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 roads. Traffic was low, the sun was warm, and the temperature was just perfect to stay cozy without...
Just in are Gore BikeWear Element GoreTex jacket and pants. Waterproof, durable, comfortable, and designed specifically for the performance an everyday cyclists needs from their gear. Both make an ideal hardshell to keep you dry and clean on the cold, wet commutes we get in Boston from fall through spring. Nobody likes to show up to work or class soaking wet. Stop by today and find your next weatherproof barrier that will keep you comfortable on your bike through the worst of it.
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 early spring this shoe is going to be great for your feet. Retailing at just $200 this high-value shoe...
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.
Here's what our schedule is looking like this holiday season: Dec 24: Open 10 - 3 pm Dec 25 : Closed for Christmas Dec 26 - 30: open standard hours Dec 31 / NYE - Open 10 - 4 pm January 1 - Closed for New Year's Day January 2 - Open Standard hours As always, check back here, or our Facebook and Twitter for weather-related closures!
Thanks to all who attended our recent Winter Commuting Clinic! We're chalking it up as a success. At the event Bill, Josh, and Ben reviewed a bunch of useful stuff for wintertime, including what to add to your regular maintenance, how to prevent common problems from winter conditions, and recommendations for setting up a bike to be more reliable and comfortable for winter riding. If you weren't able to attend and have questions about winterizing your bike, feel welcome to stop by anytime with...
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, meaning they're waterproof, breathable, and incredibly durable (and stain resistant!). These are perfect...
Ben here. The days are getting shorter, the weather's getting colder, and the sun's officially setting an hour earlier in the day. Despite these changes, it's my favorite time of year to ride. All the pesky bugs are gone and my summer kit has been nearly retired for winter. This week I found myself in the Middlesex Fells on my cross/commuter bike, mixing it up on the singletrack I normally ride on my mountain bike. The leaf cover added a new twist to familiar trails, hiding roots and rocks...
We are open today despite the snow and rain. Come on by.
2013 road and cyclocross models are here. Are you ready for spring?
We're OPEN today in despite of the snowstorm! Stop in and pick up some of these awesome bells we just got in. We MIGHT be closing early if the weather keeps up so be sure to check back here for updates.
The sun's been setting at the very end of Landsdowne Street recently. We've been getting direct sunlight as the sun goes down and the shop's been lighting up like crazy! It only lasts a few minutes but it's a nice warming glow to distract from all the cold weather we've been getting.
With winter puttering to an end over the next few weeks, we're getting our 2012 lines ready for spring. Above are Bianchi's Nirone 7 series - (2300, Sora, Tiagra, and 105 models in stock). We have many more options waiting to help you get a jump start on the new season.
Our staff has braved the snowstorm to keep the shop open today, 10 AM to 7 PM. Come on in, dry off, and warm up.
Just in time for the wintry mix we now have Gore jackets, gloves, helmet caps, and balaclavas back in stock. As always Gore Tex Fabric products come with a keep you dry guarantee!
Leaves are changing, the weather's getting cooler (some days, at least), and the sun isn't staying up until 8:30 pm anymore. Fall is in full swing, and that means everyone's at risk of getting caught after dusk earlier in the day. We always have a full range of lights in stock from $30/set and up. Above are a few higher-caliber options for those commuting either on dark roads and paths, or in very awful weather, or both. Left to right: Planet Bike Blaze 2 watt headlight, Serfas TSL-250...
Just a friendly heads up that we'll be open standard hours tomorrow (Sunday) from noon until 6. Stop by if you need to, or if you just want to dry off.
It may be difficult to believe, but spring is right around the corner! Bring your bikes in for tune-ups now to beat the warm-weather rush.
Although we've been closed for two days as the blizzard ran its course, we are open and holding our standard hours today.
On Thursday January 27th, we will be opening at Noon, we regret any inconvenience that this may cause.
Prizes and courage will be there!!!!! but remember, ride safe and in control...at all times...
We're open today in defiance of the weather we're experiencing. Don't let Old Man Winter push you around. If you want to ride, make it happen.
Since the temperature dropped a few weeks ago and we've received classic New England Winter™ we've had a lot of questions about studded tires for winter riding. The short version of this conversation is "don't buy them if you live in Boston." Studded tires are great for riding on frozen surfaces that stay frozen and snow-covered, but are not necessarily great for the conditions we see here. Snow removal in the Boston area is pretty efficient and roads tend to clear up within a couple days...
