Why did we get a "Heads-Up" memo?

It was probably 2002. We had been pursuing a vendor for over a year, and we'd finally got them to consider us. They visited several of our stores, and only one of them dropped the ball. Their Natn'l Sales Manager walked up to our counter, and wasn't greeted in a minute and a half by the tech who was doing a tune up. Not a difficult tune up, but the tech felt like that person would wait. At the 91st second she pivoted from the counter, called our buyer and let them know the deal was off.

We have people working in our stores, and people make mistakes. We do not expect you to do everything perfect, but you are expected to do your best. If the tech above was in the middle of Brain Surgery, his response would have made sense. His action did not, and lost for all of our stores a valued vendor by his choice alone.

The details always make a difference. Please be the one in your store that goes the extra mile, and achieves perfect customer service this month. Make it your goal, and you'll be much more able to do it.

That "Easy Button" looks good.

It's tough to not love those Staples commercials, where basic problems are solved by slappin' a red button. Nice!

But are we helping our customers to find the same thing in our stores? For cyclists, the "button" is called a "Survival Kit". Think of the things that ALL novice cyclists should own, maybe just five things. What would those be?
1. Patch kit, 2. Tire levers, 3. Trail use pump (As opposed to home use), 4. Spare tube, 5. Wheel removal tools if needed. This is the absolute minimum I'd want to sell, to pretty much anyone. I know some things aren't on the list, like how to carry it all on the bike. (Seat bag, Camelbak) Everyone needs water, that should be on there too. (Bottles/cages or Camelbak).
What next? Better tools, Tire liners or Slime tube sealant, and a good lock. We've now outfitted the bike, don't forget the rider...

We are experts, let's do everything to get our customers off on the right foot, er, pedal.

Why should we do Rack Installations?

In case that question has ever visited your mind, look closely at the pictures. Yakima and Thule make towers that fit into the slot-like roof raingutters on some vehicles. This Kia does not have that fitment, it has a roof panel that uses "character lines" that channel water away from the doors and requires a "Gutterless" mount tower/pad setup. This vehicle has been or will be damaged by the cargo pressure of anything placed on the crossbars. BTW- I think that's a ten+ year old set of Saris towers, could be Thule, but they're so old and wrong for this vehicle it really doesn't matter.

Why would the car owner do this? I'm sure that answer is personal, but it's probably related to budget and hard-headedness. If asked, he'll say "it works fine". That's because it has not dismounted under freeway wind pressure yet. "Yet", it will in time.

We offer advice and installation service on the rack systems we sell for this exact reason. This owner has not been informed of the consequences that will happen to him in time. This is unsafe. Our certified technicians would never suggest this, and the driver following this guy wouldn't get a big surprise.

We do good things. Let's do them more often. Find these people and help them.

Where has the time gone?

The last post on this blog was back in September! I can't believe how fast the calendar has spun thru the days, but almost constant travel can do that to you. As a blessing to me, those times have been filled with lots of work, good people and good times.

The picture above is of Brian Rinkenberger, our inside rep at Diamondback. This was taken during the Demo Ride from our Bike University. All of the other pics I took at that ride are available at CLICK HERE.

Other pictures from the Expo part of that event are HERE.

Annnd a few from Blowhard Mtn trail in Brianhead Utah. It was very cold...

Interbike Expo Day One

I've been on my feet from 07:30 to 19:40 today, so this'll be brief.

I thought this sticker from Fox Racing Shox was very interesting.

What would you give for a device that would put together a list of EXACTLY what your customer needed for thier car rack, including retail prices and updated daily? Thule's cost of $3,500 includes a printer. It's beautiful!

You know how a picture is worth a thousand words? Click on this one and just look at everyone's body language around the art bike. It was loudly playing 70's rock music...

"What else?"....Other Interbike Resources

Velonews- Leonard Zinn
http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/13384.0.html

Velonews- Day Two takes patience
http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/13383.0.html

MTBR Interbike Gallery
http://gallery.mtbr.com/index.php/cat/561

Day Two, part one. Pictures say more than words, right?

Day Two, part two

Day Two, part three

Interbike On Dirt Demo 2007- Day One

I'm not promising daily updates, but today was worth it.

I picked up one of "our guys" from the airport, and we drove in to the venue. On Dirt Demo is where you can test ride a bike from any vendor there, on any terrain in Bootleg Canyon. We waled the venue, and finally decided to demo bikes from Marin. There was a Mount Vision for my wingman, and not much else for me. We were planning on taking the shuttle up, and riding "Girl Scout" back. My ride? A 29" wheel Alpine Trail hardtail, a $629 value. I was the only one on the shuttle not riding a full suspension bike, like "what part of this picture does not fit?". Anyway, I got to experience all the advantages of that bike, and liked it. The bigger wheel does smooth things out, and I can definitely see the advantages and sell them.

