Winter bikes, night riding, demo bikes

Winter bikes – a quandary

It is written in the annuls of history, that all cyclists should have a winter bike (Hack bike), for use when the weather is foul or the salt is covering the region.

Now there are two schools of thought on this, and it really depends on how reliable you want your bike to be:

• Use your old dependable (ish) bike, which has now been demoted due to your newer/ shinier/lighter/more expensive steed.
Advantages: You already own it, so it’s cheap. You like it, and it was perfectly fine when it was your main bike.
Disadvantages: The very reason you bought a new one! It is a bit worn, and changing gear would tax an enigma decoder! Those creaking noises don’t sound great; in fact the detached rear seat stay is not a substitute for suspension.

• Buy a new inexpensive bike, there a loads of bargains from manufacturers as we head into winter. Provided it is from a big reputable maker it will be a good investment.
Advantages: everything is new, the gears work, and the brakes have new pads! The tyres tubes etc are all new. All the big manufacturers Specialized/TREK/Giant/Merida all make solid £300 bikes; they would not sell them if they did not work! The frames usually grace all their bikes up to £600. If the price is right, they will cost less than a new drive-train on your old bike, so wearing them out over the winter is not a bike concern
Disadvantages: Initial outlay, the gears don’t say XT on them!!

In our (the Mikes Bikes) view, an inexpensive bike from a quality manufacturer will provide the best trouble free and reliable transport. With this in mind we at Mikes Bikes set ourselves the following brief:

“Find a 2011 bike from a major bike company, which retails at £3-400, and negotiate and end of season deal, which provides our loyal customers with a bargain at just over £200.”

The best way to achieve this was to buy in bulk, which we did, & we are now in a position to offer a Merida Matts 10-V at £200 (original RRP £320) for a limited period. This bike is made by the world’s largest bike co, and shares its frame with a full range of bikes, which are similar to the revered Specialized Hardrock (Merida manufacture for Specialized). This bike has a full Shimano Altus gearset, Suntour XCT fork, V –brakes and decent Tyres/wheels. This is a real bike, not a BSO (Bicycle shaped object) from a supermarket, everything works and we build it for you!




Night Riding Continued

Cairngorm CC is continuing into the winter, with 15 riders out for our Thursday night ride, despite it being:
a. Dark
b. Cold
c. Winter

After last weeks single-track mud fest (courtesy of Brian), around Boat of Garten, and as a response to an expletive laden complaint from our esteemed chairman (Ian), this weeks ride returned to the wide, smooth trails of Rothiemurchus and Glenmore. Ian of course was absent! The downside is every hill was an excuse for Hamish/ Mike/Andy/Brian to make each other sick! In particular Hamish, who has beaten Mike on a bike and a running sprint this week (not that we are counting).

A range of bikes arrived last night from cross bikes (three) to a fancy pants full suss (Merida 96-Andy) and old winter hacks, and the bunch stayed together without mishap, although Nethy folks seem to have issue with pumping up tyres Gordon, Malcolm and his Geordie friends all used soft tyres as an excuse for some RnR during the ride!

It was great to see the Rothiemurchus estate bike (a Merida Matts 40-d, in fetching estate livery) out, the bike also came with a free rider Julian! Julian borrowed Mikes Bike demo Sigma Karma Pro (£140) light, and declared it fantastic. All riders came with suitable lighting, a necessity until you meet Callum Irvine going the other way, with no apparent light source, there is a family resemblance to a bat! Mike did try his best to ride into him.

Biggest thrill of the night came when Hamish descended to Loch Morlich on his cross bike, yes, its true the cantilever brakes and narrow tyres make for some sphincter clenching moments! Who needs black diamond downhill runs, when a cross bike on Land Rover tracks (“double track” if you are an American hire customer) can provide the thrills. Mike has recently changed his brakes to XLC mini V-brakes (£32 a set), to test them, the upsides are: no brake judder, 50% more power. The Downsides: the shock of the cross bike actually slowing! And the pads running close to rims. His verdict “they are miles better”.

Of course the big news this week, and it should make the Strathy, Andy Hyslop rode the staircase at Subway, in Aviemore, congratulations from all at Mikes Bikes!


Demo Bikes

The shop has now built up the 29er demo fleet and they are ready to test, this includes the showstopper a Specialized Epic FSR Carbon (£3200), Mike is determined to make it fit him!!! Lets us know if you want to try them, dry days preferred.