Handbuilts

Our parking lot is shin-deep in snow, and wind gusts keep sloughing the snow banks over the carefully shovelled walkway.

The great thing about snow days in Victoria is that they are short-lived. A week from now and we’ll be riding tacky trails, and road bikes without fenders: don’t give up hope.

We’ve just received our first order of Pearl Izumi clothing & accessories.

An offshoot of Shimano’s rock-solid cycling empire, Pearl Izumi has earned the respect of riders the world over for it’s innovative, tech-driven designs, and well executed garments. While most cycling clothing manufacturers have the ‘recolour, rebrand, repeat‘ cycle on lock, Pearl makes a point of implementing technical features into their lineup, featuring a whole cohort of composite materials, synthetic fabrics, weaving and bonding techniques. What this means, is that a jersey for hot days keeps you cooler, and arm warmers for cool days keeps you warmer, all while integrating seamlessly with your riding experience.

Straight Up has got ultra- packable rain jackets from Pearl. The Pro Barrier Lite provides wind and water protection, and scrunches down to fit comfortably in a jersey pocket. Secure it with an elastic band, or be a badass and use a toe-clip strap. Perfect for a climb like Hurricane Ridge or spring riding on the peninsula. $104.99.

Check out our updated Deals & Consignment page. Good deals to be had on great wheels and frames.

Handbuilts. Steve put his ninja-mechanic skills to work on a pair of White Industries/ Alpha 340 wheels. No mediocre feat, he laced  DT Revolutions  to a pair of gleaming White Industries H2 and H3 hubs. Rotating with the hubs is a pair of 350g, tubeless-ready Stan’s Alpha 340 rims. 18h front, 24 h rear, with brass nipples for salty BC air.

White Industries hubs are light, and very well priced for a made-in-North America product. Titanium freehub, Campy and Shimano compatible, as well as a gorgeous polished finish make them a good match for any classic build.

These wheels are pure class, and at 1280g, lighter than most carbon wheels that cost twice as much.

We’ll leave you with some pictures of a build we put out last week centered around a Colnago CX-1 frameset.

If you were to put the computer in your jersey pocket, the Campy 10speed carbon record, Mavic wheels and Speedplay pedals would nudge this Colnago just shy of 16lbs. Note the attention to detail in the matching tube valve caps (red & green), as well as the Italian Tricolore handlebar tape. Details details.

 

2012

2012 Hours

Tuesday through Thursday– 9:30 to 5:30pm
Fridays – 9:00 to 6:00pm
Saturdays – 9:00 to 5:30
Sundays & Mondays – closed

As the new year begins, we’d like to thank all of our customers, racers, riders & friends for coming through the shop, spending time, and letting us work on your bikes. It’s for all of you that we open the door in the morning, and stay late gluing tires. Without Victoria’s unsurpassed cycling community, there would be no need for as many great bike shops as there are. Thanks for keeping us around.

2012 being just around the corner means lots of new product, colours and excitement.

First up is a beauty pair of Shimano SH-R241, the brand new Ultegra-level road shoe from Shimano. Never content to rest on laurels garnered from making some of the best road & mountain shoes on the market, Shimano have stepped out from their usual safe aesthetic to craft the R241. Carbon sole, ratcheting closure, and durable synthetic leather uppers in blue bright enough to make Victoria’s Tripleshoters proud. The crux of the shoe remains the fit. Fully moldable in our Shimano Custom Fit EZ-Bake oven, a free custom fitting is included with every purchase of Custom Fit shoes.

Sportique’s well-executed line of athletic skin care products makes for perfect winter gifts. Warming embrocation, shammy cream, and classy shaving soap, wrapped up in a clean euro look. The Get Going Cream makes winter rides and coffee shop stops way cozier.

