Last week Cambridge Bicycle was invited to an event with the MIT Transportation Department to promote cycling in the MIT community. Ben, Bill, and Bud represented the shop for community outreach. Students, staff, and faculty stopped by for air in their tires, oil for their chain, and a quick safety check to make sure their bikes were road-ready. We also were able to give away some bike maps from the City of Boston, pamphlets on bike safety and laws from the Cambridge Police, and some great general advice and tips on riding in the city and bike maintenance.

We were there for four hours and it was super busy the entire time. We got to meet a bunch of friendly people from MIT while we were there – here are a few of the people we met and helped with their bikes.

We had a ton of fun during the clinic. If you work for or attend MIT be sure to keep an eye out for the next one.

Looking for your next all weather commuter or mixed-terrain bike? We have the Jamis Nova Sport in stock. It’s an aluminum frame, disc brake ‘cross frame outfitted with Shimano 2300 components (with compact double crankset) and Tektro brakes. It’s also outfitted with file tread tires that work great on pavement, and hug the trails at low pressure. The frame and fork have rack and fender eyelets for commuting and light touring. The 2013 Nova Sport is only $850. You can spot this one in our window display, but ask our sales staff for a test ride.

The Green is back and better than ever! KHS has stepped up their game with this complete redesign of their time-tested Green series. We just received a shipment of the Green 3 in blue, black, and yellow for the stepthrough frame. Check out the details:

The 2013  Green is based around a new steel frame with a Shimano Nexus 3 speed wheelset. They’ve kept the painted metal fenders, rear rack, and metal chainguard. What’s new are the silver, swept back handlebars. front AND rear v-brake (no coaster brake!) and mid-point eyelets on the fork blades. Needless to say, the revisions also clue and aesthetic upgrade. Despite all the improvements the Green is still affordable at just $439.  We can special order the Green 8, which has a Reynolds 520 chromoly frameset and Nexus 8 speed hub.  All sizes and color of the Green 3 speed  are on display on our sales floor. Ask our sales staff for a test ride.

Our Chrome inventory is now refreshed! We again have the Chrome Mini Metro, Citizen, and Metropolis single-strap messenger bags in multiple colors, including their blacked-out Night Series. We also have the Bravo and New Soyuz backpacks, the Soma sling bag, and Niko camera bag. Chrome accessories, such as their tool bag, accessory pouch, and brick phone holsters are fully restocked. Come get a new bag for summer!

It’s light. It’s fast. It’s super versatile. The 2013 Diamondback Steilacoom CCX is a fantastic do-it-all machine whether you’re looking to speed up your commute, conquer some rougher roads or trails on the weekend, or enter your first ‘cross race.  This light and stiff aluminum frame comes with a BB30 bottom bracket to increase stiffness and power transfer but also has super thin seat stays to make for a compliant and comfortable ride. It’s paired with a carbon fork with a tapered steer for better handling, climbing, and sprinting. We have it with Shimano’s newly revised 2×9 Sora components, and at only $1050 it’s a high performance ride at an affordable price and is available for special order with higher-end components.

We love steel alloy bikes because nothing has the same ride feel. Raleigh’s 2013 Roper uses their own seamless steel tubeset, Shimano 105 components, and a disc brakes.  Raleigh designed it around a BB30 bottom bracket shell for additional power transfer, also allowing for a possible single-speed conversion for those who like a project bike. The Roper comes with rack and fender eyelets on the frame as well as couple spare spokes on chainstay carrier braze-ons, allowing it to be a year-round commuter, touring bike, or mixed use road bike. Whether you’re using it for fun, racing, or transportation, the Roper will always be a great ride. Make one yours for just $1500.

Bianchi’s Volpe has been a perennial favorite of ours. This classic bike makes a great classic touring bike, commuter and mixed-used road bike. The Volpe is based around Bianchi’s butted steel alloy tubing for the frame, clearance for 700x37c tires (with fenders!), and full rack and fender eyelets. On the frame are a durable set of wheels plus a consistent, durable, and smooth shifty Shimano Tiagra 3×10 drivetrain.  This is a perfect option for those who are looking for a durable but swift comfortable commuter bike or for those who do a variety of riding – dirt roads, paved roads, fully loaded with panniers or not – this bike can handle it all.  The Volpe is also owned by members of our staff, and is a high-value recommendation at just $1299.

