We feature our customers bicycling experience, friends of the shop, new bicycles and quality gear, local events and news, what is new in the bicycle industry and in our shops.
It's midsummer, the season of popsicles, fireworks, and road trips. What better way to hit the road than on a new bike!
With fresh deals on select Cannondale and Felt road bikes (visit or call store for details), extra savings on closeout models, and instant rebate vouchers for gear with any bike purchase, it's never been a better season to get a new bike and get riding! Sale ends 7/9, so don't miss it!
Bike to Work Day is coming up! Meet one of our great sponsors, Abus, in this video where we visit bike lock headqaurters in Germany.
May 10 is Bike to School Day. There are lots of options to get the whole family rolling. Boxcycles like in the video above are spacious and give you chances to talk to your children when they sit in front. Xtracycles are longtail bikes with seating in back. These are lighter weight and handle a lot like a traditional bike. You can also get an electric assist motor on xtracycles. Or maybe your child is ready for a bike of their own!
Register below to find your school or start a local ride.
Bike to Work Day is coming up! Many bike commuters will tell you riding to and from work is often the highlight of their day. In addition to being an efficient way to move across the city, riding to work can lift your spirits and put a spring in your step.
Choosing the right roads can make your commute all the more pleasant. Plan your route in advance. Google does a pretty good job of choosing bike friendly streets and trails. DDOT offers a full version of their bike map here. You can also join our Nice-n-Easy rides on the weekend to discover some of our favorite roads. Take a shakedown ride to see how your route feels when you aren't in a rush.
Commuter essentials: You can commute on any bike, however city inspired bikes come with a lot of great features for commuters. You want a bike that fits and is comfortable to ride. It's great to have options to mount a rack and fenders. Fenders keep you dry and your bike clean from road spray.
Let the bike do the lifting. Panniers and baskets can carry everything you need. This keeps the center of gravity low, and your back sweat free.
Sujith riding with an Ortlieb Commuter pannier.
Waterproof Ortliebs of all shapes and sizes.
See and be seen! Don't forget a good light.
Helmet - the best helmet is the most comfortable helmet because it's something you'll actually want to wear. Come in and try some on to find your favorite.
Saddle bag - carries a multi tool, a spare tube, pump, and tire levers.
New bar tape - when's the last time you got new grips or bar tape? Contact points (hand, seat, and feet) can improve the feel the bike. New grips, saddle, or pedals can do wonders.
4. Abus locks are engineered in Germany. We only sell u-locks or folding locks because it's the bare minimum of security you need. Cable locks don't cut it (they will be cut). Lock your frame first. Use locking skewers for your wheels.
Bike to Work Day data is used to inform decisions on infrastructure planning. Even if you're a seasoned commuter make sure you sign up to be counted! Everyone who pre-registers will receive a free t-shirt and more!.
Join us at the following pit stops:
11 Street NW bike lane. Hop on in and join the thousands of fellow bike commuters in DC!
Like a lot of entrepreneurs, Ari Gejdenson, is attracted to freedom. Commuting by bike gives Ari freedom when visiting his 9 different restaurants in the city. Prior to juggling eateries, Ari played professional soccer in South America and Italy. Ari learned to cook in Florence and upon moving back to the states opened up an arm of Acqua Al 2 in Eastern Market (we were stoked to have Acqua Al 2 provide refreshments on our Surly Urbanizer Ride).
He's always been attracted to bikes. As a kid growing up on Capitol Hill he would ride to the metro to get to school. Ari's bike of choice is a Handsome Devil. "I ride in a circle, and not very fast," jokes Ari of his weekly routine of visiting his various restaurants. The Handsome Devil is a steel frame with a simple 1x9 drivetrain, making it a great bike for city riding. It's an upright bike that still goes fast when you want to push it. Ari looks forward to his rides as an escape from work, a way to get the blood flowing, and enjoy time to himself everyday. Today we're excited to have Ari as a neighbor in Ivy City. You can check out Ari's Diner, La Puerta Verde, and Dock FC just down the street from us.
Join us for Hills of Anacostia and Hills of Rock Creek every weekend.
For many road bikes are synonymous with racing, but really road bikes are great for anyone that wants to cover more miles, more efficiently. Gone are the days of buying a racing specific road bike. Today you can get a road bike as relaxed or as aggressive of fit as you’d like. Road bikes can run wider tires than ever, blurring the categories between road, gravel, and dirt. This lets you ride your bike on all sorts of surfaces and conditions.
When looking for a new bike the most important factor is the fit. Getting the appropriate size bike for you and your riding style makes all the difference. Many manufactures are producing high quality bikes, and they are very comparable in terms of performance. They will differ in how the fit you. Endurance road bikes put you in a more upright riding position and are designed to be comfortable for long days in the saddle.
Cannondale CAAD 12
Cannondale Synapse
Traditional racing bikes are going to have a more dramatic saddle to bar drop, putting you in a more bent over posture. This can take some getting used to, but can also be a very comfortable position and is very efficient.
There are many ways to tailor the fit of the bike to your needs. You can get longer/shorter stems of different angles, different bar lengths and you can adjust saddle position fore and aft. All theses millimeters of adjustments can have a big effect on how the bike fits and handles.
Frame materials also effect the ride. Traditionally bikes were made of steel. A durable material that is also very forgiving, flexing over potholes and all the imperfections in the road. Companies like Cannondale were able to make bikes lighter than ever before when they began using aluminum. In contrast to steel aluminum is very stiff, meaning when you step on it, it goes. Aluminum is very snappy and is quick to accelerate and climb. Cannondale continues to be innovative with alloy, and makes Aluminum bikes lighter than some companies carbon bikes.
