End Of Year Folding Bike Blowout

by Larry Lagarde

If you have been looking to buy a new Strida SX, IF Reach or IF Mode folding bike, man do I have a deal for you:

Buy one of any of the above folding bike models and get a free EZ Pack or Kent 6 spd folding bicycle! Deal is good through 11:59 pm New Year's Eve, is subject to availability and must be purchased via the website (when purchasing, specify in the notes whether you want the EZ Pack or the Kent 6 speed folder).

By the way, I only have 3 of the Strida SX, 2 IF Reach and 1 IF Mode folding bike in stock so this deal could be over much sooner. It all depends on when I'm out of stock.

And if you're wondering why I would do this, let's just say 'tis the season to be jolly... plus, by selling the bikes before 2010, I'm not paying inventory taxes on them ;-)

Thriv Natural Performance Clothing

Soft, wicking fitness apparel from bamboo & cotton

by Larry Lagarde

If you own stock in Nike & Under Armour, beware. At a time when many retailers are marking products down 50-70% just to get sales, stores selling the new Thriv line of fitness clothing at full price are running out of stock. The product is said to feel and perform that well.

Clothes from Thriv are composed of a special blend of natural bamboo, organic cotton and Elastane. This combination results in soft & comfortable fitness clothes that wick away moisture but are not smelly and don't chaff the skin. In fact, Thriv clothing feel so silky smooth and light that it's as if you're wearing nothing at all. I know because I'm wearing Thriv now.

In the coming weeks, I will be wearing/testing Thriv's natural & organic clothing against synthetic workout wear from Nike, Under Armour and others, seeing how Thriv compares on and off the bike. If the fabric performs as well as it feels, my wardrobe may be in for a huge change.

For more on Thriv, visit their website at ThrivNP.com. Also, I'll be posting a review of Thriv clothing once I've had more time with the product.

Montague Folding Bikes Almost Gone

Limited Availability Of Current Models
2010 Models Will Cost More & Be Different
by Larry Lagarde

Today, the last shipment of the year of full size Montague folding bikes arrived. Normally, this would be a routine matter but Montague is phasing out a number of models as they introduce a new line of 700c folding bikes. As a result, I have the last of the comfortable to ride CX folding bike (in both 18" & 20" sizes), SwissBike LX  & TX models and the very last 18" Paratrooper folder you'll see for $634.99 (as well as the last new Montague bicycle you'll find that's priced below $500 - the DX).

If you want a full size bike that folds, no one offers more choices than Montague. So if you're price conscious and want a new Montague bike, there's no better time than now to place your order.

Video - Beauty And The Bike

Making Bicycling Safe & Attractive In A Car Centric Society
by Larry Lagarde

The following video documentary explains some of the difficulties of attracting the mainstream to bicycling as a transportation alternative. Though shot in the UK city of Darlington, the same principals apply to making bicycling a widely accepted transportation option in the USA.



As the video demonstrates, people must feel safe when cycling and view cycling as an image enhancing activity. Anything less and the mainstream will not accept cycling as a realistic transportation option.

Can New York streets be full of bikes like downtown London? Can bikes rule Chicago like they do Amsterdam? Can commuting or running errands by bike in D.C. be as safe and fun as it is in Copenhagen? If the critical elements come together in the form of public and political will, any city, town or village can have the necessary network of bike facilities and transportation laws/policies that make cycling safe and practical. There are many challenges; however, they can be overcome.

For the sake of our children and future generations, they must be overcome.

How To Reduce Carbon Emissions

Steps Anyone Can Take Now
(such as conserving energy or starting a carbon neutral business)
by Larry Lagarde

With world leaders now meeting in Copenhagen to craft a global carbon emissions accord, it should be noted that people around the world are not waiting for politicians to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As awareness continues to grow of the consequences of global climate change, individuals are finding ways to cut their own fossil fuel use. Some are conserving - turning down thermostats on heaters, turning off lights when they leave a room or swapping inefficient technologies for something better (like replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact flourescents). Others are taking bigger steps that reduce more than just their own carbon footprint. Case in point: Jake's e-bike rentals.

Jake is a cyclist - entrepreneur in Australia who believes that electric drive assisted pedal bicycles (e-bikes) could be an ideal form of transportation. To test the idea, Jake is starting an e-bike rental operation with a twist.

When a customer books a rental, Jake will deliver the e-bike by riding it to his customer's location. Once he's delivered the e-bike to his customer, Jake will ride a 16" folding bike back to his office, getting some exercise, promoting his business and reducing his carbon emissions as much as possible. In fact, by providing e-bikes as transportation, Jake is giving others the opportunity to substantially cut their own emissions too.

If you're wondering how Jake intends to use a folding bicycle to deliver an e-bike, it's actually quite simple. The folding bike folds compactly, fitting within an oversized messenger style bag. The combination is light enough for Jake to sling it over his shoulder for the trip to the customer's location.

Given Jake's 6'2" build, he's likely to get some double takes from motorists as he rides the little folding bike around town. Hopefully, it will also cause these same motorists to give thought to small things they can do to reduce their own carbon footprints.

