Extra info on Bike University

Bike University is an annual event for Sport Chalet employees. This two-day clinic allows intensive training by our vendors direct to store staff, and is something we look forward to all year. It can be difficult to include all the info, so I thought I'd post a couple of additional resources.

Tomorrow's Weather in the area @ Weather.com
Where is the site? Google Maps
Are there trails? Yes, from SoCalMtb

Know the Bike Dept? Prove it!

I was recently looking for a snack, and found a brand-new Yakima Flexfit hat! (How did that get there...) I wondered how to fairly share this with the loyal readers of this blog... hmmm. A QUIZ!

If you're the first person to email me, and can answer any question from the test accurately you win. I'll make three tries to call you, and then move on to the next potential winner. Once the prize has been given away, I'll note that here. The crescent rolls, ham and bacon are not included, only the hat.

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Lance vs Greg LeMond in Vegas

So, Lance is running a press conference on his return to the Tour de France and competitive cycling. Can you imagine him as a domestique, what pressure on the leader! Greg LeMond was there, with permission of the Livestrong group. Greg needed permission as he's been so negative on doping in cycling that even as a previous Tour winner no one wants to talk to him. That issue may have been a major factor in Trek dropping LeMond Bicycles from it's lineup.

Anyway, at 5:40 in Greg gets the mic and starts on his "thing". Lance answered his question just previously, and looks for another from the group. Greg starts in again, and gets shut down by Lance. It's good to have a focus to your life, and even better if it's one that hasn't been beaten to death.


Lance Armstrong Returns - Press Conf Las Vegas from CYCLEFILM on Vimeo.

Odd Shimano Bling Parts

In a quiet space in Shimano's booth there was a display with intricate XTR parts that looked as though they were made of gold. It struck me as unusual as they did this for the off-road groups, and not for road. I wonder if they'll sell many units. "Yumeya" means dream workshop in Japanese. The scanner cut the big "White Gold" and "Racing Spirit x Prestigious Kit" off the page.

The pictures are scans of the brochure that commemorates the offering.

Some company rode to Interbike...

This year seven employees from the Specialized Bicycle company and an equal number of invited retailers rode the 660-mile distance to Interbike. I saw bits of their experience on TV stations in Visalia, Southern Calif and Vegas, and thought it was kinda cool. They were also collecting donations for the Susan G. Komen breast cancer fund. They benefited from this exposure in several different ways, but primarily to the bike brand.

Links I could put up quickly, you may need to cut-n-paste 'em:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6399240
www.bicycleretailer.com/news/newsDetail/420.html
http://carbonneutraljournal.com/wordpress/2007/09/28/getting-to-las-vegas/
http://www.bikemonkey.net/?p=839#more-839


Why don't WE do this next year? It's about 300 miles from Corporate to Las Vegas, and take 4 to 5 days. Rent a 15 seat van, get a person to drive/handle logististics/make lunch and snacks. The outlay could be $1,500. I saw coverage all over, and that would hit our target of showing we are involved with the sport in a manner appealing to all. I would like to designate the "Tour de Cure" as the charity, as I am diabetic and very supportive toward that goal. We'd roll into Interbike with a HUGE dominance in news coverage. I would do it in a heartbeat.

Why wouldn't we? Please leave a comment!

How much is the 2009 DB Sortie Black?

5 inches of travel front and rear.
They're making about 30 of them.
Approx 26.5lbs.

$5200. No kidding.

Some views from Interbike 2008 09 25

Today is hyperlink day, please click on the link to see the picture.

The 2009 Fuji Finest 2.0 is still looking great!

SE Racing had an amazingly cool looking 24” Cruiser. Even the rims are wood-grained. Closeup.

Fuji had a sweet looking F/S 29’er. Until you saw the price. Nice, but ouch.

Tyler Hamilton’s rippin’ around on a Fuji. Ask Tom Roth for the story.

Rocky Mountain had this sexy full carbon F/S bike out. I didn’t dare ask about the price. Pictures can not convey how nice it is.

Interbike Demo Day Two

Just the basics!
1. A very busy vendor, doing lots of test rides!
2. The Sortie Black from Diamondback; 5 inches o' travel and 26.5lbs.
3. The Hammerschmidt, a two speed crankset. RJ was liking it!

RS on stunts

RS on stunts
Originally uploaded by Rico Stryker

It certainly ain't amazing, but it is video proof that I was there and was riding.

