Austin area links coming soon

Chicago area

Cycling, Triathlon & Cycling Clubs:

• Naperville Bike Club
  • Great for beginners, trail, mountain bikers - as well as those who like to hammer if you have a Tue/Thur open in the summer you can join Blur for a fast hour of your time.
  • Been riding with them for years.
• These two I have not been to, but I have friends who swear by them:
  • The Labs
  • Vision Quest
• Joliet Bike Club
  • I have done the JBC century on the 4th of July with my NBC friends for years - always a great time and well supported.

• Experience Triathlon
  • For those new to triathlon, I always recommend their open swim program because it is really important to know how to swim safely in a crowd of aggressive swimmers. My daughter did it when we did a relay as a family and I've sent several friends to it who all felt a great benefit.
  • Also has run club and bike club.
• Endurit
  • Bought my Cervelo here and been to a BBQ ride and computrainer classes - always very helpful and a really strong set of athletes. Don't be intimidated by their rep - super friendly people and fine for beginners to super aggressive performance athletes as well.
• Spokes
  • Bought my Specialized here ... Has a big bike club - some people do not like this store, but I've never had a problem here. Always do great tune ups for me and have been really helpful.
• Aurora Bike Club
  • New start up bike club - met them at one of our open Naperville Bike Club gatherings... Movie night I believe at the Roundhouse.

Running & Gear:

• The Running Company
  • Have pretty much always gotten my shoes here - even after shopping around, I just always come back here. A trusted source in shoe buying which is really important to me - especially for long runs and being someone with bad knees.

Climbing:

• Vertical Endeavors
  • We started climbing here back in the early 2000's. We'd follow you anywhere, VE! Great staff, huge gym... biggest in the country as a matter of fact!
• Brooklyn Boulders
  • Love this place! Easy to get to, great staff, colorful and met so many great climbers here. 
• First Ascent
  • Ive only had a membership at the Avondale location. A little smaller than BKB, but stickier walls and more overhangs. Fabulous bouldering area. Love it!

Gear and other outdoorsy stuff:

• ​REI
  • Just love this place plus I get a dividend check every year since it's a coop.
  • I've gotten rock climbing gear, ski gear (both nordic and alpine), hiking gear, out doors gear, camping gear, cycling clothes, my garmin ... reliable good gear.
• Erewhon
  • Just opened but got my hiking Solomons before my Hawaii trip where I hiked the Kalalau trail all the way to Kalalau Beach and they were great - blister free is always good on a long hilly course. And I got a Solar phone charger - who could live without that.

Tracking apps for smart phones

• Map my run
• Map my ride
• Strava
• Endomondo

Naperville Bike Club in New Glarus, Wisconsin for the annual New Glarus ride led by Larry Alvino!

Leading the Whole Foods Ride - where we would also use the experimental kitchen to talk nutrition and try new recipes - Not to mention the beer!

These aren't mine btw - stopped at an old timer's joint on the way to New Glarus, Wisconsin to get cycling pants for a friend of mine and this guy had the coolest old cycling stuff and built his own streamliner pod racing bike.

Me and my sons at Warrior Dash :)