Olympia Cycle & Ski

Steelwool Singlespeed Crankset (posted Sept 21, 2008)

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There's probably only so much we can write about a single speed crankset, but this one is worth featuring none the less: The Steelwool singlespeed (track) crankset. The crankarms and spider are elegantly simple, the 46 tooth chainring looks well tooled (CNC'd), and relying on the old square taper bottom bracket design means you'll always be able to find the right size bottom bracket in stock, and you don't have to spend much money on it. The crankset itself is well priced too, at just $140. Note that the chainring is tooled for a 1/2 x 1/8" single speed chain (the thicker "bmx" style) - it'll work with any rear cog or freewheel, but won't work with a full cassette. Also note that the pedal pictured above is sold separately.

Surly Pugsley (posted Sept 11, 2008)

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The idea behind the Surly Pugsley sounds simple enough: Design a bike that can effectively accommodate 4" wide 26" rimmed tires, so that in really sandy, muddy, or icy conditions you can ride with the confidence that wide, low pressure rubber provides. As it turns out the application is not quite as simple as the idea (at least it's not as simple for the designer). More than simply widening the rear bike triangle and creating a front fork with lost of clearance, the designers at Surly realized there were would be other engineering issues to overcome, like a crazy chainline created by the massive tires protruding past the rim much more than normal, or like creating a rim that could reasonably support rubber as wide as 4 inches. We'll let you surf over to the Surly site for all of the technical details, but we'll point out here that the Puglsey uses a special 100mm bottom bracket and an e-type derailleur, along with a specially dished rear wheel, in order to sync the chainline from the rear cassette thru to the front chainrings while clearing the tire width. We'll also mention that the front fork uses a 135 mm hub (the same as the rear) which creates the possibility of interchangeable front and rear wheels.

What's the point of interchangeable wheels? Well there are a few cool applications, like being able to run a conventional multi-geared cassette with disc brake rotor on one hub, and a fixed cog with a disc brake rotor on the other. If you're riding the bike in the middle of winter and the cassette freezes up on you (as sometimes happens) rendering the bike inoperable you can flip the wheels around and ride the bike home as a fixie. Unlike a conventional flip flop hub that allows you the option of a single geared freewheel and a fixed gear but also mandates that you use rim brakes, in this case you can flip from a full cassette to a fixed gear and still use discs! That's a pretty cool application for cold weather riding.

Depending on how you build the Pugsley up it will probably cost somewhere around $1000 to $1500 not incl. frame and fork (you could certainly spend more, but you don't have to). We suppose that's not cheep for a fairly niche bike that you might not use every day, but on the other hand this bike can laugh at Winnipeg winters and allow you to leave your car at home most days (especially if you use the attached fender and rack eyelets to stick racks and panniers front and rear, allowing for all kinds of hauling capacity). With the cost of gas and vehicle maintenance these days suddenly the Puglsey is not only cool, it's economical.

We've built up a couple of Pugley's for customers already, but we may not always have one in stock. None the less we're happy to order one for you, and if you'd like to see one before you buy let us know and we'll try to get one of the Puglsey owners to bring theirs by the shop for you to check out.

Electra Accessories (posted Sept 02, 2008)

As all of our proud Electra owners know already Electra bikes are all about style. Sure, they're great riding cruisers but it's the attention to aesthetic detail that first attracts people to these bikes. Many of the Electra models come stock with things like fenders and racks, but if your specific model did not and you'd like to add some accessories now we have a bunch of Electra specific accessories in stock.

Whether it's a fender, rack, grips, or even a drink holder or mudflap, we've got the Electra specific product in stock and are happy to special order even more stuff such as matching saddles, pedals, and more.

Crank Brother's Multi 10 Multitool (posted July 31, 2008)

Last week we posted a rather exotic bike multitool (see the posting immediately below), so we thought it might be helpful to post a more budget friendly multitool this week. The truth is that multitools don't have to cost much, and even the less expensive versions will prove to be invaluable at some point or another when you inevitably have a mechanical problem many miles from home.

