Lights

The daylight hours are getting longer, and with lighter days comes warmer weather and more people out on their bikes. So whether you're riding to meet friends out for drinks, need to flee a springtime hookup gone horribly wrong or you just feel like buying your steed a present, we've got the lights for you. There are tons of options so we'll share our faves of each category: USB rechargeable and battery powered.

-Battery Powered-

The Knog Strobe is by far our most popular light. No surprise considering the list of things it has going for it. It's unobtrusive, requires no bracket, is inexpensive, comes in a bunch of cool colors and is available in both front and rear. It uses two watch batteries (which we sell replacements for) and is surprisingly bright. $15

For rear only we also have the Planet Bike Blinky 7 and Superflash. Both mount with included brackets and use standard AAA batteries. The Blinky 7 has 7 LEDs pointed in various directions for better visibility, and the Superflash has a 1/2 watt LED that can be seen from up to a mile away. Both also have handy little clips on the back so you can attach them to your belt loop or bag. Blinky 7: $18, Superflash: $30

-USB Rechargeable-
What a good idea this was. Who likes buying batteries? It makes waste and is just a drag. Knog designed these lights knowing most people have access to a computer, so all you have to do is plug it into a USB port for an hour or two once the indicator light turns on. They have stretchy silicone mounts so they're really easy to put on/take off and require no brackets or setup. The Knog Blinder line comeS in both one and four LED versions, and in both front and rear. Blinder 1: $30, Blinder 4: $45


From humble lights to make you visible when riding in the city, all the way up to the Nite Rider Lumina 700 which could light your way on a moonless night in the woods, we've got you covered. Pop on in and check them out!

Stuff We Love: SKS Seatpost Fenders

Fenders may not be the most gorgeous or exciting accessory you can buy for your bike, but they are definitely one of the most useful.  Just ask any cyclist riding around on a rainy day if they want to have the wet and muddy butt they almost surely have. No one is going to be like "Yes. I love walking into work/class/the grocery store with a wet and muddy backside." No, they're going to be like "This is terrible and why I don't like riding my bike unless it's sunny, dry and 70 degrees out."

Well riding can be comfortable in any conditions if you have the right setup. Enter the SKS X-Tra Dry. It is a plastic fender that clips onto your seatpost with an adjustable strap. It's wide enough to catch pretty much all errant flying debris, really easy to switch from bike to bike if you have more than one, and is also great for group rides so you're not spraying your friends behind you. Another great use we've realized? It's awesome for mountain biking. Mountain bikes and fenders have never been a good mix (suspension, wide tires, general getting-caught-on-stuff), but by just clipping this to your seatpost all that is no longer an issue. Group snow rides? Even more fun when you manage to stay dry!

New from Chrome

We just got in some new and limited edition bags from Chrome. You should probably get one of these.

First up is the  SALVAGE AIRBAG CITIZEN. This is a super limited item. Only 200 of these were available worldwide. They are made with reclaimed pre-consumer airbags dyed a nice olive shade. Each bag is unique, numbered and made in the US. They are sold out on the Chrome site, but we just got 2 in, so hurry up!

Also in the shop in the newly redesigned WARSAW II BACKPACK. It is part of the pro series of bags so it is a beast. It is big, but has compression straps so you can cinch it down. They improved the shoulder straps, made the dimensions more convenient and added a bunch of handy pockets. There is a manifest pocket that doesn't require opening the bag to get to, a tool pocket on the bottom of the bag, and a sneaky hidden spot too - shhh. And yes, it too is made in the US.

Gift Guide - Yankee Swapables - under $20!

Sometimes you just need something inexpensive for a Yankee Swap, one last stocking stuffer or the occasional "I like you neighbor, thanks for not calling the cops on my party that time" gift. The little thoughtful and useful presents can be the best kind, but can also be the hardest kind to think of. It's getting down to the wire guys, so here are our most fun small items to help you in your holiday hunting.

