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Current News for
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4/8/08- TREK Bicycles announces that
it will end its relationship with Greg LeMond.
What does this mean and how did it happen?
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 5/15/08-
THE ROAD IS LONG, WITH MANY A WINDING TURN (Otherwise
known as "WHY WE RIDE, #819)
The song was made popular first by The Hollies and
later Neil Diamond ("He ain't heavy, he's my brother"), and must have been
written about local climbs like Old LaHonda and Kings Mtn (pictured here).
4.34 miles, 1600 feet of climbing for Kings Mtn, and 3.75
miles, 1200 feet of climbing for Old LaHonda, both with countless turns and
switchbacks. It's those turns and switchbacks that make all the difference
in the world, turning a mere physical exercise into something extraordinary
and memorable.
Many people travel to France to experience the famous climbs
of the Tour de France, including the legendary Alpe d'Huez with its numbered
switchbacks. But truthfully, many of the world's greatest climbs are right
here.
What do the climbs of France have to offer that ours don't?
Really just one thing- it seems like every single climb in France has a pub
or cafe at the top. What have we got? Well, there's Alice's at the top of
84... and that hot dog stand at the top of Highway 9. So yes, we're a bit
lacking there. But it's easy enough to plan a ride that could stop at
Alice's, or the incredible bakery in Pescadero.
So start planning to get out into the hills and really
experience the best that cycling has to offer. Old La Honda, Kings Mtn,
Tunitas Creek, Alpine Road (west side), Page Mill, Black Road, Alba,
Felton-Empire, Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Diablo, Bohlman/On Orbit. Just to name a
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IT'S TIME TO RIDE!
If you're a Chain Reaction customer (or live close enough to be
one), you know that this is one of the best places on the planet for
cycling. We've got great mountain biking, road biking and family fun
all around us... in many cases, you can leave from your front door!
JOIN THE FUN!
Chain Reaction can supply you with the right bike, properly fit, and
back it up with exceptional service. And Cycle California magazine
has a great page with
links to
the various clubs & rides in the area.
Sign up for our email list to get advanced notice on our sales.
We've just added a new e-list, just for super-duper specials... sometimes
new components exchanged on bikes, sometimes special purchases.
We've also put up a page detailing the various
elist groups we offer. |
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 READ WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE TREK
MADONE ROAD BIKE-
"We'd have to say Trek knocked this one out of the
park."
Full-length review in Cyclingnews.com
"I didn't go to anyone else for bikes in 2008"
Johan Bruyneel, Astana Team Director
"Obviously Trek knows what they are doing. Look at the
races they have won. I'm happy to stay on a Trek to defend my Tour title."
Alberto Contador, winner, 2007 Tour de France
"Trek was an integral part of my success during 2007.
The new Madone has all the elements I look for in a high-performance bike;
it's light, stiff, and looks awesome. Most importantly, I know I can trust
its reliability."
Levi Leipheimer, 3rd place, 2007 Tour de France
 As you can read, the all-new '08 Madone is a huge hit not
just with our customers, but with the most-demanding riders on the planet.
In the photo above/left is Alberto Contador unfolding a Spanish flag just
after winning the '07 Tour de France. And above/right is Levi Leipheimer on
a secret spy mission to Trek's Waterloo, WI facility, several weeks prior to
the announcement that Trek would be sponsoring his (Astana) team for 2008.
And of course we like these bikes as well! Check
out our detailed review of the 2008 Madones
(apparently the first one posted on the 'web). Yes, these bikes really are
that good. So good, in fact, that we're having...
...HUGE SAVINGS ON ALL REMAINING '07 & EARLIER TREK MADONE ROAD BIKES!
MANY BELOW COST! CHECK OUT THIS PAGE FOR A
COMPLETE LISTING.
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 GETTING
YOUR BIKE REPAIRED- The
earlier-than-normal change to Daylight Saving Time hit both of our
stores hard, causing massive increases in repair volume. So much so
that we literally have run out of room to bring more in.
Fortunately, there's an excellent mobile bike repair service run by
Erik Fetch, also known as
The Bike
Doctor. He'll come out to where you live or work and, for a very
reasonable price, take care of your bike repair needs.
We continue to look for ways to manage the storage and backlog of
repairs so we can once again bring in and work on bikes purchased
elsewhere. The solution lies in finding a way to make sure bikes are
picked up promptly. And yes, we do call when the repair's finished.
