StudioVelo Blog

This blog has moved

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:52:00 +0000

This blog is now located at http://blog.studiovelomv.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://blog.studiovelomv.com/feeds/posts/default.

Has the future arrived?

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:13:00 +0000

Over the past 2 years we have seen many great changes in cycling equipment, particularly for road bikes. All the major players have introduced some great features to their products, and the healthy competition amongst Sram, Shimano and Campagnolo, all fighting for shares of the market, has really benefitted the consumer.

Sram created a niched with improved ergonomics and quick shifting. Campy brought us 11 speed groupos, while re-introducing Super Record, and incorporating the highest grade ceramic bearings into both the bottom bracket and derailleur pulleys. Shimano cleaned up its cable routing with its new 7900 series Dura Ace, incorporated some more carbon bits to its levers and somehow found a way to make its chainrings even stiffer. Shimano, Campy and Fulcrum have decided that 2-Way fit wheels are here to stay, and have increased their range of offerings.

Despite all they hype of the above mentioned products hitting the market, the biggest splash was made by Shimano's Di2. The departure of cable actuated shifting in favor of a drive train shifted electronically was met with both skepticism and intrigue.

Being the skeptics of new technology that we are at Studio Velo, we did not want to fully embrace this new system until we had a chance to take a very close look at it. After many months of testing it, installing it, and discussing it with very discerning clients who have put thousands of miles on it, we have formed some opinions.

We are genuinely impressed by Di2 for many reasons. Everyone saw a few select riders on some high profile teams racing on Di2 prototypes for the past few season. We all new it was coming someday, but that didn't prepare us for the first time we heard the front derailleur self trim for the first time, or for how precise, quick and accurate the rear shifting is ever time you push one of the shift buttons. One of the most impressive features of the Di2 is how much is doesn't feel like a first generation product. The Installation is clean and well thought out. We have installed it on several bikes with tubing shapes that could have made the installation process quite difficult, but the design up the product allowed us to do it cleanly. With manufacturers introducing Di2 specific frames, this is only going to get easier and cleaner.

Collectively, we like Di2. As 3 partners who have not had our bikes dressed in anything but Campy for many years, we were slow to embrace this new technology. As I began to accept the Di2, I frequently founnd myself telling people that I like it more than I wanted to. While we were a bit underwhelmed by the 7900 series Dura Ace, that has not at all been the case with Di2. It has been difficult for me to embrace the concept of electronic shifting. I was afraid it would create a disconnect between rider and bike somehow. It hasn't yet, and it has actually had the opposite affect for some of our clients.

Does this mean that everyone should be on Di2? No, we don't think so. There are lots of great offerings from Shimano, Sram and Campy, with each manufacturer offering compelling options at a much lower price point than the near $5000 the Di2 comes in at. This year we will see entire pro teams riding Di2 bikes, where in the past it has just been one or two riders on a team. Shimano and the rest of the industry have accepted it as something that is here to stay, so it won't be going away any time soon.

Here is a quick review from a good client of ours who has been riding Di2 for several months. If you would like to see Di2 in person, come by the shop and take a bike for a pedal to see what you think.

Review--Shimano Dura-Ace Di2

Di2 is cycling crack. Do not touch it. Do not take a Di2 equipped bike for a test ride. This will just cost you either your self esteem or $5k.

The problem is, once you have tried Di2, your current really expensive gruppo suddenly becomes wholly inadequate. Once you see what Di2 costs, your really expensive gruppo seems very reasonably priced; but, of course it is, because it is wholly inadequate.

Let's just stick to the sexy bits, shall we, and talk about the shifting. The shifters look mostly like standard DA7900, disguising the fact that you are rolling with the cycling equivalent of hi def porn. The most obvious giveaways are the large bulge on top of the front derailleur and the battery below the bottle cage. The shift buttons require about 7mm of throw (even shorter than Red), about 1/3 of normal shifters, and then the magic happens.

Electrons pulse along the handlebar, down the downtube, and into the electronic brain incorporated into the top of the front derailleur. The brain perks up and says "well, what have we here?". "Oh, you want to go up a cog, eh? Well, that is not what Cav would do, but I guess I can accommodate you, unworthy flesh sack. Oh, look at that, you're cross chaining again because of your feeble wattage. Why don't you just admit defeat and and go to the small ring? In the meantime, let me trim the front derailleur for you, lardass."

And while this seems like a long conversation, it only takes a microsecond and the derailleurs start moving. Rear shifts feel on par with DA7900. The lever throw is a lot shorter, so the whole shift process is a bit quicker. But once the derailleur is moving, the speed of the shift in the rear is really a matter of the ramps on the cogs, so the shift itself feels the same. Up front, the shifts feel crisper. The shift up to the big ring is especially satisfying. The brain applies just the right amount of pressure, depending on where the rear derailleur is, with a slight overshift and then adjustment back, so that you get a fast shift. I never noticed the shift effort on the front derailleur with my mechanical setups until I started riding Di2. After shifting with a light touch of one finger, mechanical shifting feels like a lot of work and not very precise. Yes, I know that is precious, but I no longer care what luddites think.

