News

2013 Masi Gran Criterium was $2075, now $1695!

2013 was a great year. It may be over, but its legacy carries forward in the form of 2013 closeout bike models. We have a few choice selections remaining. One of the best is last year's Masi Gran Criterium. It is a full-on lugged-steel road bike with a Shimano 105 group and a lightweight wheelset. The frame is made with Reynolds 525 steel and the geometry is classic race with tight wheel clearance and no rack eyelets.

The Masi Gran Criterium has a pretty epic heritage. And although I can't say that Masi is the same company that it used to be, they still make excellent bikes and are one of the few companies making an out-of-the-box lugged steel bike with race geometry.

Faliero Masi getting in a quick brake adjustment.

Gran Criterium Details: • Lugged Reynolds 525 chromoly frame • Clement Strada LLG 700x25c tires • Shimano RS10 wheelset • Ritchey Comp 27.2 seatpost • Prologo Scratch Pro saddle • Shimano 105 shifters, front and rear derailleurs • Ritchey Comp bar / Ritchey Comp stem • Shimano 5700 cassette, 11-28t, 10-speed • FSA Gossemer Pro crankset 50-34 with Mega EXO BB • Shimano 105 brake set Come test ride one today -- all sizes are still available.

We always have a huge stash of last-season clothing for your riding pleasure at the shop. Come in and check out our 40% off racks for men's and women's riding apparel. We are you Huckleberries!

We are really excited to have a new women's clothing line represented at the shop, Iladora. Based here in San Francisco, Iladora has finally done what so many have tried to do, create the perfect women's bike pant. Have they done it? You will have to come on down to Huckleberry Town and try on a pair. Here are the specs on the pants, from Iladora.com: Our Perfect Bike Pant is designed for bike commuters to withstand the every day activity with a sleek, fashionable cut you can wear in the office. Featuring the ideal amount of stretch, strategically placed seams, and all-weather fabric, this durable pant makes your daily commute better than ever before - and doesn't stop once you hop off your bike. Lovingly made in San Francisco. FEATURES 4-way stretch Durable water repellency to keep you dry 93% abrasion resistant Nylon, 7% Spandex Midweight textured woven Invisible side zipper Contoured and fitted waistband to fight gapping Raised rear waistband for ample coverage Strategically placed seams to avoid chaffing Reinforced seams for durability Magnetic cuff roll to protect pant from chain grease Lightweight, moisture wicking 100% Polyester pocket lining Eco-friendly bluesign® certified fabric

Surly continues to impress us with their tried-and-true bike lineup. For the new year, we've once again gotten a few six-packs of Surlies for your riding enjoyment. This year Surly came out with a new and improved version of the Surly Cross Check. It's called the Straggler. In addition to the sweet new paint job--Glitter Dreams!--the biggest improvement is the addition of disc brakes. Yep, the old Cross Check, which has long been one of the most popular all-purpose bikes on the streets of San Francisco, now has younger brother with better brakes.

Surly Straggler. $1775.

The old Surly Cross Check still survives for 2014, this year in black or green. The Cross Check is one of those great all-around bikes that you can take to work, take on a long ride, or take on the trails.

Surly Cross Check. $1250.

Also still around, hopefully for years to come, is Surly's heavy-duty touring rig, the Long Haul Trucker. We recently outfitted a group of fine young Australian men with four of these beauties for their epic surf/tour ride from San Francisco to somewhere in South America. They are doing exactly what you want to do with one of these bikes -- riding, camping, and hittin' the surf. Since last year, the Long Haul Trucker has come in either a cantilever brake set-up or a disc brake set-up. They are also available in either a 700c wheelset or a 26" wheelset.

Surly Long Haul Trucker. $1350

Last but not least, the new 2014 Surly Pacer is a huge upgrade from previous years. Surly has ditched the bar-end shifters on set this bike up with a Shimano 105 group. O hell yes. A great bike for commuting and long rides across the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacer continues to impress!

Surly Pacer. $1850.

