The Freewheel Bike Shop

In an effort to support the Aids/LifeCycle, the Freewheel is offering 15% off bikes and accessories to all registered 2012 ALC riders. We have a wide range of bikes that would be ideal for what you’ll be facing on the ALC, and more accessories than you will want to carry along with you.

Check out the Giant Defy series or Bianchi’s C2C series, both are ideal for longer distance riding. The bikes are built around endurance geometry, meaning that the rider sits more upright relative to the more aggressive racing-specific frames on the market.

For riders looking for a more heavy-duty transition into their everyday lives after the ride, take a look at Surly’s Long Haul Trucker or the Bianchi Gran Fondo series. Both benefit from the strength and suppleness of steel and are ideal for hauling groceries after you’re done hauling down the coast.

We’re happy to help answer any of the questions you may have in anticipation of the ride. We can help you with fitting and offer a year of adjustment service on any new bike sold.*

Let us know if we can help!

Find out more about the Aids/LifeCycle by visiting the ALC website.

*adjustment service includes tensioning/ alignment for: brakes, gears, rims and hubs.

TCR Advanced SL, Ksyrium SL wheelset, SRAM Red groupset and your buddies are still beating you on that climb? If it’s not related to your own excess consumption of burritos and booze, the dreaded performance plateau is probably one of the most frustrating obstacles in any sport. When businesses look to raise the ceiling, it comes down to monitoring performance and fine-tuning their operations. Capacity building, operational monitoring and bottom lines; buzzwords that don’t relate to bikes at all, but could be analogously stretched to bring the point home. The best way to break your plateau is to look to places where you can make small, measurable gains and fine tune the overall machine.

As a cyclist, your buzzwords should be cadence and wattage. SRAM developed the Quarq as a way to provide riders with plenty of information and statistics to help them get the most out of the training.

The Quarq is essentially a modified crankset that uses high-precision censors to monitor a rider’s performance, transferring the data through a transmitter that is ANT+ compatible (a popular system used by the Garmin Edge, Cycle Ops Joules and others). The cranks are compatible with GXP, Press Fit, BB 30, Press Fit 30, and BBright bottom bracket systems.

The information you gather from the Quarq will allow you to track your own wattage and output averages or even match it up against riders from Le Tour. This crushing reality check aside, you will more importantly begin to understand more about how you ride and where you can make improvements. Run your performance like you’d run a business, make your gains and take on the competition.

The various Quarq models are now available at the Freewheel. You’re welcome to call us with any questions you may have about the Quarq, you might be better off seeking aggregate capacity management advice elsewhere.

As the rain pours down, bicycle commuters are finding themselves less ambitious about riding to work. It’s hard enough for commuters to stay presentable when facing the lane changes and potholes of Market Street, let alone when the elements deal out a relentless combination of wind and rain. Different individuals have different ways of coping. Indeed, some of the most hearty riders can be seen in the streets of San Francisco regardless of the weather.

Some invest in fenders, seemingly useless for much of the time as they rattle around on your bike through countless sunny days. That is, until the skies open up and you, noticeably less miserable than others, cast a pitying glance at the individual riding with his hand over his backside: a futile attempt to prevent the unpleasant manifestation of the dreaded ‘swamp butt’.  Other riders take it a step further with wet-weather gear that covers you from head to toe in black Gore-Tex or an alarming hue of neon.  The rainy weather market is often neglected but there is often a positive correlation between dryness and kooky outfits.

 

Ortlieb’s newest development is an improvement on their standard Office Bag. In addition to keeping your shoes, socks and clean shirt dry and clean, the bags are now equipped with Ortlieb’s QL3 system: a modified quick release system in which the hooks that once dug into your side and marred up your clothing are permanently bolted onto the rack itself. The bag attaches through a series of notched plates on the back that slide securely into the mounting bracket. When the bag is removed, these allow for low-profile hook-free carrying.

Otherwise, the Ortlieb Office Bag is made for those of us who use things like document folders, ipads, pens and legal paper: plenty of compartments to store and organize all the essentials. The bags are available in two sizes and it’s also nice to note that in addition to the need-to-be-seen color schemes of cycle tourists, the bags are offered in the slightly more refined charcoal and hazel.