The Crank Brother's Multi 10 is a basic multitool that fits a full compliment of hex keys, two screwdrivers (flat and phillips) and a torx wrench into a nice light (124g) package that is quite slim-line and easy to grip...and it's only $28. The only thing missing here is a chain breaker tool and maybe a spoke wrench. If you already have a portable chain breaker the Multi 10, along with a small pump and a spare tube, can almost guarantee you'll get to your destination or back home again no matter the mechanical trouble you encounter along the way.

Lezyne Multitool (posted July 25, 2008)

Let's start this off by saying that there are plenty of excellent bike multitools out there at very reasonable prices, and we try to always have a few different ideas in stock. With that said, we also happen to have a couple of pretty high-priced multitools in stock at the moment, including the top end multitool from Lezyne, selling for $119.

What do you get in a multitool for over $100? For starters you get a mix of aluminum, titanium, and carbon fibre. This of course results in a very light toolset. You also get a beautifully machined chain breaker tool that is very nice to handle. In fact you get superb attention to detail everywhere, including a hollowed out hex key to save weight. Wow.

So, if you just have to have the very best, or if you're buying a gift for someone who has (almost) every bike related goodie already, this might be the perfect find.

Devinci Silverstone SL2 (posted July 15, 2008)

This is the month that many of our customers come into the shop to talk about the latest results in the Tour de France. They also come to ogle the more exotic road bike offerings that we have in stock (including a Liquigas Team edition Cannondale with Campy Record components on sale for $5000, down from a regular price of $7000!). However, some of our customers appreciate that the high-end bikes are there to dream about but succumb to their more practical side when it's time to make a purchase and look for the more 'economical' options.

In the world of road bikes 'economical' has never looked so good. While we certainly don't want to discourage a high-end road bike purchase (and we can come up with all kinds of reasons why we should own high end road bikes, let alone excuses for our customers) the point of diminishing returns on road bikes is pretty low. After being refined for the last 100 years road bikes are an excellent value starting right at our entry level. Our road bikes typically start at $800 - $900, or thereabouts. In the $1000 range we have a decent selection of road bikes from a few different brands, in a few different sizes. One great example is the Devinci Silverstone SL2. At exactly $1000 you get a reasonably light aluminum frame and carbon fork, combined brake/shift levers (Shimano Sora), and a drivetrain that includes a Shimano 105 rear derailleur. Devinci uses some OEM bits and pieces (such as the brakes and bar) to keep the price down and still delivers a bike that you can feel good about lining up at the next local competition.

If you're looking for a fast bike for training, or if you want a new machine to use at the next road race, triathlon, or long distance group ride, this might be just the bike for you.

Brooks Saddles (posted June 17, 2008)

It could be argued that there is no more important bike component than the saddle, seeing as the saddle is your main contact point with the bike. If you're not shifting quite right, if your wheels are a little heavy or a bit out of true, or if your brakes are rubbing slightly you'll still get home intact and might even be able to overlook the imperfections while out on the road or trail and still have a good ride. However, if your saddle doesn't fit properly and you get sores in and around your nether regions there's no way to overlook the discomfort, and your ride is bound to suck. Thankfully there are many saddle options these days and manufactures are paying a lot of attention to fitting the individual rider. Of course there's only so much a mass manufacturer can do to fit you properly.

Except, it seems, for Brooks. Their saddles are made to, over time, comply perfectly to your own form and fit, well, perfectly. When we feature products here we try to post a few blurbs about the product in our own words, but every now and then we find that we really can't attempt to improve on the manufacturer's literature, and this is one such case. So, instead of rambling on any further we'll direct you here: 2008 Brooks Catalogue.

After you've looked thru the catalogue and fallen in love with the product come down to the shop to check out a couple of Brooks saddles we have in stock right now. They look even nicer in real life.

