Bikes & Gear - Trek Travel

Industry Insider: Ben Coates

Posted on July 28, 2014 - 11:44 pm by keith_ritter

Meet Ben Coates. Ben is the Trek Road Product Manager – which according to his loving wife means that, “anything with curly handlebars is under his jurisdiction.” We met with Ben to learn a little more about his life, work, and travels.

Tell us your story in 140 characters or less:

Husband, father, cyclist. Living the life making great bikes, traveling the world, and having fun with my beautiful family.

What’s the most rewarding part about your job?

Getting people excited about riding bikes. There is nothing like seeing someone get a new bike, especially when you are a part of the development of that bike. You can see the excitement in their eyes – a feeling that most people know – and it is amazing to see someone else go through it.

Favorite place you’ve ever traveled and why?

I love Belgium. Kind of a funny place to love, right? Not if you are bike, beer or frites fan. I happen to be all three. I love the people there because they have tough exterior but warm hearts. They are passionate about family, friends, cycling and beer. The riding is incredible, from the scenic open roads of Flanders to the brutal climbs of Wallonia. You could spend a lifetime riding there and never get bored.

If you were a trip designer at Trek Travel, where would you design a trip?

I would plan a trip somewhere I have never been but have always wanted to go. I could see planning a trip to a number of places like Patagonia, South Africa, and Mongolia. The list would go on and on. If I had to choose a place to start, I would go with Japan. I have always wanted to see the rice patties and climb from the coast to the highest peaks. There is something mystical about Japan. That is where I would start.

Favorite hotel you’ve ever stayed in and why?

Sundance Resort in Utah. It has an authentic quality and is aligned with nature in a rustic, modern way. I also got married there in 2008.

If you could only bring one unnecessary item on a trip, what would it be?

An iPad. I can see my family, read a book, scroll through a magazine, catch up on news, and watch a movie. Definitely the best travel item I own.

What is one thing you never fly without?

My Passport. I left it at home once and had to take a last minute flight to Australia. It was a disaster; I never leave home without it now.

Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.

I have had so many, but all of my rides can be traced back to one. A good friend of mine convinced me to get a mountain bike as my college bike, instead of the normal cruiser. My parents were not so happy that I spent double what they expected, but that bike took me on my first ride. It was a ride up Apex Trail in Golden, CO. I remember that it took me almost 2 hours to climb to the top – a climb that takes less than 30 minutes today. I crashed twice and almost threw up once. The way down was equally as eventful. I crashed over the side of the trail and slid down into a creek. After three hours, huge frustrations, and a lot of blood, I was officially a cyclist.

What’s your favorite type of beverage?

If it was only one drink I would pick San Pellegrino. If it was only one alcoholic drink it would be Bourbon on the rocks – Angel’s Envy or Beer Barrel Bourbon to be exact.

What and where was the best meal you’ve ever enjoyed?

My Mom’s homemade green chile at my parents’ house. If I was going to choose a restaurant, it would be Café Diva in Steamboat Springs, CO. There is something about a small mountain town with a great restaurant that is hard to beat.

What is your personal motto or mantra?

I got this from my wonderful wife. She probably doesn’t know this but I think about it every day. Here are the five things that will make me successful and happy in life:
1. Up Early
2. Win
3. Help Others
4. Exercise
5. Disengage

Outside of your family, who inspires you the most?

Historically, I am pretty fascinated by Abraham Lincoln because of the strength of his character. Integrity is something that I think about all the time and I think that he is the most prominent person in history that truly had integrity. Without his integrity and sense of purpose, the entire world would be a different place today. A living person that inspires me outside of my family is a little harder. I could go the easy route here and say my boss or the president or something like that, which are true but not really insightful or particularly interesting. So, with that in mind, I am going to go with Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia. After all these years, he has stayed true to his heart. Making great products that help people enjoy the outdoors and doing so in the most sustainable and economical way possible, while not losing site of the fact that the products have to be awesome if they are going to make a difference. His philosophy on people, the work place, and the world are close to home.

Why A Smooth Ride Matters On A Bike Tour

Posted on June 14, 2013 - 9:48 am by keith_ritter

Being Trek Travel’s Marketing Manager, I understand how marketing a new product works. You want to get the product in front of as many people as possible and talk up its attributes. In the words of Mad Men’s Don Draper, “Advertising is about happiness”. The Trek Domane road bike delivers happiness.

