|
|
|
|
|
2009 FEATURED PRODUCTS ARCHIVES
NEW FOR '09: For the past couple of years we've updated a "Featured Products" and a "Product Review" section every week or so. The main distinction between the two sections is that products in the "Product Review" section are usually tested directly by shop staff and reviewed thereafter, whereas we don't always have the time to test our new "Featured Products" before they're listed online.
However, both sections sometimes ended up looking similar to one another, so in 2009 we're tweaking things slightly: The "Featured Products" section will now look more like a bike spec sheet, featuring a different bike every week or so and listing the component mix, in-stock availability, manufacturer's website, and more. The "Product Review" section will continue to contain our latest, first hand reviews from the wide variety of product we carry.
Electra Cruiser Coaster 1 (posted Sept 29, 2009)
They don't come much simpler than this. The Electra Cruiser Coaster 1 is the kind of bike you learned to ride on as a kid if you're over 60, or if you're 20 you call the bike "retro" and want to try out what your generation has missed out on. Namely, simplicity. Put down your iPhone for a second and climb on board a cruiser with no gears and a rear coaster brake. You pedal forward to move, you pedal backwards to brake. That's pretty much it, and yet somehow it's so much more.
We have a couple of these models in stock at the time of this posting, as pictured below. Oh, and if you really can't put down your iPhone you can buy an official Electra cell phone / PDA holder for your bike, along with many other cool accessories.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo (posted Sept 07, 2009)
No, we didn't start carrying Gary Fisher bikes. We like them, but we can only carry so much and we already have many great brands in stock. However, a customer of ours was making a warranty claim and we were able to bring a Gary Fisher in specifically for him. To make a long story short the customer ended up buying a different in-stock bike from us and as a result we have this one great looking Gary Fisher hardtail in our shop.
The Hoo Koo E Koo is a classic aluminum hardtail that's ready for some hardcore recreational single track riding or even some racing, all at an excellent price point with some good spec's. This is a lot of bike for the regular retail price of $1600, and with all our bikes on sale at the time of this posting the deal gets even better: It's just $1360!
Look at the chart below for a full list of spec's, or come down to the shop to take the Hoo Koo E Koo for a test ride.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Giant Trance X2 (posted Aug 21, 2009)
Most of our customers don't need the kind of full suspension available on big hit, free ride style bikes (have you noticed there aren't too many monster downhills around town) but some what a bit more travel than what's provided by cross country racing dual suspension bikes. Fortunately Giant produces a model that fits between racing bike dulie and big hit bomber: The Trance. With 5 inches of rear travel and a linkage system that has won rave reviews, working well whether you're pounding the pedals or breaking, this bike is a perennial favourite. It comes in a few spec choices to fit your needs and budget. Below we've featured the Trance X2 - we have one in stock right now for $2900.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Cannondale Road Tandem 3 (posted Aug 07, 2009)
We've featured tandems at least one other time on this site but we figured it was time to give them another quick plug. While certainly not our biggest selling item we try to have a tandem or two in stock most of the time and of coruse we can always order one in for you.
We carry a few brands that cater to the tandem market, and none are better than Cannondale, who have been making tandems for just about as long as they've been making bikes. Their tandem frames are incredibly stiff (always an important feature for such a long bike frame) and well spec'd. The Road Tandem 3, pictured below, is built for pure two-person speed, but it's worth noting that it also has excellent braking. Check out all of the spec's below, or come down to the shop to check out the bike today.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Torker U-District (posted July 23, 2009)
The Torker is a new-to-us brand that we quietly started stocking recently. Actually, we've carried Torker unicycles for a few years now, but this is the first time we've brought in any of their bicycles. They come to us from the same folks who make Redline's, which we've been selling with great success for a while. The Torker U-District is essentially a no-frills Redline commuter with a rock solid chromoly frame and fork, a flip flop single speed hub, and fairly middle of the road geometry that's good for the daily commute on city streets, all at a great price of just $430.
Check out the rest of the specs below, or come down to the shop to take the bike for a spin today.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Surly Big Dummy (posted June 23, 2009)
This is a really cool idea. Last year Surly introduced the Big Dummy, a cargo bike built in conjunction with Xtracycle, a company that builds aftermarket product to convert standard bikes into large volume haulers. The bike's rear end accommodates very large, specially designed panniers along with many other attachments designed for specific applications (click here to go to Xtracycle's site).
The bike rides a little different than a standard bike with a shorter wheelbase, but it's surprisingly nimble for its length. At $3600 for the complete bike it's not cheap, but if you commit to using it in place of a fossil fuel propelled vehicle some of the time we're sure it will pay for itself, make you happier, and help out the environment all at the same time. Some time ago we featured the Big Dummy frameset on this site, and we do have a frameset in stock too if you'd prefer to build up your own bike, but if you'd rather buy the full bike right off the shelf check out the specs below and come down to the shop to see the real thing.