I've been excited for months about a semi-secret model from Diamondback, the Sortie. (sor-TEE, not sort-ee.) I am a huge fan of the way the Mission tackles trails, and this bike had the same DNA in it's response, but quicker as an XC bike should be. The final parts pick was not what the demo bikes were built with, but it's really close. As with the Mission, there will be Sortie 1 that's the affordable one (Maybe $1399?) on up to the Sortie 3 that'll be the "premier" one. ($2199 at retail.)




















We rode hard enough to kill a few inner tubes, and stocked up at store #25 on return to base at Treasure Island. Tomorrow I'll do a better job of listening to others as they comment on their test-rides, and benefit from their experiences.

"Can you fix it, Doctor?"

As a mechanic, especially a Sport Chalet trained/certified mechanic, when you evaluate a customer's bike for repair you have to consider several factors. How old is it? What condition is it in; damaged/worn/intensity of use/corroded by weather and time? What quality was it originally? What would the price be for repair versus replacement? If repaired, would the customer get enough use to make it worth it?

That's enough to get you stressed right there. But then you add a customer who has financial stress, and it can push you into a zone only fools enter. That's the zone where you repair the symptom, and not the cause of the problem. If a customer brings a wheel for truing, for example, and they tell you they've been riding all the time; that's a good thing. As a Professional Mechanic, you use the tools available to assess the wheel. Wheel goes into the truing stand, you check the bearings for looseness. You then spin the wheel to observe lateral and vertical runout, it's acceptable vertically but goes 10mm to the right and left in every rotation. Using a spoke tension meter, you find that you can "probably" fix this. The repair process to straighten the rim will shift the spoke tension unevenly around the wheel, which will make it less stable. The customer is riding some tough trails, and this wheel belongs to a ~$250 bike that's only three months old. We didn't sell them the bike. What do you do?

If you have already done a repair like this, and had the customer come back mad because the wheel "Got crooked again in the first mile" you know what to do. That wheel is not 10mm off, it is 20mm off! There is no guideline for "go/no go" on repairs like this, it is all experience based. But this wheel smells like toast, and the burnt kind of toast. The major weak spot on bikes in this price level are the wheels, they are built for gentle bike path use. This customer is going well beyond that use, and you should seriously promote the value of a Deore/Mavic XM117 wheelset for $90 retail or a LX/Sun Rhyno Lite wheelset for $140 retail. If you are a new mechanic, your empathy for the customer may lead you into doing the truing repair. Part of the correct wheel purchase price will be removed from the customer, with little to show for it.

In our training classes, we discuss the concept of "doing the right thing" for the customer, even if it's the opposite of what they want. Trust in your training, use the tools available (Wrenches and catalogs) and strive toward building a group of customers that trust your expert recommendations. Do the "right" thing for the customer and your employer, in that order!

Aaaagh! Get out of the rut!

We all have those moments where this sport just does "it" for us. Maybe for you it's finishing a long ride, when you feel a little giddy 'cause you are soooo tired. Or finally making that one jump that's been haunting you. For me, I love seeing the sun set at the top of a local tough three-mile climb; the view goes out to the ocean. The whole place changes in the 15 minutes from then, all the smells and the feel. You snap on your lights and get a great coast back to the road. Good stuff.

What ever does "it" for you, that's a really good thing to have. Dealing with customers can be challenging, but you have that personal "thing" to balance those times. This is an odd concept, but one of the ways to make that moment better is to share it. How many of our customers have experienced the best of cycling, like you have? Talking about it will reinforce the good parts for you, and make it more intense. Have you shared this motivation/energy/love of the sport with any one lately? Tell 'em or take 'em; let's get others as addicted as we are!

This ancient picture shows me climbing the start of the Poison Spider Mesa trail in Moab, 22 Oct 1993 at 38 degrees. It did warm to 65 degrees later that day; good times!

Man, I gotta go climb that trail again...

Disc Brake Safety and Consequences

This video reinforces the aspects of safety when working with bicycle Disc Brakes. One should always read the manufacturer's directions that came with the equipment, and use the correct tools in good condition. It is intended to make a lasting impression on our technicians.

The Tour Effect

Since the Greg Lemond era in the 80’s, when US cyclists watched the 7-11 team win races they could hardly qualify for, I’ve been a fan of professional cycling. I fondly remember watching Lemond beat Fignon by eight seconds in the final time trial of the 1989 Tour de France. All of us in the family-owned bike store cheered and jumped around that tiny black and white TV as he crossed the line, which was a legendary finish. Laurent Fignon was the stereotypical French classic bike racer, shunning the advice of everyone and losing the race that had been his to win. I caught the “Tour Bug” bad that year, and those near me have suffered a little ever since.

