UA is proud to introduce Civia Cycles!
Today we received a beautiful root beer brown Civia Linden and upon closer inspection it certainly does not fail to impress. Civia creates bicycles rooted in cycling’s role as viable transportation. Whether that be getting you to work on time, hauling a case of root beer to a friends house, or the simple enjoyment of two wheels, the quality and level of detail built into each bike is truly impressive.
That said, the excitement of everyone at the shop after their first test ride tells the true story. Nearly all bike manufacturers create a “hybrid commuter” but most are hard pressed to put a big smile on the face of a well worn cyclist. The proof is in the pudding here, a really fun, comfortable, and pleasant ride.
We will be carrying Civia’s Linden, the Halsted, and the Kingfield.
Linden: Swept-bar road bike delivers a balanced, comfortable ride that makes carrying and commuting a pleasure.
Halsted: Cycle truck that provides you with an extremely stout front rack for all your cargo adventures.
Kingfield: 8-Speed, Belt Drive, Drop Bars. Seriously.
So come on into the shop, gaze at their beauty, and then take one out for a spin to see what they do! We’ll have the Halsted and Kingfield available in the coming months.
Anyone Can Cross
If you are still trying to get the most enjoyment out of your bike before Boston turns into an icecycle, there are a few cyclocross races still to come for this year. If you have never raced a bike before, cyclocross can be one of the easiest forms to enter; all you need is an old mountain bike, a road bike with some tire clearance (preferably cantilever brakes) and some semi-knobby tires.
Cyclocross started in Europe around the turn of the 20th century as a way for road racers to keep in shape over the off season. In America it has long been a fringe sport for those that can’t stay inside and off the bike, recruiting eccentric and quirky racers from the full spectrum of the cycling world. While it has grown in popularity in recent seasons it does not have the pretense or intimidation factor that other styles of racing can have; perfect for beginners.
Kona’s slick 2011 Major Jake
The easiest and cheapest way to make this weekend’s races is to grab that old mountain bike in your parent’s basement, fill up the tires, grab your helmet, and go. The only regulation that pertains to mountain bikes is that they cannot have forward-facing bars, so take off those bar-ends (make sure your fixie’s bullhorns are turned around) and throw on some skinny knobbies.
For a full listing of races in New England check out bikereg.com.
If you want to get a bit of a competitive edge our shop carries a good cross-section of cross bikes from the full carbon Major Jake to our custom built SS Surly Cross-Check. Stop by the shop or give us a call anytime with questions about how to get geared up.
Surly Cross-Check Custom Build
Here are some videos to get you excited, instead of staring out the office window into Boston’s looming winter.
Some vintage footage that has been floating around the cycling community recently:
A short video put together by our friend Matt Watkins from the recent race in Canton.
Cyclocross in Canton from M. Watkins on Vimeo.
Spo0o0oky Scary!
Here it is!
The helmet-cam video from our Haunted “Hey-Ride” with Pedro’s and friends.
Urban AdvenTours and Pedro’s Haunted Hey-Ride from Urban AdvenTours on Vimeo.
A frightfully good time on the Haunted “Hey-Ride”
We couldn’t have asked for nicer weather, or a better crew last week for our first annual Haunted “Hey-Ride” with the guys from Pedro’s. We rolled out with about 25 people and did a loop of about 20 miles. We explored out to the Mount Auburn Cemetery and enjoyed some stops along the way for scenic views and trick-or-treating. Take a peep at photos from the ride:
The group meets up to say “HEY” at Christopher Columbus Park
Chief Wheel Officer, Andrew Prescott, welcomes the group and lays down the rules of the road.
Keep an eye out for some footage of the ride from the helmet-cam
Riding up through Charlestown to Bunker Hill Monument
Getting the trick-or-treat tour at Taza Chocolate in Somerville
A bundle of bikes outside of Bleacher Bar
Thanks again to all of our partners and everyone who came out to ride. Check out the rest of our photos in the Facebook album or on our flickr page. We’ll see you all again soon!