GT Carbon Sport Road Bike : Save $800

GT Carbon Sport

Excellent responsiveness and power transfer are hallmarks of this great frame.  The bottom bracket utilizes a press fit design for the crank bearings which allows for far easier maintenance and increased strength. This feature is just one of many high tech design parameters which meld seemlessly into the one piece monocoque construction.

Specifications

Frame : GT Full Carbon Monocoque semi compact
Fork: GT Carbon with carbon dropouts
Head Set:  TH sealed Bearing
Stem: Ritchey Logic Pro
Handlebars: Ritchey Logic Pro
Saddle: Fizik Arione with magnesium rails
Seat Post: GT Carbon
Shift Levers: Shimano 105 Dual Pivot
Brakes :Shimano 105 Dual Pivot
Front Derailleur: Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 105 10 Speed
Cassette: Shimano CS-560012-25T 10 Speed
Chain: Shimano CN-5600
Crank: Shimano 105 34/50
Bottom Bracket: Shimano sealed press in
Wheels: Mavic Aksium
Tyres: Vittoria Zaffiro 700x23c
Pedals: N/A
Weight: 8.2 kg without pedals

Distributor

Bicycle Hq : http://wwwbicyclehq.com.au
Ph. 1300 899 854

save $800 on this impressive road bike at Bicycle HQ

More Information

See the GT Carbon Sport here and save $800

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

Why cycling for fitness is cheap and fun

Starting to feel a bit flabby around the belly?

Or, have had that “spare tyre” for a while and are just plain sick of it?

Are you tired of running out of puff every time you jog across the road?

They say that recognising you have a problem is half the battle. The other half, as we all know, is doing something about it.

Your options are almost endless, so rather than spend valuable exercising time just thinking about what you could do, may we make a suggestion.

Why not hop on your bike and go for a ride! And then tomorrow or the next day, do it again! And then again a couple of days later! Easy! No gym memberships, no travelling to and from the pool, no payments to personal instructors, and with a bit of planning there is also no repetition as each and every ride can take you somewhere different. Right from the moment you put a leg over the bike and turn the pedals you are getting a work-out, and after a week or two you will discover that not only are you feeling a little better physically, but maybe you feel a bit clearer mentally too.

The only thing likely to stop you from taking such an easy course of action is the possibility that you don’t own a bike. But hey, we can help there too; have a look here – Melbourne Bike Shop

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

What is the point of a Hybrid Bicycle?

Like many seasoned cyclists, I couldn’t see the point to a hybrid bike.

They are too slow for a road bike, not robust or stable enough to replace a mountain bike , too upright for a touring bike and too heavy for just about anything else.

What changed my mind

After trying hard to ignore them, I bought one last year after I figured it was time to cut my excessive car use and increase my short haul cycling. I then discovered that hybrids are good at one thing.

They are seriously good at being a hybrid.

If you’re commuting around town and need to chart a route of bike trails, back paths, roads and dirt tracks to avoid the traffic, the best of today’s hybrids allow you to make the switch in surface and surroundings seamlessly.

Giant classifies its hybrid-style bikes as “Adventure Lifestyle Comfort Cross”. Strip away the spin and what you end up with is a bike that is a steady 21st century development of the trusty Aussie Master Sports or Malvern Star originals with their wide W-shaped handle bars, three speed hub gears, full size wheels, wider tyres and broader seating.

When I bought my new hybrid home last year, the 12 year old larrikin still in me couldn’t resist picturing what it would look like with streamers flailing from the bar ends, twin aerials spearing from the rear axle with a fox tail or two, twin mirrors with large red and orange reflectors and a white mudflap hanging off the rear guard covered in red, yellow and green cat’s eyes. One mirror for the road and one to keep the Brylcreemed cow lick in shape.

Luxury!

With a heritage like this, it’s not surprising that one of  Giant’s biggest supplier for its Elwood, Cypress, Farrago, Innova and Perigee range is right here in a Melbourne Bike Shop

Why Melbourne?

