Regarding Chameleons and Ogres

Surly International Regional Headquarters has been busy dreaming up a small fleet of exciting new offerings (Moonlanders, anyone?) which we have been thoroughly jazzed about. We recently received nearly a full size run of the Surly Ogre and something about the dropouts looked so familiar...

Image of my man Rango found on chameleonforums.com.

The resemblance to a chameleon is entirely fitting for a bike so capable of morphing to suit the rider's needs. The Ogre is a 29er based off the tried-and-true geometry of the Karate Monkey but designed to accommodate your choice of drivetrains, brakes, and cargo-carrying methods. Single speed or geared, disc or cantilever brakes, Rohloff hub, trailer, racks, fenders.......

In the event that you can't decide whether you want to get all escapist and bike the Great Divide, spend a Sunday trail riding in the Wissahickon, or haul all your groceries home in that B.O.B. trailer you've been meaning to tow around - hey, why not have your cake and eat it, too? Think of all the cake you can put in that trailer. Delicious!

Completes are $1500 with everything but pedals.
Also available as a choose-your-own-adventure frameset for $535.

Merry Christmas!

Holiday cheering at the shop today.

Merry Christmas: Holiday Hours

We will be open for all of your last minute shopping needs, today (Friday) from 11-7 and tomorrow (Saturday) from 11-4.
Have a great holiday, and thank you for helping to brighten ours.

Lunar Landing, Mission Accomplished!

Just received our Surly Moonlanders today! Best bike ever.

For the Ladies

In cycling often times women's specific items are not so hot. The term "shrink it and pink it" is thrown about quite a bit. That is to say that rather than being made for women, it is a slightly smaller and PINK! version of the men's product. Add some floral motifs and you have stuff that is pretty darn unappealing to a lot of us ladies. So, here are a few items for the fairer sex that actually are up to the task. 

Women's cycling shorts, knickers, and tights. Padding where it should be for female anatomy, waistbands that don't dig in, ergonomic panel shaping. Prices vary but start about $50. Shorts can be worn all year round under the tights (no padding) or with knee/leg warmers. Knickers are great for 3 seasons, a bit warm in summer. 

Spending a lot of time on the bike can sometimes cause chafing. It is one of the less pleasant parts or riding, but it can be avoided. DZ Bliss chamois cream is made for women's skin, no really it is! It protects, and promotes healing in previously damaged skin, as well as strengthening natural biological skin defenses. All of that without the tingling that men's anti-chafe products often have. Is there anything this stuff can't do? Oh, it costs $24, by the way.

Finally, we have some incredible base layers from Modrobes. These are made from Eucalyptex which is pretty impressive stuff. I could go on and on about why it is great but the highlights are that is a natural fiber that dries quickly, is anti-bacterial, supersoft & comfortable, sustainable & biodegradable, and made in Canada. Tights and long sleeve shirts are cozy for the winter. Shorts and short sleeve shirts are great for layering all year round. They are cut for women and come in a pleasing palette of feminine and neutral colors, nothing too girly. The prices start at $30 and go up to about $50 - very reasonable for the quality.

Now get to the shop to buy yourself, or the ladies in your life, something wonderful.

Introducing: Foundry Cycles!

We had some visitors today, our good friends from QBP (Quality Bicycle Products) in Minnesota. Industry leaders and innovators, who have brought you favorites such as Surly, All-City and Salsa. Now bringing Foundry Cycles to your favorite local bike shop.

We are excited to be offered the opportunity to partner with this new brand from our favorite distributor in the cycling industry, bringing you form and function in carbon fiber.

First we have the Router, Twenty-Nine inches of off-road fun! Three solid parts package options with the finest that SRAM, Rock Shox and Avid have to offer at $2900 for X7, $3500 for X9, and $5000 for XX.

Next we have the Auger. Cyclo-Cross action with 4 build packages offering rim brakes and disc brakes, in SRAM Rival for $3000 or SRAM Red for $3400.

And last, but not least, the Ratchet. A road machine that will surely leave you breathless. Available built with SRAM Force for $3200. and SRAM Red for $4200.

All three available as frame/frameset as well, with an unprecedented 10 Year Warranty! And just because sometimes things don't go quite as planned, a crash replacement policy bringing you 30% off of a brand new frame in the event you wipe out and break your Foundry Frame.

Hard working bikes, for hard working folks!

Looking forward to some of these rolling into the shop early 2012. Stay tuned for more news.

Holiday Lights, Bells and Computers?

What could be more festive for the holidays than lights, bells and computers?

I dont know, but day 3 of our holiday gift suggestions asks the tough questions.

Winter can be dark and scary, and sometimes the holidays offer us a little light to help get us through till spring. So, here we have a couple of lights that offer safety and convenience.

The Cygolites are USB rechargeable and bright as hell! A little pricier, but money you will save in the long run in replacement batteries alone. The headlight is 170 lumens for $90, which is REALLY bright. And the tail light is 2 watts for $50, maximum visibility. Then there is the Planet Bike Blaze/Superflash combo pack. One watt headlight and mega watt tail light in one tidy little package for $60.

Bells, tell other cyclists and pedestrians that you are there and COMING THROUGH! Yet in a fun and friendly ringy dingy. All three bells shown here in stock for $15 each. The Duet with trigger action in a compact size. The Omni with a pleasant tone and rubber bracket to attach to any bike, any time and any where. And the Crane brass Suzu for classic style and maximum volume.

