What is new for the holidays?

This year is all about accessories and making your bike fully functional. As we stay focused on here at Main Street Cyclery, "the best bike is the one you will ride!" Look for stylish bells, basket bags, liners and cool drink holders. Check out some of our key vendors:

• http://dvnproducts.com/ The basket buddy bags, bling bells and cool drink holders
• http://www.couturecruiser.com/ An upscale look for a tote bag and basket liner
• http://www.topeak.com/products/ Cool accessories, racks, lights and pumps
• http://planetbike.com/page/ Check out these lights and computers

We want to move you to the best possible bike and accessory pairings so that you can achieve maximum use out of your bike!

From Allan!

Seth,

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and Dave and Julio. You run a great bicycle shop and your customer service goes above and beyond what customers have come to expect.In this economy more than ever businesses need to realize just how important their relationship with the community should be.

With my family this started back in June when my son Jake and his friends rode to Seal Beach. This being his first ride without either of his parents along it was with some hesitation. I had asked him to make sure and call when he arrived,well he called me at work to inform me that he had a flat tire on my bike and was leaving it at a friends house

and taking the bus home. I suggested that he walk the bike over to your shop and ask if the tube could be replaced while he waited.You went out of your way to change the tube for him and trusted him enough to call me at work for a credit card number.

The next time my sons and I were in Seal Beach we came by your store to thank you personally. At the time you suggested that I put my business card in the bowl for the Labor Day drawing of a new beach cruiser. I reluctantly did so explaing that after many years of doing so and never won anything even a "free lunch". Well what do you know?

On Labor Day I ran into your top technician, Julio just down the street he was as excited for me as I was. He informed me that I had won the bike and could stop by and pick it up anytime. My sons and I have been into your shop several times since and are always treated with respect and consideration by all of you. I am now in the market for another beach cruiser for my younger son and would only consider purchasing it from Main Street Cyclery. You and your fine staff run your business as it should be.We will continue to recommend your shop to all of our friends,neighbors and coworkers. Continued success.

Best Regards,

Allan Frank

Update on winners

So Allan and his two boys came by to pick up their winning bike this past weekend! Here is an updated photo!

Triathlon

So today the MSC team is doing a sprint triathlon! It is in Long Beach and is an 11 mile bike ride, a 5 km run and a half a mile swim. Should be pretty amazing. Big applause for Dave D., Julio C. and Scott G. for doing it. Go TEAM!

Well, we accomplished the total tri in just under an hour and a half! That was super good! We also met Chris McCormick - the current World Champion Triathlete. Very cool. Big thanks to Kimmy, Aubrey, Devon and Veronica for the additional moral supp0rt and photo documentation. We will try to have something posted soon!

Bike issues 102

So what else do I need to know about a bike? One of the biggest is the actual use of the bike. How are you planning on utilizing your bike? For us in the shop, cycling is more than a sport or a recreation, it is a way of life. Everyone in the shop owns at least one bike and we are each most comfortable in our own styles of bikes. Take our "friend of the shop" Scott G. He is an avid outdoor rider who enjoys hard mountain biking and fixed gear. Kyle is a BMX rider who rides fixed gear for distance. Julio is a classic road bike enthusiast and so rides an amazing LeMond with a Brooks saddle. Dave rides whatever, but has a passion for triathlon bikes (since he owns the shop!) Seth likes a hybrid for with a basket for living car free and Cameron rotates through classic Schwinns and more unusual cruisers.

The nice thing about our shop is we have a specialist for any type of bike. So be sure to stop by and if you can check out our coupon at Seal Beach Daily! www.sealbeachdaily.com

Cycling Facts 101

There are some great and simple facts about bicycles that you should know:

What do I pay for?

1. Material of construction - is it steel, cromoly, aluminum, carbon fiber or something more exotic? Generally this sets the basic price point in a given category of bikes (cruiser, road, mountain, BMX, etc. . .)
2. Components - are there gears, hand brakes, special handlebars or other feature on the bike? If so, the more high end these are, you will pay for that. Generally internal hub technology (where there is not movement of the chain to change gears) is more expensive than an external deraileaur. This is not true with road bikes which may have very high end components (Shimano Dura Ace)
3. Bling, styling & fashion - do the rims of the bike match? Are there custom styled fenders or chain rings? Do you feel cool on the bike? If so, this bike probably costs more.

