Here are some wonderful gift ideas for those who choose the bike as their primary form of transportation…

For Your Bike…

 Po Campo Panniers

The Po Campo Loop Pannier is sleek and professional, so it’s easy to go from your bike to the boardroom. We all need a little style on our daily adventures! Our unique leather attachment system doesn’t catch onto your clothes or dig into your side. Weather is always an issue with commuting, so the Pannier is made from water and fade resistant fabric with a protected zipper. On the practical side, the bag is large enough to fit a small laptop. All Po Campo bags have versatile connection systems so they will attach to more than just bikes. The Pannier fits nicely onto luggage. The Po Campo Loop Pannier’s MSRP is $125 and the dimensions are W14″xL10″xD3.5.”

SHOP LOCAL (if you are from Salt Lake City Area) this season. Po Campo items can be found at Saturday Cycles (605 North 300 West, SLC Utah).

For Your Head…

 Bern Helmets

Lets not forget about our heads this holiday season! Bern offers a wonderful line-up of women’s specific helmets that are ideal commuters! What makes Bern helmets great? Well all of their women’s helmets are ‘women specific’ meaning they make separate molds for the women’s helmets. Bern also takes the time to make different sized molds for different sized heads (some companies just add more or less foam to change the size). This all adds up to a really comfortable, well-fitting helmet that is feminine and functional.

<—The Brighton:

“The Brighton bike helmet takes bike style to your everday commute.  Core clean lines and durable construction featured with Bern’s exclusive removable visor for protection against the sun and inclement weather.  Bern’s All Season™ liner system allows you to use the Brighton on your snowboard, skis or bike.”

MSRP: $49.95

The Berkeley: —>

“Bern’s most popular women’s bike helmet provides superior protection for those of you who don’t want a Styrofoam planet on your head.  Whether commuting to work in traffic or riding for a cause, we can’t promise zero helmet head when you reach your destination, but we can promise to keep you safe and stylin’ on your journey.”

MSRP: $75.00

For Your Body…

Showers Pass Portland Jacket

Showers Pass Company is based out of Portland (hence the name of this jacket) which means that they know what it is like to commute and ride in nasty weather!

The Showers Pass Portland Jacket  has the commuter in mind from start to finish. This jacket is completely waterproof but doesn’t scream “RAIN JACKET” with bring colors and ‘swishy’ material. It has reflective paneling, weather guard cuffs and hidden pit zips for venting, everything you need for commuting in the elements without the lime green.

MSRP: $200

For Your Feet…

 Defeet Woolie Boolie Socks

Socks! The perfect stocking stuffer! But these are no ordinary socks and will have cycling commuters ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ because they will never again experience cold feet while riding. Defeet Woolie Boolies are wool socks that don’t itch, don’t shrink and don’t stink like their synthetic counterpart. They are breathable, light and WARM. If you are a cycling commuter you might want to ask for a pair of these socks…. or maybe two pairs….. or three.

MSRP: $15

For Your Hands…

Bar Mitts

With the winter comes the time when we need to pay extra attention to keeping our extremities warm when we ride. Having always myself suffered from chilly fingers throughout the winter due to wind chill and dipping temps, I felt my biking was doomed when the snow flew. I tried gloves but couldn’t seem to regulate the temperature, my hands were either sweating or freezing… With the discovery of Bar Mitts my outlook on winter riding has completely changed for the better. These neoprene mitts, once pulled over your handlebars block the wind, completely, and prevent frost bitten fingers from ending your ride early. They are very easy to put on your bike, just pull them around your handlebars and zip them closed and they DO NOT effect your shifting or breaking whatsoever. Bar Mitts come in different sizes and colors and there is even a model for your flat bar commuter or mountain bike. PERFECT gift idea for the winter biking enthusiasts in your family! As Bar Mitts say, “Don’t Let Cold Hands Keep You Inside Anymore!”

MSRP: $64.95

Pearl Izumi P.R.O Barrier WxB Glove

Two words to describe this glove: Weather Resistant. Nothing is going to get through these P.R.O Barrier WxB Gloves. Pearl Izumi uses their Outdry technology in this glove, which bonds a weatherproof, breathable membrane to the outside of the glove. The inside of the glove is fleece lined and the grip is made with natural leather which is soft and durable!