Is there any downside, other than cost? Functionally, the only downside is a 60g weight penalty--spit twice before a big climb and you are even there. The battery will last a month for mere mortals. HTC Columbia and other Pro Tour teams are going almost entirely Di2 this year on their bikes, so it has passed the pro peleton sniff test. So far, my only complaint is that the shift buttons are tougher to find with heavy gloves on than a big paddle (and Red is especially good in this regard). Some people complaint about not being able to do multiple shifts in one throw, but I can hit the shifter 3 times in rapid succession just as quickly and get a more precise result than a long throw on a mechanical shifter. Front derailleur adjustment needs to be carefully set to avoid throwing the chain, but that is true of mechanical setups as well. Apart from the very few frames designed for Di2, you have to run the cables with Shimano-supplied tape that is fairly elegant. But, you end up with your downtube shift bosses just hanging out there naked in the wind, with nothing to do. Maybe I will mount some old downtube shift levers on them.

After speccing it on my "race bike", I then declined to race with it for fear I would go down and scuff a $900 derailleur (to be fair, also because crit courses are generally so bumpy that I chose to ride the softer Ti bike). But, last weekend I finally took it out for some laps in anger, and it performed perfectly....much better shift precision than my Red-equipped bike when in serious oxygen deficit. Of course, the circuit was mostly left hand turns, so the derailleurs were safe.

But wait, you say. All this fancy gimmickry is unnecessary. My bike shifts just fine with mechanical shifting. Oh yeah? Does your bike's front derailleur sound like a Star Wars laser cannon when it makes a shift? No? Wholly inadequate. Of course, there is always the risk with Di2 that your bike will become self aware and try to destroy you. That would never happen with Record.

The future is here, my friends. I, for one, welcome new my electronic master. The SRM tells me how hard to pedal, Di2 does all the shifting. The Garmin tells me when to turn. I am now just a happy passenger, a feeble sack of flesh along for the ride. If you are going to go through the effort and expense to spec out high end ride, Di2 should be a consideration.

Racing Without a License

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:32:00 +0000

We have been receiving a number of calls and emails over the last few days from clients of ours who subscribe to Bicycling. They published a story highlighting some of the recent "officially unofficial "races that have begun to surface across the country, with a particular focus on one that we are quite familiar with, the Rapha Gentlmen's Race (RGR).

Many of you who have been in our shop in the few months have seen the amazing photo journal on our counter featuring that very same "non-race." Brad, inspired by his experience at the event, compiled some of the images that only he could snap, bound them up, added some quotes from other team members, and had it bound. It was a gesture that showed how much the event meant to him, and really depicted how great the event was.

After reading the article published in Bicycling, it's obvious that we were not the only team who still hasn't stopped thinking and talking about it. The message that Rapha conveys by putting on this event strongly resonates with us. Passion about the sport of cycling can and should be shared with people you enjoy being around. The price of your bike or the Category listed on your racing license doesn't have to determine how much you can enjoy it. The passion, the challenge, the suffering, the human element, the natural elements all play a role in the experience.

Our team experience was about our team working as a team. 6 flats might have added some time to our finishing time, but it made us work better together, push each other harder (sometime literally pushing each other up the hills) and feel more entitled to indulge in a few extra beers at the finish.

We've all since added a few more pieces to our Rapha collection without thinking twice about it. Events like this make us feel lucky to have the partnership we do with Rapha, and thrilled to be able to sell it both in our store and on our online site. We love supporting the small companies that share the same passion for cycling we do.

Here is a link to the article about the Rapha Gentlemen's Race that we participated in if you care to learn more about it.

http://www.bicycling.com/tourdefrance/article/0,6802,ss1-3-10-21646-1,00.html

Stay tuned for updates this summer as we prepare for this years RGR.

Time RXR -- A handmade, hand-built carbon dream bike

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:09:00 +0000

We here at Studio Velo really admire what Time does in their advanced carbon-fiber production facility in France. There are few bike manufactures left in the world who do not produce their bikes in Asia (even if they say it is, ie, 'Made in Italy' which means painted in Italy and made offshore sometimes). Time takes great pride in manufacturing their frames with 100% quality control throughout the production process.

Our enthusiasm for their bikes is not only shared by us. Check out the latest article and a full range of photos from Time's factory at VeloNews.com: http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/01/bikes-tech/2010-velonews-tech-gear-galleries_102668?album=7&gallery=81

The above photo is the latest Time RXR frame being built up here at Studio Velo. Our latest build is for a good client from Antioch. Chris came to us last year for a Retul bike fitting and has been saving up for his dream bike ever since. Chris chose to build his RXR with the following dream parts:

-2010 Campy Super Record all the way around
-Fulcrum R0 Tubeless wheels
-Hutchinson Tubeless tires
-Time full carbon bar (this handlebar alone deserves a full review)
-Fizik white bar tape to match and saddle is TBD per fitting

This is quite a rig. Estimated weight is well under 14lbs and boy we didn't need to put any ultra light parts on the frame to get there. The ride quality is unmatched. And when you build a bike from the frame up, you can guarantee that it will fit and ride like a dream.