Knog Strobe - $15 each

These clever little lights are perfect gifts. They can be swapped from bike to bike with no brackets (no setup!), come in a bunch of colors and we have both front and rear versions. Fun and really useful at the same time.

Sock Guy Socks - $10 to $13

Socks! Every dad's favorite present, but these are all so funny that you can probably get away with getting them for anyone you're shopping for. From unicorns farting rainbows to "I'm with awesome ↑" to tuxedos for your feet, they're thoroughly ridiculous. Made in the USA and both synthetic and wool versions are available.

Fiks Reflective reflective stickers - $4 to $14

I realize reflective stickers sounds fairly lame, but it's only because you're imagining the beat up grey reflective dots right? These are way more interesting. They come in a bunch of colors, all of which glow impressively well (we tested them... a lot) and they're cut into some cool shapes too so it won't be so obvious they're a safety feature when your friend is riding around during the day.

Incredibell Omnibell bike bell -$15

Bike bells never stop being cute and amusing, but sometimes they just aren't that good at being bells. All form no function, you could end up with a hamburger on your handlebars that's funny, but doesn't make a sound or you just can't reach the trigger the way it's designed . Well Omnibell is here to save the day. It has an adjustable band clamp that can fit all handlebars from 22mm to 31.8mm (all of them) and the trigger can be swiveled 360 degrees so you can put it exactly where you want it. It's not too large, has a super loud but friendly ring and is really easy to install.

SKS X-tra Dry fender - $18

This may not be the most glamorous gift, but it will prevent very unglamorous things from happening to your friend's back end if they ride on a rainy day or through a puddle. This fender attaches to your bike's seatpost so it works with all kinds of bikes, is very easily adjusted and only needs to be set up once (if you've made anything from IKEA you have the tool you need). It also has a quick release so you can take it off on those nice sunny days. What better way to say "Babe, I love your bum" than by keeping it dry and free of street filth?

So there it is, our gift guides have drawn to a close and we hope they've helped you all out! If you come in anytime between now and the holiday we'll have a nice little "Plenty Under Twenty" stocking stuffer display by the register with a bunch more fun small gift ideas for you. Good luck, we're all in the home stretch now!

Gift Guide - Everyone likes drinking liquids, right?

Drinking while moving, it has never been my forte. Walking down the hallway in high school I used to spill Citra (so bad, so good, so dated) down the front of myself practically daily. Lucky for me I'm not the only spill prone human on Earth and in the past few years the anti-spillage designs for drinking while moving have gotten pretty dialed in. So considering how often people would like to drink while riding their bikes it seemed only fitting to list out the best of the best in drinking during riding related adventure. Whether it's a cold drink on a hot day, hot drink on a cold day, or a drink drink because you and your friends like to live dangerously, we have got the goods.

- Keep it cool or keep it warm -

The CamelBak Podium Chill is an insulated bottle with CamelBak's super convenient "self sealing Jet Valve" tip. Basically that means the spout is always closed so it won't spill and all you have to do to get a sip is squeeze the bottle. Think of the way a Heinz ketchup tip works, it works really well. There's also the Nathan Fire and Ice bottle. This bottle is insulated, has the standard water bottle tip and the entire thing is reflective. Just by carrying it on your bike you have a little extra visibility which is never a bad thing, right? Both bottles are $12 each and come in various colors.

- Keep it hot or keep it cold -

Stanley really thought this stainless steel vac-insulated mug out for cyclists. Not only is it specifically designed to jive perfectly with the shape of a standard metal bottle cage, but it also is designed to be used with just one hand. Awesome. We also have the Klean Kanteen insulated thermos. It's made with food grade stainless steel, fits 20oz of liquid and while we only have the standard screw off cap, Klean Kanteen makes a cap that turns it into a travel mug. Both thermoses keep hot things hot for 6 hours, cold stuff cold for 24 and are $30 each.

