Book now for Women's Bike Maintenance 19/01/2010

One of the questions we're most frequently asked is, "When are you running one of your women's maintenance classes again?"  So here it is at  6pm on Tuesday 16th February 2010.  Vicky &  Jez will be at the workstand and this time the emphasis will be on the very basics starting with removing and reinstalling your wheels, changing a tyre and general maintenance. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask any questions as the format won't be too formal as well as drinks and nibbles to keep you alive until supper time. It's free but you need to book your place by calling Vicky or Jez on 01225 334633 or email shop@johnsbikes.co.uk. See you there.

January Prize Draw Winner is.... 17/01/2010

We've been collaring customers at the counter, asking them to fill in a little slip with their email address so we can send 'em a monthly newsletter. Naturally, they've been recoiling in horror, thinking at best that we'll bombard everyone with a daily and very long ad with all our latest exclusive-and-never-to-be-repeated offers and at worst we'll be selling our customer email list  to a Nigerian "prince" with pressing banking issues.  Anyway, it seemed the least we could do was offer a monthly prize for the willing victims who fill in the form and this month's draw was undertaken by the legendary Jez Loftus who led the troops at last weekend's Trek Demo Day. He pulled the name of Mr Paul Crow from the lucky wicker basket and Paul (pictured left) obligingly turned up today to receive his £50 of John's Bikes Gift Vouchers. Good man. Although there was a condition; that he didn't have to meet the funny man in the duffel coat which seemed very reasonable. Our Sean duly deputized.

We do still have the sale on which includes a rather amazing 10% off everything and even including up to January 31st any bikes we have in stock from the new 2010 ranges. You'll be sorry you missed it. And we haven't put up our VAT yet, either.

If you can trust us for an interesting, spam-free and not-too-frequent newsletter you can sign up here. Go on!

Wow! Trek Demo Day 13/01/2010

Last weekend we were delighted to welcome Jez and Jude from Trek who brought a truckload of their suspension mountain bikes - and one very cool road bike - to John's Bikes. That's models Scratch, Remedy, Fuel and Session if you want to look here. The idea was to give a group of VIP customers the opportunity to ride and compare variants that are often found subtly different as well as on the kind of terrain that begins to test their capabilities. Frankly, the usual ride up and down Walcot St really doesn't do justice to what can be a £3,000 decision. As it turned out, the weather on Saturday was glorious if a little nippy and we ended up leading out a further group on Sunday so great was the demand for saddletime. All smiles and everyone came back in one piece. You can see the pics on our Facebook group here but the highlights follow.

Firstly, we were lucky to have among us local cyclist and pro photographer Jon Ashelford who caught the picture that for us sums up the day not to mention the whole cycling experience whether it's off-road, on-road or plain old don't-give-a-damn-it's-riding-a-bike.

Having satisfied himself that his work here was done, Jonny packed away the camera and gave another photographer Alex Yallop his own opportunity to shine by grabbing the Trek Scratch and performing at his second (or maybe third) favourite activity which is riding fast, preferably airborne. Boom!

This is Steve Brewer making a point about the weight of his Trek 9.9 SSL, based on the lightest carbon fibre frame on the market, that you can rely on. Later, we popped the 9.9 on the Park digital scales and it came in at a smidge over 20lb or 9Kg. Rob Wilson, who rode it later, said that "it flatters your climbing ability."

 photos: Alex Yallop

Our base was a wooded area containing the famous bomb holes at Lansdown just north of Bath (719698).  Lots of silliness and "warming" beverages before heading off down the Silly Horse Trail towards North Stoke and around Upton Cheyney.  At one point we found a certain anonymous rider stopped at the bottom of a fast descent just giggling.  A good sign, we always find.

Back at the showroom, Trek had also brought a beautiful orange Project One Madone 6 Series road bike equipped with Shimano Di2 electronic transmission. Sadly, with the ice on Walcot St it wasn't a day for road tests but in many respects setting it up on a Minoura trainer was better for demonstration of the amazing almost subliminal shifting and certainly more entertaining for the showroom visitors. Here is Richard Buckley in his colour co-ordinated Chippenham Wheelers jersey being collared for a Madone order by John Potter (left) and behatted henchman Ian Weeks.

