Bike Thieves Are Everywhere. Are You Doing Enough To Protect Your Investment?

15 Tips to Keep Your Bike Safe and Secure Wherever You Go

Adapted from a Road.cc article

1. Lock your bike to a secure, immovable object. If you lock your bike to a tree, the limbs can be sawed through. Bollards and signposts are sometimes low enough to pull the bike right over the top!



2. Your wheels are the most vulnerable part of your bike. Make sure that your lock goes through both wheels and the frame. OR, you could use two locks - one for each wheel. There are also locking wheel skewers you can buy for your front wheel.

3. Stealing a bike is not a lengthy process. Even if you are only going to be leaving your bike for 30 seconds, lock your bike up properly.


4. Grab up your lights and other accessories that aren't secured to your bike. Some have even been known to take their saddle to the office or school!



5. It's a smart idea to keep your bike locked up even when it's in your garage. No matter how safe you may feel at your home.


6. When it comes to bike locks - you really do get what you pay for. If you love your bike, buy the
best lock you possibly can. It's a wise investment.

7. If you come back to your bike and it's got a mysterious puncture or damage, walk it home. It's probably been marked in the hope that you'll leave it there overnight.


8. Use a registration service, such as Bike Register, to physically mark your bike with an identifying feature and link it to your identity on the police database.


9. If your bike does go missing, you must report it. The police will only take a bike crime more seriously if they have reason to do so.


10. If you're down to one lock, or are particularly worried about the security of your wheel, taking your front with you eliminates half the risk of theft immediately.


11. Use secure bike parking whenever possible. Even if you have to pay, your bike will be far better protected from theft.




12. Make sure your bike is locked in the most public place possible. Having lots of people around is enough deterrent for most thieves.


13. Make the lock mechanism itself hard to access. For example if you're locking your bike to railings, point the lock mechanism away from the street so it's harder for a thief to attack


 14. Don't leave space in your shackle - any extra space gives evil bike stealing tools the room they need to do their dirty work. Don't give them that opportunity.


15. Most importantly, wherever you're going, please do not forget your lock!

Come to Bumstead's Bicycles for all your cycling needs.

We are located at 1038 W. 4th St in Ontario, CA.
You can reach us by phone at (909) 984-9067

www.bumsteadbikes.com

2014 Trek 8.2 DS - Challenge Yourself To Reach New Roads

Everything You Need In A Bike — In One Great Looking Package

The 8.2 DS combines different elements from bikes in more specific categories to give the rider a perfect hybrid bicycle. One of the coolest features on this bike is the shock-absorbing fork that allows the front wheel to travel up and down over bumps while the handlebars stay steady — for a comfortable, controlled ride. This is being added to an already light and sturdy frame so that no matter the road you're traveling on, you'll be prepared.

The fork and rear dropouts are equipped with disc mounts, making for easy modification for someone who wants even more all-terrain performance out of this bike. The thinner wheels, however, resemble a road bike and make for smooth riding on street and sidewalk alike, which is sure to delight the commuter or casual rider, and offers no problems in terms of speed or durability on longer rides. Despite their thinner size, the tires provide plenty of traction, adding to the overall versatile nature of this bike. This combination of strengths makes it a great choice for someone who needs one bike to do it all, or a beginner who still isn't sure where their journey will take them.

Shimano Altus 7 speed shifters combined with Shimano model Tourney front derailleur and Altus rear derailleur makes this perfect for the uphill, downhill, stop and go obstacle course of city riding. Bontrager LT1 tires mounted on a Formula FM21 alloy hub in th front, FM31 in the back, keep up top performance long after the sidewalk ends. And with a Bontrager SS1 saddle and two color schemes, wherever you go on your Trek 8.2 DS, you will go in comfort and style.

Online review The Bike Affair calls the relaxed posture and comfortable seat and handlebars "perfect for the casual rider." The Cycle Centre blog says trek has "a winner on their hands as far as creating a good all rounder." And Beaconcycling.com proclaims, "This go-anywhere machine is road-bike fast, hybrid-bike capable, and fun anywhere." With reviews like these, it's easy to see why the Trek 8.2 DS is one of the top hybrid bikes among bicycle enthusiasts. And with a lower starting price than most of its competitors, it's one of the more affordable choices on the market, with more bike for your buck than any of its competitors.

Come to Bumstead's Bicycles for all your cycling needs.