Sram Bar Tape and Hoods (posted June 03, 2008)

White bar tape (in addition to white saddles, cable housing, paint jobs, and so on) seem to be a hot item these days. No, white bar tape is probably not the most practical colour choice out there, but if there's any area in life where you can decide to be a little impractical without suffering much consequence it's probably with your bar tape colour choice. So go ahead and have a little fun - put some pretty white tape on your bar. When it gets dirty you'll have proof that you've put in some quality miles.

But what's this?...Your white tape doesn't match your brake/shift lever hoods? No problem. Sram is now packaging white bar tape and white replacement hoods together. The whole set can now be purchased for just $45. So if you're the kind of rider that really likes to think thru every component choice and customize every bit of your bike (and if you're riding Sram road components) you can now have a completely white custom front end without searching online for obscure parts. We have a few of these tape/hood sets in stock now so it's as simple as coming down to the shop and picking up a set for yourself.

Now you just need those $300 white Assos bib shorts to go with your bars.

Surly Steamroller (posted May 19, 2008)

For those who are looking for a simple and relatively inexpensive track-style fixie we present you with the Surly Steamroller. It comes with a traditional horizontal top tube and bent fork (both the frame and fork are steel of course) and horizontal, rear entry track dropouts. Specifically meant as a fixie it come with just the front brake mated with an elegant little top bar mounted brake lever (resisting the 'forward' movement of your crankset with your feet substitutes for a conventional rear brake). The wheels are strong with a triple cross spoke pattern, fairly high flange hubs, and of course a non-dished rear wheel.

Tire clearance on the Streamroller is minimal. This bike is made with tight track geometry so forget about sticking some 'cross tires in there and hitting some trails. This is a bike built for the pavement, or the wooden track.

For just $895 this bike does everything it's meant to, and nothing that it's not. If you're looking for a true track fixie you owe it to yourself to test this one out.

Electra Hawaii 3 (posted May 02, 2008)

Maybe you're not really into racing, or jumping, or aggressive trail riding, or time trialing, or... but you do like riding a bike on a warm Sunday afternoon thru the local park or to the closest ice cream shack. Well as it happens there's a bike made just for you. Actually, Electra makes a whole bunch of models to suite your cruiser needs so you can choose the perfect model to suit your specific tastes. Each cruiser model incorporates attention to detail like matching paint and graphics on things such as the frame and fork, integrated fenders, racks, baskets, grips, rims, and so on. Some models even have matching tread patterns on the tires!

The Hawaii 3, part of the popular Hawaii cruiser line, has a 3 speed internal hub and coaster brake for virtually maintenance free and very simple riding. The saddle is low to the ground to allow for you to stand flat footed while stopped but still seated, and the high riser bars allow for a comfortable upright position.

For just $530 the Hawaii 3 will take you down Wellington Crescent in style.

Cannondale Road Tandem 3 (posted April 21, 2008)

Why is it that every time we see someone ride by on a tandem they're smiling? Maybe they enjoy the sensation of working with their partner as they lean into the corners together, and intuitively adjust their pedal strokes in unison as they up and down shift. Or maybe they're smiling because they're using far less energy to travel the same distance at the same (or faster) speed than their single bike friends. Either way, they always seem to be having fun.

We have a small but dedicated group of tandem riders who frequent our shop, and at least one staff member (Al Dixon) who's really into getting out on his tandem with his wife, and accordingly we always try to have an example or two of the tandems that are available to you in stock. Among the few we currently have in the store is a Cannondale Road Tandem 3. This is a great, very sensibly spec'd bike with features like Shimano Tiagra shifters, LX rear derailleur, and a rock solid aluminum frame. Cannondale is no johnny-come-lately to tandem bikes. In fact they've been building them almost as long as they've been in business (which is since 1971) and their tandem frames have always been among the most respected in the business. Cannondale was a pioneer in stiff, oversized aluminum tubing and that's exactly what's needed to create an efficient ride for a bike that is approx. 50% longer than its single person counterpart.

If you've ever been curious about tandem cycling come down to the shop to take a look at the Cannondale Road Tandem 3 or the other tandems we have in stock, and bring your partner along for the fun.

