The Freewheel Bike Shop

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 XS, S, M
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 now: $1680

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

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.

Colnago Master Pista 49cm (black), 51cm (black), 53cm (red), 58cm (blue/SOLD), 59cm (orange) $2500->$2250.

The frames are some of the last to be made in Colnago’s shop before much of the production was outsourced. The design itself dates back to the mid eighties when Ernesto Colnago integrated Gilberto Colombo’s fluted (pinched) tubing. It it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The design gives the rider a stiffer ride and adds to the already sultry aesthetics. What makes this particular collection special is the fact that the Colnago factory built the frames for The Freewheel with threaded steer tubes in order to hold true to the traditional track style.

Cinelli 2010 Gazzetta 54cm $700-SOLD

The Gazzetta is built to be a combination of traditional subtlety and modern practicality. The Columbus tubing cro-moly steel frame and dialled geometry hold true to the track tradition while the frame itself benefits from the stiffer 1 1/8″ headtube and flared stays.

Mondonico Pista 56cm $1600->$1400

Handmade in Italy, Mondonico’s Pista utilizes high-grade Niobium-doped steel which is both light and able to stand up against the elements. Let’s not get carried away, leaving this bike to sit outside would be equally shameful to wearing baby seal fur. Nevertheless it is a frame built for a lifetime of admiration, envy and, if you get around to it, riding.

Bianchi 2010 Super Pista 49cm SOLD

The Pista Concept became a reality with the advent of the Super Pista. The frame is a legitimate competition-level aluminum track frame that is both light and stiff. The seat tube has been cut concave to accommodate short chainstays and a tighter rear triangle. A carbon fork makes for a softer ride on rough streets and it’s been drilled for a front brake.

Surly 2010 Steamroller 56cm $420->$360

Bombproof, comfy, utilitarian. The Steamroller is Surly’s answer to the problem of a bunch of dudes riding around town on ultralight bikes that were made for the track. The simplicity of a track bike with the beef of an urban assault vehicle, the Steamroller is capable of zipping around town at one end of the day and cyclo-crossing into mud pits at the other. It’s less aggressive in geometry than other track bikes, modeled on a classic touring geometry, giving the rider an arguably more sustainable riding position.

Dolan 2010 Track 54cm $550->$375

A more affordable track frame option, the Dolan is a solid build that gives the rider a remarkably stiff ride for track and city applications. A great deal considering the carbon Alpina fork that it comes with.

Masi 2009 Coltello 49cm SOLD

Masi’s Coltello combines the personality necessary to compete in the velodrome with the looks that will help offset your awkwardly over-intense face in the photo finish.

It’s a legitimate competition-level aluminum track frame that is both light and stiff. The seat tube has been cut concave to accommodate short chainstays and a tighter rear triangle. The carbon fork softens the ride for forays outside the velodrome and, for the safety-conscious, has been drilled for a front brake.

Mikkelsen Track 50cm $1000->$900

Bernie Mikkelsen is based in Alameda, just across the Bay from the city of San Francisco. His frames are clean, light and made with Deddachi Tubing. This particular frame is made with a 1″ threadless headtube and otherwise is bedazzled with sparkly lettering on the downtube fort those riders who appreciate a bit of bling with their dock-workers’ blue.

If you were parking your car on the Marin side of the Golden Gate Bridge last Sunday morning you might have found yourself temporarily concerned by the green mass of paisley and skulls flowing out of the mist-shrouded bike path. This year’s Freewheel/Hunter Cyclocross Team kit is one of the louder designs we’ve had in a few years. The intensity of the kit makes the team more visible if not inadvertently adding to a general sense of intoxicated nostalgia among onlooking former dead heads.

At the base of Conzelman Road Freewheel riders checked over their bikes one last time and continued the scheduled ride into Marin’s Headlands. After the initial climb they dropped back down through the occasionally tight Coastal Ridge Trail.

Most people will agree that fog isn’t necessarily the weather of choice for anything aside from strolling through London or perhaps evading fractious bands of pirates off the Horn of Africa. The low visibility higher up in the headlands often rendered it difficult to see the next rider ahead, let alone the next section of trail. But as the ride progressed, the moisture began to remind riders what cross season is all about: mud. The fog gave the track just enough moisture to be tacky and satisfyingly messy without causing too much concern about losing control. Weathering a handful of flat tires and a pair of opportune pit stops, the team took on the long slog up Miwok, rode through Tennessee Valley and bombed back down Bobcat.