RJ on stunts

RJ on stunts
Originally uploaded by Rico Stryker

Interbike On-Dirt Demo Day One

Today I just walked around to talk with people and appreciated the 91 degree temp. Didn't that sound positive about the heat? I thought I'd just post a few pics for today.

The Surly bike is not one for fun riding, but for automobile replacement.


The bike closeup picture is of the new BB30 bottom bracket design, that just presses into the frame like a headset. I can't wait until this is commonly used!



Mongoose Test Ride Bike Check Out- Does ANYONE want to ride?

Less Car; More Bike Part Seven of Eight

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling- James E. Starrs

How expensive is your car? Or truck?

I’m sure we all know where this could go, which should result in a comprehensive “yeah yeah, what ever” response. Let’s look at it from a different perspective.

Where do you park your car while you’re shopping? Chances are the space is either owned or rented, but what does it actually cost? There is the real estate cost of each space, and then the development cost. It was graded, paved and painted, and then there’s probably a light to help you find your place in the dark. If the facility has fewer spaces, the cost per space goes up. If it’s in a parking structure, that’ll change it’s price due to the increased engineering. But let’s settle on $10,000 per space as a starting point. It is usable for several years, maybe as long as 40 years. I hadn’t mentioned maintenance! It’s got to be clean, secure and safe, and it all adds up.

Pretty amazing, right? Think about how many parking spaces an average car uses, one each at home/work/mall/ library/etc. If you couldn’t park there, you wouldn’t go there; right? So what are we up to so far? How many spaces, and at what cost?

Someone pays for each of those parking spaces. The Mall, your employer, the City of whoever. To businesses and governments it’s a mandatory cost. The government is you. Your employer takes it out of your pay, although the math gets a little indirect. You are paying for the cost of all those parking spaces in taxes and cost of your breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert. The cost is added to everything, and you never see it. Who pays? It ain’t them, because there is no them. It’s YOU.

You already know how much gas costs, and your insurance. You might even have a plan to replace your car in the future, and how that’ll change your monthly payment. A car needs maintenance, and repairs. Have you ever calculated how much of each day’s work goes to feed the vehicle? We’ll stop at this point, and also hold up from getting into the political side of what oil costs. People get wildly emotional on that point, and usually pretty quickly.

Let me just finish with this question: When will you start to use a bicycle for daily errands? Think of the impact that will cause if you make it popular!

i-Bert Seat: Pro reviews at MTBR.com

I don't know of anyone without an opinion one way or the other on this product. I think that an unbiased review should warrant some attention, so here it is.

i-Bert seat review at MTBR.com

For a single-child situation, it may be a great idea for gentle rides on smooth trails. Give it a chance!

Lance Armstrong is racing off-road?

Yeah, the Leadville 100. It's an extremely tough race, details @ the link below.

http://www.velonews.com/article/81301/lance-armstrong-is-riding-a-tricked-out-23-pound-full

Delay in the Car:Bike series due to work load

Sorry Faithful Readers, due to travel, class scheduling (Why did I book a class for Bakersfield Tuesday and San Diego Wednesday? That's almost 500 miles in two days. Way too much car time, dummy.) and some work-related legal matters I'm going to have to postpone Part Seven for about one week.

It'll be worth it though. It's amazing how much each space in a parking lot costs that business, and you as the consumer.

See you then!

Less Car; More Bike Part Six of Eight

Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.- Mark Twain “Taming the Bicycle”
Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy

In the last installment we focused on getting started. This time I’d like to note a few waypoints along your progress.

-The amazing value of Baby wipes!
-Pants clips, to keep your pant legs clean vs. the chain. Maybe you don't wear pants at work.
-Are you yelling “HAPPY MAN” at the guy who lives under the bridge, who yells “BIKE DUDE” and waves at you first?
-Where do you change clothes at work? The restroom is not the first choice, right...
-How you now carry your “stuff” (Phone, ID, lock, keys, etc)
-What have you forgotten behind, and had to ride back to pick up?
-Do you make sandwiches with Bagels now, since they’re harder to smash?
-How did you feel riding back from the movie theater, under a full moon?
-Hasn’t the route gotten easier? Can you predict exactly when you’ll arrive now?
-Are ALL your clothes fitting a little looser yet?
-Was it REALLY as bad as you thought it was?
-Have you gotten anyone else started in this process?

Your positive comments are welcomed, next time we’ll discuss how much a car costs per month. It’s a staggering amount, and may make you mad.