Fenders. Trick out your beat up winter bike with a svelte set of German-made SKS fenders, or buy a set of the Crud Roadracer 2 to slip onto the carbon race bike and keep riding all winter. Think of it as a holiday gift for all the other riders behind you in the peloton… We keep a full complement of SKS’s remarkable P45 full wrap fenders, their versatile Race Blade, as well as Crud’s tricky Roadracer 2.

Our favourite bastion of old school, died-in-wool cycling culture, Cycles Marinoni continue to impress. While yearly trying to stay relevant with a new batch of monocoque carbon frames, it’s for their ferrous frames that we have the greatest affinity. Despite a (deserved) reputation for delicate paint, Marinoni’s custom paint colours are always breathtaking. This 25-year-old frame came back to the shop after a cleanup and repaint. Returning with a coat of rich metallic blue, and classic white decaling, it looks better than ever. And even better? For a reasonable $250, you can have that old ‘noni gathering dust in your garage repainted to equal luster.

A good friend and riding buddy, Grant, has been shredding lower Van Island on his Chris Dekerf built creamsicle-coloured Chromag Surface 29er. The first steel hardtail built for 29″ wheels from Whistler’s mtb superstars, the Chromag crew. A badass bike, with trail chops and all kinds of sex appeal.

Marinoni Sportivos

Our most popular Marinoni model: the Sportivo.

The Sportivo is an all-day riding bike, equally at home on a group ride, touring vineyards, or riding chip & seal to Jordan River. Using a similar design philosophy to a  Specialized Roubaix, or Cervelo RS, they’re a race bike that features a tall headtube, upright-riding geometry, and a compliant feel.  Turn it into a 28c gravel-eating marauder, a 32c fully loaded tourer, or a 23c sunday group-rider.

As always, we love the Campy groups. Comprehensive serviceability, hand-crafted quality, unbeatable longevity and class.
Featuring titanium tubesets made by Reynolds, and steel tubesets from the Italian masters at Columbus, these bikes are a perfect blend of long-lasting & light.

This Ti Sportivo is outfitted with a Campy Racing Triple for hauling a burley full of kids up climbs that would bring most of us to our knees. Stainless steel Blackburn Chicane bottle cages offset the silky Ti finish, while the real heart of the bike lies in the wheels. Black Mavic Open Pros laced with double-butted DT spokes to Campy Record hubs: these things will become heirlooms.

The bead on a titanium weld reveals a lot about the builder. Consistent, tight ripples and uniform colouring indicate a strong weld, free from contamination, cracks or failure. As always, the Marinoni welds display subtle craft, and practical perfection.

Tour de Force

Long time friend of the shop, and proud owner of the coolest bike we’ve had the pleasure of working on, Andy Cordner recently returned from the inaugural ‘North American Moving Services Canada Tour de Force’.

The Tour de Force is a 650km, 7 stage charity ride from Toronto to Montreal, with the goal of raising money to  support the children of military families of fallen or deployed Canadian Forces Members.

Andy was one of 10  athletes & Royal Canadian Navy personnel selected to complete the tour, and came back with plenty of stories.

His Dekerf Prodigy is both contemporary and classic, a true Straight Up bike.

Hand built in Vancouver by master builder Chris DeKerf, it’s made from full Reynolds steel tubing, and outfitted with a Campy 10 spd Record group. Blacked out Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels, a carbon Record seatpost, and a superlight FSA K-Force Light Nano bar tie it all together.

You’re looking at a 16.5lb, 10 year old Canadian-made race machine that will continue to rock long after your carbon fiber frame is scrap.

A winter of hard training and wet weather abuse had his Dekerf in pretty poor shape for the upcoming tour. Some tlc, lots of time in the stand, and a new wheelset later, Andy was packed and off to the 10 day event, all smiles.

-Thanks for the photos, Andy!

Winter Wait

As we move deeper into fall, the weather gets a bit more vicious, the light disappears sooner, and we’re fitting big tires & fenders with greater regularity.

This Colnago World Cup cross bike does the winter riding thing in style. Despite aluminum construction, and a sensible 105 build kit, the candy-like paint job makes it almost a shame to put the bike through the paces.