Later in the day, riders cleaned up and rendezvoused at Golden Gate Park for a team barbecue (special thanks to Anisah and Carlos) with friends and companions, where riders were reminded what cross season is all about: beer and good company.

Colnago Extreme Power: SOLD

Colnago built the Extreme Power frame with riders like Alessandro Petacchi in mind. Alessandro is known for his incredible ability to dispense 180 kilograms per pedal stroke. The flared chainstays are designed to put all those kilos of power through the drivetrain and down to the road. Most of us probably wouldn’t come close to that, but feel free to use this silky smooth dream machine to commute in enviable excess. If nothing else, the lugged design is rare among carbon bikes and makes for a handsome piece.

2009 BMC Pro Machine SLC01(Demo’d) 55cm
$2400->$1600
2009 BMC Pro Machine SLC01 55cm
$2400->$1750

BMC is proud of their nano tube technology. Nano tubes are specifically the way in which the carbon fibers are held together. Rather than using pure epoxy to bond the carbon fibers, nano tube epoxy mixes loose carbon nano tubes into the epoxy and thereby utilizes more carbon throughout the epoxy, ultimately reducing the weight of the bike by… not a whole lot. What really makes the Pro Machine race worthy is the fact that BMC has produced yet another stiff, light and responsive frame. It’s not as upright as the Team Machine and as such is more suited to criterium racing or ‘shorter’ rides. Freewheel has two 55cm models available, one of which has been deomo’d.

2010 BMC Team Machine SLR01 55cm
$3850->$2790

The Team Machine is BMC’s pride and joy. Not only is it light (860 grams), but the BB30 gives the rider an incredible amount of stiffness through the drivetrain. This explains the unusually thin seat stays, which help reduce the overall weight and drag, and produce a softer ride. It also takes advantage of a tapered head tube and fully carbon fork which produce, well, you get the picture.

2010 BMC Race Master SLX01 52cm
$2000->$1500

This is a replica frame of George Hincapie’s whip that makes Captain America look Canadian. The base of the frame is aluminum fused with a carbon upper. What that means is the stiffness of aluminum in the climbs combines with the suppleness of carbon on rougher roads. If you’re thinking that you might not consider this frame because of its brazen attitude, the frame doesn’t want you to ride it.

2010 BMC Cross Machine CX02 58cm
SOLD

Unfortunately BMC’s boutique appeal wasn’t enough to convince its marketing team to continue this line into 2011. It is a hidden gem among cyclo-cross bikes. Light, stiff, tough. The predominately aluminum frame benefits from the reduced weight and smoothness of an Easton EC70 fork. Several of the shop’s riders in last year’s BASP Series had good things to report about the frame’s performance.

2009 Giant TCR Advanced SL Integrated Seatpost Medium/Large
$3450->$2900

Quintessential Giant sprint and crit bike. Made for speed, acceleration and climbing. The integrated seat post helps cut weight and gives the rider a better connection with the bike.

2011 Giant TCR Advnaced SL Medium/Large and Large
$2800->$1990

It’s tough to say too much about the TCR Advanced SL. Bang for the buck, the TCR Advanced SL is easily one of the best in its class. Unless you’re specifically looking for ‘something different’, the TCR is more than simply race-worth. In 2011 Giant took the engineering of these frames to a new level. A number of innovative engineering technologies helps create lighter and stiffer frames. The oversized bottom bracket improves power transfer. The rectangular downtube and oversized toptube wrap around a tapered 1 1/8″ to 1 1/4″ headtube to give the rider an even stiffer frame in high-torque sprints. Finally, Giant’s engineers, taking full advantage of carbon’s versatility, were able to put the frames together in way that maintained the frame’s lateral rigidity but allowed for a supple ride vertically. And for all the gram counters out there, you’ll be happy to know it’s really light. The medium/ large frame weighs in at an impressive 1760 grams.

2011 Giant TCX Advanced SL
$2900->$2600

It’s fortuitous that the manufacturing schedules for most major bike brands start up around October-November every year, obliging bike shops to move out older stock at lower cost and conveniently coinciding with the beginning of cyclo-cross season. Like the race it’s made for, this frame mixes two complete opposites: wild extravagance and frugality. The TCX holds its own in Worlds; Rabobank riders have sworn allegiance, but it’s far from the most you could spend on a frame of this quality. Get it before the mud dries.

