Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no11

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol5 no11
December, Happy Holidays! Stay Warm edition

As the year draws to a close, no matter what holiday you choose, we hope its merry, festive and bright and the best it can be.  So from all of us at Continental Bike Shop, Happy Holidays!

Holiday Hours!
Thanks for coming out!
Trainers
Gift Cards!
Repair Classes
Movie Night!
Electra Rebate gets Better!
Repairs!

Holiday Hours!
Hey, everyone needs some time off for the holidays.  We’ll be open December 24th, 9AM-1PM, for you last minute Christmas shoppers.  We’re closed, as always on December 25th.  For New Years Eve, we’ll be open 10AM-2PM.  Sometimes hockey really is more important.  We’re also Closed on January 1st.  Happy Holidays!

Thanks for Coming out!
For everyone who came out to the Slide Show/Farewell Party, thanks!  It was standing room only and a huge success.  We wish David all the best as he embarks on something new.

Trainers!
Why waste winter?  There are plenty of ways to make winter riding fun.  Either by dressing appropriately for the weather with our new Sugoi cold weather gear, or by keeping in shape on your trainer or rollers.  We’ve got the best trainers from Cycleops, the Fluid 2 and Magneto, with progressive resistance, and the Mag and Mag+ with adjustable resistance.

Repair Classes!
There’s always more you can learn about a bike.  Always.  But you have to start somewhere.  One of the best places to do that is at the Park Tool School.  Over four weeks, you lean how to tune up your bike, everything from changing a flat to adjusting your derailleurs and brakes.  Classes cost $125, and a $50 deposit is required when you sign up to hold your place.  The cost of the class also includes a copy of the Park Tool School, Big Blue Book of Bike Repair.  Dates are Wednesdays, January 13th, 20th, 27th, and February 3rd.  RSVP to Randy at bicycledoctor@continentalbikeshop.com.

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.

If you buy a $50 gift card, we’ll give you $55, for $100, you get $115 on the card, and if you buy a $200 gift card, you actually get $240 on the card.  Its our version of economic stimulus, no hidden taxes, fees, or long term repercussions…  To qualify for extra gift card money, you need top purchase the gift cards before December 31st!  Remember, gift cards never expire!

Movie Night!
Are you interested in another movie night?  We’ve got a copy of Catch the Wind, the Mike Walden story, that we’d love to show if there’s enough interest.  Please call or email Randy at the shop, bicycledoctor@continentalbikeshop.com.

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.

Like I said, it gets better.  Now through the end of the year, we’ll match whatever rebate Electra is giving on any Electra, in stock or special order.  And now we’ve got more Townies in stock to choose from.  They make great gifts!

Repairs!
I feel like a broken record.  Every year, all winter long we tell everyone to get their repairs in while its cold and you’re not thinking about your bike.  Because neither is anyone else.  And every spring, people want their bikes tuned up on the first nice day so that they can ride as soon as possible.  Now is the time to get your bike in for service!  NOW not April 1st!

And to make that a little more appealing, and easier… Tune up-Drive Train Cleans that usually run $150 are $100!  Now through February 13th!  Get your bike in now and get ready for the spring!  Airing your tires on the first warm dry day is far better than finding out something catastrophic needs to be fixed.

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no14

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no14

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter ‘Z,’ our final alphabetically inspired Spoken Wrench, and from now on I’ll have to find some other way of introducing this each month’s Wrench.  If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Ah yes, “Z” for Zipp Speed Weaponry, better known as Zipp Wheels, Zefal pumps,  and other French goodies, and Zero Gravity, manufactures of super light weight and super strong brake calipers.

Repair Classes, once more, with feeling.
Bike Commuting and the Bailout.
Timely Information.

Repair Classes, once more, with feeling.
In the last edition I mentioned that the January repair classes would be on Tuesday evenings.  I spoke too soon.  The repair classes will actually be on Thursday nights.  New dates are January 15th, 22nd, 29th and February 5th.

Bike Commuting and the Bailout.
I think Bailout may have become a 4 letter word.  But, in all the hubbub, the government did do something we can celebrate.  Beginning in January, (I think…) bike commuters can qualify for $20 a month for significant use of their bikes to get to and from work.  I realize that $20 a month isn’t a lot, but its certainly enough to pay for some tubes (which with our roads, you’re going to need) and maybe a tire here and there (see previous statement about roads).  Its not perfect, and I’m not sure how exactly you get 15 months in a calendar year, but thats what the bill says.  What else it may say in relation to bike commuters has gotten lost in the jumble of ‘qualifications.’

If you want to actually read the bill, the Library of Congress hosts the full text.

Timely Information
AKA, Holiday Hours.
We’re closed for Thanksgiving.  We’re open on Friday 10-6, just like normal.  We don’t believe in Black Friday.  Come here and escape the chaos.

We’re open December 24th 8AM-12PM.  Thats all.  No procrastinators allowed after noon.  And we’re closed on the 25th.

We’re also closed January 1st.  Must sleep off the new year and watch some college football.   Maybe.  Whatever, we’ll be enjoying a lovely day off, and possibly the annual First Dozen ride.

http://tinyurl.com/firstdozen

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol3 no10

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol3 no10
December, I believe it might be winter Edition.