As social media becomes more integrated into our lives, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to prove how awesome you are. All levels on Guitar Hero on hard mode? Already been done. That other guy beat you to it and can back it up with a mind-blowing YouTube video. If it wasn’t uploaded to Facebook, it didn’t happen. Common sense should chime in and tell you, “It’s ok, be confident with who you are, you don’t need to be an exhibitionist.” Yeah right. Here’s an idea. Remember that mountain trail where you smoked your friends last week? Document it. Waves were really that big? Got it on camera? Yes, they were.

This is the general idea with Go Pro, a series of mountable cameras with superb video quality and durability. Accomplishing all this is aided by the fact that they’re waterproof to 60 meters and dialed to reduce the sound of wind passing over the mic at high speed. GoPro is all about pushing these cameras to the limit; their ad campaign rivals that of Mountain Dew during its heyday in the mid 90s. The difference is that they’ve developed a product designed to help you prove to everyone how awesome you are rather than one that answers the adolescent fascination for caffeine with a melody of high-fructose corn syrup. While their products are peppered with somewhat ambitious one-liners: ‘Be a hero’ to ‘Wear it. Mount it. Love it.’  the general idea is to inspire you to get up and get out… with one of their cameras strapped to some part of your body, helmet, bicycle, surf board, F1, stunt plane, etc.

Never to be the ones to endorse something without first playing with it. We took Coco, the resident whippet, out for some laps around the polo grounds at Golden Gate Park. Considering the ruddy nature of the dirt, (and Coco’s ability to fly) GoPro produced some remarkably stable high definition footage. It’s also possible to run everything back in slow motion, particularly useful for those times you bail and really want to find out “gee, what went wrong back there?” or when you just want to watch a 30mph whippet run in slow motion.

In the end, what you choose to use the GoPro for is up to you. Whether it’s shooting chutes in a squirrel suit or documenting a sunrise ride in the Headlands, GoPro delivers great footage. Available in the HD Hero “Naked” (original) and the upgraded HD Hero 2 Outdoor editions, GoPro backs up its products with a one-year warranty. Stop by the shop if you have any questions or nerd out on their website.

Go Pro Promo Video

 

A new batch of Low frames has arrived. We’ve got two frames at the Valencia location (50cm pursuit and 58cm pursuit) and an additional six at the Hayes shop (track: 56, 54, 52; pursuit 52, 58, 50). Made right here in San Francisco, Low frames hold their own on the velodrome and in the streets. A combination of strength and stiffness make them a force to be reckoned with, far more than a glorified souvenir. Rounded off with good looks and clean welds, Low’s frames have nailed the design aesthetics. Hey, even if you’re too out of shape to pull off a win, you’ll still look good rolling across the finish line. All frames include a carbon Alpina fork.

Get the Low-down on all the latest developments with the Low Blog.

With Cyclocross season well underway we’ve had time to get some feedback on two of the premier frames shredding the gnar this year. Our own enthusiasm for Hunter Frames aside, the big boys of the cycling world have unveiled two highly capable and aggressive frames, but with their own unique characteristics.

Bianchi’s Cavaria is a beautifully crafted frame that gives the rider extra confidence on loose and nasty turns. The toptube is on the short side relative to other cross models, which can create a more responsive and snappy ride. A full monocoque frame, and single-piece fork reduce the overall weight. Bianchi has also flattened out the underside of the toptube to make it a bit more comfy to carry. Bianchi’s not questioning your toughness, but when your heart is pounding at 185bpm and your legs have the tensile strength of a bowl of pasta, it’s nice to know that your bike wants to make itself easier to carry despite the punishment you put it through. Aesthetically we’ve decided that the Cavaria is so easy on the eyes that riders may want to muddy up the bike to deter undue heckles that label the rider as (relatively) ugly.

