Blacks Cycle

New Helmets

2011-08-10T09:53:00.001-07:00

New Bell Sanctions.

Race Team Updates

2011-06-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been busy for the Black’s Cycle mountain bike race team. June 18^th marked the 12 Hours of Cumberland. As the name implies, racers rode laps of a 7km course as many times as possible in 12 hours. The race could be done solo, in teams of 2, or in teams of 4 (teams would treat the race as a relay event, with 1 rider riding at all times). Since we weren’t feeling mental but still wanted a challenge, we opted for the 2 person team.

Heather and Chris posing before 12 hours of fun!

The weather forecast was dreary in the days leading up to the race, and when we woke up Saturday morning at 6AM the sky wasn’t looking too promising. The prospect of riding for 6 hours each (or even worse, sitting around waiting for 6 hours) wasn’t looking too appealing, but we had faith that the day would turn out ok and packed our stuff up and headed to the #6 Mine Park in Cumberland. We set up the Norco tent and hung the big Blacks Cycle banner and headed over to register. Once we paid our fees there was no turning back.

Heather still smiling after 5 hours in the saddle

The race started just before 8:30, and I took the first pull. Our plan was to ride in 3 lap intervals, which worked out to around an hour and half on, followed by an hour and a half off.

My first 3 laps were quick and dirty, and I was good and tired when I passed the torch off to Heather. As the day progressed, we got into a nice rhythm. While I was a bit more vocal about my fading legs, Heather was her usual self, and banged off her laps nice and consistently without any complaints. Her 4^th lap was probably the fastest of the day after she ran into a couple bear cubs and their mom just before Black Hole.

For the most part the rain held off and the course became dryer and faster with each run. Good thing too, because by late afternoon we were getting good and tired. Our laps times stayed consistent though, and at the end of the day we finished 23 laps in 11:40. That’s more than 160km of west coast trails, and good enough to get us a 3^rd place finish.

Next on our hit list was the long awaited return of the Hornby Island Bike Fest. Anyone who raced in BC during the 90s will no doubt remember this iconic event. The fast, flowy trails of Hornby are about as fun as it gets, and when you throw in a laid back but very well organized couple of races you’re sure to have a good time.

Heather leading the charge in the Hornby XC

Heather bucked up and raced back to back days, tackling the 14km/1000 vertical ft XC course on Saturday, followed by the Super D on Sunday.

Gotta love that Hornby singletrack!

Heather DP’d (Double Podium), with a 3^rd place photo finish on the XC (1 second behind 2^nd place) and a solid 2^nd in the Super D. Not only was she super stoked on her results, but she rolled off the island with the phone numbers of 2 new riding friends.

Heather obviously stoked on her 3rd place XC finish

My Norco Range - All ready for some Super D action!

I put all my eggs in the Super D basket, and it paid off beating my goal of a sub 6 minute run with a time of 5:56, good enough for a 3^rd place finish in Expert. My legs and lungs have never hurt so bad, and I can honestly say I gave’r 100%.

The coolest part of the weekend was having our good friend and longtime Black’s Cycle customer Kevin Reid show up and race (not only is Kevin a great guy to ride with, he’s also a kick ass realtor – If you’re in the market check him out at www.kevinreid.remax.ca). This was K-Ninja’s first time racing, but he manned up to the plate and raced Intermediate. After watching his pre-run helmet cam footage 25 times on Saturday night, he managed to shave 20 seconds off his already fast prerun time (one more reason to buy a helmet cam, and a shameless reminder that Black’s Cycle is an official GoPro dealer) and finished with a time of 7:21.

Turns out lycra really does make you go faster!

We all left Hornby pretty worked over (especially DP Heather), but pretty stoked on the weekend. The race was amazingly well run. From the staging to the timing and instant results, we were blown away that a race with such a laid back feel could be run so professionally. Huge shout out to all the organizers and volunteers. You guys (and gals) put on such a great event, and we’re already looking forward to next year.

So, that’s pretty much a wrap for June. The next big adventures are the Black’s Cycle Double Down (stay tuned for more info on this!), and the Yana Century Ride. See everyone out there!

Spring Update

2011-03-10T10:51:00.001-08:00

Spring is in the air and there's a lot happening right now at Blacks Cycle. There's something in this note for everyone, so have a seat and grab a drink because this is gonna be a long one...

First off, the time change is this weekend, which means group rides begin next week. Tuesday night will mark the first mountain bike ride, and Thursday will be the first road ride (the road ride will be weather permitting since Les is made of sugar).

Next up: Ever wanted to have access to a $2500 Zipp wheel set to use on race day? How about training with a $2700 CycleOps Power Tap set up? Well, we've found a way to allow you access to these high end goodies that won't break the bank. We'll be renting both these items out at very reasonable rates over the course of the season. This is a pretty unique opportunity, so if you have a big event coming up and want an edge over your competition, give us a shout and we'll fill you in on the details.