So take a moment and think about your bike! After all, the best bike is the one you will ride!

Congratulations!

Happy Labor Day all! Well, today is the day as promised that we drew a winner for our opportunity drawing for a Seabreeze cruiser. You can see an image of it here http://www.phatcycles.com/Phundamentals/seabreeze1m.htm Our winner is Allan F. a recent customer who bought a bike for his son and now has won a second cruiser. What a lucky family! Congrats to him!

As always we thank you for your business and patronage and hope you are having a great weekend and holiday with your friends and family. Remember we are here for all of your cycling needs!

Cool BMX stuff

So we have some cool talent in our shop. Kyle Rohling, is our junior mechanic and part of the Main Street Cyclery team. Further, he is sponsored by our shop to ride a custom built Wildman Pro. Here is a picture of Kyle from his time at Woodward West BMX camp in Stallion Springs, CA. So look for Kyle not only in our shop, but at Woodward and on his SE bike! If you need to ask a BMX question - Kyle is your guy. Rock on Kyle!

Bike Give Away!

Have you come by to register for our free bike opportunity drawing on Labor Day weekend? If not, please stop by our store at 317 Main Street in Seal Beach and drop in a business card or fill out an entry form. If you would like to send us an entry, you may do so by emailing us at bikeshoponmain@gmail.com - we need your email, phone and full name. (Limit one entry per day per person - no purchase necessary) Also, be sure to visit as as often as you might like for repair or accessories. Get great coupons for us at either http://www.sealbeachdaily.com/ or http://www.merchantcircle.com/coupon/Main.Street.Cyclery.Seal.Beach.CA.562-430-3903/display/300490

Remember, the best bike is the one you will ride!

Respected author

'I got the news today oh Boy'- a trade publisher (Dorrance) has taken on my book for printing. I have to subsidize some of the printing costs but most of the people I've let read it ahead of time think it will sell. The last 3rd of the tome is how to get started in your own business; building on the thesis that no one will be an employee by the end of this century.

Now if I could just remember my twitter password...

Have you thought about a bike for the Summer?

Check out this great article from the OC Register last year in which we were one of the featured bike shops! http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bike-bikes-old-2108575-bicycle-beach What are you going to do to consume less gas and be more "green" / eco-friendly? Tuning up your bike or taking part in more rides is always a great idea. You can always stop in to just ask a question, pet the dogs or to say hi! Remember, test rides are always free (though buying a bike may involve a purchase)!

Mail Order?

For those of you who read the blog or if you came from our website, we have some exciting news for you! We will begin the process of becoming an on-line retailer for all of our key bikes and accessories. Starting later this month, we will be able to order online and have in-store pick up for our bikes and nationwide shipping for all parts and accessories. So when you need more from us, we are ready to deliver! Keep checking www.mainstreetcyclery.com for more updates!

Check it out! Trike built for three.

Please click on the link http://sealbeachdaily.com/2009/06/10/seal-beach-scene-a-tricycle-built-for-three/ to see some of the amazing work Dave has done in our community. Most importantly, he has been doing work like this for over a decade to help everyone enjoy cycling. Remember, the best bike you own is the one you actually ride! Special thanks and shout out to the Browne family for being part of the extended Main Street Cyclery family!

Build your own Damn Mousetrap!

After 30 years as a Corporate drone and nearly 13 as an entrepreneur, I sat down and ground out a thesis on how to overcome Childhood trauma, Addictions and Cancer to become a centered well-regarded business owner. 

The theme is self-discovery and takes you on my journey from high-school dropout, through the Cancer ward until we arrive complete with owning a successful retail shop and securing an MBA along the way.

It's up for publication now and you can get a preview by checking out a previous posting about 3M (chapter 13) under this same BLOG heading. The cool part for me is sharing some undeniable tips for those starting out on your own. In today's shrinking workforce-the timing may never be better.

2 for $371!

Don't let the economy get you down!  Come get two of our Seabreeze PHAT cruisers for only $371 from now until the end of March.  It is March Madness on bikes!

