Here’s part of her review from  Bicycle.com :

Civia’s Twin City strikes a balance between good looks and high functionality.

“It’s an outright attractive bike, equipped with all the commuter basics, and is still affordable for many cyclists. …The Twin Cities impressed me as a well thought-through city bike. The stand-over of the twin “loop” frame was just the right height for hopping on and off. Thanks to the low bottom bracket and relaxed seat-tube angle, I could get full leg extension while pedaling and still put a toe down in traffic without dismounting—something many commuters find convenient.

The Twin City is available with several different drivetrain options. The model I tried was equipped with the new Shimano Nexus 5-speed internally geared hub. When choosing a hub instead of a derailleur, I find that with more than 5 speeds the bike starts to lose efficiency. So I am excited to see another option for this gearing enter the market (previously, only Sturmey Archer offered it). In the course of my test ride the Shimano Nexus performed excellently, with the same level of efficiency I’ve come to expect from a 5-speed hub. It provides an ideal range for a city bike, as far as I’m concerned, with the low-maintenance benefits of hub gearing.

All in all, the Twin City is a fine bike. I expect to see more of them pop up around town.”
–Constance Winters

We couldn’t agree more – the Civia Twin City step thru makes a great fit for the local city rider! If you like what you see and want to take it for a spin — come on by!

May 31st- June 9th!

In conjunction with Boston Pride Week – every year Broadway Bicycle School celebrates the diversity and richness of our greater community by baking homemade cookies for everyone. We often have gluten free and vegan varieties as well as the humble chocolate chip.

In addition to a sweet treat,  a portion of any purchases you make will be donated to  NAGLY, the North Shore Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth. NAGLY is part of a statewide effort to assist our young people in being healthy and safe and to grow to their fullest potential. NAGLY can provide an escape from one’s daily life. It offers young people information, skills and community. It provides a new reality and images of a hopeful future.

Find out more events happening throughout the city on BostonPride.org

See you Saturday June 8th

Till the cookies crumble!

Here’s a list of folks and their awesome prizes:

Thank you to all who participated in this mornings raffle!
All proceeds will help Bikes Not Bombs further their amazing work!

We are extremely grateful to MassBike, David Watson, and Kyle -  for setting up a remote repair stand in front of our shop to help with onsite mechanics while everyone was enjoying their pancakes!

We’d also like to thank the Harvest coop, Dwelltime and Izze sodas for their generous support that helped make this breakfast extra tasty!

As we digest our breakfasts and get on with being mechanics – here are some pictures from the morning event – one of our most successful pancake breakfasts yet!

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Our annual Pancake Breakfast

is tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, May 14th

7:30-9:30AM.

Not only will you feast on all sorts of pancakes and waffles – you also have the chance to win some Amazing Prizes!!

Raffle tickets will be on sale for $5 each or 3 for $10

Check out what you might win:

Pedros Apprentice Tool Kit ($285 value)
Racing Wheelset with Origin8 sealed 10speed hub and Velocity A23 Rims ($350 value)
Helmets from Bern, Bell, Lazer and GiroPlatypus Hydration Pak
Defeet Socks
O2 Rain Gear (both pants and a jacket)
Michelin Folding tires and tubes for 700×23 road tires
Kryptonite Chain Lock
OnGuard Bulldog Lock
Brompton Pant Whip
Bailey Bag Super Pro XL ($200 value)
Racktime rack with matching double panniers
box of Clif Shot energy food
box of Promax Coconut Chocolate energy bars
Organic T-shirts and wool socks from SurlyCaps from All City and Surly
All City Capt Phil Backpack ($99 value)

Broadway would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Pedros, QBP, Bern, Bell, Giro and Bailey Works for their generous donations!

We’d also like to make a special Shout out to Dwelltime for providing coffee and assistance!

Our pancakes would be incomplete without your caffeination!

Hope to see you in the Morning!

Happy Bike Week everyone!

Kevin Porter

Millions of dead terabytes…

Opening Reception

Thursday, May 16th

7-9pm

Kevin Porter is a Boston cycling dynamo – and fantastic collage artist utilizing found images to create eye popping and often humorous interpretations of the world remixed through its own media. Stop by to meet Kevin and share in great company and conversation!

Here’s a little clip :

Check out some of Kevin’s work online

The usual dainties will be served!

If you can’t make the opening, you still can check out his art. Stop by during regular shop hours before June 6th!

you know what that means…

Every year the mechanics of Broadway Bicycle School delight in whipping up mountains of pancakes to help you on your way.

Stop by Tuesday May 14th between 7:30-9:30am to have your fill of pancake goodness.