BTW- there's a famous bicycle race in France, going on right now. Here's a favorite moment. Note when Tyler Hamilton reminds Ullrich about sportsmanship.

Less Car; More Bike Part Five of Eight

Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award- Billy Wilder
Marriage is a wonderful invention: then again, so is a bicycle repair kit- Billy Connolly

I want to thank you for your continued reading of this series. I’m surprised we’re at part five already! Just like in #1 of the series, maybe it’s time for some honest reflection. Have you been affected by the rising price of gasoline? Have you been able to cut down on unnecessary trips? I’d like to not be a doom-sayer, but if just one refinery hiccups in our country we’re gonna be reviewing this series much closer. Have you actually ridden or walked to the grocery store and brought a load home?

Well, why not? What are you waiting for?

In chemical reactions there’s a point where something reacts. If heat is required it’s usually termed the “activation energy”. For me it happens to be called laziness, and it takes a little more discomfort to change. Whatever is holding you back, let’s get over it. Let me take a wild guess... If you haven’t ridden much in the last few years there could be a little fear of committing yourself to a bike trip. This is a relationship with a machine that’ll have to develop to reach your goal of “Less Car”. We have a terrific relationship helper for bikes called the “Survival Kit” that mirrors the Ten Essentials that hikers use. If you’re going riding, you should always have the basic five: Helmet, Water, Spare Tube, Pump and a basic tool for minor adjustments. If you’re going out for fun (Let’s say a couple hour long ride, maybe stop to eat somewhere) you might add another five items: Shorts, Jersey, Gloves, Shoes and a lock or cash. As you gain in experience you may see the value of a smaller seat, better tires and making friends while you’re out riding. You’re not alone in this thing, other cyclists want you to do well also. As usual, please feel free to stop by any Sport Chalet location to ask for ideas and help in this.

I’d love to get your comments too!

This video is a little eccentric, with a society of Supermen amazed by the powers of the BICYCLE REPAIRMAN. I can't resist including it though.

Less Car; More Bike Part Four. Check the hyperlinks!

>When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me- Emo Philips
>All city bikes weigh fifty pounds. A thirty-pound bicycle needs a twenty-pound lock. A forty-pound bicycle needs a ten-pound lock. A fifty-pound bicycle doesn't need a lock. ~Author Unknown

This week we have two topics, which you may have noticed by the quotes above and below.
For basic errands you wouldn’t ride your multi-thousand $ bike, you’d take something more humble. However, you don’t have to have the worst bike in the rack either. A simple fact I’ve learned from camping in the Sierras is that in case of a bear attack you don’t have to be the fastest runner, you just don’t want to be the slowest. This philosophy also works when you park your bike. Don’t stand out as the most expensive, and don’t have the weakest lock. Here’s a basic bit of lock intel, if you use a decent cable lock AND a decent U-lock at the same time you are no longer the weakest member of the herd. There are specific tools to kill U-locks, and other tools for cables. A bike thief is a predator looking for the easiest most-expensive bike to grab. Make yours tougher than the others, and you achieve success. Also, if your U-lock is over five years old it may be time to upgrade. Locking your bike to the most solid anchor is very important. Smaller trees? No. Chain link fences or posts. Avoid! If you lock up to a pole make sure it’s really anchored to the concrete, a theft ring in New York cut and sleeved 3” poles in the neighborhood. When someone locked up and left, one guy lifted the pole up thru the lock and the reset it with the bike gone. Be suspicious, check out your hitchin’ post!

>The sound of a car door opening in front of you is similar to the sound of a gun being cocked. ~Amy Webster (As you ride along a line of parked cars in traffic...)
Riding safely in traffic takes equal parts of intelligence and visibility, and possibly some luck. I cannot possibly communicate everything you should do to be safe, but I can advise you toward being prepared. Get your head "set" that no one is looking for you, you will have to make eye contact with drivers, and watch closely what they’re doing in intersections. A helmet is obviously needed, and a full set of reflectors. Going up in cost, please find a way to use: 1. Reflective tape on your bike and helmet. 2. A bright flashing LED light on the back of you. 3. A reflective vest. 4. A headlight that illuminates far ahead. 5. And a back-up flashlight. Do your best to watch all vehicles near you with the strong suspicion that they are your enemy. Be careful, and make sure they know where you’re going in intersections. Always be careful!

These are only recommendations toward basic safety and are in no way a complete guide to cycle ownership or traffic safety. Please consult your local Sport Chalet for any specific questions that you may have in these aspects.