My daughters knew that July each year meant Dad was going to upgrade the TV service to get the Tour, and some days he’d even watch the coverage twice! I’d excitedly jump close to the TV and point to look at some small detail “Watch, look at that, he’s just about to attack! GO GO GO!”. The thing I have loved about professional cycling was that I could relate to the smallest details, and get emotional at how much they suffered in the mountains. I know that pain, and I’ll feel it again this week if I’m lucky. Watching Marco Pantani in his prime would take your breath away. Marco looked like the little kid in class that everyone picked on, until the Pyrenees came up. Marco owned the mountains, and he literally danced on his pedals up them. He’d stand and sprint up roads we would not walk up, tire a little, begin to sit down, and just as the saddle touched his rear he’d jump back on the pedals. This would go on for as long as 45 minutes. He suffered, and you suffered with him, watching his face and feeling what he felt. He was a small man in stature, but a giant when things got tough. You could not help but feel encouraged by his will to win.

I have LOVED watching the Tour. But seeing how any American is shredded by the Euro-press has been disappointing. Watching each champion accused or proven of being chemically enhanced is at the least disappointing. Lance battled the press for many years, Floyd blew it. Michael Rassmussen seems to have blown it. Teams are getting booted from the tour left and right this year. Riders had to sign an agreement that if they’re proven to have been “medicated” they must pay their entire 2007 salary to the UCI, and they’re still getting caught. The Tour de France will not be ended by this continuing scandal, but my affection for it has. I really don’t care who wins this year, and if a US rider wins I can only sympathize for his friends and family.

What does this mean to us, as retailers? Think of your next customer, with a fragile interest in road riding. All they’re hearing is “Roadies are Dopers” from the tour coverage. (Denials have been going on for years, but a clean pro sport would have cleared this up years ago.) Truly interested riders will not be affected, but the new riders will be disinclined to join a group with that reputation. Will it have an effect on sales? I hope not, but I may know better.

New Jersey vs. Quick Release Wheels: Bicycle Retailer 6/15/2007

New Jersey Passes Bill Banning Quick Release Wheels

By Lynette Carpiet

JUNE 15, 2007 -- TRENTON, NJ (BRAIN)--The New Jersey bicycle business may be in serious trouble unless retailers and suppliers take immediate action. State legislators earlier this week approved a bill banning the sale of all bikes equipped with current quick release wheels and tabbed tips.

Under the bill, it would be illegal to sell bicycles with quick release wheels unless they met performance specifications that are not commercially available. Assembly bill A2686, which was introduced in February 2006, passed in the assembly with a vote of 77-3 and is now headed to the Senate Commerce Committee.

While originally drafted to ban quick release wheels on children’s bikes, the bill was recently amended to include bikes with 20-inch or larger wheels. It also stipulates that the secondary retention device on a wheel meet certain specifications, including that it activate automatically and always prevent wheel separation.

“It’s being promoted as a bill intended to protect children,” said Bob Burns, Trek’s legal counsel and spokesman for the Bicycle Product Suppliers Association. “But the language would make every bicycle with quick release currently for sale in New Jersey illegal. This bill is not intended just for children’s bikes.”

Furthermore, Burns said there’s currently no secondary retention device on the market that would comply with the bill. “No system always retains the wheel,” he said. “Even the bolted axle, if the bolts aren’t on right, the kid’s in trouble. As of right now, there’s nothing on the floor that meets this definition and nothing on the horizon that is commercially proven.”

For the past year, the BPSA had been working with Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, the bill’s sponsor, on alternate language that would not prohibit the use of quick releases. The BPSA is now encouraging all dealers to contact New Jersey state senators and voice their opposition to the bill.

While it’s likely that the bill as written would be pre-empted by federal regulations that currently define how a quick release should perform, the law would still be in effect until a successful legal challenge was mounted in the courts.

“Bicycles are regulated by the Feds. If you start getting state-by-state regulation of bicycles, it will make selling bicycles in the U.S. very burdensome and extremely expensive for manufacturers and retailers,” Burns said.

“We need to get the New Jersey Senate Commerce Committee to listen to us and get them to consider the impact the bill would have on the bicycle business in New Jersey,” he added.

I've ridden with QR wheels for more than 25 years now, and never had an incident. We sell thousands of QR equipped bikes annually, with no issues that I'm aware of. Isn't it amazing that NJ has just killed all bicycle sales with this bill?

I wonder what's really behind this?

