Try biking to work next week – It’s Bike To Work week!

Next week (May 17-21, 2010) is Bike To Work Week. This is one week in May each year where there are events and activities that encourage people to try biking to work. If you haven’t tried biking to work before, why not try it next week! In today’s video I give 5 easy tips to think about if you want to try a new bike commute.

Below are the details of events in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. In addition to the events, Cycle 9 is offering FREE inspections of your bike all week and will have some in-store specials going.

There may be events in your area. Check these web resources and your lcoal media to see what’s going on.

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/events.php

http://biketoworkweek.org/index.php

What other tips do you have for biking to work? Add your comments below.

-Elise

Events in Chapel Hill and Carrboro:

In addition to these events, if you take the Smart Commute Challenge, you could win fabulous prizes! All you have to do is try an alternate form of transportation one time during the month of May. See info at the end.

Saturday, May 15: Bus & Bike Workshops:  Information on how to load a bike onto a bus, hands-on demonstrations and information about rules of the road.

-  Estes Drive (University Mall) Farmers Market –   8:30 a.m. to Noon

-  Carrboro Town Commons Farmers Market - 8:30 a.m. to Noon

Tuesday, May 18: Bike Breakfast Workshop – 7 to 10 a.m.: Meet in the parking lot across from the Open Eye Café for bicycle inspections and small repairs, special drawings and free coffee and snacks!

Friday, May 21: Bike Chapel Hill-Carrboro – An 8-mile cycling event for individuals or families ending with food, bands and other fun activities!

-  5:30 p.m.: Registration at the Wallace Deck (no fee). Bring your bicycle!6 p.m.: Tour begins.

-  6:30: Cyclists stop for water break at Carrboro Town Commons where Chapel Hill and Carrboro leaders will make comments and join the ride.
-  7 p.m.: The group finishes on the Wallace Deck in Chapel Hill with a band, food and informational tables.

Take the SmartCommute Challenge! Use any form of alternative transportation (bike, walk, carpool, bus, etc.) at least once before May 30 and register at SmartCommuteChallenge.org. You will be entered into a drawing for $1500, laptop computers and other great prizes!

Since we love beautiful bikes here, and especially beautiful bikes that aren’t outrageously expensive, we brought in some bikes from the Masi Soulville line.

Masi is an original Italian company known for the tradition of road cycling Remember the Italians in the movie Breaking Away? They weren’t no nice, but they give the idea of italians being big on biking.

The Soulville line is designed in a classic and classy style that is perfect for cruising around town on a beautiful bike. You’ll feel classy just riding these bikes. The graceful lines of the steel frames are matched with simple componentry to make your life easier, simpler, and more comfortable.

The Soulville SS –   Single Speed / Fixed Gear

Have fun and look good doing it with the Soulville SS. Flip-flop hub lets you ride single speed or fixed gear. A thrill junky at home on the road or trail, cruise the night streets and hop down to your friend’s house in no time flat. Steel frame, arc handlebar, and 700c tires offer a great ride. Comes with fender and rack mounts if you want to turn it into a real commuter.

(Reg price $697 – On Sale during April for $587)

The Soulville 7

This bike is the same great frame as the Soulville SS, but with a Shimano Nexus internal 7-speed hub. Internal hubs offer low maintenance and clean lines, without the need for derailleur adjustments and less chance of getting out of alignment. 7 speeds helps out with the hills of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Cork grips and a retro-style saddle offer class and comfort. A perfectly simple design proves a sea of calm in an otherwise chaotic world.

Also available in a beautiful Mixte frame.

(Reg. $857 – On Sale during April starting at $697)

These bikes are now available at Cycle 9. Come in for a text ride.

We have a full service shop, and we also specialize in electric bicycle repairs.  Flat changes, tune ups, or even complicated repairs or custom builds, our professional staff can help you get rolling again. Turn around time is generally less than a week, depending on time of year and service demand. Bring your bike in for a free assessment of needed and recommended repairs.

