Cycle Inside with an Indoor Bike Trainer

If you’re an active cyclist, you know loosing a day out of your weekly routine just doesn’t sit right. When a day stretches to two or more—cue exploding head emoji. There are a variety of factors that can affect whether or not you’re able to get out the door and jump on your bike. An indoor trainer could be your solution.

Severe weather conditions are recurring reasons why cyclists are forced to skip their ride days. Cyclists with young children face obstacles tenfold when trying to work in ride times. Or—as we all have experienced from time to time—maybe it’s just one of those days when leaving the house just doesn’t sound appealing.

Whatever the reason, an indoor trainer makes any excuse for not getting a ride in practically inexcusable. Indoor trainers are great for their convenience and come in a variety of styles to choose from based on factors like budget, resistance, adaptability, etc.

Roller Trainers

Rollers are the most basic type of trainer and usually, the most affordable. Using a roller is definitely a balancing act since nothing is keeping your bike in place and the rider is required to ride on top of three spinning rollers.

Check out: CycleOps Aluminum Rollers $300

Friction Trainers

These come in a few forms (wind, fluid, magnetic), are fairly portable, and prices definitely vary depending on style and features. They typically require the back wheel to be pressed against a roller and a feature used to create the resistance you need to reach your peak performance. The harder you pedal, the more resistance you’ll create via the mechanism near the back wheel.

Check out: Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Control $569

Smart Trainers

Smart trainers are the most expensive of the bunch, but they give you the most bank for your buck. These are the tech-savvy trainers that offer you electronically adjustable resistance, data analysis, bluetooth capabilities, power sensors and more.

Check out: CycleOps Hammer Direct Drive Trainer $899+

Before you make your final purchase, make sure you do your research to determine which trainer is best suited for you. Remember to factor in your budget, your desired level of resistance and your capability preferences.

Upcoming Pro Cycling Races to Have on Your Radar

Spring is upon us y’all and you know what that means: the pros are coming out of hibernation. The snow will soon be gone, the temperatures will start to rise and the pros will hit the streets for the year’s upcoming pro cycling races.

While we’ve spent the winter months waiting for the events in the pro cycling circuit to commence, the pros have been training to reach peak form to take on these upcoming races. Check out our list - by date - of the upcoming pro cycling races we have on our radar:

Tour of Flanders — April 7, 2019

Location: Flanders, Belgium

Website: www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/en

Distance: 266 km (men) / 152 km (women)

Participating Pros: Alejandro Valverde, Anna van der Breggen, Peter Sagen, Alexander Kristoff, Niki Terpstra and more.

Paris-Roubaix — April 13, 2019

Location: Start - Paris / Finish - Roubaix

Website: www.parisroubaixchallenge.com/en/

Distance: 257 km

Participating Pros: Niki Terpstra, Alexander Kristoff, Philippe Gilbert, Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avermaet.

Giro d’Italia — May 11 - June 2, 2019

Location: Start - Bologna-San Luca / Finish - Verona

Website: www.giroditalia.it/eng/

Distance: 3,518.5 km

Participating Pros: Mikel Landa, Egan Bernal, Alejandro Valverde, Simon Yates, Giacomo Nizzolo and more.

Amgen Tour of California — May 12 - 18, 2019

Location: Start - Sacramento / Finish - Pasadena

Website: www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/

Distance: 777.6 miles

Participating Pros: Peter Sagan, Toms Skujiņš, Tejay van Garderen, George Bennett and more.

Tour de France — July 6 - 28, 2019

Location: Start - Brussels / Finish - Paris

Website: www.letour.fr/en/

Distance: 3,460 km

Participating Pros: Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish, Mikel Landa, Nairo Quintana, Alexander Kristoff, Philippe Gilbert and more.

La Vuelta — August 24 - September 15, 2019

Location: Start - Salinas de Torrevieja / Finish - Madrid

Website: www.lavuelta.es/en/

Distance: 3,272.2 km

Participating Pros: Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde, Simon Yates, Gorka Izagirre and more.

Along with our list of recommended pro cycling races to watch, there are plenty more to consider adding to your watch list. Also, if you’re unsure of where to watch pro cycling races live or whether your cable provider offers the appropriate channels, we suggest checking out NBC Sports Gold Cycling Pass and FloBikes.com. Both require subscription payments, but are well worth the small costs if you’re looking for reliable live coverage. Here’s to an exciting year of cycling!

Valentine's Day: Cycling Gifts to a Cyclist's Heart

Are you looking for the perfect gift to get the cyclist you love for Valentine’s Day? We’ve got you covered! Check out our gift guide that will surely win over the heart of that special cyclist in your life.

