Winter is coming…

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves start falling from trees and the weather turns foul at a moment’s notice. Your bicycle does not like this time of year. Your bicycle fears this time of year. Your bicycle whimpers, crying tears of rust, every time it feels a cold gust of wind and a drop of rain plummeting from the clouds high above.

This is not because your bicycle cannot handle the coming of winter and the salty, slushy, corrosive mess that accompanies it. It’s because many otherwise well intentioned bicycle owners have not prepared their faithful two wheeled friend for the especially nasty conditions which Jack Frost deals like a deck of frozen daggers. Would you send your children out into a blizzard without boots, mitts and a proper scarf?! Of course not!

Nor should you forget that without oil a chain will rust, without grease crucial parts will seize in place, without a regular cleaning your drivetrain will wear out faster than the crotch on your favourite commuter jeans. The bane of the lowly bicycle mechanic is a bicycle that we cannot fix due to neglect. Remember, a bicycle is more than a tool to get you from point A to point B; it is a friend, a therapist, a coach, a doctor; it saves you money, keeps you healthy and happy.

With care your bicycle may last many years and we want to help with that. Drawing on our our extensive experience as winter cyclists we’ve tailored several service packages to keep the effects of winter at bay and your relationship with your bicycle as healthy as possible.

Winterize Packages

Level 1 – $45

Includes removal, cleaning and re-greasing seat post, stem, quick releases, pedals, and any bolts inserted in frame. Also includes lubing cables and chain.

Level 2 – $85

Includes all of the above PLUS applying anti-seize to bottom bracket threads, and greasing brake pivots and chainring bolts.

Level 3 Full Overhaul – $240 $170 until February 28th, 2015

Includes complete dis-assembly, cleaning and reassembly of bicycle, with new grease and bearings. Also includes the labour for any new component installation.

Parts extra 

Winter Promotions

50% off all Winterize packages when combined with any of our tune up packages.

Get a second Winterize service before February 28 2015 for 1/2 price. ***Recommended for daily riders – must be same bike***

Level 3 Tune up /Winterize Level 3 (Full overhaul) reduced to $170 (from $240) until February 28th, 2015!

How to Layer

Fall can be tricky when it comes to planning what to wear, a near freezing morning can turn into a wonderfully sunny day leaving you sweating underneath thick, unwieldy clothing. Layering up correctly can really help keep you cool and warm in these fluctuating temperatures. Here are some hints and ideas.

Base Layers: There is a huge variety of cuts, weights, and fabrics to choose from when picking out a base layer, but they all do roughly the same things: Firstly they provide a thin layer of insulation and secondly they ‘wick‘ sweat away from the body where it can be safely dealt with by successive layers. One fabric you’ll hear a lot of when dealing with base layers is Merino wool, this is a natural fibre which is well suited to cycling due to it’s excellent temperature regulation and wicking qualities – happily it is also considered one of the softest wools available – no hair shirts for us! A huge range of different cycling items are available in Merino wool.

Base layers should be worn close to the skin, forming a large amount of contact to allow for the most efficient transfer of moisture and retention of heat. The best base layers will fit tightly without restricting movement around the shoulders or elbows.

Mid Layers: These are useful for the coldest of days, mid-layers need to insulate while not excessively trapping moisture. For ‘warmer’ cold days this could be simply a bulkier base layer, colder days may require some form of fleece lined softshell. As with all layering the mid layers really depend on how hot you run. Experiment with thinner layers and work your way up as the temperature gets lower.

Outer Layers: There are two types of outer layers, waterproof and non-waterproof. Waterproof outer layers will always be a

balancing act – any fabric which is sufficiently waterproof will create a bit of a ‘Sweat tent’ to a greater or lesser extent. To help get around this pick jackets which feature vents where possible such as the Swrve Deck Winter Jacket or Sugoi RPM Jacket.

Non-waterproof layers for dry days are a bit easier to pick out, windproofing is one of the most important areas for consideration, keeping wind chill at bay allows your body to heat itself up without all of that warming effort being stolen away. It doesn’t hurt to get a outer layer with some level of water resistance to help protect against any light squalls you might run into.

For both types of outer layer having tight cuff and collar is important, it keeps the cold and wet out while retaining your heat. Adjustable options allow for a better fit between gloves/buffs and anything else you might be wearing.

Gloves: Layering can work for gloves as well in the same manner. Consider buying a light baselayer glove such as the Sugoi LT Run or Durafeet Wool Duragloves (protip – Silk liner gloves make an inexpensive glove inner, however be careful as they do not interact with velcro well so taking off/putting on other items of clothing can cause them to fray.) For the coldest days you may want to consider getting a pair of ‘Lobster Claw’ gloves like the Louis Garneau Super Prestige Gloves or a pair of mitts, keeping your fingers together increases the amount of warmth created within the glove ‘fingers’.

