Wednesday, November 14, 2012

All I want for Christmas...

So, it's less than a month before Christmas... have you done your shopping yet? Wanna beat the rush? Are you already panicking as to what to get your favourite cyclist?

Well, here's 20 gift ideas in the shop right now that might be perfect for the remaining people on your shopping list.

1. Socks. Who doesn't love opening a fresh pair of socks and putting them on for the first time? Have you ever heard anyone say, "Man, I just have waaaay too many socks!" No? That's because they're so silky, so smooth, so comfy and always getting eaten by the dryer monster.

Icebreaker makes some good short socks and no-show socks as well as a "multi-sport" sock. They're merino-tastic and pure quality! If you're looking for something a little warmer, we've got some ski socks from Icebreaker as well. The Chrome line also does wooly warm socks with partial merino and range from ankle no-show to over the calf socks.



2. Neck warmers/Buffs - Remember when you were a kid and you wore a neckwarmer and it was the best thing ever because it was SO WARM? Well, icebreaker has brought 'em back with a vengeance. Now with more merino to avoid that itchy scratchy feeling at your throat. There's a shorter, thick version and a thinner and longer version for the more creative types who want to ride to work with a pirate 'do rag flapping out the back of their helmet.



3. Gloves - Gloves are something that everyone can use and no one's going to say no to. Grab a pair of waterproof Gore Countdowns that are all the rage these days. Wind and waterproof with a little bit of insulation, these babies will keep your digits toasty warm all winter long even on the worst of days...



Other gloves include the Gore Mistral - windproof and the glove of choice for being low bulk and will fit a liner glove underneath if you're getting chilly.




The newest glove in the shop is Giro's Proof Glove. A bit more bulky than Gore, these babies have both a westerly wool inner liner and a weatherproof outer shell to keep you warm and dry no matter the conditions.


4. You can also invest in a pair of glove liners. We have a 200 and 260 weight glove liner from Icebreaker that will give you that extra bit of warmth when you're looking to keep those digits warm on your commute to work or when you're out enjoying the seawall on a sunny crisp day. They're a nice little stocking stuffer too!

5. Beanies. Beanies are a great Christmas present because they're so versatile. Under the helmet, out for a run, cool spring mornings and summer nights, out for a ski - they does it all. Icebreaker does a 200-weight beanie as well as a reversible one that's kind of fun too.



6. We've also got tons of cycling caps if you're looking for some face protection from the elements and have some team loyalty.


Cima Coppi has hats too - both warm wooly ones as well as earflapped winter caps.


7. Arm warmers are another key piece for any cyclist. Perfect for when you it's not warm enough for short sleeves but too warm for a full long sleeve jersey. We've got wool and synthetic, patterned and plain.

8. T-shirts for those casual days. We've got some from Chrome, Mavic, BMC, as well as Cima Coppi Velo Love and Paris-Roubaix.



9. What better present for wintertime than baselayers? These cozy shirts and leggings keep you warm and cozy whether you're commuting to work, climbing Cypress or out for a ski or hike in the mountains.


Both zip necks and crew neck tops as well as leggings and 3/4 legless as bottoms, these are a good gift for that active person in your life. We've also got a few remaining Craft baselayers on sale so come in and check 'em out!

10. Jerseys - Our summer stuff's on sale so now's the time to grab one up for a good deal. We've also got Gore and Louis Garneau windproof long-sleeved jerseys.

We've also got locally-made Cima Coppi stuff. Long and short-sleeved jerseys and track jackets for both men and women, these are one of the coziest gifts to give!



11. Shoes are a bit trickier to buy for someone as fit tends to be a little more personal but it's doable. We've got some Chrome stuff in stock for both the SPD and regular footwear-er in your life. As well, we've got some brand-new-this-fall waterproof DZRs through the door so get that special someone to come in and try some shoes on then get a "sudden chocolate craving," send them down to Cocoa Nymph with a very tricky order, and grab those shoes before they get back. 



12. Bags! We've got a ton of bags in stock right now from Chrome, Mission Workshop, Truce, and Pac. Come check 'em out! Messenger style, laptop capable, big bags, little bags, the works! If you need a waterproof, bombproof bag, we are the place to come!