And last, but not least cyclometers (computers). Cateye and Knog offering 5, 9, and 12 functions in wired and wireless options. The simple and classic Cateye Velo 5 provides current speed, max speed, trip distance, odometer and time all for $20.

The Knog NERD 9 delivers current speed, clock, trip distance, average speed, max speed, relative speed, total ride time, odometer, function scanning, and low battery indicator. All for $79 in a minimalist wireless package.

Also from Knog, the NERD 12. Coming to the plate with multi bike functions, current speed, clock, trip distance, average speed, max speed, relative speed, daily distance, total ride time, odometer, function scanning, low battery indicator and backlighting. Also wireless for just $89.

Some nice gists for the super commuter or dedicated cyclist in your life.

Fancy Holiday Window Magic!

Courtesy of our merchandising wizards (Heather and Meghan). Making it all bright and cheery.

Holiday lovin' from All-City!

Thank you Jeffey!

Hot, Hot, Hot

Gift guide, installment 2. This time we are talking about some handy items to help you from freezing your whatsits off.

All of the sudden it is getting chilly, well it is December so it should be cold. Here are 3 gift ideas to keep you toasty. All with inexpensive price tags!

First up: Grabber Warmers. These are one-time-use heating packs for your hands or toes. $2 a pair for either extremity. They provide about 6 hours of warming to about 100 degrees. That will help keep you cozy for a nice winter ride!

Next, DZ InHeat Embrocation. Rub this goop on your legs to warm and loosen muscles. It also creates a protective barrier between the cold & wet and your skin. We have low and medium heat, either variety is $20 for 6.7 fl. ozs. Make sure you put it on your legs - not your privates (trust us)!

Last on the list: overshoes and toe covers. Slip these on your feet to keep the wind, rain, or cold out. They come in a bunch of different styles depending on your preferences. Toe covers from around $20 and overshoes starting at about $40. Lots of options from Endura to help keep your feets warm and dry.

Well, those are the recommendations for day 2. See you back here Wednesday for something new.

Naughty or Nice?

The holidays are rapidly approaching. Christmas is less than 2 weeks away and Hannukah is even sooner. I am sure that Bryan has done no shopping yet, so for folks like him who like to wait for the last minute we will be making some suggestions.

Today I bring you 3 great items for just $10 a piece. These are all perfect for stocking stuffers, little hannukah presents, office gift exchanges, people you don't want to spend a lot of cash on.

Ok, here we go. First awesome item, squeezeee horns. Ten bucks, lots of options, safety first. Look at this little pissed off dinosaur, how could you not love him?

Next, socks. Did I mention hannukah? Socks are pretty much the official gift by about the 4th night. I always think that the more fun the more better when it comes to socks. Donuts, yes please. Gorillas, thank you very much. Orange with stripes, don't mind if I do! The ones pictured are all $10 a pair and we have so many to choose from. Some do cost more, but plenty at this price.

I saved the best for last. These are possibly the best thing ever. Bar-barianz! These are little light up monsters that go on your bars or your valve stem, or anywhere you like. They come in 8 different varieties, and are motion activated. Hit a bump or flick them and they start flashing. 10 clams each for untold hours of entertainment  

Ok - now come buy some cool things and check back tomorrow for some other gift giving suggestions.

More Cowbell, Please!! (A Cyclocross Primer)

We’re getting to that time of year when it’s definitively cold – there’s no going back now. That doesn’t mean you have to park your bike and go into hibernation.

If they can do it in Minnesota, we can do it in Pennsylvania. Minnesota State Cyclocross Championships 2010. Photo credit: Jeff/Bike Jerks. Thanks!

Before cabin fever sets in, let’s talk cyclocross. Have you heard of it? Picture a short, spectator-friendly bike race set on a course involving some combination of asphalt, gravel, grass, mud, sand, and obstacles. Add cowbells, beer, rowdy fans, and the occasional costume. Hilarity ensues.

Much like the mix of terrain in a ‘cross race, cyclocross bikes draw inspiration from both mountain bikes and road bikes. Mountain bikes contribute knobby tire tread for traction and cantilever or disc brakes for increased stopping in muddy conditions. Road bikes contribute lightweight frames with narrow tires and drop handlebars. The end result is a bicycle suited to riding in, over, and through all kinds of nasty conditions.

All-City's Nature Boy getting both down and dirty. We sell this dedicated singlespeed complete for $899. A shop favorite for a million reasons - come test ride one and you'll understand. 

The fact that cyclocross bikes are purpose-built to withstand the punishment of ‘cross racing makes them great choices as commuter bikes, as well. Many manufacturers outfit their ‘cross bikes with rack and fender mounts for versatility. The tire clearance that allows for mud, muck, and big knobby tires at your local Sunday race will fit fenders and comfortable tires during your commute to work. Need an escape vehicle? Some 'cross bikes, like the Surly Cross-Check and the Salsa Vaya, are straight-up tourworthy.

This is our friend Steevo touring the Continental Divide on his Surly Cross-Check. We sell the Cross-Check complete for $1150. It rules. It can do everything. Also, Steevo's the best. Read more about his travels here.

We’re huge fans of versatility, adventuring, and not ruling out taking to muddy way, so we are proud to offer a wide variety of cyclocross bikes here in the store. We are currently stocking Fuji's Cross 3.0, Masi's CXR, CX, CX Uno, and CX SS, in addition to the Surly, All-City, and Salsa bikes. From race-specific to all-round flexible, from one gear to all of them, we've got you covered.