By the way, I learned about Jake's new startup when he consulted me regarding a folding bike. He purchased the Kent 6 speed folding bike because its low gears make it easier to pedal over the hills around his city.

Montague Folding Bike News

Big Changes Happening Now
by Larry Lagarde

If you want a full size bike that rides like a normal bike but folds quickly to half the size, the Montague and SwissBike lines are fun and affordable but big changes are in the works. In a matter of weeks, 6 models will be gone, replaced with bikes that are outfitted differently and more expensive to buy.

In September, Montague showed prototypes of their new product line at Interbike 2009. Sensing greater demand for commuter bikes that fold, Montague made the decision to refocus their lineup of full size folding bikes into 2 different lines: pavement bikes and mountain bikes. The pavement bikes would have skinnier, 700c tires, caliper brakes and use Montague's new, curved, dual top tube design. The mountain bikes would have knobby 26" mountain bike tires front suspension forks, disc brakes front & rear (exc. for the entry model) and Montague's trademark, oversized, top tube design.

Full Size Folding Bikes For Pavement
Montague Crosstown
MSRP: $659
Starting as early as mid January of 2010, Montague's entry level pavement bike will be the Crosstown. Featuring a gloss black/white paint scheme, 7 speeds and Montague's patented Octagon adjustable height stem (allows for instant adjusting of the handlebar height and instant removal of the handlebars for more compact folding), the Crosstown should appeal to a great many commuters.

Montague BOSTON
MSRP: $769
The single speed BOSTON will appeal to Fixie and messenger bike purists. Decked out in black with 700c Kenda slicks, this light and clean looking folding bike functions out of the box as a freewheeler but becomes a fixie simply by flipping the rear wheel in the drops.

Montague Navigator
MSRP: $989
The Navigator is for road commuting cyclists that want to maintain their cadence and effeciency regardless of hills, traffic or stop lights. Featuring a dark blue and black color scheme, 27 speeds and the adjustable height Octagon handlebar stem, this is Montague's mid-priced multi speed folding road bike.

Montague FIT
MSRP: $1319
With lighter components, slicks and plenty of speeds, the FIT is my favorite of Montague's road bikes. Painted in dark green with gloss black at the rear, the FIT offers 27 gears, the adjustable height Octagon handlebar stem, 700c Kenda Kwick Roller slicks, Shimano Rapid Fire shifters and more.

Full Size Folding Mountain Bikes
Montague SwissBike X50
MSRP: $549
Starting in 2010, Montague's entry level bike will be the X50. Sprayed with a grey front, black rear and pinstripe in between, this bike features 18 speeds, caliper brakes, a spring saddle but no suspension.

Montague Paratrooper
MSRP: $879
The Paratrooper is the bike that made Montague famous. For 2010, this 24 spd mountain bike will be outfitted with disc brakes front & rear (formerly, only the front wheel had a disc brake), giving the Paratrooper folding bike much more stopping power wet or dry. Other than the rear disc brake, all other specs are unchanged.

Montague SwissBike X70
MSRP: $1199
Replacing the SwissBike LX is the X70. Featuring a color scheme of Cardinal red with a black rear, this 27 speed folding mountain bike features discs front & rear as well as a Rockshox Dart 3 suspension fork with 100mm of travel. This combination makes the X70 folding bike even better for serious trail riding, downhill or heavy weight touring (for road touring, you'll want to swap the knobbies for cross over tires).

Montague SwissBike X90
MSRP: $2349
Replacing the SwissBike XO as Montague's premiere, full size folding bike is the 27 speed X90. Featuring a blue front frame and a black rear frame, it's the componentry that sets the X90 apart from all other Montague products. We're talking Juicy 7 hydraulic disc brakes front & rear, kevlar Maxis Flyweight tires, Ritchey MTN Pro stem, Sram XO trigger shifters and a Truvativ Stylo 3.3 crankset, By the way, the X90 is the only Montague model coming stock with a suspension seat post.




Availability
Montague will be stocking all the above bikes by mid to late January and all of the new models can be pre-ordered now by phone @ 504-324-2492. As to the old models (DX, CX, MX, TX, LX & XO), these are running out now (in fact, I am getting the 3 last '09 Paratrooper and CX bikes). If you want a sturdy & practical new Montague for less than $500 (the DX cross over bike), a comfortable CX dual sport folding bike or a Paratrooper in flat black (the SwissBike LX), I suggest you order immediately before these bikes are completely gone.

Video - Riding the IF Mode in Taiwan

Today, Pacific Cycles posted this video of Mark Sanders, Ryan Carroll and George Lin riding IF Mode folding bikes from the front of the factory in Taiwan to the local Starbucks. Less than 2 minutes long, the video demonstrates how easy it is to fold and unfold the bike as well as how compact the bike is when folded.



By the way, I have just 2 new IF Mode full size folding bikes available and don't expect to receive more until early next year. If you want one for Christmas, I suggest you act quickly and place your order today.

LL