- Carry your coffee a few blocks to work -

Here it is, a cup holder for your bike. PDW designed the Bar-ista with the same taper as your standard disposable coffee cup and lined it with some grippy foam to keep your drink where it belongs; an inch from your hand at all times. For $18 it's a good deal and your favorite caffeine addicted friend will love you daily forever.

- Fun on the run -
No, your eyes did not deceive you when you looked at that last picture, we have a bottle cage boss mounted FLASK CAGE. You're kidding right? How fun is that? Throw a tin of sardines in your jersey pocket, fill up your flask and roll out to get lost in the woods with some friends. Ahearne Cycles Spaceman Bicycle Flask Holster ($40) will do the heavy lifting for you and can fit both 6 and 8oz flasks. If you've got a flask you're halfway there, and if you don't we have some 6oz Surly ones for $40.

Who knew drinking on a bike could have so many options?

Gift Guide - Rescue Roll!

If there's one thing all cyclists dread, it's being caught out and stranded by a flat tire. The second you realize that sound you hear is all the air rushing out of your tube it's like a punch in the gut every time. It blows, literally and figuratively. As much as I myself don't like getting flats, you know who likes the idea of me getting a flat somewhere weird even less?

My Mom.

If my mom went into a bike shop trying to find something to get me, I'd like to think whoever was working would help her build this little rescue kit for me, the girl who's never going to be anything but a silly 8 year old in her eyes. This is a gift that both the gift giver and the gift getter get something from; some self sufficiency on the road for the gift getter, and a little peace of mind for Mom/you.

To get that tire and rotten tube off the bike, fixed up and back on the bike you're going to need a few tools...

Tire Levers - 2 for $3 -
Here at the shop our favorites are the Pedro's plastic composite tire levers. They're super cheap, super sturdy and come in 4 fun colors.

Hand Pump or CO2 Inflator - $22 and $25 -
The Crank Brothers Power Pump Ultra is a good hand pump because it's pretty small, it works with both Schrader and Presta valves (so you can't get the wrong thing) and it can switch between high volume and high pressure which is really helpful. Then there's the PDW Shiny Object CO2 inflator. It's cool because it's smaller and less laborious to use than a hand pump, and it comes with a cartridge in a reuseable leather sheath so you can be fancy. The cartridges are single use though so it produces more waste and they're $3-$4 each. It depends on what you're into but both are definitely good options.

Patch Kit or Replacement Tube - $3 to $6 -
If you know the size tire your daughter's/friend's/dad's bike has, getting a tube is the way to go. They can always patch the damaged tube later in the comfort of their own home. However, if you're not so sure, a patch kit is definitely always a safe bet. Really, even if you know what tube they use it's always good to have a patch kit handy.

Now that you've got all the rad stuff you need for your loved one to rescue themselves, you need something to put it in that will always be with the bike right? Enter the R.E.Load Saddle Roll.

This saddle roll is legit. Since it's a roll and not a standard saddle bag (which has a very finite amount of space), it can be stuffed super full or cinched down when not carrying as much. In these pics it's wrapped up with all the tools listed up top, it fits everything perfectly. Strap it to the rails under your saddle and you're set. They're made right here in good old Philly, too. $40 and you'll be supporting two small local businesses and getting a really awesome product. Everyone wins.

So there it is, rescue in a roll! If you come in one of us can help you pick out the goods and we can show you even more options than the ones listed here. It's a really easy gift to tailor perfectly to the person you're getting it for, and for $68 to $77 (depending on the options listed here) it's got pretty great bang-for-your-buck factor too. Plus who doesn't like saving the day for their friends and family?

High Low Gift Guide - Grips

Grips, a cyclist's most tactile contact point on a bike. Having the right grips on your bike can make riding so much more comfortable, and having worn out grips is awful. In the summer you don't want your hands to slip around in humid sweaty weather and in the winter you'd like to have a good grip with gloves of all kinds. They come in all sorts of colors, materials and styles so they're the perfect low commitment way to add flash to you or your friend's bike. Another benefit of adding something unique and bold to your bike? It makes your bike more recognizable and therefore less appealing to the thief scoping the street looking for a bike to steal. Cool right?