2008 Look Limited Edition Piet Mondrian 586 Large
$4400->$2795

Piet Mondrian was actually a Dutch painter, but he struck a chord with the Parisians after a number of lengthy stays in The City of Lights. Look apparently feels that the best way to express their admiration for the De-Stijl Limner is to design a baller frame in his honour. This is a limited edition frame, number 36 of 50 in the whole universe. The 586 is otherwise one of Look’s most aggressive frames, comparable in geometry to other crit or sprint bikes; the Mondrian 586 combines unbeatable speed and… stijl.

When a shop has been around since 1978, it’s likely that there are a number of relics that have managed to dodge the ebb and flow of supply and demand. Either that or they were buried in other merchandise over the years and never managed to make it off the shelf. Whatever the reason, we occasionally find treasures hidden in the guts of the Freewheel that might be more than a dusty shoe box (what’s inside?!) or a decapitated manikin.

Look Carbon Cleats. Neon Green, Serie Limitee.

Confucian philosophy says that everything moves in circles. Neon green has niche appeal again, and the discovery of these pedals might be a harbinger for the hue’s launch back into the mainstream. These bad boys herald back to the days of Greg Lemond, back when Sammy Hagar was still relatively competent and Glen Plake’s mile-high mowhawk was helping to popularize the neon green craze. Carbon was of the utmost novelty back in the day, but the production techniques were nascent at best and made for pedals that probably weigh more than a pair of alloy platforms from last year. If you didn’t gather from the French in the sub-title, they’re limited edition pedals #7,886 out of 9,600. After they were exhumed from the depths of the basement, we marvelled briefly, shrugged and put them back.

Look Cobra Water Bottle

Naming a water bottle after one of the world’s most venomous families of snake almost makes sense when you remember that cobras are known to hiss and spit at predators or prey. Otherwise it seems like an ill-advised marketing campaign. This De Stijl-equipped water bottle pre-dates the discovery that bisphenol-A (BPA) was capable of offering the user convenient water storage with a side of cancer. Either of these attributes might explain why it’s still here. More likely is that it was part of a promotional Piet Mondrian-themed Look kit.

Velox Tire Sewing kit

Anyone who needs to sew up their tires nowadays is either commendably frugal or has a certain avidity for doing something the hard way because its old school. In any case Velox punched out these little life savers back in the day in an effort to turn a profit. It comes with a thimble! Its price tag at a menial 60 cents combined with the fact that is was made in France testifies to its creation in an era when France was still manufacturing things aside from $5,000 bike frames and the dollar was actually worth something. Yeah, old.

SFBC Bike Map 1972

Perhaps one of the more interesting pieces we’ve come across was a 1972 version of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s bike map. We found it buried in the crusty depths of a customer’s panniers that had been entombed in a shed for decades… we’re guessing about four of them. In those days, according to the map, you could license your bike at City Hall for 50 cents and park your bike for 25 cents at the Civic Center Garage. The 1972 SFBC suggests a case-hardened chain and padlock for security purposes, advises that a 10-speed bike is adequate to tackle the local topography (as in 2 up front 5 in the back, whereas Campagnolo and Shimano are now pushing the limits of creativity with the advent of the 11-speed rear cassette), and urges cyclists to watch for doors…no need to join Jim Morrison. Since those days, the SFBC’s membership fees have increased 3,500% percent.

On Labor Day, Monday September 5th, the Freewheel was on site for the 37th annual Metromint Giro di San Francisco. Regardless of our enthusiasm for the race, for a shop that is inured to opening its doors at 11am, we were about as foggy as the streets around us until an assist by De La Paz coffee got our motors running.

The Women’s Cat 4 kicked off at 8am with the races concluding just after 4pm with the Men’s Pro Cat 1 and 2. As a proud sponsor of Metromint’s Cycling team, the Freewheel was happy to see the team’s riders fair well throughout the competition. The shop’s owner, Carlos managed to finish with the main field in the Men’s Cat 4 35+. Perhaps even more elating, heartbreaking and intense than the races, was an intermission that featured several heats of racing for the kids.

Throughout the course of the day The Freewheel assisted with minor repairs, advised spectators on bike-related questions or where to find a toilet, sold t-shirts, and buzzed on free samples of Red Bull and Nestle Quick.

With the sun finally deciding to come out later in the morning, it proved to be a glorious day in the Bay Area. In the end, the races yielded several upsets, a handful of tough crashes but otherwise an exciting level of competition.