Web Page

Well, it has taken close to a year, but now we have control of our own website and have it fully updated!  Be sure to check up on our site at www.mainstreetcyclery.com 

Check out our participation in the Health Fair on Saturday March 21st from 10 am to 3 pm.  At the shops at Rossmoor!

Tax bump

As of 1 APR 09 the CA State government has issued a "temporary" increase in Sales Tax from 7.75% to 8.75%.

Faced with the outrageous taxes we already face- Main Street Cyclery has taken a bold stance. We intend to absorb the increase as part of the Cost of Business in California. 

We have always had an eclectic pricing methodology, in that we set our advertised prices such that they come out even "after tax." That way, you the consumer walk out the door without having to deal with (e.g. 6 pennies and a nickel) after a $20.00 purchase and no useful way to utilize them. In the past if an item was listed at $18.56 it came out to $20 even. After 1APR that same item will be listed @$18.39 but you will still get out the door for a $20 bill.

Things just feel better when they come out even, so we may lose a little on an individual transaction, it's just less messy for our customer(s). That is our ultimate goal anyway: better value for our customers through knowledge and Service.

Free Flat Fridays

Want to know what is happening new at Main Street Cyclery? FREE FLAT FRIDAYS!
Don’t let the economy get you down! We are introducing FREE FLAT FRIDAY! Once every two weeks, we have our mechanics repair flats for free. The second & fourth Friday is FREE FLAT FRIDAY (March 27th, April 10th, April 24th, May 8th & May 22nd).

Just one more way that Main Street Cyclery provides "Knowledge & Service" to our community.

Healthy Insanity

My wife is crazy.

Not the usual "y-chromosome" view of the way we (men) think of those "people from Venus" crazy; she's obsessed with her fitness level. 

Not a bad 'Thing, when you consider the things we can be obsessed with, Healthy addictions are just that, and not to worry unless it becomes compulsive and you start working out rather than working for example. 

I should digress and point out I have no room to talk, I spent the better part of two years on a bicycle, runnlng or swimming in preparation for running the Hawaiian Ironmon, so I know what I mean when I say healthy addiction. 

In moderation, it's what gets us out on cold mornings. The lack of endorphins (natural anagesics) can be almost as bad as missing your morning coffee, Not something most of us want to consider. 

Back to my child bride. She gets up four mornings a weekday before the sun- to bicycle on the street, or spin in a class of fellow addicts, The spinners laugh about the activity and how much they sacrifice to get it done, but they do it. 

In my wife's case she looks about 20 years younger than her age and will proudly come in my office every so often to tell me what dress size she can get into now. But the title of the article refers to how she accommodates the cold. morning rides, Women have it rough when it comes to this they are always cold, so developing the fortitude to head out in the dark weekday mornings - takes courage and intelligence, in what to wear to fight the chill.

Don't forget, riding a bike automatically drops your temperature 10-15 degrees as you add wind-chill factor as you ride. 

The tricks: layers and torso protection, Sounds easy huh? Well, isn't that difficult, 

As far as the torso part-it's well-established that as long as your core temperature is normal, you don't really 'feel" cold. Adding a light vest to your bike outfit will do wonders to increase your core temp, and attitude about riding in cooi weather. 

Layers: Also pretty straight-forward. For every 5 degrees cooler-add a layer to your outfit, Make sure to keep your skin covered as well. That means long-fingered gloves, long sleeves or armwarmers and/or tights to keep your calves covered, An undertop of lycra or coolmax will usually do the trick for cool weather. 

If the temp. keeps dropping - add a vest over the jersey/top combo and you should be good to go. If it gets even colder (she really is crazy) get some of those earwarmers that skiers wear, Very effective under your helmet. Shoe covers are a little overkill, unless you're going to be out longer than two hours, plus they're clumsy and may spoil the outfit. 

So there you go- easy tips to ride comfortably till the sun comes back. Oh, yeah ... wear your helmet-silly,

Fixed gear or not?