We stock a serious number of grip styles and colors, from stars to skulls, neon to fake wood or cork, we've got it covered. Here are a few of the all stars.

- High -
Brooks Slender Leather Grips - $90

These Brooks leather grips are definitely luxury when it comes to grips. They're made from the same high quality vegetable tanned leather Brooks uses for their saddles and are designed to be easily taken apart and reassembled if you ever want to replace the leather tape. The leather itself will never feel too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter, it wears well and comes in a plethora of colors. Black, brown, honey, red, turquoise, ochre, raspberry and a few more... there's a color to compliment just about any bike.

- Low-
ODI Longnecks - $15

The ODI Longneck grip is one of our most popular grips, and for good reason. They're inexpensive, hold up well and come in 11 colors, from basic to super bright ie: they're fun! These grips are extra long and can be easily cut down to suit just about any sizing need. The rubber compound they're made of is both durable and comfortable, taking the jolts of the road so your hands don't have to, plus the "collapsible rib pattern" makes it feel kind of like they were designed just for your hand. You're just going to have to come in and squeeze a few to see what I mean. Now get your mind out of the gutter!

ESI Chunky - $20

The ESI Chunky grips are no frills, all function grips. They're 100% silicone, are very shock absorbent and hold up surprisingly well over time. Being silicone, they're non-porous and provide great grip in wet and dry conditions. Unlike the grips you probably had on your bike when you were 10, these will never get gummy and gross. As soon as they start looking a little dirty just wipe them down and they look practically new. They also come in extra chunky if you prefer a larger grip.

So there it is, give the gift of both flash and comfort this year with a bike grip stocking stuffer!

High Low Gift Guide - MultiTools

It happens to the best of us; we think about how great the people in our lives are all year round, then around comes gift giving season and we're at a complete loss. They have everything. They like cycling and you don't know the first thing about it, you like cycling and they're just getting into it, your incredibly stylish daughter just won't buy herself a helmet... well, we're going to take care of you this year guys. From humble stocking stuffers to the toughest take everywhere/everyday cycling bags, we'll be here to support every kind of cyclist you may know and make your shopping a little easier... maybe even fun because, you know, we're about that. So here goes, High Low Gift Guide #1 - Multi Tools!

Brooks MT21 - $70
The Brooks MT21 multitool is 21 useful tools packed into one classy, leather wrapped package. Designed for "the traveler", it has 7 allen keys, 3 screwdrivers, 3 torx wrenches, 4 spoke keys, a chain tool, a Brooks saddle spanner, a knife and of course, a bottle opener because not everyone is down to open a brew with their teeth. It truly is the tool for adventure because while you're out in the wild world you never know when you're going to have to slice open a Tauntaun a la Han Solo. The Brooks saddle spanner built in is great because you'll never lose it again, and with the various spoke wrenches and allen keys you'll be able to help yourself or any fellow cyclist that's run into a bit of bad luck. The tough leather wrap, which comes in Black, Brown and Ochre, will keep everything tidy and looking incredibly good, who can argue with that?

Crank Brothers Multi-10 - $20

This light and sleek Crank Brothers multitool just may be the perfect combination of minimalism and functionality. With just 10 tools and weighing in at a mere 125g it's not going to slow you down but it just might save the day. With 7 allen keys, 2 screwdrivers and one torx wrench this tool is the perfect bare necessities, live-in-the-pocket-of-your-bag multitool. No muss no fuss, no blowing your credit limit. Put a bow on it and maybe you'll get a story about how it saved the day down the line sometime.

Just in from Chrome . . .

Do you ride bikes? Do you like carrying things with you when you're riding your bike? Do you know an awesome thing when you see one?