As a result of the huge buying power of Melbournians and our pioneering bicycle network, this range was honed to meet our unique blend of

• bike trails,
• puncture-guaranteed bike lanes,
• gravel tracks,
• tram tracks,
• muddy riverside trails,
• sealed trails laced with tree roots and drought cracks
• corrugated rural roads
• and the many quaint but teeth-rattling bridge surfaces.

These massive environmental variations can present serious hazards for any road bike, not to mention discomfort.

And while a mountain bike will tackle all of them head on, their small fat wheels generate rolling resistance not conducive to everyday commuting of any distance.

Once I let go of my school boy fantasies, it was fascinating to examine how Melbourne had shaped my new 2009 Perigee. The single new feature that won me over was the remote lock-out for the front suspension forks. A simple toggle on the handlebars allows the rider to switch from mountain bike bump absorption to almost road bike handling. I find I use it more than either brake lever when I am crossing town in a real hurry.

And even if the frame geometry places the rider in an upright position for better rider vision and visibility for car drivers, you can still find a sleek enough riding position to counter headwinds by rotating the handlebars and adding bar extensions.

The extra long wheelbase enhances low speed stability, ideal for negotiating Southbank pedestrian traffic or the Yarra’s tight paths. The tough FluidFormed alloy frame minimises the weight increase that this extra length would otherwise bring. The standard Fi:zi’k saddle is perfect for faster, long distance commuting but can be too skinny for some recreational riders as the frame geometry tends to focus the rider’s weight rearwards.

This easy-riding geometry in conjunction with the suspension seat post and the front suspension forks make it ideal for crossing speed bumps, kerbs and ridges without slowing down even if it does soak-up pedalling energy compared to a cross-bar road bike. The standard Michelin tyres and heavy duty wheels with spoke eyelets can take a belting and leave plenty in reserve for luggage. The pedals allow you to clip-in on one side or ride with your normal shoes on the other, ideal as a back-up bike for visitors.

The 27 speed gearing teamed with mid-range Shimano componentry generates a quality feel.

After an amazing day ride from Moe to Walhalla and back, crossing from rail trail to highway to bush track, my Perigee’s role has since grown well beyond the commuter bash which is why Giant is introducing a whole new approach to hybrid riding for 2010.

The Giant Seek

It is called the Giant Seek  and after spending 120km and a week with the Seek1 under all conditions, Giant has my undivided attention.

The Seek addresses most drawbacks that cause serious riders to dismiss hybrids. It is light, crisp and responsive to ride. It deletes any unnecessary weight and replicates the front geometry of suspension forks without the suspension.

Styling is sheer, detail-free with subtle badging and an amazing brushed paint finish now appearing on the dash of some expensive cars. It is one cool bike and at last gives the hybrid some much-needed attitude. The riding position is even more upright than the Perigee but because its energy transfer from pedals to rear wheel is more like a cross-bar road bike, you find yourself powering into the wind and standing on the pedals to fly up hills at every opportunity because it’s fun.

Again, its Fi:zi’k seating can be a little too road-oriented for slow riders but this bike is aimed at the full-on urban cyclist who would rather stand-up while crossing obstacles then reap the gains from less weight and the extra pedal response.

As a result, the Seek1 artfully dodges the soggy feel that comes with suspension in the seat post and front forks yet its upright geometry and long wheelbase limits the road shock feeding into your neck and backside. There is a strong European flavor to the look and feel yet it has the Perigee’s extra ruggedness for local conditions including the extra strong eyelet wheels, sensational Maxx tyres and “drop the anchor quick” disc brakes.

It’s hard to think of a better bike for a quick, social run on the Warburton rail trail. Reflective bands around the frame, totally sealed gear and brake cables that can’t stretch when clamped in a car carrier and metal plates around the top tube to avoid scrapes from posts and locks highlight the thought gone into creating the next generation urban bike for those who rate speed and handling rate above ultimate comfort. If it was mine, I would avoid loading it with accessories and keep it light, fast and agile.