Below are some pics and the spec sheet, as well as a brief video recently featured on winnipegsun.com:
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Giant Trinity Alliance 1 (posted June 16, 2009)
Maybe this should be in our sale section but we wanted to feature it here this week. This is a pretty sweet triathlon specific bike at a pretty low price (by triathlon bike standards anyway). It's a new '08 model that we bought at year-end on a good deal and we're passing the savings on to you. The MSRP is $2380 but we're asking just $1900. Not bad for a carbon tri bike with nice aero bars, a 105/Ultegra drivetrain, and a good set of wheels. For all the specs check below. This is a one-off deal so once this medium sized Trinity Alliance 1 is sold that's it.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
NS Bikes Holy Black (posted June 08, 2009)
We've quietly started carrying a few bikes from NS Bikes Co. NS Bikes makes hardcore street, park, and trials bikes with bombproof frames and simple, straightforward designs. The Holy (available as the Holy Guacamole and the Holy Black - the Black is in stock) is a rigid compact 24 inch wheeled single speed. It's a derailleur hanger if you'd like to add gears and a rear disc tab if you'd to switch out the stock rear linear brake.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 (posted May 24, 2009)
They don't get much nicer than this. The Cannondale SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 is completely top shelf, with unbelievable power transfer, yet a compliant ride, mated to the newest and most advanced components available including the new, completely redesigned for '09 Dura Ace. We really love what Shimano has done with the new Dura Ace brake/shifter hoods, and the internally routed brake and shift cables provide a really clean look a la their competitors Sram and Campy. But that's just one of may highlights on the spec sheet of this amazing bike. Check out the full spec list below.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Surly Cross Check (posted May 16, 2009)
This is a bike we just love: The Surly Cross Check is a cyclocross bike designed to do just about anything. It has braze-on's for fenders and racks, it has down tube shifter mounts so you can go old school, use bar cons (as we've built this one up) or use integrated shifting, and it has a semi-horizontal dropout with a derailleur hanger so you can run gears or set up the bike as a single speed. We brought this bike in as a frameset and have built it up in-house, so this is a one of a kind deal. Come down to the shop to check it out in more detail.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Electra Amsterdam Original 3i (posted May 09, 2009)
Pretty much the entire justification for featuring this bike is because it's purple. Well, maybe the white tires have something to do with it too. We have a number of new Electra's in stock this week including this really cool Amsterdam Original 3i, an internally geared 3 speed with coaster brakes and fenders that will get you to the organic produce store at exactly the right pace. For the record it comes in a few other colours, but we've got purple in stock.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Giant Brass (posted May 01, 2009)
The Giant Brass 1 is a really sturdy hardtail for the aggressive rider. A new model for '09 this bike packs a lot of value into a very modest price tag.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Giant Tran Send DX (posted Apr 23, 2009)
Giant has come up with a new model to fill out their line-up of 'Metro' bikes - actually they've come up with two new models: His & hers Tran Send's. Okay, to be completely accurate there's actually the Tran Send, the Tran Send DX and the Tran Send LX, all of which come in men's and women's designs. The DX, featured below, is the mid-range in the line up.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Cannondale Capo (posted Apr 13, 2009)
Editor's note: Get ready for a trip down nostalgia lane... The `09 Cannondale Capo comes in the sweet paint scheme pictured below, which is a throwback to Cannondale models circa the mid-80`s. I purchased my first full-bred racing bike from Olympia Cycle & Ski around that time, and it was a Cannondale road bike with decals just like the model featured here, including the classic C`dale font across the horizontal top tube and the head badge that symbolizes the Cannondale train station that sat across the street from the pay phone where the company's founder called the patent office to register his new company those many years ago.
Unlike my first Cannondale, which came with a 7 speed Suntour 30-40 rear derailleur and the ultra-exotic (for the time) down tube indexed shifting, the new Capo is a dedicated single speed, set up more like a track bike. Amazingly, despite huge advancements in the frame materials and designs, hub manufacturing, bottom bracket and crankset interfacing, etc., and despite quite a bit of inflation in the last 20+ years, the Capo costs exactly the same as my first Cannondale - $1000. If you`re interested in this bike you should check it out now, before I buy it for myself (seriously). Of course we can order in any current Cannondale model, in any size, whenever you want.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Trek Jet 20 (posted Apr 03, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Surly Steamroller (posted Mar 27, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Giant XTC Advanced Custom-Build (posted Mar 20, 2009)
This week we've decided to feature something a bit different - a one-off build by one of our staff. This is his new personal ride so it's not available to the public, but that's not to say we can't build another one for you. Basically we wanted to show you what we can put together when dreams get a little 'out of hand' and end up becoming reality. We mean that in a good way.
This bike began as a stock Giant XTC Advanced (which we have for sale in the shop). The XTC Advanced is a great cross country hard tail racing bike right out of the box, but when you add beautiful upgrades like Hope Mini X2 Pro brakes (with carbon levers, titanium bolts, and gorgeous anodized finish), Stan's ZTR 355 rims mated with Hope Pro 2 hubs, and even Salsa Skewers (to name just a few upgrades), you end up with an amazing cross-country racer that weighs in at barely over 20 lbs. Enjoy the pics below, and start dreaming about your own custom built no-holds-barred bike.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Cannondale Synapse Feminine 5 (posted Mar 13, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Marin Hamilton 29er (posted Mar 06, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Marin Hawk Hill (posted Feb 26, 2009)
Olympia Cycle & Ski is proud to announce that we're now carrying Marin bikes! Established 23 years ago near Mt. Tamalpais (arguably the birthplace of mountain biking) Marin was a pioneer in mountain bike building and has grown to offer a full range of mountain, road, cyclocross, commuter, and kids bikes. Through innovative tubing and frame designs and a thoughtful selection of components Marin makes bikes that ride well at a great price point.
We plan to have a good selection of Marin bikes in stock this year. Below we've selected one model, the Hawk Hill hardtail mountain bike, to highlight. To check out all of our in-stock models come down to the shop anytime. We're adding new bikes to the showroom floor every day.