Weekend Getaway a The Swamp Rabbit Inn

Take the cyclist in your life on a trip to Greenville, SC for a cycling vacation and stay at the most bike-friendly inns around. With two locations situated along the famous 22-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail, The Swamp Rabbit Inn and Properties are perfect for in-town or out-of-town cyclists eager for a cycling centered getaway.

DeFeet Sublimation 6” Love Letter Socks - $19.99

These unisex DeFeet Love Letter socks are a limited edition design that is only available for a limited time. Gift the cyclist you love these before they’re gone!

Dinner at Restaurant 17 at Hotel Domestique

You can never go wrong with a nice dinner. If you’e aiming to impress the cyclist you love with an evening out for Valentine’s Day, take them to Restaurant 17 at Hotel Domestique owned by none other than George Hincapie himself.

“I Love Cycling Thiiis Much” Coffee Mug - $16+

As we all know, cyclists love their coffee. Give your cycling love a gift with a personal touch with this “I Love Cycling Thiiis Much” mug. You choose the face, skin color, hair color, and the language you want the message in.

Cycology “All You Need” T-shirt ( Men’s / Women’s ) - $22.95

Just as the song goes—well, almost—all you need is a bike! Show your love of bikes with this “All You Need” t-shirt from Cycology. Styles, colors, and sizes vary.

Paul Smith Men’s Gold Racing Bike Cufflinks - $125

If you’re looking for something more on the fancy side, these Paul Smith cufflinks are perfect for when dress codes don’t allow jerseys and tights. The cufflinks in the form of racing bikes have a polished gold finish and Paul Smith signature embossed T-bar fastenings.

Wanderlust Bicycle Necklace - $240

You can never go wrong with jewelry. Handmade in the UK, this Wanderlust Bicycle Necklace is made from sterling silver, plated with 22ct Gold, with Ruby and Diamond.

Bike Chain Frame - $36-38

Give the gift of memory this Valentine’s Day with a picture of you and the one you love fitted in to this Bike Chain Frame. These metal frames are handmade in Oregon from recycled bike parts. Measurements are 4x6 frame: 6.5" H x 4.5" W 5x7 frame: 7.5" H x 5.5" W.

However you spend it, we hope you enjoy your Valentine’s Day with those you love!

A New Way to Explore Greenville, South Carolina

Looking for an early Spring getaway? Not sure what to do for Valentine’s and no time to plan?

We’ve got you covered. Plan a Greenville, South Carolina getaway to the Swamp Rabbit Inn and experience a Foothill Foodie Tour.

If you believe the groundhog or if you don’t, one thing’s for sure, Spring is definitely on its way to Greenville. Our fabled weather friend the Groundhog predicted we’ll have an early Spring and it seems the stars are already aligning. Take a stroll around downtown Greenville, South Carolina, and you’ll see the leaves and buds of daffodils starting to burst forth. It’s the perfect time to visit and learn more about this little Southern city everyone is so smitten with.

No sure what to do when you arrive and need the perfect Valentine’s idea? Rest easy, literally. We’ve got you covered. Book your Swamp Rabbit Inn stay and book a Foothill Foodie Tour. What is a Foothill Foodie Tour? Well, we think it might be the best way for tourists and locals alike to experience the people and food and drink creations that make Greenville, South Carolina so special.

We started at the Trappe Door on Washington Street in downtown Greenville, South Carolina

We started our Friday evening in downtown Greenville with the Vine, Stein and Shine Tour. We met our Tour Guide, Rose, the owner of Foothill Foodie Tours, on the steps of Trappe Door at 4pm. Even on a typical January afternoon, it was pleasant enough to stand on the steps and chat outside while we waited for our group. Once inside Trappe Door, it was time for our tour to begin. Trappe Door is literally an underground bar, and you’ll feel you’ve been transported to another time and place. The Belgian style pub is well-known for its happy hour, delicious food, unique beer selection, and it’s one of our favorite spots for Sunday Funday.

We sampled four of Trappe Door’s current beer offerings, fresh on the heels of their sold out Biggest Little Beer Fest. We learned about the source of the brews, the recipe for perfecting them, and made sure we were well prepared for our entire tour by snacking on fresh made Belgian fries with Trappe Door’s signature dips.

If the start of our Foothill Foodie Tour was any indication, this was going to be the best Friday yet.

Beer flight and Belgian fries and signature dips at Trappe Door, Greenville South Carolina

Our next stop on the Vine, Stein and Shine tour focused on the vine. We entered Jerky and Vine and were both pleasantly surprised to discover a little known, well-stocked wine shop, gift shop, and “Public House.”

Jerky and Vine of course has beef jerky (they make their own!), but most Greenville residents and visitors alike miss the gem of this location in the wine selection.