What is the latest trend in cycling - fixed gears.  What is a fixed gear?  Well, it is a bicycle with direct drive connection from the crank to the cog in the rear wheel.  This allows the bike to be propelled forward by pedaling forward and propelled backarwards by pedaling in reverse. The sprocket is screwed directly on to the hub and there is no freewheel.  Most fixed gear bikes only have one gear ratio - controlled by the front and rear cogs.  Some rear wheels will have a sprocket on each side of the hub - even one being a freewheel while the other is still a fixed.  To change gear, it is necessary to remove, reverse and refit the rear wheel.  A single change in the number of teeth will result in a + or - 12% in gearing ratio.  The use of fixed gear bikes in NYC and San Francisco with bike messengers has lead to an entire trend of minimalist style cycling.  The bike is often colorful, with matching anodized components and bar tape.  Accessories are minimal with a focus on function.  Riders will run without any brakes, but to simply stop via forced leg strength and pedaling backwards.  This is not recommended.  The trend seems to have already reached it's apex with early adopters and now it has hit the main stream.  Like all early adopted trends, it generally falls out of favor as it moves into common experience.

What kind of bike?

So what kind of bike is best for you? The one you will ride!

Upgrade? Downgrade? Failing grade!

I frequently have enquires from customers (and others) wondering whether to buy all new bike components (at bargain, online prices) or a new frame or a new bike. These people are usually semi-serious cyclists with aspirations of moving up a category, going faster or looking for additional motivation to keep riding.

I recently helped a British man renovate his hand-built English frame to All-new Shimano components, so he could keep it as his commuter/rain bike. His was an unusual case as he was keeping that bike-no matter what!

My normal response to someone that wants to go faster, or just change the bike -is - get a new bike!! Some cyclists spend hours riding with their compatriots, talking bikes and decide - usually after a few beers, that they are experts in selecting a bicycle component group. Duh!!

It just freaks me that they will make decisions on the order of two-three thousand dollars, because "one of the guys he rides with likes his."

Bicycles are very complicated, non-linear systems that were designed by non-engineering types - to work !!

That's all -. no linear-systems analysis; no acceptable design principles; they built them, rode them, then cut away all the stuff that didn't work like it was supposed to.

 I've seen credentialed Scientists throw up there hands when I try to explain gear-inches or riding position or any part of what Wilbur and Orville Wright really did for a living. It's all derived from old stuff that worked -so now they make it better, lighter, therefore faster; but none of it works in computer modeled finite elements sense; 

it just works.

Product managers at all the "brands" spend many sleepless nights finding the right mix of components that will meet the performance spec's, but also the price point. How is joe rider- (who is an accountant or realtor or whatever) going to be smarter about components than these guys?

Not only are you at risk buying stuff online (id theft, bait & switch) but you have no recourse if the stuff isn't exactly right. Once you open the box - it's yours- and you get to make it work. Further-any shade tree accountant can tell you - you spend far more for the components in a bicycle than if you buy the package.--at least 60 to 70% more...if not twice as much. Then you get to put all the labor into it- borrow/buy tools, etc. 

Pile that, on top of you really don't know what you purchased and/or how it works and it's a recipe for disaster that will leave a very bad taste in the mouth of some amateur mechanic.

Get a new bike from a reputable dealer- no free lunch.

New year musings

As the new year starts, some of us find our attention drifting toward the “good old days” – at least as good as we remember them. As some of the old folks I ride with say, “The older I get, the better I was.” One of the latest old-new items regaining popularity is the single-speed bicycle.
“One speed!” you might exclaim, “What hath Lance wrought?” In fact, a single-speed bicycle is the most efficient, reliable form of two wheel transportation. With gasoline consistently over $3.00 a gallon, those of us that live near the flat and friendly roads of the seaside might do well to park our SUV and start cycling to the store on Saturday, rather than fire up the old exhaust emitter – but I have digressed.
The original bicycle was called a Velocipede and it looked like an adult “Big Wheel.” The rider’s feet were tied to the wheel directly, and each rotation of the pedals equaled a turn of the wheel. As riders wanted to increase distances and climb hills, someone came up with the idea of a moving gear to the rear wheel and adding a chain to the front gear, thereby gaining mechanical advantage, allowing the rider to achieve more power. These “new” one-speed bikes are exact duplicates of a model that some of the original racers in the Tour de France rode around the turn of the 20th century.
It wasn’t until recently that multiple gears and a derailleur were added, making climbing and high speeds much easier. Some purists ride what are called “track bikes,” where the pedals are once again tied directly to the rear hub. In the last few years, they have returned to the streets on fixed gear bikes, primarily bike messengers in large metropolises. The latest hotbeds are San Francisco and Seattle, both are bike-friendly towns where “green” is in. It is growing here in the Long Beach / Orange County area as well – you may see them weaving in traffic in Long Beach!
The latest compromise is the single speed “hybrid” that is fixed gear in one iteration, but converts to a one-speed coaster bike with hand brakes. This is a kind of half way point to get into fixed gear with low risk. If you are a mere “mortal,” you can try a very safe version of this bike by getting into an old school beach cruiser. Simplicity itself, these bikes come with one gear and foot brakes – try one out!
On a future note, keep an eye out for our approaching “Kruzer Klassic” which will start at our bike shop, meander around the streets of Old Town Seal Beach and circle back for a bite at a local café around 10 am. It should be a hoot – stay tuned for the date!