Enjoy the pictures or come by to check out the pimp new RXR before Chris comes to grab it this weekend!

Review--Rapha Whores of the World, Unite!

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:26:00 +0000

Another great review by Mr. Hobbs.

I was going to do a separate review of each of the 3 Rapha outer garments I own, and I realized I should just combine them into a single novella, because I think of them as a continuum.

The 3 items we are talking about today are the Rapha Rain Jacket, the Stowaway and the Gilet. The Rapha whores among you may also have the Softshell Jacket, but I have not gone there yet.

First off, what is a gilet? Well, according to Wikipedia: Gilet (French gilet, from Spanish gileco or chaleco, ultimately from Turkish yelek) is a sleeveless jacket resembling a waistcoat or blouse. Hmmmm.....sounds kind of fancy. It would not be nearly as cool if you just called it a vest.

Let's start with the Stowaway Jacket, since that it what I have had the longest.

I have been using the Rapha Stowaway since last spring. I swallowed hard when I bought it.....it is not cheap, but my cheap jacket was really not very comfortable to ride in. The trouble with jackets is that they make you sweaty, but they are often too bulky to take off and stuff in your jersey pocket. The Stowaway has become a key item in the clothing arsenal. It is very light, packs down easily into a pocket, is totally windproof, and decently water resistant. Importantly, it breathes pretty well.

I wear it when the temps drop below 50º. If it warms up or I am starting a long climb, I just peel it off and stuff it. I even carried it in Hawaii for the ride up the Saddle Rd, which climbed to 6,000 feet. With a long descent on tap, and unknown weather up top, the Stowaway was a good insurance policy.

The Stowaway is NOT waterproof. After about 10 minutes in real rain, the seams in the arms start to leak and you will get wet. It does perfectly well in drizzle, though. It breathes well, but I get sweaty if I am climbing hard in it. High exertion and low speed are too much for any breathable fabric. The arms are the problem, because the fit is fairly close, and you can unzip the body but that does not get any airflow through the arms. Jackets that have pit zips for ventilation are heavier and have much more bulk.

The Gilet

So, that is a good segue to the Gilet. If it is in the 50s, the Gilet is the outer layer I choose. It is super light, but really cuts the wind. It is a bit warmer than your standard cycling vest with a windproof front and mesh back, but much lighter and smaller when stuffed. Unzip it and you are barely wearing anything....zip it up and it provides significant warmth. It is much easier to doff and don while rolling than a jacket. A great combo for a typical spring/fall Marin day is a wool base layer (Rapha, of course), short sleeve jersey, arm warmers and the Gilet. On the long climbs you unzip the Gilet and jersey and roll down your arm warmers.

What if it really rains? The Rain Jacket.

I only have one day (today, as it happens) with the Rain Jacket, but I am already a fan. I purchased it after getting wet in the Stowaway in a rainstorm earlier in the week. It is basically a Stowaway plus...in addition to an extra water resistant membrane over most of the jacket, the seams are also sealed and relocated away from areas that get wet. Today I was dumped on for a few minutes, and my upper body at least stayed dry. I gave it a difficult sweat test.....I hammered up Camino Alto (400w avg, thank you very much). Yeah, I overwhelmed the breathability and my arms got a bit swampy towards the top. But, within a few minutes, I was dry again as the sweat backlog made it out of the jacket. The Rapha Rain Jacket is the best breathing rain jacket I have worn, and is really close to the Stowaway in terms of breathability. Generally, more breathability means less water resistance. So, when I got home, I hit it with the hose for a while to test it further.....totally dry.

I looked at the Assos Climajet, a Hincapie jacket and a Gore jacket before choosing the Rapha. Ultimately, I preferred the fabric of the Rapha jacket. It doesn't have the trash bag feel of the other options. Instead, it has the soft "hand" of the Stowaway. It is probably not as water resistant as the other options, but is enough for my riding. Would it stand up to an hour in a downpour? I don't care. I won't ride for an hour in a downpour. I will sit out the storm in a coffee shop, looking sexy.

Normally, if it is raining hard, I am riding the couch, not my bike. But, this jacket makes getting caught in a rainstorm more pleasant.

If I were to choose one jacket, I would take the Rain Jacket over the Stowaway, because the Rain Jacket's breathability is very close. It is slightly more bulky, but you get downpour insurance. If you choose the white colourway, I hope you have fenders.

Review--Goin' Tubeless

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:46:00 +0000

It's fun to share gear stories over beers and around the shop. This time, we asked Chris Hobbs, one of our good clients, to share in length the pros and cons of tubeless road wheels. As many of you know, we as a shop have collectively embraced road tubeless technology (tubeless not tubular). Enjoy....

