Best Phone Call Ever

Caller: Ummm, hi I am the guy that just bought that unicycle (20 minutes ago) remember me?

Handsome Bicycle Repairman: Yeah

Caller: Ummm........ can I exchange it for a regular bike?

Too Much Silver Grasshopper

The other day a gentleman named Leo visited the shop. He asked a few questions about building a frame that he made many years ago. He built the frame at one of the first UBI frame brazing classes under the instruction of frame-builder-extrodonaire Albert Eisentraut. As Leo was brazing the pictured frame Mr. Eisentraut snuck up behind him and exclaimed "Too much silver grasshopper" hence the phrase on the top tube. This is one of two frames that Leo made and the craftsmanship is great. I guess he had a good instructor :)

The Bicycle Escape Home Brew

Just yesterday we got our TBE coffee straight from the bean roaster. Preliminary sips prove this bold and balanced coffee to make you faster, more alert and more attractive. Stop by and drink up and taste the happy. It's damn good (and hot)!

Another Cool Build

I just built this QBall which will be part of the TBE demo collection. The size small 29er has a heart of steel with a star fade wrapper. The frame is outfitted with Shimano XT bits and pieces with a Fox fork and Hope headset.

More pretty pictures here.

New Arrival

I just built this YiPsan steel 29er mountain bike. The frame is fillet brazed and finished with a translucent red that allows you to see the brazing underneath. Stop by the shop and check the bike out in person or better yet set up a demo.

As always you can see more pictures on our photo site.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at The Bicycle Escape.

facebook

Hey all your facebookie types. TBE now has an official facebook site and we are looking for fans! Check the site periodically for photos, ride updates, and general chit chat. Make sure you become a fan so you stay up-to-date.

Roger's 650b

Roger just finished building his new do-it-all bike, a YiPsan monster cross. The bike is set up for all-day comfort in the saddle. The frame has clearance for wider knobbies so light mountain trails are not off limits. That fancy-pants hub you see up front is a Schmidt generator which will power both a front and rear light. The lugged steel bike is dressed up with Sram components and Avid disc brakes. Stop by and see this beauty in person.

More photos here.

Kleen Kanteen

I don't know why I am so excited about these water bottles but I am. They are taste-free, total renewable stainless steel bottles with plastic sports caps. So if you have been wanting to ditch plastic this is your chance.

Ti Quiring SS

I fell in love the second I took this Quiring frame out of the box. Some may say I committed the ultimate sin and painted a Ti mountain bike. To them I say shut up- my bike is cooler than yours buddy!

More photos here.

Giant Freedom Twist DX on the Road

I’ve been wondering how the “all- new Giant Twist Freedom DX” would handle in real world applications, so recently I put more than a few miles on this electric bicycle. First I have to tell you it was fun! Everyone in the shop who has ridden it has come back smiling saying things like: “Cool! Amazing! It just goes when you peddle with an extra kick.”

So how did it handle riding from home? It really does “seamlessly combine battery power with your own pedal power,” just like the Giant brochure says, which makes for a very different experience than my typical ride. It’s heavier than bike shop hybrids, mostly because of Giant’s EnergyPak lithium ion batteries (4-6 hour charge time). The motor for this rig is in the front hub and the “driver unit” (computer) that receives information from the PedalPlus sensor, is at the bottom of the seat tube. You select a battery (left or right); choose a power mode (sport, normal, or economy) and pedal. Yes, you have to pedal. That’s why Giant insists it’s not an electric bike. With the Twist Freedom DX, there is a certain amount of assistance that comes from the motor. The more you need, the more you get, but you can’t just sit back and go. That’s not how it works.

The first thing I noticed is the speed. It’s not bad, about 15-17 mph, which is slower than I’m used too but faster, I suspect, than most riders would take the bike. Without a cyclometer (not included in the package) I had to approximate how fast I was going. Also, the bags have less space than I’d like. Fortunately a rack top bag can be added, and one of the batteries can be removed for more space.

Functionally the bike performs quite well. The battery powered motor did a great job pulling my 175lbs frame up the hills even when I stopped and restarted on the incline. I do feel the advertised 70 mile hour battery life is optimistic. My 8 mile, moderately hilly, ride sucked 2 of 5 dots from one of the batteries power meters. For the vast majority of my ride I was in the sport setting which contributed to the expedited use the bike’s battery. There was a discernable difference between the motor’s, “eco,” “normal,” and “sport” settings which was nice.

