Bringing the best in cycling to the head of the field
CALL UP Product / Tech / Trends / Know-How / from QBP and Friends
Winter, BMX, & Gift Guide / Nov/Dec 2014
Adam to c Image fro
IN THIS ISSUE
Tech, Trends & Know-How 6 Elemental Protection: How To Winterize Your Fat Bike 12 The Family That Plays Together 22 A Lifetime Of Cycling In The Balance 30 Last Stop
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Winter, BMX, & Gift Product 4 Winter Tires: Traction Control 10 45NRTH: Cold Rolled 16 Shadow Conspiracy: Get Caught In The Shadows 20 We The People: The People’s Choice 24 Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers Under $50 26 Gift Guide: Holiday Cheer Under $100 28 Gift Guide: Top Of The Gift List $100 And Above
lead out / about this issue
check Res om Marty
End-Of-Season Smorgasbord
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’m Adam Schmidt, one of QBP’s product managers. These “quiet” months, when we’re all catching our breath, provide an opportunity to think about ways to keep people riding all year. To that end, we’re covering a lot of ground in our November/December issue of Call Up. Our feature is on balance bike racing; our tech article is about winterizing your fat bike; and we gathered suggestions from our staff for throwing a customer appreciation party at your shop. For the youngest riders, balance bikes continue to grow as a category and represent a great product to showcase in your shop as the holiday season approaches. During all of the years I worked in a bike shop, I watched kids quickly move from learning balance to two-wheelers. My daughters are out on the mountain bike trails this fall at an early age thanks to the benefits of these cool products. You will see in our feature article that balance bike racing is full of excitement and is helping to fuel the future of cycling. It’s an excellent way to get kids in the saddle when they are young, and keep them on it for a lifetime. At QBP, we’ve also grown our BMX product offerings. We are proud to offer We The People, and to continue carrying successful mainstays like Shadow Conspiracy—both leading brands in the category. BMX is not just for kids. Indoor tracks provide a fun atmosphere for people of all ages, and another chance to keep the legs spinning year-round. BMX is also a great way to ride bikes as a family. For those who can’t stop pedaling during the “off season,” QBP has the fat bike knowledge and gear to conquer the harshest terrain. This issue looks at preparing fat bikes for optimal performance, and highlights some of the great products from 45North, which has become the leader in cold-weather comfort and control with gear that lets riders safely experience the extremes. We all know that without customers, it would be pretty quiet in the shop. An end-of-year customer appreciation event is a nice way to thank your customers for their past year’s worth of business—while sharing your passion for cycling during the slow season. A party can show folks your appreciation for keeping this industry, and your business, moving forward. I hope this time of year is great for you and your family. QBP is proud to have you as a partner and we thank you for your business and continued support of the cycling way of life.
“The ‘quiet’ months of the year present opportunities for new and current customers.”
on this page: Temperatures of 20 below won’t keep CX junkies from racing in the Minnesota State Championship. Photo by Marty Wood
Cover photo courtesy of John Schaubach
CALL UP / Volume 1, Number 10 / Nov/Dec 2014 Published by Quality Bicycle Products 6400 West 105th Street Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 www.qbp.com Customer Service: 800.346.0004 customerservice@qbp.com If you’d like to stop receiving a paper version of Call Up, please contact Customer Service. All brands, trademarks and content in Call Up is the intellectual property of QBP or our vendor partners, all rights reserved. © Quality Bicycle Products, Inc. 2014
Find great ideas for holiday giving in our Gift Guide, pages 24–29.
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Traction Control Slippery conditions won’t stop you from riding, thanks to QBP’s abundant offering of winter tires. Winter-specific treads and rubber
compounds, as well as plenty of confidence-inspiring studs, ensure that you’ll stay upright on those rides with uncertain road conditions. From trail riding to slushy commuting, we have a tire to suit your needs this winter.
Winter Tire Tech Loaded with features, winter-specific tires far outperform regular tires on ice, slush, and snow. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the best tire for your ride.
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What A Stud Metal studs provide the best traction possible on ice, but also weigh significantly more and increase rolling resistance.
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4 6 1 Nokian Suomi Extreme
3 Michelin Star Grip Tire
5 Continental Nordic Spike Winter Tire
TR1103 / KI148N
TR8411 / ML56B
TR9399 / OG108Y
Boasting 294 studded carbide pins for packed snow and icy conditions, and winter rubber tread compound for grip, this tire is a must-have for winter riders.
Super grippy rubber compound and hundreds of biting edges give this tire excellent traction in cold, wet, and icy conditions.
When things get icy, the Nordic Spike is your tire. With 240 hardened steel studs, it keeps you upright in the worst conditions, and the 84 tpi casing keeps things nice and comfy.
2 Continental Top Contact Winter Tire
4 Kenda Klondike Studded Winter Tire
6 Schwalbe Marathon Winter Tire
TR9039 / SJ72H
TR5314 / AV92X
Hundreds of biting edges and sipes allow this tire to keep gripping through slush and slick conditions. It’s the tire for dipping temperatures.
With 100 carbide tipped studs, this tire offers great grip and durability for cyclocross or winter riding, and provides a snow-shedding tread design.
Feel The Pressure With studded tires, tire pressure is key. Run them at a higher pressure for faster rolling, and at a lower pressure for better stud contact.
Increased Ground Adhesion Winter-specific tires use softer rubber compounds for increased traction in cold weather.
TR4940 / SZ96P
Get in control with these 29" tires. The studs work best at minimal pressure, but the tires can be inflated to maximum pressure for normal road conditions with minimal road noise.
Get A Grip
Winter Reflection
Winter-specific tires feature additional siping, increasing the number of edges that grip icy surfaces.
As the days get shorter, the need for added visibility is crucial. Reflective sidewalls achieve this, keeping you safer on your rides.
