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July 2008
Product Review - Mavic R-Sys Wheels
NYC Velo family member Todd Crooks recently spent a month with the new Mavic R-Sys wheelset, and he shares his impressions:
"I had been toying with the idea of a new wheelset for several years, but had a hard time parting with my hand- built Open Pros. I was looking for wheels light enough to be comparable to carbon rimmed set-ups, but with no braking degradation. I also wanted something that I wouldn’t have to worry about beating up.
After throwing my favorite pair of Vredestein tires on the Mavics I set out. Right off the bat I could tell the difference in acceleration and lateral stiffness. As soon as I’d start pushing up a little hill I could feel the R-Sys wheels wind up quicker than my Open Pros. Out of the saddle they were more responsive; the lateral stiffness Mavic advertises is true!
I weigh 170-180lbs depending on the season, so I was worried about durability, but after a month of riding they are still perfectly straight. I will admit that they aren’t quite as “soft” over my local chip-and-seal roads as my old wheels, but they still do a great job taking the edge off of the vibrations. About the only downside I can think of is aerodynamics. They aren’t the best choice for your TT rig, but if you are looking for reliable braking, great durability, and phenomenal acceleration, these wheels can't be beat."
TdF'08
Olympics, schmolympics. To us, summer means one thing - the Tour de France!
Sure, Beijing may be putting the finishing touches on all its newfangled architecture just in time for the Summer Games, but nothing can match the history, pageantry and scenery of the Tour. When we're away from the Tivo, we rely on cyclingnews.com's excellent race coverage. Catch up on the latest stages, check out the photos and read up on your favorite teams and riders - http://www.cyclingnews.com.
Learn To Fix A Flat!
On the first Sunday of every month at 6:30pm, NYC Velo is offering a class teaching the most common of bike repairs - fixing a flat tire. If you've ever been caught out on a ride with a flat, this is a skill you'll want to learn. Sign up in-store, or send us an email. Class is free, and limited to 10 students, so reserve your spot early!
All we ask that you bring your bike (or just the wheel if you can remove it) and a good attitude. Class will be 45 minutes - 1 hour.
After the class, you'll receive 10% off any accessories! The next class is Aug 3rd.
May 2008
Finding The Perfect Fit
The best bike in the world isn't going to do much for you if it doesn't fit. The most important step you can take to improve both your comfort and performance is
getting a professional fitting. NYC Velo are certified Serotta Fit Specialists.
Serotta is the leader in fit technology, and our shop is now setup with a Calfee Sizer Cycle, which can mimic any frame configuration possible. Stem length and rise, seatpost height, top tube length, and crank length are just a few of the measurements that the Sizer Cycle can provide. Whether you're buying a new bike or looking to take your training to the next level, we highly recommend a professional Serotta fit this season. Contact us for more info.
Celluloid Heroes
 This week marks the start of the 2008 Bicycle Film Festival, and anyone with an interest in moving pictures and bicycling is encouraged to attend. Whether you love watching shorts depicting messengers battle the traffic (and each other), classic European peloton fare, or straight-up alternative transportation advocacy, there's something here for every cycling fan.
May 28-June 1 - Anthology Film Archives 32 2nd Ave, Manhattan.
Check out the full slate of programs and purchase tix at the BFF site.
Mark Your Calendar
Official "Months" just keep on coming. Provided you survived the long April of National Poetry Month, it's time to get ready for National Bike Month! And the premier event in NYC celebrating Bike Month is Bike New York's Five Boro Bike Tour on May 4th. If you ever wanted to ride (car-free, of course) all 5 boros by bike, this is the day to do it. The course is 42 miles, relatively flat, and features some truly memorable experiences such as biking down the FDR, the Belt Parkway, and over the Verazzano-Narrows bridge. Be sure to stop by NYC Velo for any last minute items like inner tubes, flat repair kits, gloves, and maybe even some Clif Bars, to insure you make it all the way to Staten Island!
April 2008
Felt Tackles The Cobbles Of Paris-Roubaix
It's well known by now that the Slipstream/Chipotle Pro Team boasts a stable of big name riders, but the biggest (literally) is Magnus Backstedt. So when Maggy gears up to ride the infamously harsh Paris-Roubaix course, other riders tend to take note. This year, he rode a tricked-out Felt Sprint, seen here in VeloNews.
