Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no10
Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no10
November, Movies Movies! And more Parties!
This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the Spoke Wrench. This is the tool, according to Randy, that can either make you a hero or a scape goat. Or, a little knowledge can kill you. Truing your wheels is important, very important. Doing it right is even more important. A little tension goes a long way. Too much tension, and your previously mostly true wheel can resemble a taco. And while a spoke wrench is the key to a true wheel, at least as important is knowing what to do with that spoke wrench. So watch for our classes in January, so you can learn to use this tool.
Movie Night and PARTY!
Repairs for Spring!
Trainers are In!
Road Bikes, Single Speeds and Cyclocross, Oh My!
Sugoi clothing
Electra offering a rebate!
Gift Cards!
Movie Night and PARTY!
Monday, November 30 7PM David, Art Bull and Trevor Smith will host a slide presentation on their Great Canadian Adventure to Montreal and Quebec this past summer. This is also David’s good-bye party, as he embarks on a new adventure to New York City. As usual, with movie nights, Hors d’œuvre and drinks will be served. RSVPs are a must, call the shop, or email Randy, bicycledoctor@continentalbikeshop.com
Repairs for Spring!
I know, its not spring yet. Its not even technically winter yet, but its been pretty cold, and then again, pretty warm this month. But, now is the perfect time to bring your bike in. You can get it back quickly, stock up on some cold weather riding gear, and most importantly, beat the spring rush. Or, instead of getting your bike back quickly, you can leave your bike for its own vacation, and we can upgrade your kit, do a drive train clean and tune up, and make your bike better than new for spring.
Trainers are in!
Cyclops trainers are here! We’ve got the Mag, Mag+, Magneto, Fluid2, and rollers in the store. Trainers are a great way to get a head start on spring, and keep riding. They’re also a great way to use up a mostly used tire that’s still got some life in it, because the last thing you want to do is put your brand new Vittoria tire on a trainer.
Road Bikes, Single Speeds and Cyclocross, Oh My!
700c go fast bikes are on sale! From 15% to 25% off, depending on the bike! Sale applies to in stock bikes only! Come in and test ride before the bikes are gone and the snow flies!
Sugoi Clothing
Need some cool weather gear? We’ve got it from Sugoi, the newest addition to our clothing line up. We’ve got arm and leg warmers, balaclavas, gloves, tights, and shoe covers for your cool weather riding pleasure.
Electra Rebate!
Electra has decided to reward cool weather cruisers. If you buy any Electra bike, with a retail price of $399 or more, between now and 12-31, you can get a $25 rebate right from Electra. We’re not sure why they decided to do it, we’re just happy they are. Every Electra you buy qualifies for the rebate, and if you buy two, then well, you get $50 back. If your chosen Electra retails for less than $399, don’t worry, they will still send you a rebate. This time for $10.
Gift Cards!
It is that time of year! Get your holiday shopping done right! Know someone who likes to shop at Continental? Want to convert your ridding buddies into Continental customers? There’s no better gift than a gift card then. They never expire, we’ve upgraded to real cards, no more paper gift certificates, and we don’t charge pesky fees like some credit card companies do if you don’t use your card. So stop in, or give us a call, and make your holidays a cheery yellow and black.
Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no3
Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no3
March, Spring Might really be here, Edition.
This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the Spoke Wrench (haha, Probably should have started with the Spoke Wrench…). Sometimes we all need a little help with a wobbly wheel, and the best way to get it, is with a spoke wrench, in one of about 4 standard sizes if you’ve got pretty standard laced 3- or 4-cross wheels. If you’re wheels are sporting a bladed spoke, something even more exotic, or you’re running Mavic wheels, you might need a less standard spoke wrench. No matter what, if you\’d like to take a spoke wrench home with you, bring your wheel in, so we can see what size you need.
- Michigan Bike Summit!
- News and Notes
- Burley Rain Gear’s Here!
- Procrastination, or the Doctor is in.
- Spring and Mountain Bike Trails
Michigan Bike Summit
The LMB(link) is hosting their annual Bike Summit in Lansing. Its a great way to get involved and make Michigan a bike friendly place. Its on Saturday March 28th, so we won’t be there, even though we’d kinda like to be. Here’s what Rich Moller, Executive Director of the LMB, has to say:
From: Rich Moeller
Subject: LMB Board: Michigan Bicycle Summit
Reply-To: Board@lmb.org
Time is running out to register for the 2009 Michigan Bicycle Summit. It will be on Saturday, March 28, 2009 in Lansing. Registration information is now online at: http://www.lmb.org/2009BikeSummit.pdf. This Summit is designed for you, the bicyclist. There is new momentum nationwide for bicycling with the new administration and the recognition that bicyclists are a legitimate road user. After the National Bicycle Summit last week, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, posted the following on his blog: “I am committed to investing in programs that encourage bikes to coexist with other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges.” I hope you will plan to come and share this momentum with other bicyclists from across Michigan.
Our goal for this year is 100. I/we need your help. Please distribute the attached notice to any list serve or Google group you may be on.
Encourage your friends and folks from your club to attend.
Thank you
Rich Moeller
LMB
National Bike Summit
“They have no beer in Washington.”
But they do have legislatures, Congress, the Senate, and lots of staff. And no place to park the Bike Doctor van. (which Randy found out the hard way.)
Despite having a hard time parking the van, Randy made the most of the Bike Summit, meeting with Michigan representatives to talk about how to get more federal funding for fixing our existing roads, adding bike lanes, supporting mountain biking, and just about anything else bike and legislation related.
For more advocacy related stuff, you’ll find a whole new section of the website dedicated to advocacy and ways you can get involved. (It’s HERE, and a work in progress.)
Just in time for Spring
We’ve got limited, and I stress the LIMITED part of this, Burley Rain Gear, at 30% off! Not a lot, and in some pretty limited sizes, but we’ve got it. Come and get some new rain gear while the getting’s good.
Procrastination, or The Doctor is In.
Well, I think it’s safe to say we’ve spent every winter for at least the past three years trying to convince people to bring their bikes in while the weather is cold and no one’s thinking about riding. But, because no one’s thinking about riding, they never do. Right now, repairs are a week out. So if you bring it in today, Thursday 19 March, we’ll get it back to you next Thursday, 26 March. And it won’t be long until it will be a little longer than a week for repairs….
So, perhaps, this is our way of saying, you have procrastinated too long if you want to your bike back tomorrow, or by this weekend.
Never fear, we’ve got more than one way to do repairs. If you don’t want to be without your bike for a week, perhaps, you should call Randy, the Bicycle Doctor, and have him come out and take a look at your bike. For more information give him a call or email him, bicycledoctor@sbcglobal.net.
Mountain Bikes and Spring Thaw
While we think its spring, the mountain bike trails around aren’t quite thawed. The trails are mostly thawed, but until they’re totally thawed and the ground and rain water have no place to go and the trails are especially susceptible to erosion. Here’s what the MMBA has to say:
Don’t give yourself or other mountain bikers a bad name by riding on trails during the spring thaw.
The recent warm weather may have melted the snow, but the sub-surface layers of soil are still partially frozen. Trails are critically sensitive to erosion damage at this time.
Please ride on pavement or gravel roads for a few more weeks, until the trails have properly thawed and dried out. A good rule of thumb is that when the earthworms begin to emerge, the ground is suitably thawed for trail activities (usually by mid-April).
Help us keep trails open to mountain biking by riding in an environmentally sound manner.
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