NOV/DEC 2014 / Winter, BMX, & Gift Guide / 5
Tune up / tech tips and info to boost your know-how
Elemental Protection Mike “Kid” Riemer, marketing manager for Salsa Cycles, has spent a good chunk of time riding bikes in the extreme cold, and knows first-hand how amazing a chilly ride can be—with the right preparation. Here he offers up advice and safety tips to help you focus on the “wonderland” part of winter.
To Stud Or Not To Stud
Cold-Weather-Friendly Cockpit
On snowy trails, I don’t feel studded fat bike tires are all that necessary, at least until late in the season. Once the snow starts to melt and the trails get icy and rutted, studded tires don’t just boost your confidence, they boost your safety and control.
In cold weather you want to avoid contacting metal with your bare hands if at all possible. If you are using pogies and have warm hands, I’d suggest you either switch to grips that don’t use metal lock-on rings or cover them up. I like the ESI foam grips as they seem to stay put and can be cut to length easily. I also like to put Lizard Skins neoprene brake lever covers. They insulate from the metal and are comfortable as well.
If you are a winter commuter, however, you know how bad glare ice can be and how hard that concrete is going to feel when you hit it. That alone is worth the added weight of studded tires. And if you do a lot of riding on frozen lakes and rivers, studded tires can be a great addition. Not to mention, it’s good training for spring!
Product Suggestions HT5310 ESI Chunky Silicone Grips HB6785 RaceFace NEXT Carbon Riser Bar BR1405 Lizard Skins Brake Lever Covers
Product Suggestions TR0006 Surly Nate Tire TR4522 45NRTH Dillinger Studded Tire TR4571 45NRTH Xerxes Studded Tire
Lubrocity My general advice for winter commuters: Don’t bring your bike inside. Keep it cold all winter (locked up outside or in a non-heated garage). This will eliminate thawing and freezing cycles and dramatically decrease the wear and tear on your drivetrain. If you ride in more extreme cold, you may want to switch to a lighter-viscosity lubricant in your freehub and bottom bracket bearings. This will ensure that your freehub pawls will engage, and also remove rotational resistance. The process is not super difficult; it involves accessing hub internals or bearings, removing as much of the existing lube or grease as possible, and then re-lubing with a better cold-weather option. If I owned a shop, I would offer this as a service (hint, hint). Product Suggestions LU2596 Finish Line Ceramic Wet Lube LU3002 Pedro’s Wet Chain Lube LU0006 WD-40 Wet Lube
Find The Right Tire Pressure Finding and setting the optimum tire pressure for winter conditions can turn a “kinda sucky” ride into a great one. Not only will you float better, but you will also have better traction and a smoother ride. More tire pressure doesn’t necessarily mean faster speed. I like to start high—high being very relative of course, say 8 psi. If the bike is riding well, great, but if not, stop and let some air out. Generally, I’ll try to avoid going so low as to start “bouncing,” as truly soft conditions will have your tire casing folding over dramatically. I typically just squeeze my tires to get a feeling of where my pressure is, but those more techy/geeky/concerned might wish to pick up a Meiser gauge that registers extremely low psi.
What If You Flat? Whether you are a winter trail rider or commuter, you should be thinking ahead to how you will handle fixing a flat tire in winter weather. Again, you don’t want to touch bare metal, so you will need gloves. I suggest having a second pair of gloves in your stash that you can put on while changing the flat. You may want to put some insulation around your metal pump or tire levers, as well, to reduce the heat suck. Likewise, if you are sweaty at all, you will quickly become chilled. I strongly suggest having a puffy jacket with you when riding in extreme cold. Put it on immediately and deal with the task at hand. If the temperatures are below freezing, consider carrying your pump closer to your body to keep the O-rings warmer and more flexible. This might mean sewing some extra internal pockets into some of your gear. Product Suggestions PU8161 Crank Brothers SG Mini Pump TL3166 Birzman Wedge Tire Lever Set TU0003 Surly Fat bike Tube
When you take care of business on the front end of the ride, and have the confidence to deal with mechanical mishaps should they arise, winter riding won’t seem as intimidating or drastically different as the rest of your typical riding seasons. With just a little bit of extra preparation, you can thoroughly enjoy riding year-round without any breaks from your favorite thing to do.
And remember, if you set your tire pressure inside your 68-degree house and then haul it outside where it is 10-below zero, your tire pressure will decrease. Product Suggestions PU3008 Meiser Presta Valve Gauge PU6022 Park Professional Floor Pump PU4271 Lezyne Digital Drive Floor Pump
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The good stuff
STAY OUT IN THE COLD Don’t let the weather keep you indoors.
1 Alti Mitts GL0310 / EZ230H Stay warm, protected, and focused on the terrain in the Alti Mitts. Constructed with Gore-Tex, Moonlite Pile fleece, PrimaLoft Gold Insulation, with removable liners.
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2 Filament Pullover JK0909 / RJ260L With an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, the super-packable, DWR-treated, 10D Pertex Quantum fabric sheds moisture too. A year-round go-to piece. 3 Sonic Balaclava CL0951 / QT50L The vapor-permeable Windstopper Fleece offers maximum cold-weather protection. Polartec Wind Pro ear panels allow for better hearing.
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4 Trailbreaker Jacket JK0900 / QF288D Provides the perfect amount of weather protection and breathable warmth. Soft shell body is augmented with waterproof three-layer Pertex Shield+ on the shoulders and hood, areas most exposed to the snow. 5 Crocodiles Gaiters FC8800 / CR86W Waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex upper and super-durable Cordura inner leg and boot cover. Keeps the wilderness out of your boots.
