Cut a section of tube and slip it over your Co2. No longer will you hear the annoying rattling sound from your seat bag and it'll keep your hand from freezing when you use it.
Here's some of the tools we use daily that you don't normally see. We love having all the tools we need, there's nothing better than having the correct tool for the job. We can order any of these if you want one, don't hesitate asking us to see some of these in action.
Above are some of the freewheel/ bottom bracket tools that we use. Companies use different designs so we have several different removers for each.
Our Wheels Manufacturing bearing press installs bearings into hubs and cranks. It also does bearings for full suspension frames.
We use the Giustaforza torque wrench on a daily basis for getting the correct torque spec on bolts.
Park's head tube reaming and facing set create a level surface for headset cups to be pressed into. When the bearings are perfectly parallel, it allows for the least bearing resistance and smooth turning.
Here's a similar tool to the one above, the Park bottom bracket tapping and facing set can clean up a damaged or rough threaded bb. It also creates matching parallel surfaces for the smoothest bb bearings possible, this is especially important when using the new outboard/external bearing style bottom brackets.
Another handy tool from Park is the derailleur hanger alignment gauge. A bent derailleur hanger will keep your bike from shifting smoothly.
This saw guide is a very nice tool to have, it clamps the tube and lets you get a straight cut. It doesn't mushroom the tubing like a pipe cutter!
Park's axle vise safely clamps three different axle sizes, and makes working on a hub a breeze. Simply drop it into the vise and the aluminum jaws clamp your axle without hurting it.
This disc truing tool easily straightens a bent disc.
The headset race installation tool comes with six different adapters for different brands of headsets. Pick the correct one and slide the tube over your steerer, then hammer the race on the right way.
For removing headset crown races this tool is a god send. Using a screw driver and hammer is the wrong way and can damage your fork. Slide the tool over your steerer and the jaws of the race remover clamp the race. Twist the handle and it pulls the race off!
The headset cup remover, also known as the exploding cigar easily removes headset cups. The four prongs push the cup out evenly unlike a screwdriver or punch which can damage soft aluminum headsets.
Park's headset installation tool is the easiest and best way to press in your headset, we have the Chris King adapters to set their headset in correctly.
The star nut tool sets your star nut at the correct depth and is very easy to use.
We have a large tap and die set that is great for fixing bad bolts and damaged threads.
Chris King's hub tool performs a number of task, you can take the whole hub apart and re-build it with this fancy tool.
A dish tool lets you make sure the rim is even with the hub and is a must use when building a wheel.
Crank extractors are needed to remove crank arms, we have several different versions.
Pedro's vise whip is an easy alternative to the traditional chain whip, this makes taking a cassette off a dream!
This is another good thing to have around, especially if you have a sweet tooth like we do. Thanks to Haswell for holding my light during the picture taking.
Two big events are happening this labor day weekend here in Louisville. First is the Mayor's bike ride which starts at Waterfront park. This is one bike ride you need to do, you'll see people with boom boxes attached to bikes, dogs in baskets wearing helmets, and tandems with pull behind trailers! We will be out there airing up tires for the masses, stop by and say hello.
Second is the annual NBL BMX Grand Nationals at Tom Sawyer park. Racing starts this Thursday and you can find out more here.
August 27th, 2010
Custom bikes are fun and we are lucky to get to build bikes as nice as this. A full custom frame set built with s and s couplers, ready for travel. This one is going all over the world. The wheels are Philwood touring hubs with bolt on axles, laced up to dt swiss rims. The group is a mixture of 2010 Sram force and xx, this is a 2x10 set up, compact cranks( 50/34) up front matted to a 11-36 xx cassette, this bike will go up anything with this gear ratio.
August 26th, 2010
Again another fine example of a great group of parts needing to be hung on a fresh frame. There maybe a little misconception that if a shop does not sell the parts, they want no part of putting it together. Make no mistake we want to sell you your parts and next bike but we love to building bikes too! Bring in you frame and your parts and we will build it with care and dial it in with precision. Anything I could write about this bike would muddy the waters. Here's the short list, Custom Colonago EPS frame set, Deda press bars, white 11 speed campagnolo cables, full campagnolo super record build kit. The wheels, I may have just shorted out my key board. Lightweights, are you kidding me, these wheels are light and stiff and ooze style.