Freshly restocked are Linus bags and accessories for spring. We now have multiple colors of our favorite bags such as their Market Bag, Sac, and Pouch (above). We also have their front and rear racks, lights, grips, and saddles. also in are a few new additions for our 2013 selection…

Josh is modeling their new waxed canvas Satchel shoulder bag and pannier. It’s water resistant, comes with sturdy coated steel hooks that will fit most racks, and has two lengths of shoulder straps which are removable.

We also have the Pipette in several colors. It’s a great waxed canvas, water resistant handlebar bag with leather straps. It also makes a great saddle bag if you have a saddle with bag loops, such as a Brooks.

We also have the brand new Shopper folding pannier. It’s made from sturdy coated canvas and makes a great carry-all, such as for day trips or shopping. When it’s not in use it uses sturdy velcro fastencers so you can fold it away and reduce drag. Like their other panniers, it features a brass ring and even comes with a padlock so you can secure it to your rack without worrying about it being stolen.

These bags and accessories look great on a Linus, but they by no means only work with them. If you have a beloved commuting bike or classic city bike, one of these may just be a splendid way of refreshing your bike for summer. Feel welcome to bring in your bike and ask our sales staff for help picking out a new rack, bag, set of grips, or other accessory.

This rarely happens with us, but right now we have three kid’s bikes in stock. Regularly we have zero of these – so get them while they last! The following used bikes are in stock and ready for a new home:

Used Raleigh Retro 20″ – $140

Used Diamondback RM 16″ – $95

Used Trek 16″ – $125

As with our other used bikes, these are first come, first served and sold as is. We cannot place these on hold – stop by soon!

For a limited time Raleigh is offering a $50 rebate for selected aluminum 2013 models and $100 for their selected carbon options. We have a number of models in stock this would apply to, such as the Misceo hybrid with disc brakes, the Revenio Carbon 1.0 road bike, as well as their Talus 29 hardtail, Misceo sport hybrid, and more. This rebate would also apply to any Raleigh special orders on bikes we normally don’t inventory, such as their cyclocross and road options. Below are just a few models that we stock that are eligible for the rebate. Next time you’re in, ask a sales person for help with a test ride.

Raleigh Revenio Carbon 1.0 with Shimano Tiagra – $1800 before rebate

Raleigh Talus 29 Sport – alloy 29er hardtail, $800 before rebate

Raleigh Talus 29 – alloy 29er hardtail, just $650 before rebate

Raleigh Misceo – alloy hybrid with disc brakes – only $550 before rebate

Bicycling Magazine just gave the 2013 Jamis Dragon 29 Sport an Editors’ Choice Award for Best Value Hardtail. We are now doubly-excited to have one in stock. To quote their review:

All three bikes in this category had spirited rides. But the Jamis rode away from the pack, thanks to its steel frame that took the edge off rocks, ruts and other trail obstacles. We didn’t expect to find such a damped, refined ride on a bike at this price. “It rode like it cost much more,” said one tester.

We agree wholeheartedly – the Dragon 29 Sport is definitely a shop favorite.

We just restocked our selection of Shimano footwear. We’re fully stocked with tons of sizes of shoes for road, mountain, cyclocross, commuting, and touring – and pedals as well. We’ve also added a new model to our lineup, pictured above: Shimano’s UT70 commuter shoe with the new SPD Click’R system.

While the UT70 is compatible with any two-bolt cleat, it comes stock with a plastic plate that engages with an SPD pedal. This system is designed for city riders who need a shoe that’s easy to walk in, and easy to clip out of. The plastic cleat rests flush with the rest of the UT70′s sole, making it incredibly natural to walk in with more traction, less noise, and a more natural feeling than with a standard clipless cleat. This system comes with a new pedal option by Shimano, as well:

The new Click’R pedal is an SPD pedal with an external plastic body. This design allows for more shoe-to-pedal contact for extra stability, comfort, and control.  It also gives you more pedal to land on if you miss your cleat, especially when starting and stopping in traffic.  While this system is a great commuter option for the experienced cyclist, it’s also fully compatible with standard SPD cleats and would make a great setup for anyone looking for an easier transition into riding clipless.  We’re excited about this innovated take on the venerable SPD system.  Stop by an ask a salesperson to check them out.