Less Car: More Bike Part Three. Lots of links!

"Let our people travel light and free on their bicycles."- Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

"Don't buy upgrades; ride up grades."- Eddy Merckx

So, how should you carry things? Let’s think of a grocery store trip as an example. You’re not provisioning a distant outpost, but getting “some” food/supplies for a few days. Don’t get discouraged because you don’t have the perfect rig, just do it.

If you walk, you’ll probably use a backpack. Compared to a month of gas/short trips, a backpack is a good investment. Upside- it’s easy to use and maintain. Downside- Slow and sweaty, maybe heavy. Packed carefully, carrying a few 2-liter soda bottles and some groceries can be very possible.

If you ride, you have more options. We’ve covered the backpack already, but I can’t really suggest it for riding. 

Low dollar/light load/short distance? Think Beach Cruiser with a handlebar basket! If the bike looks horrible, it’s less likely to be stolen. I’ve heard of people covering a nice bike in saran-wrap, and then spray painting the saran-wrap . “Camouflage!” Blend into or below the urban environment.

Mid-price/load/distance? Think of an older or lower dollar value bike with rack mounts, and add a rear rack and panniers. Jandd makes a pannier called the “Grocery Bag Pannier”, click on that name to see it. This is a nice option, but what’s on the other end of the price range? Something Home Made! There are very nice new-bike options available for commuting...

Open Budget/large load/distance unlimited? Get a BOB or similar design trailer. Get a Touring Bike and “Bag it out”. (Only handlebar and rack Bag shown, fully loaded here.) Or for the over do-ers reading this, get an Xtra-Cycle or Surly Big Dummy. That link shows a bike-towed trailer with about 400lb of 4’ x 8’ x 3/4” plywood ready to go. How about a Touring Unicycle, I kid you not! If you need to carry something, it can be done. (Thanks to SurlyBikes for some of the pics!)

As usual, your comments are welcome. Next time let’s look at traffic visibility and security options.

Less Car: More Bike Part Two

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race- H.G. Wells

... The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created. Converting gasoline into human calories, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon. ~Bill Strickland, The Quotable Cyclist

At the conclusion of last week’s episode I’d asked you to think of three positives of living without a car. I wasn’t kidding, post ‘em as comments! I asked you to do that as change is sometimes a little scary. You might want to change your life a little, and that can be uncomfortable. Your customers are thinking of this also, so be ready to tell them what you learn.

The reasons to drive a car are obvious, and recently the reasons to drive less are also. Your reasons WHY are personal, and important. Honestly, do you really need 300hp in a 4000lbs vehicle to go get a soda? Where could you cut out that one trip in the dino-burner? Work? Groceries? Where is that one excess trip that you can eliminate?

An obstacle to getting started in this is your perspective from the vehicle, “those other drivers have serious issues”. So don’t ride the same road as them. Please navigate over to www.bikely.com, and take a look at alternate routes to your destination. For most trips you may find at least one alternate route, but it can be safer. Or cleaner/nicer. Until you know of alternatives, feeling trapped makes sense.

As usual, your comments are welcome. Next time let’s look at carrying methods and bike options.

Live without a car? How about “much less car” travel?

Hello Blog Reader. Please come into my office and have a seat, thank you for coming to this meeting.

We have something very important to discuss, and it’s something you’ve been trying to ignore for some time. Ignoring something does not make it go away, you might’ve noticed. Let’s get right to the bad news; we will likely never again see gas prices in the $2 per gallon range. It is likely that we will see gas in the $5+ range within the next two months. This is very hard news, I would like a tissue too. We HAVE to acknowledge this change, because ignoring only hurts us. To acknowledge it fully, we have to deal with it, and the easiest way is to start in our own homes.

In your anger at the situation you might ask “what makes you so smart about this?” You’re feeling a loss, and that’s normal. I can discuss this with you as I’ve done it, through one of the wettest winters in Southern California history. If we work together, this can be easier. I will give you my experience and references. Your relationship with your car must change, and it’ll be OK. The quality of your life might even be better...

As we meet quietly on this blog, we’ll discuss the steps to take; some difficult and some easy. My goal as your guide is to help you keep your cash in your pocket, and get the things done that life demands. As you leave today, I’d like to reflect on the concept of “I can live without a car”. Don’t think of the obstacles, but of three positives.

See you next week. Bring a note pad, or hook up your printer!