Check it out – it could rekindle the 12 year old hoon in you without resorting to streamers and mirrors.

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

Cycle Around the Bay in a Day 2009

A Day Out Cycling Around Port Phillip Bay

Thousands of Melbournians will gather once again for one of the world’s biggest community cycling events this October.  “Around the Bay,” a one-day ride around Melbourne’s scenic Port Phillip Bay, is a landmark event for Melbourne families and riding enthusiasts.

Riders enter “Around the Bay” either as individuals, or in groups of four.

“It’s the community participation that’s the most distinctive aspect of the ride,” says Ken Frank of Melbourne Bike Shop, BicycleHQ.

“Friends, families, workmates, house mates, church and sporting club members all come together in the one place at the one time to  enjoy the pleasure of cycling around one of the world’s truly great (regions).”

“Around the Bay” boasts four different rides that participants can choose from: a 42km, 100km, 210km or the “Legendary” 250 km ride.

“The variety of rides that participants can choose from definitely goes some way to explain the success of the event,” says Ken “Riders of all ages and stages are catered for.” 

At 250km, ‘The Legend’ allows a true enthusiast to ride a scenic beach route from Geelong to Queenscliff, via Portarlington. Numbers for the ever-popular ‘Legend’ are strictly limited to 2,000, so be sure to book  as early as possible.

“It’s easy to judge why ‘The Legend’ gets booked so quickly. It’s a favourite of my customers. They love not only the view and the challenge, but the free electronic timing of their ride, including average speed, appeals to their enthusiastic and obsessive love of cycling.”

Cyclists are warned to prepare adequately before setting off on one of the longer rides.  Personal fitness levels, adequate food and water supplies, and the suitability of bikes are all important areas to consider in the weeks leading up to the ride.

“I generally advise drinking at least an 800 ml bottle of water per hour on the longer rides. Water is an easy thing to neglect during the thrill of the ride, but the consequences of dehydration are serious. Likewise, be sure to eat and rest well in the days leading up to the ride, and take plenty of high carbohydrate snacks with you on the day.”

This information was brought to you by the guys at Bicycle HQ
If you want to find out anything to do with bikes or an update on local bicycling news, they’re always happy to help.

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

Ladies Bikes are flawed and a thing of the past

Some of the best times I have enjoyed on this planet have been extended rides including overnight camping trips that involve riders of most ages and both genders.  Yet the fear of not being strong enough or fast enough unnecessarily stops too many women from enjoying the freedom, the feeling of achievement and the camaraderie that comes from being on the road or trail together with their partners, friends or family.

There is no getting around the fact that all else being equal, a fit young male rider will go harder and longer than the rest of us but then a fit young female rider will also run away from a porky middle-aged male who only rides on Sundays.

The Tour de France is testament to what it takes except here we are not talking about getting there first but enjoying the journey. And yes it is true, enjoying the journey is also about knowing that you are not holding others up and not suffering extreme pain.

As a regular long distance rider in mixed groups, I find that most strong riders are happy to adjust their pace or wait for anyone who is capable of staying in sight. It is not so much a gender thing but whether you are properly prepared and have a realistic assessment of your capabilities relative to that particular group.

There are many ways around this including maintaining the group pace for a shorter distance then build up your endurance until you can stay with the group for the full ride. You will often find you are not alone but I find fitness and strength are not the big issues that undermine women as cyclists.

There is something much more insidious before they even turn a pedal. After helping dozens of female family members and friends return to riding, I discovered an overwhelming obstacle that almost kills the process before it starts.

It is called the ladies bike. 