Giant’s TCX Advanced SL performs slightly differently. It’s stiffer and less twitchy than the Cavaria. The frame has been developed in close cooperation with Rabobank riders who have played a crucial role as back-seat-engineers. The toptube gives the rider plenty of clearance for shouldering while still keeping a tight compact rear triangle. Giant’s road designs have spilled over to the TCX in other ways as well. An oversized downtube and Giant’s powercore bottom bracket produce one of the stiffest bikes out there that will give roadies an added advantage in long asphalt sprints. The geometry is otherwise a well-done mix of tight handling and stability. It’s done well for itself in Worlds and earned a number of other titles. Part of those victories should be accredited to the riders (they’re fast) but the TCX offers motivation in its own way…you wouldn’t want to lose on it.

Riders who are looking for a great performance machine but aren’t ready to make the financial leap associated with the TCX Advanced SL, should consider the TCX aluminium series. All frames are built around the same principles as the TCX Advanced SL and boast a composite fork that partners up with the sure-fire stiffness of aluminum. Giant’s TCX 1 is equipped with a SRAM Rival group and Giant’s own PR-2 wheelset for a perfect combination of durability and performance. The bike’s versatility is notable in that it also works well as a mid-range road bike for those days when your roadie friends are the only ones up for a ride.

The Bay Area Super Prestige graces us with its presence once a year. Arguably the most competitive circuit in the area, it has shown us some excellent races so far. The Hunter/Freewheel team has already pulled off 9 top-ten, and 18 top-twenty finishes. Riders have otherwise held a commanding presence within the races.

The BASP started with everyone wondering “where in the hell is the rain?”. Candlestick turned out to be a menacingly hot and dry course. When riders’ brains weren’t rattling in their helmets, loose sand and gravel proved treacherous in the turns. The race was also a debut for the BASP’s Bridge of Sighs, an arguably over-dramatic reference to the gallows, the Bridge compelled riders to dash up a flight of steps before bombing down a plywood ramp to an unforgiving landing below. Riders that failed to clip in on the way down risked snapping a saddle. Team Freewheel managed to finish strong. In the Men’s Bs, Nicholas Novarra finished 12th while James Newman and Scott Bryan finished mid-pack. In the Elite Men, Cameron Falconer and Abe Rotstein finished 12th and 16th respectively. Kathleen Hannon finished 5th in the Elite Women. Jackson Rhodes snapped up a 3rd place finish in the 10-14 Juniors.

The Second Race of the BASP took us to Sierra Point for the once-a-year night race. A combination of flood lights and a slight chill brought to mind the days of high school football games, but with added profanity, beer and cowbells. Cramming that many bikes into a relatively small space meant that hairpin turns were all the rage throughout the course. The slow-and-go of an hour long race helped maintain that all-too-familiar puking sensation. Falconer spun his way to a 5th place finish in the Single Speed As. In the Men’s Bs Navarro finished 16th, with Daryl Rogers finishing mid-pack. Hannon fought to a 4th place finish in the Elite Women. Rotstein finished 18th in Elite Men. In the Men’s 35+As, Rob Saybolt crossed 15th while a cameo by Rick Hunter was accopmanied by a mid-pack finish.

Golden Gate Park could be considered Freewheel’s home turf, then again, it’s a lot of people’s home turf. Most open categories sold out early, making for an impressive turnout. The week before heavy rains paired with the Single-Speed World Championship to create an absolute mess of a course. Throughout the week, however, the sun managed to dry out the park which bequeathed BASP riders with beautifully tacky and responsive track. Amid the barbecue, mechanical assistance and beer, riders and friends enjoyed good company and good weather in the Freewheel tent. Freewheel’s turnout was equally impressive. A total of 17 riders donned the green paisley and skull kit to bring home a handful top-ten finishes and strong competition otherwise. Jackson Rhodes finished 6th in the Junior 10-14. Stephen Kent finished 15th in the Men’s 35+Bs. Hannon fought for an 8th place finish in the Elite Women. Falconer and Rotstein took 8th and 17th, followed by Jason Benford in the Elite Men. Nicholas Navarro finished 6th in the Men’s B with Daryl Rogers and Scott Bryan both pulling up more than ten spots from the previous race.

BASP’s last race for the season will be held on December 11th at Coyote Point, a great course that mixes eucalyptus groves, sandy beaches and long open straightaways. You might mistake yourself for being in Australia if it weren’t for the biting wind and a lack of roos. There’s still time to sign up! Join us for a day of heckling, riding and grilling!