We now offer SAME DAY service with an appointment.

If you don’t want to be without your bike for long, make an appointment for a same day service tune up. Drop it off the night before or in the morning and your bike will be ready after 5.30 (unless repair requires parts to be ordered).

Electrical Repairs

We also offer electrical services, such as battery testing, motor repair, connector matching, and more. And we sell many electrical parts and pieces to support your own repairs. See below for electrical services offered.

SHOP RATES

Tune-Ups

• Adjustment and Safety Check: check for safe operating condition, basic adjustment of brakes and derailleurs, lubricate chain and cables, inflate tires $25
• Basic Tune-Up: Above plus tune brakes, derailleurs, and shifters for best operation, remove and true wheels on precision truing stand $45
• Mid-level Tune-Up: Services above plus adjust headset, hubs, bottom bracket and cranks. General cleaning of frame and parts $65
• Ultimate Tune-Up: Remove drivetrain, inspect and clean all parts (incl. chain, cassette, chain rings, front & rear derailleurs), install NEW CABLES and HOUSING, (hydraulic brakes add $20.00), install new brake pads (if necessary), remove and inspect/fix all moving parts, headset and hub bearings; reinstall and adjust all components, clean frame (parts priced separately)  $95

Repairs

• Flat Repair: remove old tube, install new tube (included), inflate  $12
• Overhaul: headset, bottom bracket, or hub  $30
• True a Wheel: add $1 per spoke for spoke replacement (price may vary according to condition of wheel) $20
• Build or Rebuild a Wheel: parts not included  $40
• Run New Cables: remove all brake and derailleur cables and housing, install new (parts included) $40
• (longtail bikes) $55

Installations

• Accessory: fenders, bottle cages, lights, mirrors, etc. (free with purchase from Cycle 9) $5
• Basic Component: handlebar, pedals, tires, stem, etc.  $10
• Chain and Cassette $15
• Major Component: new brakes or shifters, headset, crankset, bottom bracket, etc.  $20
• Electric Motor Kit: safety check, install, and test  $60
• Xtracycle: install complete FreeRadical kit, including adjustment of drivetrain and brake $60

Electrical Services

• Electrical Diagnostic Fee: diagnose battery or electrical problems and estimate cost of repairs $35
• Change connectors: match connections on motors, controllers, throttles or other parts $5
• Electrical Work: repairs or existing systems,, installations, battery and BMS construction, and other battery or electrical labor, by-the-hour $60

Miscellaneous / Hourly Rates

• Bike Mechanical Work: miscellaneous labor not listed above, by-the-hour  $45
• Electrical Work: repairs, installations, and other battery or electrical labor, by-the-hour  $60
• Scooter repair: repair and parts replacements on scooters, by-the-hour $60

Please join us for a SALE at our retail store, Friday Dec 26 and Saturday Dec 27.  All accessories on sale 15% off. Bikes also on sale $30 – $100 off. Selected other items on sale as well. We will be open regular business hours – Friday 11-6 and Saturday 10-5

Due to delays beyond our control from the power company and contractors, we haven’t been able to open our doors to the public quite yet. We’re clearing the hurdles one step at a time and still aiming for this weekend to be really open. We do have staff at our location during our regular business hours to answer your questions, but don’t have all of our goods available for you to see and touch just yet. Stay posted everyone!

We’re getting closer on the new retail store, but we’re still finishing some renovations on the building, waiting for the power company to turn the power on, and will be moving in this weekend. So, we anticipate being able to open the doors on Tuesday, December 9. We’ll still be getting organized, but you can see and ride our bikes and check out what we’ve got on special for your holiday shopping. See you then!

After a long wait, it looks like our new retail store will be open the weekend of Dec 6-7 or at latest early the following week. It will be a bit of a work in progress for the next couple weeks, but we hope to at least have the doors open on the 6th, so come on down and check us out!