BioBus Bike Blog

As a way to celebrate the start of summer and all the bike fun we’ve been having at UA, we’re hosting a Friends and Family Night on July 1. From 5-8 PM, friends and family members of our crew can come to our bike shop at 109 Atlantic Ave. for sweet discounts on new bikes and gear.

Just how sweet? At least 30% off on all of our new bikes–that means you can buy a Giant TranSend DX for $279.99 for (Reg. $499.99), a Masi Soulville SS for $449.99 (Reg $729.99), or a Giant Bowery for $399.99 (Reg $649.99).

Not only are there amazing deals to be had, you get hang out with our friendly staff members and talk bikes (or not) over some free brews from Harpoon.

That’s right. Free beer, major discounts on bike stuff, and cool people. Sounds like a good Thursday night.

There’s a lot going on for Boston bikers this weekend, especially if you want to start your weekend on Thursday, like us.

We’re excited about the Zipcar sponsored Party for the PanMass Challenge at the Cask’n Flagon from 7-11 PM tomorrow. Entry to the party is free and there will be a raffle to raise money for the PMC, which is a ride that benefits cancer research and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. We’ll be there with a table and some gift certificates to raffle off, so stop by and say hi!

After spending the night partying for the PMC, wake up and get free breakfast courtesy of MassBikes’ Bike Friday at City Hall Plaza. Join one of the many convoys headed downtown, where there will be info from other bike-friendly businesses and lots of bike commuters celebrating their commitment to environmentally-friendly transportation.

The next day of the weekend brings another bike event. This Saturday is the second ride in the New England Bike MS series. The Cape Cod Getaway takes riders 150 miles in two days, from Boston Harbor to Provincetown. If you’re participating in the ride and need a bike rental we’ll give you 10% off. Just give us a call before you head into the shop so we can have it ready for you.

Sunday is the last day of the weekend, and brings one last event: the Cohasset Triathlon. We’ve got high end road bikes available for rent to help you get your fastest Tri time yet.

So spend the weekend getting out and doing fun bike stuff. After all, it’s officially summer now!

Is your Dad a history buff? Into cycling or outdoor activities? This Father’s Day take him on our famous Paul Revere Ride to Freedom! It’s an exciting 25 mile ride that follows Paul Revere’s historic midnight ride from Boston’s North End into Lexington and Concord. Hit the scenic Minuteman Bike Way while one of our knowledgeable guides recounts the history of the beginning of the American Revolution right where it first happened over 200 years ago.

The first stop is at the Old North Church where the young patriots hung lanterns to warn of the British attack. Then you’ll venture to Charlestown to take a gander at the U.S.S. Constitution, the world’s oldest floating commissioned naval vessel.

The riding continues through Somerville and Medford to pick up the Minuteman Bike Trail and make stops at Lexington and Concord to see the first battle sites of the American Revolutionary War.

Urban AdvenTours appreciates Dads. We know that a nice morning ride is a great way to spend time together and enjoy the beautiful early summer weather, not to the mention the great history you’re going to experience. Since it’s a special edition tour that only happens a few times a year, make sure you book it soon!

Soak up the history of America’s birth from the saddle of one our bikes this Sunday to create and extraordinary Father’s Day experience.

Our UA Crew member Parker recently swapped up to a new set of wheels. Here’s his review of his new ride, the Kona Jake:

For a year or so I have been riding a women’s road bike (Giant OCR) that most would call too large for me. I got used to it after a while and dealt with it like i deal with my limited budget. Recently I have been able to get back into the new bike market and started thinking about what would suit my range of needs. These include: speed, weight, durability, reliability, commutability and about 10 more ‘bilities. I use the bike mainly for commuting but would like to be able to do some light road racing/longer rides.

My search started with tried and true steel road bikes–that’s what I have been used to and that’s what’s familiar. Poking around online for months I found plenty of options in my price range, mostly consisted of piecing together my own build, but was never completely sold on one setup.

About a month ago I started to look at cyclocross (CX) bikes, which are modified road bike frames running standard 700c wheels and 9-10 speed brake/shifters but with beefy tires and cantilever mountain-bike-style brakes. They are the result of a sport of happily loony people that race around circuit tracks in the mud and over large obstacles. To add to their pride in the sport and its seemingly sideways nature, their season is always in the fall/winter.