Steelwool Sweet City Limited (posted April 11, 2008)

If you've looked around our shop or read write-ups on other featured products on this site you'll know that we love checking out the latest stuff and enjoy riding the lightest materials, the latest technology, and hot new designs. But, we're also suckers for a well-built, straight-forward, old-school bike that conjures up memories of a simpler time. A time when lugged steel was the norm, when chrome was plentiful, when all forks were rigid and had gorgeous curves, and so on.

It's nice to see that there are some companies out there that still appreciate that sort of purposeful aesthetic as well, but it might be a bit unusual to see it in a company founded a couple of years ago by two Canadian guys in their early 20's. When these guys were just born aluminum was becoming all the rage, and chrome had disappeared from everything, except maybe your kitchen taps. Somewhere along the way though these guys discovered the beauty of a simple steel bike, and have decided to make a few for themselves, and for the rest of us.

The Sweet City Limited has all the old-school trappings: A horizontal top tube, lugged steel with chrome at the top and bottom of the headtube, a real metal headbadge, a flat crown lugged fork with bent fork blades, high flanged hubs with sturdy triple cross spoke pattern and nicely polished rims, and more. It even has real leather bar tape (and matching seat). But it also has new school appeal like an eccentric bottom bracket used to adjust chain tension on the single speed drivetrain (which allows for a gorgeously simple rear dropout).

Whether you're looking to buy (we've got a 58 cm in stock now for just $1080) or just want to stare, come down to the shop today and check out a real head-turner.

Cannondale Scalpel (posted April 6, 2008)

Since it first hit the trails a few years back the Cannondale Scalpel has been one of the most competent race ready dual suspension cross country rigs on the market, and one that we think is very well suited to the local terrain. We know, and sell to, some local folks who like to find the most technical descents and the biggest hits they can, but many of us find ourselves most often riding the more cross county style singletrack that is prevalent at local haunts like Bur Oak, Sandilands, Grand Beach, and so on...not to mention urban riding on trails thru the Assiniboine Park, Wittier Park, and elsewhere.

On that kind of locally favoured terrain you don't necessarily need tons of suspension, but a little cushion front and rear can help you ride longer and get thru the rooty and rocky sections with your nerve endings intact. The Scalpel is an excellent bike for this terrain because it provides that cushion while keeping the weight down and the ride stiff and responsive for those short climbs, hairpin corners, and straight, flat sprints. The Scalpel achieves this combination of ride quality in large part thru it's 'pivotless' rear triangle that relies on bending carbon fiber chainstays that absorb bumps while remaining completely laterally rigid and feather light.

The only obvious design limitation to the Scalpel design of years past is that the pivotless system has only allowed for a relatively small amount of rear suspension. However, that has changed for '08 with a redesign that sees the rear shock moved from between the seat stays and seat tube to a spot within the front triangle of the bike, allowing for more room for the rear triangle to swing. This results in the Scalpel now offering a full 100mm of rear suspension. What's more, the Scalpel is now equipped with a Lefty front shock on all of its models, providing a full 100mm of travel in the front as well (up from 80mm on some of the previous models equipped with the more conventional Headshok). The Lefty has great lateral rigidity and is very lightweight, and as such is a perfect compliment to the stiff and light frame and rear suspension. To round out the redesign the entire front end of the higher end Scalpel models are also carbon fiber this year, so even with the increased suspension the whole bike comes in at least as light or lighter than its predecessor, depending on model. The aluminum models are still a very respectable weight and offer a bit of cost savings.

We have a couple of new '08 Scalpel models in stock now, including the Scalpel 4 pictured above (selling for $2880), and we anticipate a few more coming in soon, so feel free to come in and check one out today.

Paul Racer Brake (posted March 28, 2008)

This is the kind of component that comes along every now and then where we're tempted to buy the component first and then build the rest of the bike around it. It's just that beautiful. What's more, it is reported to be one of the best feeling brakes out there.