2 wheel park and ride

The simplest way to move a bicycle from one location to another – is to get on and ride it there. Those who live in the Seal Beach/Los Al/ East LB area, however, often want to move the bikes first, then ride to and from.

This is because the only way to go east from here is a stretch of PCH between Seal Beach and Surfside/ Sunset Beach over the Alamitos Bay bridges, which is tenuous for cyclists at best. It’s 4-lanes but it’s just an open bike lane and the traffic is fast, frequently made up of tourists and people looking at the boats and surf, rather than where they’re going. 

A popular alternative to this is to load your bikes in a vehicle, drive to Sunset Beach; then park and ride. Not the most environmentally friendly idea, it’s still better for most family types than the perceived risk of the open highway.

Lots of folks come in our shop asking for alternative routes to the bike trail down to Huntington Beach, but if you’re not willing to swim with your bike, there really isn’t one, except down Seal Beach Blvd. to Westminster Blvd., then across the Naval Weapons Station to Bolsa Chica. That’s’ considerably longer than the trail and the traffic across the “ammo Dump isn’t much better than the Highway.

That leads us to: how to carry several bikes without disassembly of the bikes and or your car. There are two feasible types of car carriers: the hitch-mount and the bumper mount. The hitch–mount goes into a square tube called a receiver that can be used to mount a tow package as well. This is a more secure method than any alternative short of carrying the bikes inside a vehicle. The racks typically hold 3-4 bikes and should not cost more than $150.00 or so. Hitch racks are very secure, not likely to scratch your bike or car and usually fold down so you can still get in the back of your car or truck.  If you already have a “tow package”, it’s a no-brainer to spend the few extra dollars to get the HR as it’s much better. 

If you don’t want to spend that kind of money- the bumper rack works very well, costs less and is still secure, just a little harder to load and you can’t get in your trunk once the rack is on. There is minor risk of rubbing or scratching your car although the HOLLYWOOD brand features foam padding at all of the contact points, and the straps are dipped in plastic to reduce paint damage. The 3-bike version bumper rack shouldn’t run more than $75.00 and the reputable dealer will install it the first time so see how it goes.

One last note: If you are riding the Bolsa Chica bike path, drive to the East end and ride to Sunset Beach then back. That way the wind is behind you on the way back. See you next blog post. (Sounds like I'm going race a horse)

Pedal systems

As if life weren’t complicated enough—now we have to choose what type of pedals we want for the type of bicycling we have in mind that day. It’s kind of like computers; just when you reach the point when you have a handle on all the keys to do what you want, someone comes out with a “new improved” software package that sets you back to square one. {The writer has sworn to never set at a PC keyboard that runs Vista}.

Time was you got on your bike and rode off. The pedals were plain square hunks of rubber that you put your Keds or (Chuck Taylor’s) on and away you went. Now there are at least five different kinds of systems that make it easier to capture muscle energy but also manage to complicate the choice pedals you use.

This has become a ubiquitous topic in bike shops, as many Southern Californians have taken to “Spinning” as a viable alternative to road riding. Indoor cycling has a number of advantages including no worries about traffic, darkness, motorists opening doors and rain. The tradeoffs are tight (almost claustrophobic) quarters, no change in scenery and, funny looking pedals on funny looking bikes. The bikes are one forward speed without brakes, so it makes some sense to be able to lock your shoes onto the pedals so you don’t lose contact why spinning at high rates. The same is true for Mountain and road biking. Staying in contact with the pedals means you can ‘pull up’ on the ‘back” portion of your pedal cycle assists energy transfer (Speed) for any given rotation of the wheels.

