Olympia Cycle & Ski

Surly 1 x 1 Frameset (posted May 02, 2008)

In the last few year single speed bikes have become more and more popular. In Manitoba this mainstreaming of what was once a very niche market makes a lot of sense, considering we have some pretty flat terrain. We can also have some pretty inclement weather, and if you're one of those riders who likes to extend their riding season into the snowy weather a single speed drivetrain can hold up much better than its geared cousin as ice and road grit starts to accumulate.

While many new single speed brands, and new single speed specific models from established brands, have popped up recently there are a few manufacturers out there who were making them before they were all the rage, and Surly is one of them. The Surly 1x1 frameset is their basic, rigid, mountain bike frame made for just one gear. The steel frame and fork accepts rim or disc brakes, there's plenty of tires clearance so you can use pretty much any size of rubber you wish, the frame geometry is suspension corrected for an 80mm suspension fork in case you want to add some cushion to the front end, there are plenty of braze-ons for racks and fenders, and the classic horizontal dropouts allow for easy single speed chain tensioning.

As for the ride?...Surly's own website says that the 1x1 rides "like a bike". That is to say that it's a pretty middle of the road affair, and that's a good thing. It's not too aggressive, but not too laid back. It tracks well and is fairly snappy but it's not squirrelly. (Editor's note: I own a Surly 1x1, and have at the same time owned many other mountain bikes, including expensive steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber frames set up as bikes that were rigid, as bikes with front suspension, and dual suspension, and at the end of the day I always seem to return to my 1x1). At the end of the day the 1x1 seems to be the bike that can do almost anything for you off road (assuming you're not into hucking 40 foot drops).

But the best part of the Surly 1x1 might be the price. At just $450 for the frame and fork you can afford to build it up however you wish. If you're looking to build up an inexpensive single speeder with a few parts you've got lying around the basement then go right ahead. If you want to buy that expensive wheelset and the polished, sealed headset you've always dreamt of you can use the money you saved on the frame purchase to indulge with the components. Either way, the Surly 1x1 allows you to build up a great single speed mountain bike that should take you pretty much anywhere you want to go.

Cliff Bar (posted April 21, 2008)

It's hard to remember what we all did before energy bars were invented. We do recall packing GORP or bananas in our jersey pockets before a big ride, and there's nothing wrong with continuing to use those old standards today, but it sure is nice to also have a product that is specifically designed to satisfy our energy needs while out on a long ride.

Cliff Bars are one of our favourite such products. Not only are they an easily digestible source of energy mid-ride, they also taste great (and come in many excellent flavours). The Cliff Bar company is very serious about using organically grown foods without the use of toxic pesticides or synthetic chemicals, and ensures that their product is free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, and high fructose corn syrups. They use whole and all-natural ingredients including a well-balanced mix of whole grains, protein, and fibre.

All of this is good from a nutritional point of view, and it helps reduce impact on our environment, but the truth is that it also makes the Cliff Bar go down better, and at the end of the day that's what's foremost on our minds half way into the first century ride of the season. 'Real' ingredients just seem to slide down our throats a little better than overly processed stuff. So if you're looking for a nutritionally sound and easy to digest (and tasty) energy bar with an environmental and social conscience look no further than Cliff Bar. We have plenty of them on our shelves right now so be sure to stop by as you head out on the next ride.

Specialized Langster New York (posted April 06, 2008)

New for '08, Specialized has come out with 5 Langster models, each tailored around a different major city, and 2 more models: One basic edition, and the other a high end S-Works frameset. We currently have in stock the New York model, and as the picture indicates it's nothing if not yellow (click on the image for a larger view).

In fact the frame and fork, high flange hubs, rims, bar tape, seat accents and rails, and even the chain (not pictured) are bright yellow. While Specialized is clearly going for the New York taxi cab look the side benefit to this aesthetic is that it's clearly visible in traffic.

