So the other day I roll up the driveway, home from work, and prop The Bastard Son of The Frost Giant King against the garage while I turn off the lights. This guy comes up the driveway on foot asking if I have a minute. High on endorphins, I say “sure.”

He’s from the cable company. I tell him we don’t watch much tv and he can understand that doubling what we pay for cable doesn’t make a lot of sense. Then he says, “one more question, where do I go to get a real man’s bike?”

To be honest, the first thing I thought of was something you’d see bombing around London in the 1920s. But I guess that’s just me. I must’ve looked confused, so he explained, “you know, you go to Toys R Us and they have ladies bikes and kids bikes. Where do I get a real man’s bike?”

Ah.

We had some conversation about getting what you pay for. I explained that I paid $500 for my bike when it was new, which may sound like a lot of money to someone who buys a bike at Toys R Us, but I’ve had it for almost a decade. It’s my winter commuter and I put it through hell. It’s worth buying a real bike.

I told him to go to Downtube, because that’s my local bike shop and I’m loyal. I also told him about Klarsfeld’s way up Central. He knew where they were, but it had never occurred to him to go there. I said, “yeah, if you go to a real bike shop, you’ll get a real bike.” He laughed and said thanks.

A week later, I still feel good about helping someone who wanted a good bike.

My Xtracycle has been a long time coming, the result of over a year of scrimping and saving (the car-free lifestyle has helped with that a lot). It was further delayed when the Xtracycle kits remained sold out, so the morning they went back on sale I purchased one and had it shipped straight to local upscale bike shop Full Moon Vista (which had previously put together Jason’s Packet Boat).

An hour after it arrived at Full Moon Vista, I received e-mail confirmation, and gave them a call. I found myself in an awkward conversation, trying to assure the fellow at FMV that I had called ahead to make sure shipping the Xtracycle kit directly to the bike shop was OK. I think he just wanted to know on principle, but I imagine they’d still be willing to do the work if I hadn’t called ahead. And then I scheduled an appointment for this past Monday. This is the first time I’ve had any work done at Full Moon Vista.

If you haven’t been to Full Moon Vista yet, you should check it out. 

Today, I got the call: the Xtracycle was complete. I headed on in and they brought her out. It was love at first sight.

I’ve named her “The Chicken Avenger,” because that’s the name Jason gave me for all the work I do to help chickens. They’re the most abused animal on the face of the planet, and my Xtracycle will help me stand up for them in a lot of ways! Plus, it makes a cool bike name.

So I paid for the work, hopped on my bike, and I was off.

Ah, entering the world of long bikes. 

But, after heading a few blocks on the bike, I realized there was a problem with the chain slipping. So I turned her around and headed back to the shop. Dave, the mechanic who had worked on the Avenger, rode her around and diagnosed it as a worn out cassette.

I hope his name is Dave. It would be a jerk thing to get his name wrong. 

You see, I’ve traveled many thousands of miles on this bike over the past year, which had done a number on my chain. A worn out chain has a way of wearing out the cassette. The new long chain on my bike simply didn’t jive with the old cassette, so $26.99 later and I was back on the road without a slip to speak of.

With a drivetrain that is half-new and wheels that I learned how to true myself, my bike feels almost new again! I remember what I love about her now and see so much more to love, so I think we’re going to be spending a lot more quality time together going forward.

It’s like the pickup truck version of a bike. 

The first thing I did with the Avenger was ride to Abundance Coop and stock up on massive quantities of delicious vegan foods. I was nervous about fitting everything in, but once I started playing around with the well-designed system of straps I realized that it’s hard to imagine a limit to what the Xtracycle can carry.

The straps on either side can actually reach over the back deck, fastening pretty much anything in place. 

Team RocBikers or other good friends/trustworthy acquaintances in the area are more than welcome to take the Avenger for a spin. Just let me know. And I’ll let you know how life with her goes.

And, in regards to Full Moon Vista, I’ll definitely be headed back. Dave was the best thing about FMV; I’ve been insulted or seriously let down by bike mechanics before (want me to go into that?), but Dave was patient, honest, and very friendly.

Technorati Tags: bike shop, xtracycle

Park Ave Bike Shop is a tiny island of hope in the sea of commercial-industrial despair that is Henrietta.

But you can’t really talk about Rochester-area bike shops without first mentioning their location. Jason has been to Park Ave’s other location in Pittsford, and he’s noted the interesting trend of locating Rochester bike shops on busy, dangerous roads. Park Ave Bike Shop’s Henrietta front, in the shadow of a BJ’s Wholesale Club, is no less dangerous to approach on bike than the one in Pittsford – in fact, I’d rate it slightly more dangerous.

