or jumping online, go to your bike first. Take a look at what you have. Cast a critical eye over your whole bike - from welding points on the frame to cable contact points on the brakes - and then ask yourself:

What cycle-related problems are keeping me up at night?

In this world of easily accessible cycling advertisements all competing for your attention, it's very easy to lose sight of what matters most. We forget sometimes that no one can tell you what matters most to you. Deciding what is important to you and what you need is exercising your freedom of choice.

Total transparency here, yes, we advertise our products. Of course we do. We want you to know what we have to offer. However, we want you to choose Power Cordz because it solves a problem you have. We get great satisfaction from knowing you chose Power Cordz because you have faith in us and our products. It motivates us to keep making better products, not better advertisements.

So take a look at your bike. What do you need? If it's time for control cable upgrades or new cable housing, we hope you think of us. If it's not quite time for a replacement, we'll be here when you're ready.

Best,

The Power Cordz Team

Thank you to the Power Cordz community!

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:47:00 GMT

We're overwhelmed by the positive support we've received from the cycling community since the introduction of Power Cordz Prime! Thanks to everyone who has decided to see and feel the difference for themselves.

We're always advancing our options for cyclists, and Power Cordz Prime offers more parts for installation and compatibility than anything we've offered before! As you can see in the photo above, those riders that pre-ordered the Prime Road Brake system (and anyone who purchases a system in the future) will receive:

2 ea - 1.75mm Road Brake Cordz
1 ea - Pre-lubed 5mm housing - 1.8m length
2 ea - Grommet Tie-off Clasp - Works with SRAM, Shimano & Campagnolo
8 ea - 6mm lined ferrules
2 ea - 5mm lined ferrules
2 ea - E-Z Bend housing pieces
1 ea - Instruction sheet & sticker

So regardless of the components on your bike - SRAM, Campy, Shimano - you'll have the parts necessary for a smooth installation. If you're unsure how some of these parts will help with installation and compatibilty, stay tuned for our Features on Grommets and ferruels in the coming weeks!

For our loyal, veteran riders, we hope you'll enjoy the lighter, smoother feel of our new housing paired with the cables you love. For all of our new riders, welcome to the team! We want you to have the best experience possible with our cables, so if you have any installation or maintenance questions, let us know and we'd be happy to help. Although we provide installation videos for all of our cable sets and systems, we've been known to guide an installation over the phone now and then for riders who need some personalized assistance.

For all of our riders, we're interested in feedback! Do you have some installation photos, a few videos of you riding on Power Cordz, or maybe a review of your new gear? We'd love to see anything you have. Just send it my way at Matt@iodupont.com

As always, keep riding!

Matt

Autumn is here - Get out there and ride!

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:58:00 GMT

Photo source: britishcycling.org.uk

What an exciting week here at Power Cordz! The guys just got back from Interbike in Vegas (full report later this week) and we’re marching ahead towards the roll out of our newest line up of complete systems.

It’s a busy time of year for us. With research and development, customer support, product testing, late lunches, and lots of shop talk, it’s easy to lose track of time. Lucky for us, we love what we do and riding is a part of our daily lives. However, for those who aren’t surrounded by bikes all day long, a busy schedule sometimes leaves little room for riding.

Late night riders, early morning sprinters, and weekend warriors – this post is for you. With the changing season bringing colder weather, we know it can be tough to get out there and ride. Sure, your trainer will get you through the snowy season, but if you’re like us, you miss the exhilaration of the wind in your face while carving out a nice line on a downhill turn.

So what are we saying? Get out there and ride! Make every warm weather moment count. If you have a good ride, let us know about it. Here in Boise, Idaho, we love to see photos and read inspirational stories of riders who aren't letting the change of season slow them down. So, share a ride story with us. How are you handling the change?

The Power Cordz Team

New Season, new gear

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:56:00 GMT

Yes, autumn is here. For four-season riders, that means getting ready for some colder weather and staying motivated. For those to whom Autumn means a chance of snow, it’s also the perfect time to start thinking about some new gear for the next warm riding season.

Now that you know how your bike is riding after a long summer of good rides, you’ve probably recognized the need for some upgrades.When looking to upgrade, you’ll have to ask yourself what’s most important to you as a rider. Do you go lighter, stronger, slimmer, smoother? And how? After all, in the cycling world, lighter doesn't always mean stronger or better. As for us, we're proud to make cables that are both stronger and lighter than steel, but we know riders have to do their homework before making a decision.

So what is important to you? Around here at Power Cordz, we’re concerned about performance and weight. If you’re consistently finishing a ride exhausted and your bike is feeling a little bulky, consider shaving off some unnecessary drag. Power Cordz, for example, as the lightest brake and derailleur cables in the world, will help you achieve your weight goals. With our new color options, you can feel light and look good. And with no-stretch synthetic fibers, they won’t stretch like steel. Performance = enhanced.