QBP raises order minimum to $175.

QBP positives:
1. A beautiful Manual that now must be ordered by each store individually.
2. The widest selection of parts from all categories.
3. Suspension and Brake Tuning Center.

To us, QBP is a valued partner. But today they've raised their minimum dollar amount by $25. 

Let's think of the positives of KHS/Raleigh-DB/SBS:
1. They are located closer to our stores, so your order gets delivered quicker and at lower cost.
2. All of them are competing for our business, so we get better prices.
3. Their order minimums are MUCH less than QBP's.

We appreciate all our business partners. However, we'd suggest that when you form a customer Special Order you balance these factors, and order from QBP only if the other vendors don't have what you need. It's better for the customer, and it's better for us.

It's a buffet of answers!

Special Orders- Special orders for customers now go direct to the vendor or distributor, without involving the buying team. A special order is usually a single item order, and is different than a parts order or employee purchase.

QBP Parts Manual- No manuals are available thru Corporate, or the training staff. The only way to get this leviathan manual is to use a STORE EXPENSE PO, and call the order in to QBP. The cost for the manual is about $10, and is definitely worth it. We are NOT currently having stores order parts for repairs or for their showcases.

Chain Lube, Grease, Degreaser- Available thru Execusystems, ordered via a Manager. Please do not 100% out your floor stock, as it increases the "shrink" numbers for your store.

Pictures of problem parts to Vendors- So you're handling a bike part issue, and the vendor requests a digital picture as proof of the problem. You may have noticed that manager computers cannot email outside our company. Solution: email the picture to me with exceptionally clear directive of to whom I should forward that message to. Having the target email in the subject line is a decent idea.

Post Mount Disc Brakes- Disc brake calipers mount to forks by the "International Standard" or by a "Post Mount". "Post Mounts" require the bolt length to be longer for required thread engagement, and are becoming more widely used. If you or a customer have stripped out a "post mount" it is not a warranty issue, and the responsible party gets to pay for the replacement lower leg assembly and installation.

"Rack Install class is focused on Yakima, but my store also sells Thule"- Our Rack Install class IS based on Yakima systems, as both systems have comparable parts. A Q-tower and 400XT Aero Foot tower both do the same thing, but all of our stores stock Yakima parts. If you feel you need more info on Thule systems and training please navigate over to www.RackItScience.com and you'll have all your questions answered.

Sport Chalet Jerseys- A sneak peek...

We are finally getting the jerseys we've been asking for!

You can see our current jersey in your store.

I'm not certain if/how much "Sport Chalet" logos will show on this one (None are on this proof), but I'd pay retail for this argyle one! (Should be arriving any day now.)

And in mid-to-late May we'll see this "Alpe d'Huez" design.

I hope you're as excited to see these coming in, please help your customers to see them!

An Open Letter Among the Bike Trainers

Confidence or Convenience?

In our group of trainers I’ve been getting more requests lately to change things around, like to just certify someone outside of the class, or have ‘em attend day three of a MM series to demonstrate their skills, or to run a candidate through a series out of order in order to “get him certified”.

Before you ask for this, please ask yourself why you would do this. I’m been tempted in the past, and may have made choices that I’d later regretted. Most of the justifications for an exception will be related to:
a. “He’s really experienced”
b. “He can’t get to the class due to… school/family/kitties/lunch money/whatever”
c. “The store can’t spare his hours for training”

These responses are considered by you because of your:
1. Confidence- “This person presents himself so well (Or helped ME out of a problem) that I can’t possibly waste his time in class.”
2. Convenience- “I can then get another person certified, and/or a manager off my back.”

I understand these things. I once cancelled a Corporate meeting to certify someone 75 miles away. I was there on time, with tools set up for a one-on-one day with an associate with over 10 years of Sport Chalet experience. All three tests and samples laid out like a pro. The guy showed up with an issue that got him dismissed for the day; session rescheduled. I didn’t respect my time or the “Program”, and wasted a day for it. Called myself a "dummy" all the way home too.

If you have the chance to work with a “really experienced” associate in a MM series, your day will go easier. You may even learn something from him, or at least have an easier class! The MM clinic is designed with escalating levels of mechanical participation from the associate, with time between sessions to review and integrate the previous lessons. By running the class in order we reinforce the previous class, which is a huge benefit to all of the associates. You may not be aware of it, but some people learn primarily thru “listening”, “seeing” or “doing”. Depending on the complexity of the demonstration, it may be all three.

