Winter Riding Part 2

After selecting a bike to ride as a winter bike, the next step is to get your bike set up for winter riding and the harsh conditions that come with Wisconsin winters.

A huge part of winter riding is keeping your bike working. Keeping your bike clean and lubricated will not only allow your bike to work better, it will also prolong the life of your bike and let it last longer than just the winter!

We stock a large selection of bike-specific lubricants and cleaners. We also have an amazing service department that will be happy to help you with your regular bicycle maintenance. Through the winter it is imperative to keep your bike fully lubricated, otherwise your bike will become worn or broken much quicker!

There are many products on the market that will help you ride more comfortably in the cold and through all kinds of conditions.

Studded tires are a great way to get over Icy roads and bike paths. They not only improve handling, they also make you much more confident over ice, which will help keep you upright on your bike!

We carry a number of different studded tires in both 700c and 26".

700c studded tires

Left: Schwalbe Marathon Winter, a great all condition, high stud count, high quality tire, $79.99. Middle: Continental Nordic Spike 120, a more treaded tire with a fast rolling middle section, good for the rider who wants a studded tire that will ride well in a verity of conditions, $74.99. Right, Continental Nordic Spike 240, high stud count, lots of tread, a great tire for the most extreme conditions.

26" studded tires.
Left, Kenda Klondike, lots of tread, lots of studs, a serious winter tire, $69.99. Middle left Schwalbe Marathon Winter, same as the 700c tire, just in a 26x1.75 size, this has been the stand-by winter tire, $79.99. Middle right, Continental Spike Claw 240, 26x2.1, another serious winter tire, high quality and very grippy, $99.99. Right, Continental Spike Claw 120, same as the 240, just with less studs, $74.99.

Fenders can keep you dry.

Full coverage fenders are the best at keeping you dry and as a result, warmer!

If your bike doesn't have the correct mounting point for a full coverage fender there are lots of clip-on style fenders that work a lot better than nothing!

One thing that is particularly annoying about winter is all the darkness

Lights are a must for riding all year!

If you are a serious commuter rechargeable lights are the best. We carry Light and Motion because they are the best!

Planet Bike makes some great lights. One of our favorites is the Super Flash tail light.

On top of a good set of lights there are lots of reflective products that will help you get seen!

Stay tuned for part 3 of "Winter Riding"!

Winter Riding Part 1

Winter is coming and soon it will be cold, snowy and icy. Staying on your bike through the winter can be a challenge, but it doesn't have to be. With the correct preparation and gear, riding through the winter can be fun and a great way to get through the cold and darkness!

This is the first installment of a series of posts that will go through some of the gear that can help you stay on your bike all winter.

The first step to riding in the winter is of course the bike itself. If you're looking for a bike for winter riding, we recommend something simple, comfortable and a bike you don't mind getting a little dirty. Lots of people choose to use a bike that they already have, which is a great way to go. However, if you are looking for a new bike to use as a winter bike, many of the less expensive hybrids and mountain bikes work great. That said, some of our favorite bikes are bikes built specifically for winter riding. You can modify a bike you already own or get an all new rig. If you are interested in building a bike for winter riding (old or new) stop in and have a chat with any of our highly qualified sales people or mechanics and they will be happy to discus some of the options!

Surly Long Haul trucker is a great bike for all year, but it makes a great winter bike with plenty of room for fenders and studded tires, as well as slightly more relaxed geometry to keep you upright over the slick stuff.

The Schwinn Sporterra makes a great winter commuter. And at only $369 its inexpensive enough that you don't mind getting it a little sloppy.

looking for a road bike for when the roads are less then perfect? The Co-Motion Nor Wester looks like a regular road bike but has longer reach brakes to accommodate larger tires and fenders.

Stay tuned for our next installment, I'll go through winter bike accessories including studded tires, lights and how to select the best gear for your winter bike!

2011 Cannondale

2011 Cannondale's have started to arrive and we couldn't be happier with the new bikes. Three models that we are particularly impressed with are the new CAAD 10, the CAAD 8 5-C and, as always, the Carbon Synapse's.

2011 CAAD10 5-D, all new CAAD10 frame with tapered headtube, BB30 crank Shimano 105 components, Shimano Wheelset, Prologo saddle, all for $1399

Stout drive train, stiff out of the saddle, better shifting, yet carefully engineered seat and chain stays for a smooth comfortable ride.

The new CAAD10 features a tapered steerer tube and a very beefy down tube!

New CAAD8 has many of the same features as the new CAAD10, just not as light and stiff, also slightly more relaxed geometry for the weekend warrior or recreational rider not looking for the stiffness that the CAAD10 offers. Also a great deal at $1199!

Taller head tube allows for a higher bar position.

A hot bike for a few years now, the Cannondale Synapse Carbon! Pictured is a 2011 Synapse 5-C Women's, one of the best deals in the Synapse line, 105, BB30, and a full Carbon frame, all for $1999

Stay tuned for more 2011 Cannondales. And stop in the shop to take the latest models for a spin!

We The People BMX

This time of year is always a fun time at bike shops, all kinds of new products coming in! Sometimes the new products coming in are from companies we have been working with for a long time (Cannondale CAAD10!) and sometimes they are products from new companies. A new company that we are very excited to be working with in 2011 is We The People. We will be carrying a selection of We The People complete bikes at both our East and West stores. Stop in and check them out!

We The People Volta $799

Half link chain, 25x9t, very nice sealed three-piece crank.

Trust, $589

Zodiac, $669

Co-Motion

Co-Motion is well known for their amazing Tandems, what less people are aware of is that they also make some very cool "single" bikes.
Here are a few pictures of a pair of Co-Motion Americano's that are going out to a couple this week. Notice that the green bike is missing bar-tape, both bikes will be getting fits done at pick-up.

The green bike features disc brakes and Co-Motion's Brook's package which includes saddle and bar tape.

Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel

One of our favorite companies to work with is Independent Fabrication out of Sommerville, MA. They not only build amazing bikes, they are completely custom. That means when you order an IF you get exactly what you are looking for in every way, ride, fit, and look.

Here are some shots of an IF we built up recently. This bike is a good illustration of some of the things they can do, completely custom geometry, fork pained to match, pump peg, etc. And of course, built by the best mechanics in town!

This bike is built with Campagnolo Chorus 11 speed.

Zipp 202 wheelset built with DT 240 hubs and the Chorus built kit keeps the weight down to just 17lbs (with pedals).