I would describe the ride as having the wind constantly at your back; something that’s really nice if you’re tired, have knee pain, or you just want to chill a bit. Even when you pedal lightly the motor pulls you along. It’s simple to use, a pleasure to ride and lots of fun. When the batteries are turned off, the Twist Freedom DX can be pedaled like any other bike, though there is a slight “dead spot” at the bottom of the pedal stroke that reminds you of the electronics.

The bike definitely goes. It pulled me up the hills even when I slacked off. Anyone recovering from an injury or surgery would love this machine. Active older people could ride it all day, and non-riding spouses could keep up with more experienced riders.

There is a sensation when pedaling that the dead spot at the bottom of the pedal stroke is a little exaggerated due to the electronics. This is something that I noticed even when the motor was turned off. A rider less focused on pedaling smooth and consistent circles may not notice this at all but I felt it was worth mentioning.
Over all the Twist does what it’s supposed to do very well. The bike: pulled me up the hills even when I slacked off; handled well; and was great fun to ride. I definitely think people will love this bike. Anyone who wants a little extra “punch” when out with the family, a friend or spouse will appreciate what this bike has to offer. AND they won’t know it’s electric unless you tell them! Hey, anyone who can balance on two wheels and loves what cycling is all about but can’t quite spin the pedals as fast as they want, go for the Giant Twist Freedom DX it’s worth it. This bike has the potential to become everyday transportation for the masses, let’s hope it catches on.

Gambrill State Park Night Mountain Bike Rides

My fellow Americans.
The Bicycle Escape, in conjunction with M.O.R.E., will be hosting bi-weekly night rides at Gambrill State Park on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. These rides will begin on November 5th and run through the March 18th.
Gambrill offers some of the most technical terrain in the region so these rides are for experienced mountain bikers only. It is also necessary to have a high quality lighting system. These are specialty, high powered lights with a minimum output of 10 watts or greater. Safe and properly functioning equipment is required by all riders. Helmets will be required to be worn by all riders at all times.
The ride will leave from the main trailhead parking lot located off of Gambrill Park Road. The parking is on the right as you climb the mountain, if you reach an intersection at the top of the mountain, you have gone too far.
RSVP will be required for each ride. We are in the park with special permission and space is limited. If you RSVP and for some reason cannot make the ride, please let us know as soon as possible so we can allow room for a replacement rider.
Rides will leave from the parking area at 7:00 p.m. sharp and will last approximately 2 hours. Please allow enough time upon your arrival to sign-in, prepare yourself for the ride and be ready to hit the trail on time. Liability waivers must be signed by all riders and parking passes will be issued for each vehicle. These parking passes must be displayed on all vehicles! We must be out of the park by 10:00pm.
Pace for the rides will be moderate. Speed is not as important as technical riding ability.
Because this ride exists with special permission from the Department of Natural Resources riders must follow the guidelines below in order to participate.
* The group must stay together at all times* Keep noise to a minimum* Do not disturb wildlife* Respect park rules* Follow the guidelines set forth by Tread Lightly
As is the case with the Schaefer Night Rides Space Is Limited. Currently we have 20 slots open per ride. Please RSVP here:
Info and Sign Up here: http://www.thebicycleescape.com/nightrides.html

Stolen bike

A good customer of mine had his Jamis Komodo 2.0 stolen at the MARC train station in Frederick. This is the second report this week of cut bike locks. I am sad to report the $20 lock may no longer be sufficient for Frederick. Please help keep an eye out.

Giant Freedom Twist DX Electric Bicycle

We just received our first shipment of electric assist bicycles from Giant. The Giant Freedom Twist DX is unlike other electric bikes I have come in contact with over the years. The Freedom employs what Giant calls Hybrid Technology. The motor kicks in when the rider is pedaling rather than as a result of twisting a throttle. Riding the Freedom Twist is like having a constant brisk gust of wind at your back as you pedal. The motor is housed in the front hub and the batteries are hidden in the left and right rear bags fixed securely to the rack. The rider controls which battery powers the motor as well as which gear the bicycle is in by manipulating controls on the handlebar. The gears themselves are the super reliable and low maintenance Shimano Nexus internally geared rear hub.