We stock all of these bikes on our sales floor, with the exception of the Pacer. But don't worry, if it is a Pacer that you want, it is a Pacer that we will get for you. Call, e-mail, or better yet, just come in and check out a new Surly.

We're having a Holiday Sale down here at Huckleberry Town. Now is the best time to get great deals on Bags, Shoes, and Apparel. Get the lowdown here. In addition to the great deals on gear (yes, we have gear), we are offering some deals on bikes that range from sweet to super-sweet. Sweet: All 2014 bikes are 10% off. That's right folks. From now until December 31 11:59:59pm you can save 10% off all current bike models. We have a wonderful selection in stock, but if we don't have what you're looking for we can order up for you and still give you the sale price!! [caption id="attachment_3915" align="alignleft" width="600"] Glitter Dreams, the Surly Straggler[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3916" align="alignleft" width="600"] Giant TCR, Now Available at the World's Smoothest Giant Dealer--Huckleberry Bikes![/caption] Super-Sweet: Our Bike Closeout List has just been updated and man do we have some amazing deals for you. For the complete list of closeout bikes click here. We have the Civia Twin City discounted 20-40% off. The 2012 Twin City 7speed is just $495, was $850. And all 2013 Twin Cities in stock are 20% off. Super-Sweet! [caption id="attachment_3917" align="alignleft" width="600"] Super-Sweet Deals on all Civia Twin City Bikes[/caption] We have the 2013 Cannondale SuperSix Evo Ultegra Di2 marked down From to $4700 to $3300. And the 2013 SuperSix Evo Red is marked down from $4000 to $2900!! HoHoHo Wow!! [caption id="attachment_3918" align="alignleft" width="600"] Our few remaining Cannondale Evo Closeouts are INSANELY SWEET!! [/caption] Planning a trip? The Vaya Travel has frame couplers that make it the perfect travel bike. We have the 2013 Vaya Travel marked down from $4000 to $2995!! Use the extra thousand smackers to buy yourself two tickets to paradise! [caption id="attachment_3919" align="alignleft" width="600"] Got Two Tickets to Paradise? Pack the Vaya Travel in your bags and leave tonight![/caption] And let's not forget the kids. Christmas is all about kids, and we don't plan to disappoint. All Kids' Bikes are 20% off! [caption id="attachment_3920" align="alignleft" width="600"] All our Kids' Bikes are 20% off. HoHoHo WOW!![/caption] Those are just a few ideas for your Santa list. Come on down to the shop and we'll help you figure out the rest. We are your Huckleberry.

Just look at that warm shop glow. Those aren't special effects, that's the heat of a holiday sale getting started. Come in from the cold, open your ears to the sounds of Phil Spector's Christmas album, and check out these savings! 20% off all Apparel (select Apparel up to 40% off) 20% off Bags 25% off Shoes (select DZR Shoes 40% off) 10% off Bikes (select Bike Closeouts up to 40% off) OMG. Even bikes are on sale, people! Tell everyone! We have the best selection of bikes you could possibly ask for, so don't waste your time, don't stall, don't dilly-dally, get yer butt on a bike. Here we go.

Perhaps a Salsa Vaya?

Perhaps a Giant TCR?

Perhaps maybe even just one little baby Brompton?

Or maybe a sweet bikes isn't right for this holiday season. It could be the year for that backpack or bike-friendly purse. We've got 'em.

Check out these new colors for the lovely Brooks Pickwick.

Is that the Chrome bag you've looking for but couldn't find for the camouflage?

But maybe even a bag isn't what you are looking for. Maybe you want to dapper up your man or woman with some new clothes. Or maybe you want to give yourself the gift of dapper.

Consider PedalEd. They kinda make the nicest jacket ever...

How about these new ladies' biking pants from Iladora?

Try a little Giro New Road BBHD vest.

Or maybe get crazy with some Levi's.

OF course nothing says loving like a pair of shoes.

We always have a great selection of DZR shoes for commuting or touring.

Look at the cleats on those Chrome shoes in front of our shop! But that is certainly not all. I can only begin to list all of the great things we stock up at Huckleberry Town. Here are a few more images to get you going.

