Tour de France Official Guide

It's here!...the 2012 VeloNews Tour de France guide. With a detailed rundown of every stage and all of the likely main protagonists this is the definitive guide to the Tour.

They're $10.99 and they always go quickly so grab one as soon as you can.

Surly Nate 120 tpi

The other day we featured a bike that was sporting Surly's new(er) nobbie Nate fat bike tires.  Seeing as we just took stock of a few of the tires we figured we should feature them on their own too.  

When fat bikes first appeared on the market they were intended mainly for use on snow and sand, where extremely high volume, low pressure tires help float over, instead of cutting into, such terrain.  However, as the bikes have gained a wider acceptance folks have begun using them for other things too, like trail riding.  In most situations a fat bike won't be as fast on the local singletreack but they might be a solution to getting beaten up by all of those roots and rocks.  Essentially the high volume tires, when run at low pressure, provide you with a form of light action dual suspension. They also provide good grip over technical terrain, sort of....

The problem with fat bike tires until recently was that they were designed specifically for rolling in a straight, flat line on top of snow and similar terrain, and accordingly they didn't really have much grip when the going got really technical. Adding knobs to the tires adds weight to an already heavy piece of rubber. However, if you're spinning out at the bottom of a hill because you can't grip the loose dirt the weight becomes a secondary concern, so the 27 tpi steel bead nobbie Nate was born.

As expected though it was indeed heavy.  1.62 kg per tire to be exact.  Yup, that's just over 3 1/2 pounds for those using old math, and that's the weight we found on our own scale - we've seen the weight listed even higher on other sites.  Fortunately things have gotten a little lighter with the fairly recent introduction of the 120 folding bead tpi Nate.  It weighs in at 1.36 kg by our count (some sites have it listed lighter).  For some reason that doesn't sound like much to us when expressed in metric but the truth is that's more than half a pound weight savings per tire.  Not bad. Or at least better.

The higher tpi also provides a more supple ride, so there's really no down side other than the slightly higher cost of course.  The 27 tpi steel bead is $85, whereas the 120 tpi folding bead is $135.  

Finally, it's worth noting that the tire casing on the Nate is close to the same width and height as the Larry or Endomorph, so if you're riding either of those the Nate should fit your set up BUT beware that the extra nob does create a bit more width and height - that shouldn't likely be a problem in the front but you'll want to make sure it doesn't cause you any chain line issues in the rear.

Travel Ban

We're getting some questions in the shop on the current travel restriction in Eastern Manitoba (actually from the east end of Lake Winnipeg thru to the Manitoba/Ontario border), which obviously affects back country mountain biking among other things, so we figured we'd provide our readers with a link to the latest government updates here.

The line of the update that concerns us the most reads as follows:  
"Backcountry travel is prohibited. Travel Permits may be issued for remote cottages, some commercial operations, and other exceptional circumstances."

That doesn't sound very promising, but of course check the link and your local news reports often because the restrictions could change quickly.  And hey, if riding in the backcountry doesn't work out in the next week or two we'll see you on the monkey trails.

Surly Traveller's Check

Thinking of a versatile travel bike? The Surly Traveller's Check just might be what you're after. We have a previously loved 54 cm version in stock and waiting to find a new home. Actually, in the interest of full disclosure (and good salesmanship) we should say that the bike is owned by one of our staff, so you can be assured it's been treated well and is in superb shape.

For those who don't know, the Traveller's Check utilizes the venerable Cross Check frame but adds the industry standard S+S couplers to the top and down tubes so the frame can be broken down into two pieces and packed into much smaller than normal dimensions. This is a huge space saver when travelling and may also help you avoid those nasty airline luggage surcharges. For more info on the technology behind S+S couplers go to www.sandsmachine.com. 

The custom build we have for sale and pictured above is a pretty sweet package deal that includes fenders, rack, and a host of upgrades over the stock Cross Check - see further below for more details. It's touring or commuter ready and while it's not built with cable splitters (for complete disassembly of the two frame halves) the splitters are included.

If you're looking for a very versatile, do almost anything bike AND you like the idea of easy portability this bike might be just for you. At $1350 we doubt it will stick around for long.

Build includes Tiagra 9 speed drivetrain, Dura Ace bar end shifters, cyclocross outboard bearing crankset, Mavic rims / Deore hubs, fenders and rack.

Titanium Mukluk

Just in the from the Department of Cool Bikes: We just built up a titanium Mukluk fat bike, and it looks gorgeous.  We may have featured the titanium frame on this site when it arrived (we're too lazy we were riding too much to have the time to check) but here's the complete bike!

It's absolutely gorgeous.  Unfortunately we didn't get a weight on it before it went out the door but it's sub 30 lbs for sure. Obviously that's not the lightest bike in the shop, but considering the size of this wheels and tires, and the frame that's built to accommodate them, it's pretty darn good.