Change in our Helmet line up

Over the last few years Bell Sports has been reducing their number of skus. As a retailer I appreciate this, it makes keeping good selling items in stock easier. As a rider, it’s a bummer when they drop your favorite. My favorite was the X-Ray Pro, and if you’ve been in a SRMRE clinic lately you under$tand part of the reason. The new top of the line off road helmet (One that does not look like the back end of a Cruise Ship- Sweep XC) is the Variant. It gains an ounce from the X-Ray, and features more skull coverage similar to the Giro Xen. It’s targeted at the same price point, hopefully the fit is the same. Bell Variant Web Site

Then again, that Fox Flux isn’t too bad looking! It has a really short visor, but a nice fit. (Who sold ‘em on the “Bat Cape” back piece? And what the heck is a “Detox Retention” system; is that when they lock the front door on the rehab center?) Fox Flux Helmet Website

Why am I writing about helmets? Because YOU should be replacing your helmet no later than every two years. Immediately if you’ve deformed it in a crash! As an employee, it’s within your benefit package to do it every year, so why not?

Join me in Big Bear June 22 at Snow Summit

I’ll be leading a group of Explorer Scouts around the lift and trails near Snow Summit. If you’re at the lift at 9AM that day, join us or just say “Yo”. I think I can get 'em to do 2N51Y/2N08/Towne Trail and 2N10/1E01, and that may be it. Less than 20 miles. There are some restrictions on the bikes that may go up the lift, see www.snowsummit.com for all the ways you could get excluded.

Maybe call or email me to fully confirm this event if you're interested.

Tool Inventory

The annual Tool Inventory was started last Friday. Last time we did it, it was in preparation for a restock on tools. It took ten months for that Purchase Order to get signed, and it was waaayyyy out of date by then. (Then= last month.) I am anticipating that this one may be replenished back to stores within 30 days of completion. That prediction is accurate only if everyone gets their homework done, so please don’t wait for the deadline to complete it.

Can you get lucky in a crash? (A grim story of fork whackage on the Fullerton Loop.)

So I’m riding with two other people, and having one of “those” XC rides. The hills you normally climb seated, today you stand and drop all those who you came with. It was a good day, but those are usually dependent on you not losing your rhythm. We took a break after a tunnel section, and looked at the next 15 foot section of roots right before the sand pit drop off. Lately, I’ve just been rippin’ that obstacle.

We take off, and I’m in the back to encourage a little caution for me. I get my speed up, vibrate through the six-inch tall section of roots… and then lose my focus. There’s a ramp of old asphalt you ride, until the little drop off. I’m going slower than usual, and felt like I could look away. Instead of focusing on where I needed to ride, I got distracted by the creek. Nano-seconds later, I’m pointing directly off to the right of the broken asphalt and drop my bike (And fork) directly against the edge. Skateboarders would’ve said “Nice Grind”. The part that made real contact was the brake arch and left upper tube of the Fox Float RLC100 fork. Some of the arch was damaged, and asphalt ground into the upper fork tube. (For those of you not so familiar with this move, it is step one on how to spend $500 for a new fork that you couldn’t afford the first time. Mine is an older fork, but the dollar amount is accurate for the mental trauma.) Like any other injury, I picked off anything extra, picked up anything left behind and tried to ignore it all until I got back to the car.

After much study, I have found that in situations where the anodizing is chipped slightly you may be able to save a fork by intensively cleaning the chipped section and filling it in with clear nail polish. If the surface is still lumpy you may be able to find 2000-grit sandpaper and smooth it out.

Please notice the multiple use of the word MAY, which means that this is definitely a repair you can not do in the store. It’s a crummy repair, but allows you some time to save up to get it repaired/replaced professionally.

Memorial Ride coming up

At Scouting events kids look at me and say "Wow, you've really done a lot". My answer is always "Me, nahhh. You should meet Burt, he's done it all"...

I had a leader that had my deepest respect. He'd ridden across the nation a couple times with his wife, and ridden in many other places around the world. Rides with scary names like "Furnace Creek 508" were his thing. Yeah, 508 miles. Plus 35,000 feet of ascent. Solo, through Death Valley. Burt was the personalization for me of "Faster, further, higher". The stories about any of his rides make me feel like I'm still using training wheels.

This friend, this leader, this fearless hero of mine that was bigger than life was killed in the last year. On a Sunday we'd discussed a route we both liked , and the next day on a high-speed downhill section a Trash truck ended his life. Since then I have been quietly removing the outer chainrings from all my bikes, I don't need to fly downhill any more. As I sat among the hundreds of people at his funeral, it just didn't seem that important any more.

The Memorial Ride is not just about Burt, it's about all the cyclists that have died on the roads. This year it is on May 16 at 7pm. There are 170 locations nationwide, and a few around the world. ALL of the locations will be doing a 10 to 12 mile low speed ride, in silence and single file, to mark the passing of those who loved the sport as we do. There is no cost to the participants. It's a memorial and a quiet protest. This event will have media coverage all over the world in some degree, and it will help to remind everyone to share the road. There's twelve locations in California, five in Arizona and three in Nevada. You could set one up if your motivation is at that level.

