Year End Happy Holidays Sale

We have gotten special pricing on parts from Shimano on the new 10-speed XT parts package.
We are closing out the remaining Taiwanese-made BLT's.  Sizes and quantities are limited to the stock on hand.  The sizes available and quantities are as follows:

56cm 700c - 11
52cm 700c - 11
39cm 26"    -  2

Complete sizing and other information is on our web page: http://www.bgcycles.com/blt.html
 (I know the parts pictured are not the exact ones offered - the parts included in this sale are an XT parts package, a higher-quality group- see below).

The Parts Package is:
Crankset -10 speed XT - 42/32/24 chainrings
Cassette - 10 speed XT either 11/34 or 11/36
Hubs - XT 36 hole
Spokes - 14 gauge DT Stainless
Rims - Mavic A119 700c (or XM317 on 26")  -  Hand Built Wheels - built in our shop.
Tires - Schwalbe Marathon  700x35 (or 1.5" on 26")
Rear Derailleur - XT Shadow 9 speed long cage (this is the derailleur that works with 10 speed Dura Ace Barcons)
Front Derailleur - 10 speed XT
Brakes - XT V-Brakes front and rear
Brake Levers - Cane Creek Drop V Levers
Chain - Shimano Ultegra 10 speed
Seatpost - Kalloy UNO 27.2mm
Seat - WTB Speed V
Handlebars - Dimension Anatomical

The price for a complete bike with these parts, including front and rear Bruce Gordon 4130 racks (made in our shop in California)...

$1725
+  shipping and handling + assembly at your end (the bike is shipped totally disassembled in 2 boxes) Everything is included except Pedals and Water Bottle Cages.

The same 10 speed Shimano XT group is what we are equipping the Rock 'n Road Tour and Tour-EX at the same price as the older 9 speed group.

Take the measurements from our sizing page at http://www.bgcycles.com/fitting.html and give us a call at (707) 762-5601.

Grasshopper

On January 19th, Old Caz will kick off the fifteenth annual Grasshopper Adventure Series.  For those of you who have never participated in it, Old Caz is an epic mixed-terrain "training ride" that follows some of West Sonoma County's finest backroads, fireroads and trails.  Some of the strongest riders in the area show up to compete, but it's also a great opportunity for laid-back non-racers to enjoy riding little-seen routes with the pros and the proles.

Bikes of all types show up, but the consensus seems to be that fat-tired road and cross bikes are the name of the game.  For some Grasshopper rubber we suggest using the Bruce Gordon Rock 'n Roads, which are fast-rolling on the paved sections, grippy on the dirt and mud.  They're even good creek-crossing tires.  

We hope to see you on January 19th in Occidental.

  

Green Monstercross

After the red monstercross bike came back from testing, Bruce decided he wanted to build himself a monstercross bike similar to the red one, using the same methods and materials.  Before too long, presto: the Green Monster was born. 

Double Plate Fork Crown?  Check.  (Pacenti Paris-Brest model)

Bilaminate (meaning both lugged and fillet brazed) construction?  You bet.

Curvy seat stays and chain stays?  Absolutely.

Custom black anodized BG cantilevers?  Indeed.

Our own Rock 'n Road 700x43 gumwall tires? Hell yes. 

And the custom-built-by-Shimano-just-for-us long-cage Dura-Ace derailleur?  Yep.

After riding the Green Monster, Bruce remarked, "It rides like a bike."  That's high praise coming from Bruce Gordon. 

If you're interested in having us build a custom Monster of your own, call the shop at 707.762.5601 or email Bruce at bruce@bgcycles.com.  If you'd like your own RnR Tires, you can get them here. We can also make black anodized BG cantis for you, but it'll cost a little extra.  The Red Monster is still available, check it out here.  

Win a SOPWAMTOS t-shirt

The first person to correctly identify all the people in the 1994 photo will win a SOPWAMTOS t-shirt.  Not open to any close friends or people in the photo.

I know that the sopwamtos.com web page is down - we are working on getting it back up soon!

The Best Trail in Santa Rosa

The best trail in Santa Rosa starts at the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens. Luther Burbank was Santa Rosa's most famous resident, a horticuluralist-botanist-inventor who developed the delicious plumcot, the juicy Freestone peach, the iconic Shasta daisy, and the ubiquitous Burbank Russet potato.  He led an enviable existence.  As his pal Paramahansa Yogananda wrote in Autobiography of a Yogi, "His little home amid the roses was austerely simple; he knew the worthlessness of luxury, the joy of few possessions."  

From the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, take Sonoma Avenue all the way to Farmers Lane.  Go left on Farmers Lane and continue until you reach Highway 12.  Take a right on Hwy 12 and look for the turnout just past the speed sign.  There's a little trail that begins right here. 

 The trail runs alongside Santa Rosa Creek, where you may spot some wildlife if you're paying attention.  On my last ride, I saw this Snowy Egret dipping his toes in the water.

 Taking his cue, I shot the obligatory bike portrait.

The Santa Rosa Creek trail is a simple pleasure.  It's right next to a busy thoroughfare, but it feels like it's in the middle of nowhere.  It's a great place for riders of all abilities to enjoy some singletrack without dedicating a few hours to getting there, but it can also be the starting point for a big ride in Annadel, a burly climb up to Sugarloaf, or a nice road ride out to Sonoma. 

UPDATE 12/7: Heavy rainfall over the past two weeks has destroyed large parts of the trail, and the sudden rise in the creek has washed ashore fallen trees and other stormy artifacts.  Please wait until things have dried out a bit before exploring down there.