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Trek MT20 (posted Feb 19, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Dahon Speed P8 (posted Feb 09, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Cannondale F7 Feminine (posted Jan 31, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Masi Speciale Fixed (posted Jan 23, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Cannondale Taurine Team (posted Jan 16, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Karate Monkey (posted Jan 04, 2009)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
2008 FEATURED PRODUCTS ARCHIVES
Electra Townie 3 Balloon (posted Dec 19, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
We've already featured a couple of Electra's this year, but they're so darn cool that as the new '09's arrive we can't help but post one more: This time we're featuring the Townie 3 Balloon.
It doesn't hurt that this bike comes with an Olympia orange paint job (well, they call it Tangerine, but who are they fooling?), including a matching paint job for the rims and chain guard. Actually, the aesthetics on this bike are great all around, as can be said for the whole Electra lineup.
We think that the balloon tires are a great way to offer some 'suspension' on a cruiser-style bike while still keeping the setup simple and relatively light. What's more, the all-white tires look gorgeous.
One really cool feature of the Townie 3 Balloon is the internal 3 speed rear hub with coaster brake mated with an internal roller brake up front. The roller brake is housed within the hub so it isn't affected by grit and water, and it modulates similar to a coaster brake so it provides a nice, even deceleration that helps prevent lock-up. In other words it has some of the same benefit of a disc brake while providing a more modest amount of braking power that's better suited to a cruiser bike (a disc brake would simply be overkill on a bike like this).
The Townie Balloon comes as a 3 and 8 speed internally geared bike and as a 9 speed with external gears. The 3 speed as pictured above is going for $830, and it's in stock now so feel free to come down anytime to check it out.
Swix Ski Wax Bench (posted Dec 11, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
Many of our customers don't want to be bothered with hot waxing their own skis. We understand that everyone makes different priorities for themselves and if ski waxing isn't one of yours we're happy to do the waxing for you at a very reasonable price. However, some of our customers want to learn how to apply hot wax for themselves, and in order to do so it's a really big help to have a good wax bench like the one from Swix pictured above.
Honestly, there's not much to using a ski wax bench. You simply turn your ski upside down, place it on the bench, and lock the binding into the pin that's located in the middle of the bench. The bench is adjustable for different ski lengths, but all in all it's a pretty straight forward affair. The model listed above is selling for $220. We also have a couple of more portable models in stock for a little less, starting at $150.
Electra Indy cruiser (posted Dec 05, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
We've been big fans of Electra cruisers since we first brought them in a couple years ago - their level of comfort and their finish is simply second to none, and we really like that they change major details of many models from year to year, creating collector's items of a number of regular production models. The Indy cruiser may just be the next collector's piece: New for '09 this bike features an aluminum hydroformed 'tank', formed as a part of the bike's top tube with no seems or welding - the tank and top tube is all one piece. The full fenders with bright red paint scheme to match the red fenders and the rest of the frame look amazing, and perfectly contrast the solid white tires. The matching tan leather hand grips and sprung saddle are a nice touch. And the Shimano Nexus 3 speed internal hub with coaster brake make this bike a simple, but very cruiser-capable affair. You need to check this one out in person to really appreciate how gorgeous it is.
Winter Riding Gear (posted Nov 27, 2008)
From time to time we've featured riding gear specific to Winnipeg winter conditions, but today we're posting a summary of the basic gear required to get you through the cold weather. Click on the links below to read a little more detail about each item.
Cross Country Ski Packages (posted Nov 17, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, though if the picture itself is a photo simply containing a bunch of words the saying may not apply. None the less, our ski package prices are listed in the pictures above (click on the pic to enlarge the image if the thumbnail is too small to read), and no matter how many words they're worth the ski packages don't cost much. As you can see we have plenty of packages to choose from, starting at just $280 for an intro adult package (and even less for a Junior package). Or you can always put together your own package and work out a special deal with us. And remember that if you purchase a full package from us (i.e. skis, boots, bindings, poles) you also get 20% off clothing and accessories purchased at the same time.
Any way you slice it, cross country skiing is one of the most economical sports to get into, and with plenty of groomed trails within city limits (and many more outside the city) it's easy get a good ski session in almost any time. So instead of cloistering yourself indoors using some kind of cardio trainer all the time take a break occasionally and enjoy the beautiful Winnipeg winter. Just a couple more inches of snow and we're hitting the trails - we hope to see you there!
Cross Country Skis are out! (posted Oct 24, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
It'll still be a little bit longer before there's usable snow on the ground, but we've already been getting plenty of questions about ski gear from our customers so we've brought out the ski hardware. Most of our cross country ski models, as well as bindings, boots, wax, and other accessories are now on display in the shop and available for purchase. Most items are currently individually priced, and in the coming week or two we'll also put together a number of package prices for ski-binding-boot-pole combos.
As usual we have many different classic and skate skis, from Salomon and Fischer, to choose from, including the ever-popular Salomon Classic Elite series. The Elite 5's are selling for just $160 a pair, while the high end 9's are just $330 per pair. And if you're looking to stock up on ski wax for the season, now's the time - we have everything you need in stock now, from entry level grip and glide wax for every temperature to top end racing waxes and all the application accessories. Or, we'd be happy to wax your skis for you (avoid the rush and come get yours done now).
The snow is bound to fly before long. See you on the trails!
Cool Weather Cycling Jackets (posted Oct 17, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
This is a funny time of year, weather wise. The mornings are typically pretty darn cool, but midday can still be reasonably warm, especially if the sun is out. That can make it difficult to figure out what to wear on your bike ride, especially if your riding somewhere early in the day and then riding back home later on (like all of you daily commuters out there). That's why we recommend our selection of Cool Weather Cycling Jackets, like the ones pictured above.