We have a bunch of new bikes going on sale, and the prices are REALLY good. All Felt road bikes are up for grabs, as are mid price point mountain bikes ($500-1200). We're taking offers on the last few Pinarellos and won't say no to anything reasonable. In short, if you're looking for something or know anyone that is now is a really smart time to stop by the shop for a visit.

We have all our Norco kids bikes and Chariot trailers in stock. Spring break is coming up, so gear up now so the whole family can get out and enjoy the first few days of spring.

The repair shop is still relatively quiet (although we've seen a definite increase in volume over the last week), so now's the perfect time to get your ride dialed in. Beat the rush, get your bike tuned up now so when the sun comes out and others are waiting you'll be out there riding.

So that's a quick taste of some of the things going on. As usual, if you haven't been in the shop for a while stop on by. There's lots of new and exciting stuff we'd love to show you, so come by and have a chat.

New or used - Getting The Most Bang For Your buck

2011-02-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

So you're looking for a new bike. Like most folks out there you want to make sure you get the most bike for your buck. You've been to the local bike shop and checked out their offerings, and are pretty stoked, but the model you want is a bit beyond your means. They also have a few used bikes, which sparks the idea that maybe going with something used might be the ticket to getting that higher end spec without throwing down quite so much dough.

The lure of used bikes is often tempting, but used bikes can come with hidden catches. Worn drivetrains, stressed and fatigued components, and even hairline frame cracks can often be overlooked. Presentation plays a big part in a buyers decision, and for most people, a clean bike with a good spec at a fraction of the original purchase price seems like a good deal, but this often ends in disaster.

Here's a good example of what I'm talking about: Last year one of the shop regulars bought a used bike. He was originally looking at a mid-level bike, but found a "good deal" on a used higher end version. Sucked in by the prospect of having the high end version he bought the bike. Unfortunately, straight out the gate there were problems. Even though the bike was only a year old, it had been ridden lots and ridden hard by the previous owner. Within the first week he was already 3 figures deep in repair costs, and as time went by the number multiplied many times over. A year later, his repair costs alone were almost equal to what he paid for the bike, and combined, significantly higher than what he would have paid for a brand new bike.

Beyond the product itself, there are a couple other things that can add value to a new bike. The manufacturers warranty on most cycling products applies only to the original owner, and while genuine flaws covered by warranty have reduced in recent years (manufacturing and engineering has improved significantly), warranty claims are still something we deal with regularly. All new bikes sold from Blacks (and most shops) come with a year of free labour. It's inevitable, your bike will need adjusting, fixing, and tuning down the road, and buying a new bike will help ease the pain for at least that first year. If you're a faithful customer (and maybe bring in a case of beer every once in a while), you might find yourself at the receiving end of some discounts down the road as well. These three factors can add up to hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

The final thing to consider when looking at a used bike is the actual value of a used bike. The technology found on bikes in almost every category is constantly improving, and what was high end only a couple years ago is often commonplace on mid-price point bikes today. What this means is that when you're doing your price comparison, you need to look at what it would cost to buy bikes with the equivalent ride quality, not just spec level. What the young man in the example earlier failed to realize, is that despite the fact the used model he was buying was the high end version, the new mid-level version of that bike was actually lighter, stronger, and more durable than the older high end model. In short, the new mid-level bike is a better bike than the older, high-end model.

While there are some great deals out there, it often takes a skilled and discerning eye to catch them. A good bike shop should be able to help with this. Most shops, including Blacks, will do a quick check over of a used bike at no charge, and will be more than willing to provide you with their two cents, including a quick comparison of what your options are for new bikes at the same price. This way, you can make a solid, informed decision on how to best spend your money.

Goodbye 2010 -Hello 2011

2010-12-28T11:38:00.000-08:00

I guess it's that time of year again. Christmas is over, and with the new year only a few days away, it seems appropriate to quickly reflect on the the past 12 months, and look ahead to the year to come.

January was pretty nice in the Comox Valley. We were consistently getting out for our Tuesday night rides, and all things considered, conditions were pretty good. Sure, the days were short and it rained a bit, but the snow line was pretty high up, and we were riding some of the upper trails that usually don't clear up until late spring.

The obvious highlight from February is the Olympics, but since cycling isn't a winter Olympic sport, we'll just ignore the Olympics. Mount Washington was getting massive dumps of snow, keeping boarders and skier happy. Back down here in the valley night rides were continuing, and trail conditions were pretty good.

The end of March marked the arrival of daylight savings time. After work rides in daylight were suddenly attainable, and our Tuesday night mountain bike and Thursday night road rides began.

