Bicycle Fair/Workshop

On April 14th we participated in the Fred Hutchinson Bicycle Fair/Workshop. Throughout the year we get involved with different groups and organizations to meet people and talk bikes. Most of these events work to encourage people to commute to work by bike. This particular Bike fair was a great example of a local organization promoting cycling as a healthy, affordable and safe way to get to work or school. Not only did they have a special day to kick off the riding season they also gave away backpacks to anyone that rode to work at least one day a week. In the backpacks were a water bottle, a safety light and other basic cycling supplies. It was a great way to encourage people to get out on their bikes.

So why does Gregg's Cycle participate in these events? We get involved because we like to talk to people that ride or people that want to ride. Obviously we like to get our name out there and do some promoting of our store and services, but really we want to talk to people who ride, get their stories, find out what's new and cool in their minds and make sure that we are giving the kind of services that real people really need and want.

Here's a picture of me getting ready to talk to the masses!

Hope This Doesn't Get Me In Trouble

So our blog is rather new and the content to this point has been informative but never controversial. This post may change this. I'm excited to post the first pictures of the Shimano XTR group. I know, we're a little off the back on this stuff as I've seen pictures of it online already but I had to put them up here as well. Too much fun. Here at the shop we're excited to see Shimano recognize what is really happening with XTR. While it has always been built with the XC racer in mind, many other people use it. So now Shimano has introduced 2007 XTR with other riding styles in mind. "With new shifting and rear derailleur option, four available brake rotor sizes, and the addition of separate brake and shift levers, XTR delivers the options and performance to address the needs of all mountain and trail riders, as well as World-Cup Level cross country racers."

The new XTR Rapidfire Plus Shifters have 4 new features that people are really excited about.

1. Instant-release shifting: Cable is released immediately when the lever is depressed making shifting even faster

2. Multi-release shifting: With Rapidfire you've always been able to grab more than one gear with the lower lever. With Instantfire, you can now shift two gears with the upper lever too.

3. Two-Way release: The upper lever still performs the same function, but now it swings both ways. Pull it with your finger, push it with your thumb, you choose!

4. Variable positioning: Fine tune the position on the bar to make it easy for you to reach.

The new XTR also features two types of rear derailleurs. Top Normal and Low Normal.
Basically Shimano has given you your options back. If you like rapid rise, great they've got that. If you don't like rapid rise or you just like the old standard better, that's great as well, you've got that option again.

Shimano has also enhanced the ergonomics of their Dual control lever as well as reduced it's weight. Again they've given you back your options. The new dual control will come in both hydraulic and cable actuated versions. Shifting is faster and eve more intuitive; "and you never have to take your fingers of t he brake lever."

The new XTR wheelset bring scandium to wheels and along with a new spoke lacing pattern Shimano brings you an XTR wheel that is 187g (1525g total) lighter and offers appreciable increases in lateral rigidity. Other advancements in technology bring you a freehub body that engages twice as quick as previous generations for a felling of instant power transfer. All of that and they are compatible with both tubeless and standard tires.

Shimano has also freshened up it's hydraulic brake category. For the first time Shimano introduces a separate hydraulic brake lever at the XTR level. Again with the options. Now you can XTR with shifter pods, or XTR with Dual control or any other kind of option you can think of. XTR brake calipers will work with international standard and post-type mounting systems and no adaptors will be required for 140 or 160mm rotors. Wait, did I just say 140mm rotor? Yes I did, they are making a rear specific 140mm disc rotor for those of you that really want the lightest weight.

So when do you get to see this stuff in a bike shop near you? Well not for a while, you'll start seeing the real advertising in August of '06, you'll see new bikes with this stuff in August and it should be in stores as an aftermarket product sometime in October. That's all we know, but it's exciting all the same!