TRADITIONALLY  this highly flawed piece of machinery sets up expectations and limitations that can skew a woman’s view of cycling for life. Any woman who insists on staying with this style of bike or anything that remotely resembles it, is immediately opting for a 50-75% disadvantage in efficiency. If you insist on this brand of self-flagellation over any distance on a mixed ride, even the most tolerant female riders who know better are not going to wait around to watch you kill yourself.

Throw in some martyrdom: “I am not a good enough rider to warrant a decent bike” and the self-imposed handicaps keep on growing. Cycling is one activity where good equipment is the difference between pleasure and pain, or more importantly, chronic injury. And you don’t have to spend much extra to experience a world of difference.

The lady’s or girl’s bike, like many things from the past, was better at keeping women in their place than getting from A to B. And yes, there might still be a place for them for a quiet, elegant saunter to the shops but that’s not what we are talking about here. So what’s wrong with them?

As soon as you eliminate the top bar from a bike frame, you weaken it dramatically. That means the rider then wastes far too much pedalling motion as the weakened frame bends and twists. Even if you can’t feel it, it’s still happening, quietly wearing you out long before anyone else riding on a more rigid frame.

To counteract this loss of strength, the seat has to be placed much closer to the handlebars. This props the rider into an upright, sail-like position for maximum wind resistance. It also places all the rider’s weight on the seat, for a serious pain in the butt. To counteract this, these bikes must have wide cushioned saddles to soak up the bumps that have no where else to go except straight up the rider’s spine. These saddles have an unfortunate side effect. They are equally effective at soaking-up pedaling energy.

Because even a cushy seat struggles to look after a rider locked in this position, these bikes have fatter tyres than desirable which increases rolling resistance. And if that’s not enough, they force you to pedal in a stamping motion which might be fine for killing bull ants but useless in getting any real force to the pedals. It is the wheeled version of a side saddle on a horse, geared for the dress but not the person wearing it. As each compromise attempts to correct an inherently “wrong” design, the weight keeps adding up, the last thing any rider needs for maintaining speed and distance. 

The problem is if you have been introduced to cycling via one of these bikes, it can be very difficult to let go of the notion of a wide, cushy seat, fat, balloon-like tyres and an upright riding position where you can touch the ground while sitting on the bike.  The notion of spreading your weight between the handle bars, pedals and seat and leaning even slightly forwards can feel really scary if it bears no resemblance to riding as it once was. This is even before you confront the idea of having your feet locked into a set of pedals, using gears and balancing front and rear hand brakes.

This is a huge shift for women that few male riders ever have to confront. I admire those who take the challenge to master it when it is not easy at first and often means starting from scratch. Get it right and you will immediately spare yourself of the many injuries that this style of bike will inflict on you over any distance.

I have known too many women who have endured painful knee injuries for years because the need to touch the ground without dismounting means their knees never get a chance to stretch out while pedaling. Likewise, exposing your spine to all that shock pounding up through the seat, no matter how soft the seat is, is not that clever.

If you buy a new bike because it feels like one of these ladies bike., there is a good chance that it might not do what you want for very long. As you progress, a short-framed upright bike can’t be upgraded to match your boost in confidence and need for more efficiency.

The new breed of Ladies Bike has Arrived

The good news is that bike manufacturers have become much more women-friendly. By angling the top bar downwards for mountain bike riders, they discovered that women can also enjoy a stiffer, more efficient frame with much more clearance than a traditional male frame. By adding front shock absorbers to a hybrid or carbon fibre front forks to a cross-bar road bike, they can filter out road shock from the handlebars while allowing skinnier, more efficient tyres. The latest gel seats shaped for the female anatomy combined with a shock absorber seat post can replicate traditional comfort while providing a more efficient riding position. Even the replacement of the drop bars on a road bike with cross-style handlebars has opened up a whole new world of road bike riding for some women.

A serious bike shop – like the new Melbourne Bike Shop, Bicycle HQ, should be able to steer you in the direction of a reasonably efficient bike that can be adjusted to provide some of the feel of a traditional lady’s bike, if that’s what you need to start riding again. 