It's one of the most-frustrating situations we deal with.
--Mike-- |
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 This
website has over 2,000 photos, most taken from various rides we've
done & reviewed. But I keep coming back to this one as my
all-time favorite.
It shows perhaps the most important things that we, as cyclists, can
do. Passing the torch to a new generation, showing others that
cycling is a timeless, wonderful thing.
Ultimately, I hope it's what Chain Reaction will be known for.
--Mike-- |
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Sign up on
our
email list to
hear
 about future repair classes,
including
our
Emergency
Roadside Repair
clinic.
We've also got
email lists for sales, Tour de France & travel info & road bike rides.
And your email address will never be sold nor given to anyone else. |
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 09/17/07-
SHE FINALLY DID IT.
Maybe 3
or 4 years after threatening to ride up Old LaHonda, my daughter
Becky, whom some of you have met in our Redwood City store, made it
up the hill with her friend (and fellow co-worker) Emily. It might
not have been the fastest trip up the hill, and certainly not the
easiest, but they got there. I told Becky to plan on two hours for
the ride (hot-shot cyclists can do it in just over 15 minutes) and
to stop every half-mile or so, the idea being to make it manageable.
And 2 hours is just about how long it did take them, after which
they did the lunch-at-Alice's ritual that I used to do with Kevin
(Becky's younger brother).
Some credit goes to Emily (on the left in the photo), her
very good friend who was encouraging her all the way. Emily's been a
bit more active in outdoor activities than Becky, but perhaps that's
about to change. I don't expect to see Becky climbing Haleakala any
time soon, but hey, it's a great start! |
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Why Buy Your Next Bike from
Chain Reaction?
We thought you'd never ask! From
our expertise in helping you select the right bike, get it properly fit, a
dedication to your bike that goes on for years... a whole lot of things.
Cruising this website will give you a good
idea of what we're about and how we treat our customers, but better yet,
come into one of our stores, talk with our staff and maybe take a bike or
two out for a test ride. |
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 Finally
bikes built just for women, with shorter top
tubes, women-friendly saddles & ride positioning, ultralight aluminum
frames a more! Road & Mountain
Bikes! Great prices, too.
If you're 5'10"
or shorter, chances are you've never had a bike that really fit
well. No more!
And now, the wait is over for the ultimate
women's bike- the all-new '08 Madone, available in 3 models starting at
$1949.99.
As of 1/20/08, the first of the 6.5 models
have begun to arrive. No longer are ultimate bikes available just for the
guys! |
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Remember
your first time up Old LaHonda?
October 9th 2006 we decided to
throw something pretty tough at Kevin- Old LaHonda Road. Probably
the prettiest and least-traveled (by cars) route to the top of the
Skyline (above Woodside), a twisty, tree-covered 3.75-mile climb of
around 1100ft or so. (More) |
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What's missing is You!
Your
TREK SSL Project One Madone, first on the beach in Maui, and later
that same day at 10,023' atop Haleakala. Every ride is an adventure
with a TREK Madone!
Now, two years later, I still have great
memories of that ride.
Read all about climbing Haleakala
(and how not to make a wrong turn and add an extra 1700', ouch!).
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Handbuilt in the USA means
what it says! Shown here is a
framebuilder in TREKs Waterloo, WI
 facility,
in a photo taken by your faithful webmaster.
And we've got a "factory tour" page
on-line. We even have one of our photo-heavy ride descriptions of a
typical noon ride in the area. Not shown is
their new, 160-acre private mountain biking park with 5 miles of singletrack
to test their latest creations. |
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 Check out our
Gateway to France, with many articles & photos about cycling in France, viewing the Tour de France
and more!
We've also got a
page on touring companies
doing trips to the TDF!
Also practical stuff like
where to get money
exchanged at the best rates, and taking the Eurostar between Paris &
London. |
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WHAT'S AN "UGLY" BIKE RIDE?
 12/16/07- THE UGLY
BIKE RIDE
is taking on appearances of becoming
a regular Sunday afternoon tradition. I rode the normal
Tuesday/ Thursday morning loop essentially backward, going down
the west side of Old LaHonda, back up 84 to Skyline, and then
that dreaded piece of road heading north on Skyline towards
Kings Mtn (the very same road that is so fun in the opposite
direction).