April officially marked the start of racing season. The Cumberland XC and DH races were both held, with solid representation from Blacks in both events. Even though we're all about fun here at the shop, sometimes it's nice to challenge yourself in a competitive environment, and see how far you can push your limits.

Besides the great weather we had in May, the obvious highlight had to be the Rocky Mountain Demo Day we had in Cumberland. We got a chance to demo some great trail bikes, including Altitudes, Flatlines, and lots of 29ers.

June and July were kind of a blur between busy days in the shop and lot of time in saddle. Between commuting, road rides, and mountain bike rides, I think it's safe to say I put in more saddle time in a couple months than some do in a lifetime.

In August we held the first annual 4 Peaks of Cumberland. We basically took 4 separate stand alone rides and combined them into 1 fun all day epic. We had a great turnout and will definitely do this one again next year.

The 4th annual Yana Ride took place in September. This is Les and Erica Black's big event - Something they work tirelessly on months ahead to make sure that things go as smoothly as possible, and ultimately, raise as much money as possible for Yana. 2010 marked the first year the weather was less than stellar, with grey skies and a bit of morning rain. Despite the weather woes, we had a great turnout and more than $20,000 was raised. Big thanks to Les and Erica Black and everyone else who helped make this great event a success.

October for most people means the end of the riding season, but here at the shop the rides kept going and we were still getting lots of pedal time.

November is always and exciting time with 2011 products starting to roll in. Some of the most anticipated products, like the Norco Range series arrived. For us at the shop it's like Christmas every time the courier truck shows up at the door.

And I guess that brings us to December. Most of us indulge in treats a bit more this time of year, providing the perfect motivation to get out on our bikes to keep the winter fat at bay. Most of the lower trails are still rideable. If you're geared up right you can still get those base miles in on your road bike. Hopefully you got some cool new riding stuff under your tree, and you get out soon to use it.

Looking forward we have lots planned for 2011. We still have new 2011 bikes arriving daily, and if the product is any indication, 2011 is gonna rock. From everyone at Blacks, Happy New Year. Hopefully 2011 is filled with smooth shifting gears, true wheels, and complete lack of flat tires for everyone.

Rocky Slayers

2010-12-16T15:05:00.000-08:00

Here it is! One of the most anticipated all mountain rides for 2011. 6.5 inches of do it all travel. This bike must been seen to be believed. Its always better in person. A Slayer 30 and 70 are currently here with some more models coming in within the next week or two.

Trail Work

2010-12-09T21:33:00.000-08:00

Putting in a new bridge on the soon to be resurrected Punisher.

Run Bikes: Learning to ride the RIGHT way

2010-11-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

There are certain childhood events that can be considered true milestones: Your first words, your first steps, your first day of school, and of course, learning to ride a bike.

Like most kids, I earned my fair share of bumps and bruises learning to ride on two wheels. I was one of those kids who had horrible balance, and would compensate with tons of speed in order to stay upright (hmmm... I guess some things don't change). Unfortunately, when things started to get sketchy, as the usually do when you're learning to ride, the end result often involved blood, bruises, and a whole lot of tears.

These days, parents have an alternative to the traditional "trike followed by training wheels followed by 2 wheel" model that has been used over the past couple generations. It's called a run bike. Run bikes have been commonplace in Europe for years, but never really caught on in North America. Sure, you could get the fancy pants Like-a-Bike version in upscale toy stores, but getting parents to shell out a couple hundred bucks on a sketchy wooden bike was a pretty tough sell.

In 2005, Norco came out with the Adams Runner. For the North American bike industry, this was a game changer. All of sudden kids had access to a good quality, reasonably priced run bike, with the look and feel of a real bike.

So what is a run bike, and what makes it so special? Simply put, it's a really small bike, but without pedals. The idea is that kids sit on the seat and use their feet to push themselves along. What makes this such a great product is that that kids can learn the fundamentals of balancing on two wheels. The lack of pedals means one less thing to worry about and get in the way as they scoot along with their feet. When it comes time to graduate to a real bike, the learning curve in easy, since the only new element is the pedaling motion, which for most kids is relatively straightforward.

Run bikes have another benefit as well. Children can often get on them younger compared to a tricycle. Even the smallest trikes don't fit kids younger than 3 years old. We often sell run bikes to kids under 2 years old, and while they aren't ripping around yet, the child is still capable of using them.

If you have a young child, nephew, cousin, grandchild, or friend with a kid, you definitely owe it to them to come check these out. There are a few different models out there, so come on in and we'll show you what's available.

In the meantime, check out this great video showing the potential of the run bike:

Mace Glove Deal

2010-11-04T13:33:00.001-07:00

For our faithful readers, come in before Saturday and get 25% off any in stock mace glove. Kevin, I know you need some snazzy carbon knuckle gloves. Lets do this!