As for the Bikes…

GT Laguna 26

Not everyone who pedals a bike wants a bike wants to max out their heart rate, soars down a mountainside or attempt some sick aerial maneuver. Some of us need an excuse to leave our cars in the garage more often and enjoy the simple pleasure of feeling the wind in our hair and the sun on our faces as we slowly cruise the boulevard taking in the scenery along the way. Sound good? It is.

-Flat bar bike ready to attack the city streets or the dirt bike path. Great for all around riding when you want an upright riding position, front suspension and 7 speeds.

-Frame – 6061 aluminum Frame, CNC’d Bottom Bracket, Dropouts, and 1 1/8” Head Tube

-Fork – SR Suntour M3010 AL w/ 63mm Travel

-Crank – Suntour XCC 42/34/24T

MSRP: $385

Salsa Casseroll

Sounds like a delicious dinner right? Well this bike is not only the main course, its the appetizers and dessert too! Once you ride it you will understand why. This steal bike with a more relaxed geometry will have you enjoying the open road. The Casseroll is great for commuting because it is sturdy, giving you a plush ride. It also has all the braze-on’s (rack mounts) you could possibly need, and has semi-horizontal forward-rear dropouts (a fancy way of saying you can convert it into a single speed, fix gear, or geared bike!) For those looking for a commuter bike that they could also take on long rides, and even tour with, look no further than the Salsa Casseroll.

MSRP: $1,125

 GIVEAWAY!

So what else might a commuter need… How ’bout a way to stay hydrated while traveling from place to place? Sigg bottles are a ecologically sound and because they are not made with plastics, they are completely safe to drink from! Sigg has a variety of different bottles to choose from, varying in size, shape, color and mouth piece!

Win this lovely white bottle (MSRP $29.99) for a commuter you know! Comment about how you could benefit from a Sigg water bottle by December 14th with your name and a valid email!

HOLD ON! How can a commuter be expected to keep track of their bike if they can’t lock it up whenever it is unattended?

Problem solved… Kryptonite Locks has been safely locking up our rides for many years and they take security very seriously.

Kryptonite is giving away one of their Evolution Mini-7‘s (MSRP: $64.95) and a Skin (MSRP: $9.65) to one lucky Cycle and Style Reader!

The Evolution series locks are rated 9 on a scale of 1-12 for security level, which means they are tough as nails, perfect for city use. The skins give you the option to customize your lock, making it match your bike or your style. Be sure to check out their site for more on lock security rating and how they make some of the best locks you can buy.

Please comment on important things to remember when you are locking up your bike, by December 14th for a chance to win (include name and valid email)!

Please note: We can mail giveaways anywhere in the US.

(Article by: Stephanie Tomlin)

Happy Holidays! And Happy Commuting!

Got a ticket to ride? Here’s a Local’s Look at Sundance

Park City, Utah was the stage for the 30th year of the Sundance Film Festival.  It’s almost like they (the Sundance volunteers) swoop in a few days prior to the start of this worldwide spectacle on January 20th to set up all of the beautiful venue banners, parking signs, area maps and barriers to change our quaint little mountain town into a mini Hollywood film premiere.  As the morning of the 20th comes, so do all of the extra taxis, cars and people,  all walking and driving and only half are paying attention.  This chaos is only a precursor to the excitement to come.

During these 10 days in late January, Park City, Salt Lake City and Sundance are overrun by movie-goers from all over the world.  The sponsor of this well known event is the Sundance Institute.  The Institute, founded by Robert Redford in 1981 in the mountains of Sundance, Utah, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of independent artists and audiences.  How cool is all of this? Robert Redford, film directors,  movie stars: all in my backyard!!  No, I didn’t bump into any stars  but I did see Patrick Dempsey and Tim Blake Nelson at a Q & A session after their movie FlyPaper!!  Does that count?!?! (Maybe it should count double because Patrick Dempsey is an avid cyclist!)

Survival Tips for the Sundance Scene:

1. Look good, dress the part and be a star!! Alternatively, dress warm and wear comfortable shoes to look like a local & not an out-of-towner!! (Check out the boots below)
2. Park the car!  It’s nearly impossible to drive and park in and around Park City during Sundance and you can forget parking on Main Street!!  My advice is pay the $10.00 and park at “The Yard” and ride the Festival Shuttle Buses or Park City Transit.
3. Allow yourself plenty of travel time with the buses!! 
4. Pack a snack.  Park City vendors do a nice job of having stuff at each venture, but just in case,  be prepared!!
5. Oh, here’s an important one:  don’t forget your tickets!!  We only carry the ones we need for that day/night.  I have seen others carrying them all around; maybe they are planning on trading them like football cards?  I just don’t want to lose mine!
6. RELAX AND HAVE FUN!!!!  (But beware – you might experience “movie eyes” at the conclusion of your experience!)