I'll be at one. I'll be a little distracted in my memories, but I'll be there. You should do this, standing up for something like this always matters. I'd appreciate knowing if you are, please post a comment.

Links-
Irvine, http://www.sellin.com/silence/
Nationwide, http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php
Home site, http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php

Broken Man Benefit Report

The Benefit went very well. The volume of people attending was good, and the industry presence was strong. We may have surprised many people by showing up with almost $1500 worth of bikes as donations. Diamondback threw down a ’07 Response Sport, Marin a ’06 Bobcat Trail and Sport Chalet covered a ’06 Iron Horse Warrior SC Dual Suspension!

Many of the attendees showed up in the appropriate St Patrick’s day theme, as you can tell by Tony’s appearance. (That's not his beard, it's attached to the edge of his brace.) He is doing OK, he can walk and do most things. He had complained at the event of some tingling in his fingers, which came and went so he is definitely NOT fully recovered. He walked around and talked with everyone, but in the afternoon the heat took it’s toll and he had to go. We all were tired after today!

A total of $3,500 was raised through this event. Our vendors were credited during the raffle, and the winners were all very happy. The winners of the Iron Horse and the Marin bikes were rolling around looking at each other, and a after a little discussion they traded bikes! (Warrior SC for a Bobcat Trail) After everything else, it was very cool to see cooperation like that among good people. BTW- green beer did not affect the deal!

Another write up- http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-talk/5133-broken-man-ride-you-should-have-been-there.html

Ride Report -
When you get bike people together a ride is sure to get started. This one was planned ahead of time, and everyone was familiar with it. Well, everyone but us. We formed a small Sport Chalet group and stuck together. The ride covered about eight miles with about 1,400 ft of climbing. (See http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=1 for details) Pretty much you climbed for five miles, fell down a mine shaft for a mile, and then turned right and coasted back to the start. The ride started at 11am, and the day got HOT out on the trail. Fast people do it in under an hour, we took longer than that. And longer than that, and a little longer. It would have helped to not turn LEFT at the road at the end, and add another few miles and more climbing. No one got seriously hurt, new people got a lot of experience and we all finished as friends. Very tired friends.

Additional Pics- 1. Going up the pavement as a group, yes it is this steep!

2. Me at the Gate with Wayne looking grim behind me. The non-Sport Chalet riders jetted away from this point.

3. Mike Dartt very happy. He was the champion today, riding in the back and never letting the slow ones go alone. That takes "inner strength", and he did it well.

FSA to release Road Component Group soon?

Click on link- from Velonews.

http://www.velonews.com/tech/report/articles/11907.0.html

The Broken Man Benefit and Demo Day

I've brought this back to the top. I'm hearing that 15 to 20 Sport Chalet people will be there. The meeting place has been moved to Cook's Corner, and the post-event ride will start from there as well. If you haven't visited store 38 in Foothill Ranch, you're in the neighborhood. Stop by and check 'em out.

UPDATE: see http://www.thebrokenmanride.com/ There is a link to donate via Paypal on the right side.

The absolute last thing I want to do on this site is promote other bike shops, but the special circumstances of this case make it an exception.

From www.SoCalTrailRiders.Org:

The weekend before last, Tony Gardikas (aka Tony G) was riding in Aliso Viejo, CA. While riding he lost control of his bike and crashed. He landed on his head and broke his helmet in three places, and his NECK in three places as well (C2, C6 and C7). The doctors said that his injury is consistent with the one Christopher Reeves suffered.

Tony also severely bruised his Carotid Artery and his Dr. was concerned about the chance of a stroke. He is not going to have to wear a halo collar, but is in a very rigid (and reportedly uncomfortable) plastic neck brace. As we speak, Tony is not going to suffer from any kind of paralysis nor is he in any further danger of a stroke...he is going to ride again; not soon, but he will ride again.

The Path Bike Shop in Tustin, CA and The Bike Company in Lake Forest, CA are going to sponsor and organize a benefit on behalf of Tony as he has no health/medical insurance. We are going to hold a demo day and ride on March 17 in Aliso Woods in Orange County, CA. Details to follow, but we will also hold a raffle (the proceeds of which will go to Tony G). The raffle will be for some pretty high-end stuff as many of our vendors know Tony G and want to help and are kicking in some really cool stuff. Stay tuned to www.thepathbikeshop.com and www.bikeco.com for more info as we plan the event.

Tony also worked part-time at one of our stores, and is a "bro" to many of the employees he has helped. We all know the risks of the sport we love, but sometimes the price can be too much for one person to bear. If you can possibly make it down to this event, I would suggest it.

New Product- "Should we carry this item?"