[slideshow][/slideshow] When I think of Giant Bicycles, I think of the first bike I purchased in my adult life: a used green mountain bike, circa early 90s. I bought it from a friend in college, Ronnie Weed. Yeah that was his name. I'm think fellow Huckleberry and college buddy, Jonas, almost bought Ronnie's bike as well. But it came into my possession, along with a $175 motorcycle, but that is another story. That was about 1997. And it took me about 15 years to realize how great that bike was. Not great like the modern Giant road bike you see pictured above, but great like grunge music. You know, it was all the rage in the nineties, then it lost favor, and now plaid shirts and crusty old sweaters are back in fashion. The fact is, the mountain bike craze of the 90s actually produced some sweet bikes that I would use to commute with today. Sturdy 26" rigid mountain bikes. Put some slicks on it and--bingo bango presto--you are ready to roll to work.

The 1989 Giant Escaper. The paint used to be way cooler, but that's the only thing.

After using that bike year-round in Chicago and Ann Arbor, I sold it, bought an old steel Bianchi, and started "road biking." I guess that was when I really got interested in bicycles and cycling. The old Giant was like a gateway drug -- dependable, fun, not too bad for you... now I'm hooked. And so I'm pretty darned excited that Huckleberry Bicycles, the World's Smoothest Cannondale Dealer, is now also the World's Smoothest Giant Dealer. Our smoothosity knows absolutely no bounds! (Kenny Loggins you know what I'm talking about here.) I mean, granted, these new Giant bikes may be a bit different from that old green Giant, but the same thing still holds true with Giant: they make dependable bikes, and they make A LOT of them -- that brings the costs down for customers, but the quality is superior. And so, here are the Giant bikes we have in stock right now for your enjoyment:

TCR Advanced. $4475

The TCR is Giant's performance/race platform. Giant is arguably the leader in carbon and composite technology--and so they actually make the frames for a lot of major brands. Here's what they have to say about this bike: "Using lightweight, race-proven Advanced-grade composite material, Giant builds every TCR Advanced frame by hand with its innovative, race-proven Compact Road geometry. Lightweight, stiff, and quick to accelerate, it features Giant’s OverDrive 2 steerer tube design for precision steering and handling. The MegaDrive downtube and toptube combination, along with the PowerCore bottom bracket, produce a razor-sharp, super-efficient ride quality that’s often imitated but never duplicated." In English, this bike kicks ass. The TCR Advanced, pictured above, comes with an Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting kit and retails for $4475.

TCR Composite 1. $2550.

The TCR Composite 1, pictured above, and Composite 2 are the same geometry as the TCR Advanced, but the frames are made from a slightly heavier compound than the Advanced. Equipped with Ultegra, the Composite 1 runs $2550 and the Composite 2, which is equipped with Shimano 105, is $1850.

Defy Advanced 1. $3000

Unlike the TCR, the Defy is Giant's endurance platform. A more relaxed frame geometry provides comfort as well as high performance on those all-day rides or group rides, like Aids LifeCycle. Giant makes a carbon Defy, the Advanced pictured above, and aluminum allot Defies as well. Here's the gobbldy-gook from Giant about the Defy Advanced: "This bike was designed to meet the dual demands of hard, fast races and long, grueling rides. Its Advanced-grade composite frame features endurance geometry with the perfect blend of light weight, stiffness and road-smoothing compliance. The OverDrive 2 steerer tube boosts front-end stiffness and precision. The PowerCore bottom bracket turns your power into positive forward motion. And the RideSense ANT+ sensor for wireless data transmission keeps you informed of your progress." Note the key phrase here: "road-smoothing compliance." The World's Smoothese Giant Dealer would have it no other way.

Defy 1. $1300.

The Defy 1, is a nice entry-level alloy road bike for those of you looking to get started road biking, want to get a nice set of parts, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg. If you don't need something that nice, we also carry the Defy 2 for $1075 and the Defy 3 for $880.

