When most people think of India, they imagine the hot, dry, and dusty north, the vibrant and colourful cities in Rajasthan, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, and the Taj Mahal.  South India, to most of us, is an unknown destination.  My recent trip to southern India was among the best that I’ve ever had.  Southern India is an incredible place with stunning landscapes, fascinating towns and villages, long white beaches, and superb food – an excellent place to explore by bike.

Good tunes are a requisite for any ride, so e ach month we share the music that keep us spinning. Send us the top tracks off your iPod you could win a $25 iTunes gift card!

Bykguy’s Top Tracks:

• CMA “All Over”
• Rise Against “Appeal to Reason”
• STP “Core”
• Prodigy “Invaders must die”
• Chris Rock “Never Scared”
• Guano Apes “Proud like a god”
• Silversun Pickups “Swoon”
• Brother Ali “The Undisputed Truth”
• Jimi Hendrix “Voodoo Child”
• K’naan “Troubadour”

“MADE” MTB DH VIDEO

NEWS LETTER SPECIAL $19.95 (reg. $34.95)

If you’re in to hard- charging DH action, then this video is a must- have for your collection. There hasn’t been a DH video with this caliber of racing and a fresh soundtrack since the Earthed video “the law of fives” ( another great film even if it’s a few seasons old).

10days/12 rides/5600km

If you work hard you should play hard, and that’s how I try to live. My favorite way to play hard is going on a road trip with my bike. On a road trip, there’s no better way to forget about the bills, work ,and all the obligations that life brings with it. Every time I think about traveling to ride I get stoked remembering the many epic road trips where I’ve created so many great memories and friendships.

Heart Rate Training

Heart rate training continues to be one of the most controversial subjects among fitness experts. We can’t give you the whole background here, but we can share some of the commonly agreed upon advantages of using a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) while training:

Wednesday, February 10th, 7 to 9 pm

Amazing door crasher specials, "Buy One Get One" pricing on all 2009 clothing and smoking deals on remaining 2009 bikes and helmets.

Email 3 of your best riding photos to Syd for our "ride where you belong" slide show & you'll be entered to win a $100 RVC gift card.

Free food & drinks, door prizes and fun!

RSVP to Syd before February 5th and receive a $25 RVC Gift Card!

Newsletter Promo Price $169 (msrp $225)

The CS200 is a great unit with a good set of features. It's well made, looks cool, is tough, and has been very reliable.

Review from: www.damianm.com

For goal-oriented cyclists who want more out of their training and performance.

•     Measures heart rate combined with current, average and maximum speed
•     Determines daily personal heart rate target zones for optimal training
•     Connects to your online training diary at polarpersonaltrainer.com

HYDRATION IS KEY. Probably the most important aspect of training (both performance and recreational) is proper hydration. Not only during your workout but before and after as well! Here are some general guidelines to help you out.

SALE $25 Reg $45

Minimal cuff design -Performance articulation -Silicone gripper fingertips -Palm padding -Durable palm overlay -Breathable Nylon mesh back-panel -Durafuse Leather -Clarino® synthetic suede palm material -Terrycloth thumb panels.

SALE $20 Reg $40

Dakine Cross X Gloves: What makes the Cross X the perfect glove for you? It has to be the superior technology. The Cross X has compression molded knuckles and wrist-cuff for that great fit, silicone gripper fingertips for a sure grip in sticky situations, durable palm overlay and palm padding to relieve the pain at the palm pressure point.