Thanks to everyone, both the riders and those that came to see us in the showroom on what we hope turns out to be the coldest weekend of 2010.  And, of course, Trek's Jez Loftus and Jude Havranek.

Trek Madone 6 Series review 06/01/2010

Bikeradar.com have just put up a great review of the latest version of Trek's Madone frameset, the 6 Series. All the better, it makes the very good point that by keeping last year's top-of-the-line model in the range as the 5 Series, buyers have the option of the lighter, stiffer and therefore more aggressive new model. Or staying with the silky smooth "known quantity" and saving a bit of money.

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Gypsy Rose John's Top 10 2010 Predictions 06/01/2010

1. Lance Armstrong will run for governor of Texas
2. Bradley Wiggins's Team Sky will win a Spring Classic
3. Construction work will begin on The Two Tunnels scheme which will link Bath and  Midsomer Norton and will provide a fantastic circular route based on Bath.
4. There will be a comeback for the handmade English touring bike
5. There will be another launch of a puncture proof tyre. It will not work any better than all the others
6. Mark Cavendish will take the Green Jersey in the Tour de France
7. Keith Bontrager will start building frames again
8. Petrol prices will begin their upward climb; the £5 gallon will be reached and never again be as cheap as today
9. Bradley Wiggins will finish in the first three in The Tour de France
10. Shimano XTR will not go to 10 speed but to 36 speed using a 4-ring chainset

Start 2010 as you mean to go on 05/01/2010

Christmas Closing and SALE 24/12/2009

 
We'll be shutting 2pm Christmas Eve and then we're closed Friday to Sunday 25th - 27th.

When we open again on Monday 28th it will be SALE time and there's at least 10% off EVERYTHING and more on things like women's clothing and selected items from the Bontrager clothing and Trek computer, tool, bag &light ranges. And not forgetting Blackburn pumps.

Hope to see you then and in the meantime have a great relaxing time with family and friends. Merry Christmas and a very jolly 2010!

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bikearadar.com interview with trek guru 21/12/2009

According to bikeradar.com writer Andrew Dodd he's "the man who helped Trek bring a bit of flair back to their bikes" and certainly here in the bike shop we've seen the benefits of Jose Gonzalez's work on Trek suspension bikes. On Saturday 9th January you'll have a chance to try the bikes out in person because Trek's Demo Daze crew led by Jez Loftus will be calling at John's Bikes for the day with a truck load of Remedys, Sessions, Scratches and Fuels for everyone to try. Highlights of the day will be two organized rides around our prefered Lansdown bombholes route, one in the morning and one in the afternoon - but you'll need to hurry and call 01225 334633 to book because the morning session is already full. Hurry hurry!

LATEST UPDATE  Both the morning and afternoon Jez Loftus rides are now fully booked but there will be plenty of bikes to admire and try here in the showroom. We look forward to seeing you. 

December Workshop Promotion 17/12/2009

It won't come as a surprise that after a period of lousy weather things get less busy in the workshop. Our loyal hard-core all-year-round commuters and weekend riders still keep coming but it's nothing like the June frenzy and we therefore take the opportunity to have a good clear up and a lick of paint and generally get ready for the new year. And then we put our marketing caps on! To give our customers an incentive to bring their bikes in for annual service at this time of year we offer a 15% discount on labour. It's the ideal time to think about all those big jobs - adding disc brakes, maybe, or STI brakes and gears to your old road bike. Randy and the crew look forward to answering all your questions. Meanwhile we're very proud to have been nominated among the country's Top 50 bike workshops by Cytech - the organization that trains and certifies bicycle mechanics to nationally-recognised standards.

Have a Campagnolo Christmas! 17/12/2009

We all know someone who would get a kick out of receiving a Campagnolo Christmas e-card