Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Cheapest bike ever made


Will this bike one day become the cheapest ever to be sold at our Downey bike shop?
A newly designed bicycle by Israeli entepreneur Izhar Gafni, is constructed from light-weight, durable, eco-friendly, inexpensive, and waterproof cardboard. Does it sound too weird to be true? That's exactly what the experts told him.
Gafni wanted to create a bicycle that would be too inexpensive to appeal to bike thieves, so he began experimenting with building a bicycle out of cardboard boxes. Though he was met with skepticism from the engineers he consulted with, he persevered. He has since created a successful working model of his cardboard bike.
The prototype may still undergo more changes, but presently the production cost is about $9 to $12 per bike. Gafni has not yet found a manufacturer to produce the bikes, so it is uncertain what the total cost will be, but Gafni says it will cost less than $90 new.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Bike shop Downey: Huge Win for Team Sky in 2012 Tour de France


For those following the Tour de France this year with our Downey bike shop,  what do you think  was the most incredible thing to watch? 
Not only did Bradley Wiggins win the first yellow jersey for Britain, but he seemed to do so with so little effort. Wiggins established his lead very early in the race, and held it for longer than some thought possible. The win seemed determined on Saturday, when Wiggins won his 2nd time trial.
Wiggins was followed closely by his teammate Chris Froome, who finished just 3:21 behind him. Froome exceeded expectations with his incredible performance on mountainous stages, forcing Team Sky to make tough decisions. The team placed their faith in Wiggins, and Froome was several times held back by the team strategy to push Wiggins ahead. The tension over this strategy exploded in a series of snarky tweets between Froome's girlfriend and Wiggins' wife, beginning in the 11th stage. 
Team Sky's teamwork also shone when they aided Mark Cavendish in cornering a fourth consecutive stage win on the Champs-Elysees.
Wiggins expressed pride in the team's strategy in "It's magnificent...For us to finish like this as a team, helping Mark to victory and allowing him to defend his record here... it's incredible."

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Cyclist shot in theater wants to keep riding


We at Pat's 605 Cyclery bike shop in Downey were saddened to hear of yesterday's tragic shooting in Colorado. We got news that a bicyclist riding across the country was one of the fifty who were injured in the shooting, which killed twelve people.
The cyclist, Stephen Martin of Connecticut, was on a cross-country trip with his friend Ethan, and decided to go to the movies with a friend at the Aurora, Colorado theater, where the shooting occurred. Martin was shot in the back of the neck, and sustained other injuries from shrapnel. He underwent surgery for his injuries, and is recovering in the hospital.
He says hopes to continue and finish his cross country ride, which has been in planning for three years. Martin said he has not yet been told whether or when he will be able to finish, but he is hopeful. "In some sense, I'd feel like if we can't complete it, it's like the terrorists have really won...I have some scars, but I'll be fine," he said. "I really want to ride."
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy.  Stephen Martin, we are inspired by your spirit, and wish you the very best in your recovery.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Tour de France 17th stage report, with bike shop Downey


Nicolas Bouvy / EPA / July 18, 2012
Our bike shop Downey is following the Tour de France, in its final stages!
In the yellow jersey, Bradley Wiggins of Britain endured the tough, mountainous 17th stage of the race on Thursday, and said he is sensing this race is "pretty much over". 
With just three days remaining in the Tour de France of 2012, Wiggins seems secure in his lead. Wiggins finished third in stage 17, with an overall lead of two minutes five seconds  ahead of his teammate Christopher Froome, who came in 2nd in the 17th stage, ahead of Wiggins. 
The remaining stages in the Tour de France are two flat stages and a time trial, which Wiggins is predicted to do well in. With any luck, Wiggins will, in three days, be the first Briton to take home the Tour de France yellow jersey.
Alejandro Valverde of Spain enjoyed an emotional victory in the 17th stage. He is returning from a two-year doping ban, and survived a rough start to the tour, with no less than three crashes. A teary Valverde said of his win, “It erases all of the past.”

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Bike shop Downey's Tour de France Recap 12th Stage

 Follow our bike shop Santa Fe Springs' blog updates on the 2012 Tour de France from now until July 22nd. 
Britain's David Millar claimed an emotional victory in the 12th stage yesterday after what has been a harrowing tour for the Garmin-Sharp team which has lost a number of riders including their team leader, Ryder Hesjedal. 
Bicycling.com asked David Millar about the 12th stage win in light of the team's difficulties. "It's massive. It's been a horrific Tour for us so far," said Millar. "I really wanted to do something...prove that we're still here and show that Garmin-Sharp is one of the best cycling teams in the world." 
France's Pierre Rolland took his maiden victory in the 10th stage, followed by another win in 11. 
Britain's Bradley Wiggins further secured his lead against Australia's defending champion Cadel Evans in the 11th stage. Evans had begun stage 11 in second place, only one minute, 53 seconds behind Wiggins, but dropped to fourth overall at 3:19. 

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

bike shop Downey's Tour de France recap 9th stage



Check back on this blog from our bike shop in Downey for reports about the 2012 Tour de France between now and July 22nd. Its been a rather brutal race from the very start. All of seventeen bicyclists are currently out of the Tour de France due to injuries from crashes, at the close of the 9th stage. This is the most cyclists to be out with injuries by this stage in the Tour de France since 1998. Britain's Bradley Wiggins, the 3-time Olympic track medalist, took the yellow jersey for the 1st time. Wiggins came ahead in the 9th stage time trial, victorious, only thirty-five seconds ahead of Australia's Cadel Evans. See the video above to watch the exciting finish of the time trial. Wiggins dismissed the speculation from some that he may have taken the yellow jersey too soon. "You can't get too cocky in this race and choose when you take the yellow jersey," the Huffington Post quoted Wiggins as saying. "I'd much rather be in yellow than in hospital – like half the peloton." Sunday, Wiggins responded angrily to questioning about whether his team's spectacular performance was due to illegal doping. Yesterday's 9th stage win gave Wiggins comfortable room in his lead, after France's Thibaut Pinot had his first win on Sunday's 8th stage, followed by defending champion Cadel Evans, with Wiggins taking 4th.

Friday, July 6, 2012

bike shop Downey's Tour de France Recap

Our bike shop in Downey has been eagerly anticipating the 99th Tour de France this year.
The first week has been a great one. If you missed out, you can catch the highlights here on our blog.
There was plenty of Tour de France news in the weeks leading up to the race this year.  2012 has been marked by a number of unexpected factors including some injuries, team changes, and the news of doping charges that have stripped retired Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong of his titles.
The beginning of the race was also full of drama, with a few crashes, including one multi-bike pile-up that included the legendary Mike Cavendish, in the last stretch of Stage 4. Cavendish emerged from the crash uninjured, but unhappy, according to his manager.
Emotions ran high with the crash, and Germany's Andre Greipel's Stage 4 victory. Greipel came through the finish with roaring elation at his first-ever Tour de France win.
He was yet again victorious in Stage 5, coming to the front in the final hundred meters in what he described as "the hardest sprint of my life."
Check back with our blog in the coming weeks for more updates on the Tour de France, and video of the highlights.