I spent a week in Solvang, CA recently for our Amgen Tour of California viewing event. Our Ride Camp season had just wrapped up and there were plenty of Domane bikes floating around our warehouse. I grabbed one and spent the better part of the week riding the hills and valleys of this awesome place. To say the ride was smooth is such an understatement. It was velvet.

Trek Travel is sometimes thought of as the “avid bike tour company”. Having all Trek carbon road bikes included in every bike trip probably contributes a bit to that stereotype, even though we also have the industry leading Trek FX hybrid bikes available or the upgrade option to the electric assist hybrid bike. In fact, the first time we brought in the electric assist bikes, a woman rode up Mt. Ventoux during the Tour de France on one. Talk about stretching the bike’s capabilities! The fact is, having a great bike during a bike tour is pretty important.

I was blown away riding the Trek Domane. I heard the hype and honestly didn’t think it would be much of a difference over my Trek Madone. For anyone who has ridden in the Santa Ynez Valley, you know how lovely the roads are. Riding the Fig gives your triceps a serious workout as you navigate the Grand Canyon sized cracks in the road. But riding 50 miles on these roads on the Domane…WOW. It brought me happiness as advertised. I couldn’t believe how smooth the roads felt even when I purposefully steered the bike towards every crack I could find. And, I don’t think I have to mention that the bike is fast. Just look at Fabian Cancellara’s spring classics season to see how well he did on this incredible bike.

Why does this matter from our (Trek Travel) perspective? Imagine taking a Sunday drive in a BMW on a pot-holed highway versus doing that same test drive in an old, rickety Pinto. You’re going to be a heck of a lot more comfortable in the BMW which allows you to sit back and take in the sights. That’s how we think of the Trek Domane on a bike tour. The bike is definitely not all you signed up for with us. You want to taste the Italian wines of Tuscany, or indulge in the spas of California Wine Country. But you did sign up for an active vacation and who wouldn’t want the best fit and smoothest ride when out riding your bike in these scenic areas? That’s what the Trek Domane does. It gives you that extra little bit of happiness on your active vacation of a lifetime.

And I can say that without any marketing hype. The roads of Solvang can attest to it.

Increase Happiness By 50%

Posted on May 18, 2012 - 6:15 am by keith_ritter

Since it’s Bike to Work day, we asked Meagan, our Trip Design Manager, to tell us her thoughts on biking to work in the bike friendly town of Madison, WI.

How does 20 minutes each day improve my happiness level by 50%? I will tell you how: biking to work. Seriously, it takes me 10 extra minutes each direction to bike rather than drive to my office and I start and finish my days AT LEAST 50% happier than when I drive. There’s just something about it: it could be as simple as breathing in the fresh morning air, or the smiles I get along the way from other commuters. Or maybe it is that tiny bit of sweat that I get when I climb the little hill on my wayback to my house that makes me feel like I accomplished something and inspires me for my workout. I love the way biking to work makes me feel and now that I have my routine, it isn’t a huge commitment.

Trust me, I know what it is like to come up with excuses not to ride to work. Things like, “I have a meeting out of the office and I might need to drive there” or “what if something happens at home and I need to rush there in my car?” or “I hate helmet hair”. Well, the fact is that it just isn’t that big of a deal. Nine times out of ten, I can borrow a car in an emergency and I can almost always bike instead of ride to places in town (and it is much more enjoyable). My hair doesn’t get too messed up, I don’t need to wear dorky cycling clothes or worry about being super sweaty (we also have a shower at work when I really need it). I can also carry whatever I need in my backpack or panniers.There are just no good excuses in the summertime not to bike to work.

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Dear Marriage Advisor by guest blogger, Bob Joy

Posted on October 5, 2011 - 5:00 am by keith_ritter

Dear Marriage Advisor: I have a “friend” who just confessed to his wife that he has been lusting in his heart for a new bike. She should have known it was coming. My friend had been talking about getting another bike ever since Harry showed up for our morning ride with a brand new cherry red Madone with all the fixin’s. Since then, my friend has been spending increasing amounts of time surfing Trek’s Project One site, marveling at the nearly limitless combinations of frames, paint schemes, and components. Whenever he had to go out of the room, my friend strategically left the computer on in full view of his wife. Still, my friend knew that it would be a hard sell. He already had three Trek bikes of different vintages, the most recent of which was just six years old and still looked brand new.