Generally speaking these jackets are relatively thin, which may sound counter-intuitive, but stick with us: A thinner top layer allows you to add additional layers underneath for the early morning ride but can be worn on its own later in the day. A thin outer layer should be breathable but offer good wind resistance, so look for tough, tight-knit synthetic outer fabrics with strategically placed vents under the arms, in the back, and elsewhere. The models pictured above all offer these features, as well as a generous cycling specific cut in the back and the arms, allowing you to stretch out comfortably on the bike.
Of course we also offer a good selection of base and mid-layer options, which we'll feature in the weeks to come, but for now consider investing in a good outer layer as the needle continues to dip lower.
Casual and Technical T-shirts (posted Oct 07, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
As you'd expect from a first-rate bike shop we have plenty of cycling jerseys, shorts, and other clothing accessories in stock, but you may not know that we also have plenty of more casual wear. In fact we stock a fair number of bike-related t-shirts in both casual and technical materials. So if you want to let people know that you're a cyclist at heart, even when you're kicking back at the local lounge with friends or when you're walking the dog, check out our casual shirt selection today.
Steelwool Singlespeed Crankset (posted Sept 21, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
There's probably only so much we can write about a single speed crankset, but this one is worth featuring none the less: The Steelwool singlespeed (track) crankset. The crankarms and spider are elegantly simple, the 46 tooth chainring looks well tooled (CNC'd), and relying on the old square taper bottom bracket design means you'll always be able to find the right size bottom bracket in stock, and you don't have to spend much money on it. The crankset itself is well priced too, at just $140. Note that the chainring is tooled for a 1/2 x 1/8" single speed chain (the thicker "bmx" style) - it'll work with any rear cog or freewheel, but won't work with a full cassette. Also note that the pedal pictured above is sold separately.
Surly Pugsley (posted Sept 11, 2008)
Click on pictures above to enlarge images
The idea behind the Surly Pugsley sounds simple enough: Design a bike that can effectively accommodate 4" wide 26" rimmed tires, so that in really sandy, muddy, or icy conditions you can ride with the confidence that wide, low pressure rubber provides. As it turns out the application is not quite as simple as the idea (at least it's not as simple for the designer). More than simply widening the rear bike triangle and creating a front fork with lost of clearance, the designers at Surly realized there were would be other engineering issues to overcome, like a crazy chainline created by the massive tires protruding past the rim much more than normal, or like creating a rim that could reasonably support rubber as wide as 4 inches. We'll let you surf over to the Surly site for all of the technical details, but we'll point out here that the Puglsey uses a special 100mm bottom bracket and an e-type derailleur, along with a specially dished rear wheel, in order to sync the chainline from the rear cassette thru to the front chainrings while clearing the tire width. We'll also mention that the front fork uses a 135 mm hub (the same as the rear) which creates the possibility of interchangeable front and rear wheels.
What's the point of interchangeable wheels? Well there are a few cool applications, like being able to run a conventional multi-geared cassette with disc brake rotor on one hub, and a fixed cog with a disc brake rotor on the other. If you're riding the bike in the middle of winter and the cassette freezes up on you (as sometimes happens) rendering the bike inoperable you can flip the wheels around and ride the bike home as a fixie. Unlike a conventional flip flop hub that allows you the option of a single geared freewheel and a fixed gear but also mandates that you use rim brakes, in this case you can flip from a full cassette to a fixed gear and still use discs! That's a pretty cool application for cold weather riding.
Depending on how you build the Pugsley up it will probably cost somewhere around $1000 to $1500 not incl. frame and fork (you could certainly spend more, but you don't have to). We suppose that's not cheep for a fairly niche bike that you might not use every day, but on the other hand this bike can laugh at Winnipeg winters and allow you to leave your car at home most days (especially if you use the attached fender and rack eyelets to stick racks and panniers front and rear, allowing for all kinds of hauling capacity). With the cost of gas and vehicle maintenance these days suddenly the Puglsey is not only cool, it's economical.
We've built up a couple of Pugley's for customers already, but we may not always have one in stock. None the less we're happy to order one for you, and if you'd like to see one before you buy let us know and we'll try to get one of the Puglsey owners to bring theirs by the shop for you to check out.
Electra Accessories (posted Sept 02, 2008)
As all of our proud Electra owners know already Electra bikes are all about style. Sure, they're great riding cruisers but it's the attention to aesthetic detail that first attracts people to these bikes. Many of the Electra models come stock with things like fenders and racks, but if your specific model did not and you'd like to add some accessories now we have a bunch of Electra specific accessories in stock.
Whether it's a fender, rack, grips, or even a drink holder or mudflap, we've got the Electra specific product in stock and are happy to special order even more stuff such as matching saddles, pedals, and more.
Crank Brother's Multi 10 Multitool (posted July 31, 2008)
The Crank Brother's Multi 10 is a basic multitool that fits a full compliment of hex keys, two screwdrivers (flat and phillips) and a torx wrench into a nice light (124g) package that is quite slim-line and easy to grip...and it's only $28. The only thing missing here is a chain breaker tool and maybe a spoke wrench. If you already have a portable chain breaker the Multi 10, along with a small pump and a spare tube, can almost guarantee you'll get to your destination or back home again no matter the mechanical trouble you encounter along the way.
