Blog 2006—2018
Blog 2006—2018
Come to our next after hours event!
You're warmly invited to a fun evening of stories, bikes, snacks, and beer at Cambridge Bicycle! Our very own mechanic, Spencer, and his wife Sam, will be telling their tale of a multi-week bike tour through Japan from earlier this year. Come hear of their adventures and be inspired to go on one of your own! Spencer and Sam's talk will be hosted at our shop on Thursday 10/11 at 7:30 PM....
Welcome New Customers!
Have you recently relocated to our fair city? We're excited to offer a warm welcome to all new cyclist, or cycling-curious residents of Cambridge! Cambridge Bicycle is approaching our 20th year serving the Cambridge cycling community. We're honored to have had the opportunity of two-decades-worth of outfitting countless people with fun and safe bicycles for adventures in the city and beyond....
Intro to Bike Camping with Swift Industries
Camping season is finally here, and we’re focusing on helping you make the most of it! Join us this Sunday in our shop for an Intro to Bike Camping workshop with the founder/owner/creative director of Swift Industries, Martina! Doors open at 6:30, presentation starts at 7! Martina's presentation is focused on executing a bike camping adventure with an emphasis on accessibility and...
Keith’s Cinelli MASH Work
We are absolutely fired up about the chance to build a new 2017 Cinelli MASH Work frame, almost as excited as Keith was about selecting components discerningly and getting the project together. Lots of choice components here from the old standbys - Thomson stem and seatpost, SRAM omnium cranks, VP-001 pedals, Panaracer Pasela PT tires - to the more unique: check out the purple anodized Mini...
New Year’s Day Ramble
I was invited to small group ride on New Year's Day, which ended up being just five of us by the 9:30 rollout. Myself, Sandy, our salesperson Rob, and our new friend Annemarie ventured out to Acton and back for a nearly perfect 50 mile ride. It started with donuts, coffee, and quiet city streets. We scrambled over a frozen Minuteman Trail, eventually leaving it in favor of sleepy rural...
Cinelli Mash Work Custom Build
Just wrapped up a simply gorgeous custom build with a Cinelli Mash frame. Our customer chose nothing but the best for this one, including H+Son Archetypes laced to White Industries track hubs we built in house. Parts highlights: White Industries freewheel and ENO crankset, Chris King headset, Thomson carbon handlebars, Panaracer Gravel King tires, Brooks Cambium saddle and grips, Paul...
Chris King Restock
Who doesn't love a quality, US-made good? We're fully stocked with Chris King Aheadsets in both 1" and 1 1/8" standard, as well as 1" 2Nut headsets in stock. Colors include timeless black and silver, turqoise, sour apple green, and orange mango. While you're waiting for us to install your new headset, why not enjoy a drink out of a color-matched cappuccino cup? Just $16 for a cup and...
New CB Bottles and Caps
We like you, do you like us? We've got new goodies for the fans. We're fully stocked on Cambridge Bicycle caps in a new colorway - by local designer Beverly Hsu and made by Walz Caps in California. The caps look great on the Cinelli Gazetta Della Strada above, but we think they'd look even better on you. For your hydration needs we have new Purist bottles with our classic 2010 logo on it....
Surly Wednesday in Stock
Why not enjoy cycling all season? If you're interested in 12-month cycling, on the road or in the woods, we've got a ton of options for you here. There's nothing quite like the Surly Wednesday pictured above to get you out of your routine any time of the year. Spring's right around the corner, but there's no good reason not to enjoy riding a bike today.
Brandon’s Kazane Rebuild
Brandon came into the shop recently with a Kazane track frame, a mix of parts, and a mission. We helped him rebuild the bike with a mix of his old parts and new. Upgrades included a fork and cockpit (Cinelli Pepper riser bars, FSA Orbit headset, and a new stem), an awesome Cinelli Unicantor saddle, and sleek pedal assembly (All-city toe cages and leather toe straps on MKS pedals). All other...