Availability is limited. Please call us at 415.643.9213 to confirm if the bike you are interested in is still in stock.

Giant Omnium 2010 M
was:$1625 now: $1460

The Omnium is a serious track bike. We’re not being liberal in the use of the word ‘serious’ either. It’s not street legal: the front fork hasn’t been drilled for a brake. If you’ve got a craving to race down in San Jose, this is a great way to get out on the velodrome. A wide down tube makes it both aerodynamic and stiff as a board. It comes stock with a tough set of aerodynamic wheels that are ideal for riders who haven’t managed to be showered with sponsorship opportunities and need something that will last until they are.

Look 566 2010 XS (Complete), Medium (Frame)
Complete was:$3500 now: $3150

Look’s 566 is modeled after Roubaix style touring bikes. It’s a relatively upright ride that is designed to keep riders comfortable in longer-distance races. This means a shorter top tube and more relaxed angles throughout the bike. The frame itself is impressively light and supple. Riders who are considering the 566 should keep in mind the fact that frames generally run small. Depending on torso/leg proportions medium is generally ideal for a rider between 5’4” and 5’7”.

Giant Avail Advanced 3 2011 S
was:$1650 now: $1485

The Giant Avail series is the women-specific companion to the Giant Defy. The Avail Advanced 3 is a full carbon frame equipped with a decent set of components for entry-level non-commute road riding. The frame is an upright touring design that is ideal for long-distance racing but is also a great bike for riders who are looking for a nice road bike that doesn’t stretch you out too far and lets you keep your head up and take in the scenery. A compact rear triangle means that the bike is stiff and efficient in the climbs. The Avail Advanced 3 is equipped with a predominately Shimano Tiagra drivetrain which is a durable but smooth group set that is usually seen on high-end commuter bikes or steel-frame touring bikes.

Giant Avail Advanced 2 2011 S
was:$1870 SOLD

The Avail Advanced 2 is upgraded from the Avail Advanced 3 with Shimano 105 components. 105 is best classified as a training day group set because it is light enough to give the rider the benefits of an unencumbered ride but is still durable and ultimately more affordable when it comes time to replace parts that have worn down. A handful of other static components on the bike add up to create an altogether lightweight ride.

Giant Defy Advanced 3 2011 XS
was:$1870 now: $1680

Giant’s Defy line is designed to accommodate a wide range of riders who are either racing long distance or simply prefer a more upright ride. Giant’s compact frame design helps keep the ride supple while still providing lateral stiffness for climbs. The Advanced 3 is equipped with 105 components for race-worthy smooth shifting that won’t blow the bank.

Giant Defy Advanced 3 2009 XL
was:$2150 now: $1700

On the other end of the sizing spectrum, this Defy has been lurking in the shadows of the shop for far too long. It gives the rider the same upright ride and comfort benefits of bikes by the same name from later years. A Mavic wheelset is an added benefit of buying bikes from the days of 09 when manufacturing companies weren’t as motivated to tighten their belts by reducing input costs.

Giant Defy Advanced 2 2011 XS, S, M, L
was:$2470 now: $2295

Probably one of the best value bikes at the high-end. The Defy frames are upright, designed for long distance racing or sustained rides. Throw a credit card in your jersey and take it from SF to Sonoma. The Defy Advanced 2 runs a 105 drivetrain that combines with a set of DT Swiss 1800 wheels to give you a comfortable, reliable and smooth bike that is still shy of 19 pounds.

Giant Defy Advanced 1 2011 S, XL
was:$3100 now: $2790

With a Shimano Ultegra group set and DT Swiss 1800 wheels, the Advanced 1 is the top of the Defy line in 2011. Performance features, like the PowerCore bottom bracket for optimal pedaling stiffness, are blended with a road-smoothing, longer wheelbase and taller headtube. It’s the best of both worlds.

OCR Composite 2006 Women-Specific XXS
was:$2300 now: $1600

The OCR line was the precursor to what would later become the Defy and Avail models. More geared toward distance riding, the frame is upright, lightweight and soft on bumpy surfaces. This particular OCR is equipped with 650c wheels as opposed to the standard 700c for a bike that gives smaller riders a more true-to-form fit. A combination of a light, upright frame and reliable quality components means that the OCR would be a great bike for the Aids Life Cycle.

