50 Bike Shops in January 2012

Yes, I visited 50+ bike shops in January. That doesn’t include the ones that I simply “stopped by” with out a specific reason or for business reasons, or the ones I have visited multiple times in January. I’m still catching up on all the paper work for these shop visits, including notes and goals for as many as I can handle. It is a lot of ideas, goals and hopes to swallow but it was a great first month on the road. I saw many shops in SC, TN, and NC from Knoxville, TN to Charleston, SC. I’ve met many new people that I can already call friends, and looking forward to watching them grow over 2012. You’ll see many of these shops featured over the next few months here on Bike Shop Girl.

2013 SRAM Red Launch

I don’t like to cover much stuff that you get to see at every other cycling site out there. The new SRAM Red is out, it is fantastic looking and hopefully you have a group on order. I spent a good amount of Wednesday and Thursday taking orders from dealers as my mothership QBP will have some of the first groups available. It was exciting, still is, I hope to get to ride a group soon but it leaves me longing for something I can’t even purchase right now. When I do get a ride on it – I will let you all know if it is as amazing as SRAM’s marketing department was able to make it seem.

Big Plans for February

February will start off slowly this week, mostly paperwork and house keeping. Next week the “boss” comes to town and I will show him off in SC and NC. Or is it I show off NC & SC to him? Visiting between 3-5 shops a day Monday – Thursday with the hopes to get in bike rides in there as well. From there I’m in Minneapolis for Quality’s big Frostbike trade show. I hope to cover some of the event, along with featuring some seminars after the show shuts down. From Minneapolis is Georgia. Southern X cyclocross endurance event, Southeast Bike Expo, Foundry Cycles launch parties, trips with my Lazer manager and continuing to learn more shops in the Southeast area.

Things that Matter a Bunch to me and nothing to you

I finally got a hold of a centerlock rear rotor today at First Flight Bikes. I paid retail and I’m okay with it – I wanted to ride my bike today. I also paid retail for these amazing socks. I have a feeling I’m going to wear them out.

Surly Karate Monkey with Internally Geared Hub

I’m going to be trying out a Shimano Alfine rear 8-speed hub on a 29er mountain bike, that will be mountain biked hard. Everything is built, just need a rear 160mm centerlock disc rotor for the back wheel. Can’t really mountain bike with only a front brake! (This is an 18″ and on my older Karate Monkey frame)

Surly Karate Monkey Single Speed

16″ Karate Monkey should be delivered tomorrow that I’ll be putting a RockShox Reba RL on the front. Trying to convert more and more women to 29ers and hopefully single speeds!

Surly Pugsley Fat Bike

You’ve seen the pictures. 18″ Fat bike that I’m lending to shops in the area to get folks interested and going ga-ga over.

Ridley Orion

Dropped off the parts this morning for my goto mechanic (when I don’t have time) to build up a medium Orion with Shimano Ultegra and Fulcrum Racing Zero wheels.

Salsa Spearfish

My goto mountain bike right now, short travel, big wheels, and orange!

Salsa Mukluk

Another fatbike that is living currently in SC to help take over the dirt road centuries!

Salsa El Mariachi

You’ve seen the photos of the Mariachi’s. Dominate with the alternator drop out. Single speed, geared – it don’t matter – just do it.

Maximize Your Training

Feb. 4, 2012 • 1-5 p.m.
Presbyterian Hospital Multipurpose Room
200 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte

This event is FREE, but space is limited!
Call 704-384-CARE (2273) today to reserve your spot

A seminar lead by sports medicine guru’s (I love that word) geared towards female cyclist, but men are welcome to come. This is a free event, but please RSVP!

Feel you could be getting more from your training? Let us coach you to new heights.
Presbyterian Sports Medicine and Uptown Cycles are hosting an afternoon dedicated to
tackling topics such as functional strength training, injury prevention, stretching and sports
nutrition. NOTE: Instruction provided at this seminar will be tailored to female cyclists,
though all are welcome.

What is so different about the Salsa Casseroll?

Normally bike shops have these Casseroll’s grouped with their road bikes. To me, that is a huge mistake. These bikes take the road very well but the tall head tube, mount for rear rack, beautiful front rack and ability to rock fatty 700×38 with fenders this bike is more than a road bike. This bike is a go to commuter, light touring and really to do everything beside the hard single track riding.

This bike would fit in well next to your Trek Madone for when you want to be more up right, haul some panniers or maybe take the slower path next to your kids and want a more stable riding geometry.

The bike is ready for multiple riding positions

Earlier this week I witnessed the most beautiful Casseroll build to date with swept back urban bars and paul brake levers with bar end shifters. The woman riding it was glamorous looking with a rear rack and panniers. The silver bits all over really accented the paint and made me feel giddy that this person really got it. The bike had some minor swaps from the stock build (handlebar, brake levers, bar end shifters) and she totally rocked it hard core. It made me want to run home, order up some parts and duplicate the build.

The Build of the Bike

The bike has some Shimano bits, shifters are STI Tiagra 3×9. Brakes are Tektro. Cranks are Sugino.

For the person riding 20-30 miles maybe twice a week or the girl commuting through crappy weather these parts will be perfect. If riding in rain or anything other than dry weather I may suggest to put on mini v-brakes for better modulation and stopping power.

The build won’t break the bike, and gives you the ability to upgrade parts as you would like.