I have been riding tubeless for 15 months. I changed over from shallow carbon rims with open tubular tires, which is a comfortable and high performance setup by clincher standards. I purchased Dura-Ace wheels with Hutchinson Fusion tires in 2008. Of course I did....that was the only tubeless setup available at the time. Even today, the limited options for equipment are the biggest drawback of tubeless, but that is slowly changing.

Pump it Up

I made the change because I was looking for a more comfortable ride. Just based on feel, the tubeless seem to roll the same at 100psi as the clinchers did at 110psi. I had to ride my clinchers at 110psi to avoid pinch flats. I have ridden the Fusion2s as low as 90psi without a pinch. I generally use 100/95psi front/rear. That worked great when I was 210lbs last year. I should probably drop it a bit now that I am lighter.

Of course, with the lower tire pressure, the handling feels better. I don't know if the actual design has any inherent advantages here--I suspect a tubeless tire at 110psi corners like a clincher at 110psi, but since you can run lower pressures at the same rolling resistance (because there is no friction between tube and tire), you get the ride and handling of a softer tire. Or, you can pump them up for lower rolling resistance.

It has been a long time since I have ridden tubulars, so I can't really compare the ride and handling. But, I hear that tubeless is close, and with all the convenience of clinchers. Weight-wise, the rims and tires are slightly heaver due to the modified bead and stiffer sidewalls. But, you save a bit overall versus a clincher since there is no tube. But, you splash some sealant in there and I would say it all works out even.

Let's talk about the convenience. I run Stan's in my tires, and I definitely get fewer flats than I did with clinchers. The numerous small holes in my tires are testament to the effectiveness of tire sealant with a tubeless tire. Of course, they are not invulnerable. I have gotten about 4 flats over the last 15 months, where the tire damage was too large to seal. When you do flat, just throw in a tube and ride home. You also probably have to throw a wrapper in there to reinforce the tire since the hole might be large.

Better yet, carry a spare tire on your back, campionissimo-style.

A minor drawback is that you need to use an air compressor or CO2 cartridge to inflate a new tire when you change it, to get the tire bead to seat properly (obviously does not apply in you throw a tube in on the road). If you are in your garage and changing a tire, don't expect to finish the job with a floor pump. I just throw on a schrader adapter and drive over to the gas station. Pour some Stan's in, finish seating the tire and hit it with the air compressor and it will inflate enough to seat the bead properly. Finish it off to 100psi with the hand pump. Better yet, let the shop deal with the mess.

I mentioned the limited equipment selection. Hutchinson recently released 2 more tire options, a lightweight racing tire (the Atom) and a training tire (the Intensiv). The weights across all 3 options are pretty close. The Atom is basically the Fusion without the slightly firmer rubber in the middle. I have one on the rear of my Time, and I don't notice any difference. I recently put an Intensiv on the back of my IF, and I am a big fan. After many miles and lots of glass, the tire does not show any nicks or holes. The Intensiv is also slightly larger at 25mm, so you can run even lower pressures. Michelin is rumoured to be near production on tubeless tires.

In 2009, Fulcrum and Campy started offering tubeless on their high end wheels. Shimano added a carbon hybrid wheel and an Ultegra level option. All the currently available wheels are your basic shallow profile aluminum rims. The bead area of a clincher is tricky for carbon because of the lateral loading, and the high loads on a tubeless bead are certainly problematic. Corima does make a 45mm deep carbon tubeless rim, but it is heavy. Theoretically, you can make any clincher rim tubeless with some special rim tape and sealant, but the bead design is different enough that it makes sense to run tubeless-specific rims.

Chris Hobbs

A Special Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:53:00 +0000

We just wanted to take a second to thank everyone who was able to stop by our holiday party at Cibo, in Sausalito last Thursday. Hosting the party gave us a chance to thank you all for helping making this another successful year, and we really appreciate all of your continued support. It was great to be able to catch up with so many of you in a setting outside of the shop, and even off the bike. It was a great way to cap off such a fun year, and we have many more great plans for the coming year, so stay tuned.

We would also like to give a special thanks to Tera and the whole crew at Cibo for cooking and serving such great food.

For those of you who are waiting to do your last second holiday shopping, we will be open until 6pm on Christmas Eve, and will be open for the next few Mondays from noon-6. We will then be closed from December 25th through January 9th, so we can take a break, ride our bikes, travel a bit, and come back ready to another great year.

True Italian Style

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Below is a picture of Alessandro Petacchi picking up his brand new Cento Uno SL Superleggera from Wilier headquarters in Rossano Veneto. Petacchi is one of the best sprinters Italy has produced in recent decades, having claimed several stage wins in all three of the Grand Tours as well as one of the greatest (and the longest) single day races on the planet, Milan-San Remo.

Pairing one of the greatest riders in Italian history with one of the most impressive bikes from an Italian manufacturer we've seen in a long time should lead to some great results and good stories. We look forward to seeing what this new pairing can achieve.