Lezyne Multitool (posted July 25, 2008)
Let's start this off by saying that there are plenty of excellent bike multitools out there at very reasonable prices, and we try to always have a few different ideas in stock. With that said, we also happen to have a couple of pretty high-priced multitools in stock at the moment, including the top end multitool from Lezyne, selling for $119.
What do you get in a multitool for over $100? For starters you get a mix of aluminum, titanium, and carbon fibre. This of course results in a very light toolset. You also get a beautifully machined chain breaker tool that is very nice to handle. In fact you get superb attention to detail everywhere, including a hollowed out hex key to save weight. Wow.
So, if you just have to have the very best, or if you're buying a gift for someone who has (almost) every bike related goodie already, this might be the perfect find.
Devinci Silverstone SL2 (posted July 15, 2008)
This is the month that many of our customers come into the shop to talk about the latest results in the Tour de France. They also come to ogle the more exotic road bike offerings that we have in stock (including a Liquigas Team edition Cannondale with Campy Record components on sale for $5000, down from a regular price of $7000!). However, some of our customers appreciate that the high-end bikes are there to dream about but succumb to their more practical side when it's time to make a purchase and look for the more 'economical' options.
In the world of road bikes 'economical' has never looked so good. While we certainly don't want to discourage a high-end road bike purchase (and we can come up with all kinds of reasons why we should own high end road bikes, let alone excuses for our customers) the point of diminishing returns on road bikes is pretty low. After being refined for the last 100 years road bikes are an excellent value starting right at our entry level. Our road bikes typically start at $800 - $900, or thereabouts. In the $1000 range we have a decent selection of road bikes from a few different brands, in a few different sizes. One great example is the Devinci Silverstone SL2. At exactly $1000 you get a reasonably light aluminum frame and carbon fork, combined brake/shift levers (Shimano Sora), and a drivetrain that includes a Shimano 105 rear derailleur. Devinci uses some OEM bits and pieces (such as the brakes and bar) to keep the price down and still delivers a bike that you can feel good about lining up at the next local competition.
If you're looking for a fast bike for training, or if you want a new machine to use at the next road race, triathlon, or long distance group ride, this might be just the bike for you.
Brooks Saddles (posted June 17, 2008)
Except, it seems, for Brooks. Their saddles are made to, over time, comply perfectly to your own form and fit, well, perfectly. When we feature products here we try to post a few blurbs about the product in our own words, but every now and then we find that we really can't attempt to improve on the manufacturer's literature, and this is one such case. So, instead of rambling on any further we'll direct you here: 2008 Brooks Catalogue.
After you've looked thru the catalogue and fallen in love with the product come down to the shop to check out a couple of Brooks saddles we have in stock right now. They look even nicer in real life.
Sram Bar Tape and Hoods (posted June 03, 2008)
White bar tape (in addition to white saddles, cable housing, paint jobs, and so on) seem to be a hot item these days. No, white bar tape is probably not the most practical colour choice out there, but if there's any area in life where you can decide to be a little impractical without suffering much consequence it's probably with your bar tape colour choice. So go ahead and have a little fun - put some pretty white tape on your bar. When it gets dirty you'll have proof that you've put in some quality miles.
But what's this?...Your white tape doesn't match your brake/shift lever hoods? No problem. Sram is now packaging white bar tape and white replacement hoods together. The whole set can now be purchased for just $45. So if you're the kind of rider that really likes to think thru every component choice and customize every bit of your bike (and if you're riding Sram road components) you can now have a completely white custom front end without searching online for obscure parts. We have a few of these tape/hood sets in stock now so it's as simple as coming down to the shop and picking up a set for yourself.
Now you just need those $300 white Assos bib shorts to go with your bars.
Surly Steamroller (posted May 19, 2008)
For those who are looking for a simple and relatively inexpensive track-style fixie we present you with the Surly Steamroller. It comes with a traditional horizontal top tube and bent fork (both the frame and fork are steel of course) and horizontal, rear entry track dropouts. Specifically meant as a fixie it come with just the front brake mated with an elegant little top bar mounted brake lever (resisting the 'forward' movement of your crankset with your feet substitutes for a conventional rear brake). The wheels are strong with a triple cross spoke pattern, fairly high flange hubs, and of course a non-dished rear wheel.
Tire clearance on the Streamroller is minimal. This bike is made with tight track geometry so forget about sticking some 'cross tires in there and hitting some trails. This is a bike built for the pavement, or the wooden track.
For just $895 this bike does everything it's meant to, and nothing that it's not. If you're looking for a true track fixie you owe it to yourself to test this one out.
Electra Hawaii 3 (posted May 02, 2008)
Maybe you're not really into racing, or jumping, or aggressive trail riding, or time trialing, or... but you do like riding a bike on a warm Sunday afternoon thru the local park or to the closest ice cream shack. Well as it happens there's a bike made just for you. Actually, Electra makes a whole bunch of models to suite your cruiser needs so you can choose the perfect model to suit your specific tastes. Each cruiser model incorporates attention to detail like matching paint and graphics on things such as the frame and fork, integrated fenders, racks, baskets, grips, rims, and so on. Some models even have matching tread patterns on the tires!
The Hawaii 3, part of the popular Hawaii cruiser line, has a 3 speed internal hub and coaster brake for virtually maintenance free and very simple riding. The saddle is low to the ground to allow for you to stand flat footed while stopped but still seated, and the high riser bars allow for a comfortable upright position.
For just $530 the Hawaii 3 will take you down Wellington Crescent in style.