Avail Composite 1. $2400

One of the nicer aspects of Giant is the attention that they give to women's bikes. In years past many brands of done the ole' "pink and shrink." That's basically taking a men's bike, making it smaller, and putting pink on it. Well there is still a lot of pink in the women's bike industry, but Giant is one of those brands that puts a little more thought into women's bikes. In fact, Giant launched a new brand Liv/Giant that focuses entirely on women cyclists. And some of the best professional women cyclists ride Giant bikes! The Avail series is Liv/Giant's women-specific endurance bike. The Avail Composite pictured above is a super-smooth bike equipped with an Ultegra Group. As Giant says: "The handcrafted endurance-geometry frame, made with Giant Composite Technology, is designed specifically for women riders with Liv/giant’s 3F philosophy." What is 3F philosophy? Fit, form, function specifically for women. Also available in the Avail series and in stock are the Avail 2 for $1075 and the Avail 3 for $950.

Seek 1. $1075.

For the commuter, city, or neighborhood rider we now get to offer one of our favorite bikes, the Giant Seek 1. Look at the bomber tires on this thing! Throw in some disc brakes and a super burly construction, and this is one of the best San Francisco bikes ever! Seriously smooth.

Giant Escape RX. $1075.

Also in the commuter category is Giant's excellent Escape series. Although I prefer the former name "Escaper" the Escape is a much more advanced bike for getting around town, across the Golden Gate bridge, through the park, wherever. The RX level Escape is made with Giant's ridiculously smooth and light ALUXX aluminum. Like Whoa! But we also carry the Escape 0 at $870 and the Escape 1 at $650. Well, that is all for now folks. But if you made it this far and learned a little bit about Giant bikes, then here's a parting gift of smoothness just for you:

Since we opened our doors over two years ago, music has played a vital role in the shop. The fantastic duo of Daryl Hall and John Oates have graced our hi-fi more than any other artist or group. Hall and Oates have at least one album in their catalog to cover any type of mood we are feeling. I was a bit skeptical at first. Hall and Oates? Seriously? I knew the hits, heard them a million times on the radio or at parties, but really- Hall and Oates? We were more of an 80's heavy shop in the earlier days. What I once thought of as goofy and tongue in cheek, now sounded fresh  and exciting. The burgeoning electronic element in pop music was an earnest exercise by the musicians involved, and I came to appreciate the forward looking mindset. Hall and Oates encapsulated that weltanschaaung. They changed with the times. Always looking ahead, while not losing grasp of what made them successful in the first place. They had a sense of humor fit for the 80's, and as you will see below, they had it in spades. Hall and Oates started off as a funky, blue-eyed soul group out of the mid-Atlantic. The music could be smooth as silk at one moment- bass and drums locked in place, acoustic guitars and synthesizers shimmering on top. Funky, fuzzy wah-wah guitar lines enter and the music at once becomes frenetic and excitable.  Early Hall and Oates, personified on the classic Abandoned Luncheonette album, was very much a product of the 70's. Who knew the group would be able to evolve into the 80's juggernaut they ended up becoming. Here are two videos from 70's era Hall and Oates. When asked to lip sync on TV, the duo instead decided to create a performance art piece. A music video in its infantile stage, "She's Gone," showed the group's sense of humor and creativity. [embed width="500" height="400"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZZngTkp54I[/embed] For educational purposes, here is how the band could totally blow minds live when offered the ability to sing and play instruments on TV. Unfortunately this amazing video of the band performing "Lady Rain" doesn't allow embedding, so you'll have to click on this link. With the 80's came a slicker sound. The group perfected the craft of the danceable, upbeat radio hit. Starting with Private Eyes, I am struck by how easy they make it sound. The harmonies sound so perfect. The transitions so textbook. At first I was a little put off by the effortlessness of the sound, but after repeated listens I came to appreciate that the group had a sound that was paradoxically generic, yet absolutely their own. 80's Hall and Oates also provided us with a wealth of incredible music videos. Let us look at a few gems from the era. Keep in mind there are many, many more out there. [embed width="500" height="400"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmIORSHC2oY[/embed] (Sucker for a high-slung bass) This next one may be my favorite tune from Hall and Oates (so what if its's a cover). The video delves into the serious issue of infidelity in our newly realized digital age. [embed width="500" height="400"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKvJ7bvNxfY[/embed] Last but certainly not least: [embed width="500" height="400"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cggi9STVWDs[/embed]      

Thursday night's event was recently featured in Bicycle Retailer Magazine. Sweet!