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1 Bar Mitts Handlebar Mittens HT0112 / YD80P Accept no substitutes! Bar Mitts provide coldweather riders the ability to use lighter-weight gloves for better finger articulation inside this element-resistant neoprene. 2 FSA Comet Fat Bike Crank CR6035 / PN188W Ready to upgrade your fat bike crank? The FSA Comet fat crank provides the strength and stiffness that you want, without ruining your holiday budget.
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3 Hurricane Fork Up Fat Bike Roof Rack Adapter AR8055 / ZW104Z This roof rack adapter allows for a 135mm fork on most roof racks.
6 Glacier Glove Premium Cycling Glove GL1424 / QG66X Waterproof neoprene, articulated knuckles, and seamless palms keep you comfortable while keeping the cold or wet weather out.
4 Portland Design Works Mud Shovel Fat Bike Fender FE2714 / GE26D The fattest of fenders for the fattest of bikes. Clip-on mounts allow for ease of installation and fit virtually any bike.
7 Cold Avenger Pro Half Mask CL8391 / WJ60Q Ventilator provides skin and airway protection while allowing unrestricted breathing in cold temperatures.
5 Pearl Izumi Thermal Lite Glove GL0543 / IB24Z This glove is ideal for cool weather or as an insulating layer; the silicone screened fingers offer added grip on the bike.
8 Lazer Armor Helmet HE1300 / NU78Z Lightweight urban helmet features in-mold, single-piece construction and sixteen vents.
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1 Salsa Enabler Fat Bike Front Hub HU8802 / WP150H This 135mm width hub is perfect for a fat bike front wheel. Sealed cartridge bearings, 32h and 6-bolt disc brake ready. 2 Whisky Carbon Fat Bike Rim RM2604 / PU798D The next evolution in fat rims is here. This tubeless ready carbon rim comes in at 70mm wide and can fit up to 5" tires! Includes tape and valve stem. 3 Louis Garneau Snow Shoes XS0010 / OV242I High-performance snowshoe for steep ascents and access to summit.
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4 Salsa Fat Conversion Rear Hub HU8884 / KO290G Styles of fat frames can vary—so should your hub. This rear hub can work for either 170mm QR or 177 thru-axle spacing and comes with sealed cartridge bearings, 32h and 6-bolt disc ready.
6 Salsa Down Under Front Rack RK8002 / KA66A This fork-mounted mid-blade rack allows for better positioning on the front of the bike. Made from aluminum and comes with large pannier hook stops.
5 ICEtrekkers Shoe Spikes OA0408 / JI24F These spikes slip onto your boot or shoe to give extra grip in snowy or icy conditions. Features six points of tungsten-carbide spikes on the ball and heel of the foot.
7 Vee Rubber 8 Fat Bike Tire TR0173 / LN114Y Let me count the ways to get fat: XC tread for swoopin’ singletrack, 120 tpi casing for the ultimate supple ride, and a rubber compound designed for parka weather.
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Cold Rolled When the snow starts flying and the mercury drops, 45North has you covered. The brand’s expertise is in offering the ultimate in comfort and control when it comes to coldweather cycling. Tubeless fat bike tires, studded tires in a variety of sizes, and some of the warmest cold-weather headwear on the market, make 45North the go-to brand for all your winter cycling needs. 1 Vanhelga Fat Bike Tire
5 Greazy Cycling Cap
TR4542 / PD125L
CL0188 / PS40D
Traction at an entirely new level. Designed for loose snow and groomed singletrack with our tubeless ready design to provide a super supple ride quality. Siped treads deliver unparrelled traction. Dual durometer rubber rolls faster and grips in corners.
Conquer the cold with this warm and comfortable cycling hat. Made from 100% Merino wool with fullcoverage ear flap and improved fit.
2 Xerxes Studded Commuter Tire TR4571 / HW75J
Get there faster and easier with an ultra-narrow profile to cut through snow and 140 studs for extreme traction in extreme winter conditions.
6 Toasterfork Balaclava CL0187 / KD32R
When all you need is head and neck coverage, the Toasterfork is your solution. 100% Merino wool, flat-lock stitching and a long neckdrape keep you comfortable on your everyday winter ride. 7 Lung Cookie Extreme Performance Balaclava CL0186 / IJ45H
3 Gravdal Studded Tire TR4573 / VW85S
Our high-performance commuter tire with 252 studs for unmatched traction. 4 Dillinger Studded Fat Bike Tire TR4527 / ZR300Q
The larger cousin of the original studded fat bike tire. With 258 lightweight concave aluminum carbide studs you can have more confidence and control while turning, accelerating or braking on ice and packed snow.
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The first technical cycling balaclava with a brim. Doublelayer 100% Merino wool and flat-lock stitching, combined with a long neck-drape and windresistant nose/mouth coverage, keeps you comfortable in the harshest of riding conditions.
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our team / QBP employee profile
The Family That Plays Together Walt Disney said, “A man should never neglect his family for business.” For many bike shops and their customers, business is family. Putting together a customer appreciation event has a lot of wins. It’s a way to stay in touch with customers, and thank them for their business. Three QBPers have suggestions about how to show your “family” you’re still thinking of them during the time of the year when things slow down.