We decided to close today for obvious reasons,,,,,there maybe some other cycling event up at Superb later in the day...We'll keep you posted.....
This afternoon we received boxes from Gore and Gita and upped our supply of winter gear. We got in gloves, face masks, skull caps, and balaclavas from Gore Bike Wear (including our shop-favorite lobster claw glove variant). On our apparel wall you'll also find new waterproof overshoes, thermal overshoes, wool socks, and synthetic socks from Giordana. Long-sleeve jerseys, arm and leg warmers are also in stock. Our tire supply has been augmented by Continental NEU Contacts and Schwalbe Marathon...
CB shirts are back in stock! We've got not only the white/black, white/brown shirts, but also a brand new metallic silver on red. We've got 'em in size extra small all the way up to extra large, printed on American Apparel stock. Stop on by with $20 if you want to pick one up. With summer over, the days are starting to get shorter and the weather cooler. We have jackets, hoody jerseys, and t-shirt jerseys by Pedaler still in stock. Pedaler uses organically-grown fabrics and uses only...
Last September Ben bought himself a Bianchi Volpe as an all-'rounder road bike. Since then he has made a few notable upgrades and changes to the bike that have given it a more personalized purpose and appearance as a light-tourer and all-weather commuter bike. Although the 9-speed Deore rear derailleur is itself a very durable and reliable part, an XT is even smoother, lighter, and more durable. The shifter and brake cables themselves have been swapped out with stainless steel to prevent...
My u-lock was giving me some trouble over the past few weeks, and I wasn't sure why. Then I realized that I had been using it almost every day for a year and a half. I had a couple backup keys that came with it, so I started using a new one and the lock worked like brand new! The old one is on the bottom. You can see that some of the notches are almost completely worn away. If you have a Kryptonite lock, be sure to always one or two extra hidden somewhere safe. It also helps if you squirt some...
It's been snowing for a couple hours now, but we're still seeing people on bikes outside. Weather like this is great for riding, even if you don't have studded tires on your bike. With most snowy conditions we face you should be fine on marginally wide, knobby tires, even if they don't have an aggressive tread. We don't recommend using studded tires, because they cost upwards of $100 per tire, and don't offer much of an advantage with the type of winters we have. Generally, by the time it's...
It may be cold, snowy, and wet, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to ride a bicycle. Although it's not exactly t-shirt weather, it's definitely possible to stay warm, dry, and upright through seemingly unrideable conditions. The above photo shows a winter bike belonging to our sales employee, Ben. It has a few notable elements that make it a good winter bike. These include a fixed-gear drive train for better traction, boot-friendly BMX pedals, a cantilever front brake for extra stopping...
It's nearly mid-September. In just a few short weeks summer will be officially over and fall will be here. There are still many rideable months before the winter chill, and if you talk to many of us at the shop, these months are the best for riding (mostly because you have to work harder to get sweaty). If you missed out on buying a new bike this summer and are looking to buy one, or if you're new to Boston and need a way to get around that's less expensive than the MBTA, we've got hybrids,...
my son charlie in orange ma.
I raced a Pro1-2-3 race today and thought that I was pretty tough (though I was dispatched rather quickly). Then my woman came home from a mountain bike race. She is battered and bruised, having endured some of the worst conditions on the circuit in years: driving rain laced with sleet mucking up demanding technical trails. She was still shivering 4 hours later! I thought that the condition of her bicycle and her clothing was noteworthy. Remember this bike has been on top of a car for 150...
I was shocked at the amount of sand and mud that my bike had collected on a mere three-hour ride yesterday. Though I was cursing the rain at the time, I was mildly comforted by the knowledge that it was washing away all of the bicycle-eating salt from the roadways. The rain ended mid-ride, which allowed all of the sand to accumulate (as pictured below). The bike was clean at the beginning of the ride. Welcome to mud season. RMM
Those gloves, (Cozza from team Garmin) remind me of the mits i used to throw fish at Seattle's Pike Place fish market...I lived in seattle for months in 1979 and i still haven't completely dried out. This winter is an epic battle of man over nature and man over man...Cozza just needs to stay straight and ride a clean fast line...we- on the other hand -who are not riding Paris-Nice-must focus and pray for spring to arrive before we break down and give up on life itself,,,,,,keep going Cozza and...
Those are the eyes of a future racer and a kid who knows she has a snow day comming up... Bold sprints at the middle-east hours before being hit with 12 inches of snow.