Carbon fiber is a ultralight material that can be woven to allow for stiffness and compliance in different areas. It also has vibration dampening properties. This makes it an ideal material for bike frames because it can be light like aluminum and forgiving like steel.
All-City Cycles Mr. Pink mixes classic steel style with modern features like a carbon fork and clearance for 32c tires.
BicycleSPACE co-founder, Erik Kugler, on a steel Soma.
The best way to shop for a bike is to take a spin on as many as you can. Come on in and let us help you determine the best size in each model. From there you can see first hand how different fits and materials translate to different ride experiences.
Manifests at Malcolm X Park on March 18th mark the start of Rolling Resistance, the latest in a growing local tradition of Women's Alley Cats in Mach. Rolling Resistance is a WTF (Women/Trans/Femme) Alley Cat that explores sites and themes in the city related to gender issues and activism. Participants were given a list of checkpoints to visit and were posed questions at each one. There were prizes for speed, points, and as with all Alley Cats, a DFL prize.
Alicia, like many were racing their first Alley Cat. "I've been knitting since I could tie my shoes," working on what she calls stoplight knitting.
Temporary Tattoos for checkpoints
A route is planned beneath Joan of Arc. Alley Cats reward speed and strategy.
Dropping in from the hill at Malcolm X park
Learning to sign "Girls Rule the World" on Q Street.
Leigh Ann, board member of HIPS (Rolling Resistance beneficiary), and team members visit the White House checkpoint where they had to answer "Who were the first people to picket the White House?" and we're encouraged to leave a message to the new resident.
After suffering a mechanical, a Rolling Resistance participant hops on a CABI to finish the race.
DC Bike Polo checkpoint at Rush Rink 1229 D St SE. Bike Polo curious? Check out their Facebook and you can join the fun.
Outside Women in Armed Services Memorial checkpoint: "What is the last in word in Clara Barton's Quote featured on the memorial?"
"I LEAVE YOU LOVE. I LEAVE YOU HOPE. I LEAVE YOU THE CHALLENGE OF DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE IN ONE ANOTHER. I LEAVE YOU A THIRST FOR EDUCATION. I LEAVE YOU A RESPECT FOR THE USE OF POWER. I LEAVE YOU FAITH. I LEAVE YOU RACIAL DIGNITY. I LEAVE YOU A DESIRE TO LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH YOUR FELLOW MEN. I LEAVE YOU FINALLY, A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE." - Mary McLeod Bethune
Checkpoint: "What organization did Mary McLeod found?"
Banishing the Patriarchy at 666 Irving St. checkpoint: "What does W.I.T.C.H. stand for?"
Organizing an Alley Cat can be just as intense as racing. After you've set up all the pieces; designing, preparing, and coordinating the event, there is great excitement to watch it all unfold. Manifests are scored as racers file in. Rolling Resistance organizers Snehee and Leah were inspired by the tradition of Women's Alleycats in March and enthusiastically took on organizing their first race.
Big thanks to all the organizers, volunteers, participants and sponsors that made this race a huge success.
Rolling Resistance Winner: Brownen Rice
All proceeds benefited HIPS, a local organization that provides harm reduction services to communities impacted by sex work and drug use. Their staff was grateful for the donations! Including board member, Leigh Ann who particpated in Rolling Resistance herself.
Points Winners:
A big thanks to all the organizers, volunteers, riders and sponsors for a great event! Including our friends at All-City Cycles, Abus, and Po Campo .
Monday March 27th hang with Surly Bikes East Coast tour comes to BicycleSPACE!
"Come one-come all Urban Roll no drop ride. We will have a mix of Straggler/Straggler 650b, Troll, Flat Bar Cross Check, Krampus, Karate Monkey and even a Big Fat Dummy for you to try.
Got a Surly? Wicked, bring it with. Don't have a Surly? Ride one of ours. Don't want to ride one of ours? Ride one of yours. All are welcome.
Don't want to be welcome? Well, we can't help you there."
Straggler
Krampus
Karate Monkey
Flat bar Crosscheck
In our Friend of the SPACE series, we catch up with folks to see why they love riding and how they make their bikes their own. Here we talk to Hal about his Linus.
How long have you been commuting? Ever since I moved to DC and discovered the bike lanes. By bike commuting I guarantee myself at least an hour of exercise every day. On rainy and snowy days I take the Metro. Metro's service is a constant reminder of why I prefer to bike.
How does it feel to bike in the city? There's nothing better on a crisp morning to kick-start the day or a night ride when the streets are mostly free of cars.
Do you have a favorite road or trail? My favorite is the loop from Georgetown to Adams Morgan. You begin on the Capital Crescent Trail in Georgetown. Once you reach Bethesda the Georgetown Branch Trail takes you towards Silver Spring and the Rock Creek Trail. Rock Creek Trail loops you back to the Zoo and Adams Morgan. On the weekends, Beach Drive (part of the Rock Creek Trail) is closed to car traffic.
Why green color scheme? Becky from BicycleSPACE sold me on the British racing green Linus. I accessorized with green transport bags and painted my helmet and lock to match.
What are the benefits to a bike like Linus for city riding? I'd ridden dozens of bikes before the Linus and none of them felt right. They ranged from too heavy to unstable. The Linus was just right and BicycleSPACE gave me a great deal!
Any advice for those curious about bike commuting? Find a shower at work and a dry-cleaner nearby for keeping your clean shirts and suits on demand.
What's your favorite bike for getting around the city? How have you made it your own? Let us know in the comments.
Ivy City 1512 Okie St., N.E. Washington, DC 20002 202-853-9390
Please come visit us at our expansive Ivy City location (with lots of on-street & longer term garage parking next door)- our great people, bikes, and service are waiting for you!
contact@bicyclespacedc.com