If you happen to answer yes to all of these questions, then you not only most likely already know about the SUPER CRAZY RAD LIMITED EDITION CHROME BAGS, but you probably really want one too. Alas, only 5 bike shops in the country managed to get their greasy hands on them.

Bicycle Revolutions is one of the 5 lucky shops that have these beauties. We have the massive, multi-use Sotnik duffle, the classic Sentinel pack and the low profile Victor utility belt all in the Woodland Camo/Orange limited edition color.

Come on in and check them out before they're all snatched up!

Squeakers!

Taco! Bell...

Bags? Yeah, we've got those.

My word our bag selection sure has exploded since we opened the boutique!

We are pretty serious about messenger bags – both the single and double strap variety. Almost every bag we stock in the shop is one that we use so we can honestly tell you that we believe in what we sell.  

We try to always stock each bag in black as well as a couple of colors, depending on how popular they are. We  are also happy to order you a specific color if we don’t have it right now. Currently we carry bags from the following excellent companies.

Chrome: Citizen and Metropolis messenger bags, Dually, Ranchero, Backbone, Pawn and Marathon back-packs, Kirov + Berlin pro bags. We also carry the light duty Corsair and Vega as well as laptop sleeves, hip packs, cell holders, and usually one or two of their different laptop specific bags.

BaileyWorks: Super Pro messenger bags in all sizes, the new Digital Super Pro Citizen back-pack, and 2-strap work pack

RELoad: Civilian, Small Civilian and Dash messenger bags. Softpack, minipack and midpack back packs. Hip packs and cell holders and other accessories like frame and shoulder pads and tool rolls are in stock too.

DeMartini: Undisputed Original in all three sizes (S,M,L). We also have a few of the mini bag and the extra small 3605 bags.

We have a few Manhattan Portage bags still in stock. The medium size waxed vintage messenger bag in a couple of colors and the Bike Messenger – large in most colors.

Looking to carry less stuff with you? We have small hip bags/pouches, and utility belts from Fabric Horse, Vaya, and Camp Cupboard (as well as RELoad and Chrome).

Not sure what’s right for you? I strongly recommend coming by and trying a bunch of bags on. Bring the stuff you usually carry and jam it into the bag and see how it fits and if it is comfortable. Everyone’s body is different so it is hard to tell what you are going to love without trying it on. Got questions, or need an opinion about a certain item? Come on in and ask! We all use these bags daily so we can give you our thoughts on what we like and don’t like.

Oh, and messenger bags aren’t just for carrying deliveries, school or work items, groceries, etc. You never know when your 4 legged friend is gonna need a lift (or at least a nice spot to nap)

Shop Shirts

I printed up some new Bicycle Revolutions shirts this week. Just in time for Spring we have a nice grass green shirt with brown ink. American apparel  men's sizes S - XXXL (yes that is triple extra-large). Sorry I had no one to model but Lazlo and he didn't want to get in the shirt, just near it. We have some black shirts as well but these are "limited edition" for Spring 2010.

We also have some shirts for the ladies. Kelly green with either pink or brown printing in sizes small, medium, and large. Pink tank tops with brown ink and some black shirts with green ink that I didn't take a picture of - both of those styles are size medium only for now. Oh and you can't leave out the kids! We have super cute onesies and child size t-shirts with either the shop logo or our extra cute flying trike graphic (thanks Cara for designing that for us!)

You can purchase any of these fantastic items for a mere $20 at the boutique. Representing your local independent bicycle shop is good for your soul so you should probably do that.

That's a Lot of Helmets

Our Spring order of Bern helmets just arrived. We have a heck of a lot of them! Men's Brentwood sizes small through double extra-large in black, gray with a black stripe and white and women's Berkeley sizes extra-small through large in black, white, and black with a gray and blue stripe have all arrived. We are still waiting on the women's blue but they should be here soon. We also have a few of these for the kids, black, red with a white stripe and pink if you have a little one (or a little head).