Cannondale Road Tandem 3 (posted April 21, 2008)
Why is it that every time we see someone ride by on a tandem they're smiling? Maybe they enjoy the sensation of working with their partner as they lean into the corners together, and intuitively adjust their pedal strokes in unison as they up and down shift. Or maybe they're smiling because they're using far less energy to travel the same distance at the same (or faster) speed than their single bike friends. Either way, they always seem to be having fun.
We have a small but dedicated group of tandem riders who frequent our shop, and at least one staff member (Al Dixon) who's really into getting out on his tandem with his wife, and accordingly we always try to have an example or two of the tandems that are available to you in stock. Among the few we currently have in the store is a Cannondale Road Tandem 3. This is a great, very sensibly spec'd bike with features like Shimano Tiagra shifters, LX rear derailleur, and a rock solid aluminum frame. Cannondale is no johnny-come-lately to tandem bikes. In fact they've been building them almost as long as they've been in business (which is since 1971) and their tandem frames have always been among the most respected in the business. Cannondale was a pioneer in stiff, oversized aluminum tubing and that's exactly what's needed to create an efficient ride for a bike that is approx. 50% longer than its single person counterpart.
If you've ever been curious about tandem cycling come down to the shop to take a look at the Cannondale Road Tandem 3 or the other tandems we have in stock, and bring your partner along for the fun.
Steelwool Sweet City Limited (posted April 11, 2008)
If you've looked around our shop or read write-ups on other featured products on this site you'll know that we love checking out the latest stuff and enjoy riding the lightest materials, the latest technology, and hot new designs. But, we're also suckers for a well-built, straight-forward, old-school bike that conjures up memories of a simpler time. A time when lugged steel was the norm, when chrome was plentiful, when all forks were rigid and had gorgeous curves, and so on.
It's nice to see that there are some companies out there that still appreciate that sort of purposeful aesthetic as well, but it might be a bit unusual to see it in a company founded a couple of years ago by two Canadian guys in their early 20's. When these guys were just born aluminum was becoming all the rage, and chrome had disappeared from everything, except maybe your kitchen taps. Somewhere along the way though these guys discovered the beauty of a simple steel bike, and have decided to make a few for themselves, and for the rest of us.
The Sweet City Limited has all the old-school trappings: A horizontal top tube, lugged steel with chrome at the top and bottom of the headtube, a real metal headbadge, a flat crown lugged fork with bent fork blades, high flanged hubs with sturdy triple cross spoke pattern and nicely polished rims, and more. It even has real leather bar tape (and matching seat). But it also has new school appeal like an eccentric bottom bracket used to adjust chain tension on the single speed drivetrain (which allows for a gorgeously simple rear dropout).
Whether you're looking to buy (we've got a 58 cm in stock now for just $1080) or just want to stare, come down to the shop today and check out a real head-turner.
Cannondale Scalpel (posted April 6, 2008)
On that kind of locally favoured terrain you don't necessarily need tons of suspension, but a little cushion front and rear can help you ride longer and get thru the rooty and rocky sections with your nerve endings intact. The Scalpel is an excellent bike for this terrain because it provides that cushion while keeping the weight down and the ride stiff and responsive for those short climbs, hairpin corners, and straight, flat sprints. The Scalpel achieves this combination of ride quality in large part thru it's 'pivotless' rear triangle that relies on bending carbon fiber chainstays that absorb bumps while remaining completely laterally rigid and feather light.
The only obvious design limitation to the Scalpel design of years past is that the pivotless system has only allowed for a relatively small amount of rear suspension. However, that has changed for '08 with a redesign that sees the rear shock moved from between the seat stays and seat tube to a spot within the front triangle of the bike, allowing for more room for the rear triangle to swing. This results in the Scalpel now offering a full 100mm of rear suspension. What's more, the Scalpel is now equipped with a Lefty front shock on all of its models, providing a full 100mm of travel in the front as well (up from 80mm on some of the previous models equipped with the more conventional Headshok). The Lefty has great lateral rigidity and is very lightweight, and as such is a perfect compliment to the stiff and light frame and rear suspension. To round out the redesign the entire front end of the higher end Scalpel models are also carbon fiber this year, so even with the increased suspension the whole bike comes in at least as light or lighter than its predecessor, depending on model. The aluminum models are still a very respectable weight and offer a bit of cost savings.
We have a couple of new '08 Scalpel models in stock now, including the Scalpel 4 pictured above (selling for $2880), and we anticipate a few more coming in soon, so feel free to come in and check one out today.
Paul Racer Brake (posted March 28, 2008)
This is the kind of component that comes along every now and then where we're tempted to buy the component first and then build the rest of the bike around it. It's just that beautiful. What's more, it is reported to be one of the best feeling brakes out there.
We recently brought in a Racer Brake for a customer and are waiting to hear back on the first reports of how it operated out on the open road, but we already know that the brake comes with excellent endorsements, including one from Velo-Orange, who say that Racer brakes are "possibly the best brakes of all time". Wow. That's quite a statement.
Racer brakes can be used on a conventional road bike set-up with a centre brake mount, or they can be used with canti-style bosses (please note though that the bosses required for the Racer brakes are positioned higher up on the seat stays then conventional bosses for common canti or linear pull brakes), and in additional to superb braking modulation and power they provide excellent clearance for larger tires and fenders.
We probably won't stock many of these brakes on a regular basis because they're intended for bit of a niche market, but we can always bring some in if you're interested. And we know you are...
Redline D660 (posted March 14, 2008)
This is one of the most functionally well-equipped and best-priced bikes we've seen come through the door in a while. For starters the Redline D660 comes stock as a 1 x 9 (one chain ring in the front, 9 gear cassette in the rear). We've seen many customers build bikes up as 1 x 9's, but rarely do they come spec'd that way from the manufacturer.