Staff Ride Report – NEMBA trails in NH
Something amazing about our bike shop is that despite our urbane location, we have a huge interest of mixed-terrain and off-road cycling on staff. What's even more amazing is that Boston is a great city to be in for this kind of riding. I took a rental-car escape the other day to get out of town and back in the woods and ended up at Pawtuckaway State Park in southern NH - less than an hour and...
Absolutely Incredible Fall Sale
We've got prices dropping like oh so many color leaves from our bountiful Cambridge trees. We're going all Gwen Stefani-style BANANAS with these deals: All in-stock Linus BIKES at 15% off! This includes their Dutchi 1, Dutchi 3, Roadster Sport, and Mixte 3 models with free tune-ups for one year 2015 and prior 650b, 29er, and 700c Mavic wheel systems are now 30% off! All in-stock...
Introducing Yuba Bikes
We stock all sorts of racks and baskets from a variety of brands, but sometimes we all feel like we need something more tailored for heavy duty use. That's why we brought in Yuba. You'll see these longtail cargo bicycles all over Cambridge and Boston, and they're designed from the ground up for practical, everyday utility cycling: Yuba's Boda Boda 8 is a fantastic cargo bike for Cambridge. With...
Aluminum Road Bike Sale 6/27 – 7/3
We're kicking off July with a sale on all in-stock road and mixed-terrain bicycles: 2015 and 2014 Bianchi Volpe - Was $1299, sale - 15% off 2015 and 2014 Bianchi Lupo - Was $1050, sale - 15% off 2015 Bianchi Nirone Tiagra - size 57cm only- Was $1249 now 20% off 2015 Jamis Ventura Comp - Was $950, 10% off 2015 Jamis Ventura Race - 54cm and 58cm only - Was $1099, now 15% off 1015 Jamis Icon Pro -...
Preview of our new caps
We're excited to announce we have an all-new cap coming out soon. Our friend, the lovely and talented Beverly Hsu, made us a design based on the cityscape surrounding the shop in Cambridge and Boston. The caps themselves are sublimated and sewed together by Walz Caps in California. We just received a test run and Valentin was a good sport and modeled one so we could give you a glimpse: ...
MIPS Helmets are in!
Ever since the technology was first discussed, we've been anticipating having MIPS not just available in the US, but in stock in our shop. We're excited to say that we have four new helmets with this feature: the Savant MIPS, Feather MIPS, Sutton MIPS, and Sonnet MIPS. What does MIPS do? Basically, it provides a secondary safety measure to prevent concussions and injury from angular rotations...
Brooks Cambium Slender Grips Are Here
You have the tried and true weatherproof vegan Cambium C17 saddle or one of it's variants, what's better than completing your bike with matching grips? We have you covered with the new Cambium grips withe the same fabric as the Cambium and dyed to match. We have Slate, Rust, and Natural (white) for the commuter in your life, and the new Cambium handlebar tape for road bars. We installed a set...
Stuck Seatposts are No Good!
Some days are just the pits - like when you go to adjust your saddle height and the thing won't even budge. Above, Pete is attempting to break the bond of corrosion holding a carbon post in an aluminum frame with the tactical soda - one of the many solvents he's used for this customer's frame. If you've gone longer than 4-6 months without treating your seatpost with grease,...
Introducing Endura Clothing
Our brand new clothing display is brimming with winter and spring apparel. We have options for women and men by Endura including waterproof hardshells, socks and gloves, helmet liners, and their BaaBaa merino wool baselayers. Also in are knee and arm warmers, overshoes, padded casual shorts, and much, much more. Between our wide selection of clothes and our overhauled and reopened changing room,...
Service Area Spotlight: Custom Wheelbuilding
Pete and Alex (featured) are two of our primary wheelbuilders on staff. A custom, hand built wheel offers a wide array of rim, hub, and spoke choices for either high demand cycling, or for unique projects where a stock rim is just not available. We frequently offer hand built wheels for heavy-duty commuters, cycle tourists, and road cyclists who need the reliability...
First Look: 2015 Raleigh Tamland 1
What, exactly, is the Raleigh Tamland series all about? While some may simply label it as a "gravel/endurance" model, we think of it as much, much more. We like it because it's made with Reynolds 631 frame with a steel fork, outfitted with 11-speed Shimano 105 components, TRP Spyre disc brakes, and is based around 700x40 tire size with room to spare. The Tamland isn't simply a cyclocross bike...