Turkey Day Ride -

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:58:00 +0000

It was an early start on Turkey Day this year but a great start at that. A small group of us met at the Mountain Home Inn at 7am to ride over to Pine Mountain and meet the balance of our group for the 3-hour Pine Mountain Loop. It was a glorious day and certainly fun to be on the dirt, after a few nights of light rain which made the trails perfect!

Above are a few pictures of our group and a great alarm shot by Dan K. Thank to everyone for coming out. It's so fun to have such a great group of mountain bikers in the club.

And for those of you who thought you might want to join the dirt, you should know that Ellsworth is offering $500 off any Ellsworth frame through December 23rd! Donate a used, workable bike and Ellsworth will offer $500 any frameset. A sweet deal. Come by the shop for more details.

Happy Holidays!

Scott

Cibo in Sausalito hosts Independent Fabrications Frames

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:51:00 +0000

We are very honored to be hosting one of our favorite frame builders at our favorite coffee shop/Italian cafe in Sausalito. Cibo!

Cibo & Studio Velo™ have come together to celebrate the return of the 2010 Tour of California. Over the course of the next 7 months we will be showcasing a number of the world’s finest handmade frames of various manufactures from around the world. Here we showcase Independent Fabrication (www.ifbikes.com).

Please stop by and enjoy a coffee or fresh pastry made by Tera and her great staff.

Thanks Cibo!

Passion - Two Riders Highlighted

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:46:00 +0000

I wanted to take a few moments to highlight two riders who embrace one of our core values, passion. Passion for the sport, passion to race, passion for the killer ride on a killer new bike.

Both Gusty and Todd make me so proud. Really.

We are in the business of selling bikes, clothing, accessories, etc yet what I really think we are really doing is creating experiences, changing lifestyles, and forging new friendships.

In this entry, I want to pay tribute to some fun shots of Gusty and his new Yeti ASR carbon 4" mountain bike and Todd, who enthusiasm (and passion) for racing is unmatched. He is a real champ of 'Team Studio Velo' (We don't really have a team) and embraces our shop culture more than anyone I know.

Thanks guys!

Scott

Here is a link to more photos and some cool video (Thanks Hobbs):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chobbs/sets/72157622726231285/?photo_deleted=4123871576

And Gusty's photos of his adventure at the epic Annadal State Park:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gusty.denis/AnnadelStatePark?authkey=Gv1sRgCK2tho-O_pfyUg&feat=email#

Studio Velo Launches eCommerce site

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Studio Velo Launches eCommerce site

Mill Valley, CA November 12, 2009 -- Studio Velo today announced the launch of its online ecommerce store, www.studioveloonline.com, as the largest, independent online supplier of Rapha and Capo Forma cycling gear in the nation.

With an exclusive selection of biking apparel for the road and mountain bike enthusiast, Studio Velo has selected only the best brands and products in the industry, building on its business philosophy that biking should combine the best elements of its own world: time-honored artistry and human craftsmanship; innovative technology and high performance apparel.

Rapha Performance Apparel and Capo Forma offer the most exclusive cycling gear in the industry and Studio Velo has exclusive distribution in its local San Francisco Bay Area market. Says Scott Penzarella, Founder of Studio Velo, ‘”We strive to be the best in everything we do when it comes to our local business. We provide the best service, the best products and want our customers to have the best ride of their life. It was a logical transition to expand our passion for biking to the web and offer our select products and services to a larger customer base.”

Studio Velo believes this move to the web will enhance the service it currently offers its existing customers, while allowing the business to expand nationally and internationally.

Other brands included in the product offering at www.studioveloonline.com include Lazer Helmets, the market leader in manufacturing cycling helmets for over 60 years, and Hincapie Sportswear, one of the fastest growing apparel companies in the US.

Studio Velo Online also offers customers the ability to connect via their Facebook community site and keep up to date on new products, sales and other promotions via their Twitter page.

Mountain Bike Epic

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:53:00 +0000

The cooler, wetter weather has made us feel like we really need to get out and enjoy the trails a bit. During the past few weeks our Sunday rides have had offerings for those who want to ride dirt and who want to ride road. We have found ourselves really enjoying the change of pace, and our mountain bikes are piling up miles while our road bikes are almost beginning develop coats of dust.

Being closed on Monday gives us the chance to get away to some pretty fun places and really take advantage of some of northern California's finer offerings. We spent the last couple of days camping and riding out at Henry Coe State Park and couldn't of had a better time. Arriving at our campsite late Sunday night, we quickly set up camp and prepared for our ride. There is no better way to test good lights than taking them out on tight single track that you have never ridden before. Thankfully our Light & Motion Secas exceeded our expectations, and worked flawlessly.

After a quick 2 hour spin, we headed back to camp already eager to plan the next days ride. We took a quick look at the map, but had to put it down, as a game of black jack broke out in Scott's van. It was painfully obvious that we spend way more time on our bikes than at card tables, but it somehow became competitive non the less.

