Special Offers - New Bikes & Ex Hire

It's near the end of the retail year for cycle manufacturers with the 2012 cycles nor coming on the market ready for the spring in the Southern hemisphere where sales are huge.  2011 bikes come on special offer at this time so if your interested in grabbing yourself a bargain let me know and I will look out for you.

I will also have two good ex hire bikes to sell off soon, one size 20 and one size 18 inch frame.  These are only 3 months old.  Hardtails with good lockout front forks and shimano drivetrain.  RRP £470 but with a full service to a local I would sell for £295.  These particular bikes have not seen hard use only being on the cycle track. The harder used ones go cheaper and I have none left 2nd hand at the moment as my stock is all kept less than 3 months old.  A great buy for a local looking for a good spec cycle.  I don't sell these on to visitors prefering to keep them for folk who live in or near the area.

I pride myself on having high quality cycles for hire so that guests in the area are not dissapointed by mechanical issues and have a good experience.  My main hire cycle is Merida who are very well known and respected in Europe where 60% of those who hire are from.  In fact in July next year I may get a Belgian flag and offer a TdF special discount as they are a cycling (and beer) mad nation!  Any local pub with ITV 4 on live from the tour and a special beer would do a roaring trade.  I have had dozens of folk in each day wanting results and asking to watch this incredible cycle race.  Maybe I should get a table licence?

TdF Heroes 2011 one of the best Races for years

This years Tour de France is one of the best for a long time IMHO. Lots going on tactically and also sadly a lot of serious accidents.  Chess on a bike tactically and with the equivalent of 3 marathons calorificaly each day as they go over the big cols.  Lets not forget Pierre Rolland either as he's been Thomas's pacer consistently over the last 9 days and helped him keep yellow on his back.

Barbed Wire After Getting Hit By a Car  - and getting back on your bike, Hardcore!

Pierre Rolland Paces Thomas. He's a star !

A big heart and bon coureur Thomas Voekeler

Cycle Hire, Quality and Family Activities

Weather wise it's a disappointing summer.  One activity that can be done is getting out on a bike. I have some competition on my doorstep for hire it seems. CranKitUp Gear as a  family business to fulfil a local need for repairs and spares and give visiting families an activity was always too good an idea for someone else not to jump onto, and it seems that a new local business has jumped me by hiring bikes in Glenachullish and Ballachulish. Glencoe Mountain also hire bikes but good quality ones and their developments will benefit all mountain bikers. I have a good working relationship with them as I do with Nevis Cycles. I would not dream of taking their trade or setting up on their doorstep. We often send trade to each other based on customer needs and availability and this networking is the key to good working partnerships to give visitors a good experience and holiday in the Highlands.  My response to the new competition will be an HTC Highroad one a la Mark Cavendish - tuck in, knuckle down and give a quality finish consistently and as part of a team of other local cycle providers and repairers who know the business.

CranKitup Gear has an extensive range of maps, treasure hunts and geocaching sites to give a cycle based activity day. It's so satisfying to have folk come back having had a good experience on reliable well maintained cycles. Why have a steel "V" brake banger when you can have a reliable FELT or a Merida serviced by someone who knows what their doing and willing to work with the other high quality providers of cycle hire to give customers good value.  You get what you pay for .......................

Tayvallich a bonny place in Argyll

Just back from a "training camp" and family holiday at Tayvallich a very bonny village in mid Argyll.  Can't believe we have never been there before and will surely return.

Rebekah Searches for Flatties

Carsaig Bay overlooking Jura

Trusty Steed in the Tent

Ardnoe and Cup & Ring Marked Area

From Ardnoe Hill

Crinan Locks

Posh Boat on the way through

The Gunn Family - Taken by a proud dad

Keil Church - 1,000 years + old

Ancient Stones

Sea Scape on a cycle ride - perfect