Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no12

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no12
Post Interbike, in which I remove my foot from my mouth, edition.

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by Interbike. No letters this time. There’s still plenty we haven’t talked about, and a few corrections to be made. And an assurance to Jason and Travis that, yes, I do plan on posting what they thought about the bikes….

So without further ado, I will begin with the corrections and continue onto the other important stuff.

Corrections:
1.Repair classes.
2.Schwinn.
All Women’s Clothing 40% off!!!
Interbike…
Jason’s Picks
Travis’ Picks
My Picks
What really happens in Vegas.

Correction #1: Repair Classes.
Last time, I stated that Repair Classes were 6 weeks long. No, they are not. Each session is 4 weeks long. I apologize for any confusion. Jason corrected me first this Tuesday morning, so I’m passing that on.

Correction #2: Schwinn.
Ok, first of all, Schwinn of Chicago fame, the great American bike company that everyone grew up with? Yeah, they don’t exist anymore. Somewhere in the quest for money and world domination, they sold more than their souls. So from a historical standpoint, this is a monumental year for the name. From a ‘should I buy one standpoint?’ no, no you shouldn’t buy a Schwinn, you should buy a bike made by Richard Schwinn. And that’d be a Waterford.

Schwinn is not celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Paramount however, is. And its the first American made frame in, uh, decades. Two and a half of them to be exact. That frame is the one made by Mr Richard Schwinn, who happens to run Waterford and Gunnar. Its pretty and a piece of history. But not a bike we need.

Women’s Clothes!
All of our women’s clothing is 40% off. Now’s a good time to get some new jerseys, shorts, gloves, jackets and the like. Socks and shoes not included. Obviously, in stock only. Come on in ans try em on. Sale stuff like this is final.

Interbike…
Some day, we will get tired of talking about Interbike, but not yet. I had promised more commentary and reviews of stuff we liked, and that may be all well and good, but Jason also pointed out that this needs to be timely, and if we don’t talk about it now, it’ll be January before we’re done talking about new bikes. So without further ado, everyone else’s picks and then maybe some of the stuff that missed the mark.

Feel free to disagree with that last part. Actually, feel free to disagree always, at least with the opinion part of stuff.

Jason says:
Best Road Bike: Cannondale SuperSix. It’s light, stiff through the bottom bracket, responsive, and yet, won’t beat you up over Michigan roads, unlike a lot of other manufacturers who are making bikes too stiff for our roads.

Best Mountain Bike: Giant Trance XO. It’s super efficient, fast, light and has lots of travel. The Trance XO also sports the new 15mm QR standard. Yes, we admit, we thought it was a ploy. But Jason swears it tracks far better, its stiffer and its not just another QR standard.

One thing to take home: Campagnolo Super Record 11. With redesigned levers that are even more comfortable than the already super friendly Campy levers, Super Record 11 is really the next great grouppo. Who needs electronic shifting when you have 11 gears that run like butter?

Travis’ Picks

Best Mountain Bike: Kona Coilair

One Thing to take home: Truvativ HammerSchmidt. That’s a mouth full. What is it? Front derailleurs have long been the bane of lots of people’s existence. The are the first thing to go in search of less hassle, especially on a mountain bike. Well, Truvativ, as they say ‘Powered by SRAM,’ knows that. And they went in search of a better way to get two gears in the front, without all the moving parts. The HammerSchmidt has two planetary gears, like a three speed hub and works with an X-type SRAM shifter. The best part, like those three speeds, dirt, mud, muck and what not are no match for it.

My Picks. (Me being Liz.)
So, I missed Demo Days. I didn’t get to ride anything while in Vegas. I’m ok with that. Heat and dry and me didn’t get along last time anyway. So this is all the stuff I thought looked cool. And the Minxy, I’d take home in a heartbeat.

One thing to take home: Kona Minxy. I’ve never wanted a full suspension mountain bike. I have a Kona Lava Dome and I love it. But I’d take up mountain biking worthy of this bike if someone would give me a Minxy. Its a women’s specific frame. And I’m ok with that. Its not painted pink, purple, or any other unfortunate color. Its black with a nice angry looking tiger on the head and down tubes. It looks cool. I’m sure, since its a Kona and well, this is what they do, it would be perfect for the kind of riding I’m admittedly a little scared to try. But now, I really want to try it, and that’s probably the biggest hurdle to get over.