Kryptonite Lightweight Mini-6 Lock
Bike locks are a love/hate relationship. We love them because they keep our bikes from being stolen, but we hate them because usually the stronger they are, the more they weigh. Kryptonite just solved this dilemma with their new Evolution Lite Mini-6 - a strong lock that's easy to carry. Compared to the classic Evolution Mini, the Mini Lite promises the same security while shaving half a pound....
First Look: 2015 Raleigh Roper
Raleigh's Roper cyclocross bike is here for 2015, with a twist. For 2015 Raleigh ditched drop bars in favor for a 31.8 riser bar with a Shimano Alivio 1x9 drivetrain. The Roper's frameset has the same tested design: disc brakes, rack and fender eyelets, responsive geometry, and now it's made with Reynolds 525 tubing. It's fine-tuned as an ideal setup for an all weather, 12-month urban...
Prospect Hill, Waltham
Hard to believe this is barely 11 miles from the shop. Winter's not here yet. Get out and ride!
Giro Alpineduro Waterproof Boots
Nobody likes wet or cold feet. The new Giro Alpineduro boot is our new go-to option for riding through the worst New England offer. It has all the features in a mountain biking, touring, or commuting shoe: compatibility with both platform and clipless pedals, waterproof outer, insulated liner, anti-microbal inner, and a grippy, long lasting Vibram sole. When it comes to late fall, winter, and...
Columbus Day Hours and Sale Bikes
We are open standard hours this holiday weekend (Monday we'll be open from 10 AM to 7 PM). It's that time of year where we have to move things along. We have the following bikes on closeout* effective immediately until they sell: Road Bikes on Sale 2014 Jamis Xenith Comp, 54cm, 58cm - was: $2100, now 20% off 2013 Raleigh Revenio Carbon, 54cm - Full carbon with Tiagra - was: $1800 now 25% off...
Brooks Cambium C15 Is Now Here!
Many of you have bought the Brooks Cambium C17 saddle from us since it came out last fall and now we've got the first batch of C15s available for those seeking a narrower, more aggressive saddle for road and 'cross riding. Currently in stock in Slate, and also available in Short.
Carbon Road Sale
Our current inventory of carbon road bikes is now selling between 20-25% off. We have limited sizes and models available (51cm through 58cm), and this sale applies only to in stock models--stop by early and get yours for less. Boston's best weather for road riding is just about to happen- get your new bike before you miss out!
CB Shop Shirts are Back!
Our shop shirts are printed locally on American Apparel 2001 stock. Available in white on black in sizes small and up, and in ladies' cut as well, just $15 each.
Chris King Turquoise
You may have heard of Chris King's limited run of turquoise components. We have one 1 1/8 threadless headset in stock, on display at our front counter. It's quite possibly the last one we'll stock for years!
Velo Seat Covers
We just got in a small batch of Velo Seat Covers, a project by group of local college students. We have them in Silverspot, Purplicious, and Goldrush. These stretchy covers work on a bunch of different saddles. Stop by with your bike to try them one on: at just $15 it's a cheap way to zazz up your bike for summer.
Employee Bike Profile: Randy’s Jamis
Randy just built up his new Jamis Nemesis Race 650b for the spring and summer cross-country race season. It's set up with Shimano SLX and Deore components, Crank Brother pedals, and a Mavic Crossride wheelset. You'll find him in any of the local trail network as soon as the spring thaw is done and the trails are ready to ride.
New Arrivals from Brooks England
We just got in a huge shipment of saddles, bags, and accessories from Brooks. We have color matched saddles, lock-on grips, and toe straps in antique brown and honey- perfect for refreshing your bike for spring with a touch of class. Also in is the brand new MT21 Multitool with leather holster for your maintenance needs. Tons of bags! Pickwick backpack in multple colors, Euston shoulder bag in...