Finally, what if their store “can’t spare the associate”? This is going to sound harsh, but that’s not your problem. If they don’t value critical training, it’s a big indication of other problems outside of your control. Stores that support a high degree of proficiency in their associates ALSO have higher SPMH. This is not something I’ve just made up; it’s a proven “action-reaction” linkage. By training their associates, they get better retention of that person. When they spend time with you they learn how to solve problems easier, and how to get questions answered in a way that they will learn no where else. Your time with them has a value that cannot be calculated.

Why would you help to deny these benefits to someone? (I’m not gonna touch the legal side of this here- call me for that one.) There’s a hundred “reasons”, but why? Is it your confidence, or your convenience getting in the way? Stick with the program, Gentlemen. It’s everyone’s best move.

Have you tried a 29'er?

The 29-inch wheel size has "infected" the bike industry. I don't mean that as a negative, but it jumped from one mfr to another, and now everybody's got it. When this craze started I felt that it was just another fashion that would pass quickly. It has hung on long enough that most bike companies are offering at least one bike with them. At the last Interbike Demo event I got to ride a Marin Alpine Trail 29’er, and had some solid impressions. One of them is that it's not a fad...

1. The larger wheel size rides smoother, due it’s greater diameter. There’s a number of explanations out there, but you’re using a larger size hoop to roll over the obstacles. This reduces the effective size of trail irregularities which feels smoother. I was riding it in rocky desert terrain, and was very surprised. I had that “Hey it’s not MY bike, PIN IT!” thought from the start and was riding much more aggressively. It was very nice!

2. Due to the larger diameter, the bottom bracket sits lower to the ground. The net effect of this is that the rider is centered lower between the axles, so the bike carves turns in a more stable manner. I felt this on the first turn, and loved the stability. In the sketchy rock and sand I could trust this bike to roll thru the turn I had planned.

3. Possible negatives are A. The greater weight of the larger rim may reduce the agility of the bike. B. Different tube size, so walking out may be more likely if you get a "multi-flat" and are alone. C. Longer spokes may lead to a more flexible/weaker wheel. These are all fairly unlikely, but worth considering.

Any design can have negatives if you’re looking for them. In my view the 29” wheel size is a great alternative for XC riders that are clear on the non-jumper/non-downhill focus of this wheel size. Tire widths for this diameter rim vary from 1.125” to 2.3”, and rim widths also vary to match that range. One of our trainers has a fixed-gear bike built as a 29’er with Rhyno Lite rims- it’s really durable.

Summary- if you haven’t tried one, what are you waiting for?

DB Overdrive Pro '08

DB OverDrive '08

Marin Alpine Trail '08

Marin Muirwoods 29er '08

Quick-Release legal news

A New Jersey legislator has proposed a law banning quick-release devices on bicycle wheels. If enacted, it would only affect New Jersey but would also set a precedent for all other states. This item bears watching, as it could cause a sudden change in all bikes for sale nationwide.
Also, the case that spawned this law involves a bike sold by Walmart, who did not educate the customer in anyway on quick-release operation OR get a waiver signed. Walmart is not assisting the fight against this law in any form. "Big Thanks to Walmart".
Additional info: Montague Quick Release, Experts predict this to be used for all wheel QR's

From BicycleRetailer.com today:

NBDA Adds $7500 To Quick-Release Fight

COSTA MESA, CA (BRAIN)—Following an initial contribution of $7500 last summer, the NBDA Board has voted to commit another $7500 to defend the ubiquitous quick-release axle.

The latest contribution will be matched by the supplier side of the industry, said NBDA executive director Fred Clements.

The fight is against a ban on quick-release axles that has been proposed in the New Jersey legislature. While the law, if passed, would affect only New Jersey, it might set a national trend, making the fight a national issue.

The bill exempts axles that also have a “secondary safety device,” but fork tips apparently do not qualify for the exemption and there is currently no other technology that would.

The proposed law was a response to injuries to children riding Wal-Mart bikes with quick-release wheels, Clements said. But with the exception of some high-end BMX bikes, the kids bikes sold by independent dealers do not have quick-release axles anyway. The New Jersey bill as written would ban quick-releases on all bikes, adult as well as juvenile.

Funds contributed by the NBDA and the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association are to be used to hire a lobbyist to make the case against the bill.

Consequences of one choice affect many others.

Good story, from "Mountain Bike Like a Champion" by Ned Overend.