More Team Bikes We Like
We ’re proud to have a new addition to our Felt line-up. The F1 Team Issue (Limited Edition) has arrived and we have two sizes to offer, 54cm and 56cm. This is the official bike for the 2008 Slipstream/Chipolte Pro Team, and comes in the instant classic blue-and-orange argyle paint scheme on an F1 SL UHC (Ultra Hybrid Carbon) 900 gram frame and 1.1 carbon fork weighing 300 grams. The frame and fork are not only light but extremely stiff for the most efficient power transfer. Felt 1.1 carbon handlebars, Oval custom Slipstream stem, R900 TBT Carbon seatpost and a custom Fi’zi:k Arione Slipstream saddle make the cockpit light, comfortable and beautiful to look at. Shimano's coveted Dura-Ace 20 speed group adds some bling, but the highlight is the Zipp 303 tubular wheel set with Vittoria Corsa EVO CX 23mm custom Slipstream tires. The dimpled wheels look fast and meet all expectations - they are unbeatably stiff, light and stable - the perfect combination for variable road terrain. Pictures don’t do this bike justice, come on in and check it out for yourself.
I Left My Heart In San Diego
Our globe-trotting colleague Mike recently visited his good friend Liam in San Diego, and he was quickly immersed in SoCal bicycle culture. Perfect weather, gorgeous coastline rides, bike lanes everywhere - what's not to love? From the top of Mt. Soledad to the coast of Carlsbad, SD has tons of riding options for the avid cyclist. And say what you will about velo swaps, they are always hit or miss - perhaps more miss - but a ten-spot and a bit of perserverance landed this hardcover gem at the SD Velodrome Spring Swapmeet, signed by the Cannibal himself:
Add to that lots of good bike shops (check out Velo Culture in La Jolla - owner Sky Boyer keeps it real), a handsome velodrome with weekly nighttime races, and the best fish tacos north of the border... and there's no doubt that San Diego is at the top of the list of bike-friendly U.S. cities.
San Diego Velodrome, April 8 2008
Gesundheit!
Saturday April 26th marks the Annual Blessing of the Bicycles at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Folks are invited to bring their bikes into the Cathedral for a quick bike-themed reading, the walking of a riderless bike to honor all cyclists killed over the past year, and a sprinkling of holy water on the bikes. The event starts at 9:30am and will last about an hour.
Learn To Fix A Flat!
On Sunday April 6th at 6:30pm, NYC Velo is offering a class teaching the most common of bike repairs - fixing a flat tire. If you've ever been caught out on a ride with a flat, this is a skill you'll want to learn. Sign up in-store, or send us an email. Class is free, and limited to 10 students, so reserve your spot early!
All we ask that you bring your bike (or just the wheel if you can remove it) and a good attitude. Class will be 45 minutes - 1 hour. After the class, you'll receive 10% off any accessories!
March 2008
The "We're-Running-Out-Of-Storage-Space" Spring Bike Sale!
Help us find new homes for these Ridley bikes.
Wish We Were There
While most of us in the city are challenged to squeeze in a training ride alongside MTA buses and tourists in Central Park, NYC Velo team member Troy is enjoying 60 miles of trail riding in the Black Forest of Southwest Germany. Ich bin ein jealous!
Hot Salsa!
NYC Velo is proud to announce that we are now an Inferno-level distributor of Salsa Cycles (that means we sell muchos bicicletas!) Come in and see their 2008 line of road, cross and mountain bikes. With names like Casseroll, La Cruz, and El Mariachi, be prepared to add a little spice to your bike stable.
CityRACKS works!
The Department of Transportation is making a real effort to increase the number of bike racks in New York City, through a program called CityRACKS. NYC Velo put in a request for a bike rack in front of the shop a few months back, and we are happy to report that a new rack has been installed.
If you have a location in mind that could use some bike parking, place your request through the DOT's online request form.
Scott bikes for Spring
We're pretty excited about Scott's new lineup for '08, and it seems we're not the only ones. Bicycling Magazine has posted a great video review of the new Speedster S20 - we consider it a perfect ride for those looking to maximize performance at an affordable price.
February 2008
Bike collectors, frame geometry nerds, Monsieur Robin Williams, and Lance Armstrong all descended on Portland, Oregon in early February for the 4th Annual North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS). NYC Velo's very own Mike was in town as well and shares some of his pictures from the event.
1. Local talent Signal Cycles with their '08 road offering.
2. An appropriately old-school Bayliss headbadge.
3. Detail on an elegant René Herse, now made in the USA!
4. The Moots Sno-cycle. (I'm not sure if that's what it's called, but it sounds cool!)
5. Philly's finest, Bilenky Cycle Works (this is my friend Matt's 29er. Rollin' in style).
6. Tony Pereira keeps it real with an updated classic.
7. The Godfather of Steel, Richie Sachs.
8. Carbon meets tree in this Renovo frame.
9. Ed Litton's portable bike museum!
10. Vanilla Cycles.... always delicious.
And in case you're wondering what exactly it was Lance was doing at the show.
