Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no7

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no7

June, almost July: Why, yes, Virginia, there really is a Summer, edition.

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the Y-wrench. One of the most useful, unless you’re Jason, and you hate them, Allen wrenches around, Y-wrenches are just that, Y-shaped, 3-way wrenches that have either a 4, 5 and 6mm Allen head, or a 2, 2.5, and 3mm Allen heads. Because of the shape, Y-wrenches offer great leverage, but they can sometimes be hard to maneuver under a seat or while trying to install a bottle cage.

But for a seat post clamp, they work great.

Charity Ride Ready

Speaking of Repairs…

Send a ‘Thank You’ to Rep. Switalski

Web Specials

Carbon Crank Sale

Getting Ready for the 4^th:

1. Car Racks needed?

2. Closed Saturday July 4^th.

Are you Charity Ride Ready?

It’s summer in Metro Detroit, any way you slice it. With some really hot days behind us, and some really hot days that are sure to follow, it can only mean two things:

1. That we will once again prove all meteorologists and weathermen wrong and nothing they predict weather wise will occur.

or

2. It must be Charity Ride Season.

Well, unless Hell freezes over this summer, I’m going to have to say both 1 and 2 are probably correct, but this isn’t about weather. This is about the impending WAM, MS-150 (or whatever they’ve named it), DALMAC, and whatever else you might be riding this summer. While Randy and the Bike Doctor Van will be making appearances on a lot of rides, he can’t be everywhere at once. Its much better to be ready to roll well before your ride than broken down on the side of the road.

Once July rolls in, Charity Ride repairs tend to take over, so please allow at least a week between when you bring us your bike and when you need to leave. Because, no, you may not bring your bike in for an overhaul, tune-up or drive train clean and have it back tomorrow.

Speaking of Repairs….

It’s summer, and we think you should be riding, especially this week, because it’s supposed to be beautiful Michigan weather, when its not raining. But, if you’ve brought your bike in for repair, and we still have it, that might be a little hard. So, if we’ve got your bike, please, pretty please, come pick it up.

Send a ‘Thank You’ to Rep. Switalski

In Mid-June, the Michigan House of Representatives passed transportation legislation that included Complete Streets language and Representative Switalski was instrumental in introducing that language. The LMB would like to make sure that Rep. Switalski feels the cycling love, so if you’re inclined, stop by the form the LMB created and fill it out. It only takes a few minutes, and can mean a lot for the future of the legislation. (make sure to put your whole name in the ‘Name’ field as there isn’t a separate spot for first and last name.) http://citizenspeak.org/node/1666

Web Specials

If you’ve visited our website lately, you may have noticed new items on the homepage, especially the track wheels and new 2008 Cannondale closeout bikes, (for the vertically challenged, and the very un-vertically challenged.) Keep an eye out there for one-ofs, last ones, and other specials that may pop up…

Specials You Say?

Need a new crank on your road bike? Something light, stiff and stealthy looking? An Easton EC-90 crank set might just do the trick. Light, stiff, carbon with aluminum chainrings and X-type bottom bracket, the EC-90 weighs in at about 690 grams, (give or take one bearing race that was left accidentally in the box and once plastic wrapper and grease that was left on). Originally priced at $800 for the bottom bracket and the crank set, we’ll let it got for $625 (plus tax, obviously.)

Getting Ready for the 4^th

Car Racks Anyone?

July 4^th is traditionally vacation time, and lots of times you might want to take your bikes with you. Which, if the vehicle you’re planning on using is packed with people and luggage, bikes can be difficult to cart around. Same goes for small vehicles into which the bike wont fit on a good day.

We have Saris Car racks in stock, both the hitch and trunk mounted varieties in stock for your rack needs. To see if a Saris trunk rack will fit your car visit them on the web: http://www.saris.com/sarisfitsearch.aspx?ddlMake=&Submit=Find+Rack

By the way, car racks are not available for rent, nor are they returnable after a holiday weekend. Sorry. It’s been tried, and makes us rather unhappy. And thanks for your understanding.

Saturday July 4^th Continental Bike Shop will be closed for independence day. And since we’re always closed on Sundays, We will also be closed on the 5^th. See you Monday morning.