Those trying to get there on bike from the city are forced to spend at least some time on West Henrietta Road: a busy four-lane road with no shoulder and much of the right-hand lane occupied with periodic bike-tire-gripping storm drain grates. You can expect cars to pass within inches at speeds in excess of 45mph, and the F*** You’s Per Mile add up quite fast. Last time I operated my bike there I was ejecting items out of my rear crate as I went over huge road hazards.

The helpful guy behind the counter said that staff members, when they dare travel to work by bike, come in on the slightly-less-dangerous Brighton-Henrietta Town Line Road and use the sidewalk the rest of the way there.

The entrance to the shop, taken from inside the steel-and-glass cage that protected me from Henrietta Traffic. The people who use those bike racks have guts.

Maybe it’s just me, but the biggest issue I have with many bike shops (and coffee shops) is the attitude. My significant other, Kristine, has had nothing but good experiences at Park Ave. According to her, they’ve never talked down to her and have always been eager to help. In fact, they’ve fixed issues on her bike for free or a nominal charge when other bike shops were unable to (including a corroded seat post that other shops couldn’t budge).

And Park Ave did not let me down. I’d rate the shop as friendliest I’ve ever been to so far in Rochester (disclaimer: I have not yet been to Full Moon Vista, so this title may not stay in Park Ave’s hands for long, assuming I don’t get State St and St Paul mixed up in my head next time I try to find FMV). And I’m really only basing this on the guy behind the counter, but he was nice, honest, and eager to assist. He even cancelled out of a text message he was writing when I asked for his attention. And he let me take pictures inside the store for your enjoyment.

The first retail items you see when entering are accessories, including a reasonable selection of cycling clothing. I was in search of gloves, which I found rather quickly, with prices ranging from $15-$100 (as I recall). You can expect the standard bike-shop markup, but I could find lower end items in most product categories. Park Ave offers a wide selection for many items, which gave the store a crowded feel, but this allowed me to find the glove I wanted at the perfect price point.

A bead of sweat wouldn’t last a second in this store before getting wicked away!

The bike selection in the back of the store was off the charts. My eyes had no idea where to start when I looked at the huge mass of bikes. I’m sure this is useful when an employee is trying to find the perfect bike for someone, but this is about as crowded as I’ve ever seen a bike shop get.

So many bikes doomed to winter over at the shop.

With hundreds of bikes displayed bike after bike, it’s hard to tell which components are on which bike. In fact, I only got two bikes in before I had to stop and focus. Luckily, the first two bikes were Dahon folding bikes, and the second one will almost certainly be my next bike purchase when I’m ready to make that step (Jack practices his love on Dahon Folding Bikes here).

Dahon bikes – the perfect blend of reliability, affordability, portability, and oddity.

The guy behind the counter even came out from behind the counter, tried to fold it up for me, and offered to let me take it for a spin. It was dark outside and I didn’t want to fall in love and let my credit card help me make a hasty decision, so no bike tryouts this time.

I don’t know if this review is considered RocBike’s official stance since I am but a pawn in Jason’s plan for blog domination. That said, I happily recommend Park Ave Bike Shop’s Henrietta location if you have a cage to take you there and don’t get cross-eyed when you look at large amounts of bikes.

Jason says: Rocbike.com is a team project, so Adam’s reviews carry the exact same weight as mine, except that his have cooler graphics.

I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t even know Full Moon Vista Bike & Sport existed until one of its employees was on the cover of Her, a women’s magazine that my wife receives. (On a side note, I contacted Shana, the employee and cyclist featured in the story, and asked her to contribute to RocBike.com. Stay tuned for the results.)

Full Moon Vista is located at 180 St. Paul St. in downtown Rochester. It’s a big, beautiful building with large windows and an inviting facade. And once you walk in? It’s like a cyclists’ paradise.

A lounge in a bike shop? Am I dreaming?

The shop is bright, open and inviting, with enough room to move around and really take a look at things. They sell a lot of high-end bikes, but they’re not snobs about it. As a matter of fact, they seem to be friendly folks who just love bikes. Take this bit from their site, which follows the story of how they came up with the name of the shop:

Our name is born from the magic and beauty that we find on our bikes. We wanted to somehow encapsulate this magic when we named our shop, and Full Moon Vista is what we came up with. Our goal is to share the magic of cycling with you to the greatest possible extent – whether you go for a ride with us or visit our store.

