Season Under Way

Looks like the sun may finally come out and make an appearance this Spring. Hopefully that means yard work gets put on hold and we start to hit the roads. We're seeing lots of new product roll into the store from our usual favorite suspects: Serotta, Rocky Mountain, Scott, Felt and Bianchi. One of the newest innovations to be available to us is the new electronic Dura Ace from Shimano. I'll go ahead and predict that this is the future of what we'll see on road bikes in the next 5-10 years. Ultegra electronic may be the very next permutation after the coming generation of mechanical. That means that for some of you, you're next road bicycle will be electronic shifting. I'll be building up my Serotta with Di2 in the next month or so. We've had a chance to play with it and ride it and we think it's cool. The following press release from Pinarello is interesting and informative about some of the features of Di2. Check it out:

Pinarello Prince Di2
 The Prince Electric

In stock now! Limited quantities available.

Pinarello announces the introduction of the Prince Di2 showcasing the new Shimano Dura Ace Di2 electronic gruppo. Shimano has actually made available several versions of this gruppo; including the one Pinarello has chosen for the Prince Di2 which features internal routing of the actuation cables for the electronic componentry.

This Prince was designed by Pinarello's engineers in conjunction with Shimano to eliminate unsightly wiring and the accompanying fasteners. The cables from the levers follow the brake cables under the MOst Talon bar and enter the downtube a short distance from the headtube. This area has been reinforced and features a sealed cover to keep the elements out of the frame. The battery is located below the water bottle cage on the downtube and is attached at an additional boss below the cage and the lower bottle boss. The actuation cables enter and exit the battery pack through another sealed port in the frame and emerge near both the front and rear derailleurs. This creates a very clean line for the cables while keeping the weight of the battery pack as low as possible without the risk of interference with the drivetrain. Everywhere the wiring enters or exits the frame is sealed against the elements and reinforced internally for additional strength.

The geometry and ride characteristics of the Prince Di2 are identical to the Prince FP framesets designed for traditional componentry. The Shimano Dura Ace Di2 electronic gruppo has been thoroughly tested by Pinarello over the last few months and determined to be of outstanding quality and reliability. Once you have ridden this gruppo, you will be amazed at how quickly it shifts and how much effort it really takes to shift a mechanical system. Shimano has designed the system to be able to compensate for maladjustments with an on-board calibration system. The control box, which is conveniently located, but out of the way, under the handlebars on the brake cable shows battery life left as well as the means to recalibrate the system should the need arise. The range of the system is easily 1000+ miles between charges and, in the unlikely event of the battery running low; you will get plenty of warning (and shifts) as the front derailleur will quit shifting approximately 50 shifts before the rear derailleur. This should easily be enough to conclude nearly any ride without being stuck in the wrong gear. In the event of a crash, the wiring is protected inside the frame to avoid damage.

Pinarello is among the very first manufacturers to take advantage of this OEM Di2 system, which offers the cleanest and safest way to offer this first of the next generation of componentry.
 MSRP: $15,900.00

I expect to sell gobs of these so get your deposit in early. Until then, hope fun sunshine.

what's a cross racing bike?

As little as 10 years ago, a cross racing bike was whatever a racer (usually a shop mechanic with spare parts since almost no one else knew what cyclocross was) threw together on any frame that somewhat resembled the right machine for the job of racing cyclocross and then proceeded to go out and race around in the muck and slop. It was great fun. There were a few specialy cross manufacturers available in the US such as Vitus and Alan. A few custom builders offered frames for the truly committed. Many of us simply put narrow knobbies on our mtn. bikes and removed our bar ends. Remember those?

Years ago I dreamed of a cross bike from a custom shop such as Serotta, Gunnar or Waterford. Reality saw me on a hard tail with 1.5 Continental Cross Country tires and a rigid fork installed. Other racers were on similar bikes.

Currently cross bikes have become a legitimate category of bicycle. Every major manufacturer, even if they have zero cross heritage, offers a cross bike. Some just don't work and even though the price ticks in at up to $8K, they still don't get the component specifications right. Like a 34T small chainring on a pro-caliber race bike.