We get many items sent to us as new products, and each of them are "about to revolutionize" whatever sport they are associated with. "It an amazing product!" "This is totally different!" "Market research and testing tells US this thing is gonna pop, you better get on board...!" "You'll laugh your way to the bank, try it first!"

This company is not quoted above, but SWIGZ dual hydration bottles are an example of a new thing. Almost all of it is made in the US, it holds 24oz divided between two nested 12oz containers. This allows you to have your hydration drink on one side, and water or whatever on the other. Water is mentioned three times on the attached card, vodka is also mentioned three times. They come in four different color combinations, and can be washed in a dishwasher once disassembled. Retail pricing is $12.99 with a 40% margin. More info at www.swigz.com.

The bottle sides are pretty stiff, as that's needed for the structural design. If the valves are closed and the bottle is squeezed moderately, leakage is noted. I think vodka was mentioned as it is clear, unlike the jersey streaks you might get from a colored solution. A fast gulp from this bottle means both sides get squeezed, so the leak factor may be critical.

Sport Chalet associates- let me know if you think we should carry this item. I know what I'm thinking, but I may be wrong. I will report back to our buyers on how many positive replies received from our techs.

LEVI LEIPHEIMER RETAINS LEADER JERSEY

I got this today in an email update from the race:

Latest News Maps Cities Tour Merch. Amgentourofcalifornia.com Watch Live
Olympic and World Champion Paolo Bettini (ITA), riding for Quick Step-Innergetic, made cycling history when he edged out T-Mobile Team's Gerald Ciolek (GER) in a dramatic photo finish to win Stage 4 of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California. For the first time ever, a reigning Olympic and World Champion won a race held on U.S. soil.

"Day by day, I am discovering California on this course and it is beautiful," said Bettini. "Here in California the courses are good for me. They are difficult, but not too difficult... The fans here are incredible, just incredible."

Levi Leipheimer of the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team finished the longest stage of the eight-day race, at 132.6 miles (213.4km), in 36th place, which was enough for the Santa Rosa, Calif., resident to retain the overall leader jersey. "Today was the postcard of the Amgen Tour of California. Riding down Highway 1 through Big Sur... pretty amazing, very beautiful," said Leipheimer following the stage.

Under clear skies and roaring crowds who packed the finish in downtown San Luis Obispo, Bettini outsprinted T-Mobile's Gerald Ciolek (GER) and Team CSC's Juan Jose "J.J." Haedo (ARG), who finished second and third respectively, to take his first stage win in America. The ride from Seaside to San Luis Obispo was punctuated by two brief rain showers and some of the most striking scenery yet as the cyclists rode hard down the Highway 1 coastline. The average speed was 25.8 mph (41.5 kph), with the leaders completing the course in 5:05:47. Leipheimer, the overall leader since the Prologue in San Francisco, was upbeat about keeping the Amgen Leader Jersey until the finish in Long Beach. "I'm pretty confident. I feel good. I feel like I'm the best rider in the race," said Leipheimer at a post-race press conference.

Tour Of California

I'm just going to give up on posting anything on this event, there's so much going on I'm hardly able to keep up for myself. Today a "normal" TV channel has been playing commercials to draw people to the event in Santa Clarita and Long Beach. If you go, and I suggest you do, please let me know if you get any good digital pictures as I'd love to post 'em here.
Here's a few good places for info:

www.thefredcast.com
www.velonews.com
http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages.html
www.cyclingnews.com

Don't miss out, come and see the race!

Disc Brake Adjustments- Why so many?

You may have fielded a few complaints from customers regarding their disc brakes needing adjustments. Your knowledge of the situation will resolve the issue.

A disc brake caliper and rotor stay in one place, which is determined when the QR lever is closed. We then adjust the brake, and it works great. That brake to rotor relationship is changed when anyone opens and re-closes the QR lever. Most dropouts have a layer of paint on them, and may be made of aluminum or magnesium. The QR and ends of the axle are made of tougher materials, often tool-quality steel. When the axle is released and re-closed it bites down on a new place, or reengages the initial point with hundreds of pounds of clamping force. Either way, some paint or surface metal gets removed. When a bike is new, or the rider is new to the sport, that tension varies widely. Your rotor is usually centered in the caliper with almost one-half millimeter of clearance on each side, which varies widely in the first ten to twenty times the wheel is mounted in the fork.

THIS IS WHY YOUR BRAKE NEEDS ADJUSTMENT!

Often a small adjustment to the QR tension may resolve the issue. If paint on the caliper side dropout has been removed, you may actually need a minor adjustment.