One thing that I have found about Sundance is that sometimes you don’t know what kind of movie you are really going to see until you experience it!!  That’s the fun of Sundance.  If you are easily offended by things, then Sundance may not be the place for you because the movies are uncensored!!  Getting tickets can be a real experience too.  There are all kinds of ways to get tickets:  ticket packages, individual tickets  and it can be done on the computer or by phone after certain dates.  There are day-of-show sales and the wait list  and there are always people asking for tickets, people selling tickets and people just giving their extra tickets away. 

There is a lot to do in Park City  during the day if you prefer to see the movies at night!  Utah is known for the “Greatest Snow on Earth” and in Park City we have  beautiful blue skis with warm sun and fantastic views.  Most of Park City’s great ski resorts:  Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort or The Canyons resort will be uncrowded during Sundance.  If downhill skiing is not for you, head over to White Pine Touring and rent some cross country skis or rent a Surley Pugsley snow bike.  PC has miles of groomed trails ready for you to explore!

What Would Sundance Be Without a Pair of Fabulous Boots?

The Sundance Film Festival is the place to go to see the best independent films and it is also a place to be seen, as stars, film and theatre artists mingle with the throngs along Main Street in the evening. It’s the place for snowy Rocky Mountain glamour and warm boots, such as BearPaw’s Sidney boot are a must. (Alas, the dark metallic Sidney boot from BearPaw are a limited edition and are a Sundance favorite, but do know, that BearPaw makes many more great boots!)

Bikes for Town & Country

Getting around town in comfort is no problem with the Trek Navigator WSD (Women’s Specific Design). It’s a bike to put you at ease because it is lower to the ground and has wide 26-inch tires which will make you feel cool and confident as you ride down the street. The upright position of the bike means you can look around you and feel like you have it all under your control. The color is “Matte Lavender Grey”— an understated metallic, perfect for Sundance! This bike can be found at Jan’s Mountain Recreation, a ski & bike shop in Park City.

Getting around the on snowy trails is amazingly simple with a Surley Pugley snow bike. The plump, low-pressure tires give you the traction and floatation you need to get over snowy terrain without sliding on the occasional patches of ice. Riding this bike on the snowy trails that surround Park City is a blast! White Pines Touring has them for rent and one of the main Park City trails crosses right behind their store! If you’re there during Sundance, ask them to tell you about “Bike Dance,” an alternative movie experience to Sundance with the theme of–you guessed it!–biking!

The Trek 7300 is a fun hybrid bike for cruising along the bike path, riding around town, and cycling along a packed dirt rail trail with the kids. It’s a little bit country (er, mountain bike) and a little bit road bike. This versatile hybrid has some of the best of both worlds: light, sleek wheels that make them roll smooth and fast over the pavement, and a suspension fork and suspension seat post to smooth your way on an uneven earthen trail through the tree-arched parkway. The Trek 7300 has 24 gears which allows you to take this aluminum frame bike for a few climbs without having to work too hard. Like it comfy? It has a cushy seat and a comfortable upright riding position with an adjustable stem. The Trek 7300 WSD comes in three different frame sizes.

A note about step-through frames (a.k.a. women’s frames): The women’s version  or WSD (shown here) has a step-through frame which means it can be the perfect bike for those who’d like to ride while wearing a skirt.  Step-through frames are also great for those who may not be able to easily stradle a typical bike, like my mother-in-law who just had knee replacements and would benefit from the exercise that cycling provides. “Step-through” is a better name because there are some gentlemen who also like this frame style–because they like to ride while wearing long coats, or for physical reasons that make it difficult to swing their leg up and over a traditional frame.

We loved the 2011 paint scheme in "Gloss Berry"

The Trek 7300 has a front shock that gives some smoothing to your ride as it dampens the road vibration for a more comfortable ride.

The Trek 7300 shifts smoothly through the 24 gears. The chainguard offers some protection for your clothing.