We think that 1 x 9's make a lot of sense for a place like Manitoba. Though many of us own a single speed mountain bike we recognize that on the more challenging trails or in really high head winds it can be nice to have a few gears, but often having 27 gears is a bit of overkill, and as a result the bike is more complicated, more expensive, and heavier. A 1 x 9 is a great compromise, where you still get a good range of gears but in a much simpler system. The Redline D660 comes with an outer and inner chain guard in the front to prevent the chain from jumping from the single front chain ring (on fully geared bikes the front derailleur accomplishes this).
A few spec highlights include the always reliable Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes, Sram X.9 derailleur and shifter, and a Reba fork that would on its own cost approx. $800. The whole package costs only $1600!.
With 29" wheels that help take the edge off of many of the bumps you'll encounter on the trail this bike is ready to race at local competitions or to be used for recreation in and around town. Whatever your application come down to the shop to check out this great deal.
Masi Speciale Commuter (posted March 6, 2008)
We announced last fall that in '08 we were becoming Masi dealers, and we're thrilled to now confirm that our first Masi bike has arrived in the shop and is built up for viewing (or buying): The Masi Speciale Commuter. We don't have a firm price yet but it is not an expensive bike. That doesn't mean it isn't a great, and well thought out, bike though. Quite the opposite is true actually.
The Speciale Commuter comes as a single speed but is equipped with semi horizontal forward facing read dropouts and a chainhanger so it can set up either as a single speed or a fully geared bike (it also has all of the usual braze-ons for geared cable routing). It has long-reach road brakes to accommodate larger than normal road tires (it comes stock with 32mm wide rubber) and it looks like the spacing between front fork arms and between the seat stays and chain stays allows for even larger tires. There are a number of nice aesthetic touches as well, such as the lugged fork crown, elegantly raked front fork, even a frame pump peg. The slightly flared drop bars (a sort of conservative moustache bar) are also a well thought out addition, and the root beer brown colour looks stunning.
We're really excited about this latest addition to our bike lineup and we trust you will be too. Come by today to see what we're talking about.
Steelwool High Flange Track Hubs (posted Feb 25, 2008)
We're always excited to find and bring in new components - often ones that have their own unique style and are a bit different than the mainstream. Enter the relatively new Steelwool brand. Steelwool is a Canadian company, started just a couple of years ago by two guys in Ottawa. They're building a small line of steel framesets and complete bikes (single speed / fixie, cyclocross / commuter, and road) and some quality components. We're proud to now be a dealer of Steelwool products.
Pictured here is a set of their high flange, classic track hubs. Although called track hubs they're set up to be used out of the box on 130 mm (standard road) spaced rear dropouts, but by removing a couple of spacers they are ready for 120 mm (traditional track) spacing. The rear hub is a flip flop that accommodates a freewheel or a fixed track cog, with the fixed cog lockring and great looking, wide based 16 tooth cog included!
The standard Steelwool High Flange Track Hub colour is pewter, but a limited number are available in a swanky gold finish (all cycling enthusiast from the late 70's / early 80's please stand up), and we happen to have one limited edition gold set in the shop right now for only $144.00 complete. Come by to check them out today - we doubt they'll be around for long.
Trek MT 220 Kid's Mountain Bike (posted Feb 12, 2008)
If you're a bike enthusiast yourself, and you have young children who want to get out there and ride too, one of your ongoing struggles is likely in finding a decent kids bike that performs well, doesn't weigh as much as a boat anchor, and of course doesn't cost a fortune. Good kids bike aren't easy to find as their adult counterparts, but if you want to buy your child a bike from a reputable high-performance brand and know that it's been assembled by pros, we happy to say that we have a few models in stock that might just fit the bill.
Take, for instance, the Trek MT 220. With a frame that's built around smaller 24 inch wheels your growing child can fit into the MT 220 until they're ready to move up to an adult rig while riding an excellent brand name that backs their kids product with the same warranty as their adult models (and of course we offer the same service on all our bikes). The MT 220 frame is all aluminum, along with aluminum hubs and alloy rims, which all contribute to a reasonably light package. The SRAM 3.0 components do a good job of shifting, the linear pull brakes perform well especially when compared to the single pivot side pull brakes still found on many kids bikes, and everything is easily serviceable.
Spring is always a crazy time for parents and their kids coming into the shop to find a new bike. We're already getting some kids models, like the MT 220, in store now so if you'd like to beat the spring rush feel free to check out what we've got in right now.
Trek Madone 5.2 Pro (posted February 6, 2009)
Road racing bikes have been around for over 100 years now, and arguably most of the biggest 'recent' advancements in road bike and parts design are a decade or two old by now (e.g. indexed and integrated shifting systems, clipless pedals, threadless steering systems, alternatives to steel frame materials, etc.). Because there's been so much refinement in the design of road bikes over the years it's increasingly hard to come up with a radically better redesign. We tend to think that's a good thing because it implies that the bikes currently available to us have come close to reaching their optimal performance.
Of course that's not to say that bike companies don't keep trying to outdo themselves, and we're always excited to see what they come up with next. It's just that major advancements are harder to come by. A possible exception to this is the new Trek Madone series. While the folks at Trek haven't reinvented the wheel (they do make some pretty good wheels though) they have incorporated enough new ideas in the Madone that we consider their redesign to be among the most significant in recent memory.