August 25th, 2010
Every year Louisville BMX riders get together and build a ramp setup to session during the 3 day Forecastle Music Festival. This year was the best yet... good ramps, good tunes, and great times. Enjoy!
August 24th, 2010
KONA's 2011 bike line has just
been released, click here to see the strong line up for the new year.
August 5th, 2010
The Masters Road National Championships are this weekend. Races take place in Cherokee Park, crits in downtown Jeffersonville, and an out and back to Taylorsville. Click here to find out the schedule and all other info.
Frank “The Tank” Hoskins left his mark at the BMX Worlds in South Africa with a 4th place finish. Click here for the full story.
The Cyclocross season is right around the corner and this is your chance to get a great deal on a new bike. Our 2010 Jake the Snake is now on sale for $1099.99 and includes 105, Mavic wheels, FSA cranks, Continental tires, and a carbon fork.
2011 kona's will be showing up in a matter of weeks and we can say that they look amazing. With that said we will be having a sale on all of our 2010 bikes. This discount can be applied to bikes that need to be special ordered from Kona as well as they are discounting them to us so we can pass the deal on to you.
August 4th, 2010
The Indie series of bikes from Norco are the stealth bombers of urban bikes. Do you want a bike that is tough and durable but deflects attention? Matte paint and understated decals fly under the radar while burly frames take the daily punishment and wake up every morning asking for more.
We like to give you the best of both worlds here at OYLC, above you have a very simple bike and below you get something with a little more color. This ride built up super light and had the extremely crisp shifting that SRAM Red has become known for.
Last up for today is this amazing photo we came across from a Redbull photo contest, thought we'd share it...
July 22nd, 2010
Ellsworth builds an amazing bicycle... we know it, our customers who ride one know it and now you can experience what one rides like. We've built this large 29" full suspension Evolve so you can truly see how amazing ICT(Instant Center Tracking) is. Visit the Ellsworth site right here to watch how ICT works. Give us a call for details on how you can ride one.
Cockpit controls on the demo Ellsworth feature X9 shifting and Avid Elixr CR brakes.
While aboard the Ellsworth Evolve you'll get to experience No Tubes light weight cross country 29er' wheel set. We can promise that you'll blaze down the trail with these sealed bearing hubs and climb right back up with the smooth traction provided by a Kenda small block eight tire and a Schwalbe Racing Ralph up front. They are set up tubeless to keep things even lighter.
The Crane Bell has a classic look with a loud and resonating tone. It comes in a brass or aluminum version. Murphy will be proud.
Knog designed this adjustable wrench for the cyclist that wants a tool that doesn't take up a lot of space. The "shifter" opens to 15mm for all single axle nuts.
We are now stocking a larger selection of lubes we've tested in the past and really liked. First we have Rock n' Roll's "absolute dry", feaured below in lager size for the best value.
Second is the popular ProLink from Pro Gold. ProLink cleans and lubricates as you ride in any weather and is environmentally safe. We won't stop carrying our normal lubes like Dumonde Tech, but we are really trying to carry larger selections, stop by and suggest your favorite today.
July 19th, 2010
You can now follow us on Twitter for more shop news and random photos, we've found it a little easier to snap a quick pic with the Iphone during the busy repair season. We will still continue to update our site and can guarantee it will more updated heavily in the winter season. So if your a Twitter fan click here and follow us.
It's almost that time of the year, if you sit still you may be able to hear the cow bells off in the distance. Another cool frame in need of a build kit... red, white, and gold. Paul high flange polished single speed hubs were laced to mavic open pro rims with ceramic braking surface. Challenge Grifos tires complete the wheel set and provide plenty of traction. Sram s300 cross cranks, and a sealed bearing white industries freewheel(pictured below) round out the drive train. Up top you'll find ritchey wet look white seat post, h-bar, and stem. while a splash of red in the form of a salsa lip lock, sram hoods, fizik aliente, red deda tape tie this single speed together.
