Arsbars.comThe Real Arleigh Jenkins

Since opening the Trek Concept store a few weeks back it seems a big media frenzy has hit over the new Trek belt drive bikes such as the Soho and District.  Atleast 2-4 times a day folks come in wanting to see, test ride and purchase the bikes.

Here’s some interesting facts about these bikes:

They aren’t going to be available until February/March of 2009. Yes, of course there’s a media hype. Driving tons of folks to our store, which I’m grateful for. But the bikes aren’t available, won’t be available, or even able to be touched for awhile.

Sizing is special in itself.  How often do you find a size 25″ commuter, or 60cm single speed niche bike? Almost never.

Belt drive isn’t brand new.  Spot Bicycles and a couple other smaller brands have been playing with belt drive for a few years.  It hasn’t taken off due to the fact you have to have a specialy designed frame that has a “break apart” rear drop out for the belt to slip through.  Gates Corporation is the design/driving force behind it all.

Maybe it’s not good. Here’s Mark’s two cents of belt drive and why it might not be all it is promised to be.

Recovery mode from Black Friday. Drinking tons of green tea to help fix the sore throat from talking to so many people.  It is amazing to be in the location of the new Trek Store.  Such great floor traffic and interested people in cycling.

It’s 4:35am. I’ve been awake for an hour and a half. Black Friday in retail means long lines, super good deals and when you run a retail location.. it means being open at 4am to serve coffee to all the coupon clippers in the Best Buy line.

If you are around town come check out the Trek Store at Exit 18 (I-77.)  There’s amazing deals to be had on everything in the store.

Sitting up in the rafters at work, grabbing some lunch and catching up on the 438 unread feeds in my Google Reader.  That’s a lot of blog & news post to read folks.

The news and blogs are the smaller of things I am catching up with.  The new shop and lady visiting really put my normal day to day things to the side.  Not that either are a bad thing, but my routine was thrown out the window for the past month.

Now to catch up.  Tomorrow, which is Thanksgiving, I’m taking the day to clean and organize.  Hopefully I’ll have time to ride, but its not a high priority.  Getting things in place, dishes clean, clothes folded and a plan for the next month of riding is where my focus will be.

Friday at 5am I’ll be at the shop to try and get some of the early morning Black Friday shoppers into the store.  We are then open 8am through 8pm with some really crazy deals to kick off the holiday season.  I’m sure Friday at 5am I’ll be posting at the store about all of the info.

New shop is going great.  Lady is in town.  Busy times.  Trying to play catch up over this holiday.