Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no5

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no5
Spring Has Sprung April, No, you can’t have your repair back tomorrow Edition.

Just a small note to say that, well, we told you so. Spring has finally landed in Michigan, and for once, we’re pretty sure it might stay awhile, at least until May rolls around and summer suddenly appears out of nowhere. Repairs are a little behind schedule. Actually a lot more behind schedule than we like, but well, there is a reason that throughout the long winter months we ask nicely, and repeatedly that everyone bring their repairs in while there’s still snow on the ground.

So, we’re about a week for turn around on repairs. But the sooner you bring it in, the sooner you’ll get it back. Just saying…

And, If you happen to have a bike that’s already here, and done, we’d really like for you to come pick it up, and uhm, help us make a little more space.
This Month’s Tip
Bring your bike in for repair while there’s still snow on the ground, and there’s a reasonable expectation of there being more snow before you get a chance to ride the bike.

Now that that’s over, on to the real advice for the month, small things to do to make the season better:

• Make sure your tires are properly aired up ever before every ride. We know it sounds like something we shouldn’t have to mention, but properly airing your tires does a world of good. Fewer flats, (the glass-and-pothole-induced-flats aren’t included in this because, well, that stuff just needs to be avoided), better ride, and more efficiency. Basically everything they tell you about your car tires, sort of applies to bike tires.
• In the same vein, wear a helmet. Something like an 85% reduction in head injuries just from wearing a helmet. Helmets, however are not a license to do stupid sh*t..
• Lube your chain when it needs it, like if its making noise, or looking like you might be able to enter it in the “most rusted” contest. We use T-9 from Boesheild. Its waxy and doesn’t build up the way some of its competitors do. *cough*white lightning*cough* If you are going to lube your chain, with T-9, spray or drip it on, wait at least two hours, and wipe the excess off. Voila. Well lubed chain.
• Bring a multi tool, patch kit and/or new tube, tire levers and some sort of inflationary device with you. Just because you never know what you might run into, literally and figuratively, on a ride.

News and Notes
In 2007 the League of Michigan Bicyclists asked cyclists about both their impression of the LMB and how well (or possibly not) they were doing with bicycle advocacy and at the same time, asked what bike shops the preferred. Well, we’re happy to announce that we’ve been named one of the LMB’s Consumer’s Choice Bike Shop for 2007. Makes us happy. We love winning awards for doing what we do, but getting a consumer award, instead of an industry one rocks! So we wanted to say thanks for thinking of us as your bike shop, and if the LMB asks again this year, vote for us again! Thanks for making us your bike shop.

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol3 no5

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol3 no5
August 2007

This edition of the Spoken Wrench was going to be brought to you by “L” for le Tour de France, but its over, and far too many people have been accused of and admitted to doping. So this edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by “L” for Light & Motion. Originally, Light & Motion made lights for underwater photography, (you can see their lights in action at the Monterey Bay Aquarium) but a couple years ago, they expanded into bike lights. Tired of big bulky batteries, Light & motion introduced the Vega, a compact handlebar mounted light that was battery and light all in one. This year, they’re going a step further with the Stella, smaller, lighter and brighter than the Vega, which we’ll get to play with in September at Interbike.

Green Cruise!
Every year, around this time car cruises abound, and while I love classic cars, they aren’t the greenest of events, nor are they particularly bike friendly. For a bike driven Cruise, visit the Sierra Club Green Cruise, August 11th. The day begins at 11AM with a 20 mile bike ride, 9.5 and 5.5 mile routes are also available, and begin at 11:30. There will be a parade at 1PM, food from Whole Foods, to follow. For more information visit: http://www.sierraclub.org/grassroots/stories/00012.asp .