Giant TCR Composite 2011 XS, S, M/L
was:$1870 now: $1680

Say you are a mountain biker with an arsenal of nice bikes already, but all your coworkers at the new job are spandex-sporting roadies who never stop geeking out on Pinarello Dogmas or the new Look 695. Even if it doesn’t seem like the most enticing way of spending an early morning, it’ll help your career to get out there on group rides with them. The TCR Composite is an entry-level carbon frame that bridges the gap between high-tech and affordable. Foregoing some of the more complicated carbon weaving and welding techniques, the composite frame gives you an excellent sprint geometry with the stiffness and suppleness of carbon. The catch is that it adds a bit of weight, a half pound or so (skip the burrito before the ride). It’s equipped with Shimano 105 components that keep the weight off and won’t break the bank when it comes time to replace the cassette and chainrings. Whether it’s your first road bike or you’re just looking for something to hammer on and keep the miles off your precious Dogma frame, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what the TCR has to offer.

Giant TCR Advanced Custom Build 2004 L
was:$6000 now: $3000

A legend in its day, the TCR Advanced is built with a geometry similar to that which helped Jan Ulrich make Lance Armstrong nervous through all those years. The long toptube and shorter headtube put the rider into a more aggressive position that is ideal for aggressive sprinting and criterium racing. It’s done up with a classy pair of Dura-Ace shifters. The Ultegra drivetrain is light, smooth and strong. A pair of R500 wheels bring the total weight of the build up to a meager 17.5 pounds.

Giant TCR Advanced 2 2011 XS, S, M, L, XL
was:$2470 now: $2220

The 2011 TCRs are built with speed and stiffness in mind. An oversized bottom bracket coupled with asymmetrical chainstays gives the rider unparalleled lateral stiffness. A tapered headtube helps put power where it’s supposed to be in high torque sprints. The bike has a relatively aggressive geometry that puts the rider into a position to maximize all muscle groups in the legs and minimize drag. 105 components give you an entry-level race group set that keeps shifting smooth and weight down. The TCR is a bike made to tackle the long climbs of the Pyrenees and reduce the early-morning climbs of Conzelman Road to an exercise in feigned humility.

Giant TCR Advanced SL 2 2011 L
was:$6300 now: $5670

SL is Giant’s acronym for super light. The professional-grade frame is Giant’s lightest and builds upon the technology of the TCR Advanced, adding a mega-drive downtube, a stiffer bottom bracket, and weight-cutting carbon welding techniques. An integrated seatpost drops a barely notable forty grams in comparison with the standard adjustable seatpost, but what’s more commendable is the smoother, improved ride quality. The Advanced SL 2 is equipped with a top-of-the-line SRAM Red groupset that gives the rider quick, smooth and precise shifting. The bike is a venerable rocketship designed to make the most of every bit of effort you put into it.

Giant Trinity Alliance 2 2009 M
was:$1650 now: $1200

The Alliance fuses the lightweight suppleness of carbon around a stiff aluminium core. It’s an otherwise highly aerodynamic frame made for triathalons and time trials. The components are tuned to accommodate time trial riders who are more concerned about maintaining cadence than the rapid shifting required in crit racing.

Giant TCR Advanced Team 2009 M/L
was:$6000 now: $4200

As seen in the Tour d’ France. Enough said. Wait, you could add that it has a full Dura-Ace kit, is built around a top-of-the-line frame, and the ISP makes it a well-tuned race machine.

Giant TCR Adv SL 3 2011 M/L
was:$4200 now: $3780

The Advanced SL 3 is built around the same high-quality frame as the other TCR Advanced SLs but delivers it with Shimano Ultegra; arguably one of Shimano’s best combinations of longevity and low-grams. An adjustable seatpost makes resale or indecisiveness less of an issue.

Giant Reign X2 2008 L
was:$2100 now: SOLD

The Reign X2 is a heavy duty all mountain bike designed to take big hits. Coiled rear suspension gives the rider nearly seven inches of travel in the rear with an adjustable Marzochi 55 Bomber fork up front. A relaxed head tube angle gives the rider added security when attacking steep and sketchy downhill sections. Take it to Santa Cruz or Pacifica, it’s the wrong kind of bike for Marin and Mt. Tam.