Just like elementary school recess, Vancouver Island cross still has our full ADHD attention. Big grins, sliding into mud puddles, short sharp laps around a park and we’re happy to brave the elements.

The Cross on the Rock crew have been putting on another stellar season of cross racing, including Victoria’s feature cross race at Topaz park this past Monday. A few steps from our back door, Straight Up was well represented both on the course, and on the sidelines. Providing not only yells of encouragement & beer hand-ups, we sponsored the race with the grand draw prize of the day: a pair of Bontrager Race X Light tubulars, perfect for the budding ‘crosser that went home with them.

Spend any time at a Cross on the Rock race, and the abundance of Everti bikes being raced is obvious. Straight Up Cycles is proud to be Victoria BC’s only Everti dealer, singlehandedly putting more Titanium bikes in the hands of customers than anyone in town.

The cleverly titled Ti-Fighter is Everti’s cyclocross race slam-dunk. Full 3/2.5 Ti frame, loads of tire clearance, wishbone seatstays, oversized BB, charm & good looks.

This one is a Medium frame, 56cm TT, 52cm ST, all decked out for commuting, racing, road riding, or adventure touring. Featuring a full Shimano 105 build kit, a SRAM S900 crank, handbuilt wheels, and FSA components.

We’re still gluing lots of tires around the shop (at a very reasonable $25/ tire), offering advice on brake setup, tire tread and gumboot selection. It’s official that gum sidewalls are back in style.

Lastly is a set of wheels that are the talk of the shop.

Handbuilt by Ninja-mechanic Steve, these 440 Easton EA90 SLX rims are spinning around Chris King R45 hubs. Black on black on black, with black alloy nipples.

The front wheel is radially laced, with Sapim CX-Rays, the rear has DT Aerolites laced radial on the non-driveside, butted Comps 2x on the driveside.

1440g total weight, with a 24mm deep rim, and the nicest hubs in the business. They roll really nicely, and will look great with gum sidewalls.

Orbea Terra Cyclocross

It’s a dusty, sunny, 22deg. and we’re in the midst of cyclocross season.

Just like Southern California, Van Island cyclocrossers are keeping their fingers crossed for a bought of Flemmish wind, rain and mud.

Inside the shop, we’re graced with the presence of three Orbea Terras, the flagship carbon cross bike from the Basque company.

The Terra uses the same carbon fibers, layup and detailing as their road race frame, Orca Silver, but with all the contemporary provisions for cross racing: 1 bottle mount, oversized BB, tapered headtube, top-routed cables, and charming good looks.

An Ultegra 6700-equipped Terra, with carbon FSA SL-K crankset and Mavic Ksyrium Equipes will set you back $3499.99.

If you’re the lucky rider looking for a 55 top-tube (Orbea sz. 54), and like a white bike, this demo bike Terra TLT is on sale for an even $3k.

Lastly, Gerry’s personal bike is getting all decked out in a carbon Campy, with Fuclrum wheels and all kinds of Euro-cool. Challenge Fango 32 clinchers for that gumwall look, and a Thomson Masterpiece post round things out.

Victoria’s Gentlemen’s Race

An end-of-season unsanctioned bicycle race across South Vancouver Island’s best & burliest roads:

Equal parts rural alley cat, team time trial and randonnee, the inaugural event tasks teams of 3 riders with linking up multiple checkpoint controls over a 100km+ route.

$5.00/ rider entry fee

10am start

9:15am registration

Gyro Park in Cadboro Bay, Victoria

Sunday, Septmeber 25th 2011

Teams

Teams of 3. All riders in a team must hit every checkpoint together. Finish as a team. If all 3 team members complete the race on single speed/ fixed, they finish in a separate category. Pre-register at parker.bloom@gmail.com, or at 9:15 day-of.

Route

The checkpoints will remain unspecified until registration on the day of the event.

