Comment to the MPO, ASAP. Invest in Multimodal Infrastructure!

Asheville on Bikes - Action Alert

Things move quickly in the transportation world, or at least they could, especially if our community invests in multimodal infrastructure. Today is an important day to make an investment in developing city transportation infrastructure that works for all. AoB just found out that public comment concerning multimodal infrastructure projects closes today at 5pm.

Please take a moment to send your support for the following projects. Feel free to cut and paste AoB’s message to the MPO and e-mail it to: mpo@landofsky.org

“It’s a positive step when government agencies support advancing multimodal infrastructure. Walking, transit and bicycling improve the health of citizens and the vibrancy of the local economy. I support the following projects:

South Slope Network: Install a connected network of bike lanes on Coxe, Asheland, Hilliard, and MLK Jr. Blvd. 

Coxe Avenue: Bicycle infrastructure along the entire .6 mile length of Coxe Avenue.”

If you’re able to stop by the public hearing, please do so. Details below: There will be a public hearing on the draft STP-DA funding list on Thursday, June 18th at 12:10 p.m. at the FBRMPO Transportation Advisory Committee meeting in the conference room of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, 339 New Leicester Hwy, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806.

BioWheels brings you UltraMotor – Hybrid Electric Mobility

The promise of interfacing man and machine in collaborative propusion is here.  A few months after landing our first Hybrid Electric Bike from Schwinn, we have are hooked! UltraMotor has chosen BioWheels-Asheville as their dealer for Western North Carolina. After a serious test ride, we are convinced that this is the transportation solution that many of you have been looking for.

The A2B has a top speed of 20 mph, has an effective full suspension system, and is built for everything the urban environment can throw at it.  Every test ride ends in huge smiles and the invariable “I want one”.

The A2B sells for $2799, with an additional Li-Ion battery for $520. Investing in the second battery doubles it range to a true 40 miles. A full array of bags and accessories is becoming available for this wonderful machine. Look for a full review and movie within the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can make an appointment to test ride an A2B by emailing us at asheville@biowheels.com, or calling us at 828.236.BIKE.

Check out the full story at http://www.ultramotor.com/

Cervélo éRide comes to BioWheels-Asheville

Test ride the Cervélo of your dreams when the Cervélo test ride program comes to BioWheels in Asheville on Monday, March 16, 2009 from 11:00am until 7:00pm.

éRide, Cervélo’s test ride program gives you the opportunity to experience for yourself what the Cervélo ride is all about.

éRide is all about taking these bikes for a ride and interacting directly with Cervélo personnel. They’ll answer all your questions and help you make a better-informed decision about which Cervélo model and size works the best for you. The bike experts at BioWheels will be there as always to help guide you in your descision-making process.

éRide the Cervélo model of your choice from our fleet of available models that include the S3, RS, R3-SL, P3C.  The brand new P4 will also be on-hand to check out, but as of this posting a supplier problem is rendering the P4 rear-brake-less, so that model will not be “ridable“.

Register now by visiting www.cervelo.com/eride to test ride the Cervélo of your dreams at BioWheels on Monday 3/16 from 11:00am until 7:00pm.

** Don’t forget to bring your helmet, pedals & shoes!
(You can bring your current bike and we’ll swap pedals & transfer fit measurements.)

Schwinn’s Tailwind: Our First Hybrid Electric Bike

Since I was a child, I’ve loved riding a bike. It’s not just the exercise of it, but the personal time, the airflow and the freedom keep my helmet near the door, ready for daily bike love.

At age 21, I was deep into a 4-month bike tour when I experienced my first major tailwind.  That tailwind was a pleasant surprise about two-thirds through a 100 mile day of 100+ degree weather and doubletrack gravel, passing into Utah from Gateway, Colorado on the Telluride-Moab Trail. My 100 lb. mountain bike & I were suddenly pushed up a mile long steep dusty side-cut jeep road, arriving on top within view of the snowcapped LaSal’s. I had to apply ’ascension intention’ to the pedals, but the wind really blew me to the top.  That was a welcome helping hand. Thank You.

Moments ago, I just got back for my first ride on my new Schwinn Tailwind Hybrid Electric Bike. For the entire 25-mile ride, I had that same tailwind. Fantastic! 

First impressions: Out of the enormous box, the Tailwind was almost completely assembled, requiring about one hour of proffessional assembly.  The elaborate wiring is elegantly internalized, even the front & rear lights! The white paint is evenly sprayed with a high gloss. Welds are uniform, with no visible bubbles.

