Every spring I see the same thing–the first nice day brings a wave of cyclists to the store, enthused and looking to get themselves a new bike.  But the best deals are to be had right now. I know that it’s hard to imagine lately, but good weather is right around the corner.  So why wait?  From now until February 12 we’re offering special incentives on special order Jamis bikes.  Here are a few good choices:

Jamis Xenith Pro

The Xenith Pro gives you high-end performance without the high-end price tag.  High modulus carbon fiber, with an oversized fork and  BB30 bottom bracket, for an efficient yet vibration-damping ride.  Superb SRAM Force components perform with the best, and are incredibly light weight.  Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels have earned a reputation for both high performance and durability.

And if you want to take the next step up, consider the Xenith Elite.  Sram Red components are as good as it gets, and the American Classic Aero 3 wheels are race-ready by any standard.  I just got one for myself, and you’re welcome to check it out (and the multiple personal modifications I’ve made, of course).  It’s beautiful, and super-fantastic.

The Xenith Pro lists for $3600;  right now we’re offering it for $300 off (just $3300).

And, as an added bonus, you’ll also receive $250 in accessories absolutely free!

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Jamis Exile 2

29ers have taken the mountain biking world by storm.  Their larger wheels roll more easily, and smooth out the the jolts you’d normally receive from roots and rocks (perfect for our local trails).  The Exile 2 is a great choice if you want to find out what all the fuss is about.  A Kinesis aluminum alloy frame gets things started, designed for efficiency, light weight, and stand-over clearance.  Up front a Rockshox Tora TK 29 fork absorbs the big jolts with 100mm of travel (and lockout let’s you fly on the smooth trails and fire roads).  A Shimano drivetrain provides reliable shifts, and Hayes hydraulic discs slow things down.

Or take it up a notch, and get an Exile 3, like Zac just did. It drops 3 pounds off of the Exile 2, it’s  2 x 10 drivetrain is the wave of the future.

Normally the Exile 2 is $1100, but right now we’re knocking that down to $1000 : $100 OFF

$75 in free accessories makes it an even better deal.

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Jamis Quest, and Quest Femme

Steel road bikes have been making a comeback; Jamis has been making them for years. The Reynolds  631 tubeset provides great ride quality and durability, and the classic good looks are icing on the cake.  It’s butted steel frame damps vibration wonderfully, improving comfort and reducing fatigue on our (many) chip-and-seal roads.  And you can expect this frame to last for years and years.

The Quest is well-equipped, too; Shimano’s 105 level shifters and derailleurs have long been the industry standard for value and performance.  Long-reach brakes are the sort of smart spec that makes for a truly comfortable and versatile bike.  They allow the use of larger tires, improving both comfort and control.  And the compact crankset gives you some help on the hills; the triple crankset option gives you even more.

The Quest is normally $1775; right now you can get it for $1625 ($150 off), with $100 in free stuff to sweeten the deal.

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Jamis Commuter 3

The Commuter 3 is an elegant and sturdy beast.  An aluminum frame and fork keep the weight down, for quick trips around town (or out through the countryside–you choose).  Either way, the 700c wheels will keep you moving briskly along, while the Shimano Nexus 7 speed internal hub ensures minimal maintenance will be required.  And wouldn’t you rather be riding?

And though I know that I shouldn’t care what a commuting bike looks like, the clean good looks of the Commuter 3 are an added bonus.

Normally $675, you can nab the Commuter 3 for an even $600 now ($75 off)–and get $50 in extra stuff free.

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Act now.

You certainly could wait til spring to buy your new Jamis; but then you’d miss out on the free stuff.  And where’s the sense in that?  So come talk to me now (or maybe that guy Steve), and let me order you a great new Jamis bicycle.

I’m Tod, and I’m your local bike shop.

Sustainability, and the Connections Between Humans and Earth

The earth is a changing and adaptable place. In fact, the very nature of a changing environment is what leads to the great diversity of life in this world. We humans are changing the earth as well, but we are not separate from the earth. There is no time we can “go back to” before we “changed the earth”. The earth has been changing and adapting long before and will be long after we humans are around.

I am not a climate change nay-sayer, nor am I one of those “technology will save us all so do nothing” people. But I do think a lot of folks concerned about environmental issues view humans as the root of the problem somehow, and I disagree. The pace of our effects on the earth are greater than what has come before due to our culture and ability to communicate. But those effects can go in many different directions, not just bad ones. We also have the ability to view potential future scenarios and have some effect on how we’ll get there. So I’m not writing us off. Neither am I writing off the earth and all it’s creatures. Today’s video explores this idea.

-Elise

Go By Bike is a video series that talks about how to be green by riding more and using your car less, including electric bikes, electric kits, cargo bikes, bike safety, and getting motivated to bike

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Bikes for everyone, even those with disabilities – Go By Bike Episode 9

In today’s episode of Go By Bike, I review last weekend’s Bike Ability event, which we attended. Cycle 9 was there to get people pedaling for smoothies, which were enjoyed by many, but the purpose of the event was to show off some of the really cool trikes that are out there for people (especially kids) with developmental disabilities.

I find that kids and people with disabilities often inhabit different spaces than the rest of us, and with the exception of one person here in town, I’ve not had the opportunity to really get to know any of them or anything about their world or their care-givers’ world. I find that I myself am a little intimidated to talk to these people just because I don’t want to offend, and I don’t really know much about how to talk to them, especially if they are much different than us. I know that’s probably not the most “PC” thing to say, but it is honest at least.

When it comes to biking, I’d never seen these kinds of trikes before and had no idea they existed. But I thought it was really cool that these kids could enjoy biking (or triking) as well as the rest of us kids. Some of them were beaming from ear to ear as they rode every available model around the track for a test ride! They were just so happy to be able to enjoy the feeling of movement that makes the rest of us enjoy biking as well. I left the event feeling much better about life in fact, and knowing just a little bit more about this world that operates in parallel to the rest of our busy lives.

In the video, you can check out some of the people and bikes that were there, as well as see one of our awesome Fire Department employees pedal for a smoothie.

Bike-Ability was sponsored by the Town of Chapel Hill parks & rec department, and staffed by volunteers from the physical therapy departments at UNC, Duke, and Elon universities.

Welcome to Go By Bike! I started this series to talk about how to ride more and use your car less, including electric bikes, electric kits, cargo bikes, bike safety, and getting motivated to bike. Using your car less reduces your carbon footprint, saves energy, helps the environment, keeps you healthy, and makes your community a nicer place to live, so overall most people would agree it’s a good thing.

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Don’t miss out on the weekly Cycle 9 specials: follow us on Twitter, and also hear about other great happenings around the utility biking world. Last Tuesday’s special was Flash Flags for $5. That’s below our cost, on one of the best safety devices you can own for your bicycle.