Good news for Italo-philes - Dario Pegoretti was in attendance and looking good! He has finished aggressive treatment for lymphoma and is anticipating a full recovery. Some other notables at the show:
Ira Ryan Cycles / 333fab / Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles / Steve Potts / DeSalvo Custom Cycles /Iglehart Custom Frames / Naked Bicycles and Design / Independent Fabrication
See you next year in ..... Indianapolis! (February 27- March 1)
Winter 2008
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The wee hours of Sunday December 2 saw Andrew, Chris, Tim, and Will leaving the familiar confines of NYC Velo for the wilds of Middletown, New Jersey in the name of cyclocross. The conditions were ideal for epic cyclocross – 26 degrees and snowy. Walstib Stables, a “gentleman’s horse farm” hosted a course consisting of open field switchbacks, sketchy woodland horse trails, and one helluva run-up. NYC Velo’s 4-strong showing dominated the starting line before putting their stamp on the race. The race saw Will throw down some moto-style power slides while Tim attempted to gain some valuable ground by sneaking under the course tape and Chris took on the run-up mano-a-hill (he won). Luckily, the race promoter sourced a Red Rocket Ale pony to ease the post-race pains of the hearty few. This was a race not to be missed – we hope to see a larger crowd of CX devotees out next year to sample Jersey’s best.
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NYC Velo is proud to display a selection of paintings by Steve Dennis of Velopaint for the month of October.
June 2007
Just another Sunday stuck in the city....
Whoever said there's no place to trail ride in Manhattan obviously hasn't heard of Highbridge Park in Washington Heights. The newly-completed three-mile trail system is a collaboration between our friends at NYCMTB and the NYC Parks Department. NYC Velo has been a supporter of the project since its inception, donating manpower to help clear the trails. The entire NYC Velo crew will be frequenting the park on a regular basis, and you should too!
May 2007
The Most Important Bike Kona Has Ever Made. Seriously.
Kona's AfricaBike was developed specifically to assist home health care workers treating HIV/AIDS patients in Africa as part of Bicycling Magazine's Biketown Africa Project. This year, for every 2 AfricaBikes sold, Kona will donate one to the Biketown Project. NYC Velo has a limited number of AfricaBikes for $300. The bike is a reliable one-speed design, complete with rack and basket - perfect for city riding. For more information on the project, visit konabiketown.com, and stop by NYC Velo for the opportunity to help others through cycling!
May 1, 2007 NYC VELO is proud to be an exhibitor of Why I Ride: The Art of Bicycling in New York.
April 16, 2007 Cruisers Are Here! Felt Bicycles has a wide range of summertime cruisers, perfect for that leisurely ride up the Hudson River Parkway. Come in and see some of our select models, starting at $350.
April 6, 2007 NYC Velo + BaileyWorks Bags
For those of you in the know, the name BaileyWorks means one thing: bomb-proof yet super-comfortable messenger bags. Bagmeister and all-around nice guy Jonathan Bailey is based in New Hampshire and is probably making your perfect bag RIGHT NOW. Stop by NYC Velo and check out his 2007 gear.
Bike of the Week - April 2nd, 2007 Come by and check out the new Surly Steamroller! Get your fixed gear itch scratched with this kick-ass urban assault rig. 4130 steel frame, equipped with cherry red Velocity rims, Selle Italia saddle and Deda Pista bars. $1400.
A new feature this month is the Customer Bike of the Month!! (Well, there are actually 2 winners this month)
Rick T's Colnago Bi-titan and Ben H's Ridley Damocles are the big winners for March.
 
Check out the Colnago's dual ti downtubes, new D/A 10 speed group, and Easton wheels.
Ben's Damocles speaks for itself. It's saying: "I'm very fast."
Andy’s Odyssey
Day #5 – 2/10/06
Chapel Hill – Philly
The cinnamon roll this morning came from Panera Bread and wasn’t
free…but tasty nonetheless. A stop in Mt. Airy, MD at Mt. Airy
Bicycles revealed another treasure trove of vintage bikes from the
70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Some of the bikes might be for
sale, depending on the owner’s mood. Visits to Breakaway Bikes,
Bicycles Therapy, and Wissahickon Bikes in Philly rounded out the
business end of the trip. I caught up with friends Brad, Dana, and Ken
from my consulting days at a BBQ joint in Center City and decided that
the drive back to Brooklyn would have to wait for the morning.
Unfortunately, the camera battery checked out on me, so today’s
pic will be delayed...I wonder what it will be?