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no7

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no7
June-time and the Summer Sometimes Swelter Edition

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter “T,” Tubes, Tires, Tune-ups, Tandems, Tubus Racks, Townies, Torkers, Trikes, and plenty of Time to ride. Summer is here, despite what the temperature and calendar may say, and so are longer days, hence the plenty of Time to ride. The beginning of summer also means the charity ride season is in full swing. If you need a Tune-up before your charity ride, come see us today, not three days before you’re supposed to leave for the WAM, MS150, DALMAC or other charity ride. We don’t like short notice like that, and we certainly don’t like telling you that we can’t get to your bike before you need it.

Tubes and tires are ever important, without them, your bike isn’t going to get very far. Tandems are a great way to ride together if the person you want to ride with has a different skill level than you. As I mentioned in the last edition, that was, by the way improperly numbered, gas prices are a constant concern for every one. Torker makes cruisers for the more budget minded folks. (remember, we love ‘em, or we wouldn’t have ‘em in the store.) A nice reliable 3 speed is a great way to commute, that internally geared hub will withstand just about anything you can throw at it, short of a dip in a lake or river.

Giant’s Team High RoadNews You Can Use

There’s beer in them thar glasses! And Coffee too.

The 2008 Tour de France

Rising Prices of, well, everything

Charity Ride Season is (still) Here!

Giant’s Team High Road
Team High Road, formerly the T-Moblie/Deutche Telekom team, has a new sponsor, Columbia Sportswear. That’s all well and good, but thats actually not why I’m mentioning them. High Road/Columbia also has the most successful mens and womens squads this season. Congratulations are in order for them, and good luck at the Tour!

News You Can Use

There comes a time in everyone’s life, when they forget what they were typing and suddenly the newsletter article sounds funny. Hmm. Ah yes. News you can use, and we best share otherwise someone will be very unhappy with us. We will be closed for Independence Day. We will also be closed for July 5. That’s right, the shop’s taking a long weekend, like we anticipate everyone else in the state/country might be doing.

So I think it bears repeating. We will be closed July 4th and 5th, for the holiday. We will also be closed July 6th because we’re never open on Sundays, and we’ll see you all again on Monday, July 7th. Yep. We’ll be enjoying a real weekend too. So, Happy independence Day. Enjoy your barbeques, fireworks, and other festivities.

Also, Happy Canada Day to everyone on the other side of the border!

There’s beer in them thar glasses! And Coffee too.
A number of us are beer drinkers, and probably an equal, but not identical number of us a coffee drinkers. Why does that matter? Well, since the addition of a coffee machine last fall, we’ve noticed a large number of our customers are also coffee drinkers. So, Continental is proud to present new (and improved?) coffee mugs. We understand that not everyone likes coffee. I generally fall into that category, since what I drink is usually best described as ‘overpriced’ and ‘frou-frou’; is slightly coffee and mostly milk and sugar; and frequently takes way too long. (Just because we call them ‘coffee mugs’ doesn’t mean you can’t make tea or hot coccoa in them. We do that too.)

For the beer drinkers, and the pint glass collectors, we’ve also got new Continental Bike Shop pint and Pilsner glasses. They are spiffy and sport the Continental logo on them in black. We’re more than happy to drink out of them, and I think everyone else should be, too.

The 2008 Tour de France
Beginning on 5 July, (secretly, part of the reason we’re taking the day off, even if we don’t know it yet…) the 2008 Tour de France promises some surprises. If for no other reason, than the 2007 1st and 3rd place finishers, Alberto Contador and Levi Leipenheimer, respectively, won’t be riding. Their team, Astana, has been barred from racing in the tour, (actually they’d been barred from the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta, but Astana was invited to the Giro at the last minute and Contador won) due to Astana’s involvement in doping scandals in 2006 and 2007.This year’s teams are, in alphabetical order (now with links to the team websites, or in a couple of cases, the only thing available in English…):

Ag2r-La Mondiale
Agritubel
Barloworld
Bouygues Télécom
Caisse d’Epargne
Cofidis, le Crédit par téléphone
Crédit Agricole
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Française des Jeux
Gerolsteiner
Lampre
Liquigas
Quick Step
Rabobank
Saunier Duval-Scott
Silence-Lotto
Team Columbia (Formerly Team High Road)
Team CSC Saxo Bank
Team Garmin-Chipotle (formerly Slipstream-Chipotle)
Team MilramHigh Road and Slipstream-Chipotle both changed names and title sponsors this month, and this is Gerolsteiner’s last year as a pro team. While I may not have mastered the intricacies of UCI pro racing, I think that about covers the basic things to note for the Tour de France. I’m hoping for an exciting, yet scandal free Tour, though based on recent years and no Astana, I’m not going to hold my breath.