Rides of March Sale
Spring cleaning is upon us and we're making room for new models. From this weekend until April 1 we've got road bikes, hybrids, commuter bikes, and classic style city bikes on sale*. Everybody loves a great deal and there's no better time than spring to get excited for having a new bike. Road bikes 2013 Raleigh Revenio Carbon 1.0 - size 54 and 56 cm! Was $1800, now 25% off 2013 Bianchi Brava -...
Raleigh Get Out and Ride Rebate 2014
Want up to $100 back with your new bike? Raleigh's making it happen with their Get Out and Ride rebate. From March 1 through April 30 selected Raleigh models will be eligible for a $50-$100 rebate direct from Raleigh. This applies to their Cadent and Misceo sport hybrids, Talus 29er series, and Revenio road bikes that we stock and more. Nothing starts off springtime like a new bike and this...
2014 Jamis Icon Pro and Ventura Race
We just received our first mid-range aluminum road bikes from Jamis for 2014: their Icon Pro and Ventura Sport: The Ventura race is ideal for anyone looking for a light and responsive road bike on a budget. With a frame made of double-butted 6061 aluminum and a carbon fork with tapered carbon steerer tube, it's designed from the ground up to ride like a higher end race bike. Jamis outfitted the...
Minidrome Madness
The other day, Paul Carson, a local frame-builder and teacher, announced a minidrome was completed inside the Artisan's Asylum, a Somerville collective art space. Some of the Cambridge Bicycle crew headed up to check it out armed with a stash of beer and a vintage GT Dyno. The results were beautiful. You can see this wasn't your average Red Bull-chugging minidrome event. Bill's up there rocking...
Odyssey Pedals and Grips: New Colors
What's a better way to finish up that winter project bike or refresh a weather-worn commuter than new pedals and grips? We have Odyssey Twisted PC pedals and Aaron Ross grips in an astounding variety of colors, and many matching sets. These are by far our most popular commuter pedals and flatbar grips: durable, comfortable, and affordable. Come check our options in our front counter display...
Winter Closeouts
Spring is barely 2 1/2 months away. We have these bikes on sale*. Prepare yourself for this season while these deals last: 2013 Hybrids and Mountain Bikes 2013 Diamondback Clarity STI-8, 14" pink was $750 now 20% off 2013 Diamondback Insight STI-8, 21" red/black, was $750, now 20% off 2013 Diamondback Insight 1, 15", red, was $500 now 20% off 2013 Jamis Coda Elite, 15" 17", was $995, now 15% off...
Steel Road Rides for Under a Grand: The Jamis Quest
More and more riders are re-discovering the benefit of quality steel frames. Though aluminum provides a stiffer ride and marginally lighter frames, lots of folks are beginning to realize that shaving a pound off of their bicycle doesn't really mean much when you're carrying 10 pounds of textbooks to class, or a change of shoes and a laptop to the office. We're fond of Jamis, in part, because...
First Look: 2014 Jamis Dragon 29 Sport
Nothing starts off the new year like a new bike. We just got our first look at the Jamis Dragon 29 Sport for 2014, and it looks great. Jamis' Dragon line of bikes has a 25 year history and this year's model continues the legacy. Jamis designed the Dragon Sport 29 with a Reynolds 520 chromoly frame paired with a Rock Shox air coil fork, making this both a durable and comfortable bike. Components...
Shimano Alfine 11 Wheelset
We have what may be the ultimate commuter wheelset: Shimano's new Alfine 11 speed rear hub, with matching Alfine dynamo front hub, laced to Mavic's super durable A319 rims (shifter included). This is a wheelset to plan a project around! Best of all, we can let these go for a killer deal. Stop by or call us for more info.
Winter Tires
Winter is really happening this season! We have 700c and 27" knobby tires, perfect for adding some stability and confidence when the road conditions are a bit snowy. Stop by with your bike and we'll help you find a pair for your hybrid, touring bike, cyclocross bike, or commuter.
New Around the Shop
New odds and ends around the shop: Green Guru Dutchy bags are in! These are sold as individual bags, not sets, and are made using recycled waterproof materials complete with a shoulder strap for carrying off the bike. We installed one on a Linus Dutchi and it looks great and they're just $64.95 each! We have the Handsome She Devil back in stock in gray! We also have the Devil complete in rusty...