We're not too surprised about this one. Cycling Plus just named the Cannondale Synapse 5 their Bike of the Year. As a cyclist initiated into the world of modern road bikes with a Cannondale Synapse (and as a Cannondale dealer), I can't help but agree. We stock this bike, in Men's and Women's. You definitely need to take a test ride. But, first, here is the review to get you stoked:
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In addition to our super sweet selection of the world's smoothest brand newest 2014 bikes from Cannondale, Giant, Pinarello, Surly, Salsa, Felt, Masi, Brompton, and Handsome, we also have a radically superlative selection of ludicrously priced closeout bikes. Those are the same beautiful, new, untouched, un-ridden bikes, but they are from, y'know, last year. So to make room for the new super sweet stuff, we closeout the old bike models. Boy, I hope all that hyperbole somehow drives up traffic. C'mon SEO! So for the lucky and savvy ones, we still have a lot of great deals to be had on closeout-model bikes. Here are a few models that we are still sitting on from last year that are priced to go. "They gotta go!"

2013 Cannondale SuperSix EVO with SRAM Red. Was $4000, now $2900. Sizes 58cm and 63cm.

2013 Masi Gran Criterium. Was $2070, now $1695. Sizes 51cm, 53cm, 56cm.

2013 Civia Twin City 8-Speed. Was $1000, now $795. ONE LEFT!

But those are just a couple of models that we have IN STORE. If you check out our updated closeout list, you will see that we can get A LOT of different bikes for you at closeout pricing. Take a look at the list here, and get in touch with us if you want more details.

The rain clouds are gone. At least they were until this morning... But the cycling season has commenced, and total consciousness has been achieved. So let's get riding. One of the best ways to get into cycling, meet new people, and just feel good is to join an event ride. Some of you joined us recently for the informational sessions we held here with Aids LifeCycle and Waves to Wine--two of the coolest organized rides in the area. Many thanks to the attendees -- don't forget to sign up! To get you going on an event ride, you'll need the right bike and the right gear. We've got you covered. Best part -- if you sign up for a ride like Aids LifeCycles or Waves to Wine, we'll take 10% off of your new bike. So take 10% off of the retail prices below. You'd be losing money if you didn't sign up and buy a new bike. So here is a short list of a few bikes that we think you'll look great riding for your event ride this year.

Cannondale Carbon Synapse 5. $2100

One of the favorites for the all-day riding requirements of an event ride, the Cannondale Synapse is one of your best options.

Liv/Giant Avail Composite 2. $1850

For the ladies, Liv/Giant (which is the dedicated women's division of Giant Bicycles) makes a great model called the Avail.

All-City Mr. Pink. $1950

For those of you who want a little more classic looking bike, maybe prefer the durability, longevity, and ride quality of steel, the All-City Mr. Pink fits the bill nicely. This is a beautiful bicycle. Modeled after the classic Bridgstone bikes of the 70s and 80s, the Mr. Pink hits the mark perfectly. All the comfort and performance of bikes from that era are combined with a modern drivetrain. And if you like a little wider tire and clearance for fenders, this may be the right bike for you.

Pinarello Rokh with Ultegra. $3750

And then there are Pinarellos. If you just can't settle for anything but the best of the best, then a Pinarello is the way to go. We stock three different models, but the Rokh, pictured above, is a great choice for those looking for comfort and performance. 2013 Masi Gran Criterium. Was $2050, now $1695. And for the deal hunters, Masi's classic Gran Criterium is a great choice. Classic lugged-steel meets modern road bike components in a sweet and sticky green. When you are done riding it, you can smoke it. (If you have a note from you doctor.) Start test riding today!