We are located at 1038 W. 4th St in Ontario, CA.
You can reach us by phone at (909) 984-9067

www.bumsteadbikes.com

MirraCo Bikes on Sale NOW at Bumstead's

Big Discounts on BMX Accessories

Come in today to see our awesome selection of BMX clothing, shoes, and other accessories

Discounted just in time for Spring Weather

Bumstead's Bicycles

1038 W. 4th St. Ontario, CA 91762

www.bumsteadbikes.com

(909) 984-9067

2014 Trek Madone 2.1 is Worthy of The Madone Name - Super Aero and Next Level Race Technology

The 2014 Trek Madone is A Great Value — High End Design and Components on an Aluminum Frame

Road.cc “The Madone 2.1 is Trek’s most affordable Madone model and sports a smart aluminum frame with Kammtail Virtual Foil shaped tubes, internal cable routing, tapered head tube, PressFit bottom bracket and a Shimano 105 groupset. This Madone shows just how good affordable road bikes have become in recent years…”

Aerodynamics are becoming a key design concentration for many products, and it is fascinating to see that Trek has employed similar thinking in their entry-level bikes as they have on their top-tier race bikes.

The KVF uses a truncated profile, where the trailing edge has been chopped off to save weight, but which amazingly causes the air to act as if the trailing edge was actually there. Trek also packed other modern features into the frame, including a Press-Fit BB 86.5mm bottom bracket. This houses the bearings inside the frame and allows the shell to be wider, and in turn allows the downtube to be much wider. The result — a much stiffer frame.

The shifters and mechanisms are from Shimano’s mid-level 105 group. It’s solid, reliable, durable, and functional. You can adjust the reach to the levers by adding shims, the hoods are very comfortable to rest your hands on, and the mechs will probably carry on working for ages with relatively little maintenance. There are two deviations from the 105 groupset: The Tiagra 12-30 cassette and non-series Shimano brake calipers.

As is expected, Trek fills out the rest of the bike with proprietary Bontrager parts: Bontrager hubs on approved aluminum rims wrapped with R1 23mm tires, the Bontrager Race seatpost (20mm layback and one bolt clamping mechanism) topped with a Bontrager Affinity 1 saddle with steel rails.

The refined aluminum road bike that is the Madone 2.1 is definitely worthy of the Madone name, with a super-aero shape and next level race technology. Incredible ride, incredible value.

Come to Bumstead's Bicycles for all your cycling needs.

We are located at 1038 W. 4th St in Ontario, CA.
You can reach us by phone at (909) 984-9067

www.bumsteadbikes.com

WALL-E Glimpse into the Future Frightening for Bike Shops

 

Will automation and the internet make retailers impersonal?  Unnecessary? 

It may seem like a stretch to imagine a future where the majority of humans have no need to, desire to, or opportunity to work.  The movie WALL-E gives us a glimpse into what that future might look like, and quite frankly, it makes my skin crawl more than any vampire or zombie film. 

Already we have countries, including the US, where only a minority of the population work to support the rest.  Some of those are retired, some desiring to work, and others have no interest or have given up.  Of course, some are parents who have chose to have one spouse stay home and provide full time attention to the kids. 

As automation continues to grab jobs, however, (think bank tellers, book sellers, travel agents, and gas station attendants) where might it all end.  There is much talk about automated fast food restaurants and even sit down eateries without waiters.  Real estate agents and mortgage brokers appear to be endangered species.  Retail cashiers are getting eased out.  Try and find a salesperson at your local department store. 

What might that look like in a bike shop?  Many customers now buy bikes, components, and accessories from online resources or discount retailers.  They have no access to a knowledgeable clerk to help with the decision, proper fitting, or recommendations as to needed items to make the experience care free and enjoyable.  The result is this:  where the US had 7,000 shops in 1990, there are only 4,000 shops today serving a much larger population. 

Why do I say this future seems scary?  First, there is the obvious issue of what would be our purpose for life in such a world.  Would we find new purpose to replace work?  Or would we just amuse ourselves for 80 years and then off to heaven.  Sound crazy?  Many are now retiring at 60 or even earlier and amusing themselves for 25 or 30 years. 

What about as a consumer?  Do we want a world that doesn't include touching the product, testing things for ourselves, trying clothing on, or discussing the purchase with a knowledgeable sales associate or owner?  I don't really need help with a bank deposit or a fast food choice, but I would like to be able to ask a waiter about menu items before making a choice.  And I definitely want to know whether I need a full suspension or a hard tail bike for the kind of riding I intend to be doing. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a luddite.  I love my iPhone, and my MacBook Pro has been surgically attached to my lap.  And I'm not a pessimist.  I suspect that man will find things of value to do even if every current job we do is handled by a robot.  In fact, I'm looking forward to the first all robot war.  But just don't take away my local bike dealer.  That would be a sad day indeed.