Let's define one other aspect; noise vs drag.
You're listening to a disc rotor spin through a caliper, it might make a small sound. Like a metallic whisper once per rotation. This is very common on a brand new bike. As a new pad and rotor are used together, their surface irregularities from manufacturing wear away and they work much better. A little sound may not require an adjustment.
When you spin the rotor through and it slows the spinning wheel, you need to adjust that. It may be as easy as recentering the caliper, or all the way up to rebuilding the lever/caliper and replacing the rotor and pads. We must repair things to be safe and quiet; please call your trainer with any questions.

Syntace develops a great disc rotor shim!

From www.cyclingnews.com

Recent rule changes in both mountain bike and cyclocross racing have increased the prevalence of spare wheels in the pit area equipped with disc brakes. Many of those racers have also realised that, in spite of so-called 'standards', the disc rotor spacing on their panoply of spare wheels can vary a bit. Given the tight clearances on most typical disc brake calipers, it doesn't take much of a shift to create some substantial disc pad rubbing.

Rather than iteratively readjust or re-shim their brake calipers with each wheel swap (which, obviously, isn't practical during an event), the more astute riders have rather shimmed their disc rotors so that they all match up, enabling quick and easy wheel swaps with consistent braking performance.

Still, fiddling with tiny shims in multiples of six can be headache inducing, and slight variances in the shims themselves can result in a slightly warped rotor - thus repeating the same problem you were hoping to solve. Instead, the clever Germans at Syntace offer a one-piece rotor shim that is designed to serve the same function as the individual ones. Not only are these much more convenient to handle but they are also properly sized for the M5 bolts commonly used to secure the rotors instead of the larger M6 bolts used for brake calipers.
Syntace's 0.2mm-thick disc rotor shims are offered in packages of eight.

They are available now through QBP, part number BR5015. You may not need them for Hayes or Avid brake set-ups if you're only using one set of wheels, but they are a very simple thing for setting up Disc Brakes properly for any bike. A package should retail for about $10.99.

When should we “CLIP” a dead branch?

We are coming up on another store inventory, and this question is becoming more popular again. In the store operation process, you have an item that has been damaged and is still in your store inventory. What should you do?

Option A- Contact the Vendor and get the parts replaced if under Warranty status. If it does not qualify as a Warranty item go to Option B.
Option B- Make a list of parts needed to restore the product back to it’s state as built by the manufacturer. Order those parts by way of the Small Parts Program, and be prepared to absorb the invoice amount as a “cost of doing business”.
Option C- We don’t like this option, but still have to use it sometimes. If the cost of the restorative parts are far beyond the profit margin of the product, or the parts are not available, we may need to 100% discount the item and destroy it. For some items, we may be able to use it in training classes. Before destroying any bicycles or new/fairly straight wheels, please email your Bike Trainers and ask if they can use it.

I have heard rumors of sales to employees, for those items that are returned "used" or functional but clearly not new. It could be a fair resolution for the store and an employee who is looking for that item to sell it at a reasonable price. I cannot suggest that as an option, as it opens the door to fraud and possible loss prevention issues.

It can be very difficult to destroy an item for what we see as a minor issue. The alternative is to use a never-ending downward spiral of payroll hours on a product that won’t ever be sold for full price. Sometimes we just have to clip a bad branch, and get back to business. Use your best judgment, work with your Bike Dept Head, Trainers and District Managers.

Please remind me of "Non-Winter"!

There is a rumor going around that a trip to Moab "could" get organized. This picture is only for scenery, we'd be going on regular trails around big drops like this. I've got "Porcupine Rim" trail on my brain, and would like to go this year. Best times are late May or late September, as it's quite hot between those dates.

Small map to give hint of the ride quality: http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/trails/porcup-tg.htm

We'll talk!

"Cheers" from England!

When you are working in the bike dept day-after-day, it can be easy to forget the effect we have on our customers. Our customers really do enjoy their bikes, and travel with'em. I got a letter today from our store in Torrance.

"To my friends at the Bicycle Department of Torrance Sport Chalet,
This is John, a recent customer and as you may know I am in England. Well, thanks to you guys and the bike set up I can take these pictures of me with my bike in the Yorkshire Dales of England.
... edited for length...
Well, I have many more miles to ride thanks to you guys and the people of the Diamondback Company for making my 2006 Topanga.

Gratefully Yours, John Koler"

His report details his rides in the area around All Saints Church, Ripley Castle, Bolton Abbey, and around Fewstone Reservoir. It may seem a bit disjointed, but there were eleven pictures with descriptions so I've used his open and closing sections. I have included the best scans possible from his pictures. He sounds like a very kind person, and it takes that quality to sit down and print out his pictures and write it up.

For someone to take that time, we must have treated them right. Congratulations to Store 18 for their quality of business!

Status Update on Inventory Projects

Small Parts- SKU's are now being assigned, and are likley to be distributed next week.

Tool Inventory- PO for all locations is under review, and sign-off is anticipated soon.