The parts kit is decent, sporting a durable Nexus 8-speed rear hub, and the Schwinn Electric Front Hub Motor. Both are laced to nice box section aluminum rims with stainless steel spokes. They spec’d Continental Town Ride tires with puncture resitance – smart choice!  The front shock is unimpressive, but I am used to a Maverick 6″ Mtn Bike. Like the square-taper cranks, the fork is an area for big upgrades. Hmmm.

The cockpit on this model is very upright, a classic Belgium cobblestone cruiser. Many folks will like this positioning, but I am more used to an aggressive racing postion. I expect that the market will demand sportier, lighter models in short time. Because Schwinn’s Hybrid Electric Bikes are more like a bike than a scooter, tremendous opportunities for a customized fit abound!

With too many of my own ideas about what a bike should be, I rode it once around Asheville, then immediately made a number of tweaks. A used carbon seatpost, new performance saddle, lighter stem & flat bar, plus some of Shimano’s single-sided clipless pedals.

Is this cheating? Many of my cycling comrades have asked if an electric bike is cheating. After my 1st 30-mile ride I can say “No”. There is no throttle. If you stop pedalling, the motor cuts out.  Moreover, each trip this bike replaces is one less car on the road and one citizen better connected to their surroundings.

How does it work? The Schwinn/Toshiba Tailwind drive system has a sensor that can detect your pedal stroke. Depending on what mode you set your handlebar mounted control to ( low-medium or high ) you get a boost. No free ride, but a nice wind in your sail.  As they claim, the battery does charge completely in 40-minutes.

An extended tailpipe is one reason to say ‘nay’ to plug-in electric technology. Like most of the US, we burn coal for electricity in Western N. Carolina. Electricity is used to charge the battery. At BioWheels, we plan to offer our customers a Solar Charging system to eliminate the tailpipe, and commute with food, water & sun.

Why would I ride a Hybrid electric instead of my normal bike? What will I expect to be different from my existing bike commute? Expect to go a bit faster, and be a little less sweaty upon arrival.

Why should’nt I ride a Scooter? Scooters release more carbon, and noxious gases into the environment than any other vehicle per gallon of gas used.  Only leaf blowers, jet ski’s and other 2-stroke engines are ultimately worse for our air & water. Plus, most scooters are pretty cheaply made, loud and expensive to maintain.

Is a hybrid bike frivilous? I don’t think so. With the 2 year warranty offered with the Schwinn/Toshiba Battery, Charger & Motor, you have a solid safety net. They guarantee 2000 charge cycles, 20,000 miles or 24-months. Whichever comes first. The fact that this is a bicycle means bike shops can swap basic parts, and work on them in a jiffy. Currently, a second battery will run about $600.

Who is the perfect buyer? Hard to say, but if you want the freedom, quiet & giddiness offered by a bicycle, but aren’t afraid to ask for a little help, Schwinn’s Hybrid Electric bikes are for you. The pricetag is $3200. Compared to an electric motorcycle ($12K+), or a hybrid car ($26K+) the elegant low-impact transportation will be welcomed by people ready to make a ’shift’.

I’m Commited! As I live beneath the Black Mountains, my 28-mile commute is hilly and has about 800 vertical ft. of elevation gain in total.  I will be riding this bike throughout February & March, almost exclusively, on my commute to and from BioWheels. I intend to run the Tailwind through its paces. I may be capable of slugging it out all the time on my sweet IF Planet Cross Commuter, but I’m learning not to say no to help when it’s offered.

More to Come- I look forward to sharing my experience with this breakthrough technology right here, in our Bykology Blog.-

Follow this Link to a Video Review of the Schwinn Tailwind, including a 30-mile commute in the mountains. 

so hopeful!- Matt Johnson, BioWheels founder. 

Cervelo raises the bar for 2009.

The best bikes in the world have just gotten better.

More than a million dollars of r&d has gone into every frame Cervelo produces. From design desk to wind tunnel Cervelo puts more into their bike design than anybody in the business and it truly shows in the ‘09 line.

BioWheels has just received the first 2009’s. Here is the new S1, which replaces the Soloist Team. This bike has some really sweet upgrades this year. The fork is now the 3T Funda fork with a carbon steerer tube, giving this bike a good weight savings and a greatly improved ride. The components have stepped up to the Shimano Ultegra SL. You can’t throw your leg over a better bike for $2200.