Rising Prices of, well, everything
Its not often that we get a lot of advance notice about price increases, and changes. Most of the time we order something, and magically its more expensive this time. Gas prices are the prime example of rising prices, but so is food. And any and all rubber products.Thankfully? Maybe, this time we have warning. Now is a really good time to buy a bike. Not that now is ever a bad time to buy a bike, but now is a really good time to buy a bike. Just about every bike company has notified us that prices for 2009 will be going up in the neighborhood of 20%.

I am, unfortunately, completely aware of what I’ve just said. Its not something we’re looking forward to, nor is it something we really have any control over. So if a bike is in your future you might want to look at making it the very near future.

Speaking of the previously mentioned rubber products, its likely that in the near future tires and tubes will be seeing a significant price increase.

Charity Ride Season is Here
And that means its time to bring your bike in NOW, while there’s still a while, you know, more than a week, between now and your charity ride date. Its not like the rides have had a major date change, so possibly its time to bring your bike in now, and have lots of time to train and get ready for ride after its been tuned up and working like a dream. Yes? Please? Thanks.

And another friendly reminder, that if we’ve got your bike and your repair’s finished, we’d really rather you had your bike and we had a little more room to maneuver around the back room.

There’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling that you waited too long to get your bike repaired and now everyone’s scrambling to get ready for the ride. So please, please, please, give yourself some time between when you bring the bike in and when your ride it. Everyone involved will thank you.

Once again, Happy Independence Day!

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no6

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no5
May-Day and other Summer things, Edition

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter “S,” for Spring, Summer, SUN! and Saving Gas! Spring is here, summer’s on the way, and one day, we’ll see the sun again. Since gas prices are approaching what most people consider astronomical, perhaps its time to think about alternate means of transportation. Bikes are a great way to get around, and an even better way to get around and save money. Not only do you get to save money on gas, you also get to do something good for the environment. So, if you see one of us tooling down the road on a large, slightly longer than normal brownish green Surly Big Dummy, we’re doing our part to not pay those stupid high gas prices, and most times, it takes less time for us to get places by bike in Hazel Park than it does by car.

Bicycling’s Editor’s Choice Awards
Commuter Bikes Oh My
May is Bike Month!
The Ride of Silence
Charity Ride Season is Here
Speaking of Repairs
Fittings, Fittings, And More Fittings.
The Giro d’Italia
News and Notes

Bicycling’s Editor’s Choice Awards
Every year, Bicycling Magazine chooses their favorite products from the year’s latest and greatest in both bikes and stuff. This years bikes were announced at Sea Otter in Monterey California, back in April. Sometimes we agree with the folks over at bicycling, sometimes we don’t. This year, it seems we’ve got a lot in common. In four categories, the bikes we would have picked are indeed the ones Bicycling chose.

In the “Best Recreational Road Bike” category Bicycling selected the Cannondale Six13 5, saying that “Its hard to go wrong with a bike like this.” We have to agree.

In the “Best Women’s Road Bike” category is the Synapse Feminine 3.

In the “Best Trail Bike” is the Giant Trance X1, which feature’s Giant’s Maestro suspension platform and Fox front and Rear Shocks.

Finally, in a category they probably could have invented, Breezer took home the “Best Commuter Bike” with the Villager, their 7 speed fully outfitted commuter bike.

Congratulations are in order to the winners, though I don’t think I’d want to ride the exact bikes the editors of Bicycling have been testing, it sounds a little like they beat ‘em up before awarding any prizes. The complete list of bikes is in the June 2008 edition of Bicycling Magazine, which should be available now.

Commuter Bikes Oh My!

With the gas prices we’re been seeing, and $4.00 a gallon hovering in the near-to-already-happened-future, bikes are continuing to look like a really good option for commuting. Anything with two wheels could be a commuter, but in general, you want to look for smooth, high pressure tires, fenders to keep away the mud and other road muck, lights for safety and a rear rack so you can haul a change of clothes, your lunch and maybe a laptop computer with you somewhere else than on your back. Breezer makes a number of commuters designed to be efficient and simple, with internal gearing so that you never have to worry that the mud on your chain is going to stop you from shifting. Bianchi makes hybrids designed to get you places, as does Kona. Giant opts for the cushier option of getting there, and, well Electra’s Townies and cruisers are meant to get you places while looking cool. So go ahead, look cool, and be cool while you commute in a gas free way.