Then as you become more confident, it can be adjusted again for a more efficient riding position when you are ready.

Some bike manufacturers even offer female-specific frames which are shorter, with shorter pedal cranks, shorter-reach brake levers and road handlebars with a shallower drop.

The New Generation of Ladies Bikes

While these can be a bonus for some female riders, the variations in body proportions amongst female riders are just as radical as males. Expecting a female frame to fit better just because it is designated as such is no more realistic than a male rider expecting an off the shelf male frame to fit.

It is far better to choose a bike shop that is prepared to go the distance in measuring you up then swap and adjust components so that it meets your individual needs regardless of whether you are male or female. As so many women riders soon discover, the right bike and the right fit can be the difference between giving up and giving the guys a real hurry up.

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

The pleasures of cycling

The pleasures of cycling are well documented, as most of us probably still remember the first time we learned to ride a bike, after learning how to balance, its something that you never really forget.

Some of the benefits of cycling are that it is a great recreational activity which helps to keep the mind and body fit and active and, just like going to the gym, it is beneficial for just about every part of the body. If you cycle just for the enjoyment aspect it is a great way to see the countryside that you just don’t experience in the family car.

It is exercise the whole family can enjoy together, or with a group of friends, and Melbourne has some great areas to enjoy for cyclists, some short distances, and for the more experienced riders, longer trips with a few hills to negotiate along the way. Several booklets are available for riders which detail some of the best places to cycle and what you can do and see along the way.

What a great way to get around, in this day of high fuel costs if you can cycle to work it saves money and helps our environment.

At Bicycle HQ – a top Melbourne Bike Shop – we have over 200 years of cycling experience between our staff, to assist you to find the right bike, from our range of around 700 bikes.

Come visit out bike shop… online

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

Why you should never buy a chain store bike

Have you ever bought a battery operated toy for a Christmas gift and had to deal with a disappointed child on Christmas morning when you discover that the batteries aren’t included?

Or perhaps it was a piece of “assemble it yourself” furniture, or a stereo system, and have still been elbow deep in parts when the guests arrive at lunchtime!

Frustrating situations that we have all experienced a version of, and yet many of us continue to tempt fate by purchasing “bargains” that “require some assembly”.

Take the classic “bike in a box” scenario. Tempted by the chain stores colourful catalogue, “The Bargain”, often a gift for a loved one, perhaps a Birthday or other “special occasion”, often ends up in tears for all concerned when it is discovered that there really are better ways to spend your day than assembling a mixture of parts of dubious quality that:
   a) you don’t know what they are, or
   b) you don’t know where they go.

Home assembly may appear to have saved you $20, maybe even $50 sometimes. But is the final product ever as good as an expertly assembled bike from a professional bike shop like Ivanhoe Cycles?

Are you able to straighten the wheels that were damaged in transit, or will you have to return that bike that is by now almost fully assembled, in exchange for another “lucky dip”?

Do you have the necessary tools to properly adjust the brakes and the various other items that determine the safety of the rider?

All of a sudden, buying the “bike in a box” for a saving of $20 or $50 seems so ludicrous.

What value do you place on the safety of yourself or loved ones?
How important to you is a day off?
How much more enjoyable is it to ride a properly adjusted and correctly functioning bike?

And why do you think Bicycle HQ – one of the leading Bicycle Shops in Mebourne ,  not only offers 12 months free service, but encourages the use of this facility?

We care about bikes. We care about bike riders. But we also realise that not everyone is as keen as we are, or perhaps are financially restricted in their options.

With this in mind, Bicycle HQ have a number of quite economically priced bikes for both children and adults that are presented to you in a fully assembled state.

Have a look at these kids bikes to start with.

Having been expertly advised on the correct size, been shown the technique for gear changing, wheel removal and anything else that you are unsure of, taking delivery of a bike that is fully assembled and ready to ride and that for the next year will have free servicing makes that $20 or $50 seem not only ludicrous but absolutely FALSE ECONOMY.