The new RS has also hit the floor at BioWheels. Nothing has really changed in the design of this bike but it has a nice new paint job and a couple of new options on the components package. Our new baby is dressed up with an Ultegra SL kit for $3500. You have to see this bike to believe it.

On Friday, December 12th, we had visitors from Cervelo at BioWheels, and they had the fastest bike on the planet in tow - the Cervelo P4. Check back on this blog for pictures.

As always, any Cervelo bike can be custom built to your specs, and our fit specialists can really make it your own.

More 2009 bikes from Cervelo and all of the other sweet brands we carry are arriving regularly. Thanks for reading.

Andy G.

Andy’s Top-6 Winter Clothing Items

Winter is blowing in and BioWheels has a few items to help keep you outside in the weather without killing your budget. So, here are Andy Grabowski’s top-6 winter accessories.

1.  The BioWheels wool jersey. What’s there to say…highly desirable, classy, comfortable & shows your good taste.

<----Hey, that's Frankie Andrieu!

2.  The Long Sleeve Un-D-Shurt from DeFeet   www.defeet.com
This has been out for awhile but still an essential item for winter riding. It’s made out of a moisture-wicking acrylic material. It pulls sweat away from your skin allowing your natural body heat to keep you warm on cold days. Having one of these can often cut down on the bulky layers you would normally need to keep going on long winter rides. These sell for about $35 which is way cheaper than an extra jacket layer.

3.  Blaze Merino wool socks from DeFeet   www.defeet.com
Wool socks are a no-brainer for winter riding. The natural moisture wicking of wool combined with its warmth makes any ride nicer. At around $15, these have been an item in my sock collection for years. We have custom BioWheels Blaze socks.

4.  Merino Wool base layer from Louis Garneau    www.louisgarneau.com
I already talked up the merino wool in the sock category but there’s another feature I did not mention. Beside having the ability to keep you super warm, it doesn’t hold odor. Just because you just did the most epic of rides in Pisgah, there’s no reason to smell like it. These shirts have a good look as well and could be worn out on the town if you so desire. They run just under $100 – not bad for an item that will keep you warm on and off the bike.

5.  The Windchill Jacket from Endura    www.endura.com
This is the most expensive item on my list at $150, but it has features of other much more expensive jackets. It has a windproof front panel and a breathable back to keep you comfortable. It also features reflective bands on the arms and neck to keep you from achieving hood ornament status while commuting. Endura is new to BioWheels this season, and we’re all impressed with the quality of their products.

6.  The Resistor Sock from Sugoi   www.sugoi.com
These are one of my favorite winter articles of clothing. They are wind and water resistant socks that are worn over your regular socks and under your shoes. They are super versatile and can be used for road or mountain biking. At just under $40, they are way better than cold feet.

I hope some of these ideas can help with your fight against old man winter.  BioWheels is looking out for your comfort with our clothing offerings.

CTS & BioWheels offering free cycling lectures

BioWheels and Carmichael Training Systems have teamed up to present a series of practical training lectures to benefit any cyclist.

Lectures will be held at BioWheels on 81 Coxe Avenue in Asheville, NC.  Seating is limited, so please send an email to Asheville@trainright.com if you will be attending.

The Lectures are FREE. 

BioWheels and CTS will have special offers, give-aways and deals on hand. So don’t miss out! 

Lecture 1:  Wednesday, November 19, 2008 @ 6:30pm
Developing a Training Plan for Your Best Performance -
Now that you’re riding and into cycling, how do you plan for centuries, charity rides, tours or your first races?  CTS Coach, Colin Izzard, will talk about what goes into planning your events including long term & short-term goal setting and training.

Lecture 2:  Wednesday, December 3, 2008 @ 6:30pm
Nutrition for Optimum Performance & Surviving the Holidays -
Presented by CTS Coach Tracey Drews and Eric Krause from BioWheels.
An informative lecture on the most up to date nutrition guidelines and tips for active individuals, endurance athletes and healthy eating habits to support your active lifestyle. (Win a 9-week meal plan from CTS)

Lecture 3:  Wednesday, January 14, 2009 @ 6:30pm
The Cycling Lifestyle - 
Make cycling & training an integral part of your life. Getting started in cycling and/or getting back on the bike after time off over the Holidays – Preparing to ride every day for commuting/transportation, touring and seeing the world or just family fun.  This is a slide presentation with handouts.

All lectures are 6:30-8:00.  Snacks provided.  Give aways, special offers and deals.

