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Hi there,

Everyone has a summer place—a cabin in the mountains, a cottage at the beach, or their own back yard. Maybe it’s just a feeling you get when summer arrives. Growing up in New England, my summer place was anywhere outdoors. I ran barefoot all summer, climbing trees, playing in the woods, running under the sprinkler, and riding my bike. I had a paper route delivering the Woonsocket Call and rode my bike all over Franklin, Massachusetts.

Now (not surprisingly), my summer place is anywhere I can go on my bike. When I got into the sport of cycling about seven years ago, I hadn’t been on a bike for almost 28 years. (But, of course, once you learn how to ride a bike you never forget.) Not sure if I wanted to commit, I started off with a $200 Schwinn road bike which I pedaled around town for about a year. After that I decided I was serious about the sport, so I used my income tax refund to upgrade to a Fuji Roubaix. It served me well and I rode it in three duathlons.

These duathlons consisted of a run/bike ride/run (my sister did the running portion). The photos below are of me at the Doylestown Duathlon (15.5 miles), Lancaster YMCA Duathlon (24.5 miles), and the Bucks County Duathlon (10 miles). Our team came in 1st, 4th, and 3rd respectively.

This year, I decided to upgrade my bike once again (ostensibly for the last time). I wanted a carbon bike that would help me ride faster and farther, and I saved for a whole year to get the bike I wanted: A Trek Madone 4.5.

Though it’s only about 2 ½ pounds lighter than the Fuji, I was amazed at the difference. Because it’s more aerodynamic, head winds don’t slow me down like they used to. And since I can go greater distances, there are two things I always have with me (besides water, a spare tube, and a pump).

One is the HALO 2800mAh Pocket Power Charger for Cellphones & Electronics (E223301). The size is a perfect fit for my saddle bag or back pocket of my jersey. I run a cycling GPS app on my iPhone while I’m riding, and this has come in handy several times, including keeping me connected during a fifty-mile tour I did last month. It comes with a handy drawstring pouch for all the supplied tips. I like it so much I got one for my son.

The other is something to eat to keep me from bonking (cyclists’ term for sudden fatigue and loss of energy). I tried a few energy bars from the supermarket, but I couldn’t find one I liked. Then I tried a Kind Bar and I was sold. The Customer Choice Food Award Nominee KIND Bar (18) 1.4 oz. Ultimate 6 Flavor Snack Bar Assortment (M27980) has three delicious flavors with between 14 and 21 carbs per bar (depending on the flavor), which helps keep me pedaling.

Having a new bike is like having a new car; you always want to ride it. It takes me all around my summer place.

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Wherever your summer place is, QVC is the place you’ll find everything you need to get there—and make the most of it.

Happy trails!

Troy

Editor, InsideQ magazine