The weight is helped out somewhat by the new Surly Nate 120tpi tires, which are a huge weight savings on the original 27tpi's.  It might be a little off season but we'll try to post a feature on those tires in the days to come.

Marin Bikes

We figure that if this is where they're headquartered the folks at Marin Bikes have a serious advantage when it comes to knowing a thing or two about what goes into building a good mountain bike.

Though we don't have the exact Marin model featured in the video in stock we do have many bikes from Marin, and can order anything from them, so watch the video, get inspired, and then come check out what we've got.

Bike to Work Day, June 22

A message from Andraea Sartison, Event Coordinator, Bike to Work Day:

We invite you to take to the streets and join thousands of commuters in cycling to work. 

The fifth annual Bike to Work Day Winnipeg will be held on Friday, June 22nd. 

Stop by a pit stop from 6:30-9:00 am on your way to work and get a boost with free snacks, bike tune-ups and refreshments. Over thirty community and corporate groups will welcome cyclists in the morning, and each stop will host its own prize giveaways and an opportunity to meet a diversity of active transportation supporters. 

You can wind up your week with a BBQ at The Forks beginning at 3:30 and featuring local musical talent, free dinner and your chance to win a brand new Schwinn bicycle or bike trailer from Chariot Trailers.

Start today by registering online to show your support for the smart commute, and to take advantage of the day's festivities. Please visit www.biketoworkdaywinnipeg.org. 

Marin Drakes Beach

Last week we featured the ladies version of this cruiser, so this week it's time for the guys.

The Drakes Beach bike is a simple affair. No gears, coster brake, and blacked out paint scheme. Pretty straight forward.

The best part may be the price: Just like the gal's version its regular price is $410 but it's on sale for $320.

Marin Hearts Desire

We've been selling a lot of Electra cruisers recently but some folks come in looking for more basic cruiser ideas like the Marin Hearts Desire. Its relatively simple white paint job with blue rims (and white sidewalls) still looks snazzy but at a more modest price of just $320 (discounted from the regular price of $410).

Some of the cost savings is also the result of the single speed coaster brake set up. Just keep it simple, save some money, and have fun. Buy one of these and you'll have a bit left over to pick up a sundae at the end of your ride.

Used Bike Update

For some reason or other we don't get many used comfort bikes coming in to us looking for new homes, but we did get one in yesterday so we've featured it above. 

It's a women's model Giant Cypress size small. This is a very popular new bike for us so we predict the used one will go fast, especially at just $350. 

Check below for our other used bikes in store at the time of this posting. 

Trek 9.9, $1500, XL
Karate Monkey, $800, 20"
Long Haul Trucker, $1000, L
Redline d660, $2000, 21"
Trek 2300, $690, 58cm
Giant TCR Aero, $550, 50cm
Giant Two x One, $599, 19"
Trek Carbon EX, $2800, L
Fuji Odessa, $150, S

29er vs. 26 inch wheels

This is arguably the most hotly debated subject in mountain biking these days, and we have plenty of customers asking us if a 29er or 26 inch wheeled mountain bike is better for their needs on an almost daily basis, so we figured we'd take a stab at the answer here. Truth be told there's no info below that hasn't already been shared on umpteen other websites so we're not really adding anything new to the dialogue, but if you want our opinion here it is...

Dog Baskets / Trailers

Argus the shop dog would like to point out a couple of dog specific items that we have in-store.

The first is a dog basket. Well, two dog baskets actually, in a small and large size. They're essentially conventional bike baskets but with a hinged wire top to keep your dog from jumping out and into traffic.

Argus thinks the baskets are great and all but he kinda needs something bigger so he's also featuring the dog trailer. It's pretty much a cargo trailer with a tent on top to keep your dog from jumping ship. Actually that's exactly what it is. It has large vents front and rear so it's very breathable on hot days but it also has clear plastic flaps for rainy or cold days.

Big or small we've got your dog covered. Bring your mutt in to check them out for yourself.

Pembina Highway Underpass Improvement Options

Complaining about using Winnipeg roadways for bicycle transportation is something of an unofficial sport, and it's not unwarranted, but things are actually being done to improve the situation, and sometimes you (yes, YOU) can actually have a direct say in the process. 

OCC member Ian Hall forwarded this to us - take a look and consider attending: 

Subject: Notice of Public Open House - Pembina Highway Underpass Improvement Options 

On behalf of the City of Winnipeg, we invite you to attend an Open House to review and provide feedback on three options being proposed for improvements to the Pembina Highway Underpass. A PDF describing the three options can be found here. 

The Open House will be a drop-in format so feel free to come any time between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM and speak with the project team. The three options being proposed for the Pembina Highway Underpass improvements will be displayed. 

Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2012 Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Drop-in Format) 

Location: Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (APEGM) 870 Pembina Highway 

If you are unable to attend the Open House but would like information on the project please visit www.Winnipeg.ca/PembinaHighwayUnderpass or contact Jacqueline East at Dillon Consulting Limited 453-2301 or jeast@dillon.ca. 

Thank you.

Niner Jet 9

Looking for inspiration to get out on the local trails (even if our trails look nothing like the ones in the video below)?  Well you shouldn't have to look for inspiration but you're still welcome to check out the video.  We've sold a few of the Niner Jet 9's and have had only glowing reviews come back to us.

For info on the new super deluxe Jet RDO check out the 2nd video after the jump. We've ordered an Air 9 RDO for a lucky customer but have not yet brought in for anyone a Jet RDO - maybe you'll be the first!

Grand Beach Race

Don't forget, this weekend is the 1st MB Cup Mountain Bike race on the 2012 calendar, put on by our good friends at the Olympia Cycling Club.  Read the race bible here.

Knog Blinder

Blinkie lights are all pretty much the same, right? We'd forgive you for thinking so, until you check out the Blinder. With 4 LED's that pump out 80 lumens in front and 44 in the rear these things are bright. They claim to be visible over 800 meters and we're not going to dispute that. 

They have a 3 hour constant beam or up to 50 hours in flash mode, and they have a very discreet, simple, built in USB recharge system with no extra cables or converters - just plug the light directly into your USB hub or computer to get it going again. 

The Blinder comes in 4 anodized aluminum covers, it weighs only 35 grams, and it's fully waterproof. No tools are required to easily install or uninstall from your bike in seconds. 

Honestly, they're about as awesome as a blinkie light can get. We have a bunch in stock now for $50 each, so come and choose your colour today!

Used Bike Update

If you're looking for a size small (if you're up to 5'6" or so) lightweight Niner this is the deal of the century. Seriously. It weighs in at just 18 lb 5 oz. Granted it's set up as a single speed right now (with a Paul Melvin to pick up the chain slack) but even if you add gears this will be a light weight bike.

It has a Scandium frame, a carbon Niner fork, Chris King hubs and headset, and a Thomson post and stem. But best of all it's being sold for just $1300, and it's in mint condition.

If the Air Nine isn't what you need then check out our other used bikes listed below:

Trek 9.9, $1500, XL
Surly Karate Monkey, $800, 20"
Surly LHT, $1000
Redline d660, $2000, XL
Trek 2300, $690, 58cm
Niner Air Nine, $2850, XL
Giant XTC Two x One, $599, 19"
Trek Carbon EX, $2800, L

Mukluk Titanium

Looking to lighten up your FatBike? Well swapping out your current frame for a titanium one won't hurt.

We brought this titanium one in for a customer but we could just as easily bring one in for you. Our quick weigh in indicates it saves over a pound on the equivalent steel or aluminum FatBike frame AND it has a slider rear dropout so you can easily set the bike up geared or single speed.

Note that this bike has 170mm rear spacing so to swap over the parts from your Surly you'll need to buy a new rear hub and rebuild the wheel (and a Large Marge offset only rim obviously won't work).

Giant XTC 24"

We're happy with whatever gets kids out and riding (as long as it's in decent shape and safe) so we're happy for those who like 'boys' and 'girls' bikes with gender specific blue and pink themes because they're not hard to find.  However, we also know that some kids don't want a boys or a girls bike - they just want a bike! Preferably one that looks like their parent's or older sibling's bike - essentially a 'real' adult bike made a bit smaller.

Enter the Giant XTR 24".  24 refers to the wheel size which is a bit smaller than the standard 26" adult mountain bike size.  The frame of the bike has of course been scaled down to match the wheel size.  Some of the parts on the bike are a bit heavier than the adult XTC versions in order to keep the cost down but overall it's a good package that comes at a very reasonable cost of $390.

Just like with all of our adult bikes if you purchase this one you also get a free tune up after the 1st month (during which time the cables will likely stretch a bit as you break in the bike) and again after the 1st year of riding.  And just like all of our adult bikes this one is put together by our pro mechanics and set up to fit your child properly by our exceptionally experienced staff.  

WeeHoo Child Carrier

We've sold the Trail-a-Bike for many years now and it's been a huge success for kids who want to ride at their parents' tempo but can't yet keep up on their own. 

The only shortcoming of the Trail-a-Bike, for some, is that the child must support themselves atop their seat pretty much as they would on their own bike (though they aren't responsible for keeping the bike itself upright). 

The WeeHee overcomes this shortcoming by offering siderails, handles, and a high backrest with shoulder straps. This means that even if your child can't balance on their own they can be strapped in and ride behind you in the open air and pedal along with you at the same time if they wish. 

As an added benefit the WeeHoo also comes with side bags to stash away a lunch, some extra clothes, or whatever. 

The WeeHoo fits easily on just about any bike. For $399.00 you can roll out of the store with one attached to your bike today.