As we've mentioned here before we like to post product reviews of product that we've extensively tested, so we should admit that the test for this Langster only involved a few quick spins up and down the road (and a few more around the shop) owing to some untimely late season snowfall. With that acknowledged we can say that the initial ride confirms what Specialized claims: The Langster is a fast, very responsive commuter. This bike is probably not for the casual rider - you don't have to be pro or put in lots of mileage, but you do have to have confidence to handle the responsiveness and speed provided by tight geometry, slim tires, and ultra narrow flat bars (the bars can always be changed to something wider, or even to wide drops or moustache style bars if you're looking for something a little tamer). But if you like a zippy ride that can whip around pot holes and parked cars nimbly, and want a relatively high-geared single speed (the bike comes stock with a 42/16 gear ratio, but of course that can be changed easily too) this may just be your ride.

If you'd like to check out a fast city bike that's sure to get noticed come down to the shop and take a look at the Langster New York, now selling for $860, up close.

Surly Travelers Check (posted March 28, 2008)

We'll just excuse for the moment that our good American friends at Surly don't know how to spell "cheque" using the proper Queen's English, and instead we'll focus on what a great idea the Surly Travelers Check is. (For that matter shouldn't the word "Travelers" be possessive?...oh well.) The Surly Cross Check is a perennial a favourite among no-nonsense riders looking for an inexpensive frameset that can be set up as a cyclocross, commuter, or general road or light trail bike, either with gears or as a single speed. Surly took this frameset and made it even more versatile by making the easier to pack Travelers Check.

By adding a couple of S&S couplers to the bike, one to the top tube and the other to the down tube, the main frame can actually be split in half. This means that the whole bike can be packed up into a much smaller space. Two immediate small package benefits come to mind: (1) When properly broken down the bike should be able to fit into a non-oversized case allowing you to take it onto an airplane without incurring the nasty extra bike luggage fees that most airlines impose, and (2) the bike is easier to pack in the back of your vehicle on those tight trips where you have a few bikes, the kids, the pet, the tent, the food and cooler, and whatever else you need to fit into your fuel friendly, but luggage unfriendly subcompact hatch.

Of course this is only a cool idea if the couplers actually work, and we're pleased to report that they really do. While they of course add a little bit of weight to the bike (but only about 8 oz) they are very easy to use (one simple tool that comes with the bike is all that is required to loosen the couplings before you use your hands to loosen them the rest of the way) and they fit together so snuggly that there is no noticeable frame flex at the coupling joints at all.

There are other bike frames with coupling systems out there - the Ritchey Breakaway comes to mind as another great example that we've brought into the shop before - and you can always have custom couplings installed on your prized steel or titanium bike frame, but Surly wins the prize for making the most economical stock coupling frame we've come across - we're selling the frameset for just $1240. We have one Travelers Check frame in stock now, and anticipate a few more to arrive soon. If you're looking for a solution to high airline luggage costs, or if you just want to see how the couplings work, feel free to come down to the shop anytime to check the frame out.

Catlike Whisper Plus (posted March 05, 2008)

We figure you'll think that the Catlike Whisper Plus either looks really cool or really dorky, or maybe even both (let's face it, some of us are already wearing Lycra shorts and brightly coloured jerseys in public view, so just embrace the dorkiness). The Whisper Plus is indeed one of the most radical looking designs out there, but aesthetics aside the design is second to none in terms of allowing for good air ventilation. In fact studies have been mentioned during pro cycling television coverage that suggests wearing a Whisper Plus actually cools the head more than not wearing a helmet at all (sorry, we don't have a link to the study, so you'll just have to take our word for it, or try it yourself).

A number of guys from the shop own these helmets and can attest first hand to how cool they feel. Of course the most important factor of any helmet isn't how cool it feels (or looks) but how well it fits. Without a good fit the helmet won't offer much protection. While everybody's head is shaped differently and all helmets are not necessarily right for all heads, the Whisper Plus has an excellent retention system that is easily adjustable and fits snuggly on most heads. It's also worth pointing out that the helmet is extremely light, which of course makes it all the more comfortable.