My friend confessed his desire to his wife as they were getting dressed for a party. Her immediate response was, “Why do you need another bike? You can only ride one at a time!” Now, mind you, she said this in all seriousness as she searched through her five-tiered jewelry chest for the perfect pair of earrings to match her outfit. My friend couldn’t help from pointing out that several of her options contained carbon in a different form, were nearly as expensive as a bike, and that she, too, could only wear one pair at a time. Wrong move.
Here’s where my friend could use your help. What should he say to convince his wife of 30 years (whom he loves very much if she is reading this) that he should get a new bike? Please choose from the options below, or respond with your own:

A) My friend should buy the Trek Madone and deal with the ramifications at a later date. (Not recommended)
B) My friend should buy his wife a new pair of earrings and try again. (A costly gambit)
C) My friend should offer to take his wife on Trek Travel’s California Wine Country trip or Vermont bike trip so she will get a chance to ride the latest Madone and understand. (Preferred option)

Other ideas will be gratefully accepted. My “friend” really needs your help!

Renee Krysko asks, Is it all about the bike?

Posted on June 22, 2011 - 9:00 am by keith_ritter

In the past nine years we’ve advised thousands of guests and prospective guests about the finer points of selecting the right cycling trip AND the right bike tour company for them! Our main objective is to infect people with a passion for biking. So whether you ride with us, or another company we want you to have a fantastic ride. With this objective in mind, we are dedicating part of our blog, Out for a Spin, to educate you on the finer aspects of selecting the right experience and company for you! Watch for our first edition; Is it all about the bike?

Is it all about the bike?

No, it is not! But the wrong bike could ruin your vacation. When we ask our guests why they choose Trek Travel, the number one response is the bike! It doesn’t really matter which type of rider they are, avid or beginner, when they get on a bike that is lightweight, shifts well, fits them properly and has the ride they want, it just feels right; everything becomes effortless and the cycling vacation begins.

So how do you pick the right bike for your bike tour? The first tip is, decide what type of ride you want and make your selection from there. Are you looking for a comfortable commute or a more athletic ride? Here is the scoop on bikes for cycling holidays.

Generally bike tour companies offer one or two styles of bikes, either a hybrid or a road bike.

A hybrid has an upright position and is great for people who are new to cycling or are interested in leisurely riding. It’s heavier than a road bike, but it has a lower gear ratio, meaning that it is easier to pedal up the hill (phew!). The thicker tires also give you a softer ride, so that even beginners feel confident. Trek Travel has a new fleet of hybrid bikes in North America, Trek’s 7.7 FX. It is one of the lightest hybrids on the market, but so comfortable it’s like riding a Cadillac.

A road bike is appropriate for people who have experience with cycling or mountain biking, or for those who lead an active lifestyle. The weight of a road bike is dependent upon the materials used to make it. Currently carbon fiber is the most lightweight yet durable material on the market and is the material of choice for most race bikes. The weight difference between a hybrid and a road bike is significant. The geometry of the frame maximizes the performance of the bike and the narrow tires decrease road resistance allowing you to roll faster with less energy output. In short, it’s fast! Our guests LOVE the new 5.2 Madone road bike. It’s super light, responsive and climbs like a mountain goat! I clocked myself going up Ventoux last year and improved my time by 4 minutes. Trust me, it was all due to the bike!

In our day of mass choices, the question is, do two bike styles fit all? Actually some companies believe ONE bike can fit all. Some will take the same bike frame and simply change out the handlebars between flat bars (similar to those on a hybrid) and road bars to accommodate the different styles of riding. While this option can work, the downside is that it does not give you the true fit, comfort or sense of security of a hybrid, nor does it give you the performance position of a race bike.

Here at Trek Travel, we find that 85% of our guests are happy with either a hybrid or road bike, however the 15% feel differently need something else. Some need a little extra boost to get up the mountains, others need a power surge to keep up with their more avid partner, and a few are recovering from an injury but still want to ride. These individuals are well suited to Trek’s Ride+ electric assist bike. You still get a workout but with a little help. For avid riders or those seeking to experience the frame used by the pros, they prefer a snappy ultra-lightweight race bike. Trek Travel offers the same bike used by Team Radio Shack and LEOPARD TREK—Trek’s 6.5 Carbon Fiber Madone. They can even trick out the bike with Bontrager’s XXX Carbon Clincher Wheel sets.

At the end of the day, you want to pick the bike that will allow you to see the world in the style that is right for you. A bike tour is not all about the bike, but given that it is a cycling vacation, you are better off enjoying the smoothest ride possible. In an upcoming blog, “The Proper Fit” we’ll review the importance of a proper bike fit. Good luck picking your bike and see you out on the road.

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