A classic epic ride from my hometown of Durango in Colorado is called the Kennebec Pass loop. You head out of town and into La Plata Canyon before climbing to the top of the 13,000-foot pass. From there, you can get on the Colorado Trail. It's a spectacular ride with a ton of climbing. Depending on your pace, it will take you between 6 and 10 hours to get out and back. Or it could take a couple of days. People get lost up there all the time. Several trails intersect, so it gets disorienting. The big mistake is turning away from Du­rango and dropping in on the wrong side of the divide. Once people realize their mis­take, it takes a major effort to ride back up again. There's no way to get home before sundown.
One day, the search-and-rescue guys asked me to help them get two riders out. They wanted me to show them the area where people take the wrong trail. I drove part of the way up the pass, and then got into a helicopter.
It was a super windy day. At that altitude, the helicopter didn't have much power. We climbed toward a notch in the mountain, and everything seemed fine until we hit a downdraft. I could feel the chopper sinking. I could also see the pilot sweating. He fought with the stick as we jerked all over the sky. He couldn't turn around, because we would lose momentum and then really sink. We were so scared. I've never felt that helpless. Just as we were being pushed into the ridge, the downdraft eased and we made it over. When we finally landed, the co-pilot got out and immediately threw up.
Be responsible on epic rides. If you get lost or have a major problem far from the nearest help, you're not only putting your own safety at risk but you're also en­dangering everyone who tries to find you.

Many riders think that they're out for a "short ride", or "I'm in cell phone range" so they skip the basics of safety. When they get nailed by dehydration, or a flat tire in the middle of no-where the problem gets shifted to others. Their choices can affect many others, so let's make sure we spread that understanding.

Showcase and Repair Parts Ordering?

Back in early 2005 no one was coordinating our parts orders. Some stores were just ordering whatever they needed. Both situations needed improvement. Each store was doing the work that we already had a buyer doing. Although market specialization is a good thing, it means we had 45+ buyers doing a job inefficiently. We have a corporate buyer, an E3 analyst and our E3 system to keep the stores supplied with essential parts. Rick Stryker volunteered to step in, and coordinate the orders for a few months. He set up a system of ordering that simplified the process to something that’d make sense to all of our distributors and speed invoice processing in our Accounting Dept. That was rolled out to all stores in August 2005.

The process worked well enough that it has continued to this day. It also grew, and Rick was eventually returned to the position of Bicycle Training Coordinator. The coordinator(s) for those orders are now Tom Connell and Aaron Dunn, who are our Fitness and Bicycle Buying Team. However, we still have too many people doing "buying". If you consider it fully, each store is still forming repetitive orders for repair and showcase parts. Those who are doing an excellent job are still only affecting their individual stores, which is a waste of good work and intelligence.

We have three types of orders in the Bike Dept.
1. Repair parts- these are things that are used in the process of normal repairs. Cable housing, tubes, chains, etc. If communicated to the buyers, these items should be coming into your store by way of our E3 system. It is far more efficient to have these items on-hand in our warehouse, and send ‘em out on the next truck.
2. Showcase parts- this category of parts is used to attract customers, and show the range of service that we are doing. These parts may also be “cutting edge” or used to grow a category of bike sales/customers.
3. Special order items- sometimes you have to order something in for a customer. We currently have to dance around some distributor “minimum order” amounts, but those orders are still being processed well.

Here’s the plan for orders in the future:
1. Repair parts- No one goes from zero tune ups a month to 60, so your rate-of-sales on all parts would change over a month, instead of a day. These parts are tracked and reordered thru E3 now. The parts that E3 orders and stocks will need to be increased in their range and depth, but this is something we are likely changing now. Shop Personnel time should not be spent generating orders for basic items that ALL stores are ordering. Future state: Repair parts are automatically ordered by way of E3 and tuned to your store's range of customers by communication with the buyers and E3 analysts.
2. Showcase parts- we demonstrate our expertise by ordering parts that are compatible and interesting to our customers. We can and should be relying on the buyers and E3 system more, by communication of hot new products and customer interest/demand for products that we don’t stock yet. Example: if stores begin consistently sending in organized “Top 10 items to add” and “Bottom 10 items to lose” emails we will manage our inventory across 50+ stores in a very smart way. Instead of ordering "one at a time plus shipping x 50 stores", we put the power of our organization into the ordering process. This will have to be managed by the Buying team if it’s going to work well.
3. Special order items- trying to change this will only reduce our ability to please the customer. If they want something, we order it when pre-paid. “Please the customer”, it’ll never be a bad policy.