With the Pro’s there are always Cons

The bike is relatively heavy, it isn’t a super light weight steel tubing. If you are carrying it up and down steps it won’t break your back, but it will surprise you next to that Madone.

The geometry is for light touring comfortable riding. You won’t get a snappy feel out of it, especially with the Sugino triple crank and bb. It will excel and the fat tires float over rough terrain, but will feel slow next to your 700×23 tires.

I wish they had run a compact crank up front and mountain bike gearing in the back. Truth be told I hate triples and as it is a 9 speed in the back they could have kept it at the same price.

Final Thoughts

If this was my personal bike I would totally rock a Salsa Casseroll but with a custom build. Ordering a frame and fork, zip tying a little basket to the front rack, running new 10-speed 105 5700 group in silver. The external bottom bracket will stiffen up the cranks a bit. If I was looking to haul I would run 10 speed mountain gearing in the back, and keeping a compact in the front.

To me the Casseroll is for someone that understands fatter road tires, ability to run geared or single speed, racks, fenders and all that good stuff. It is for someone that has the eye for a custom bike but can’t drop the cash yet.

It’s a good bike and at $1200 you really can’t beat up on the parts for the extras you get.

This bike was provided at no-charge for review. Yes, I am a QBP rep but also have strong opinions that hopefully were shared during this review. I wasn’t bribed or threatened on this review. Amen.

29er with 27-27.2″ of stand over. It doesn’t sound amazing, but it’s more than an inch lower than the small.

I am super interested to see one of these up close and personal, hopefully our local Niner guy will get it on his demo truck. My fears are the handling and front end stack height for those that are on the smaller end of the spectrum on this bike. Yes 29er wheels roll better but never sacrafice handling or fit! I’ve seen super small 29ers like this, but with custom rigid front forks (and only designed around 80mm.)

Anytime a new swing of events or change happens you often rise to the occasion of finding the best ways to do things. Learning new habits, breaking old ones and finding your place in life – that is what life is about right?

Finding Bike Rides and Making Money

I’m a rep now. A traveling, selling, building, growing, creating relationship, rep. My territory is NC, SC, GA, TN and AL. It means a lot of time on the road behind a steering wheel, a lot of time learning about different bicycle cultures in so many different cities and helping a great amount of bike shops get more people on bikes. The more people I can see, the more places I go, the more opportunities I have.

What I am balancing now is the right bikes to take, the right time to ride, getting shops to show me the area and witnessing their cycling culture first hand. Every day is different, every town is a new challenge and I’m embracing it but I haven’t been on the bike nearly as much as I would like. (That’s true for most!)

What is Your Story?

Do you have 5 kids and go riding at 5am? Are you an investment banker that travels all over the world and has a folder bike they utilize during the week? Tell me your story and how you find time to get on your two wheel friend.

Make sure to visit the sponsors of this posts.. Problem Solvers!

Here at Bike Shop Girl I want women (and guys) to feel empowered and to have a good grasp of what they are talking about when it comes to tech, mechanics and goofy bicycling slang. Tech Tuesday is the remedy for common tech questions!

Do you know the difference in ISO and JIS bottom brackets?

After hunting around, looking at price, material and of course colors I decided on some Pearl Izumi P.R.O. Barrier WxB Shoe Covers. Why? #1 price at $50 MSRP. #2 wind AND water protection #3 bright ass yellow.

Details from Pearl Izumi

• MSRP $50.00
• P.R.O. Barrier WxB fabric provides optimal wind and water protection
• Fleece lined
• Waterproof, fully taped internal seams
• Two stage hook and loop closure provides both sleek fit and easy on and off
• Kevlar® road bottom spreads open for easy on and off while providing superior durability
• Recommended for road shoes with external cleats
• Reflective elements for low-light visibility

I purchased this product on my own dime. It was not given to me for review and I was not bribed to say nice things. This is my disclaimer.

One of the latest bikes to enter my fold as a demo bike for my outside sales position with QBP is a Surly Pugsley. As I bring the bike to more and more events or am seen on the side of the trails with this fine steed I’m often asked “WHAT THE HECK IS THAT??” If you can’t tell from the photos, the tires are freaking huge. 3.8 inches to be exact.  Compare that to a normal mountain bike tire which is on average is 2.1.

Why Do You Need Tires So Big?

Think of a truck that goes through mud, rocks or dirt. Or think about any 4×4 vehicle. They have larger tires with more volume, right? The low pressure, high volume tires give you a great flotation across all types of loose terrain. You get better traction, can forget about worrying about that “perfect line” and pave new trails through the woods. Think of it as the true all terrain bicycle.

What the Downfalls?

The biggest downfall is the weight. While I know of some folks that have decked out their rides to be around 25-26 lbs for a fully geared bike. That is still pretty heavy if you need to hike a bike.

The selection is a bit limited. I personally know of only four manufactures that make bikes to fit this size of tires. Salsa, Surly, FatBack and 9:Zero:7. The only tires I know of are made by Surly or just released 45NRTH.

Finally, you won’t find this at most local shops. If you end up purchasing one I recommend to order a few extra tubes and maybe a tire or full spare wheel as most local bike shops won’t keep this type of stuff in stock.

Make sure to visit the sponsors of this posts.. Problem Solvers!

I work for Quality Bicycle Products, and have a deep association with Salsa, Surly and 45NRTH. That doesn’t mean I don’t give my complete and true thoughts on the product. If anything I’m going to be harder on the product because of these facts. This is my disclaimer. Love, Bike Shop Girl