Monday started off with a quick breakfast of oatmeal and bagels, and we were once again ready to ride. No lights needed this go around, it was a perfect fall morning. We loaded up with plenty of food and water and headed back to the trails. Our day turned into a nice 6 hour adventure, full of steep climbs, epic descents, some wrong turns, some bushwhacking, some rock skipping contests, and quite a bit of laughter.

Brad, who can take better pictures while riding his bike than most of us ever could on our feet, did an amazing job capturing some great images of our trip. If you have some time, it's definitely worth a quick look at the link below. We look forward to getting out with more of you on some similar trips soon.

www.flickr.com/photos/bradsauber/sets/72157622773394938

The New Superlegerra from Wilier has Arrived!!

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:01:00 +0000

Many of you were asking us if we had a chance to get a close look at Wilier's new Cento Uno Superleggara while we were at the trade show in Vegas. We told you all how impressed we were, and we now invite you to come on over to SV and take a look at one of the only ones currently in the country. Fresh out of the box, it looks even better than we remembered it. Here are a couple of pictures highlighting some new features. Notice the asymmetrical chain stays, perfectly integrated bottom bracket and seat mast, and the finishing touches of the special 3D carbon weave. Stay tuned for build updates and ride feedback.

Total Enlightenment

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:16:00 +0000

One of the biggest attractions at Interbike this year was the new Enlightenment from Ellsworth. A long time in the making, Tony Ellsworth did not want to rush into the carbon market like all his competitors. He approached the challenge in the same manor as he approaches all of his bike projects. It doesn't need to be the first one to hit the market, it just needs to be the best. With the construction taking place in the new found Sustainable Business Practice Carbon Facility, these bikes are produced like no other. Their carbon lay up techniques translate to an amazing ride quality, and Rare Earth Carbon Fiber used in the construction results in ultra low eco impact. We are very impressed, and continue to support the efforts of Ellsworth to pave the way for other manufacturers to improve their methods and build in a more sustainable manor.

We just built up one of the very first ones in the country (that isn't in the hands of an editor or tester of some magazine), so keep your eyes peeled for this bike on the local trails. A custom build of XTR and XO components, paired with some Mavic Crossmax SL's, a 15mm Fox F100 RLC, and an Edge composite bar make this bike both trail and race ready. The red King headset brings out the red touches on the bike, and matched up nicely with the wheels. And the red drop outs can also be interchanged to run a single speed, geared or even belt drive set up. We can't wait to build up some more Enlightenments in both the 26" and 29" versions.

Studio Velo Brand Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:46:00 +0000

I wanted to see if our SVK group is now getting our blog posts. We are trying to use this tool to share our shop and club experiences together. Gusty D has helped me with a few ideas so here goes nothing...

Attached is a link to some of the brand videos we ran this past year during the TOC. I thought many of you would enjoy checking these out, if you have not seen them already.

Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/album/113646

Double TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:16:00 +0000

From day one, we have always built the bikes that head out our door one at a time. A great amount of time goes into each bike we build, from the initial client interview to the final touches on the build, we take great pride in building each bike to fit each rider. It's great fun for us to get to know our clients so well this way, and it's even more fun escorting them on their first ride and finding out exactly how much they enjoy their new bike.

We recently had the pleasure of building two of our favorite bikes (the new RXR from TIME) for 2 new clients. Larry and Angelic found their way to our shop in their search for their perfect bikes. They had been to many shops along the way, and spent many ours researching the great number of options available to them. So when they came to us, they had done their homework.

As two very discerning individuals, they had many requirements. Atop their list of requirements were great ride quality, great fit and great craftsmanship, with attention to detail. We took the time to explain many offerings and options to them, but we kept coming back to the RXR from TIME. After spending time with our size cycle, we determined the geometry would work for both of them, so we began planning the build.

The lure of Campy captured both Angelic and Larry, and the idea of pairing European made components with a European made bike soon became the plan. We chose bars, stems and saddles to accommodate their fit needs and moved on to wheel selection. After sending them out with some of our 2 way Fit wheels from Campagnolo and Fulcrum, the decision became quite clear. Angelique and Larry will be riding on the new 2010 Campagnolo Shamal Ultras as soon as the first shipment hits the US. Until then, they will be covering ground on a few sets of our personal loaners wheels.

Happy Pedaling Larry and Angelic!

Gusty's New ASR Carbon MTB -- Powered by SV

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Here is a super write up from a valued client who has shifted gears from road to MTB lately. Thank you Gusty for taking the time to post a blog entry on our site. It's always more fun to receive testimonials than to write them ourselves. Thanks Gusty!

Scott

FYI.. here are more great photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/gusty.denis/ForSVBlog?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXwoJmw46eYDQ#

Studio Velo:

A few words about Studio Velo….