We recently brought in a Racer Brake for a customer and are waiting to hear back on the first reports of how it operated out on the open road, but we already know that the brake comes with excellent endorsements, including one from Velo-Orange, who say that Racer brakes are "possibly the best brakes of all time". Wow. That's quite a statement.

Racer brakes can be used on a conventional road bike set-up with a centre brake mount, or they can be used with canti-style bosses (please note though that the bosses required for the Racer brakes are positioned higher up on the seat stays then conventional bosses for common canti or linear pull brakes), and in additional to superb braking modulation and power they provide excellent clearance for larger tires and fenders.

We probably won't stock many of these brakes on a regular basis because they're intended for bit of a niche market, but we can always bring some in if you're interested. And we know you are...

Redline D660 (posted March 14, 2008)

This is one of the most functionally well-equipped and best-priced bikes we've seen come through the door in a while. For starters the Redline D660 comes stock as a 1 x 9 (one chain ring in the front, 9 gear cassette in the rear). We've seen many customers build bikes up as 1 x 9's, but rarely do they come spec'd that way from the manufacturer.

We think that 1 x 9's make a lot of sense for a place like Manitoba. Though many of us own a single speed mountain bike we recognize that on the more challenging trails or in really high head winds it can be nice to have a few gears, but often having 27 gears is a bit of overkill, and as a result the bike is more complicated, more expensive, and heavier. A 1 x 9 is a great compromise, where you still get a good range of gears but in a much simpler system. The Redline D660 comes with an outer and inner chain guard in the front to prevent the chain from jumping from the single front chain ring (on fully geared bikes the front derailleur accomplishes this).

A few spec highlights include the always reliable Avid BB7 mechanical disc brakes, Sram X.9 derailleur and shifter, and a Reba fork that would on its own cost approx. $800. The whole package costs only $1600!.

With 29" wheels that help take the edge off of many of the bumps you'll encounter on the trail this bike is ready to race at local competitions or to be used for recreation in and around town. Whatever your application come down to the shop to check out this great deal.

Masi Speciale Commuter (posted March 6, 2008)

We announced last fall that in '08 we were becoming Masi dealers, and we're thrilled to now confirm that our first Masi bike has arrived in the shop and is built up for viewing (or buying): The Masi Speciale Commuter. We don't have a firm price yet but it is not an expensive bike. That doesn't mean it isn't a great, and well thought out, bike though. Quite the opposite is true actually.

The Speciale Commuter comes as a single speed but is equipped with semi horizontal forward facing read dropouts and a chainhanger so it can set up either as a single speed or a fully geared bike (it also has all of the usual braze-ons for geared cable routing). It has long-reach road brakes to accommodate larger than normal road tires (it comes stock with 32mm wide rubber) and it looks like the spacing between front fork arms and between the seat stays and chain stays allows for even larger tires. There are a number of nice aesthetic touches as well, such as the lugged fork crown, elegantly raked front fork, even a frame pump peg. The slightly flared drop bars (a sort of conservative moustache bar) are also a well thought out addition, and the root beer brown colour looks stunning.

We're really excited about this latest addition to our bike lineup and we trust you will be too. Come by today to see what we're talking about.

Steelwool High Flange Track Hubs (posted Feb 25, 2008)

We're always excited to find and bring in new components - often ones that have their own unique style and are a bit different than the mainstream. Enter the relatively new Steelwool brand. Steelwool is a Canadian company, started just a couple of years ago by two guys in Ottawa. They're building a small line of steel framesets and complete bikes (single speed / fixie, cyclocross / commuter, and road) and some quality components. We're proud to now be a dealer of Steelwool products.

Pictured here is a set of their high flange, classic track hubs. Although called track hubs they're set up to be used out of the box on 130 mm (standard road) spaced rear dropouts, but by removing a couple of spacers they are ready for 120 mm (traditional track) spacing. The rear hub is a flip flop that accommodates a freewheel or a fixed track cog, with the fixed cog lockring and great looking, wide based 16 tooth cog included!