Gold Medals!
Antoon won not one, but all four of his events at the 2007 Summer National Senior Games, winning the 5 and 10K time trials, and 20 and 40K road races. Antoon competed in the 74-79 age range bracket at the Olympics which were held in Louisville Kentucky June 22-July 27th. Antoon also won all four of the races he entered at the Michigan Senior Olympics, held earlier this week at the Velodrome at Bloomer Park

More About 29ers!
Its hard to know everything there is to know about a given subject. 29er mountain bikes are no different. Bike-Alog, our database for all that is in the bike world, recently rolled out www.29ermtb.com, to provide everyone with a good source of unbiased information about everything that’s everything in the world of 29ers. There’s a lot of information there, from who makes parts to what frames and configurations are available. So if 29ers are your thing, or you think they might become your thing, www.29ermtb.com is the place to look.

Summer Days are Here Again….
For now. Summer’s here, and that means the days are getting shorter, though not all together cooler. (or not at all cooler, but we’re living in denial about the heat at the moment, or trying in vain to ignore it, depending on the day…) I’m not trying to remind anyone that fall is just around the corner, but it is, and the days are getting a little shorter. Please remember that if you’re going to ride on the road at night, it is state law that you have a head light and tail light. And well, all you night riding mountain bikers should know better than to that without a nice bright headlight (like a Vega…)

Congratulations to the WAM riders.
This year, like usual, the goal was to raise 1 million dollars for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Michigan, to give them the opportunity to grant 125 wishes in the next year. This year, the WAM riders raised $1,340,995! Enough to grant 167 wishes! With three days of riding, and 300 miles to cover, the riders deserve a huge congratulations, both for their efforts in fundraising and their dedication to riding. We’ll see you all again next year.

But they’re Leather!
There is nothing like Brooks saddle, take my word for it, or more appropriately, take Dave’s word for it. We’ve got more Brooks saddles in stock than ever before, from every shape, size and color of B-17, to a special edition hand stitched Swallow that Dave has laid claim to… (If you really want one, we’ll order it for you). We also have a B-17 S, the ladies version of the classic Brooks saddle. If you want something… say softer… an aged Brooks saddle may be the way to go.

Is there a better way to fold?
Now, certainly, the answer to that is that it depends on who you’re asking, and what we’re talking about folding, but it should be obvious that I’m talking about a bike. So what happens when the folding design Dahon pioneered isn’t quite cutting it? Someone comes up with something different… something different, that we’ll be showing off as soon as we get one… Stay tuned for more!

There’s a bike on the wall!
Actually, there’s two, mostly painted track riders on the north side of our building! The mural is the work of local artist Julie Fournier (she was featured in an News/Freepress article a while back) and is only part of what we’re having done in the next few months. Stop by and take a look at our new riders and sign. Fairly soon there will be a matching sign on the other side of the building, where the faded Continental sign is now. Someday, we won’t even have grass, but a more friendly, less attention necessary plant substitute. And no more dandelions.

Continental Bike Shop Bottles!
We’ve had a fair number of requests for out bottles, and they’re finally back in stock. We’ve got both large and small bottles in clear and yellow. If you’ve purchased a bike in the last month and missed out on your free bottle, stop by between now and Labor Day and we’ll be happy to give you one!

This Month’s Tip!
So, this month is the first month, of something we I have been meaning to do, and something that’s been suggested for a while now. As with all information, if you have any questions talk with an expert. And generally, I’m not going to claim that title.

Hydration 101
So its been dreadfully warm out there lately, and humid. Hydration is important all of the time, but we seem to think about it most during the summer when we’re sweating and can see that we’re losing fluids. Generally, for every pound lost immediately during exercise, the body has lost a pint of fluid. It’s a whole lot different when you look at it that way, and far easier to quantify.

Quick tips:

• Staying hydrated means starting before you ride. Drink plenty of water before, during and after activity to keep hydrated without any of the uncomfortable consequences.
• Premixed sports drinks help, because they have sugars and salts that the body looses during exercise. They’re expensive, and sometimes taste funny. Try a few to see what you like.
• Drink consistently, don’t chug anything. That uncomfortable feeling like you’ve just been punched in the stomach means you drank the water too fast and your body can’t handle it, especially if its cold water.
• If you’ve got any other questions about hydration ask your doctor! (I’m not an expert.)