Bike Month!
Who would have thought that there’d be a whole month dedicated to bikes? Well, actually, it should be bike month all year long, but I didn’t make the rules. If I had made the rules, well, it would always be bike month, and we’d have more bike friendly streets (heck more car friendly too when we get rid of the potholes that can eat whole cars) to name a few things. But, since I’ve got to be content with one month dedicated to bikes, and so does every one else, we’ll celebrate however we can. Bike to work day is Friday, 16 May, and we encourage everyone to look into biking to work.

The Ride of Silence
Honoring cyclist who have been killed or injured, this year’s Ride of Silence will take place on 21 May at 7PM on Belle Isle at the Fountain. The ride will be approximately 10 miles, at no faster than 12 miles per hour. Helmets are required. For more information about the Ride of Silence, go to www.rideofsilence.org.

Charity Ride Season is Here
And that means its time to bring your bike in NOW, while there’s still a while, you know, more than a week, between now and your charity ride date. Its not like the rides have had a major date change, so possibly its time to bring your bike in now, and have lots of time to train and get ready for ride after its been tuned up and working like a dream. Yes? Please? Thanks.

Speaking of Repairs
The Bicycle Doctor’s on call. And if you need a repair but can’t seem to make it when we’re open, or maybe you’ve got a garage full of bikes and its next to impossible to get them all in at once, calling the Bicycle doctor might just be the answer to life’s many bike questions. There is a $25 house call fee, and then labor is billed at a rate of $75/hr in ¼ hour increments. If that’s more math than you want to think about, give us a call and talk to the Bicycle Doctor himself.

And another friendly reminder, that if we’ve got your bike and your repair’s finished, we’d really rather you had your bike and we had a little more room to maneuver around the back room.

Fittings, Fittings, And More Fittings.
It is somewhere between remarkably and ridiculously important for a rider to be comfortable on their bike. Better comfort = better efficiency. So, we wanted to let you know, that as of June 1 we’re going to increase our fitting prices. So if you’ve been thinking about getting a fitting, now is probably the time to do it.

Existing Bike fittings are going up to $175 from $125. Size Cycle fittings will be $200, from $150. We’re adding a new category for Time Trail and Aero bar fittings, at $250. Tandem clinics will also be going up to $175.

The Giro d’Italia
There are three big tours in cycling, the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. Following the Northern Classics, the Giro is the first big stage race, running from 10 May to 1 June, (stage 6 has already finished for today, but I wont go spoiling the results). It’s also one of the Triple Crown Races, and part of the World Cycling Championship. You’ll find each of us rooting for a different rider this season, John and I are Magnus Backstedt fans (riding for Team Slipstream), while Jason’s rooting for Danilo Di Luca (riding for LPR), Randy’s not rooting for anyone, Dave’s not here for me to ask, and Chris is rooting for Paulo “the cricket” Bettini of Quick Step.

Cannondale is once again sponsoring Liquigas, Bianchi has taken over sponsorship of Barloworld and Giant is sponsoring Team High Road (formerly T-mobile/Deutsche Telekom). Hopefully with a promising start to the season, we can all enjoy a slightly more drama/doping/scandal free pro season. Well, we can hope, at least.

News and Notes

• Randy’s son Kevin Martin has earned his EMT certification while working as a hospital corpsman in Japan.
• We’ve got new counters, and if you haven’t seen them, come on in and take a look, and if your so inclined sample some of our complimentary coffee or tea.
• Fridays at 6:15/6:30ish PM is the Fix Detroit ride. Starts at the shop, anywhere between 15 and 20 miles, on single speeds, preferably fixed gears, and possibly the promise not to shift. Most Fridays when the weather’s nicer. If you’ve got any questions, give us a call and talk to Dave or Jason. (you can also email Jason@continentalbikeshop.com)
• This Month’s Tip will return at an as yet unannounced and unplanned later date this summer. As always, if you’ve got a question or a suggestion, drop us a line.