Entry Level Awesomeness

2010-11-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

The filtering down of technology is everywhere these days. Every year you get more and more for your money. Computers, cell phones, flat screen TVs. If it was cutting edge a couple years ago it's commonplace today.

The bike industry is no exception. Take disc brakes for example. 15 years ago only the highest of the highest end had discs. Now it's almost impossible to find a mountain bike without them. Carbon Fiber used to be considered a pretty exclusive material, something available to pro level racers and rich bike snobs only. These days, carbon is still considered a pretty high end material, but is certainly a lot more attainable for the masses.

Here are two bikes that highlight exactly what I'm talking about.

The first is the Norco Range 3. It sells for $2545. This 6" travel heavy duty all-mountain bike covers all the bases. Good quality, adjustable suspension, great brakes, and a functional and reliable drivetrain. Yeah sure, it doesn't have all the knobs and dials that it's bigger brothers do, but most people buying those bikes never really use them anyway.

Here's some substance to back up the claims that this bike rocks. Darren and I are both bike snobs that have been riding nothing but the best for the past decade or longer. Darren and I both put a ton of miles on it's older brother, the Fluid LT3 over the past couple years and can't say enough good things about it. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to get on that bike and ride it, totally stock. straight out of the box. 5 years ago, however, it would have been a totally different story. 5 years ago I would never have considered riding a $2500 because the entry level bikes were just that: Entry level.

The second bike is the Norco CRR 3. Norco has really pulled out all the stops on this one to produce the absolute best bike at this price point. I know this is a pretty bold statement, but if you find a better spec'd bike at this price point please let me know. Full carbon frame, and not just cheap carbon, but super light, super stiff (made in the same factory as Pinarello), full 105 10 speed drivetrain, and a descent wheelset. All this for $1745. Last year this same spec list would have brought you up well past $2K. Once again, thank you filter down technology...

Night riding: Quality pedal time during our west coast winters

2010-10-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

It's pretty easy to get depressed this time of year. The wet weather, the short days, and most importantly, the lack of riding time. Although there's not much that can be done to the weather or the short days, but with a decent set of lights you can help satisfy your craving for more time on your mountain bike until daylight savings time returns in the spring.

One of the cool things about night riding is how different it is than riding in the day. Now that might sound kinda stupid, like I'm stating the obvious, but riding at night seems to change the trails and how you look at them. A trail you've ridding a million times in daylight will look and feel completely different at night.

The best option for lights is to run a helmet mount setup. The nice thing about a helmet light is that the beam shines in the direction your head is facing. Anyone who's spent more than 2 minutes on a mountain bike will understand the importance of this, since you're not always looking in the exact direction that your bike is heading. My first set of lights 12 years ago was a bar mount system. I think I rode with them twice before going to a helmet mount setup. Yes, it makes that much of difference.

My old BLT Blitz with it's 15W halogen and sealed lead-acid battery was the cat's meow in it's day, but is literally like holding a candle next to a stadium light when compared to the lights these days. High power LEDs with 900 lumens and sealed lithium ion batteries have made trail riding at night a lot more enjoyable.

If you've never tried night riding it's time to give it a go. We have a ton of great lights in stock, with trail worthy options starting at $135. Trust me, if you value time on your bike it'll be the best money you spend all winter.

We'll be starting up our weekly shop rides on Tuesday evenings soon. If you're interested give us a shout or make sure you sign up to the Blacks Cycle Facebook group so you get the event invites.

Lights - Night Riding Time!

2010-10-29T11:13:00.001-07:00

Want to night ride? Check these out. 900 lumen rated P7 LED lights. $150. Best deal going. Come grab them while we have them. Helmet mounts and extension cables available.

Tailgate pads!

2010-10-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

We have tailgate pads in stock. Come grab one for your pickup shuttle machine!

The Boss' New Ride: 2011 Norco CRR SL

2010-10-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

The big cheese finally bit the bullet and got a new ride, and talk about sweet. After checking out all the great offerings from Felt and Rocky Mountain, he settled on the new CRR SL from Norco. These new frames are made in the same factory that produces all the new Pinarello frames (mmm... Pinarello), and are not only ridiculously light, but crazy stiff as well.

This bike needs no upgrading -He'll be riding it completely stock. Full Sram Red with Ksyrium Elite wheels, the complete bike weights in at 15lbs 12oz... And that's for an XXL frame! Look for Les' riding to improve significantly in the coming season...;)

First post and Ergon GA1 Grips

2010-10-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Blacks Cycle blog. Here you will find random thoughts, product reviews, pictures and videos from rides and various other great cycling information pertaining to the Comox Valley.

First up we have the Ergon GA1 Grip. These are designed with DH and Freeride in mind. I will be giving these grips a go and giving some feedback. These wound up on my bike as a recommendation from a friend living on the North Shore. My Ruffian's are big shoes to fill so we will see how these fare.

Check the Ergon GA-1 official page.