Santa Cruz Tallboy 2011 17″ (M)
was:$6396 now: $5800

Riding this bike is the closest thing to cheating without actually cheating. Santa Cruz’s virtual pivot point full suspension is already world class. Combine this with the 29” wheels and you’ve pretty much eliminated the threat of anything jarring you the wrong way on the trail. Hell, why even ride trails anymore? You’re starting to think like a roadie! One good reason would be that you would dominate the competition. Oh yeah, and it’s a carbon frame.

BMC Promachine 2009 61cm
was:$2400 now: $1790

The Promachine is one of BMC’s more aggressive geometries. Four flex points on the frame mean that it’ll give where it needs to: vertically. Every other fiber in the bike is designed to make the ride laterally stiff, note oversized chainstays, downtube, bottom bracket shell and all the hard-working nanotubes you can’t even see. This particular frame is probably ideal for guys who revel in innocuously referencing visits to Big and Tall.

TCR Advanced Ultegra Custom M

If Bruce Wayne suddenly became environmentally conscious in his crime-fighting forays into Gotham City he might defer to the TCR Advanced. This particular model has been thrown together by our mechanics as a top-of-the-line competition-worthy build. The frame is designed to climb, sprint and avoid inconveniencing the rider with excessive grams. The Mavic Cosmic Elite wheelset gives the bike aerodynamics and levity for the lone wolves out there who can’t always rely on a peloton. The groupo is full Ultegra, Shimano’s second-from-the-top, which may give you just enough of an excuse if you lose.

BMC Promachine Custom 53cm

SOLD

A limited edition of the 2010 Promachine, We’ve built this model up with Topolino Kevlar wheels which aren’t the stiffest wheels out there but do make for a very comfortable ride. We rounded off the bike with light and smooth Shimano Ultegra components.

BMC Racemaster Hincapie Edition Custom 54cm
was:$3000 now: $2400

George Hincapie’s victory in the 2009 US Road Championship was inspirational if for nothing more than the unflinchingly patriotic paint scheme. Not since the days of American Flyers have American cyclists been brazen enough to unflinchingly advertise our own Stars and Stripes so boldly on our kits and bikes, thankfully Bon Jovi has also relieved us of inspirational numbers from the same era. In any case, BMC reproduced Hincapie’s frame for the masses. An aluminum core that spreads from the bottom bracket to midway through the seat tube, downtube and chainstays gives the bike unquestionable stiffness layered with the supple ride of carbon throughout the rest of the frame.

The Freewheel Cyclocross Team came out strong in the beginning of the 2011 season. Despite an unfortunate injury, the team has already collected 9 top-ten finishes. Abe Rotstein took two top-ten Cat A spots in Monterey throughout September. Jackson Rhodes placed 3rd in the 10-14 Young Men’s in Prunedale and later fought for a well-earned 1st in Manzanitas on October 9th. Lion of Fairfax saw Kathleen Hannon bring home 1st in the Women’s Elite while Rotstein took a bad fall which resulted in a dislocated shoulder.

The team raced a “low-tech, flat, dry and fast” course in Sacramento on October 8th and several of the racers followed through to the October 9th Central Coast series in Manzanitas. Cameron Falconer started strong, crashed, and fought back to 14th in the Men’s Cat A, while Rotstein, recovering from his injury, powered to 9th place. Konrad Mathesius finished mid-pack in the Men’s Open B’s and Carlos Corujo raced in the Men’s 35+ A’s.

Returning to Manzanitas the following weekend, Falconer pulled out a 9th place finish. Hannon fought for a 3rd place in the elite women’s, while Daryl Rogers finished mid-pack in the Men’s Open B’s.

Overall the team is looking at a strong season coming into the Bay Area Super Prestige Series. For the sake of karma, or booze, a handful of team riders are volunteering for set-up and clean-up at the October 29th Surf City Races in Santa Cruz. Feel free to join other hecklers at Candlestick Point State Park (across from Candlestick Park) this weekend, October 23rd. It’ll be better if the weather doesn’t hold out. BYO cowbells and beer.