Homebrew Contest By Nate Swanson, Brand Support
Before working at QBP, I worked for Cycle Works in Lincoln, Neb. We were always looking for different ways to get our customers into the shop just to hang out. Lincoln has a big community of home brewers, and a lot of them were cyclists as well. So I decided to make an event that brought these two hobbies together and created the Bikers Love Beer Homebrew Contest. The criteria for the home brewers were simple: (1) Do you ride a bike? (2) Do you brew beer at home? I reached out to home brewers I knew, but also used the shop’s social media sites to solicit entrants. Each brewer was asked to brew five gallons of beer at 65 International Bittering Units (IBUs) or higher. This was an intentional requirement so that there would be some consistency across the entries. We capped the event at 12 home brewers. Frequent shop customers were sent an invitation to attend, and all brewers were given four tickets to invite personal friends. We kept the scoring simple: Each attendee received a scorecard and was told to rank the 12 beers from their favorite to least favorite. The brewer with the most points would be the winner. The shop donated gift cards to the top three brew winners, and there was a door prize raffle for all attendees who rode their bikes to the event. Door prizes were donated from local businesses and various vendor representatives. The event was a huge success. Staff and customers were able to interact and build relationships over two-ounce samples, the shop attracted new customers, and it was a great way to foster the shop’s connections with community members. My advice for putting on an event like this would be to start planning early. Brewers need months of notice to start 12 / CALL UP / PRODUCT / TECH / TRENDS / KNOW-HOW
crafting their entries. In addition, you need to ensure that your event is in compliance with local laws and ordinances regarding alcohol consumption at your business, and you need to time to engage vendors and build support for your event. Granted, bikers rarely need an excuse to drink beer with other like-minded folks, but some planning and organization will take the event from “people having a good time” to “people have a great time and talking about it for months after asking, ‘When can we do this again?’”
Beer Swap By Scott Haraldson, Sales & Service Training Supervisor
Bikes and beer. How they came to be so closely related I can only speculate—perhaps it is because they both are awesome—but somewhere along the line they became linked. Whether you agree they should be or not, beer can be a great way to bring people into the store, and can create community around your business. Although I’ve long had a fondness for trying new beers, I would consider myself far from a beer snob. I’ve had more than my share of “macro” beers, but I do enjoy a good high-quality beer any chance I get. It was with that desire to try new beers that I launched the idea of a “beer draft.” I took the idea of a standard beer swap and combined it with the idea of a fantasy football draft. Instead of everyone showing up and taking home their six- or 12-pack, they play an active role as they “draft” the beers they get to take home. The scoop: Everyone who takes part must purchase 12 great bottles of beer. They do not all need to be the same—in fact, variety adds to the event. What they do need to be is great. Not sure what great is? I highly recommend using Beer Advocate to check the reviews of a beer you plan to bring. An example of top-tier beer is Toppling Goliath PseudoSue, rated 100/100—world class. Not-so-fancy would be Pabst Blue Ribbon, rated 68/100—poor. Now you may very well love PBR (heck, I’ve had more than my share). I’m not here to say it is a bad beer, but it just doesn’t quite fit into what this event is about. At a few days prior to the event, everyone submits the names of the beers they will be bringing. You then make the list of beers available to participants to allow time to research the beer. The day of the event, draw names from a hat to decide the order for choosing beers. We use what is called a snake draft order, meaning the owner who picks first in the odd rounds picks last in the even rounds in order to keep things fair. I set up a timer to keep participants on track so that the selection process doesn’t go on forever. I did this at Q-Central last year with ten participants. A second event is in the works, and I may end up needing two groups, as the response has been overwhelming. This is a laidback and a social event, and you often meet people you might otherwise not have. And of course, the icing on the cake is the beer I took home.
Movie Night By Zach Fink, Customer Service for Salsa Cycles
One of the best ways my old shop found to develop our community was to host monthly movie nights. We had a multi-purpose area in the basement called the “Expedition Room.” This was an area we had set aside for presentations, clinics, and other meetings of the minds, so to speak. The normal flicks were “get stoked” films—you know the kind: The Collective or NWD (New World Disorder) for the riders, anything from TGR (Teton Gravity Research) or Matchstick for the skiers, Presented by Teva for the paddlers, and the classic Rampage from Big Up for the climbers. Often times you could get in touch with the film’s production team or a brand that sponsored the film, and get a screening copy and some swag to give away. Here’s a pro tip: Be nice when you ask for free stuff, and be able to cite details about what you are doing, the number of expected folks, how you got the word out, and what kind of exposure the brand will get. Be prepared for a “no,” but the effort is worth it when you get inundated with swag from companies that are on board. In a world powered by social media, getting the word out on these kinds of events is easy. Get some screen captures of the film you want to show (with the producer’s permission of course), and ramp up the Facebook shares. Tease the swag, and maybe hold a special sale for the attendees. Our customers used the ticket stubs from raffles at the cash-and-wrap to receive a sweet discount on brands featured in the film. What a great way to keep folks excited about being outside, even in the off months. Things like this turn into a bit of a meet-and-greet for folks who’ve never met but have probably passed each other at the trailhead or lift line a bunch of times. People remove the helmet mask and sunglasses or goggles and get to know the faces and names of people they share similar passions with. Get folks together under one roof, swap stories about the gnarliest crashes, share a few beverages, and fill up on a bunch of junk food. Watch your community grow, and boost some off-season sales from folks that are dreaming about the next season outdoors. NOV/DEC 2014 / Winter, BMX, & Gift Guide / 13
The good stuff
CARPET CRITS GALORE
Keep your fitness strong with trainers and accessories from Kinetic 1 inRide Watt Meter WT1552 / SC200L The Kinetic inRide Watt Meter pairs with Kinetic fluid trainers for power training to measure wattage.
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2 Road Machine 2.0 Trainer WT0022 / IW454R The fluid trainer that is quiet, smooth, and 100% leak proof with a lifetime warranty. The Road Machine is the most popular trainer from Kinetic. 3
3 Trainer Mat WT1516 / VV80D Keep the floor sweat free and reduce vibration with the Kinetic trainer mat. 4 Riser Ring WT1515 / JO34T The Kinetic riser ring comes with four different heights for the rider who wants a level bike or to simulate riding uphill. 5 T-2600 Rollers WT0026 / MG374M New from Kinetic, the Z Rollers. Ready to ride out of the box with tri-fold design to lay flat for nice storage.