So back to the question of what is a 'cross bike? Currently I'm racing on three Bianchi cross bikes. Two geared and a single speed. They are by far the nicest cross bikes I've ever owned. They aren't ridiculous in price. I passed a couple of $8K Colnagos and Times on the race course and was also passed by a couple of mountain bikes over the race season, the bikes certainly didn't hold me back.

For those truly curious about this fun and far-out faction of cycling on the semi-fringe... a cross bike is whatever you bring to ride and race with us. I've seen regular road bikes on the race course and I think that's awesome. I've seen plenty of mountain bikes out at the races and lot's of cobbled-together franken bikes. Anything is a cross bike.

Be warned: 'cross is the 'crack of cycling' and right now I'm feeling a bit of withdrawl. Trying 'cross hopefully has the same effect on everyone else. At least it's only eight months till 'cross season! See you out there.

Am I slow?

Why yes, I am slow. Do I race? Yes, I do race. Is that ok? Absolutely.

Regardless of whether we ride for fun or trying to have fun and trying to be faster than someone, anyone-it doesn't matter how fast we are. I'm slow. I'm faster than some of you and slower than many of you.

Speed is relative. Even speed on a bike. Graeme Obree is fast. Brent Carpenter that got to carry the Olympic flame isn't fast on that scale but sure has fun. On the continuum of speed there are stops all along the way. The most fun for me is to see where I have moved on that continuum relative to other times and other circumstances. In my younger years, if faster was further to the right, I'm convinced I was much faster than I am now. I rode more, had more time for play and took advantage of it. I'm now further to the left but it's still fun to race and see where I am now relative to the positions that others have stopped at on that same continuum. Whether they are now training and going much faster and I've trained less, or the opposite, it's great to see other progress and hopefully go with them.

Setting goals and realizing that; yes, I did hang onto that group longer than last week is a great reward in itself. For those of us going for a spot on the podium to those simply trying to finish before anyone, racing is good. So yes, slow is a stop I've frequently hovered around but that certainly won't keep me from pinning on a number and getting out and testing myself on the race course. Slow shouldn't stop you either.

New Product Info

Much is going on that is exciting in the product offerings of both road and mountain bikes. This year continues to innovate with many of the current technologies being ridden by the top cyclists in the Tour de France. Sram RED is firmly established as one of the premier road groups. We're developing a good reference base with the new Sram and expect to see even more bike offerings featuring the innovation of this American company.

The road front also forecasts change with Shimano Dura Ace receiving major changes-the first in seven years. Shimano usually sets the benchmark for the industry in terms of performance and availability so expect to see the striking two-tone finish of Dura Ace on the top offerings from the serious road companies. Campagnolo is launching their 75^th anniversary with an amazing 11 cogs fit into the rear cluster. The Super Record name is resurrected to top Record in the Campy offerings. More carbon fiber, new Ergo lever shape, and ceramic bearings push this group to new levels of sophistication and yes, expense.

The mountain side of the sport is developing more travel at less weight. Scott will have an offering with 6” of travel at twenty two pounds. Unbelievable, what was once XC race day only weight ranges will become the new norm for comfortable and capable-all day on any trail. We just received the new Shimano XT 29er wheels. Full UST compatibility, center-lock rotors along with Shimano bearing quality point to one of the best 29er wheelsets available at any price.

In just a few short weeks we'll be getting our hands on all of these new goodies first hand. Until then, this means great things for this years offerings. Our major suppliers are warning of 10-20% cost increases across the board for new products. The weaker dollar, fuel charges, and increased manufacturing costs are some of the reasons for this. The $5000.00 bike you've been saving for may be $6000.00 next year! Though availability is fairly slim, remaining '08 bicycles, wheel upgrades, and parts may be a much better option to waiting.

Get ready. The riding is coming soon.

2009 Dura Ace Goodies

If anyone feels the desire to put their fingers on the new, redesigned 2009 Dura Ace; come down to Joyride Bikes and see it in person. It is as nice as it looks. The 7900 series offers gorgeous finish along with unbelievable weight that likely re-establishes Shimano as the king of road-bike componentry.