The standard Steelwool High Flange Track Hub colour is pewter, but a limited number are available in a swanky gold finish (all cycling enthusiast from the late 70's / early 80's please stand up), and we happen to have one limited edition gold set in the shop right now for only $144.00 complete. Come by to check them out today - we doubt they'll be around for long.

Trek MT 220 Kid's Mountain Bike (posted Feb 12, 2008)

If you're a bike enthusiast yourself, and you have young children who want to get out there and ride too, one of your ongoing struggles is likely in finding a decent kids bike that performs well, doesn't weigh as much as a boat anchor, and of course doesn't cost a fortune. Good kids bike aren't easy to find as their adult counterparts, but if you want to buy your child a bike from a reputable high-performance brand and know that it's been assembled by pros, we happy to say that we have a few models in stock that might just fit the bill.

Take, for instance, the Trek MT 220. With a frame that's built around smaller 24 inch wheels your growing child can fit into the MT 220 until they're ready to move up to an adult rig while riding an excellent brand name that backs their kids product with the same warranty as their adult models (and of course we offer the same service on all our bikes). The MT 220 frame is all aluminum, along with aluminum hubs and alloy rims, which all contribute to a reasonably light package. The SRAM 3.0 components do a good job of shifting, the linear pull brakes perform well especially when compared to the single pivot side pull brakes still found on many kids bikes, and everything is easily serviceable.

Spring is always a crazy time for parents and their kids coming into the shop to find a new bike. We're already getting some kids models, like the MT 220, in store now so if you'd like to beat the spring rush feel free to check out what we've got in right now.

Trek Madone 5.2 Pro (posted February 6, 2009)

Road racing bikes have been around for over 100 years now, and arguably most of the biggest 'recent' advancements in road bike and parts design are a decade or two old by now (e.g. indexed and integrated shifting systems, clipless pedals, threadless steering systems, alternatives to steel frame materials, etc.). Because there's been so much refinement in the design of road bikes over the years it's increasingly hard to come up with a radically better redesign. We tend to think that's a good thing because it implies that the bikes currently available to us have come close to reaching their optimal performance.

Of course that's not to say that bike companies don't keep trying to outdo themselves, and we're always excited to see what they come up with next. It's just that major advancements are harder to come by. A possible exception to this is the new Trek Madone series. While the folks at Trek haven't reinvented the wheel (they do make some pretty good wheels though) they have incorporated enough new ideas in the Madone that we consider their redesign to be among the most significant in recent memory.

For instance, there's the Madone bottom bracket that is built to house the bottom bracket bearings within the shell of the bike frame itself, which means you can discard some redundant pieces from the crankset and lighten up the bike, while at the same time the redesign has resulted in a larger bottom bracket frame area (without affecting the q factor) so there is more area to work with when designing the shape and size of the bike's tubing.

Madone's headtube is another area of refinement, where the top of the tube remains the industry standard 1 1/8 inches in diameter, but the bottom of the tube is 1 1/2 inches. The larger diameter at the bottom of the tube allows for the fork to have less bend where its crown transitions to its steerer tube. This in turn allows the fork to use less overall material while retaining superior strength, again translating to a lighter bike.

A final item to highlight here (though there are even more highlights that you can check out by going directly to the Trek Madone site here) is the integrated but adjustable seat mast. The seat mast design eliminates the traditional seat tube bolt that is placed in a high stress area of the frame. Eliminating this bolt allows the frame to be built with less material, once again lightening it up. Additionally there is less overlap with the adjustable seat mast (where the top, clamp portion slips over the mast that sticks up from the frame) than with a traditional post and frame design.

While none of these innovations will change you life, and maybe aren't in the same realm as the breakthrough of the first integrated brake and shifting system, it's none the less impressive to see a bike company introduce so many innovative refinements within one model. Considering those refinements, and other great selling features such as the superb Ultegra SL components with their gorgeous new finish for '08, the Trek Madone 5.2 Pro is one of the most exciting new road bikes to arrive in a while. We've got one 5.2 Pro in stock now so feel free to come down to the shop anytime to check out the new features.