The Electra Ticino is evocative of the type of bicycles popular in Europe for touring in the 1940’s and 50’s. It gets its name from the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, bejeweled by beautiful lakes such as Lake Lugano, which has been popular with cyclists for decades. The Ticino has beautiful classic touches such as the hammered fenders, upright tourist handlebars, unique reverse-style brake levers, and a hand-brazed chromoly fork. Unlike the “biciclettas” (that’s Italian for “bicycles”) of yester-year, the Ticino is much lighter, instead of steel, its frame is a lightweight aluminum. The Electra Ticino 8D features an 8-speed drivetrain which gives it some flexibility to take on a hilly ride, and its easy rolling 700cc wheels have a road bike feel.

Electra has adorned the Ticino with a traditional emblem–the coat of arms of the Ticino Canton of Switzerland. It’s a strong tradition with European bicycles such as the Bianchi or this vintage Cimatti shown here on the right.

The hammered alloy rear and front fenders give the Ticino a beautifully classic touch.The reverse brake levers and upright handlebars give the Ticino a comfortable and controlled ride.

 The women’s Ticino 8D features a classic step-through frame and is available in wintermint (shown here) and plum (2010). 

Nice touch: the chainring is designed so that it will not grab at one’s pant leg, even without a chainguard.

The images below are shots of the Ticino line at Interbike 2010:

 

The well-named Nirve Minx

Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world. ~Grant Petersen

There is something about beautifully detailed cruisers that inspires one to ride to the market, to the park or to nowhere in particular at all. Beth loved photographing even the tiny details on these Nirve cruisers and we thought our readers might enjoy the results.

But even better is a good deal for Cycle & Style readers: Go to this link for Nirve and you can print the webpage and mail it along with the warranty card and receipt for a $20 rebate.  You can easily navigate away to a Nirve dealer locator, bike selection and other links.  

Detail of Nirve's Metallic Coffee

Detail of Nirve's Island Flower

Love the detail on the rear fender of Nirve's Minx---Rrr!

Nirve's Island Flower & Metallic Coffee

Light & Fast

I had a chance to demo Specialized’s S-Works Era, a cross-country bike which is light and fast and gives confidence to riders whether going up or down the hills.  It’s a fantastic bike for the woman who wants to get out on her favorite trails and yet it would be the bike of choice for those who race. To start with, the carbon frame is lighter than their men’s bike frame of a similar size. Simply put, the tubing is a bit thinner and the carbon lay-up is more compliant for lighter riders on the Era than the Epic. Even if men may be the same height as a woman, he is on average heavier. It stands to reason that a lighter, less muscled woman would be at a disadvantage with a bike of the same weight. I took the Era through the paces: racing it down a fairly straight bike path, I found it to be racy and quick. I like “fast” and it did not disappoint. Then I took it up the switchback trails on a steep hill. Its lightness was really an advantage here as I found myself easily climbing. Because I am not an expert mountain biker, there are times a hill has conquered me rather than vice-versa.  I have loved my Trek mountain bike, but the Era felt nearly 10 lbs. lighter. I think I would have done better if I had ridden the Era last summer up the aptly named “Puke Hill.”

The Fit

A bike with good frame geometry that is made to fit means good bye to back and neck pain. As you roll over rocks, roots, and up and over bumps in the trail, you want a bike that stays comfortable.  The Era offers not only a good geometric fit, for the average proportioned woman like me, but also a suspension that can be dialed in to adjust for my specific weight. The Era has a “performance” geometry which helps the rider to get into an aggressive position for climbing–which you will feel when you ride straight up a slope.

The Epic and Era have different tuned suspensions; with the Era being well tuned for lighter-weight riders.  The Era’s front fork has an adjustable negative spring that you can tune for your appropriate rider weight and the shock has a lighter platform and the full-firm (hard-tail) setting would be different for a lighter-weight rider. The shock can also be adjusted to a “Trail Tune” setting, allowing it to self-adjust to differing terrain.

Have you ever hit a large bump or other obstacle had had your chain slap the frame below it? That’s called “chain slap” and most riders justifiably hate that because it nicks your frame. The Era features SRAM’s rear derailleur that holds the chain tight and still as you hit those obstacles. There are more thoughtful details that Specialized has put into the engineering and design of the Era. If you wish for more technical details about the Era, and/or learn about  its FlowControl Mini Brain shock, visit the website here. I am won’t pretend to be technically savvy, when I’m not. But I can tell you about the ride, how the Era inspires confidence on the trail, how it is an absolute joy to ride and will have you wanting to ride longer and more often.