Looking like you ride on a Pro Tour team (the Whisper Plus can indeed be found in the pro peleton and on top of World Cup mountain bike riders) doesn't come cheap. Catlike's top helmet costs $320. If that's a little too high for your mid pack-sensibilities then no worries...Catlike makes a number of less expense models that still perform very, very well, and of course we stock helmets from other manufacturers as well. The least expensive (and still effective) helmets in the shop cost just a fraction of our top model, and will do just as good a job of protecting your head, but if you want the same helmet that the pros are wearing we have a few Catlike Whisper Plus helmets in stock now in a variety of colours to match your pro bike.

Specialized Toupe Saddle (posted Feb 25, 2008)

While saddles are admittedly a personal choice where some just fit right and some just don't, and where a good fit varies wildly from person to person, the Specialized Toupe saddle is a favourite of ours that seems to be fit many people very well. That's a good thing because this is also one of the lightest and best looking saddle around, and you've got 3 different width and two different colour options.

With hollow titanium rails, and an ultrathin (but somehow still comfy) carbon reinforced shell the saddle is pretty minimalist, but the choices are not: There are 130mm, 143mm, and 155mm width models, all in white and black. The 130mm weighs in at just 150 grams. Our webguy and his wife have 6 of these saddles between then and can attest first hand to their comfort on the road and on the trails, whether doing a lap or two of Bur Oak or out for a 100km road ride down a local highway, or trying to keep up with the cyclocross pack at one of the many local races.

In preperation for spring we happen to have a few 130mm and 143mm models in both black and white right now. At $205.00 they're not the cheapest saddle out there, but for a top end seat found on pro bikes everywhere they're surprisingly reasonably priced.

Salomon Vitane 7 Classic Pilot Boots and binding system (posted Feb 12, 2008)

Are your ski boots not quite going to make it thru to the end of the ski season, or are you already thinking ahead to next year? If you're looking for a classic ski boot upgrade now is a great time to consider the Salomon line of classic boots and bindings, owing to their new standard: the SNS Pilot 2-axes system.

One excellent example of this new design is the Salomon Vitane 8 Classic Pilot Boot mated with the SNS Pilot Sport Classic binding. The 2-axes system offers two distinct features that improve on its predecessor. First of all, having two solid and continuous points of contact between the boot and binding allows for much more torsional rigidity, which translates to more control of your skis. Second, the 'rear' axes (about an inch or so behind the 'front' axes at the tip of your toe) incorporates a spring loaded link that allows you to pivot your foot forward on your toe as you push off on your ski at the beginning of your stride, and provides tension to help pull your foot and ski back together as you bring your ski forward again at the end of the stride. This spring loaded link replaces the rubber bumper that used to be present on the binding just in front of the toe. While to rubber bumper worked adequately to help force the foot and ski back together the spring loaded link is definitely an improvement. On higher end SNS Pilot binding systems you can even adjust the spring tension to suit your personal preference.

The Vitane 7 boots featured here are an excellent high-performance recreational boot. They're relatively lightweight, they are exceptionally easy to lace up (always a good thing if you're fumbling around in cold weather) and have a semi-rigid cuff that offers excellent support while not feeling restrictive. The Vitane 7 is the women's version of the equally impressive men's Active 7.

With a good month or two of skiing left this season you've still got time to come down to the shop to check out the new Pilot boot and binding systems available, whether it's to purchase now or to dream for next year. We hope to see you soon.

Wigwam Lite Hiker Merino Wool Socks (posted Jan 29, 2008)

Back in the day many of us asked the simple, white, cotton, athletic tube sock to work in pretty much every situation. While the tube sock was with us when we made the prefect cross during the big soccer match, when we learned to smash a tennis ball just like Roger Federer (or back then it would have been Ivan Lendle or Stefan Edberg, or Aurther Ash if you're really old) or maybe even on our first mountain bike ride (circa mid 80's), our eyes have been opened a bit since then. How much better would our kick, our serve, and our first offroad bike excursion have been if we had purpose-made socks? We'll never know.