The bad news for these types of pedals is you have to unhook when you want to dismount the bike. The first thing we tell people when they go to a clip pedal is to remember to clip out when they stop. When they forget the first time, they “tilt”, fall down, everyone has a good laugh and away we go.

The first clip pedal was based on a ski binding from a French company (LOOK) and used a plastic cleat on the bottom of the shoe. Later, the SHIMANO Company came out with a smaller (metal) cleat that could tuck into the tread of a mountain bike shoe, such that you could walk on the shoe without to much difficulty. The latter pedals (SPD) are configuration of choice for the Spinners as they are less expensive and the cleats last longer.

Those are the most two common types of what are incorrectly called “clipless” pedals systems. For we retro types, riding one forward speed cruisers, the old school flat pedals are fine to run to the store with, but, if you intend to go spinning or ride fast- at least now you know what pedal to ask for.

The muse of multispeeds

As the year comes to a close, some of us find our attention drifting toward the “good old days” – at least as good as we remember them.  As some of the old folks I ride with say, “The older I get, the better I was.”  One of the latest old-new items regaining popularity is the single-speed bicycle.

“One speed!” you might exclaim, “What hath Lance wrought?” In fact, a single-speed bicycle is the most efficient, reliable form of two wheel transportation.  With gasoline consistently over $3.00 a gallon, those of us that live near the flat and friendly roads of the seaside might do well to park our SUV and start cycling to the store on Saturday, rather than fire up the old exhaust emitter – but I have digressed.

The original bicycle was called a Velocipede and it looked like an adult “Big Wheel.”  The rider’s feet were tied to the wheel directly, and each rotation of the pedals equaled a turn of the wheel.  As riders wanted to increase distances and climb hills, someone came up with the idea of a moving gear to the rear wheel and adding a chain to the front gear, thereby gaining mechanical advantage, allowing the rider to achieve more power.  These “new” one-speed bikes are exact duplicates of a model that some of the original racers in the Tour de France rode around the turn of the 20^th century.

It wasn’t until recently that multiple gears and a derailleur were added, making climbing and high speeds much easier.  Some purists ride what are called “track bikes,” where the pedals are once again tied directly to the rear hub.  In the last few years, they have returned to the streets on fixed gear bikes, primarily bike messengers in large metropolises.  The latest hotbeds are San Francisco and Seattle, both are bike-friendly towns where “green” is in.  It is growing here in the Long Beach / Orange County area as well – you may see them weaving in traffic in Long Beach!

The latest compromise is the single speed “hybrid” that is fixed gear in one iteration, but converts to a one-speed coaster bike with hand brakes.  This is a kind of half way point to get into fixed gear with low risk.  If you are a mere “mortal,” you can try a very safe version of this bike by getting into an old school beach cruiser.  Simplicity itself, these bikes come with one gear and foot brakes – try one out!

On a future note, keep an eye out for our approaching “Kruzer Klassic” which will start at our bike shop, meander around the streets of Old Town Seal Beach and circle back for a bite at a local café around 10 am.  It should be a hoot – stay tuned for the date!

Welcome to Main Street Cyclery

Well, we are just starting to work on the Main Street Cyclery blog.  We are the friendliest bike shop in Southern California and we pride ourselves on "Knowledge & Service."  That is our slogan and expertise.  When you know you want to ride, but not sure how to start, we are where you come.  If you don't want to be fully dependent on a car, but would rather ride regularly, come see us.  If you want to get bikes and cycling products for you and the whole family, we are your first stop.

We don't have a lot of attitude, we do have a lot of service and the ability to get you exactly what you need.  Located at 317 Main Street in Seal Beach, CA - we are the local bike shop.  We carry a full line of bikes from cruisers, to fixed gear, road bike and mountain / trail.  You need BMX - no problem. Proudly distributing PHAT, Fuji, SE, Redline, Torker, Kestrel, Breezer and a host of bike parts!  Our team - Cameron, Julio, Seth, Casper, Nikita, Kim and ultimately Dave, the founder are here to help you.  So come on down and "roll your own" bike!  See you soon.