By Tara R. McKee

One of the fashion capitals of Europe is Milan, a.k.a. Milano, which is the name the Bianchi company has given its series of city bikes. The Bianchi Milano Citta bike is our bike of the month for March. With the Milano Citta (Ladies’ model), you’ll have 8-gears for getting around town with ease, a rear rack for carrying your bags, and a step-through frame that will allow you to wear your favorite  skirts with ease. The whole Milano line gives riders an upright comfortable position so you can enjoy the ride and take in the sights.

Bianchi bikes have been around a long time. A very young Eduardo Bianchi opened up a bicycle repair shop in 1885, and right away began tinkering with the bike designs of the time. He made so many innovations with bicycle designs that he is to bicycles, what Henry Ford is to cars. He was one of the first to introduce the “safety bicycle,” so called because the wheels were the same size and it was closer to the ground. He also introduced the first bicycle with pneumatic tires and made many other innovations.

The crest of each Bianchi shows the crown of Queen Margherita.

The Story of the First Bicycle Designed for Women

In 1895, he developed the very first bicycle specifically designed for women and he presented it to Queen Margherita of Italy. The bicycle was unpainted, and when the queen asked why, he told her it was because he wanted to see the color of her eyes first and paint the bicycle to match. The color developed was a greenish blue, and was called “celeste” (pronounced in Italian che-les-te) and became the signature color for Bianchi. If you look close, on the crest design of a Bianchi bike, you can see the Queen’s crown, the royal endorsement of the queen. Incidentally, it was this same queen, Margherita, who started a craze for pizza in Italy, that later made its way over to America. So take your Bianchi bike over to your pizzeria, order a Margherita pizza and give a toast to Queen Margherita who knew a good thing when she saw it! (And I think all pizzerias, in memory of the queen, ought to give all Bianchi cyclists a 10% discount on pizzas!)

Thank you to Cyclesmith of Salt Lake City for making this bike avaliable.

The oh, so fabulous Hello Kitty!

By Jessie Anne Keller

The minute I saw this bike I knew it had to be the February bike of the month because I fell in love instantly! Nirve really hit the mark on this one, it is simply perfect!

The Hello Kitty details are beautiful, including the Hello Kitty tire tread. The bright pink is just girly enough, but still so pleasing to the eye. I think that this bike appeals to teens as well as adult women. It is a great around town bike and because of the chain guard you can even rock it with a skirt, not to mention it is easy to ride.

Nirve introduced this bike a couple of years ago and it is easy to see why it became an instant classic. You are sure to catch the eye of onlookers as you roll down the street on this beauty!  Every girl needs one of these in their fleet of bikes. And, perhaps the best part, it’s only around $400 making it a very affordable bicycle.

Thanks to Canyon Bicycles for the use of this fabulous bike

Buying your first new bicycle doesn’t have to be expensive.  Specialized has a great little “hardtail” mountain bike priced at an entry-level price named “Myka.” The 2010 Myka has 21-gears, and a lightweight aluminum frame (and a lifetime warranty on the frame). If you are a road cyclist, put those skinny tires away for the winter and take this bike out. Its wider, knobby tires are much better suited for the winter roads. Come spring time, you can enjoy the dirt roads and mountain trails and may find yourself really loving cycling off road! The Myka is expressly designed for women with women’s specific geometry, a lower stand-over heighth, optimal seat and headtube angles and a women’s XC saddle for better pedaling efficiency and fit. It also features splashes of pink in the paint design. It is priced at $389.  This would be a great Christmas present.

Note to Want-t0-be-Winter Commuters: This can be your winter commuting bike with the addition of fenders on both tires to keep the slush and snow off of you, front and rear lights for better visibility and if desired, a rear rack to keep some of your stuff on. You may also want to lower the tire pressure to give you better traction on slippery roads.

This very bicycle is available at Bingham Cyclery. The Myka HT is also available at your local bicycle shop that features the Specialized lineup of bikes.

All surfaces are not created equally. And when the pavement turns to dirt the EVA 3.0 will put a smile on your face!

By Jessie Anne Keller

Trails, paths, roads, driveways, grassy fields, pebbly beaches, sidewalks…do you get the picture? This bike can take you wherever you want to go and do it with ease.

Raleigh’s Eva 3.0 packs major fun and adventure in an awesome package. The aluminum frame is strong and light, while the front suspension provides both comfort and control when the ride gets rough. A Shimano 21-speed drivetrain, Shimano shifters and reliable linear-pull brakes make this bike easy to handle whether you’re cruising down the road or bounding up a trail.

Thank you to Bountiful Bicycle Center for allowing us to use the Eva 3.0 for this photo.