Feet: A cold pair of feet does not a happy cyclist make. Do your feet a favour and invest in a decent pair of socks such as the DeFeet Wooleator D-Logo or Giro Merino Wool Hightower socks. As with baselayers a woolen solution is generally considered the best thanks to wool’s natural properties.

A lot of people will switch to winter boots for riding but if you want to remain clipless but do not feel like purchasing a pair of boots like the 45North Fasterkatt you may want to look into the world of shoe covers. These covers offer wind proofing and water resistance, with some models offering a full waterproof covering for your feet.

Accessories: There is a huge range of accessories designed to help keep you warm in inclement weather. If you find that you are freezing in the morning but boiling in the afternoon consider matching a set of arm warmers or leg warmers with a light wind proof vest over the top of your regular top/pants. This combination will allow you to shed layers as the day warms up without needing to carry around lots of bulky clothing. Balaclavas and hats will also help stop body heat from escaping and also protect your face from those cold winds.

So there you have it! Although it may require a little more planning, cold weather doesn’t need to be a bar to any kind of cycling, whether it is your daily commute, an offroad ramble, or a fast paced training session. There are all sorts of options to keep yourself nice and cosy!

BELLS ROUNDUP

Having a bell on your bike is a legal requirement here in Ontario, making them an essential everyday item (unless you enjoy the thrill of biking on the wrong side of the law, I’m not judging here). Of course not all bells are made equal, so here is a run down of some of the best noisemakers available to you.

CRANE SUZU MINI

The Crane Suzu bells (and it’s stablemate the Crane Karen) are hands down one of the most attractive bells available today, they come in brass and silver and can be purchased with either a hammer strike (pictured) or a spring under lever. Regardless of the style of Crane bell you pick up they all provide a wonderfully pleasant, clear, crisp note which hangs in the air. Not only will this bell get you noticed, but it’ll do so whilst giving the listener an idea of your inherent classiness.

ORP ORP SMART HORN

“But Wait!” I hear you cry. “This isn’t a bell at all, what manner of trickery is this!” Well, you’re right of course, it isn’t a bell. The Orp Orp Smart Horn is a combination horn and light system. Featuring a two-level horn (maxing out at an attention-getting 96 decibels!), bright LED light and a tough silicone exterior the Orp Orp is a versatile beast for people who value their handlebar real-estate.

MIRRYCLE INCREDIBELL BELLS

Mirrycle bells come in a whole host of attachment options, so even if you’ve got a ‘custom’ handlebar set-up you’ll likely be able to find a bell to fit to your specifications. There are two main bell options, the Original Incredibell which features a spring striker and provides a clear, crisp ring and the Duet Incredibell (pictured) which, by the use of it’s lever striker and some bell-ish wizardry sounds a lovely two-tone ring.

CUSTOM WHEELBUILDING

We love custom-built wheels here at Urbane Cyclist, picking out the parts, lacing the spokes, truing everything up and then riding them!

Our professional in-house wheelbuilders take great pride in their work, here are a couple of pics taken by Chief Wheel-Builder and all round good-guy Corey Wood!

First up: An 8FUN bicycle motor laced to a Sun CR18 rim!

Next: Off-road power with a Shimano Deore hub laced to Alex Rims DM24’s.

Getting Faster: Venerable Shimano LX hubs laced to Alex Rims Adventurers, perfect bomb-proof commuting power.

Ready for Winter: The Sturmey-Archer X-FDD Drum brake Dynamo hub laced to Sun MTX33’s.

And Lastly: Something speedy! 24 hole Dura-Ace 9-speed New-Old-Stock hubs laced to Velocity Synergy rims.

You can check out more rims at our instagram for more information on custom wheelbuilding check out our dedicated page, drop us an email or call us on 416-979-9733.

Last Day of Our Online Back-to-School Sale!

Urbane Cyclist is Now Delivering to the Whole of Canada!

Finally Urbane Cyclist are now delivering to the whole of Canada! Our catalogue of hard to find parts, Internally geared hubs and accessibility aids can now be ordered from anywhere within Canada and the Continental U.S.

 

Urbane Cyclist is now Shipping to British Columbia!

We’re getting there! Urbane Cyclist now offers shipping to British Columbia.

Urbane Cyclist is Now Shipping to the Continental U.S.

New 2014 Urbanite Bikes

Urbane Cyclist are proud to announce our two new Urbanite bikes for 2014: The Lakeshore and the Market!

The Market is our multi-speed commuter bike, featuring a simple, solid Cro-Moly frame, 21 gears, rack and fender eyelets. A real do-it-all bike ready for the streets of Toronto!

Lakeshore is our single-speed offering. Less complexity, more fun! the 46×16 gear ratio gives you the right set-up whether you are looking to cruise or really turn up the heat and speed!

Nitto Campee 34f Sale

We got a great deal on two Nitto Campee 34f front racks and we’re passing that on to you! We’ve only got two though!

Order one online and get free Canada Post Expedited shipping to anywhere in Ontario