When the Bike Trainers first heard this, we were “not happy”. After some discussion, we saw the value. You may be in that stage right now. Think about how much time you spend on basic orders, and how you could be growing your repair volume instead; it just makes sense. As ever, your comments are appreciated.

Dorel buys Cannondale

This story is a little dull, until we realize Dorel owns Pacific Cycle. Pacific moved Schwinn to Target stores and that class of retailers. It wouldn't make sense to do that with Cannondale, but life is full of surprises.

From BicycleRetailer.com today:

Dorel Buys Cannondale

MONTREAL, Quebec (BRAIN)—Dorel Industries has just announced the acquisition of the Cannondale Bicycle Corporation.

The total value of the all-cash transaction will be $190 (U.S) to $200 (U.S) million, subject to Cannondale's earnings results for the year ending June 30, 2008.

The transaction, which will be immediately accretive to Dorel's earnings, is being financed through debt.

Cannondale and Sugoi are being purchased from an affiliate of Pegasus Capital Advisors, which acquired the company in 2003. 2007 sales for Cannondale and Sugoi were approximately $200 million.

Dorel president and chief executive officer Martin Schwartz said that in light of the acquisition the Company's Recreational/Leisure segment is being split into two distinct operating divisions.

A new Dorel Independent Bicycle Dealers (IBD) division, the Cannondale Sports Group, is being created and will focus exclusively on this category with premium-oriented brands.

Backed by Dorel's extensive resources, the Cannondale Sports Group will build on Cannondale's strengths to grow significantly within the IBD channel.

"Our intention is to build a world-class company that dealers will want to buy from," said Schwartz. Pacific Cycle will become a stand-alone division with an exclusive focus on mass merchant customers.

"The Cannondale purchase is consistent with Dorel's plan to concentrate on its core businesses. Since buying Pacific Cycle in 2004 we have learned a great deal about the bicycle industry and have found it to be a true value driver for Dorel. We are committed to pursuing this sector, and this important transaction will position us globally in a most material way. Dorel recognizes the importance and potential of the Independent Bicycle Dealer channel and is purchasing Cannondale as the first step to become the world's number one IBD player. Cannondale will be the crown jewel of this new Dorel division, which will seek additional such growth opportunities," he added.

"We're excited about the future for Cannondale and our retailers. Cannondale's goal is to be the number one supplier to the IBD channel. Dorel's vast resources and experience provide us with long term stability and the ability to accelerate our goals for growth with our retailers," said Matt Mannelly, president and chief executive officer of Cannondale.

Dorel purchased Pacific Cycle (Schwinn, Mongoose and GT Bicycle brands) in 2004.

—Jason Norman

Headset Spacers, how many?

There's been some discussion regarding steer tube material and the number of spacers between the headset and the stem. All of the discussions I've read are focused on racing-quality lightweight stuff. If you have a thin aluminum or carbon fiber steer tube, it makes sense that zero spacers focus the stress right at the focal point of the structure. This is how a Pro racer, like George Hincapie in the recent Paris-Roubaix, can have a catastrophic failure. His steer tube snapped at mile 131.5 of the 161 mile race. This is a very demanding race, and this failure put him in the car with a damaged right shoulder. Big George'll understand it's a risk of racing, your customer will not be understanding about it if you set it up.
In the opposite case-by having a large number of spacers in place, the mechanic adds leverage to the rider handlebar input, which may also quickly fatigue the steer tube.

What do you do?

One industry expert has gone on record:
The number and placement of spacers does have an effect on the fatigue life of an aluminum steerer tube. Running less than 5mm of spacers under the stem can concentrate or "point load" a great deal of stress in one spot on the steerer. Therefore, Bontrager recommends a minimum of 5mm, and a maximum of 40mm of spacers between the stem and the headset to maximize the fatigue life of the steerer.
Scott Daubert Trek Bicycles

This has little to do with a $400 hardtail bike as set up by the manufacturer. But if you are replacing a fork, or even considering using a steer tube extender (BAD!), it is a factor to be aware of. If your customer is asking for a large amount of steer tube spacers, be sure to let them know they probably have the wrong size or type of frame. Do not install a large number of spacers, or get into a physics debate on the leverage difference of a long handlebar and tall stem vs. stem extenders etc. There is no set guideline, as it varies to the quality of the components.

"BE the Expert, do it right!"