 13. Jackets! We've got a few Mission Workshop Orions in stock at the moment but they're selling like hotcakes so get in here quick!



They're a fully waterproof Canadian-made jacket with pit-zips, a removable hood and several pockets, making them a great jacket on and off the bike. We can also acquire their new jackets - the Trigger and the Eiger Field Jacket.

We've also got the Chrome Storm series - both the ladies' Storm Pasha and the men's Storm Cobra in both black and olive colours.


 Made of a nylon fabric, these jackets are also for the walk-around style-y type that want a rain jacket that works on and off the bike. Pit-zips, hood, and multiple pockets make them another good choice if you want to buy just one jacket this season.

We also just got Swrve's Waxed Riding Jacket. Made in the UK, it has a waxed cotton outer and a wooly inner to keep you warm through the upcoming cooler months.


14. Locally, we've got some Winterluxe mittens that you should definitely check out. They're incredibly soft and fuzzy and come in a few different styles and colours. Made from recycled cashmere, these mittens would make a great stocking stuffer.


15. Keeping with the local motif, we've also brought in SAHN helmets. Designed in Vancouver, these stylish helmets are a great gift for the chic cyclist.


We also have Nutcase, Giro, Bell, and Lazer in stock.


16. Lights! What a better way of keeping safe than a couple of really bright lights. The Blackburn Flea USB light set is a great gift for the safety conscious as they're bright, rechargeable and easy to stash away.



17. Bells! Need a stocking stuffer for little ones in the family or even the young at heart? Dring Dring hand painted bells could be the ticket.



18. Sunglasses! Oakleys are still in stock with casual and racing-specific lines.


19. Musettes - Red Flag Designs makes a nice little musette that is perfect for when you want to carry some things but not including the kitchen sink. Red Flag also makes neat u-lock holsters out of leather.


20. Chamois Cream! Sportique's Century Cream is the best we've found so far for comfort on those longer rides. Made with natural ingredients, this stuff smells good and works great! They've also got a whole line of products including, Rad Rash Remedy for those bad spills, Element Cream for cold days, Sportsman's Friend and Shea Butter hand creams for rough hands, and other skincare bits and pieces.


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Getting to the meet up point for a ride early...

... and deciding a coffee is a good idea while you wait for others to show up but then they all show up and you have to slam it.




Friday, November 9, 2012

Chrome Storm Jackets!

At the beginning of the summer I hear rumours of Chrome putting out a fully waterproof jacket. Sounded pretty cool as they also sounded casual enough to double as a walk-around jacket even with cycling-specific detailing on them. 2-in-1 jackets? Yes please!  

The Storm Series has both men's and ladies - Cobra for men and Pasha for the ladies, which is unique as there isn't much out there on the ladywear front in cycling. It's nice to see a company make something for the ladies for a change instead of trying to make them fit into dudewear. 


Both the Cobra and Pasha are seam-sealed waterproof with pit zips for ventilation, rear rando pocket, longer sleeves and torso for riding comfort, and a waterproof two-way main zipper for extra venting.



The jackets also come with a hood, which, while I don't think it's a good idea while on the bike, I'd certainly appreciate it off the bike.


Hoods are better than umbrellas in my opinion because when I think of Vancouver, I always get this picture of people with giant golf umbrellas walking under the overhangs while people without umbrellas walk in the rain because they don't want to get stabbed in the eye.

It's pretty weird that they do that. 

Anyway, hoods are good because they keep your head warm and your hair dry. Just be careful putting them up after you step off the bike on a rainy day or you may get a surprise shower.

Oleha took one of the jackets out for a test ride and said it was pretty comfy, classy-looking and fun to ride in. Here are some pics of her ripping up the streets of Mt. Pleasant with it along with a local SAHN helmet and one of the latest colourway Pawn from Crome. 

"How many barspins does it do?!"

Hate to see them leave but love to see 'em walk away... 



Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Coast Mountain Culture

New Coast Mountain Culture Mags are here. The Radical Issue covers articles on skiing, surfing, music, skateboarding, pictures galore and more awesome stuff. 


Come and check 'em out!

Friday, November 2, 2012

The next time a person...

The next time a person tries to talk to me about Lance Armstrong or anything to do with drugs in cycling: