Tanglefoot Moonshiner
I must say that I’ve become mistrustful of new products in the bicycle world. Countless technological “advancements” are constantly being released and marketed to cyclists as the next best thing, but then falling by the wayside a few seasons later only to be replaced by a slightly different, definitely-not-compatible alternative. Luckily, I’m surrounded by like-minded bike nerds - the C&L Slack channel is rife with sarcastic jabs at the absurdity of it all. Similarly like-minded are Candice and James of Analog Cycles (@analogcycles), an off-the-grid bike shop in a repurposed sugar shack in southern Vermont. They also manufacture fun and handy parts as Discord Components (@discordcomponents) and soon will be releasing a line of frames as Tanglefoot Cycles (@tanglefootcycles). Despite my reluctance to adhere to new standards, I understand the appeal and myself embrace some of the more useful components that have been developed in the past few decades. At the end of the day, I love my BB7 disc brakes, indexed shifting, and tubeless tires. Like Candice and James, I like bikes built “in the old way”, but “Retro grouches we are not.” This is what seems to motivate the design thought process behind Tanglefoot’s upcoming Moonshiner, their 3” tire, chromoly, drop-bar specific mountain bike. Thru-axles to stiffen the frame and accommodate the fat tires and wide gearing? Sure! A suspension fork? No way! Last fall, we were lucky enough to get our hands on Candice and James’s personal Moonshiner prototypes for a month of test riding. I jumped at the opportunity and immediately planned a ride in some of my favourite nooks and crannies of the Eastern Townships with my equally enthusiastic dad. By nooks and crannies, I mean quiet dirt roads, but also closed roads that haven’t been maintained in decades and are overgrown and swampy, ATV trails up steep grades, and single track shortcuts to link it all together. The Moonshiner felt spectacular on every part of this mixed terrain ride. I came at it with a few misconceptions, namely that drop bars are uncomfortable and 3” tires are sluggish. The opposite was true. With a 0mm reach Discord Creemee stem, the added height and proximity of the bars made them feel a lot more like straight or swept-back handlebars, in terms of comfort and control. With my tires inflated to 20psi, I never once thought of the ride quality as sluggish, whether climbing, descending, or riding on hard-packed flat surfaces. In fact, the Moonshiner is the opposite. It’s stiff, surprisingly light, nimble, and sporty. It climbs like a dream - we made it up a few grades we have never been able to ascend without a hike-a-bike. Descending washed-out riverbed-like roads at high speeds was a breeze. As an added bonus, that fork crown and head badge contribute to an incredible looking bike. All in all, riding the Tanglefoot Moonshiner was a delight, and we’re happy to announce that we’ll be stocking all sizes at C&L this spring. Reach out to us if you’d like to plan for a custom build or get your hands on one of these frames. Photos of Abi shredding and the Moonshiner by @jochhoo and @gurpworld
Introducing Rivendell Bicycle Works!
We've been holding onto this big news until now: Rivendell Bicycle Works will soon be available at C&L Cycles! Rivendell, established in 1994, aim for timelessness, safety and comfort in their bicycles and components. Their lugged steel frames are made to ride for generations, whether touring off-road or as a town bike. The bike industry always promised "revolutionary" technologies that often help no-one, while Rivendell sticks with what works best, forging their own path without paying much attention to changing fashions, while being ahead of the curve in many regards. Behind every finely finished paint job is the unmistakeable mark of Rivendell quality, a sustainable supply chain, and good working conditions for their employees. We're proud to be able to offer these wonderful frames to all our Canadian customers. In the next few weeks, we'll be receiving every size and colour of the first run of a new frame, the Platypus. Quantities will be limited, so please don't hesitate if, like us, this is one of your dream bikes. Other models will be available throughout the year as they're produced, and we'll share Rivendell's production calendar when we can. We've already gotten a little bit of gear and accessories in-store and on the website, so take a look and satisfy your inner Riv fan. @rivbike
Hog's Back and Montréal V3 Frame Arrival
Open pictures in a new tab to embiggen Lots of news to share in this one, friends... For starters, for those reading this over the winter break, thanks! We're closed for two weeks from the 23rd to the 4th, but still shipping out orders at a slower rate. We'll be reopening on the 5th of January and abiding by the Québec government's lockdown instructions, open with reduced capacity until the 10th, when the current lockdown order expires. Now, on to news about our bikes! Our popular Le Montréal is back in its third iteration with some tasteful updates. Available in classic black as always and a gorgeous top-to-bottom blue-to-white fade. Here are the changes brought to V3: Oversized tubes on all sizes for improved stability with a touring load (or your kid!) Third bottle cage mount under the downtube Increased clearance up to 45mm (1.75”) tires on all sizes - with fenders! Frame sizes across the range have been matched to three proportionally sized wheel standards. Small frames get small wheels, medium frames get medium wheels and large frames get large wheels. This improves handling, improves looks and, more importantly, reduces toe overlap: 46cm and 49cm use 26" wheels 52cm and 55cm use 650B (27.5") wheels 58cm and 61cm use 700C (28") wheels Diagonal dropouts are back, for single speed fans We’re offering them in two different stock builds, the Villager and the Randonneuse: The Randonneuse, our dear Simon’s brainchild, takes from classic touring (randonnée) bikes from the ‘80s with timeless components and bar-end shifters. This build which includes 2x9 Microshift and Shimano transmission and tan sidewall tires is available for $1650. The Villager, with our own Backsweeps handlebar and more affordable components is an accessible offering built with everyday urban cyclists in mind. This super-tough configuration with a 2x8 Shimano transmission and robust Continental tires is definitely up to any challenge Montreal’s chaotic streets can throw at it, only for $1500. Don’t know which one to choose, or want a custom build? Come see us or give us a shout! We also just received a second batch of Hog’s Backs! It’s identical to the first batch but with two fresh new colours: Pink with pink lettering and black shading Sandy beige with beige lettering and purple shading Bright yellow with orange lettering and black shading Astute observers might notice that the sandy beige is similar to Julian’s prototype Hog’s Back (now Jenny’s) and the yellow is similar to Jean-Michel’s prototype. That said, two-thirds of the frames received have been sold already so hurry! We still offer our Wiggler build with a Backsweeps handlebar, a 1x11 SRAM Apex transmission, and fat rubber 2.2” Continental Race King tires. A second, new complete, the Sporter, has been modified following popular request in 2020 for this frame built up with a road handlebar. Also equipped with an Apex transmission, this build uses slightly narrower 42/47mm tires and a wide Salsa Cowchipper handlebar. With all these frames also came our new double cranks in a low-compact 46/34T configuration. Arm length is 170mm, available in black and silver for $250. Go take a look, they look gorgeous. Also restocked are brakes, bits and bobs for brakes, as well as Dia-Compe's classy parts for classy bikes: headsets, shifting, road brake levers, and more. See you all on the roads and trails in 2021! All the pretty pictures by our favourite fella, @jocchoo
Staff Gift Guide 2020
This has been quite a year, and you probably know someone newly bitten by the bike bug. Here's a little collection to help you find a small gift for a cyclist, put together by our team of riders of all types. 1. Aeropress coffee maker No more cowboy coffees, where the consistency is more syrup than an infusion directly descended from heaven, of having your spoon standing on its own in the middle of your cup. From now on, this bad coffee torture can end. While camping, in the middle of a ride or wherever, you can brew a cup that will make your home machine blush. Honestly, I only use the Aeropress 365 days a year to make my coffee at home! $45 (Sam M.) 2. Darn Tough socks Socks are usually what we give to someone when we don’t know what to offer for Christmas. But with Darn Tough, it is completely another story. Made from Merino wool in Vermont and offering a lifetime warranty (!), these socks are the perfect gift. $26-35 (J-D) 3. Voilé C&L strap A "bungie cord" on EPO, the Voilé strap – embellished with our iconic Cycle C&L logo – will solve many problems you'd run into during an adventure in the middle of nowhere. 11$ (Sam M.) 4. Bidon C&L There are a lot of “hydration technologies” around in 2020, but we like to keep it simple with what’s probably the very best sport bottle on the market. Perfect flow, light and easy to handle while on the bike, and of course fun colours to match your favourite whip! 15$ (Julian) 5. Nalgene 1L Bottle What can we say about Nalgene bottles? They last forever and have a million uses. Don't go an a trip without one. 17$ 6. Crank Brothers M20 and Wolf Tooth 8-Bit Multitools The ultimate tool for all road problems, multi-tools will help out the mechanic in you. In addition to being easy to carry around in your bag, they are pleasant and easy to use. With the right tools you can do just about anything and with a multitool, adjusting your brakes, your saddle, and tightening the screws loose on your cabinet doors, it'll be a snap! $20 -$99(Justine) 7. Atwater Rambler 137 Basket Bag This basket-bag is one of the most versatile accessories on my bike right now. I’ve used it nearly every day this year, whether I was running errands around town or on self-supported tours. It has an easily accessible front pocket, a reliable tie-down system including an extra strap for rocky roads and potholed boulevards, and with its classy good looks, it’s a great gift for any cyclist. Plus, you can feel proud to be supporting a small Montreal company, Atwater Atelier. Made for the cheap-tough-good Wald 137 baskets, made in Kentucky since 1924. 168$ (Julian) 8. SimWorks John Cage Inspired by the famous composer’s love of mycology, Sim Works made this beautiful bottle cage with laser cutouts to mimic an efflorescence of spores. 60 bucks is steep for a bottle cage, but its stainless steel construction, tough welds and gorgeous black or sandblasted finish ensure that, like mushrooms, the John Cage will outlast us. 60$ (Roberto) 9. Widefoot Litercage The Litercage, to no surprise, is built to carry oversized bottles of a litre or more, such as those made by Nalgene. The 7-slot mounting lets you put it almost anywhere on your bike, and it’s available in black, mint and violet. 45$ (Roberto) 10. Crane Bells Tired of loosing your voice because of the "hey, watch out!" an "on your left!" while driving on the new REV? We have the solution for you! In copper, bronze, aluminium, whichever "bing" bell you choose, it will signal your presence loud and clear wherever your two wheels can take you. For the "Insta-Famous" check out the hand painted Cranes. 16$ to 52$ (Sam M.) 11. Optimus Stoves With their ultra light and compact size, the Optimus Burners are perfect for touring, bike packing, camping trips, or just for making a little coffee anywhere. from $50 (J-D) 12. Blackburn and Knog Lights In your Christmas tree or on your bike, 400 lumens of light power is always noticeable! (Sam M.) 13. Patch kit, levers and lube My easy gift recommendations so that you can give your bike a little love, or just so that the person you're looking to spoil can get their hands dirty! 4-15$ (Sam M.) 14. Widefoot/Anything Cage/King Many Thing Cargo Cages This one is a present for the creative cyclist in your life: you can strap almost anything you can think of onto cargo racks! Last summer I rode with all my sleeping-outside gear strapped to a cargo cage between my thighs. It was bulky but it sure got there. From 46$ (Simon) 15. Bicycle Quarterly It’s a rare magazine that’s even worth opening, but Bike Quarterly is hard to even put down. I read it cover to cover four times a year, taking my time and enjoying every article on cycling adventures, weird new and old bikes, and product tests. It’s a slow and pleasant alternative to neverending social media posts and blogs about the latest greatest wonder-materials. 15$ (Simon) 16. Ergo Grips The Ergon GP-1 grips are probably the most comfortable grips on the market. You only need to try them once, and it becomes practically impossible to do without. The cork version (bio-cork) is by far my favourite. 50-65$ (Sam B.) 17. Polished Bike Parts from Velo Orange Let's face it, as a general rule, the more your bike is fitted with chrome parts, the more beautiful your bike is. So, to satisfy your needs for chrome parts or those of your loved ones, nothing better than a regular or 1L bottle holder (for your Nalgene C&L), or a luggage rack, or even Velo Orange fenders. From 30$ (Karo) 18. Park Tool Spork Park Tool's Spork is the “tool” you need and never thought about. In no time at all, it will become an everyday essential for the person you give it to; in addition she / he will be able to make everyone believe that she / he is a mechanic. 14$ (Luc) 19. Oopsmark Wine Bottle Holder Do you know a wine-influencer who likes to stay “hydrated” on long rides? Believe me they will go nuts when receiving this magnificent bottle holder. And why not accompany the gift with a nice bottle? The Spanish Altamente Jumilla wine is a great go-anywhere for just 14$ ! If you appreciate finer delicacies, a 2013 Valinière Faugères from the Léon Barral estate will throw anyone off guard for 60$.
Raffle for social justice
In light of recent events, but more importantly in recognizing events that have been ongoing for centuries and should no longer be commonplace in 2020, we at C&L Cycles and Bassi Bikes feel compelled to reflect on systemic racism, make a statement on where we stand, and act. We, as a bicycle shop and manufacturer, recognize that we are part of an industry that is problematic in its under-representation of minorities. Through consistent promotion of white perspectives, the cycling industry has restricted access to BIPOC communities. The bicycle, that tool for mobility, utility, or fun that we like to think of as democratized, actually isn’t, as things stand. We, as active players within this industry, recognize that we are part of the problem. As an immediate response, we would like to invite you to participate in a raffle to raise funds and awareness for three organizations that we believe are making a difference. Hoodstock, who “generate space for dialogue and mobilizing initiatives to eliminate systemic inequality and develop united, inclusive, safe and dynamic communities” in Montreal North. Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, who “offer support and frontline services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis (Aboriginal) women and children to promote their empowerment and independence.” The BIPOC Bike Adventure Grant, which “is Bikepacking Roots' new grant program created to help reduce the barriers to bike adventure for BIPOC individuals.” Up for raffle will be a Bassi frame of the winner’s choice, size, and colour (in stock). We’ve also partnered with our friends Atwater Atelier for this fundraiser, who will be providing two prize packages consisting of a Forager Stem Bag, Cap, Shirt, and Saddle Roll or Top Tube protector. Raffle tickets will be $5 each, available on our website here, and winners will be drawn at random on June 14th. We recognize that this is an immediate initiative and that fighting systemic racism needs long term and sustained actions. Looking forward, we pledge to work within our Montreal community with free workshops to encourage access to bicycles, and to reassess our hiring and HR policies to encourage diversity and representation within our staff. We are part of the problem. We want to work for change. Love, C&L and Bassi.
News for May
The C&L staff are suffering from the heat as much as anyone, but at least we get tipped in beer. We've brought in more bikes to satisfy the incredible demand we're seeing this season, read below for details. If you're visiting the shops, bear with us and continue to display the incredible patience you've already show us! We're trying hard to make sure everyone has their bikes in a timely manner and leaves happy about their summer prospects. New products: Incredible stuff from our friends Analog in southern Vermont: Their short and ultra-short extension stems, kinda funky but really comfortable Wool (yes, wool) handlebar tape. You only need one roll, no matter how wide your bars, and you'll have the funkiest drop-bars in town, I guarantee Just for fun, their colourful Creemee water bottles! A super collectors' deal: we got a few Marinoni MTB frames from the 90s. You may have seen us talk them up before, but now we've built one up, and it's kind of a dream... Back in stock now: All-City! We were finally able to get a few sizes of the beloved Space Horse, a fantastic and good-looking touring/gravel workhorse (no pun intended). Only one size, but by the time you read these words the rest may have arrived, keep in touch. Opus! The whole country is low on bikes, but we bought everything we could in affordable city bikes. Hesitate not, these won't stick around long if the last few weeks are anything to go by. Parts, locks, bottle cages, a few helmets, pumps... All the necessities! Arriving shortly: Paul Components brakes King Cage bottle cages Velo Orange re-stock
Bassi Hog's Back Launch
Our newest cycle is here, built, and ready to go! The Hog's Back is our steel touring frame that's ready to accompany you on all your adventures. This bike has ridden all over, from Montréal's streets to Vermont's Class 4 dirt roads, to Peru's high mountain singletrack, as loaded-down with baggage as you please, either on pannier racks or, for simplicity and weight, in Atwater bikepacking bags. We have two stock builds that we think are the absolute best ways to build this cycle: a traditional world touring machine (with very modern handlebar) featuring a 3x9 transmission that will comfortably climb any grade of any road, as well as an off-road bikepacking build to get you as far off the beaten path as you care to go, with a versatile SRAM 1x11 transmission. On all our Hog's Back builds, we use Avid BB7 disc brakes with matching Avid levers and incompressible Jagwire KEB brake housing, for a braking power and a feel that are superior (in our experience) to any other mechanical discs, while keeping things dead simple for maintenance. If you'd like just the frame, find it here and choose any parts you like. Parts installation is always free with in-stock parts and Bassi frames. Since we build all cycles on-demand, these are available for purchase regardless of inventory levels! We'll start building your bike the moment you click "order". In all cases, allow 2-10 business days for us to build your bike and ship it to you, we assemble all Bassi cycles in our Rachel St. shop right here in Montréal. If you have a build in mind different from ours, start a conversation, we'll be glad to help. We're pretty good at custom bikes. Pictures by cool dude and friend-of-Bassi Jonathan Chhun.
Hog's Back Arrival
Just a quick word here to say the new Hog's Back frames have arrived. They're looking great, and they'll be available later this week once we've had a chance to inspect them, build them, and take a few pictures. There are also some interesting new parts to look out for from the same container. Exciting stuff!
Essential Services during COVID
Today, April 1st 2020, the Quebec government added “Bicycle repair shops” to its list of essential and priority services. Faced with this news, we have decided to reopen our two stores at 978 Rachel East and 75 Villeneuve West, but with many restrictions and precautions in order to prioritize the health and safety of our employees and customers. -Avoid shopping without necessity. Our online store is available for many of our products and delivery is very affordable, and in many cases free. -In each store, a maximum of one customer is allowed inside at a time. -Repairs on bicycles owned by delivery people and courriers are prioritized. For this reason, any other repair will likely have longer delays than normally, thank you for your patience. -Bicycle repair drop-off and pickup are at the front of the store, without physical contact. -Only contactless payment are accepted - payment by contactless/tap credit or debit card and Interac e-transfers. -No returns will be accepted. -Clothing, shoes, and helmets are not available for trying on. The opening hours during the current situation are Monday-Friday 10-6 and Saturday 11-5. We are closed on Sundays. Thank you for your support and understanding, Julian, Jean-Michel, Jean-Daniel and the whole C&L Team.
Fermeture COVID
Mis à jour le 19/03/2020 – Montreal Suite à l'ordre du gouvernement du Québec visant la fermeture de tous commerces non-essentiels, nous devrons fermer nos deux boutiques dès 23h59 le 24 mars, et ce jusqu'au 13 avril. Les Cycles C&L, ainsi que Vélo Québec, ont demandé au gouvernement de reconnaître les ateliers de réparation de vélos, ainsi que leurs fournisseurs, comme essentiels, au même titre que les stations service. Nous croyons fermement que le vélo est le meilleur moyen de transport possible, surtout avec l'arrivée du beau temps, et tout le monde a encore besoin de se déplacer et de faire de l'exercice. Nous mettrons à jour ce blogue et toutes nos avenues de communication dès que nous en saurons davantage. Si vous voulez passer devant toutes les files lors de l'achalandage qui arrivera certainement quand on ré-ouvrira les magasins, vous pouvez vous procurer immédiatement une mise au point prioritaire. Nous pouvons toujours livrer les achats de produits vendus en ligne, veuillez être patients pendant que nous mettons à jour la boutique. Si vous voulez un produit que nous n'avons pas encore mis en ligne, écrivez-nous. Nous avons une entente avec Chasseur Courrier pour livrer en bicyclette les commandes dans les quartiers centraux de Montréal. Nous sommes en train de vérifier jusqu'où ils pourront livrer.
COVID Closure
Updated 24/03/2020 – Montreal The government of Québec has ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses as of 23:59, March 24th, until April 13th. Both C&L Cycles and Vélo Québec have requested that bicycle repair companies and their suppliers be re-classified as essential, as is currently the case in Ontario. We believe cycling is the best form of transportation we could possibly have, especially in the mild weather which is only now beginning, and people still need to get around and exercise. We will update these pages and all other communication channels when any change appears forthcoming. If you would like to make sure you can jump the queue when we reopen, no matter the rush, you can purchase a VIP tuneup right now and we'll work on your cycle ahead of any others. We can still deliver items bought online, please bear with us as we continue to add products to the webstore. If you're looking for something we haven't yet published to the store, write us now. We have partnered with Chasseur Courrier to guarantee affordable delivery to many of Montreal's central neighbourhoods. We are currently working to see how far afield they'll be able to deliver.
C&L and social distancing
19/03/2020 – Montreal Public notice to all! At C&L, we're working to follow the day-by-day changes of the current situation and trying to adapt in order for everyone here to stay healthy. We recognize that many of you depend on your cycles, even more so now, to avoid public transit. That's why we're keeping both shops open. We're changing certain policies, however: A limited number of customers at a time will be let into the shop We're limiting the number of staff working each day. Please bear with us, we'll be working as quick as possible to get your bikes working We're closing off access to the workshop entirely Our workbenches, surfaces, computers, keyboards, phones, etc will be sanitized several times a day Contact points on cycles will be sanitized on intake and pickup We'll be taking payment by credit card or debit only, no cash for now. Thanks for your cooperation, and keep riding, The C&L Team - J-M, J-D, Julian and staff