From Interbike 2008

Coolest Bike I didn’t pick to take home: That would be a tie between the Kona Kapu and the Bianchi Dolomiti. I have a soft spot for steel. I’ve never had the joy of owning a lugged steel road frame, but there is yet hope. Both the Kapu and the Dolomiti are lugged steel. And despite swearing I’d never own another yellow bike, the Kapu is growing on me. Celeste was also a color I’d really never planned on owning, but there’s something about a Campy equipped lugged steel frame that’s just perfect.

From Interbike 2008

From Interbike 2008

What really happens in Vegas.
Vegas is not necessarily where we’d choose to hold Interbike, given the chance. But, no one can come up with a better idea, and the show signed another five year contract with the Sands, so for the foreseeable future, Interbike will be in Vegas. None of us really gamble, but there’s plenty of other things we can get into. And fortunately or unfortunately, there’s usually photographic evidence.

From What really happens in Vegas

From What really happens in Vegas

From What really happens in Vegas

From What really happens in Vegas

Interbike!

Tour de Troit

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no8

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no8
Its August and someone’s forgotten to turn off the HEAT, edition.

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter “U” for unicycles and unified fronts. Now, I’m pretty certain that everyone knows what a unicycle is. For those that don’t, its one wheel with a crank, that you pedal. You can’t coast. Sometimes, if they’re really tall, they’ll have a chain. (think circus clowns on unicycles.) What I doubt most people know, is that there are some very adventurous people who mountain bike on them. I’m not one of them, though we’ve seen a number of downhill and mountain unicycles.

As for united fronts, read on to find out what the City of Detroit decided about bikes and licenses for bikes in the city.

Bike Licenses go Away.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008, Detroit City Council voted 7-0 to repeal the 1964 city ordinance that allowed police to issue $55 tickets to anyone without a license beginning 7 August. It was a pretty unenforceable law, that some of the people who went to City Council on Monday had already been ticketed for. So, thankfully, the city’s done something intelligent this summer. I will leave all other comments about Detroit politics for sharing over beer with your best mates. So, Thanks to everyone who’s worked so hard to make the City of Detroit a little more bike friendly, and especially everyone who went and spoke in front of the the public health and safety committee.

Jersey de Amarillo
No, there’s not a new race beginning this fall, the Vuelta a España awards the Jersey de Oro, the Gold Jersey. But this year’s Tour de France winner was Carlos Sastre, CSC rider from Spain. It seemed like a fairly dope-free tour, which makes for better racing, if less news and hype surrounding the tour. The next big race is the Vuelta which begins 30 August in Granada, Spain, near the Mediteranian coast of Spain.

New BMX Racing!
Question: What can you put on land that is constantly settling?
Answer: A BMX Track.

Now that’s important because Lise Blades, Chair of the Lyon Township Parks Committee wants to use part of James F. Atchison Memorial Park (situated conveniently, between 96 and Grand river, just east of Kensington Metropark) for a BMX race track. The park was constructed on a closed landfill, and while permanent structures won’t stand up to the settling, a dirt track really wont mind it, who knows, it could add character. Now, Blades is looking for help to get the project going.

If BMX is your thing, or you’d like to get involved, check out http://www.newhudsonbmx.blogspot.com/ for the latest news and progress on the New Hudson Track.

And, as an added bonus, BMX makes its medal debut this year at the Olympics. If you want to watch, all cycling events will take place 9-23 August, but how much coverage cycling will get, we don’t know yet. Be sure to check CBC-9 and NBC for their schedule of Olympic events.

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no4

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no4March Madness Make the Snow Stop! Edition

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter “R,” you know, as in repair. Spring has sprung in Michigan, despite the snow, and what anyone may think. April is just around the corner, meaning that better riding weather, longer days, and longer repair turnarounds will follow close behind… We’ve tried, for as long as we’ve been here to convince people that winter, when you’re not thinking of riding, not thinking about your bike is really the best time to have it worked on. Despite our best efforts, no one seems to listen. So, spring is here, and so is the need for a repair, and, no, I’m sorry, you will have to leave your bike, and no, you can’t have it back tomorrow.

The Big Dummy is Here!

No, we’re not calling anyone names, the Big Dummy is Surly’s answer to some very high gas prices. Think you can’t commute because you’ve got too much stuff to bring with you? Surly has solved that problem. Using Xtracycle’s Freeradical frame as a starting point, the Big Dummy can carry a week’s worth of groceries, a surf board (not that you really need a surf board in Michigan), another bike, your friends, a sheepdog, or just the day’s stuff. There’s endless ways to use your Big Dummy. We’ve been using ours to get to and from lunch and everywhere else in Hazel Park.