Let's face it; sometimes it is quicker to ride through the park rather than around it. That is why Norco combined the essence of road, mountain and urban bike designs into a truly versatile means of transportation. From open road to cracked concrete, gravel paths to hard-pack dirt, the XFR is the right tool for the job. 700c wheels increase top end speed capacity while SR Suntour forks soak up any bumps along the way. The XFR is made for commuters that need a bike to match their adventurous spirit and handle whatever life throws at them.
July 7th, 2010
Looking for a road bike that is carbon, bb30, tapered head tube and is something other than a Cannondale? Enter the Vandessel Rivet, the bike has all of the above features and can come as a complete bike or as a frame set. Available with Campagnolo, Sram, and Shimano, you make the call, same for the wheels, tires ,etc.
Out-of-the-box DH domination-without breaking the bank. Reduced frame weight. Tapered headtube and internal headset with oversized bearings for lower stack height, better rigidity, and more surface area to attach to downtube. Tighter cluster. D.O.P.E. System to eliminate brake jack. Adjustable BB height, geometry and ride characteristics. Avid Code brakes, RockShox Boxxer Race fork, Alex FR-32 wheels. Basically, the lightest, fastest, raddest Stab ever made!
So you have found your dream bike (or frame) on the web and found the perfect mix of nos parts and you need a few things to tie it all together. We love to build custom bikes and we light up 'when you ask what would you do if it was yours. Example: this awesome Colonago we had the luxury of assembling, fluted tubing, straight blade chrome fork. The customer sourced the build kit and added the Erikson Ti post followed by Brooks swallow saddle and matching bar tape to finish out this fine machine. Want us to build your next dream bike, give us a call today.
We love building wheels, when you combine Chris King's new R45 hubs, DT swiss competition spokes and classic Mavic open pro hard ano rims it all adds up to awesome build. Chris king has been making hubs for a long time, the r45 feature a new titanium ring drive with 45 points of engagement and low friction seals that make them hard to beat. The hubs are also available in lower spoke count drilling to build to Edge Carbon clinchers or rim of choice.
Here's Industry Nine's option for a light weight 29er' wheel set. Cnc'd aluminum spokes thread directly into the hub while eliminating the need for heavy nipples creating less rotational wheel wight. They feature the heavily sought after 120 points of engagement that I9's have became famous for and super smooth and large bearings for durability and strength.
Staying on the subject of wheels we have some new products in from the crew over at Genuine Innovations. The first new item is a C02 carrier that mounts under your water bottle cage and can carry up to four 16g Co2's.
They are also now offering the Microflate kit in a MTB version, the larger 40 gram Co2 does a better job of inflating fatter tires.
White is the new black or pink or whatever the saying is these days. Anyway we have some Keo 2 Max that have a 12% larger platform for more room on the dance floor.
Last but not least is the Fizik Alante FdJeux team saddle with matching tape. This is one hot looking saddle.
June 17th, 2010
We have a Kona Abra Cadabra here for demo, I've been riding this bike a ton and can't stop taking it out on the trails. Come by and check out this sub thirty pound All Mountain machine.
June 15th, 2010
It's been a while since we made a post so here's a some stuff to get you caught up with what's been going on here at the shop. We have some really cool projects in the works and we'll be sure to share them with you as soon as they're completed.
One of the more unique bikes that we've built up recently is the Ride from Ellsworth. This version featured the Nuvinci transmission which is an internally geared hub that
Who wants an awesome deal on a mtb, cross bike, road bike? Answer we all do, Kona has 09 bikes ready to ship for an unbeatable price, Kona bikes have style with function to match. Give us a call today or stop by, we would love to sell you your next bike. Below is a 2009 Hei-Hei 29er' complete with an awesome parts spec...Fox, Slx, XT, Wtb, and Maxis just to name a few. Check out out www.konaworld.com for info.
A personal favorite of mine is the Fizik Aliante, I have been riding one for along time, now available in team edition colors with tape to match. The team colors are available in the ever popular Airone and Anteras.