View the ride
map on-line. |
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Sonora Pass web pages- a Chain Reaction
exclusive! |
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 CHAIN REACTION SUPPORTS
Team in Training, Aids and MS Society Rides
Every year, millions of dollars are raised for research by cyclists
riding for Team in Training (Leukemia Society), Aids and the MS Society,
and Chain Reaction helps riders by pledging 5% of all of their purchases
(bikes & accessories) from the time they register with us until the ride.
This is in addition to our 10% discount on accessories purchased with any
bike from Chain Reaction! |
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Top-10 Reasons NOT to buy a TREK!
(Satire)
Killer squirrels
go after cyclists! Now with expanded coverage, including
stories submitted by YOU! The latest includes Killer Chickens, Chipmunks, Deer,
Ducks & Cougars.
Every Tuesday & Thursday
morning
at 7:45am, join us for a quick ride up King's Mountain Road in Woodside!
Mid-life crisis
for bike shop owner results in bizarre behavior. |
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WE
COULD SHOW YOU MORE PHOTOS OF LANCE ARMSTRONG FROM THE TOUR DE
FRANCE, but this one, with Australia's Stuart O'Grady
being tended to by the medical car during a stage in this year's
Tour de France, hits home. Because Chain Reaction, along with many
other better shops, are part of a support team that wants to make
sure you have every chance possible to really enjoy cycling.
(More) |
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Chain Reaction sponsors
"Soda Stop" at Sequoia Century
 During the Sequoia Century
last June, Sal Contreras (in
the middle of the photo) staffed our "secret" refreshment
station, dealing with 400 pounds of ice and 600 cans of Coke,
Pepsi, Mtn Dew, Sierra Mist... you get the picture, the stuff
you really wanted after a long, hard climb, when
watered-down lemonade just doesn't do it for you.
This was Sal's third year handling the "soda stop" chores
for us, and we're very appreciative of his efforts (as were a
whole lot of thirsty riders!).
The Sequoia Century is the area's premiere organized ride,
typically held the first Sunday in June. Details at their
website
www.WesternWheelers.org. |
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Road
Bike Rides! This website is known for
them, from our extremely challenging Sonora
Pass ride to the easy-going Bicycle Sundays on Canada
Road. Check here for an
overview of the many road rides on our website!
Mountain Bike & Family Rides!
We've got Arastradero Preserve and
Waterdog Lake, both offering beginning to intermediate
challenges, and Bayfront Park,
Waddell Creek and Bicycle Sundays
for great family outings!
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Please note that
we cannot sell bikes through the "mail" or
Internet due to a combination of various aspects of our dealer agreements and the fact
that bikes really should be purchased locally to ensure proper fitting and follow-up
servicing. |
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What Chain Reaction is known for- |
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Apparel-
We offer a tremendous selection of apparel for men &
women. Pearl Izumi, Sugoi, Primalwear, Giordana, Nike, Bellwether, TREK, Shebeest,
Hind, Castelli & more. Great prices, too! |
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Accessories-
One-stop shopping is a reality at
Chain Reaction. We have a larger selection of locks, pumps, tools, lubes, cassettes, tires
& wheels than just about anyplace else. |
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Service-
Our
expert staff knows what's what, and won't try and bluff their way through if they don't.
It's easy enough with an experienced staff like ours to find an answer to just about any
question! |
Road bikes-
[Editors note- this piece was first written in 1996, before road
bikes became "popular." A bit of a joke to us, since they always
were big at Chain Reaction!] Yes,
road bikes. While most other shops have very few, 50%+ of the bikes Chain
Reaction sells are road bikes. This puts us in very elite company, which, to us, seems
very strange. We live in an exceptional area for road bikes! No matter where you live in
the bay area, chances are high that a 20-minute bike ride will get you away from the city
and into the country. Unfortunately, one of the things that's always held back road bikes has
been a snobbish attitude among employees at those shops that do sell road bikes. This is
really unfortunate. We've gone to great lengths to make road bikes as accessible as
possible, and fit each and every one to the individual using the New England Cycling
Academy's Fit-Kit. People who never believed they could be comfortable on a road bike are
frequently amazed at how easily they can survive that first metric century! |
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Prices-
There's no reason to go anyplace
other than Chain Reaction! We work hard to try and ensure the best pricing possible for our customers, as well as keeping
things in stock. One of the big inside jokes in the bike industry is that it's easy to
advertise a really low price on something if you never have it in stock; we won't do that.
In fact, we sell merchandise to the employees of a national chain just down
the street (but we won't name names!). |
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 Served
since 120905 |
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