Renovation Update
Bill’s Jamis Dakar AMT – Last Day at Highland
Hey everybody it's Bill. A couple Fridays ago I went to Highland Mountainbike Park for their last weekend of the season. The warmer weather melted most of the snow they'd had earlier in the week leaving the trails fabulously muddy. Some of the trails became a real challenge but overall it was a great day for riding. Getting dirty is always part of the fun so everybody was in a great mood. I even...
Winter Commuter Clinic Dec 5
In need of some tips to stay on your bike this winter? We're excited to announce our first Winter Commuter Clinic (see our Facebook event)! Stop by on Thursday, December 5th at 6 PM for a talk with Bill and Josh. We'll be chatting about preventative maintenance for wintertime and setting up your bike for winter conditions in Boston. Best of all, there will be snacks.
Brooks Cambium C17 Review
Ben here. I just had the pleasure of riding one of the new vegan Brooks Cambium C17 saddles out for a couple days. This is the newest saddle in their lineup and was designed to be the same quality as their other leather saddles, only free of all animal products. I've owned a Brooks B17 and have been riding a Swift for several months, so I was curious to see how the ride compares. I took off my...
First Look: Shimano Claris
You may have heard people talking about Shimano's newest groupset, Claris 2400. This is Shimano's most entry level component with their dual-control shifters, meaning that both shifters are on the break lever themselves (rather than a thumb button on the hood). With improved shifting and a sleek, darker anodized grey, this is a grew new group for anyone looking for a new road bike on a budget....
Chain-Driven Grain Thresher
We just received this awesome e-mail from an MIT student we supplied parts to: Hi, Thank you so much for giving us the bicycle hub for free! It was a crucial mechanical component in our product prototype. I have attached some pictures in this email for you to look at! Our team is currently working on a motorcycled-powered grain threshing and winnowing device for the developing countries. This...
GORE Bike Wear restock
Winter is coming, and we have what you need for gear. We just received a sizable shipment from Gore Bike Wear. Back in stock are gloves, jackets, waterproof socks, and headgear that will keep you warm through the worst of it. Here's a quick rundown: The jackets we have are Path Gore-Tex in a men's cut ($199), and Oxygen Gore-Tex Active in a ladies' cut ($230). Both are made with Gore-Tex,...
2014 Bianchi Volpe and Lupo
2014 Bianchi Volpes are in! We're excited to have the Volpe in stock in basically every size, and also to announce the new Lupo. If you want to try a variety of riding, you're best off with a Volpe. We love the Volpe because it works as a fantastic commuter, light touring bike, mixed-terrain road bike, winter trainer, and could even be used for cyclocross. The Volpe is made with a steel frame...
Giro Chamber and Republic Shoes
We just added two casual clipless shoes to our lineup: the Chamber and the Republic by Giro. The Chamber ($160, on the left) is a sneaker-style shoe for urban riders. It uses a two-bolt cleat pattern (Shimano SPD, Time ATAC, Crank Brother's Eggbeater). It has the sole, durability and look of a skate shoe, only with a stiffer sole for riding. The Republic ($150) is a commuter-friendly two-bolt...
Employee Bike Profile: Bill’s Jamis
Bill's summer project this year was a brand new Jamis AMT all-mountain bike. He's been riding for years, and takes regular trips up to Highland in NH. He purchased the AMT as a frame, threw on a 2x10 SLX groupset, Rock Shox fork, 26" Mavic Crossmax SX wheelset, Thomson seatpost, and Continental tires. Although he spends a lot of time riding on the slopes, you can also find him around on local...
2014 Raleigh Roper
4130 chromoly tubing, Shimano 105 components, and Hayes mechanical disc brakes all make the Roper an awesome choice for all-around use. The Roper stands apart from the crowd as being not just capable, but excelling at a lot of types of riding. We recommend it as a 12-month, rain-or-shine commuter bike, but the Roper is at home in the woods, bike bath, or in your first cyclocross bike. It's a...