Riders will be handed a manifest outlining the checkpoints’ locations, as well as the order they must be completed in.

Expect to rider over 100km. With hills.

Checkpoints

There will be manned checkpoints signing teams in as they pass through.

Feed stations will be provided, with opportunity to get (free) food and water.

Equipment

Road bikes are highly recommended. As is lots of water, and a stash of food. There will be some nutrition freely available at various checkpoints.

Colnago Master

The Colnago Master, long running staple of Colnago’s lineup continue to be some of the most coveted bikes to come through the shop. Gilco clover-shaped tubing, polished lugs, hand mitered, brazed and painted, these really are exceptional bikes. Even better when they are ridden all summer, whether on 140km fondos, through the Pyreness and Alps, or up and down Munns.

Two generations of Master, one with a sparkling repaint in Saronni red & white, the other with gleaming Super Record 11spd on a chipped but true frame.

Summer Sale!

It’s the last few weeks of August, and we’re putting fall-pricing on all of our road and mountain bikes.

All 2011 road bikes are 20% off listed retail price.

Suspension mountain bikes, including made-in-Canada Devincis are at least 15% off.

Road Bikes

2010 Colnago CLX 2.0 Frameset – $2499.99 (reg. $2999.99)

2010 Colnago CX-1 w/ Ultegra – $4500 (reg. $5300)

2011 Marin Stelvio w/ Shimano 105 – $1999.99 (reg. $2499.99)

2011 Devinci CX2 w/ Shimano 105 – $1899.99 (reg. $2399.99)

2011 Argon 18 Krypton w/ Shimano 105 – $1999.99 (reg. $2499.99)

2011 Marin Argenta – $1200 (reg. $1549.99)

2011 Argon 18 Radon w/ Shimano 105 – $1399.99 (reg. $1749.99)

2011 Devinci CX1 – $1499.99 (reg. $1899.99)

2011 Devinci Silverstone 3 – $999.99 (reg. $1299.99)

Mountain Bikes

2010 Titus FTM XT/SLX/Fox RLC RL F120 – $4499.99 (reg. $4899.99)

2011 Marin Nail Trail 29er – $1999.99 (reg. $2299.99)

2011 Devinci Dixon XP – $2450 (reg. $2899.99)

2011 Devinci Dexter XP – $2450 (reg. $2899.99)

2011 Devinci Dexter RC – $3300 (reg. $3899.99)

2011 Marin East Peak 5.6 – $1699.99 (reg. $1999.99)

2011 Marin Rift Zone XC7 – $2250! (reg. $3000)

2011 Marin Mt. Vision XM7 – $2760 (reg. $3249)

Accessories

Giro Ionos Helmets continue to be on sale at $215 (reg. $299.99)

All clothing, including Mavic shorts & knickers, Giordana jerseys, and leg/ arm warmers are 50% off listed price.

We’ve got 150-lumen Night Rider MiNewt cordless commuter/ trail lights on sale at 25% off listed price, too!

 

2011 Carbon Orbea Alma 29er

Another Alma 29er through the shop door.

This time, black paint and a full SRAM X9 2×10 group, with an upgrade to XX brakes. These brakes are freaking amazing: untouchable lightness, huge stopping power, subtle feel.

The same carbon construction as found in Orbea’s featherweight road racing frames produces a super stiff, very nimble xc race machine. Intricate carbon shaping and design, with super snappy angles makes the Alma look fast sitting in the shop.

Spec:

Carbon Orbea Alma 29er S50 frame

Rock Shox Reba 29 RLT fork

SRAM X9 Gruppo, 2×10

Mavic 29 TN719 Disc rims laced to Shimano Deore hubs

SRAM XX brakeset

Alloy Orbea/ Zeus seatpost, stem and flatbars

Selle Italia SLR

Look Quartz pedal carbon/ Ti

Red anodized bits

Look for it grinding up long climbs, and probably passing you on the descents.