Let Levi Ride!

In 2007 Astana ran afoul of the ASO (the people who own the Tour de France) and the UCI. For 2008, the new home of Levi Leipenheimer, and Alberto Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour, Astana hasn’t been invited to the 2008 Tour de France. If you think Levi should ride (since he’s the English speaker pushing hardest to get Astana onto the Tour) visit LetLeviRide.com and add your name to the petition. If you think that two years worth of doping scandals means that Astana shouldn’t ride, well, don’t sign the petition, and I can’t necessarily disagree with you.

April Fools!

Tuesday is April 1st. April Fools’ Day is here, and with it comes our annual sale. Spring is here, just ignore the snow, and get ready to ride. We’ll be open 8AM -7PM for the sale, so everyone has enough time to make it in. We will not be extending the sale to Wednesday, it’s a one day only event. We hope to see you there, and as always, bring a friend! Its always more fun to ride with company!

.

It’s a mountain bike! No, It’s a Hybrid!

No, it’s both. It happens to be the 2008 Cannondale 29’er 4. 29’ers have been a hot topic of conversation for a while now, and we know why. If you really are planning on mountain biking, and yet you know you’re going to need to ride your bike on the road, a 29’er is the way to go. With larger wheels, you get better momentum, and with a quick change of the tire, you’ve got a very nicely equipped hybrid that can handle, literally, everything you might want to throw at it.

In the Navy!

Kevin’s keeping busy in the Navy, in Japan. In addition to being a Hospitalman, Kevin is part of the Auxiliary Security Forces (ASF). Here’s what the Navy says:

080317-N-4649C-022 YOKOSUKA, Japan (March 17, 2008) Hospitalman Kevin Martin, a native of Gregory, Mich., stationed at U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan, practices knee strikes as Grove Hill, Ala.-native Postal Clerk Seaman Apprentice Charles Motes, assigned to Fleet Industrial Supply Center (CFA) Yokosuka assists during auxiliary security force (ASF) training at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka. Sailors from various commands around Yokosuka make up the ASF team, which assists the CFA security force. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chantel M. Clayton (Released)

We’re Having a Sale!

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no3
Leap Year, Still Cold, Edition

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the numbers 4 and 29.  Every four years, we have the opportunity to vote, watch the summer Olympic Games, and celebrate 366 days in the year.  To celebrate the 29th day of February, we’ve decided to have a sale.  See how that works, we want to celebrate, you get to save money.  Sounds good to me.

Hope to see you there!

Bring a friend, bring lots of friends.  Save lots of money!  (The bringing of friends is not necessary not does it mean greater savings, but it would make us <I>very</I> happy.)

Patent pending Spoken Wrench humor not included. See Shop for details.

 

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no2a

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no2a
Correction and Clarification Edition

After reading the previous Spoken Wrench, and a reminder from Randy, I realized I didn’t say how or where to RSVP to…

So, if you would like to RSVP for either event, you may, as some of you have done, and I appreciate, reply via email, or you can call the shop 248 545 1225 and let whoever picks up the phone know you’ll be attending one of our awesome slide shows. Which are, as always, more than slides: lots of talking, background on the event and food. And drinks. Hence the need for an RSVP.

RSVP for Beth Brandvain’s Copper Canyon coolness by February 4. and for Dave’s version of the L’Eroic by February 20. Please let us know who you are and how many friends you might be bringing with you.

So plan on making an appearance at one or both events and we hope to see you there! Tell your friends! (make them RSVP too!)

-the ever-apologetic-that-I-had-to-make-a-correction, but I’m learning to spell, Wrench Wench, Liz.

In case you missed it, here’s the pertinent section of the previous Spoken Wrench.

Up and Coming Happenings at Continental Bike Shop
We’ve got two slide shows happening in the next month. First, Beth Brandvain will be showing off her new Cannondale Rush and the workout it got recently in Copper Canyon Mexico, February 6th at 7PM. Four times the size of the Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon covers 25,000 square miles. (That’s a lot to ride!) With some very cool looking photos, and a whole lot to talk about, it looks like one very interesting night! Please RSVP for this event by February 4th so we’ve got an idea of how many people will be coming and how much refreshments we’ll need.

Second, on February 22nd, Dave will be presenting his photos from the 2006 L’Eroica Ride in Tuscany. In case you’ve never heard of the L’Eroic ride, Brooks England, the leather saddle people, say this about it in their 2006 ‘Book for Cyclists’:

As can be read from one of our old catalogues, Brooks saddles were once the choice of all participants at the Tour de France. Of course, time and technology has moved on, but the atmosphere of that bygone era can still be experienced at L’Eroica, the world’s most grueling daily cycle tour.