New Giro and Bell Helmets
We just received a huge, 14-box order from Bell and Giro. We're fully re-stocked of our Bell Lumen and Array road helmets, Bell Muni commuter helmet, as well as our new $40 Giro Transfer and $45 Giro Bishop models. We've added a few new helmets to our lineup. Above are the Bell Super ($125), Giro Phase ($75), and Giro Feature ($75). They're designed as multipurpose mountain bike helmets, but...
Brooks C17 Cambium in Stock
You may have heard of the Brooks Cambium C17 saddle as much as a year ago, when it was first announced by Brooks as a future product. You also may have had a friend or friend-of-a-friend who was selected for their pre-release test program. We're excited to announce that the vegan Brooks Cambium is in stock and ready for sale. We have it both colors in the standard length, as well as a slightly...
Orchard Cross ’13
This past weekend marked the 2013 edition of Orchard Cross, a cyclocross race through Applecrest Farm Orchards. My friend Paul and I loaded up his Saab at dawn and hit the road for what would be my first race, and only his second. We should really buy a bike rack at some point. After a tired drive filled with dad rock (really the only thing that can keep me awake at 5am), we pulled up, changed,...
Custom Kazane For Sale
On display and ready to ride is this new fixed gear custom build in sparkle blue paint and chrome fork. It's a lugged Kazane track bike, built up with a high value parts kit. Seattube length is 53cm (center to top) and top tube length is 54cm (center to center). As is, this brand new bike is yours for just $999. It's a one-off build so take it home today before someone else does!
First Look: 2014 Jamis Quest Elite
It seems like the biggest assumption that keeps people from riding road bikes is that they're only for racing, or training for races. Jamis' 2014 Quest Elite a bike that proves this assumption wrong. The Quest stands apart due to its use of race-grade components (Shimano 105, Ritchey wheelset and cockpit) on a Reynolds 631 steel frame and carbon fork, with a more relaxed geometry. The frameset...
Handsome Cycles for 2014
2014 Handsome Cycles Devil Completes have landed! New colors for this year include Smurfy Blue, Rusty Bucket, and Shaving Cream (above). It has the excellent parts spec as the 2013 model: Shimano Deore derailleur and hubs, Mavic Open Sport rims, leather sprung saddle, adjustable pin platform pedals, and Panracer Pasela gumwall tires, still just $1199. We have red and cream ones in stock - Smurfy...
Superb Mercato Custom Build
On display and ready to ride is a newly completed project for us. Superb Bicycle sent us a 55cm Mercato frameset. This road frame is made with Columbus Thron tubing and is 100% lugged. With it's classic construction, aggressive geometry, and unique look the Mercato is truly one of a kind. We completed the build with a Shimano 105 parts kit including a vintage Hatta headset, Nitto bars and stem,...
Kryptonite Evolution 5 Mini Limited Edition
Now in are Kryptonite's limited edition version of their venerable Evolution Mini Ulock. Normally it comes with an orange and black skin with a black rain shield but we now have limited quantities with a milk chocolate brown skin and clear rain shield, at the price of the standard version. It's a nice accessory for bikes, lock holsters, and bags with a toned-down color scheme. Get yours while...
Chrome Restock
Chrome Bags are back in stock for fall. We've got a huge selection of their single-strap messenger bags, such as their Mini Metro, Citizen, and Metropolis models. We're also fully stocked with two-strap models including their Delta and District welded models, Bravo, and New Soyuz packs. We made sure to get a few special items, like their Night Series version of the Citizen, Metropolis, and...
Shimano Shoe Sale
Are your feet tired and achy after a long commute or weekend on the bike? Great news: our Shimano shoes are now on sale for 20% off. Please note that this applies ONLY to models and sizes that are currently in stock. If you are buying clipless pedals at our normal retail price, you'll be upgraded to 35% off the shoes! This deal is only for a limited time, and only applies to our current in-store...
Serfas Restock
Just in is a huge restock of products from Serfas. We're now restocked with our standby's from them: flat resistant tires, saddles, and their USB rechargeable bike lights. Lighting is a very important part of riding safely at night, whether you're on the street, multi-use path, or rural roads. Above is a new option from Serfas for mountain bikers who night ride: the True 750. This USB headlight...