Spinervals (posted January 29, 2008)

This is right around the time when, for diehard cyclists at least, winter starts getting a little long in the tooth. In fact one think tank recently announced that Monday, January 28th was the most depressing day of 2008, owing to the formidable temperatures, little daylight, lack of upcoming holidays and the time passed since the last holidays, Christmas bills coming due, and so on. Now we're not sure we want to portray any day of the year as being that depressing - after all an inexpensive headlight, some warm clothes, maybe some studs on the tires, and we can still get out and enjoy the dead of winter, but we concede that it's a little harder to get going on the bike in the middle of winter.

Of course you can always opt to use an indoor trainer when the thermometer heads south. The only problem with indoor bike training is trying to combat the boredom of pedaling in one place for an hour or two. There are a number of good clubs that train on bike trainers together indoors in the winter (for instance, go to Triathlon Manitoba and scroll down to the Memberships & Clubs section, or Ride with Rick), but if it's easiest for you to workout at home why not try the popular Spinervals series DVD's.

The Spinervals cycling workout series DVD's offer 60 minutes or more of structured, coached workouts, with different segments and intervals that vary intensity, speed, and so forth, to deliver a workout that is not only effective but also keeps your attention for its duration. There are many different DVD's to choose from, each focused on specific training elements, from base training to speed to recovery, and more. The DVD pictured above focuses on Brick (bike and run) workouts, especially helpful for duathletes, triathletes, or those who just want to cross train.

We have a whole bunch of Spinervals in stock now, so feel free to come down to the shop and find one (or two or three) that's right for you, and pedal those mid-winter blues away.

Giant Anthem Advanced (posted January 16, 2008)

At $6770.00 nobody is going to say that the Giant Anthem Advanced is cheap (though we've certainly seen more expensive bikes too), but we think that if you take a look at the bike you'll conclude that it's not overpriced either. This bike has top of the line components from Shimano, Race Face, and others, and an excellent and race proven frame. For a top shelf product it's actually a pretty good deal - or at least that's what you can try to tell your spouse as you try to negotiate this purchase.

It's rare for bike companies to stock any of their models with a complete XTR group, but that's exactly what you get here. The Giant Anthem Advanced has a full XTR drivetrain, including front and rear derailleurs, shifters, and crankset. It also has XTR wheels and brakes. The fork is the ever-excellent Fox F80RLC and the other bits include Race Face Next and Deus bar, stem, and post.

This is a true racing bike with pretty aggressive geometry and a feather light total weight of approximately 23.5 lbs. Not bad at all for a dual suspension bike with 3.5 inches of travel in the rear.

If you're looking for a top notch cross country racer, or if you're just dreaming of full XTR, stop by the shop and check out the Giant Anthem Advanced model we've got in stock right now. Who knows?...sometimes dreams come true.

Ski Wax (posted January 8, 2008)

If you've used classic cross country skis with the wrong grip wax just once you know how important it is to have a wide range of wax on hand to make necessary adjustments. Grip wax that's too hard or soft for the snow conditions can put a damper on an otherwise perfect ski day.

Unseasonably warm temperatures, like we've been experiencing recently, make it even more important to have a good selection of grip wax. Once it gets to -10 or -15 C the snow structure doesn't change as much and consequently the wax you use doesn't have to change much either, but in warmer conditions the snow structure can change dramatically every degree or two. That can mean using a different wax if it's -1 C vs. -4 C.

Fortunately we have a wide selection of grip wax covering the whole range of temperatures experienced in Winnipeg winters (waxes suitable for above freezing temps down to as cold as it gets). We also offer different wax brands, such as Swix, Toko, and Rode, and offer different qualities of wax, from reliable recreational waxes to top end racing waxes. And of course we also offer corks, cloths, strippers, and whatever else is necessary to keep your skis clean and waxed to perfection. If you want to jump in with both feet we even have portable and stationary ski benches for sale to hold your skis while you wax, so come down to the shop and be perfectly prepared for your next ski outing no matter the temperature.