At the end of each summer the village of Gaiole in Tuscany, Italy, plays host to a community of cyclists determined to keep the spirit of that era alive. The don period clothing and ride vintage bikes which, given the course, can only be described as truly heroic. A set of dirt courses ranging from the easy 40km to the hardest 200km tour await the participants who ride L’Eroica.

As usual, we will provide refreshments and food. Tell your neighbors, bring friends! And we hope to see you there! Please RSVP for Beth’s slide show by February 4th and by February 20th for Dave’s slide show.

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no1

Continental Bike Shop presents the Spoken Wrench vol4 no1
January, It’s a New Year! Edition

This edition of the Spoken Wrench is brought to you by the letter “P,” for past editions of the Spoken Wrench. There’s a lot of important, useable, and otherwise cool information that ends up in the Spoken Wrench, but it’s been hard to find a way to archive it online. But, I had an epiphany a while ago, and now issues of the Spoken Wrench going back to May 2007 (vol3 no3) are available on our website. So if there’s something you missed, or a Tip of the Month that you’d like to go back and reread, you’ll find most of 2007 online. AS 2008 and volume 4 of the Spoken Wrench get on their way, you’ll find the current edition of the Spoken Wrench there too.

Spin Classes?
We’ve had some interest in spin classes, but we don’t run them, Team in Training does. To participate in spinning classes at Continental you need to be signed up for Team in Training. To do this, you can check out the Michigan Chapter of Team in Training’s Website here.
Dates for spin classes are:
Wednesday February 13th
Saturday February 16th
Wednesday February 27th
Saturday March 1st
Wednesday March 12th
Saturday March 15th
Wednesday March 26th
Saturday March 29th
Spinning classes in March are weather dependent, so if its nice out, rides will be outside. Otherwise we’ll be keeping company with Team in Training through the end of March.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
If you’ve been into the shop recently, you’ve seen our new chalkboards, with most of our repair prices on them. If you haven’t, come on by and take a look at the new chalkboards. They’re fun and we think it’s a good idea that you can see right away what your repair might cost, and have an idea of how your estimate breaks down. The menu boards fit with the eclectic feel of the back room, with the bar and the coffee (if you missed it, we’ve now got coffee, hot chocolate and a variety of teas), for a fun ‘Come on in, have a seat, stay a while’ kind of feel.

Up and Coming Happenings at Continental Bike Shop
We’ve got two slide shows happening in the next month. First, Beth Brandvain will be showing off her new Cannondale Rush and the workout it got recently in Copper Canyon Mexico, February 6th at 7PM. Four times the size of the Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon covers 25,000 square miles. (That’s a lot to ride!) With some very cool looking photos, and a whole lot to talk about, it looks like one very interesting night!

Second, on February 22nd, Dave will be presenting his photos from the L’Eroica Ride in Tuscany. In case you’ve never heard of the L’Eroic ride, Brooks England, the leather saddle people, say this about it in their 2006 ‘Book for Cyclists’:

As can be read from one of our old catalogues, Brooks saddles were once the choice of all participants at the Tour de France. Of course, time and technology has moved on, but the atmosphere of that bygone era can still be experienced at L’Eroica, the world’s most grueling daily cycle tour.

At the end of each summer the village of Gaiole in Tuscany, Italy, plays host to a community of cyclists determined to keep the spirit of that era alive. The don period clothing and ride vintage bikes which, given the course, can only be described as truly heroic. A set of dirt courses ranging from the easy 40km to the hardest 200km tour await the participants who ride L’Eroica.

As usual, we will provide refreshments and food. Tell your neighbors, bring friends! And we hope to see you there!

Attitude and Cynicism, Bike Shop Style.
We’re a pretty opinionated bunch around here. Same goes for, well all the riders, shop employees, and to some extent, the industry people we’ve ever come in contact with. We all know what’s right and best, despite what everyone else thinks is right and best. Every once and a while, someone comes along and does ‘right and best’ better, and with way more attitude than even we’ve got, and we have to tip our heads to them, even if we don’t always agree with their interpretation of ‘right and best.’ So, if you like reading blogs, or you might like to start, we recommend Bike Snob NYC. Like I mentioned earlier, we don’t agree with everything he says, but we enjoy reading it and laughing uproariously.