Second stop on our tour was Jerky & Vine on Main Street in Greenville, South Carolina

If you’re a wine lover or just want to talk shop with a guy who knows his stuff, you’ve got to visit Jerky & Vine. We were absolutely astounded at the wine and chocolate pairings and our local hosts knowledge of the varietals, their regions, and the winemakers. Wines were paired with local chocolates from Cocobon in Anderson, South Carolina. We tasted red and white varietals and may have been most surprised by the delicacy of the bacon infused chocolate paired with a rich red wine.

Inside Jerky & Vine you’ll find McBee V’s Public House, with happy hour special, beer and wine by the glass, and the perfect selection to take back to the Swamp Rabbit Inn for your nightcap. Who knew learning about wine making could be so interesting, and so accessible in downtown Greenville, South Carolina?

Wine and chocolate pairing at Jerky & Vine

Our next stop was Dark Corner Distillery, also located on Main Street in Greenville. Dark Corner Distillery, named after the region’s nickname for over 175 years, is a craft micro-distillery producing small batches of Moonshine, aged whiskey, gin, absinthe, and other spirits in Greenville. Our experience at Dark Corner was educational and delicious, as we learned the process behind making each of our selections, plus recipes and serving ideas. We aren’t going to lie, you won’t leave Dark Corner without taking a few bottles home with you. Even if you think whiskey and Moonshine aren’t your thing, you might find a new favorite during the Dark Corner Distillery stop.

Our final stop was the perfect end to the happiest hours we’ve had in downtown Greenville in quite some time. We stepped just next door to Crepe du Jour to experience the offerings of this creperie and bar with authentic European style. We ended our tour with sweet crepes stuffed with strawberries and almond cream and a champagne cocktail. However, we discovered the menu at Crepe du Jour features savory crepes perfect for any time of day, and the bar is a bright cozy spot for grabbing a drink on a night out.

The energetic and bright interior of Crepe du Jour.

Our Vine, Stein and Shine tour of downtown Greenville, South Carolina with Foothill Foodie Tours was unique and educational. We learned things about the people and places in Greenville we never would have discovered on our own. Foothill Foodie Tours makes it easy to turn your Swamp Rabbit Inn stay into an experience, and leaves you hungry (and thirsty) for more of Greenville and its welcoming people.

Enter our contest to win a free one night stay at the Inn, plus a bike rental and a Foothill Foodie Tour.

You’ll find the contest post on our Instagram and Facebook pages, but you only have until Monday, February 4 to enter. Ready to book your own February getaway? Take advantage of low Winter rates at our downtown Greenville Inn, and then reserve your Foothill Foodie Tour.

Weekend getaway planning? Done.

Beneficial Stretches for Cyclists

Stretch it out before you cycle out. Just as you would for any other workout or physical activity, you should always stretch beforehand to avoid muscle injury. Your muscles need to warm up before you put them through any strenuous activity like cycling. It’s also important to stretch afterwards. This helps reduce the chances of next day sore muscles that can last for days—nobody wants that!

Feel free to perform any number of stretches you’re familiar with, however, we recommend these targeted stretches for cyclists:

1.) Lying Leg Over Stretch—helps to relieve tightness in thighs

• Lie on your back with both arms stretched out to the sides—palms up.

• Bend your right leg. Bring your left hand across to grip your right knee and bring it across your body.

• Push your right knee as far to the ground as you can with your left hand.

• Repeat with left leg and right hand.

2.) Kneeling Quad Stretch—helps to stretch hips, quads, and lower back

• Begin half-kneeling on the ground; right leg bent out in front of you and left leg extended behind you.

• Push your hips forward and arch your back slightly.

• You can do any of the following with your hand:

  • Interlace your fingers together and push out in front of you.

  • Interlace your fingers and stretch up over your head.

  • Rest both hands on your knee.

3.) Pigeon Pose—helps to open hips

• Sit with your right leg bent in front of you and your left leg extended behind you.

• Square your hips to the front.

• Bend forward, and either extend both arms out in front of you—stretching as far as you can go—or rest both forearms on the floor in front of you.

• You can also walk your arms back to position them slightly behind you—elbows bent and hands facing the front—and arch your back.

• Repeat with left leg bent in front of you and your right leg extended behind you.

4.) Calf Raises—helps to relieve tension and tightness in calves

• Position your feet shoulder width apart.

• Place your hands either against a wall or sturdy object.

• Raise up on to your tiptoes. Hold for a few seconds, then lower back down.

• Repeat 15-25 times per set.

Obviously, cycling asks a lot from the muscles situated in the lower-half of the body. Any stretches that target your calves, thighs and gluts will benefit you greatly. Now don’t forget those upper-body areas that are put to work as well. Be sure to stretch out your shoulders, triceps, and biceps. So the next time you go to clip-in for a ride, pause to make sure you’ve taken the time to stretch it out before you cycle out!