Innovations like the newly improved hood shape which allows for a flatter transition from the handlebar to brake hood, hidden-shift cable routing, carbon fiber brake blades and the two tone finish truly set the bar-very high. These improvements along with setting the established benchmark in braking power and control are going to be really fun to ride and race next season.

So, even though pictures and ad copy are ok-come down and put your hands on the new goodness from our friends at Shimano.

Sales, Great Deals and Other Goings Ons:

Though the snow is notably tardy it has slowed down here at Joyride Bikes. Cyclocross season is winding down with the state championships this Saturday. Soon it will be time to go for the most-vertical-feet-descended-in-a-winter-while-standing-sideways goal.

For now though we are still open six-days a week and have some great deals. All remaining longboards from Loaded and Arbor are on sale. 15-20% off of the most technically advanced and artistically vibrant brands on the market.

Cruisers and kids bikes are on sale at 10% off in time for Christmas. Beat the '09 price increases on bikes which remain largely unchanged other than cosmetics.

We have a few remaining road and mountain bikes such as the Scott Contessa Speedsters on sale from $1029.99, an Intense 5.5 EVP built with a SRAM X7 kit for $2499.99. Check with us for other great deals from Bianchi, Felt, and Foes Racing.

For the roadies on your Christmas list we have wheelsets remaining from Zipp - including 404s and Flashpoints, as well as Mavic, Reynolds and Shimano. The hottest new wheelset from Mavic, the R-SYS is on sale for $1049.99 while they last.

On to other news: Curious about Shimano D2 electronic Dura Ace? Plan to see it here this spring. SRAM Red? Had it first last Winter(and have it on sale now). Campy Record 11-speed? Check it out on the Colnago CX-1 pictured above when it arrives:

That's all for now. In January we should have the anticipated Felt AR series of road bikes here. Check them out while you can or wait and try to catch one taking the fast track to finish lines next year.

Cyclocross. The crack of cycling??

I was recently trying to convince a customer of Joyride Bikes to come out and give cyclocross a try. He replied that he had heard 'cross was the 'crack of cycling'. By that he meant extremely addictive. Well, he is probably right.

The history and rise in popularity of cyclocross can be found with our friend google or with Simon Burney's excellent book: Cyclocross, Third Edition. I've been fascinated for years. I've mountain biked. I'm a competent bike handler in sloppy conditions. I've road biked. Cross blends the elements of road strategy, bike handling, equipment selection, and dumb luck into a race format that is distilled and condensed into 45 minutes of hedonistic fun.

It's great for those with short attention spans. It's great for those lacking in fitness (it's only 45 minutes). It takes the crucial strategy of a road race and eliminates the unnecessary miles between the key events. It's great for obsessive-compulsives because equipment selection is vital: what tires? what pressure? what gearing? It allows innovation in thinking whereas most road-race bikes fit nicely into molds of what works and what doesn't. It's great for tacticians because there is usually a right place that can make or break a race. One mistake can take you out of the running. It's great as a social venue because we're not road snobs. It almost feels like mountain bike racing did 15+ years ago.

Cross is easy to get into. That old hardtail that sits in the garage? Some minor work and it's an ideal entry-level 'cross steed. The hybrid you thought you'd commute on? Just about perfect. I've even seen people cross racing on regular road bikes. Run what you brung. Also, if you need another excuse: 'cross bikes are the perfect, versatile do-most-everything bike you can have in your stable. Keep the carbon fiber wonder bike inside when't it's rotten. Ride the 'cross! Need a commuter? Ride the 'cross! Want to connect roads via dirt roads? Ride the 'cross! Want to improve your technical abilities on a mtn. bike? Ride the 'cross! Want to try a crit where you're 99% sure some category 5 guy wants to take you out? Ride the 'cross!

Opportunities to ride cross are abounding. Excuses are few. There's your invitation. Come out and cross with us this fall and find out what the addiction is about - at least most of what you'll see at a cyclocross race is legal.