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Photo courtesy of Shadow Conspiracy
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5 1 Animal Hamilton Plastic Pedals PD0060 / SI24V Steven Hamilton’s signature pedal in molded resin featuring a concave body for superior pedal feel and pedal body knurls to give extra grip. 2 Subrosa Hold Tight Top-Load Stem SM1804 / ZZ36H Keep those handlebars at the perfect height with this 53mm length topload stem all at a price that is easy to get behind.
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6 5 Animal GLH Tire TR0402 / CF36X Designed with the BMX street rider in mind, this tire’s tread pattern provides excellent grip with tough sidewalls for durability and extra protections during grinds.
3 Subrosa Combat Lock LK0000 / RK24T A short-term retractable lock that fits in your back pocket. What could be better? 4 BSD Safari Pedals PD0300 / IM22K Reed Stark’s pedal designed with extra pins in the impactprone areas so you’ll still have tons of grip even after sustaining abuse.
1 Instigator BK1502 / RP3200K This tough yet well balanced machine offers a substantial 26" tire. It can eat up anything you throw at it all in every season. 2 3.8” Nate Tire — Tanwall TR0046 / QK100X The original name in fat tires now offers a limited edition tanwall option for the 26 x 3.8" Nate. Black Floyd is also available in tanwall.
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6 Odyssey Chase Hawk Tire TR6908 / LC32N The choice and signature tire of Chase Hawk, this is the first slickstyle tire Odyssey has produced. At 2.4", this tire is designed for street, park, and dirt.
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7 BSD Alex D Tire TR0102 / PD40K Tear-resistant casing, smooth center tread for low-rolling resistance and a super squeaky compound. 8 G-Sport Birdcage Rim RM9132 / IT106L This rim has tweaked the recipe for “aero”-style BMX rims. A large, hollow bead helps reduce pinchflats, and the special three-cavity design increases strength without additional weight.
THE FAT TIRE BRIGADE 1
3 100mm Clown Shoe Rim — Bronze RM0048 / BT290D Surly fat rims are available in limited production run colors and sizes and allow for offset and non-offset wheel building. 4 Pugsley SS BK1427 / YE1950A This Pugsley is outfitted for fun: one gear because it’s all you need, Marge Lites and Knards for maximum hooliganry and sizespecific tubing for a tuned ride.
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5 Special Ops Pugsley BK1423 / LI3000X Upgraded spec, a magma hot paint job, and tan wall tires make for a bike meant for truly rad riding.
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Get Caught In The Shadows Chula Grips
Vultus Handlebar
HT8751 / IH11O
HB8730 / ID73Y
Lahsaan Kobza signature grip made from DCR (Dura Choice Rubber) compound.
Available in many rises from 8 to 9.5" and loads of colors.
Interlock Half Link Chain V2
PD8801 / AX16W
CH2226 / ED32D
Low-profile body, 4140 heattreated spindle.
Popular, solid-selling half link chain. Extra wide and heat-treated mushroomed pins, stronger rollers, and heat-treated side plates provide maximum strength and durability. Valor Tire TR8860 / FN30I
110 psi, 2.4 and 2.2" widths available, heavy-duty street tire.
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Ravager Plastic Pedals
Little Ones Peg HU8655 / OQ13E
Made from heat-treated CroMoly and smaller in diameter than most other pegs for reduced weight and less grinding resistance. Anti-spin pin with eight rotation positions and internal butting help extend life of the peg. Drilled for 14mm with 3/8" adapter included. Sold individually.
Give your whip some attitude with new components from The Shadow Conspiracy. The Shadow Conspiracy
has become known throughout the BMX world, not only for its innovative product line, but also for its creativity and attention to detail. An eye-catching, macabre aesthetic full of coffin-shaped packaging and other horror movie – inspired branding really sets Shadow apart from the competition.
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IF YOU’RE NOT FIRST YOU’RE LAST
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1 BOX XE Expert Fork FK3530 / TT360K Strong and lightweight for expert-sized riders. An AL-7075 steerer meets a full carbon crown and legs alongside cold-forged dropouts. 2 Tangent Ventril Number Plate MX7151 / KF24X Hot graphics on a reverse-printed lexan plate, available in four colors in both 6 and 7" models. 3 Promax SQ-1 Square Taper Cranks CR3546 / VX80Z A light, strong, cold-forged crank for younger riders— in sizes from 135 through 170mm.
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4 Rennen Smart Sprint BMX Speedometer CY0100 / YB90T Time your sprints! From 0–20mph or over any distance from 10–1500'. The world’s first BMX-specific cycling computer also includes max speed, trip time and, odometer functions plus more.
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5 Promax Brake Kit BR3650 / QW56I Promax’s Click V-Point lever bundled with a P-1 linear pull caliper in 85 and 108mm lengths and three colors.
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6 Hyper Mission 1 Pro XL Frame FM1913 / QY598W Light, stiff, fast! This double-butted hydro-formed aluminum frame is Hyper’s pride and joy in the BMX race world. Can’t get a podium finish? It’s not the frame’s fault.
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1 2015 Subrosa Altus BMX Bike BK9722 / AW364T A great entry level 20" bike built to ride hard and designed for a younger rider with a 20" top tube.
3 Demolition Rig Cranks CR9191 / HB228N Dennis Enarson’s choice—these cranks have a beefy 24mm spindle, heat treated (and ridged!) CroMoly arms. These things will last.
5 Odyssey Springfield Brake Kit BR9298 / TN36L The one-spring design, Ghost brake pads, and hinged lever clamp make install a cinch.
7 Odyssey Antigram Rear Hub HU5426 / OO236F Light, well-priced, female axle hub, switchable between RHD or LHD to keep the drivetrain away from any rider’s preferred grind side.
2 Stolen Talon Cranks CR9114 / OH100X Tubular CroMoly arms keep things stiff, strong, and straight; at a great price point.
4 BSD Raider Handlebar HB9090 / EX88Z David Grant’s signature bar has a 10" rise, making it one of the tallest rise BMX handlebars QBP offers.
6 ODI Cult/Vans Grips HT9360 / HK14D These grips have Classic Van’s waffle print combined with ODI and Cult’s grip-making wizardry.
8 2015 Stolen Casino BMX Bike BK9838 / HF390D No need to gamble with this bike! Great for the entry-level rider taking it to the next level with a 20.25" top tube and 8.6" tall bars.
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Shadow Conspiracy rider Drew Bezanson at the Texas Toast Jam. Photo by Jay Schlie
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Q-BMX is thrilled to be the exclusive distributor of We The People’s 2015 line.
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1 Curse Complete Bike
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4 Cadence Frame
BK0108 / CB390R
FM3782 / XL376H
Great looking, well spec’d bike with a mix of Salt, We The People, and Éclat parts.
Dan Foley signature frame, made to ride anything and everything you can throw at it.
2 Crysis Freecoaster Complete Bike BK0125 / LS600W
Freecoaster equipped complete bike, full CroMoly frame fork and bars. 3 Prime Complete Bike BK0100 / EQ470M
Top-of-the-line 12" wheeled bike with after-market parts including 3-piece cranks and 2.2125" tires.
7 Mad Max Bar
5 Smuggler Seat SA7904 / RG60P
HB3814 / TD107P
Unique seat with a zippered storage pocket that can hold tools, keys, etc.
Newly redesigned and much taller Max Gaertig Signature Bar.
6 Helix Freecoaster Hub HU4957 / IO177F
High-quality freecoaster hub that will keep you rolling smoothly forward or backward.
The People’s Choice We The People makes some of the most popular premium BMX products. The German
brand is known throughout the BMX world for its industry-leading design and eye-catching aesthetics. Continually pushing the envelope, by using free coasters on a few of their models for example, it’s no surprise that the brand has been one of the best in BMX since the mid-’90s. 5 4
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A LIFETIME OF CYCLING IN THE BALANCE Balance bikes have radically changed how kids start riding. Bypassing the training-wheel stage altogether, many are getting started early. Turns out, learning to pedal is easier when balance and turning have already been mastered. Now, with the advent of balance bike racing, kids can experience the fun of competition in family-friendly events that are growing in popularity.
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hen it comes to balance bikes, Ryan McFarland, inventor, founder, president, and “chief enthusiast” of Strider Bikes, looks at balance bike design the same way any bicycle designer would. “A balance bike is a bike stripped down to its essence, where the sole focus becomes balancing on two wheels and leaning through turns,” he says. “These really are the fundamental skills needed to ride and the very definition of riding.” McFarland notes that, while propelling a bike forward can happen in many ways—by walking (striding), running, or pedaling—the foundational skills are balancing and leaning (steering and counter-steering). The pared-down functionality of balance bikes leads to success for young children, he argues. And success fuels fun, which fuels sales. Strider Bikes sells more than 300,000 bikes annually. Jim Holst, QBP product manager, shares his personal take on balance bikes. “Coming from the bike industry, I pushed my kids into riding at a pretty young age in the ’80s,” he says. “I’d learned to ride with no training wheels on a 20-inch bike at age 7. My boys were riding 16-inch bikes with training wheels by age 5. As I recall, it was one to two years on training wheels before they graduated to riding without them.” Holst saw a pretty drastic difference in the learning curve with a balance bike. “I had a balance bike at my house for my grandkids, which they both started sitting on and trying to ride at 18 months to 2 years, he says.” But because Holst’s son had started with training wheels when he was young, he put Holst’s older grandson on training wheels at age 4. The child rode fairly slowly and tentatively until Holst convinced his son to take the training wheels off. 22 / CALL UP / PRODUCT / TECH / TRENDS / KNOW-HOW
“That led to my grandson’s riding more confidently and much faster,” says Holst. That grandson is now 7 and racing BMX and some mountain bikes. The younger grandson decided when he was 3 that he needed to move on to pedal bikes, and has been riding on a 16-inch bike for two summers. “He is 4,” Holst boasts. “He is most likely going to start BMX racing this winter. All that balance bike history really helps.”
A Day At The Races
Strider Bikes is a company comprised of riding and racing enthusiasts, so it was inevitable that this love of competition would lead the company to develop a racing side of the category. “Kids love to play and socialize with other kids,” says McFarland, “and at this age, racing is exactly that. It is the biggest, best play date ever! It has grown from chalk lines on the sidewalk to a nationally sanctioned race series with USA BMX and other race organizations around the world. Now we have the Strider World Championship, an international competition between the youngest of athletes.” McFarland feels that this is the ultimate feeder to cycling sports. He believes that getting kids out of the stands and onto the track while the intimidation factor is still very low is key to having them participate for years to come. It is also important to have an entry age so young that participation begins prior to other sports that compete for kids’ attention, such as soccer, swimming, and gymnastics. Balance bike races make for a pretty festive and family-friendly atmosphere. The Strider World Championship is weekend of activities including riding, racing, live music, carnival games, good food, sightseeing, charity fundraising,
Photos courtesy of Strider
and more. “The races themselves are the anchors to the event, but the event is much more than just the race,” McFarland says. Families with young children are naturally attracted to Strider events because there are activities for kids as young as 18 months of age. Strider Adventure Zones are free ride and play areas that allow the toddlers to learn at their own pace in a safe but fun environment. As a result of the growing popularity of the races, McFarland notes, the Strider World Championship draws families from as far away as Japan, Ecuador, and Australia. “It brings these families to the U.S. and encourages American children to play and ride alongside other riders from all over the world,” he says. “We will see over 200 toddler riders competing. Japan does this very well. They hold Strider races that draw over 2,000 entries. Due to the overwhelming interest, they have had to use a lottery system to limit the number of toddler Strider racers to 1,000!”
Kids love to play and socialize with other kids, and racing is exactly that. It is the biggest, best play date ever! The novelty of the events, the feel-good cuteness factor, the economic impact, and the demographic of active young families are now drawing the attention of sponsors, such as FedEx, Sony Japan, and Scheels. “We have been going to a number of BMX tracks this summer and we have yet to see fewer than two motos (qualifying rounds) of balance bike racing,” says Holst. “Even a couple races with only ten motos of adults still have two or three motos of the little guys. I’ve seen 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old classes.”
The Future Is Now
McFarland believes that the industry’s embrace of balance bikes can contribute to a secure future for cycling, and not just in a selfor industry-serving way. Balance bikes could help prevent a future health crisis for kids. “With a 21 percent drop in the number of kids riding bikes in the last decade, anything that can be done to get more kids riding should be a top priority for dealers,” he says. For decades, children learned to ride bikes “because the bike represented something fun to do once mastered. And frankly, they didn’t have that many other options. Today’s kids have a hundred other options—and most are more fun than ‘soldiering through the process’ of learning to ride a bike.” A myriad of organized sports now actively recruit 4-year-olds, McFarland says, and TV, video games, and iPhones are commonplace with children as young as 3 years of age. “Cycling has simply been beaten by competition in the race to entry age.” Strider Bikes is a strong contender in this competition for attention. “Riding is now the first activity that a child can become involved with—as young as 18 months of age, the earliest entry age possible. Riding can be again the number-one activity in a child’s life,” he says. “Learning to ride and loving to ride is the gateway to a lifetime of riding—and buying bikes, gear, and accessories.” “Getting kids on balance bikes early cements their relationship to the bike and means they will stay with it for life,” adds Holst. “They may float away at times in their lives but they will come back. We need to grow those young riders or we won’t have a bike industry like we’re used to down the road. When I was young, I felt like every kid rode a bike, now it seems like maybe half.”
See the future of cycling in action— check out Strider’s event locator at striderbikes.com There are four levels of events: • Strider Adventure Zones—play areas, no racing element • Strider Racing— local, regional races promoted by a third party such as BMX tracks • Strider Championship Series—exclusive national series promoted by Strider parent company • Strider World Championship— exclusive annual pinnacle event promoted by Strider parent company Find your local BMX track through USABMX.com
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Cyclist’s Holiday Guide The holidays are a time for family, celebrating, and finally getting that Quarq crankset or that Boombotix Rex wireless speaker that you’ve had your eye on. Whether treating yourself or buying for loved ones, QBP has a great selection of gift ideas that’s sure to check something of your list.
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1 Pace Sportswear Herringbone Merino Wool Cap CL3653 / LH42C Stylish cycling cap. 100% Merino wool, 4-panel design; one size fits all. 2 Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance MA3473 / HJ34F A definitive source that walks through most aspects of bicycle maintenance. 3 Black Diamond Gizmo Headlamp OL2023 / BU28K Three LEDs at 35 lumens, water resistant and AAA battery powered.
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4 Lazer Max+ Helmets HE3304 / EG42P Eleven vent in-mold helmets with playful designs kids love.
7 Strider Ski Attachment WE0294 / ED40G New ski attachment transforms bike for winter fun by strapping skis onto the wheels.
5 Subrosa Combat Light Set LT0100 / GR34K Bright, tiny, and easily stored, these lights keep riders visible on dark streets.
8 DeFeet Woolie Boolie 6" Sock SK5822 / DZ20X Fantastic for cold weather; Merino wool and abrasion-resistant yarns.
6 Mechanical Threads Bike or Die T-shirt CL9071 / HN26N Heather gray cotton t-shirt for luxurious comfort, perfect for bike lovers.
9 Jelly Belly Beananza EB3140 / BX22D 40 flavors to indulge in; a wonderful gift for the jelly bean lover in your life. 10 Stanley 8 oz Classic Flask WB2600 / EL34F Rugged and durable, slips easily into a pocket or pack. Available in several colors.
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Stocking Stuffers Under $50 Fun extras to keep them enjoying the outdoors
11 Park Tool PZT-2 Pizza Cutter TL8322 / CW18P This sharp, larger-diameter, stainless steel pizza cutter will impress everyone with how precise each slice is carved…oh yeah, it’s a bike too! 12 Trigger Point Grid STK Foam Roller TA1044 / EZ46I An essential tool for winter trainers, this foam roller channels nutrients directly to the tissue for health, mobility, and muscle recovery after winter workouts. 13 Park Tool Bottle Opener TL8267 / UR8D A must have for any mechanic or cycling enthusiast—open your bottles with the most trusted name in cycling tools.
14 CRKT K.I.S.S. Folding Knife OA0212 / KF44U A great gift idea—the minimalist K.I.S.S. is slim and compact, and doubles as a money clip. 15 Surly Hip Flask MA1620 / DH32O This stainless steel flask is perfect for anyone that needs a convenient place to put 6 oz of their favorite drink. 16 SockGuy Sriracha Wool Sock SK6892 / BL14E SockGuy brings hot sauce to your feet with this Sriracha branded TurboWool crew sock. Stink resistant and itch-free.
