Harris Cyclery» Products Archives – Harris Cyclery Blog http://blog.harriscyclery.com A small, service oriented bike shop in West Newton, MA Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:20:49 +0000 en hourly 1 Supernova Airstream Battery Headlight http://blog.harriscyclery.com/supernova-airstream-battery-headlight/ http://blog.harriscyclery.com/supernova-airstream-battery-headlight/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:20:49 +0000 tomq http://blog.harriscyclery.com/?p=197 These days, lighting technology seems to be moving at the speed of light (ugh). The latest and greatest battery-powered light will be the Supernova Airstream. We haven’t got our hands on one of these babies yet. But here’s a nice little youtube information video.  Look for these on our website this September.

Supernova Airstream Video

]]> http://blog.harriscyclery.com/supernova-airstream-battery-headlight/feed/ 0 New Arrivals: SKS Rennkompressor pump, Bike Ribbon padded handlebar tape. http://blog.harriscyclery.com/new-rennkompressor-bike-ribbon/ http://blog.harriscyclery.com/new-rennkompressor-bike-ribbon/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:52:42 +0000 kevin http://blog.harriscyclery.com/?p=161 The SKS Rennkompressor is my favorite floor pump, and it’s the one we use here in the store most often. Have you tried other European pumps and had the pump head fly off your presta valve before you can get it up to pressure? I certainly have. Wood handle, long hose, rebuildable, extremely heavy, German. Comes with a universal head with replaceable gasket, and a free pair of socks, at least for now. No other floor pump comes with socks. $54.95 here.

The other new (old) product we’re carrying here at Harris Cyclery is Bike Ribbon Professional padded handlebar tape. The easiest to clean white handlebar tape by a long shot. Soft but not too soft, textured but not too textured, no logos all over your bars. It’s easy to wrap, doesn’t tear, and includes adhesive that’s strong enough, but not too strong for reuse. I’m a big fan of this style of tape, and have a sizable collection of discontinued colors. For now we’re carrying it in black or white. $9.95 here.

]]> http://blog.harriscyclery.com/new-rennkompressor-bike-ribbon/feed/ 0 Shimano Alfine 11 speed quietly announced. http://blog.harriscyclery.com/shimano-alfine-11-speed-quietly-announced/ http://blog.harriscyclery.com/shimano-alfine-11-speed-quietly-announced/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:50:50 +0000 kevin http://blog.harriscyclery.com/?p=154 Saw this info this morning via Hubstripping. The German cycling website Aktiv Radfahren posted info on an upcoming Alfine 11 speed hub, SG-S700, due in September of 2010 for 300 Euros. Reported 409% ratio, gear steps of 17% and 13%. Article translation is here.

This one goes to 11.

I’ll keep an eye out for more official information from Shimano as it comes.

]]> http://blog.harriscyclery.com/shimano-alfine-11-speed-quietly-announced/feed/ 20 Origin8 Classique Saddlebag http://blog.harriscyclery.com/origin8-classique-saddlebag/ http://blog.harriscyclery.com/origin8-classique-saddlebag/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:48:00 +0000 kevin http://blog.harriscyclery.com/?p=116 Origin8 Saddlebag
An inexpensive alternative to a classic canvas saddlebag. Has the same dimensions as the “large” bag from a certain English manufacturer, but made in China from 600D polyester, rather than cotton duck. This makes for a lighter and less rugged bag. Has leather straps that are a little bit thinner than standard, but should hold up OK. Elton rode with this bag on his commute for a while, and it kept everything dry as expected. He was pleased with the overall function of the bag.

Mounts in the traditional fashion to any saddle with bag loops, such as the Brooks B17, B66, or B72. You can sometimes make do with a saddle without loops, but not always.

Origin8 Classique Saddlebag at Harris Cyclery

]]> http://blog.harriscyclery.com/origin8-classique-saddlebag/feed/ 1 The Return of Quick-Glo http://blog.harriscyclery.com/the-return-of-quick-glo/ http://blog.harriscyclery.com/the-return-of-quick-glo/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:15:16 +0000 Elton http://blog.harriscyclery.com/?p=8 Since 1957, the chrome cleaner and polish of choice at bike shops across the country has been Quick-Glo.   Impossible to find since 2005, Quick-Glo is back in production with the same formula.

quickglo

Quick-Glo Chrome Cleaner at Harris Cyclery

At Interbike this year I was surprised to see Quick-Glo on the exhibitor list.  At the unassuming booth I met Brent DeLoach, the enthusiastic owner, who had spent the whole morning getting pushed around about some details regarding his attendance at the show.  After repairing the damage done to his display, all afternoon he met people who knew Quick-Glo, and missed it.  It’s long been the bike restorer’s secret weapon for cleaning and restoring chrome bike parts.

We just got a case of Quick-Glo here at the shop, and I took a few before and after shots of some dirty pitted chrome bits.

A Raleigh Sports left crank, with some rust and congealed oil:

crankbefore

After polishing:

crankafter

Back side of a Sturmey Archer three speed shifter.  The chrome on the 1970’s shifters is pretty poor, and it pits easily.

shiftbefore

Quick Glo removes the rust from the pits, and polishes the remaining chrome.

shiftafter

Quick-Glo works great for cleaning chromed parts that have some pitting, but mostly intact chrome.  It also takes off old oil and grease surprisingly well.  For parts that are so rusted and siezed that no polish or cleaner will help, look for an upcoming article on electrolytic rust removal.

Quick-Glo Chrome Cleaner at Harris Cyclery

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