As any horse lovers will tell you, quality hay comes at a price, however hay that has already been through the horse is available that bit cheaper.

Bicycle HQ
1030 Dandenong Rd
Carnegie
3163
mountain bikes  –  road bikes  – hybrid bikes

EVER WISHED FOR A COMFORTABLE BIKE?

Have you often thought that  you would like to have a bike to  get out and enjoythe simple pleasures it can bring, but are continually reminded of the pain of previous cycling  experiences.

The pain in the backside.
The  pain in your legs!
The pain in your neck!!
The pain in your arms!!!

Everyone says that cycling is fun, but that is not your recollection is it?

All this has changed now!

With the advent of the latest model ‘comfort’ bikes and ‘hybrid’ bikes,
everyone can to have a bike comfortably fitted to their individual body requirements. 

A wide range of soft, comfortable saddles which are ergonomically designed to suit either female or male backsides and ensure you will no longer have a ‘numb bum’ after a ride around the park.

This comfortable seating is often aided by the use of a shock absorbing suspension seat post which will make you wonder why you didn’t have a go at this before.

An extraordinary gear range,   previously unheard of, ensures even the most casual of cyclists with a minimum of cycling fitness should be able to survive a ride without  having aching legs  for days afterwards.

All comfort and hybrid bikes have at least 21 gears, some having 24 and 27 gears and yet despite this huge number which seems a little daunting at first, gear selection is quite simple.

Comfort is further enhanced by the use of ‘riser’handlebars and adjustable head stems which allow you to adjust the handlebars to precisely the position that suits your requirements, which for most people means higher and closer, so the rider doesn’t have to stretch to reach the bars.

Neck, arm and hand discomfort is no longer a concern with these brilliant design innovations.

Interested? Have a look at our range of Comfort Bikes and Hybrid Bikes at Bicycle HQ Melbourne

 

Comfort Bikes

Just For Fun: the recreational cyclist

2009 Pinarello FP3 Road Bike

Do you own a 4 wheel drive vehicle, or ever wondered about the enormous number of them driving around city streets?

How many of them are actually used as they were originally intended?

Not many, and all the manufacturers realise this and now make user friendly, comfortable, street driveable models so Mums can drop the kids off at school without needing to be graduate of the Leyland brothers school of outback driving!

City living families who choose 4 wheel drives do so for various reasons, each one relevant and valid to their particular situation.
 
It can be a bit like that at Bicycle HQ too.

We sell racing bikes, lots of them, but we realise that competing in the Tour de France, although a dream for many, is unlikely, as less than 30 Australians have done so in the past 100 years.

Just as most 4 wheel drive drivers never have to winch themselves out of a gully, most racing bike owners will never pin on a number and compete in a race.

The various bike manufacturers realised this fact many years ago and each one provides a wide range for bike shops to stock.

At Bicycle HQ we have over 20 different models of racing bike on show, each one a relevant and valid choice depending upon your selection criteria, no matter whether you’re “fat and fifty” and just wanting to be “slim at sixty”, or you are number 31, going to race in France. 

Whatever your original thought, the rewards for most riders are similar. Benefits such as improved health, vitality and weight loss, the joy of camaraderie, the exhilaration of speed, the feeling of accomplishment, respect of your peers and higher self esteem are sensations shared by all.

Even exotic Italian brands such as Colnago and Pinarello now have bikes that are accessible to the recreational rider.

At Bicycle HQ great bikes start at less then $1000, and even at this low price the rider can enjoy a lightweight aluminium frame, comfortable carbon fibre forks and as many as 24 easy to operate gears ensuring even a novice roadie will be able to comfortably ride up hill and down dale, before stopping off for a toasted sandwich and a coffee while enjoying the company of his or her cycling friends.

Racing in the Tour de France may be out of the question, but all the other enjoyment is just out your front door.