Keep riding!

Matt

Rider's report: Out in the Foothills on Prime

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:45:00 GMT

Matt here with Power Cordz! Ever since joining the team, I’ve had the privilege of seeing some slick bikes. A lot of local riders will come in, chat with us about their weekend rides, and ask us to take a quick glance at their setup. Now and then, luck rides my way and I’ll get to test out a bike that has a fresh Power Cordz install. All considered, I thought life couldn't get much better. Then I mentioned to the team I’m in the market for a new bike…

Before the end of the day, I had a “bike loan” from one of the guys – a nice custom-build mountain bike sitting in our shop. One of the first things I noticed were three taught, yellow Cordz running on the top the bright orange frame. I recognized the setup right away as the new Power Cordz Prime™ system, and once out on the trails, I’d be among the first test riders.

Excited, I took the bike out that same night, right as the sun begun to dip in the sky towards the rolling wheat-colored foothills north of Boise, Idaho. Out on the trails, I climbed steadily over sagebrush and wildflowers, shifting smoothly and confidently. With a cool breeze at my back, I threw myself into the ride and found my zone quickly. I was thrown a bit when it came to traversing and climbing over some rain-scarred bends in the trail, but the shifting speed and accuracy saved me from disastrous turns down the steep hills. Within an hour, I reached a nice little summit, looked out over the city lit up by the sunset, and then raced the sun down the hills.

For bike enthusiasts this is a dream job! My day consists of bike installs, chatting with riders about their gear, answering questions about Power Cordz, and taking rides on some well-maintained bikes after work. Not only have a learned a wealth of information about the local and international cycling communities of which Power Cordz is a part, but I’ve also learned to appreciate how good it feels to talk with people who truly enjoy riding on our products. Since my name is on that list of happy riders, it only makes our conversations more rewarding!

What waits ahead? With a new notch on my Power Cordz belt, I’m set to try out the Prime system on another loan – this time on a Cannondale Six13 road bike. I’ve moved back and forth between mountain and road bikes for as long as I can remember, but the switch never came quickly. Unlike some riders who can move from riding road to mountain with ease, it still takes me a long time to adjust. Much like moving from an ATV to a sports car, when I move from mountain to road it’s going to take some getting used to. So, feel free to stop by our Facebook site and give me some tips for making the switch!

All the best and keep riding!

Matt

(Thanks to www.boisecentralfoothills.org for the photo)

Just a shot of my ride with the new Prime system (super secret).

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:02:00 GMT

Hey so I wanted to get a shot of my ride up here. Not trying to give away too much about it but I didn't even pay attention when we cut and sized the housing, but that is pretty perfect positioning for the logo.

BTW this is one of only 20ish bikes in the world now with the fully rigged up Prime system. Shhhh.

I also decided to go with "white" cordz. I felt it was a tribute so to speak. The rest of my gear is white and red basically so that fit too.

Hey feel free to send us pictures of your ride and make sure we get one of your cordz set up as well!

Thanks,

Alex
alex@iodupont.com

Joining up and many posts to follow

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:10:00 GMT

Hey everyone, this is Alex L. I'm just joining the Power Cordz and Io DuPont team. I have known the team for many years and just last week they made a true believer out of me.

More than anything this is a first post about getting Power Cordz on my road bike. Without trying to be on a soapbox and say how great the products are from my new company I want to share my first experience with a high-end road bike after years of just entry level set and forget bikes.

I dropped about $2,300 on a new bike in 2007, not knowing anything about road bikes, just on a recommendation from a friend. I didn't know anything about maintenance or care (I've taken care of other high-quality/high-maintenance equipment before, but not quite like this).

When you buy a new bike from a shop most of them give you a '1-year' bring it in and we will fix it maintain it etc. Not counting adding some components, I went in to the shop 3 or 4 times within 3 months because the shifting wasn't quite right. I didn't understand why a brand-new expensive machine was not performing perfectly, and was not happy. The shop guys seemed to indicate "that's not a problem, cable stretch happens with all new bikes."

Whoa, What?! No! I'm sorry that to me, that was unacceptable, but no other way around it. So after the last trip in, I said "what do I need to do to fix it myself". They showed me, and well, it was fairly simple. But come on right? I just had to accept it, there was not any other choice.

Today I installed a full set of cables on my bike. There are some tricks to making sure the Power Cordz are on there, and not being completely savvy around my bike I had some help, and I've seen all of the installation videos for the guys here and I totally get it, got it on and I have to say for the first time ever on my big purchase bike, I shifted gears -- turned the crank, and without any extra effort my top gear actually shifted, SMOOTHLY, without any trouble.

That my friends is to me truly remarkable.

This is my first post and I you will see more from me. If you have some stories to add about your Power Cordz experiences please let us know!

Keep riding and Feel The Difference.

Alex L.
www.Powercordz.com
www.iodupont.com