If you are a cyclist, and if you are reading this chances are you qualify, you fantasize about the perfect bike shop – one that combines pro-pedigree expertise, state of the art product offerings, focus, industry insider connections...and in the fantasy, its owned and managed by friends. Basically the unattainable pipe dream. In Studio Velo we get it all.

Part pro-peloton, part couture boutique, part club-house – SV is sophisticated enough for the most jaded and discerning client and yet laid back and welcoming enough to put a relative newbie at ease.

Having lived in several different regions of the country, I have come to realize that we are spoiled in the Bay area with many legitimately excellent pro-shops. What differentiates SV from the elite competition is all the attributes mentioned above plus the unique community culture that they have created. While other shops are purely merchants; Scott, Chris, and Colin have worked tirelessly to create a society or club to promote and enrich the cycling experience of its participants. From the week of events surrounding the Amgen Tour of California in February, to an Evening Ride with Rapha in May, to the now infamous King Ridge Ramble, the guys have continuously organized, sponsored and participated in special events that are about enrichment of experience, not revenues.

Though the emphasis may be on the overall cycling experience, when it comes to matching you with your dream bike, the attention to detail is utterly first class and totally customized. I have had my eye on a mountain bike since moving to the bay a year ago.

I had several consultations with each one of the SV guys to get each of their unique perspectives. After discussing my strengths/weaknesses, mtb objectives and choice in terrain, it was clear that a XC racing frame was the ideal platform to build the dream bike. We ultimately decided on the Yeti ASR-Carbon – a purebred carbon racing frame that is incredibly light and stiff with a press-in integrated bottom bracket and integrated seat mast. The seat mast and BB increase lateral stiffness, reduce weight and supercharge power efficiency.

The frame, however, was only the beginning. The guys flawlessly matched the frame with Shimano’s top-of-the-line XTR component gruppo and wheels, Magura Marta Superlight disc brakes, Edge Composite handlebar, King titanium bottle case – and as the coup de grace fitting for a dream bike, the guys ordered a custom red & black saddle with braided carbon rails directly from Fizik in Italy.

In the grueling intervening time between “decision” and “delivery” (less than a week!) Scott called on multiple occasions to update me on the shipment of various parts and to schedule the custom RETUL fitting consultation (a ~$300 service that is included with the purchase).

If you are unfamiliar with the computerized RETUL fitting, I highly recommend it. I was so impressed with the improvement in performance; I have had it done with both my mountain and road bike. In short, using a computer-generated model of your positioning on your bike, RETUL enables the user to optimize the ankle, knee and hip angles as well as back position and reach in order to efficiently generate maximum power and comfort. Proper fit will improve your performance and limit injuries over the season.

After the components had arrived at the shop, the guys built and tuned the bike beautifully – truly a work of art! Colin and Chris worked with me to fine tune the fit and thoroughly review all details of the machine.

The experience with Studio Velo has been tremendous from start to finish. In an area of the country that is crowded witg expert riders and excellent shops, Scott, Chris, and Colin - and what they have created in Studio Velo - are a cut above the rest.

Studio Velo under Construction

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:57:00 +0000

Hello all,

Once again we are remolding our store. Please bear with us while we finish our renovations this Monday and Tuesday. The place is a bit of a mess right now but we are excited about what is to come of the changes. Our fitting area will be more private with a killer new fit bike (due to arrive this December) and our clothing displays will also get much better.

We have received ample winter/fall riding cloths and some of it is now on display with the rest going out next week. Please come by to check out the latest selection from Rapha, Capo and Studio Velo Custom Apparel.

See you soon,

Scott

Tour of Marin

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:54:00 +0000

The Tour of Marin is once again just around the corner. A great ride with great support, for a great cause. Come out and join us!

Special price for SVK riders. Email: jadlamgonzalez@mcds.org for discount entry. Only 200 spots so get your ticket sooner than later.

www.tourofmarin.org to sign up

Scott

Studio Velo Cross Clinic a big hit

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:32:00 +0000

Thanks for everyone for coming out this past Sunday at Hauke Park. A special thanks for Clark Natwick. A great clinic. I suspect we will be doing another clinic later in the season.

In the meantime, come out for our Tuesday am practice rides. Details to follow on SVK list.

Here are a few photos from our resident photographer Brad Sauber. Copy and paste below link:

www.flickr.com/photos/bradsauber/sets/72157622476219256

Scott

Stop Sharing the Road Campaign!! Get Dirty!

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:51:00 +0000


	MTB AND CROSS SEASON IS AROUND THE CORNER The weatherman says it’s time to put away the road bike and shift gears to the car-free challenges of mountain and cross. And Studio Velo is ready to create the ultimate partnership between you and your bike with the best gear from the best MTB and Cross manufacturers in the industry. CROSS CLINIC WITH CLARK NATWICK SEPT. 27 Three-time US Senior National Cyclocross Champion. Limited capacity. Click here to request information. NEW CROSS FRAMESETS AND COMPLETE BIKES AVAILABLE

YETI ARC X A smooth and stable cyclocross bike that features a unique top tube design that allows you to comfortably shoulder the bike and get over any obstacle with ease.	ELLSWORTH ROOTS For 2009, Ellsworth will be offering the Roots in traditional white as well as a Velo Bella edition to celebrate their collaboration with the VB team in 2009.