Of course, anyone can write a Hippy Cycling Manifesto on the Web. What’s the actual shopping experience like? Turns out, it’s quite nice. As soon as I walked in the door, Kyle welcomed me with a friendly smile and asked if I needed help. I told him it was my first time in the shop, so he asked me to let him know if I had questions, then let me browse around. The shop has three floors. The main floor has bikes and men’s clothing. There were also some accessories, though not as many as I would have expected.

Not a huge selection, but well chosen and tastefully displayed

Lots of jerseys and bags, including some snazzy apparel with Full Moon Vista’s own logo

The bikes range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, including brands such as Seven, LeMond, Bianchi, Trek and Gary Fisher. There are also kids bikes on the main floor. The first floor also features a fitting area so you can get the right bike for your size and needs.

Upstairs is the Women’s Loft. According to the Web site, Full Moon Vista is “the first bicycle shop in Rochester to feature a department that is dedicated to women’s specific products, including Trek’s Women’s Specific Design lineup.” It’s a nice loft with a decent selection, including one trailer on display and lots of gear.

Downstairs is the repair area:

Get your bike worked on while sampling some Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters java

Full Moon Vista offers several levels of tune-ups, ranging from $49.99 to $150.00.

In addition to the sales and service, Full Moon Vista is the only area bike shop I’ve found that offers classes in using and maintaining your bike. The clinics range from fixing flats and proper shifting technique to getting the most out of your mountain bike. As someone getting into DIY cycling repairs, I’m excited to finally find a shop that cares about more than just selling you a bike. It seems like they’re actually interested in producing cyclists. Crazy.

Full Moon Vista also hosts rides for riders of varying skill and interest levels, from the Monday night “small ring” leisurely rides to the “big ring” training rides on Thursdays.

I bought a new Topeak seat bag for the Nomade today, and I have a feeling I’ll be returning to buy other things in the future. If you’re looking for a little hideaway where you can feel like a cyclist — whatever your level — give Full Moon Vista a try.

Today I took my life in my hands and rode out to Pedallers Bike Shop at 2511 East Henrietta Rd, about 2 miles south of Jefferson Rd.

I’ve got to ask this question again: Why are bike shops located on roads that are dangerous for cyclists? Remember when Park Ave Bike Shop was a little joint on, oddly enough, Park Ave? Here’s a glimpse of just one of the exciting intersections that awaits you as you head out to Pedallers. This is the corner of East Henrietta and Jefferson:

I think it hit a new record in the FUPM category, which is an acronym I’ve just coined that stands for F*** You’s Per Mile. It’s a measure of the number of times I was sworn at per mile traveled. I’m not sure what the exact number was today, but it sure felt like a record.

When I arrived at Pedallers, I was surprised to find that they had a small, low, not-very-useful bike rack. I was finally able to lock my bike to the side of it, but I couldn’t fit the chain around both the wheel and the frame when I used the rack as intended.

The place looks tiny from the outside, but they’ve made good use of the interior space. It’s clean and well-lit, and the bikes and other gear are displayed in a way that doesn’t cause your optic nerve to overload.

The salespeople were very friendly. Two guys asked me whether I needed anything. When I told them that I’d never been there before and just wanted to look around, they got out of my way and let me do just that. The store specializes in bikes that are laughably beyond my price range: Pinarello, Masi, Independent Fabrication, and more. They also carry a modest but well-thought-out line of clothes, bags and accessories.

I was particularly impressed by the number of good books they had, including several regional touring books that I’d never seen before. In the end, I bought a kit to attach my pump to the frame (my old one was on my previous bike when the bike was stolen) and a copy of the Velonews guide to the Tour de France.

Then I asked my standard question that separates the good shops from the bad: “Have you got someplace where I can fill up my water bottle?” The guy who rang up my purchase steered me to a bathroom reached by walking through the repair shop. I was impressed by the workshop, which was neater and cleaner than most showroom floors I’ve seen.

All in all, it seemed like a good place with good people. It certainly caters to a class of cyclist that’s well above me, but the workers weren’t condescending and it was fun to look around. As long as you’re brave enough to ride out there, you should give Pedallers a try.

• I rode home along the Erie Canal Trail, and took pictures.

If you go to Pedallers, be sure to cross the street (carefully!) for a glimpse into local history. The bike shop is right across the street from a former stop on the Underground Railroad: