Financing Now Available!

Big news, that's been a long time coming!

I am sure we can all agree, the sticker price of a new cargobike (or any high quality machine) can sometimes be more then most of us can afford all at once, making it difficult to add a new vehicle to your family's transport options.

After much searching and interviewing of potential partners, we have finally found a financing partner - Financeit - based in Toronto, Ontario that offers fair rates, easy application processes, and no hidden fees or charges. At 12.99% (plus a small account setup fee) their rate is very reasonable and you can take as short or as long as you want to pay off the loan. Of course, paying if off as fast as possible is in your best interest and they make that part easy to with no penalties for early/immediate repayment.

Their app-based application can pre-qualify you in minutes right here in the shop - or - you can submit the forms from the comfort of your own home, at a time that works best for you.

We'll be up-and-running with program starting December 1 2015. If you have any questions about the program, just drop us an email, give us a ring, or pop into the shop when you get a chance.

Felice Ciclismo!

2015 Urban Cycling Gift Guide

Looking for a cycling related gift for the urban cyclist on your list?  We've put together a collection of unique, functional, and stylish ideas to keep your favorite biker rolling.

Abus Helmet

Abus has made a name for itself in our shop for ultra-high quality bike locks but has also been making helmets for years, including the Hyban and Urban V-1 which come stock with a tail light built into the back the helmet and lots of fun colours (as well as few understated colours too).

Lezyne Light

Know for their engineering and design, Lezyne's range of lighting products are easy to use, USB rechargeable, and feature a "gas gauge" which tells you when your battery life is running low. We have plenty of price point options to fit every budget.

Swrve Jeans

Swrve has been our go to trouser supplier for many years now because, quite simply, they fit great, look great, and ride great. There are many styles to choose from - cordura jeans, durable cotton trousers, and even lined/insulated winter pants that will keep you looking good and keep you warm in dry all winter long.

Abus Lock

Bike theft in Calgary is on a meteoric rise these last few years, choosing the right bike lock is more important then ever. Quite simply - if your lock isn't heavy enough to give that crack-addict-bike-thief a head injury - it is also not secure enough. Abus' "Bordo" range of locks meet the above criteria and also come with a handy bike mounted holster making biking/transporting that heavy lock easy and convenient.

Boombotix

Give the gift of music - booming, awesome sounding music that is also water and shock resistant. Riding with tunes is always nice, but instead of headphones and the subsequent "tune-out" of the environment around you, why not consider a Boombotix. Put it on your bike, your backpack, or bring along hiking or camping - Boombotix sound systems are USB rechargeable, Bluetooth compatible, and ultra portable.

Buff

Everyone that cycles through the winter months has their own piece of gear or clothing that makes the difference between being super comfy or downright miserable. For us, that key item is a Buff neckwarmer. Cheap and cheerful, multifunctional, and useful for everything from skiing, waiting for the bus, or cycling to work.

Barmitts

Having a hard time keeping your digits warm in winter? You might want to consider adding a set of pogies to your bike. Barmitts pogies allow you to use a much thinner glove offering more comfort and control throughout the winter. There are models for all styles of bikes - mountain bikes, commuter/city style bikes, and road bikes.

Studded Tires

The ultimate winter cycling product for Calgary's crazy winters. Our notorious freeze/thaw cycle can create really variable road conditions that can change by the hour. Spikey rubber can give you the extra confidence to tackle winter head-on, vanquishing thoughts of crashing or sliding out on ice. Available in most sizes for most bikes on the market.

Gift Cards

Give the gift of...the perfect gift! No more guessing. No more mistakes. Just the promise of something super rad from our shop. Available in any denomination you like.

 

Bikepacking the Bitterroot Loop

A customer of ours turned us onto the existence of the Bitterroot Loop 300km, mostly rail-trail ride while in the store one day, getting his bike tuned up before he headed down to ride it. He was doing it as a 5-day motel-stay tour but suggested it was doable as a 3-day campout as well.

The loop is a combination of the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes, sections of the NorPac Rail Trail, the Route of the Hiawatha, and the Old Milwaukee Road - as well as a short section of highway.

My (Sean's) interest was peaked and a plan was quickly formulated for me to sneak away for 5 days in early October to tackle the ride. The weather forecast looked perfect and the drive down could be done in a day. I left Monday morning, arrived in Wallace, ID that evening, and headed out on the loop Tuesday morning.

Please enjoy this photo essay detailing some aspects of the tour.

The BikeBike Passport Rides - Bow River Explorer

This ride is part of our "BikeBike Passport" rides around Calgary. Complete all the rides earn a special BikeBike prize. 

All rides are mostly off-street/pathway and are of varying lengths/difficulty level to accommodate all of you that love adventures.

The longer routes do require some level of route finding/navigating as Calgary does not yet have very good (well, barely any actually) route finding system. We've attached links to Map My Ride routes to make it really easy to use your smartphone. 

Other rides in the series - 

* Fish Creek Loop

* The Chestermere Run 

* Pathway 100km

The route.

Distance: 31km
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ride Time: 1-1/2 to 2-1/2hrs
MapMyRide Route Link:  http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1177122353

Calgary's First Cargobike Roll Call and Family Picnic

Huge shoutout to all the #cargobike families that joined us for the meetup and picnic! Great fun, and so much inspiration!

Much bocce ball and BBQ was enjoyed, along with discussions with owners of the ins-and-outs of their particular cargobikes.

We're already planning for 2016 - hope to see you there!

 

One Night Out On A Bike

When people talk about bicycle touring the image that come to mind more often then not is something that looks like this - - -

- - - and conjures up images of long, multiple days in the saddle, riding across Canada or some such "crazy" adventure requiring quitting your job, growing dreadlocks, and not having a shower for weeks at a time.

Truth is, touring by bike can be just like that. Or it can be so much simpler and still offer the feeling of being away from civilization - even if it's only for a single night.

New Brand Announcement - XTRACYCLE Cargobikes

My personal journey into the world of cargobikes (and subsequent tumble down the rabbit hole towards creating BikeBike) started in a rather humble way - purchasing a relatively unknown product called the "Freeradical" from a local shop that was going out of business back in 2007.

This humble little add-on that basically transforms a standard bicycle into a "longtail" cargobike completely changed my life and opened doors to worlds I hadn't really dreamed of.

Car-free living in Calgary?! Now totally possible. 

Fostering of a deeper connection to my city? I totally get it. 

Choosing to spend more locally instead of driving halfway across the city to get a "deal" at Costco? Way more satisfying!

And the list goes on to this day.

Tankbike was a revelation that eventually lead me to research the phenomena of cargobikes of all kinds and who/where/why/what were offering them across North America. It didn't take long to see that there were quite a few shops who were focusing on city/cargo/family bikes and before I knew it I was in the midst of an "entrepreneurial seizure" that eventually lead to the birth of BikeBike in 2010.

Tankbike at rest in North Glenmore Park

Easily the heaviest bike I'd ever owned and easily the funnest bike I ever built.

Xtracycle has always had a special place in my heart and now we're finally offering them for sale at the shop!

Things have changed a lot since those early days and so has the products available from Xtracycle. The Freeradical is no longer available (although, there is a new design in the works) but in its place, a complete bike has emerged called the Edgerunner which in our view is the best longtail design available on the market today.

2016 Edgerunner/Bosch mid-drive electric version

Xtracycle has always been a little cheeky :)

There are a few Edgerunner models available, starting with the 24D at the bottom of the range and going all the way up to the Bosch-equipped electric model. One thing that makes these bikes so nice for use in Calgary is they all come with MTB-style gearing and disc brakes out of the box. Super-low gear range for crawling up the many hills in this city and powerful disc-brakes to slow you - and your precious cargo -  down no matter where your travels take you.

We've got a demo model available to try out and/or rent out for a few days if you're interested in a longer-term test.

Bikes are now starting to arrive and more models will be available as they trickle into Canada.

You'll be blown away by how fun these bikes are to ride - loaded or unloaded! 

2015 North American Handmade Bike Show Photoset