Now listen up all you naysayers, haters, and general wankers. I don’t want any negative comments about this (or similar products) not being a "real bike". This bike was designed for a specific type of bike rider and if that is not you, fine. To be frank it is not me. But than again I am a 28 year old man in decent physical condition with well over a decade of cycling experience. If I was 68 and recovering from knee replacement surgery I might have a very different point of view. I also might want the bike if were a casual rider who lived in downtown Frederick, DC, Rockville, etc. were an electric bicycle is a cheap, practical, reliable, and sustainable way to get around. Electric bikes might even be a way to attract more people into the cycling community. Nuff said.

My plan is to ride a Twist to the shop and blog about my experiences. So check back soon.

Tom

IF Club Racer

This was a very fun project built for Ken. He plans to use the bike as a light touring rig and as a general road bike that he can take with him on travel. The steel Independent Fabrication Club Racer is built with S&S Couplers and Sram Force components. The King Cages, headset top cap, and Tubus rack were powder coated to match the aesthetic of the bike. To further tie the bike together I put an accent pin stripe on the fenders. I wish all bike builds were like this! You can see more pictures here.

Chris King Bottom Brackets

Attention Chris King fans! The Chris King Bottom Brackets have arrived and are now for sale at Ye Old Bicycle Escape. We have not received our entire shipment (the fun colors are still in production) but non-the-less several are here now and ready to go. There are a lot of similarities to their headsets and if the quality and durability are half as good I think everyone will be pleased.

Demo Bike Demo

This weekend Danielle and I (well, Danielle) broke in one of the new TBE Demo bikes, a Specialized Women’s Safire FSR. We rode at the Frederick Water Shed and the weather was beautiful as was the ride. We even saw a fox which I think is a good omen. Unless of course it is a rabid fox…

If you want to demo this bike just let us know.

Starry Night

We just had the honor of assembling Chuck's Independent Fabrication Factory Lightweight. The frame has a lot of gorgeous finish work. Chuck chose hand painted stars to accent the frame. On the fork he had the IF crown painted. The bike tips the scale at 18.07 lbs (with pedals, cage, and computer) but more importantly the ride is amazing- I should know I ride one too :) More Pictures Here.

Single Speed and Multi Speed Chains and Rings

I was recently asked what the difference is between a single speed chain and the multi-speed counterpart. I thought this was a good question and here is my answer. Hopefully you find it helpful.

Single Speed/BMX (1/8”) chains are designed for non-derailleur applications only. 1/8” chains have less deflection or lateral flex than multi-speed chains. Multi-speed chains are optimized to flow through the various cogs and chainrings as the rider shifts gears. The light colored chain is 1/8" the darker chain is 3/32"

The Single Speed/non-derailleur chain has an internal width of 1/8” (where the teeth of the chainring nests inside see photo) which is wider than the 3/32” internal width of a derailleur equipped bicycle chain. As you might have surmised, the width of the chainring compliments the width of the chain so single speed chainrings are wider than multi-speed chainrings. While the widths of the chains differ the pitch (distance between the rollers) both chains measures ½”.

Most modern multi-speed chainrings are equipped with ramps and pins (see photo photo above) which are designed to facilitate smoother more accurate shifting. Single speed rings of course lack these features.

Bicycles with internally geared mechanisms (usually hubs) will often use the 1/8” chain since there is no derailleur on the bike and the chain remains fixed on one chainring and one rear cog.

Often you will see a 1/8” chain on a single speed bicycle with 3/32” cog and chainring. The wider chain on the skinnier rings poses no problems. Some feel the wider chain is stronger and they choose this set-up hoping for a more robust drive train. Others prefer the 3/32” chain and rings for single speed applications. These riders may spec their bikes in this way to save a bit of weight or to exploit the increased deflection of the 3/32” chain which may run quieter and smoother in set-ups where the chain line is not quite perfect.

Giant Frantic Winner

Last week we supported Friends of Frederick County by donating a bike for the organization to raffle off at their booth during the Great Frederick Fair. The bike was an ultra cool Giant Frantic 20" wheel kid's bike and Maggie was the winner. Congratulations Maggie!