UA Crew member Niko racing CX for Boston University

I took my first ride on a CX bike a month ago on the Kona Jake. It all felt pretty familiar to me, drop bars, “skinny” tires, 10 speeds. My first ride was mixed, it felt a lot like a road bike with some knobby tires. It was smooth and comfortable (Chinatown streets are now bearable) but at the sacrifice of some speed because of the larger mud-based tires. It seemed to me a perfect rig to throw on some smaller slick tires and call it a perfect commuting/’round town rig; so I picked up a 2010 Kona Jake.

Unboxing and building up the bike was a treat; I would compare it to Christmas 1993. The bike popped out of the box with its electric blue accents providing a pleasant surprise in person. The welds on the sturdy 7005 pipes looked consistent, industrial and certainly not upsetting to the eye. Making the frame a bike, Kona added a Shimano Tiagra group-set, FSA Omega Cranks, and Kore Brakes. Torqued down, tuned and adjusted I headed out on my first ride.

It seems to accelerate very smoothly and with some added pep due to it’s lightweight components. The shifting is also clarified due to the industry standard group-set that shifts consistently and crisply. The wheelset, shod in 700×35 tires, put the power to the pavement well while also soaking up the bumps and debris in the road. It corners excellently; sharp without the slightest sign of twitchy misleadings and with the high set bottom bracket there is no chance of clipping the road with a pedal.

After riding 23c tires my entire “road career” I had mixed feelings about the fat tires shod in knobs for the mud. As days go by I enjoy more and more the security of being able to hop off curbs, hit potholes (not intentionally), and in general not have to worry about Boston road conditions. I think I will keep the tires for more dedicated off-road ventures but I will be sure to keep a larger profile tire in my stable.

In conclusion I am becoming more and more satisfied by the day with my purchase. No bike is perfect right out of the box, at least for me, but the 2010 Jake came as close as you can get. For the price you can’t get more in a bike. If you are also in the market for a fast ride around town that is capable of touring/light-racing/commuting make sure to come by the Bike Shop at Urban AdvenTours and try out one of our CX bikes. We have the Kona Jake and Masi CX Speciale in stock and are able to order any cross bike from all of our dealers: Kona, Masi, Giant, All City, and Surly.

Keep the rubber down,
Parker Musselman
UA Staff

If you missed the 14th Annual Redbones Bike Party and Benefit last night, you definitely missed out. There was live music, delicious Redbones BBQ, and lots of bike representation, and of course a keg biked over from our friends at Harpoon. We hung out with our bike crews from MassBikes, Geekhouse, Ciclismo Classico, NEMBA, The Bicycle Film Festival, and lots of other bike friendly organizations.

Riders leaving from Urban AdvenTours with their new “I ‘bike’ Somerville” shirts.

Leaving the store at 5:00, our tour guide, Greg, led a crew of excited bikers into Davis Square where the party was just beginning. Lots of people stopped by our tent to check out our signature I Bike Boston (and Somerville!) gear and our cool new map. Our head mechanic, Tim was working the crowd with free high-fives and stickers, courtesy of Urban AdvenTours.

The crowd on Chester St. in Davis Square

Boston bikers and bike supporters came out in droves to celebrate and share their love for bikes. It doesn’t get much better than that. We’re already looking forward to next year!

We’ve added the Giant Transend LX to our fleet of bikes for our guides to navigate through the city. While ours have catchy green grips and bright flags on them – we’ve got some cool ones for sale too. Here’s our tour guide Niko’s take on the bikes:

This is a top-notch city bike set apart by its comfort. The upright geometry in combination with a generous saddle and ergonomic grips make it incredibly cozy on those long commutes to the office. And brushed chrome fenders provide protection on those inevitable wet days.

The good: This bike is stylish. A real wood rack complements the earth toned finish and really makes the bike stand out in your Bike Friday peloton. It’s relatively fast with smooth 700c wheels and the mechanical disc brakes for confident stopping in any condition.

The bad: It’s not so bad. This isn’t the lightest hybrid out there–especially in this price range. The weight makes the bike a bit sluggish on climbs. However, the solid design and heavy duty parts make it ideal for hauling panniers or a basket. Trade offs. Additionally, the fenders (as with most fenders) can come out of place and have to be adjusted.

The bottom line is that the Transend LX is a smooth and beautiful piece of bike that will not disappoint.