Gotta protect that noggin, it's important! And if you can look a little bit less nerd-asaurus rex while doing it - bonus. Oh and if no one hears from me in a little bit, send help! I might be buried underneath the piles.

Snowpocalypse, Storewide Sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday Only!

Let's just say that all this foul weather is not good for business. How about an unprecedented storewide sale? For three days only, Thursday, Friday and Saturday ALL instock products will be 10% off. Bikes, even already discounted models! Frames, Wheels, Locks, lights, etc...

Even all the new goodies in the Boutique, warm hats, gloves, socks, etc. We also just received a huge order of Chrome products including the brand new Berlin pro series messenger bag.
You Must Mention The Snowpocalypse Storewide Sale to take advantage of this special deal! All instock products, no special orders, and all items must be paid in full before 6pm on Saturday.

New Bailey Bag, Just In

Messenger bags are a great way to carry all of your loot, and often that includes your laptop and fancy smart phone. So Bailey works has introduced a new bag for just that purpose, the Digital Super Pro.

They took everyone's favorite bag - the Super Pro - and added a compartment for your computer as well as a roomy phone case on the shoulder strap.

It can accommodate a 17" laptop and an iphone or blackberry will fit easily. We have it in the boutique in medium for $220 and large for $230 so come over and get one.

Winter Shop Projects

So after installing some new displays and shuffling everything around, an exciting game I like to call Bike Shop Tetris. We have tons of new stuff out and about for your shopping pleasure. It is so exciting to see the shop continually evolving beyond my wildest expectations.

I know I can be stubborn, but I really do like change. I just need to find it on my own terms...

So by the time spring rolls around we should be dialed for another rockin' season.

And our biggest and best year yet! Did I mention that already? Just making sure.

Stylin New Front Rack from Gamoh

A lovely way to carry your groceries home, maybe some take out or even a case of beer. The Gamoh front rack does all of this while looking damn good in the process. Handmade in Japan, with Mahogany slats and a bottle opener up front for $130. Fits any just about any bike with a front brake hole and fender eyelets. And can be readily adapted even without fender eyelets.
Colin's Steamroller is now for some tailgating action at the Phillies home opener!

2010: A Shop Odyssey

The new year is well underway  - almost 3 weeks! - and yet I am just now getting this posted. Pardon my vacationing and general laziness.

While 2009 was quite a year for us here at Bicycle Revolutions, we are happy to bid it adieu. We experienced continued growth in every way. We added  a bunch of great new staff – Megan, J, and Gabriel. Our long time, much beloved, shop monkey Ian is now a full time student. While we are super proud and excited for him, we miss having him at the shop every day. We expanded what we carry for just about everything imaginable. More bikes, more components, more accessories, and more clothing. Oh, and we opened the boutique. All in all this past year has been very full. But man 2010 – it’s gonna be the bee’s knees!

There is so much exciting stuff coming up. We will fill you in on all of the little details as things roll out, but here are some highlights. Bikes and Frames – we’ve got lots of them coming! The Linus bikes are new for Spring, great new All City frames, crazy cool stuff from Affinity, and more. There is an amazing new frame project that we are going to be telling you all about in the next month or two, but Bryan is keeping it hush hush for now. He might explode so look for him to be leaking bits of that soon. As for the accessories, lots of new stuff there too. We just became a swrve dealer and have some of their really nice Milwaukee jackets and hiding hoodies in stock. Look for more swrve items coming up in the next months and also a blog post on the stuff we have. Next week we are getting our shipment of loot from Pedaler Clothing. We have been anxiously awaiting this stuff for months and can’t wait to have it in our hands. I will definitely be featuring those items on the blog in the near future. Also, we will will be resurrecting our 4th Friday openings. We have a party planned for February - so hooray for that!

So stay tuned for more details on all of this stuff and plenty more. Here’s to a fantastic 2010!
-photos by wojo