Now in stock, just in time for cyclocross season is comfy tape from PRO. Easy to wrap with the right amount stretch to keep it nice and tight. It's also very grippe for when your bar gets covered with rain and mud. PRO is a division of shimano.
Co2 does work well but when you have used your last one and you are miles from home you will want a pump, not just any pump but one from the guys at Lezyne. It's light and compact for simple storage in a jersey pocket. The hose slides out of the middle and screws onto the other end. Most of us ride presta but if you want to be a hero or pump up your cruiser you can easily switch between!
May 19th, 2010
Come out this Friday and watch the new film Follow Me just releases by the Anthill Crew, these are the guys responsible for the Collective trilogy so you know it's going to be good. We are showing it at Big Blue Country Sports Bar and Grill at 9p.m. This is a Free and all ages event!
May 14th, 2010
The Duffield Derby mountain bike race is this weekend. The XC race starts at 11 with the entertaining Super D event following at 2:30.
Joe Ward brought by some more of his books titled "Wheeling Around Louisville" This is a must own for every cyclist and is awesome when just getting into the sport and needing to find some good rides. Joe doesn't just give you a que sheet and map of his twenty five favorite rides, he includes local history, places to eat, and must see things along the way.
May 13th, 2010
In life there are always choices and the same is true in cycling. The myriad of colors, steel or carbon or Ti or Aluminum, and the conversation (and cost). Whispers of Sram, Shimano, or Campagnolo. Then the question is asked and then it all hits the fan. For as many people that are out there turning the pedals there is going to always be the great debate. Sram is the relative newcomer to the sport and has had great success, LBL, Prbx, The Tour. You name it the big guns are riding Sram but they are paid to do the job and lets face it most of them could bury us on a old worn out Schwinn collegiate. Sram has the best customer service, while offering the best bang for the buck makes me push/sell Sram all day long. Shimano shows up to the party in their trade mark blue jackets(see Rouleur 16, 17 here at the shop for the story) wielding Di-2, Yes it's that good, a game changer as they say. If you have the chance ride it, do it and smile, I know I did. If shimano makes an affordable electronic group for the masses it will have a huge impact. Last but not least you have Campagnolo taking a page out of Spinal tap, "it goes to 11" I have spent more time riding or shall I say pedaling squares on 11. The refinement is awesome and the craftsmanship is there too, I'm a fan but you have to pay to play. The stuff aint cheap but life is too short to drink cheap beer, eat fast food or ride cheap bike parts. So to wrap this whole thing up, It all boils down to what conversation you want to have, they are all different and good in there own way. I did say life is too short, time to go for a ride, this debate will go on and on. Im fine with that because its all bikes and that a good thing - Drew.
We recetly built up two custom road bikes here at the shop... both steel frames because roads are only going to get more and more rugged. One customer decided to try Sram, while the other chose Campy after riding one of our bikes. The first is an Independent Fabrications Crown Jewel built with Sram Rival, handbuilt DT wheels, and Ritchey componets. This bike was absolutley beautifull! These pictures taken inside on a rainy day do no justice when it comes to showing how amazing the paint on this bike is. Custom frame geometry and a dialed componet group made this one sweet ride.
The new red Ritchey logo's matched the bike perfect!
Second was a steel Soma Smoothie ES with carbon fork, hand built DT wheels, and Campagnalo's new Athena 11sp groupset. Athena is the first 11 speed group with a silver finish, made for riders who expect state-of-the-art performance without the high cost of a pro level group. Everything went together great and it rode like a dream!
We got in a new wheel set from HED this and were amazed by how well the tires fit to the rims. A deep channel allowed the Vittoria tubular's to roll on very easy and made for a very strong match after some good ol' glue.
Both hubs were super smooth and the wheel set was extremely light. HED builds a nice wheel along with all of there other products.
May 12th, 2010
With so many new cyclist getting on the road daily it's been long over due that someone local put together a safe cycling video that was actually useful. The crew over at Bike Louisville goes over some of the more important things for a beginner to know in a short eight minute video below. This is even good for the regular cyclist or e-mail it to a friend of yours who would benefit from it.