Blueberries – Bananas – Chocolate Chips — even gluten free!

We won’t let you leave till you’ve had a short stack.

And did we mention bottomless coffee – but that’s true every day.

See you in the morning!

For more information about other Bike Week related activities – visit www.baystatebikeweek.org

Very good question!

Though we may not be chess masters – the mechanics at Broadway definitely know bicycles.

Now more than ever, we have questions regarding fixing up your bike for spring riding. So here we will attempt to provide some answers ….

•  Does my bike need a tune-up?

Answer: “Well that depends – on your bike.”  Without being able to inspect your bike it is very difficult to make a proper assessment as to how much work is needed to return it to tip top shape. We do free estimates all day long. Just bring your bike in and one of our mechanics will be happy to look it over and walk you through any recommended repairs.

• What’s included in a tune-up?

Answer: At Broadway – all basic tune-ups include a full hands-on inspection and all needed adjustments of your bike. We start by making sure the pedals, seatpost and stem are greased properly. We will adjust your headset and your bottom bracket (if these are the adjustable kind). We take both wheels off and adjust the bearing systems in the hubs then make sure the wheels spin true by eliminating any wobbles. We inspect your tires and make sure they are inflated properly and in good condition. We’ll do a quick cleaning of your frame and rims. Brakes are then  adjusted for optimal performance and – if you have them- we adjust your gears to smooth out and maximize your shifting. We tighten all the bolts on your cranks, racks,levers and fenders to make sure none are coming loose and lube your chain as well as any other parts that might need a little extra oil . Over all the basic tune-up* is a great maintenance tool to help your bike last longer and ride better. We then take your bike for a ride and make sure all of our adjustments perform as well as they should on the road.

*Please note -cost of  small parts  and labor to install those parts are additional.

During your estimate, the mechanic will inform you of your choices in the repairs. If your bike only needs brake work – we’ll tell you.

• When can I have my bike back?

Answer: Now is the spring rush for most bike shops when cyclists emerge with bike in tow eager  to enjoy the warmer days. We are busy and can usually turn your bike around within a few days; however we also take appointments! If you can only part with your bike for a day or two – we highly encourage you to come in, get an estimate then schedule an appointment when it is most convenient to have the work done! Easy!

• What are the most common parts that are regularly replaced on bicycles?

Answer: Much like other machines that are used regularly – certain bike components are commonly replaced due to use. These include your brake pads, cable sets, chain and gear cluster.

Brake pads wear out because that is what they do best. Their main function is to provide stopping power through friction with the rim. Overtime this rubber compound will either disappear or get hard and brittle – in both instances – new brake pads are recommended.

Cablesets are the wires and plastic housing that connect your brake and shift levers to the brake body and derailleur. Overtime water and debris can lodge inside these tubes causing rust, corrosion and inhibition of cable movement. This causes your brakes and derailleurs to not respond as they should.  Unfortunately this is a very common result of leaving your bike exposed to the elements. If you leave your bike parked outside – try to find an overhang or some protective cover to prevent unnecessary exposure  – we sell vinyl covers designed specifically for this purpose!

Your chain and gear cluster tend to wear together. That makes sense when you think about it – because the teeth of the cogs are specifically machined to fit precisely between the pins in your chain. As the chain travels through its path – slowly the metal wears away between these pins causing your chain to loosen and misbehave. Do you ever experience slipping when you are pedaling hard? Chances are your chain is getting worn and may need to be replaced. This is a common repair, especially for daily commuters.

Fortunately – the most common repairs often aren’t hugely expensive – it’s when you let your bike go and neglect preventative maintenance when bigger issues may surface. So keep riding but show your bike the care it needs with yearly tune-ups!

If you have an older French bicycle – you may find it difficult to repair or replace certain components. The most common issues that come up are when your drivetrain or steering need some attention. French bikes from that era had their own standards that differ significantly from the modern parts that would be available in most bike shops today.

Here’s a little peek into some of the differences:

• A stem must be compatible with the dimensions of the fork steerer tube. Steerer tubes come mainly in two common sizes: 1″ or 1 1/8″, French steerer tubes are 25mm (just slightly bigger than 1″) So if your original stem became damaged – it could be difficult to find a replacement that would fit. In addition, changing the stem would then impact your handlebars.
• On all bikes, your stem clamps onto the handlebars. The standard diameter for this area is 25.4mm, 26mm or 31.8. On an older French bike, the handlebar measures 25mm – just small enough to prove unsafe with available stems….
• Your headset  is the bearing system that allows your fork to rotate in the bike frame. Common standards have been established, but once again these don’t apply to older French bicycles.
• French Pedals have a different threading than modern pedals – they are not interchangeable.