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter “O.” Its cold outside, and there’s a large contingent of riders who don’t like the extreme cold, and if you’re one of them, perhaps now is the time to bring your bike in for an overhaul. As Travis points out, every bike can benefit from one, even with sealed bearings, sometimes, we need to replace ‘em to make things new. (Case in point, he’s over hauling a rear hub, after overhauling a rear wheel and coaster brake yesterday.) Now’s a great time to drop your bike off, and let us go to town. If winter riding is your thing, make sure you check out the Lake MXZ302 winter boots.

UBB and You
We’ve been doing a bit of cleaning, and reorganization. And we can’t be the only ones who prefer to engage in ‘spring’ cleaning’ outside of just spring. (I’ve never seen so much of my desk, and I don’t think Jason has ever seen so much of his bench.) If in your spring cleaning you realize that you’ve got a bike that might make someone else quite happy, and might just lead to a new bike for you, why not bring it in and have us UBB it. UBB is Used Bicycle Buyer, and they do exactly what their name says they do. It usually takes two days for us to inspect your bike and submit it for a quote, and from there you’re free to accept the quote or not, no questions asked.
The not-so-fine Fine Print: UBB quotes are good for 30 days. It’s a lot like selling a car: you’d get more if you did it yourself, but trading it in at the dealership is so much easier. You can use the credit from your trade in towards any parts, accessories, bikes, labor, etc. But you can’t have cash.

Ski Waxing Party?!?!
Now, I don’t ski, I admit that. I tried once, and I’d rather stick to ice skating and not being able to stop, than skiing and not being able to stop. But this whole ski waxing party thing sounds like fun. Friday December 14th at 7PM Wolverine Sports Club will be hosting a ski waxing party here. As the WCS newsletter points out, the waxing part of the Ski Waxing Party is Optional. There will be the Waxing part of the party, complete with a wax clinic for anyone who might need a refresher on waxing. And anyone means Wolverines and non-Wolverines alike. John promises specials, what kind of specials, we’re not sure yet. But specials there will be, along with hors devours, light snacks, and refreshments. Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to share (if you’d like) and its BYO(and shop)B.

Small Salsa, Still Spicy
Carbon bars are cool. They come in a variety of styles, wing bars, standard, oversized clam diameter, etc. You get the idea, I’m sure. What they don’t frequently come in is narrower widths, 38 and 36 centimeter bars can be hard to come by, but Salsa makes them. They’re light, they provide vibration dampening, and they’re narrow. Which, if you’ve got shoulders that warrant a 36 or 38cm bar, that’s important. So, if you or someone you know is looking for some narrow carbon bars, come on in and check out the Salsa bars.

Broken Bike Buddy?
Know someone who always gets to the start of the ride and needs to fix something on their bike? Or needs someone else to fix something on their bike? Consider getting them a gift certificate. We’re happy to do the work. And everyone will have a better riding experience with a well tuned bike.

Christmas Eve Hours
We’re giant procrastinators. And we get the feeling some of our clientele might have the same affliction. So to help you out, and for those of you who need us to hide the presents as long as possible, we’ll be open from 10AM to 2PM. But if its getting close to 2PM, give us a shout and make sure we’re still here.

A Note to our Canadian friends
The US dollar is not my friend. I’ve got grand ambitions to go to Europe sometime soon. The US dollar however, should make some Windsor natives happy. Don’t forget, you get more bang for your Canadian dollar, and we serve coffee to rival Tim Hortons. Well, maybe not rival Tim Hortons, but its free. So, please, come visit, and see how far your dollar can go.

Things that are important enough to be repeated:

• Get ‘em While They’re Hot! Arguably, the nicest child trailer out is the Burley d’lite, its lightweight, easy to attach to a bike, features that nifty little helmet pocket, and is generally a niiiice trailer. Well, we certainly think so, and obviously they’ve never been inexpensive trailers. But for 2008, they’ve gotten a little more expensive, to the tune of $90 over what they were in 2007, for a whopping $550 price tag. Now, since we’re not to crazy about that price hike, and Burley’s got a number of 2007 trailers still floating around, we think now might be the perfect time to get one. All 2007 d’lite trailers will be $430, (save $120 if you get it now, instead of in May), and layaways are our friend this time of year. If you’d like to reserve your Burley d’lite, drop us a line, and a little deposit so we know how many to get. They’ll be arriving sometime in early December, just in time to wrap and put under the tree.
• Repair classes Its that time of year. It’s always some time of the year… but this time I’m specifically talking about that winter tradition around here, repair classes. We’re wondering if there’s enough interest to hold them again this winter, beginning mid to late January. If its something you’re interested in, please drop us a note, and we’ll get you on the list. Repair classes cover everything in the Big Blue Book of Bike Repair from Park. Hubs, cones, tire changes, brake and derailleur adjustment are just some of the topics covered.
• Holiday Layaways A bike can be awfully hard to hide, especially in a small space. And bikes do make such popular presents… So we thought it was time to remind everyone that we do holiday layaways. And we will be open on Christmas Eve, if you need to wait until the last possible moment to pick your bike up, (or your trainer, Burley d’lite, rollers, Assos clothing… et cetera.) We’ve also got bikes starting at $250, that are really worth riding, and make the stuff you find at department stores look like pond-scum. So, if you know of someone who would really like a new bike, but doesn’t think they can afford one, point them towards us. We’re happy to work out layaway programs.