	SALSA CHILI CON GRASSO Salsa brings a contender to the cyclo cross course with this frame, combining custom-drawn scandium tubing with the race-proven Alpha Q CX 20 carbon fork. Shaped seat and chain stays provide a comfortable ride while improving both efficiency and responsiveness.

	TIME CROSS PRO TEAM The Cross Pro Team is being continued for 2009 and into 2010, with a new low price. (This does not include the Time HM carbon stem.) Take advantage of this high-grade weapon and take advantage of the competition!

	PLUS, NEW FALL BIKEWEAR ARRIVES OCT 1. Come by and check out our new lineup from Rapha, Capo Forma and Gore.

Rapha Race Photos on Flickr

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:55:00 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradsauber/sets/72157622382031814/

Above is a link to photos of one of the greatest cycling adventures of our lives.

What follows are three "race reports" from Chris Hobbs, Tom Jankoski and Todd Cristafulli, friends and clients of Studio Velo who stepped up and joined Chris and myselt for Rapha Gentlemen's Race in Portland, OR. Each story is unique to the writer and to the reader. But they all share one thing in common: the ups and downs, the highs and lows of personal and shared challenges of this one day race sponsored by Rapha.

The Rapha Gentlemen's Race (RGR) is a one-day race from point to point. There are no rules or regulations. It is a unsanctioned and unmarshalled race with teams of 6 rides, all of whom must stay together and finish together throughout the entire race. In our race, there were 24 teams, including the Rapha racing and Rapha continental teams. Each six-person team had to follow a perscribed route of 137 miles, pass though two checks points and support themselves entirely along the way. That means no supoort vehicles, no water bottle hand outs and no neutral wheels. Entry is by invitation only and the races start is staggered, with each time starting 5 mintues apart. In a sense it is a handicapped race. The winners receive some killer Rapha sway, second place gets all the beer (24 cases in all).

The above photos depict the morning of the race, race preparation, the race itself, the glory of food and beer at the finish and the recovery ride the day after, lead by our fearless guide Brad Sauber, Bicycling Adventure guide and our 6th racer.

A special thanks to Slate Olson, GM North America, who, along with his colleagues, coordinated this amazing, truly unforgettlbe race. Thank you all.

Rapha's Race Report - A Blog Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Here is a great link to a quick recap of the race written from the guys/girls at Rapha. Check out the results!!!!!

http://www.rapha.cc/rapha-gentlemens-race-september-12-2009

RGR - A Wounded but Happy 'Soldier'

noreply@blogger.com (Studio Velo) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:57:00 +0000

137 miles 6,900 vertical feet of climbing, 7 hours and 29 minutes ride time and a complete melt down at on the last climb 125 miles into ride. What is a complete meltdown!! For me it is when both legs start to cramp, I am talking, every muscle from my knee to my hip, and two (friends?) grab the back of your jersey and make sure you don’t sit on the side of the road. For anyone who has experienced leg cramps at the end of a hard ride you know how painful and debilitating they can be. Both Chris and Scott, sometimes together and sometimes alone, pushed me for over two miles up the last climb while I whined and moaned like a wounded soldier lying for dead on a battle field. It is moments like this that you find out who your friends really are and how a real team race differs from regular “team” races.

This race and the accompanying days and nights have produced hours of stories to be told for years to come. I have been very lucky in my life to experience many special days on the bike, and the greatest ones are the ones you can share with your riding buddies. The satisfaction of being part of a team far exceeds any personal achievements.

I often say that the people I most enjoy racing with are the ones I can spend three hours in the car with riding to and from the race. In this one weekend we traveled on planes and by car for many hours and the effort and commitment demonstrated by each of the members of the team made this amazing weekend happen. We overcame a 5am departure to get the race (getting up at 5am is not something I have always been successful at, not to mention we were out until late the night before fueling our bodies w/ pasta and bread fo the long haul), missing race waivers, a cold (Scott was on a steady regiment of Nyquil), flat tires (Brad had 4 flats plus the rocks Scott put in his tire while repairing the first flat), and Tom also had a 1 inch slice in his rear tire around mile 105, missing van keys (one key is gone, the other was locked in the van, and it took more team work to get the locked van door open that it did to get 2^nd place!), and a long line at Voodoo Donuts in Portland that may have cracked lesser men, just to mention a few. For the most part I enjoyed very little responsibility on this trip other than showing up and riding my bike, and for that I must thank, Tom, Chris Hobbs, Brad, Scott and Chris. I also want to wish a speedy recovery to Colin for whose miss fortune (Colin broke his hand on a ride a few weeks before the race) allowed me to participate in this killer weekend. I will be working hard and looking forward to the next cycling adventure with the gang from Studio Velo. Todd Crisafulli,