This winter has been harsh for cyclists. The snow and ice are fierce, but what really gets me down is the salt. Sure it melts snow but it also corrodes bikes parts and ruins steel frames. If not for the salt, I would be able to ride from December through April without overhauling my bicycle. Two roads I traveled yesterday: Winchester--a huge pile of salt waiting to attack my steel frame (notice my tracks); Sudbury/Wayland--unsalted and therefor too slick to ride safely. Perfect examples of...
Today I went for a long ride with members of the Embrocation Elite Road Team and other hardmen. With the high speeds, huge puddles concealing deep potholes, stubborn ice patches, run off and a surging group of excited riders it was a difficult ride. There were two flats, both PVB, and a number of near crashes. This is what I looked like after 70+ miles, notice the "road tan" on my shins: Photos courtesy of Pedal Power Photography RMM
We are throwing a huge winter stimulus SALE. All new Bikes instock are 20% off through the end of February, even brand new 2009 models!!! Don't miss this opportunity to get a great deal on a new bike!!!! All new bikes come with a year of free tune ups!!
It is another snowy day in Boston and to keep ourselves busy we decided to build up an amazing wheelset. I pulled together a new set of the Velocity white polka dots rims, the new DT Swiss Competition white spokes and some Phil Wood purple anodized fixed/fixed track hubs. I had that built by Abe, our expert wheel builder who has been building wheels in this shop for over 20 years. What we ended up with is an amazing wheelset that is not only beautiful but strong enough to take the abuse of...
The new Freight Baggage rolltops just arrived today at the shop along with a restock of regular backpacks, hip packs, phone holsters, and top tube pads. Stop in soon to get first dibs. The new design of the rolltop is rather amazing and appears to be up to the amazing standards of Freight Baggage. With a rolling top instead of a flap you also get a much better seal to keep out the water on even the wettest of days.
We all had a blast on New Years Eve thanks to all the hard work everyone put in. Racers showed up in the sub 0 degree temperatures to compete in a Crit Style race on the snow covered steets. There were 4, 1 mile laps and not everyone made it to the finish, a few succumbed to the cold while a broken crank arm stopped Tristan in his tracks. In the end it was Eric who took home the Gold Velocity Wheelset donated by Cambridge Bicycle. Alex came in second with Tristan( different Tristan than the...
We are throwing down another last minute Snow race party tonight to celebrate the New Year and the awesome addition of snow to our Urban Landscape. The race will Start at 10pm at the Loft (3 Tannery Brook Row Somerville MA) and be crit style with 4 laps within Davis Square. $5 to enter and Cambridge Bicycle has Donated a set of Gold Velocity Deep V's to the winner and there will be other prizes for 2nd and 3rd as well as give aways at the party. After the Race the Party gets started in the...
Huge thanks to everyone who made it out to Friday's Snow Race. We all had a blast and so many of you made it out with only about an hours notice. Cambridge Bicycle and Embrocation Cycling Journal gave out lots of cash money to the top 4 racers and every participant went home with either a Cambridge Bicycle T-shirt or cycling cap. The Top four racers and Top Lady are as follows. 1st Place- Peter Bradshaw $200 2nd Place- Tyler Sage $100 3rd Place- Jeremy Dunn $50 4th Place- Rob Gigantic $30 1st...
Race starts tonight at Midnight at Cambridge Bicycle goes to Boston Bicycle and finish back at Cambridge. Winner gets $200, second place gets a Cambridge Bicycle T-shirt, third place gets a Laek House t-shirt. DON'T BE LATE -Jason
The weather has been HOT! But the racing has been HOTTER!! Dick Ring announcing, Tony Eberhardt officiating, what more can you ask for? The local Boston affiliate of NPR came up to do a piece for their Only A Game series. Check it out. Thayne gets mentioned near the end.
It may be a hint of things to come, so if you don't already have a waterproof backpack or pannier set up, consider something from Ortlieb or Freight Baggage. Whether you need something for books, the occasional groceries, or a legal copy box, these two companies get our vote for function when conditions turn nasty. The Ortlieb products are all guaranteed water proof unless you carve an anarchy star in it ala Bud "brooks saddle" Durand's. (which by the way is still waterproof)
Hey ya'll- its been a week since we got our first shipment of Gore Bike Wear (a division of Gore-tex, so you know its legit) and we can barely keep it in stock! So we are going to double our jacket offerings and bring in a few more cold weather accessories. They are the authority for waterproof apparel and the WindStopper membrane is in most of my foul weather apparel; i'm in love. The best thing about them is the price, not Assos territory, but not too much more than Pearl Izumi. If you...