Mark your calendar... Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 21st. Click the link to find out more and register to ride.
April 29th, 2010
We had a swiftwick employee stop in our shop a couple months ago while hiding from the rain on a road ride. He left us a couple pairs of their wool socks and since then we've been hooked. Swifwick socks are knitted at 200 needles; the highest density you’ll find in socks. The higher the needle count, the tighter the knit. Their socks are so tightly knitted that no trail debris or foreign material can penetrate your sock causing irritation and blistering. What we like most about these socks is how they keep shape through the whole day. We just received a full order from the Tennessee based company. We have both Merino Wool and Olefin styles in many sizes and lengths. Purchase a pair of Swiftwick socks and put them to the test. They unconditionally guarantee every Swiftwick product to be the best performance product you have ever worn, if not mail the laundered socks and a request for a competitor’s replacement pair of equal value.
Odyssey's Twisted PC pedals have been a hard item for us to keep in stock, they literally fly of the shelf. They're available in every color imaginable including glow in the dark and sun activated color changing versions. At 15-20$ a pair they're perfect for the bmx crew or our daily repairs. They've also become pretty popular with the fixie/ commuter crowd but aren't exactly designed to be used with toe clips. Here's a set that received a little modification here at the shop and can now accept toe clips. We can do the same for your bike!
Edge carbon bars are back in stock at OYLC! These bars are built to be strong first, light second allowing you to focus on riding with no compromises.
We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to install a Sram XX group on a bike last week and it was amazing! We've been looking forward to setting a bike up with XX and see how it worked. The end result was a bike that shifted super crisp, and you can use every gear you have with out the chain rubbing the front derailluer. All the bolts on XX are Torx 25's which is a change we're seeing more and more on bikes recently and are pleased with the way they work.
The XX shifters were so light it was incredible! After the photos were taken, this bike received Avid's Matchmakers allowing the brake and shifter to share a clamp making for a clean look and more handlebar space. It also got the new Edge Carbon riser bars in pictured above.
This had to be the most fun we've had test riding a bike, we couldn't stop riding it.
One of our favorite parts about the group is the steel cassette which will increase the life of your drive train considerably over a softer aluminum one.
In this picture you can see how it's made. Cogs 2-9 are all connected, cog #10 is aluminum, and on the other end is a single steel cog and lockring to hold it all together. The way it's made allows it to be as light as an aluminum cassette but much stronger.
April 28th, 2010
A crew of motivated trail workers have set a goal to finish a section of trail at Waverly Park the week of May 3-7. They are looking for some extra help through the week during the hours of 9-6 daily. Metro parks is supplying a ditch witch to do the heavy work, but just a couple extra hands for a few hours a day will go a long way. Contact Billy Davis with any questions.
We all deserve to go fast. And it shouldn't cost a bundle. Get into road racing, kill the commute, and have fun doing it! Kona's 2010 Zing features taller headtubes for a more comfortable riding position, a new hydroformed, super aerodynamic frame, Kona Carbon fork, and internal brake cable routing for general svelteness. Note that we added the Fi'zik blue bar tape to match the frame and give it a look all it's own. Be the most efficient animal on the planet, and Zing along the asphalt roller coaster of the world.
We know you've been thinking of getting out and riding to work. Now, with Kona's entry-level Dew's speedy geometry, great components and affordable price, you've run out of excuses.
Mother's day is May 9th and this is a perfect gift for mom. Sun's Kruizer has an aluminum frame, alloy rims, and a coaster brake. We like how light this bike is which making it easier to carry and put in a car.
Here's another Surly we put together today in preparation for a cross country trip.
Surly racks were the choice for front and rear and the silver was a very nice look.
Here's a used bike that is to good of a deal to pass up. This Steel Vicious Groover has a Rock Shox Reba, XT cranks, Hope brakes, Sram X0 shifters and rear derailleur, XTR front derailleur, Ti Moots stem, carbon bars, and a thomson post making for an ultimate cross country build. And as an added bonus you get a green Chris King headset and hubs laced to Mavic 717 rims.