If you are considering having work done on your French bike – we strongly recommend visiting a bike shop and speaking with a mechanic about these and other issues that may pop up. Depending on your particular bicycle, sometimes these repairs can be quite costly! An experienced mechanic will be able to identify if your bike has special needs and provide an accurate assessment of the future costs of repairs versus the value of your bicycle.

If you are very attached to your older steed all hope is not lost – sometimes repairs can include replacing your fork with a modern one that will then remove the above incompatibilities  – thus ensuring your bike will be future proof and provide years of service. The love of the french bicycle has a small following and there are companies like Velo orange now making a French Headset and French Bottom Bracket. Both of these components are available at Broadway!

For those of you who like solid numbers, here’s a handy chart to compare older French dimensions to the current standards available with modern parts.

Check out these French parts available in the Broadway Land of Used Parts! They might be just what you need …

**Please note that modern Motobecanes, Merciers and Peugeots have no  relation to the original older French bicycles except in name.  Speak to an experienced mechanic to determine if your bike has standardized componentry.

Started in 2009 by Greg Hum, a recent Boston University graduate who came up with “a totally ad-hoc, spur-of-the-moment idea,”  the Midnight Marathon was born and is quickly becoming a tradition among cyclists. Ridership further blossomed with interest from the Boston SOS -  alternately known as the Societies of Spontaneity or a Society of Shenanigans (the group responsible for the annual no-pants subway ride on the T). Last year over 700 cyclists boarded the last train to Worcester from South Station to partake in the ride…

Perhaps that is why this year in a joint effort to keep the tradition going, the MBTA has opted to run a dedicated commuter train for these fun loving folks! Ticket sales were capped at 700 and cost double the usual price – but the train is just for bikers with a Midnight Marathon Ticket and travels nonstop direct to Southborough ( a short ride to  the starting line). Tickets went on sale April 8th and quickly sold out – if you are interested in participating – you’ll have to find an alternative mode of transport to the starting line. I suggest riding your bike Or find a convenient spot to join the pack closer to the city.

If you are a rider please make sure to stock up on snacks and water. Convenience stores may be scarce in the wee hours. Also make sure to carry a spare tube or patch kit and portable pump in case you get stranded with a flat. Ride in a group and stay safe – Streets may be empty but they are not yet closed to motor vehicles! Also watch out for railroad tracks. They are notorious for causing wipeouts, especially if it is raining. Slow down and cross at a 90 degree angle to avoid getting your tire caught in the rails.

This year the Midnight Marathon runs from Sunday April 14th to Monday morning before the official route is closed.

The Midnight Marathon Express leaves South Station at 10pm
People will arrive at the Starting Line between 10:50pm and 11:30pm.
Riders generally complete the course in 2 to 5 hours, depending on your type of bike, fitness level, etc. Most will reach the finish line between 1:30am and 2:30am.

Also plan how you’re getting home since the T doesn’t start operation till around 5am.

Here’s the official map.

The historic course starts on Main Street in the rural New England town of Hopkinton and traverses Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley and Newton Lower Falls. Then follows Commonwealth Avenue through Chestnut Hill, Cleveland Circle and Kenmore Square to end up at Copley Square near the John Hancock Tower. It is a slight downhill track for most of the 26.2 miles (except for Heartbreak hill at mile 20-21!).

Have fun!

7-9pm

Thursday

April 11, 2013

” I’ve been taking pictures for as long as I can remember.  I’ve been an architect, a film maker and a writer and through all of those enterprises I continued to take pictures.

The first photographs that affected me deeply me were Walker Evans’s images of the towns and people of the deep south.  They had an unforgettable impact on me – still do.  He taught a course in photography at the Yale School of Art and Architecture in 1965 as I was finishing my training in architecture, and I leapt at the chance to study with him.

I practiced architecture for a number of years, then, following what I can only describe as a compulsion that would not be denied, a colleague and I made a documentary about wolves in the Canadian Arctic.  The completion and release of that project led to the making of more movies, and before long I was doing documentaries full time.  Most of them were for Public Television on wildlife, natural science and historical subjects.  In the last few years I have moved away from film production and have written two books deriving from my father’s work as an anthropologist with the Apache Indians.   Set in Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountains and the American southwest, the books are: The Apache Diaries and Like a Brother. “

Here are some images of the opening :

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For more information about Neil and his extensive body of work, visit his website:

http://www.neilgoodwin.com/

His show will be on display until May 7th  during regular shop hours. Please stop by if you get a chance to peek in Door3!