For instance, there's the Madone bottom bracket that is built to house the bottom bracket bearings within the shell of the bike frame itself, which means you can discard some redundant pieces from the crankset and lighten up the bike, while at the same time the redesign has resulted in a larger bottom bracket frame area (without affecting the q factor) so there is more area to work with when designing the shape and size of the bike's tubing.
Madone's headtube is another area of refinement, where the top of the tube remains the industry standard 1 1/8 inches in diameter, but the bottom of the tube is 1 1/2 inches. The larger diameter at the bottom of the tube allows for the fork to have less bend where its crown transitions to its steerer tube. This in turn allows the fork to use less overall material while retaining superior strength, again translating to a lighter bike.
A final item to highlight here (though there are even more highlights that you can check out by going directly to the Trek Madone site here) is the integrated but adjustable seat mast. The seat mast design eliminates the traditional seat tube bolt that is placed in a high stress area of the frame. Eliminating this bolt allows the frame to be built with less material, once again lightening it up. Additionally there is less overlap with the adjustable seat mast (where the top, clamp portion slips over the mast that sticks up from the frame) than with a traditional post and frame design.
While none of these innovations will change you life, and maybe aren't in the same realm as the breakthrough of the first integrated brake and shifting system, it's none the less impressive to see a bike company introduce so many innovative refinements within one model. Considering those refinements, and other great selling features such as the superb Ultegra SL components with their gorgeous new finish for '08, the Trek Madone 5.2 Pro is one of the most exciting new road bikes to arrive in a while. We've got one 5.2 Pro in stock now so feel free to come down to the shop anytime to check out the new features.
Spinervals (posted January 29, 2008)
This is right around the time when, for diehard cyclists at least, winter starts getting a little long in the tooth. In fact one think tank recently announced that Monday, January 28th was the most depressing day of 2008, owing to the formidable temperatures, little daylight, lack of upcoming holidays and the time passed since the last holidays, Christmas bills coming due, and so on. Now we're not sure we want to portray any day of the year as being that depressing - after all an inexpensive headlight, some warm clothes, maybe some studs on the tires, and we can still get out and enjoy the dead of winter, but we concede that it's a little harder to get going on the bike in the middle of winter.
Of course you can always opt to use an indoor trainer when the thermometer heads south. The only problem with indoor bike training is trying to combat the boredom of pedaling in one place for an hour or two. There are a number of good clubs that train on bike trainers together indoors in the winter (for instance, go to Triathlon Manitoba and scroll down to the Memberships & Clubs section, or Ride with Rick), but if it's easiest for you to workout at home why not try the popular Spinervals series DVD's.
The Spinervals cycling workout series DVD's offer 60 minutes or more of structured, coached workouts, with different segments and intervals that vary intensity, speed, and so forth, to deliver a workout that is not only effective but also keeps your attention for its duration. There are many different DVD's to choose from, each focused on specific training elements, from base training to speed to recovery, and more. The DVD pictured above focuses on Brick (bike and run) workouts, especially helpful for duathletes, triathletes, or those who just want to cross train.
We have a whole bunch of Spinervals in stock now, so feel free to come down to the shop and find one (or two or three) that's right for you, and pedal those mid-winter blues away.
Giant
Anthem Advanced (posted January 16,
2008)
At $6770.00 nobody is going to say that the Giant Anthem Advanced is cheap (though we've certainly seen more expensive bikes too), but we think that if you take a look at the bike you'll conclude that it's not overpriced either. This bike has top of the line components from Shimano, Race Face, and others, and an excellent and race proven frame. For a top shelf product it's actually a pretty good deal - or at least that's what you can try to tell your spouse as you try to negotiate this purchase.
It's rare for bike companies to stock any of their models with a complete XTR group, but that's exactly what you get here. The Giant Anthem Advanced has a full XTR drivetrain, including front and rear derailleurs, shifters, and crankset. It also has XTR wheels and brakes. The fork is the ever-excellent Fox F80RLC and the other bits include Race Face Next and Deus bar, stem, and post.
This is a true racing bike with pretty aggressive geometry and a feather light total weight of approximately 23.5 lbs. Not bad at all for a dual suspension bike with 3.5 inches of travel in the rear.
If you're looking for a top notch cross country racer, or if you're just dreaming of full XTR, stop by the shop and check out the Giant Anthem Advanced model we've got in stock right now. Who knows?...sometimes dreams come true.
Ski Wax (posted January 8, 2008)
If you've used classic cross country skis with the wrong grip wax just once you know how important it is to have a wide range of wax on hand to make necessary adjustments. Grip wax that's too hard or soft for the snow conditions can put a damper on an otherwise perfect ski day.
Unseasonably warm temperatures, like we've been experiencing recently, make it even more important to have a good selection of grip wax. Once it gets to -10 or -15 C the snow structure doesn't change as much and consequently the wax you use doesn't have to change much either, but in warmer conditions the snow structure can change dramatically every degree or two. That can mean using a different wax if it's -1 C vs. -4 C.
Fortunately we have a wide selection of grip wax covering the whole range of temperatures experienced in Winnipeg winters (waxes suitable for above freezing temps down to as cold as it gets). We also offer different wax brands, such as Swix, Toko, and Rode, and offer different qualities of wax, from reliable recreational waxes to top end racing waxes. And of course we also offer corks, cloths, strippers, and whatever else is necessary to keep your skis clean and waxed to perfection. If you want to jump in with both feet we even have portable and stationary ski benches for sale to hold your skis while you wax, so come down to the shop and be perfectly prepared for your next ski outing no matter the temperature.
|
