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« Older Entries Retroshifted! Saturday, August 18th, 2012

Put a pair of Retroshift levers on this Bianchi Volpe to replace the broken STI levers that came on it.  Already sold and back on the road!

 

Downieville field trip, in two parts. Thursday, August 16th, 2012

Part one:

A while back we got an email from Andy, the straw boss over at Yuba Expeditions in Downieville, California.  He said they had some parts they’d like to donate, but wasn’t planning on heading our way anytime soon.  “If you are able to come and pick it up,” he told us, “I assure you it will be worth your while to drive out here…bring your mountain bikes.”  Well, we didn’t argue with the man.  So we planned a field trip, threw our rigs in the truck, and headed up to Gold Country.

When we got to the shop, Andy greeted us and gave us a quick tour of the shop.  He explained that the shop was part of the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, a non-profit organization that develops and maintains a huge network of trails in and around Sierra and Pumas counties.  A bike shop that helps fund a non-profit that helps people ride bikes…right up our alley!  It was clear we had just been introduced to our off-road counterpart.  Cool.  “You can check out the donation stuff later,” he said, ” why don’t you grab your bikes and hop on the next shuttle.”  The man has his priorities straight, and again, we didn’t argue.  So off we went up the hill, and who should be waiting for us at the top?  The official Reno bike Project medical team, hydration specialist Jesse Reeves and anesthesiologist Brian Mandio.  Taking a day away from the clinic to make sure team RBP makes it down the trail safely.

After a brief exchange of hellos and high fives, we saddled up and commenced to shredding down 5,000 vertical feet of top-notch single-track, which delivered us right back to the shop, and Andy, who gave us beer.  I was really staring to like this place.  After another beer and a burrito, we were recharged and ready to get to work.  We were here to work, after all.  Andy helped us load up the loot.  Tires, tubes and wheels.  Bars, saddles, and boxes of old derailleurs.  Even an old mountain bike!  Need less to say, we were pretty excited.  And tired.  So with a truck full of parts, we said goodbye to Andy and our new homies at Yuba Expeditions, and headed home.  With every intention of coming back……

Beer. Bikes. Party. Thursday, June 28th, 2012

Bikes and Brews is back!  Help us kick off the series tonight at the Lincoln Lounge, 8pm.  We’ll have Goldsprints racing with hilarious commentary by Crazy Uncle Larry.  The fastest legs in the West will duke it out to win glory and the luckiest ass in the West gets a Brooks B-17 imperial saddleNew Belgium Brewing will be there with silk screening, beer specials, and plenty of stuff to give away, and the raffle includes presents from Bootleg Courier, White Industries, Old Granite St. Eatery, The Daily Bagel, and Craft.  It’s gonna be way more fun than whatever else you were planning on doing.  See you at the Lincoln Lounge.

 

Next month…more raffle prizes, more beer, group ride, and the Bindle Stiffs!

 

 

 

 

AACT Moonbuggy Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

RBP is proud to sponsor, for the second year running, the Academy of Arts Careers and Technology’s Moonbuggy program.  This year the team won the Featherweight Award for the lightest competitive buggy and placed 7th overall out of nearly one hundred high school and college teams.  Nice work team.  Check the video out, and watch for taco time at 1:42.

Neat-O New Thingy Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

I don’t usually get excited about new-fangled bike parts, let alone plug them, but I think these are too cool to keep to myself.  I’ve been trying them out for a while and I really like ‘em.  Good for CX, touring, or updating older road bikes with down tube shifters, assuming you don’t dig down tube shifters.

Retroshift levers set up with Shimano bar end shifters.

We’re a dealer now, so if you want a closer look swing by the shop and ask me, Casey.

Two New Public Workstations Monday, February 13th, 2012

Our public workstations are a big hit.  For a measly $3 an hour, you get a set of tools, a work stand, and a mechanic who can help you perform basic repairs and maintenance on your bicycle.  It’s a pretty sweet deal, and consequently, one of our most popular programs.  So popular that many-a-summer day our four stations fill up and customers have to wait in line to use ‘em.  So, we built two more.

And we couldn’t have done it without some help.  Last year, RBP was the recipient of Patagonia’s Bike to Work Week Challenge Grant.  They invited us to come out and repair bicycles for their employees, and then gave us one dollar for every mile an employee rode during the week.  They racked up over 2000 miles.  Nice work!  We thought it fitting to spend that generous grant on two more public workstations that will help us keep more bikes on the road.  Read more about Patagonia’s Bike to Work initiative here.

And a big thanks to Tim Carter of Carter Brothers Ace Hardware.  Tim set us up with the hand tools that rounded out our new stations.  And he picked up a new bike while he was at it.

The new stations are a great improvement to the shop, and they’re going to help our customers keep riding.  Thanks again to Patagonia and all the employees who participated in Bike to Work Week, and to Tim and Carter Brothers Hardware.  All of us here at the RBP appreciate  the support.

How Not To Ride A Bicycle Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Kinetic Energy Assisted Bike Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Way cooler than bolting a two stroke lawnmower engine to your beach cruiser.

Via Science Friday.

First stop, Alabama. Second stop, Moon. Friday, April 8th, 2011

We at the Reno Bike Project take our hip little cycling caps off to the team at the Academy of Arts Careers and Technology for their outstanding performance at the 18th annual Great Moon Buggy Race in Huntsville, Alabama.  The team designed, manufactured, and raced a human powered lunar rover to a 7th place overall finish, and bagged the award for Best Rookie Team.  Our friend and esteemed volunteer Dan Ruby (of Dan’s Night fame) served as a faculty adviser to the team.   Here’s a video of the buggy in action.  Nice work, y’all.

Thanks Pedro’s! Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

This is Thad.  You can’t tell, but under that beard he’s smiling ear-to-ear.  Why is Thad so happy?  Because the fine folks over at Pedro’s bicycle tools just did us a solid and sent some brand new floor pumps.  Anyone who hangs around here knows that a brand new floor pump is a rare and fine thing.  Thanks Pedro’s!

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