Remodel complete

While it still just looks like the mechanic area of a bike repair shop, we're real proud of our mini-winter-remodel a couple of weeks ago.

Stuff that was piled on Ian's floor, piled on Ian's bench.

Aaron and Clinton moved most/all of the other stuff that was taking up floor space. 

Where'd all the stuff go? Down on the sales floor, one of the many reasons we had to close for the process.

We all met Monday morning, caffeine in hand, to tackle the carpet removal.

With everything moved, it became so much easier to see just how disgusting the carpet had become over 3 years of mechanickery.

 It's so satisfying to see a transformation like this, tearing up the carpet and padding and tack bars and staples and all, ah. . . accomplishment!

 And suddenly a ninja appeared.

 Pry bars and hammers were necessary to get all the tack bars detached.

 After dozens of rounds of sweeping, Ian and Clinton decided the floor was sufficiently prepped for the floor sealer, which meant it was time to don shoe booties to avoid tracking any dust/dirt upstairs.

 Everything's back in place and we added some shelving units. And hopefully the new shelves will aide in better organization versus just more stuff.

Shelves! Oh, btw those stacked rims are all tubular rims that we would l-o-v-e to sell. Get in touch if you're interested ABetterCycle [at] gmail [dot] com.

Closed for mild remodeling next week.

We're redoing the mechanics' flooring upstairs, and it's going to be a giant project of tearing up old carpet, sealing, waiting, sealing and waiting. At the end, it will be worth it, but we're going to need some time to work and then let it all air out so:

we will be
CLOSED
for mild remodeling
on
MON Jan 17
TUE Jan 18
WED Jan 19

normal hours will resume
(if everything goes as planned)
THUR Jan 20

We are sorry for the inconvenience

New Product! M.U.T.s from Randi Jo Fabrications

Check these out. A multi-use tote (M.U.T.) for storing bits and bobbles, cans or bottles. The most awesome feature is the versatility of mounting.

photos courtesy of Randi Jo Fabrications

You can: 
A// slide it into an unused water bottle cage (a special pocket slides over the bottle cage lip to help secure in place)
B// use the velcro straps to mount it under your saddle, or
C// mount it on your top tube (secure to your head tube to keep in place).

Rachel's favorite is a tie between the turquoise and red, and the teal and orange.

Handmade, storage goodness is yours for just $24 ea. Made lovingly by hand in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Curious Hours for this Week

A list of early closings and closures for these weeks leading up to the turn of the new year! (which kind of sucks that the new year always comes in during the dead of winter yah? Oh to be in the southern hemisphere where you can go to the beach and celebrate in the sun!)

Dec 24th: We're closing early.
Dec 25th, 26th: Closed
Resume normal hours Dec. 27th
Dec 31st: we're closing early.
Jan 1: Closed

Resume normal hours Jan. 2nd
Jan 3: Closing early for inventory

Bike Cozy back in stock!

If you're looking for a Bike Cozy small tool roll, we now have all sorts of colorways back in stock including neutrals and binding colors beyond pink!

merry-go-rounds of locally made goods

I was surprised when Ian called me (at home) from the shop yesterday saying I needed to bring more tool rolls by. "The only ones you have here are houndstooth with pink, red with pink, purple with pink and grey with pink and green."  I tagged and packed up the rest of my stock from Crafty Wonderland, including my two medium tools rolls and biked them on down.

Also back in stock, the tool kits to go with the Bike Cozy tool rolls. And! Colors of toe cozies available only at A Better Cycle.

Super water resistant toe cage covers in lots of colors.

Also, we have A Better Cycle t-shirts for sale so you can show your love while out and about. $15. sizes s,m,l

Last minute holiday presents? We just stocked up on lots of Black Star Bags goodness including hip pouches (with reflective and applique options), bill folds and top tube protectors. And as always, A Better Cycle gift certificate makes a great present (and they're real good looking because I used all my good design sense on 'em)

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Happy 3rd Anniversary/Birthday to Us! We've always been pretty low key with celebrating our anniversary, Ben used to buy a cake and we'd all eat that happily. This year we've had a change in the guard. Ben is now driving a school bus professionally, and Spencer Callahan has joined the A Better Cycle crew. There hasn't been a cake yet, but I'm still hopeful!

It's no simple feat to keep all the gears oiled and moving, we're six worker/owners working on a consensus basis and this makes us a family. Thank you to everyone that has been supporting us, our customers (hey, without you, we wouldn't even be here!) as well as our loved ones at home that have been amazing through everything. A special thanks to those three lenders that loaned us the start-up capital allowing A Better Cycle to open its doors three years ago in 2007.

While winter may seem like a funny time to have opened a bike shop, it was a nice way to ease into the swing of things and we're going into our 4th winter this year. As more bike shops are springing open all over the city, it's really a special thank you we owe to our loyal customers who, by loving their bicycles and treating them right, are also showing us love by spending local and supporting our small business.

Thank you very, very much,
Rachel, Ian, Clinton, Spencer, Tim, and Aaron

Bike Cozy and North St Bags at Crafty Wonderland

Even if you missed BikeCraft this weekend, you still have a chance to get lots of handmade goodness for holiday presents this weekend at Crafty Wonderland.

You'll have the chance to see our Rachel showcasing all her BikeCozy Goods (including her new Medium tool roll, and lots of toe cozies and small tool rolls). Also,  Curtis of North St Bags will be there (booth #172) and he is celebrating the 1 year anniversary of North St Bags with a 15% off sale!

People kept asking about a larger tool roll and Rachel has delivered!

Some of the styles Curtis makes. photo courtesy of BikePortland.org

There are going to be 200 handmade vendors, and you'll be able to gets presents for lots of loved ones on your lists.

PS Come see Rachel and Ian at Bike Cozy's booth (#137) and you can purchase A Better Cycle gift certificates for 85% the face value (ie $100 gift certificate will only cost you $85!) only available Saturday and Sunday at Crafty Wonderland.