Escape Pod

Hub is officially on sabbatical. I've already crisscrossed New England to spend time with family- with my new MTB in tow. The nice thing about having the bike is that it's a good excuse to escape the crowd for a little bit. Not that I don't love my family, but I really appreciate a little bit of quiet time.

One Week

This is our last full week before close up shop for a month of bike adventure, recharging, and planning for 2013. There's still time to get a hold of a last minute gift or two for the bike nerd in your life (maybe that nerd is you, I won't judge...). Place an order with us by Weds (12/19) and we'll have it for you by the end of the world Friday (12/21). BTW, that speedy delivery is free (as it always is), yo.

I, myself, and working on a last minute project or two before I head someplace warmer for some cycling. Here's a little peek at my new bike, painted by the very talented fellas at Circle A:

Wimpy 2 Electric Boogaloo

It's the same color as another adventuring vehicle I once had. The pink stripes are a little washed out in this picture, so imagine they're a darker pink. I'll post up a full bike pic when this baby is ready to roll.

Another Non-Bungee Option

Friend of the shop, pickle impersonator, and all around good guy- Trombone Tally stopped by the shop yesterday to recycle a few bicycle bits and pieces. (We'll recycle stuff for you, too if you want. We can take metal, tubes and tires.) He very cleverly bundled up some old (and multiply patched) tubes with some "produce velcro". It's a thin bit of flexible velcro-ish material that sticks to itself along its whole legnth. It used to secure Romaine Lettuce.

You already know I'm against using bungee cords for securing stuff to your bike- and I gave you a couple of not too expensive/free alternatives. This stuff won't be enough to secure a box or bundle of groceries to your rack/basket, but I think it'd work beautifully to secure a lock, or hand pump or some other such accessory.  Trombone Tally mentioned that he uses it as an emergency pant strap as well. If you love reusing/reycling, vegetables, and bikes, keep an eye out for this stuff.
 

Gift Ideas

Need some ideas for the cyclist on your holiday gift giving season list? Well, I have 1,000,000 suggestions for you, but here are three to start:

Hub Bicycle Flat Fix Kit- $24
 

This kit has a CO2 inflator, patch kit, and the world's best tire levers in a not-too-big seat bag. Don't think your gift receiver knows how to fix their own flats? Let them know about our free Basic Maintenance Clinics.

Peterboro Bicycle Basket- $39-49

These classy (and surprisingly strong- up to 70lbs!) baskets are made a short 67.6 mile bike ride away from Hub Bicycle. Local, functional, good looking. There you go.

Park Tool Home Wrench Stand (PCS-9)- $144

 

Any PRO bike mechanic will tell you that having a repair stand is an essential tool. Lifting the bike off the ground and up to eye level makes diagnosing, adjusting, and installing just about everything on a bike easier. Flipping the bike upside down is for kids (or for people fixing flats on the side of the road, I guess). Plus- how are you (not you, but you know, the giftee) going to adjust those derailleurs if the shifters are underneath your bike?

Thnx

Hey! We're going to be CLOSED this Thursday and Friday. I'm going to Seattle. Rebecca's going on an adventure. And Erich will be nursing a Lord of the Rings hangover. See you Saturday!

Hand turkey!

Winter Plans

The shop will be closed for a month this winter- from December 23rd until reopening January 24th . Like last year, I'm planning to go on a bike trip. Unlike last year, I'm going to focus on off-road travel. I've started loosely making plans. Here they are so far: I have a new bike coming my way, any day now. It's going to be a 650b Get Rad Machine, in a mystery color (when given the choice I chose 'builder's choice'), built with theses parts:

I'm very, very excited about this bike. So, I'm going to pack up the mystery (get rad) machine, along with my riding buddy, and we're going to hit the road. We're going to look for single track here(ish):

I haven't forgiven you yet, Florida.

Just a girl in a truck with her dog and a locally designed and fabricated mountain bike, driving through the countryside looking for adventure. Sounds like the start to the greatest country song never written.

Favorite

We got new stickers! For your bike. Your favorite bike. I'm terrible at favorites- I don't have a favorite color, or food, or animal (Oh, wait. Yes I do.). Every trail I've ridden has at one time, or another been my 'favorite'. Just as every bike I've had has spent a least a little time as the 'favorite'. It's just too much work to pick out the most/best/greatest out of a bunch of good things. And, in the end, does orange care that it's your fave? So why try to force a choice of a 'favorite' by sticker? Well, if you have one bike, it's easy. And if you have more than one bike, we got a boatload of these- so you can have more than one sticker.

 

Wait! But what if your bikes find out that they're all your favorite? Here's the thing- bikes are inanimate objects, so they won't know if none/all of them are favorites. Have a bike you feel 'eh' about? Maybe this sticker will make you feel better about it. Try it out.

 

This bike has no idea that it's only one of a number of favorites. 

Swing by the shop to pick up one (or more) of these babies. Or hit us up on Twitter for one.