But that was the past. Today we have all sorts of great socks to choose from for every type of activity. At Olympia we carry, among other brands, Wigwam socks. Wigwam offers an almost limitless line of socks that suit every condition. One of our favourites for this time of year is the Lite Hiker, made with Merino Wool. The sock is light enough to easily fit inside your ski boot or winter cycling shoe but still thick and warm enough to keep your toes toasty in our famously cold winters. The wool is very breathable so you can avoid perspiration build up as you heat up from physical activity and the sock runs just high enough up your calf to prevent snow or windchill from contacting your bare skin. The sock has a flexible band mid-foot to allow for good movement, but it's still sturdy in the toe and foot in order to last for many winter adventures.

So set those tube socks aside (they've had a good life) and introduce yourself to WigWam. You're performance will only improve.

RC Waxing Iron (posted Jan 16, 2008)

The RC Waxing Iron is arguably one of the easier products to review, mainly because it's pretty darn straightforward. If you'd like to explore the art of hot waxing your own cross country skis you'll need an iron. You could try to get the job done with a regular household clothes iron, but you'll find that a non ski-specific iron will have a shortcoming or two. The most significant issue will likely be that your regular iron propably has holes in the bottom which can be used to steam your clothes. Steaming is not a function required for ski waxing and unfortunately the holes only serve to get clogged with wax and/or create an uneven waxing surface when using the iron on skis. The RC Waxing Iron, on the other hand, has an even surface that creates a smooth wax coat.

A second issue is even temperature control. Although most clothes irons have temperature adjustments they aren't always that good at keeping the temperature steady, and many of them have additional settings that can complicate things a bit. Ski glide wax should be applied using a very even temperature (the temperate may however depend on the type of wax being applied) and the RC Waxing Iron has a simple temperature dial and keeps a very constant temperature, so setting the temperature is as simple as moving the dial to the correct spot and then waiting a minute or two for the iron to heat up to the precise temperature you require.

Pretty simple really, which is good considering the folklore behind ski waxing is anything but. Don't be too apprehensive - if you can sift thru all of the pet theories it's not really that difficult to hot wax your own skis. Pick up an RC Waxing Iron and learn for yourself.

Learn to Nordic Ski DVD (posted Jan 08, 2008)

If you're brand new to cross country skiing there are plenty of ways to learn. You could sign up with a local club or find a personal instructor, you could find a friend who is patient enough to show you a few things, or you could just head out into the snow and learn by trial and error. Each method has their pros and cons. But, if you'd like to learn a few things in the privacy of your own living room before you head out and make a fool of yourself (don't worry...you'll look silly the first few outings anyway) you can pick up a Learn to Nordic Ski DVD from us.

This is the first DVD in a series of DVD's on cross country skiing that we carry. Usually we use the Product Review page of our website to promote products that we unreservedly love and have tested thoroughly - in this case we've 'tested' (that is, watched) the product, and we think it is a good value for the first time skier, but it comes with our own little disclaimer. The DVD menu lists 3 different features. At first glance it appears that each feature may teach progressive ski techniques, with the 1st feature being the most basic and the 3rd feature the most advanced. While this sort of holds true each feature is actually designed to stand alone as a crash course in skiing for beginners. Each feature is hosted by someone different and shot and produced independent of the others.

But here's the real disclaimer: The 1st feature of the DVD isn't really that good. With our apologies to the host, who we know is an accomplished competitive skier and may be a great personal teacher, this segment feels almost a little too basic and the production qualities are pretty low. Of course you may disagree and/or may find this segment helpful so of course feel free to check it out. For what it's worth though we think that the 2nd and 3rd features are of value and do a good job of covering the basic skills of skiing, and can be used as a mental reference while you're out on the trails the first few times.

Of course nothing substitutes getting out there and trying it for real, but if you'd like a little guidance at home first this might be just the thing for you.