Day #4 – 2/9/06
Asheville – Chapel Hill
Mother Nature delivered an unexpected, and unwelcome, gift this morning
– 4 inches of snow. I fought off the initial despair of seeing
the cycling playground that is Asheville covered in icy slush and made
my way out to the Pisgah Ranger Station where I was to pick up the
famed Black Mountain trail. It seems as though snow and steep, rooty,
rocky climbs don’t mix well. It took all the motivation that an
HIE cinnamon roll could muster to get me back on the bike after a mile
of slogging up the trail. After returning to the truck to thaw out and
revisit my objectives, I put on another pair of gloves and headed off
to one of the fire roads that led up the backside of Black Mountain. My
hypothesizing turned out to be correct – it was much easier to
ride up a snow covered dirt road than a snow covered trail. To be fair,
I did have to carry the bike up the unbelievably steep approach to the
summit (see below for view from the top), but the ride downhill was
completely worth the effort. I was now running a few hrs late but
stopped at the Sunny Point Café back in town to pick up some
nourishment for the road. Leaving the mountains of western NC was
starting to depress me, but on the horizon lay First Flight Bikes in
Statesville (www.firstflightbikes.com).
Upon arrival, Wes at FFB proceeded to give me the grand tour. For the
select few out there who are addicted to vintage mountain bikes, FFB is
a little chunk of heaven. I’d say they have over 100 classic
rides in their collection – I could go into more detail, but you
should probably just check out their site. The stop in Statesville
pushed me back another hour, but Lisa, my #1 sister, kept the jambalaya
warm for me at her place in Carrboro. A case of Yuengling and some NYC
Velo shwag was all it took to get a free place to stay. It was now time
to recharge for the long drag back to the city…
Day #3 – 2/8/06
WVA – Asheville, NC
With a couple of Holiday Inn Express cinnamon rolls in tow, I set off
bright and early for the mountain biking mecca of Asheville. The locals
at Biowheels in town set me up with maps of the Pisgah National Forest
and tips on the best trails. I made my way out to the forest to tackle
the Laurel Mountain and Pilot Rock trails. The ride up to Laurel Mtn
took an hour and a half. The crazy boulder/scree filled descent down
the back side ended 15 minutes later. It was on the ride down that I
appreciated my decision to leave the rigid singlespeed in the truck.
The 3 hr thorough beating sent me straight to…another HIE (as in
Holiday Inn Express) to lick my wounds. This particular HIE handed out
FREE cookies instead of sugar rolls, making it well worth the $.
Nourishment tonight was provided by Ed Boudreaux BBQ – when in
Carolina, as they say.
Day #2 – 2/7/06
Pittsburgh – Somewhere in W Virginia
My day started early this morning – I had a very important
meeting scheduled and my usual disregard for being timely
wouldn’t cut it. By 9am I was rolling into the lot at the Dirt
Rag HQ on the north side of town. After some quickie bike maintenance
– I guess Stan’s sealant doesn’t like the cold
– DR strongman Maurice led the crew and me on a 2hr tour of their
local singletrack. We talked some business - that's the point right? -
before the team sent me off with directions to a few of
Pittsburgh’s best shops. Among those was Kraynicks on Penn Ave.
This shop is a collection of decades of old parts – a bargain
hunter’s dream. On the way out of town, I passed the US Steel
mill and marveled at the sheer size of the complex – it stretched
for miles. About an hour south of Pittsburg lies Uniontown, which is
also a stop on the Journey of Hope northern route (www.journeyofhope.org).
I remembered the climb out of town up to Summit, PA being a good
challenge and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the next
45 minutes, so the mtn bike and I braved the snow flurries to top the
summit once again. The very chilly descent was motivation enough for me
to get back on the road – it’s a long way to NC.
Day #1 – 2/6/06
Brooklyn – Pittsburgh
Welcome to the web version of my odyssey, or my big-ass roadie to avoid
sleeping on the shop couch for a few nights and see some temps above
50. I finally left the shop at 10:30 this morning (only 2 ½ hrs
late – not bad). I stopped off in Bethlehem, PA to check out the
abandoned steel mills – pretty impressive, actually. From there,
I made my way up to State College to see the guys at Mt. Nittany
Wheelworks. The guys at this employee-owned/run gem hooked me up with
directions and advice on riding the course from the Single Speed World
Championships last summer. 30 minutes later, I was cruising down snow
covered rock gardens and ridgeline singletrack and grinning like a
jackass. Unfortunately, the onset of darkness cut the ride short
– this is definitely a place I’ll be returning to. After
thawing out in the truck, it was time to get down to Pittsburgh (see
pic of a cold downtown Pitt).
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