RSVP to Asheville@trainright.com
Or call BioWheels @ 828.236.2453

Interbike 2008 – Las Vegas, NV

BioWheels sent Andy & Eric to Las Vegas to check out all the 2009 offerings in the bicycle industry. Yes, it’s really cool to have complete access to everything in the world of bikes, but it is a bit overwhelming to say the least. The first 2 days are at the Outdoor Demo in Boulder City, NV. There we had the opportunity to test ride all of the major brands and a few of the smaller companies’ offerings. No matter how hard anyone tries, there is no way to possibly ride everything there. It was hard enough to make the time to ride everything that we felt was important, but we worked and rode tirelessly to get it done in the desert heat in order to bring you some first-hand knowledge of the bikes that BioWheels sells.

I’ll share the highlights from Interbike this year, and you can check out some images too.

Click the image to go to a Flickr slideshow of Interbike photos

The most impressive bike line that kinda took us by surprise was Niner. We’ve only been a deler for a short time now, and didn’t have much first-hand experience with their bikes. Oh my, have they gotten it right! Andy & I both voted the Niner Jet9 as the overall “Best In Show”. It’s not a race bike, and it’s not a big hit bike, but it is a well-balanced and fun-to-ride trail bike that can do a bit of everything and do it fast! It’s bigger brother the Rip9, felt burly and capable while still able to climb agily. With Niner’s well-designed geometry we had no problems getting those big wheels up in the air & sideways. These bikes are just plain fun!Our newest vendor Ibis impressed us as well. The Mojo Carbon and Mojo SL are outstanding bikes at a great value. These DW-Link bikes are stiff and capable lightweight XC bikes that climb as agily as the big horned sheep we saw only much more smoothly.

What can we say about Cervelo – world leaders in design & innovation! As if the P3 wasn’t crushing everyone in the wind tunnel and on the road already, the engineers at Cervelo decided that they would step it up a notch or two. The new Cervelo P4 just leaves everyone in the dust. If you want the most aerodynaminc bike on the planet, look no further! Oh yeah, and they make some incredible road bikes too (ya, think?!?).

Cannondale has raised the bar with some new designs and some lower-priced performance options. The new Cannondale Six Carbon has taken their high-performance carbon technology and trickled it down to create a bike that is affordable, comfortable and fast. The Cannondale Rize platform is a very worthy trail bike that comes as an affordable do-it-all model on up to the carbon endurance XC race rig. These bikes pedal well and have much improved stiffness over older Cannondale full-suspension bikes.

Stop in or call for more info on these or any other 2009 bicycles

BioWheels MTB Tech: Anatomy of Shift-Suck

Everyone with a mountain bike has heard of chainsuck…. how about shiftsuck?

Chainsuck can potentially stop you cold in your tracks. Excessively worn chainrings develop small burrs that effectively thicken the chainring – causing the chain to stick to theses areas and not release. The accumulation of mud on the chain and rings accentuate this condition. The suck part is your chain getting “sucked” up into your chainstay, either jamming or causing you to have to backpedal to get the chainring to release the chain.

A lesser known condition, Shiftsuck is chainsuck that occurs while downshifting from middle ring to granny, and can occur on brand-new drivetrains. Without sufficient clearance between chainrings and chainstays, shiftsuck can lead to your chain jamming into your bike’s chainstay – eventually leading to chainstay failure. Below are four photos showing the progression of shiftsuck. The first two show the underneath of the chainrings: in the photo the chainrings would be rotating backwards, and the chain is transitioning from the middle ring to granny gear.

Photo A: chain attempting to release middle ring and complete shift onto granny gear

Continue reading BioWheels MTB Tech: Anatomy of Shift-Suck…

Chain-Lube Creeping Toward $10,000 A Barrel

My crain is brampin’ right now. Okay. Focus. Focus. How much would a barrel of Finish Line cost? (picture a hamster running on a squeaky drum-treadmill between my ears)

At the rate of $7 for 120ml Finish Line, you’d pay $58.33 for a liter of Finish Line. If Finish Line were available by the barrel, 159 liters, you would pay $9274.47 for a barrel-full of slippery happy bike goodness. Holy crapoli!

Oh you want gallons? You are so not Euro. Send back that Quick Step team kit right now! For the metric system snubbing general public, Finish Line chain-lube costs $224/gallon.

Continue reading Chain-Lube Creeping Toward $10,000 A Barrel…