17 SmartWool Ski/Commuter Ultralite Sock SK4230 / VU24D Warm and comfortable, this will be a favorite cold weather riding sock. Bi-elastic fit bands provide faster flex and recovery, while strategically placed mesh ventilation zones keep moisture out. 18 Wigwam Merino Wool Comfort Hiker Sock SK4588 / QB16G Make your favorite cyclist’s feet happy with the comfort of Merino wool! These calf-length socks are ideal for cold-weather activities.
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Holiday Cheer Under $100 Great gifts that won’t break the bank
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1 Boombotix Rex Wireless Boombox EC0518 / ZP80D Blast tunes and take calls on a ride to wherever. OK to use in light rain and snow—and perfect for groovin’ all the while. 2 Wahoo PROTKT iPhone Case EC4070 / IB66D This iPhone 5/5s case is the ultimate protection against weather, sweat, and impact on a bike. Glass screen allows full function of screen; comes with bar mounts.
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3 Lazer Revert Winter Cycling Helmet 5 KaZAM Balance Bike Blue HE2910 / CU70E TW4348 / TU128A Great for winter fat biking! Features removable Help increase confidence and winter liner with ear pads, and plugs to coordination with this steel frame balance close vents for cold weather—plus multiple bike. The step through design offers low thickness padding for customized fit. stand-over and a foot rest for coasting. 4 Éclat Vent Guard Sprocket CR0883 / KR66W This sprocket provides chain protection from grinds, a hollow-cut 3-spoke design for weight savings, and a smooth, stylish look that is 100% CNC-crafted.
6 Éclat E-Tool Multi-Tool TL0703 / DP97A At just over 7" long, this multi-tool gives a BMX rider all of the essentials to adjust and fix their bike on the go with the ability to pack every tool back into itself.
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7 Pearl Izumi Elite Softshell Glove GL7731 / EE70Z Padded palms, fleece lined interior, and conductive synthetic leather on thumb and index finger for phone use. 8 Baco Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray Boxset VI0001 / KQ84Y A must-have for any BMX collection. Set includes the entire Baco series from 1990–2004, hours of bonus content, and a brand new documentary. 9 CRKT Ignitor Folding Knife OA0216 / HB66J Features a 3.4" blade, and CRKT’s Outburst assisted opening.
10 Brunton Heatsync Vital USB Powered Warmer Vest BL0300 / PT98R Under-the-jacket heating system designed to keep riders warm in winter’s harshest conditions. Powered by any 2.1 amp battery (not included). 11 Brunton Heatsync Hot Seat USB Powered Warmer Chair OC0700 / VH122I More than just a folding chair, this heated seat is perfect for cool nights or cold conditions. Powered by any Brunton 5V/2.1amp power bank.
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12 Éclat Mercury Stem SM0261 / PA70M Stem boasts a unique shape to save weight, micro-6mm bolt heads, a top cap recess for flush mounting, and an offset steerer clamp design to hold tighter. 13 Brunton Heavy Metal Portable Battery EC0315 / BT94N Super-sleek portable battery that provides power for all of your devices while on the move. 2.1 amp output. Compatible with phones, GPS, tablets, and more.
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1 Quarq Elsa RS Power Meter Crank CK4236 / CS2242R New Quarq model accepts Shimano 11-speed 4-arm road chainrings. New for 2015, cadence is measured using accelerometer technology—no magnets needed! Same hollow carbon arms and user-friendliness as the other Quarq cranksets. 2 Craft Men’s Active Extreme Windstopper Long Sleeve BL4776 / HP142S Made with Gore Windstopper fabric, this frigidweather essential boasts body-mapped wind protection on shoulders and torso, providing a shield in fair and windy weather.
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3 Garmin Vivofit Fitness Band EC8674 / WQ202Z Comes in a variety of colors. Inactivity bar tells the wearer they’ve been sitting too long and to get up and move.
5 Campagnolo Bronze Corkscrew MA9204 / MM338H Grazie mille! That’s what they’ll be saying when this beautifully made corkscrew comes out. Great as a gift for the wine lover in your life.
4 Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike TW4409 / SY140Z Keep the kids rolling with Strider’s nomaintenance tires and lightweight steel frame. A larger padded seat is included, as well as a longer seat post for taller children.
6 Burley MyKick Balance Bike TW3001 / PG160W Get the little one acquainted with the twowheeled world sooner. MyKick offers an adjustable balance bike that quickly teaches kids to balance and coast.
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Top Of The Gift List $100 and above MSRP
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Fulfill their holiday wish list
7 Outdoor Tech Privates Wireless Headphones EC0016 / BH136B Bluetooth-compatible, touch pad interface, a microphone and rechargeable battery. 8 Lazer Dissent Winter Cycling Helmet HE2903 / ZN140R Great for winter fat biking! Features removable winter liner with ear pads and adjustable venting, plus Lazer Rollsys retention system. 9 Suunto Core Premium Watch CY0790 / BF548U This watch offers the Core’s weather, compass, and altimeter features in a stylish and extremely durable aluminum version.
10 Wahoo RFLKT Plus Bike Computer EC4082 / FX172V This cycling computer allows control of iPhone music, apps, and workout remotely and has ANT+ connectivity as well. Fully configurable screen and wireless upload of ride data to training sites. 11 Silca Super Pista Ultimate Floor Pump PU5600 / PV534P Why settle for anything less than the best? Silca’s new premium pump offers amazing pressure accuracy, build tolerances, and overall beauty with complete serviceability.
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Last stop
Lake Superior shoreline at Big Bay State Park, February 2014. Negative temperatures couldn’t keep Wisconsin Bike Fed deputy director Dave Schlabowske and Fyxation owner Nick Ginster from enjoying an other-worldly ride at the ice caves. Photo by Julian Kegel, @ juliankegel.com
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
6400 West 105th Street Bloomington MN 55438
Inside: Your QBP Holiday Gift Guide
PAID
TWIN CITIES, MN PERMIT No. 27370