Also, Master Mechanic Shirts- PO has been signed, production is expected to be within the next two weeks. A size/quantity inquiry will go out to all stores when they are ready for distribution.

Cannondale Recalls 2007 Model Road Bikes Due to Brake Failure

We are not a dealer for this brand, but we know owners of them. Please share your knowledge and keep them safe.

JANUARY 10, 2007 -- BETHEL, CT (BRAIN)--Cannondale and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are recalling 2007 road bikes made from aluminum and carbon, or all carbon fiber.According to Cannondale the bicycle’s front brake can fail causing the rider to lose control and fall, though the company reports no injuries. The recall affects about 700 bikes and Cannondale is requesting that consumers stop using the bicycles immediately until inspected or repaired.The recalled road bicycles are the Six 13 Team 1, Six 13 Team1/Compact Drive, Synapse Carbon SL1 compact Si crank and standard bottom bracket Dura Ace crank. And were sold by Cannondale dealers from July 2006 to November 2006 for between $3,200 to $4,500.

Employee Purchases, Taxes and QBP

Sport Chalet has a policy that employees in good standing and past their 90 day probation period may make Employee Purchases from our vendors and distributors with Manager Approval. This is a benefit that most bike-junkies really enjoy. The issue to the state governments is that ALL of those direct payments generated no tax revenue. QBP is the first distributor to respond by not accepting Credit Cards from employees. QBP's intention is that all EP's are to be rung through the receiving store's register, with the taxes added there. What does that mean to us? The fallout from that is if an employee’s part order is processed thru Sport Chalet a 10% charge is added to pay for the store/corporation costs. Oh, and you’ll get charged the normal tax rate too.

This is resulting in some "discussion", which is understandable. That parts kit for your new bike may have just jumped in price from $1000 to $1188. Yes it’s only $188, but that can be a deal breaker. They are still working on the details, as it kills EP's on SRAM/Truvativ/Rock Shox items. Changes are expected in the future on this.

Paying less than retail is still a benefit. If you don't like QBP's policy, go somewhere else. Check other distributors, there may be another way!

Bike Shipping Costs Go UP!

Received yesterday. This is why we encourage bike deliveries to come from our supply in the Warehouse before anyone sends a Special Order out.

Dt: 01/03/07
To: All Bicycle Dealers
Re: BIG CHANGES to small bicycle & oversized box shipments

As you may be aware, UPS & FEDEX are changing the way they process shipments from generalized package sizing to a “Dimensional” system for large packages. The UPS rates are effective as of January 1, the FEDEX rates go into effect on February 1, 2007.

What does this mean? - SMALL BIKE SHIPMENT FREIGHT AMOUNTS WILL SKYROCKET!

For example, a single large Mountain Bike shipped from California to NYC will go from $37.61 to $61.32!!! with UPS.

Starting IMMEDIATELY, we are switching all oversized box and small bike shipments from UPS back to FEDEX. This will remain in effect for all of January. After the rate increase from FEDEX goes into effect, it may make more sense to send all small bike shipments by trucking companies instead of UPS or FEDEX. We are still evaluating the effect these “Dimensional” rates systems will have on total freight costs, and will make more announcements regarding our chosen shipment methods for oversized box and small bike shipments in the near future.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THESE CHANGES. IF YOU STILL PREFER UPS FOR YOUR SMALL BICYCLE SHIPMENTS EXPECT HIGHER FREIGHT CHARGES THAN YOU ARE USED TO. AS FOR FREIGHT ALLOWED ORDERS, YOU MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN COSTS BETWEEN FEDEX AND UPS.

We will avoid causing these additional charges wherever possible, but be aware that a Special Order bicycle may have an additional painful freight charge.

Diamondback Mission Frame News!

Replacements arrive for distribution by DB January 22. If we have a dry winter I’ll try to post more video once one in particular gets rebuilt…

Bicycle Rim Straight Truing Stand Video

Video shows a rim in a truing stand with a half millimeter lateral wobble. For a rim to be considered "true", this is the maximum. A business card is generally that thickness, and is used as a feeler gauge reference. There is a very small amount of vertical runout, which was due to a rim manufacturing variance.

Bicycle Rim Bent Truing Stand Video

Deciding whether to fix or replace a rim can be a tough decision due to the cost. The price always becomes affordable once you have seen a wheel collapse at moderate speeds, and the damage that occurs to the rider. A rim-braked wheel has more urgency in this matter than a disc-braked rim, but "safe is safe". This video shows a rim in a truing stand with MORE than a half millimeter lateral wobble. For a rim to be considered "true" an 0.5mm deviation is the maximum. This rim also has it's issue in a short section of rim which indicates it is bent. This rim is beyond correction by spoke tension changes and should be replaced as imminent failure cannot be ruled out.