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Box 622</div> <div> Madison, IN 47250-0622</div> <div> Office: 812-265-4203</div> <div> Mobile: 812-292-0700</div> <div> Fax: 812-418-3368</div> <div> E-mail: <A HREF="mailto:info@bigringadventure.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:info@bigringadventure.com">info@bigringadventure.com</A></div> <bR> <div> We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. 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Their interest cooled when Byron and I spoke on the phone and I told him that Julie and I both had colds. So Julie and I went by ourselves.</div> <div> We went to I-Pro in Bellbrook first, but that shop is at the end of this review because it has the most pictures. The others are in the order we visited: Smitty's, Performance, and Trek. No photos of the Performance store; company policy forbids pictures. No photos for Smitty's; the employee we spoke with wasn't sure what company policy was and would have to ask the owner, who wasn't there. Not wanting to get turned down a third time I didn't even ask about photos at the Trek store. Those that appear here are from our visit a few weeks after the store opened in December 2005. When we asked Roger, the manager of I-Pro if we could take photos, he said, “Heck, yeah. We want people to see what we're all about.” Ya gotta love that kind of attitude.</div> <div> We continue to provide links to relevant Web sites in our reviews, but you'll notice we've also added a Google search tool so you can get additional info and links to sites we've not listed.</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.smittyscyclery.com/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.smittyscyclery.com/"><B>Smitty's</B></A></div> <div> We went here because Tim Weber, owner of BRAT sponsor <A HREF="http://weber-sports.com/index.cfm" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://weber-sports.com/index.cfm">Weber Sports</A>, suggested we check them out. Smitty, the owner, was MIA while we were there so we have to rely on Tim's account. He said Smitty was the head wrench at University Cycles in Cinci for years before setting off to open his own shop. It's a fairly small shop; I'd guess maybe 1,600 square feet of combined sales and service area. Probably 80 bikes on the floor. A nice selection of road and mountain bikes, from entry level to mid-level race models. Heavy on Bianchi and Kona, which is good. A smattering of parts and accessories. We watched the help interact with other customers and came away thinking the employees were very competent. My impression is that it would be a good shop to frequent if you're a racer. I don't race. I found the vibe to be a bit grating and I won't likely go back to Smitty's. But you should check them out at least once.</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.performancebike.com/inform/store_profile.cfm?Store_ID=123" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.performancebike.com/inform/st"><B>Performance</B></A></div> <div> Twenty years ago the independent bicycle dealers (IBDs) were sure that mail order houses were going to kill them. Ten years ago the IBDs were sure the Internet sellers were going to kill them. Those IBDs that survived the first two salvos must now deal with established bike brands going big box. Performance is one example. The catalog and online giant has been rolling out retail stores for some time. Inside we found lots of items from the catalog, including a gear bag I'd recently ordered - which was ten dollars cheaper in the store. In fact there were lots of bargains. The place is well merchandised but has the feel of a warehouse outlet, which it sort of is. At least one employee was knowledgeable and an avid cyclist. The others seemed to be, well, just employees. The best thing is the ability to test ride bikes, try on clothing, and do other things you can't do online. (I tried on a couple pairs of eyewear, but the mirror they had was one of those metal, unbreakable jobs like you see in cheesy restrooms. The wavy, distorted image was like looking at myself on acid. I put the glasses back on the rack.) No, the store doesn't have everything the catalog has, but it has a lot. And no, shopping here will not replace the personal service you get from a good IBD, but it is a way to score some bargains.</div> <div> <A HREF="http://trekstorecincinnati.com/index.cfm" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://trekstorecincinnati.com/index.cfm"><B>Trek</B></A></div> <div> We liked the Trek store when we visited it in January 2006 and we still do. We're not alone. This store had the most traffic of any of the stores we visited. I'm not sure how many sales they were ringing up, but they were getting people in the door. Good thing, too, because I'm guessing they're paying more for rent than the other three shops combined. As you might expect there's a lot of Trek-affiliated merchandise, which includes not only Trek but Gary Fisher, Bontrager, and LeMond. But there's also a good selection of other brands of parts and accessories. It's a nice store, well merchandised, with friendly and knowledgeable employees.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="57a8ae80.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="488" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="57ce88a0.jpg" border=0 width="488" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.iprobikeshop.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&zenid=a7ce76c85b55fcbc98b4d7e136e511d2" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.iprobikeshop.com/store/index."><B>I-Pro</B></A></div> <div> It's hard to not gush about this place. It's the best road shop I've ever been in (no MTB or BMX, but some touring and cyclocross). I-Pro has brands you've heard of and dreamed of but have never actually touched. There are enthusiast-level bikes, but no real entry-level models. You'll find 105 and Veloce, but no Tiagra, Sora, Mirage, or Xenon. Roger, the manager, loves bikes and loves riding and loves the industry. He has an encyclopedic knowledge about bikes, but never flaunts it. I-Pro attracts others who share Roger's enthusiasm. While we were there a customer, Ed, brought in his newly-built-up Lyon. Ed's an engineer and spec'ed out his bike with the coolest stuff. I've been visiting I-Pro for years. I bought my Bianchi Volpe here prior to my cross-country ride in 1998. I took Kurt, my partner on that trip, here to buy his Volpe. I took Chip George here to buy his Bianchi road bike. Roger has several bikes on the floor ready to roll out the door, but his real strength is in building up a new bike to your specifications. If you've been looking for the perfect road bike, I-Pro is the perfect place to find it.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="57e638a0.jpg" border=0 width="611" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This is Roger. Great guy.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5828ae10.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="481" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Seriously now, have you ever ridden a Kuips? Have you ever even heard of one? I-Pro is the first place I ever saw an Orbea, and that was several years ago. Roger has a knack for spotting emerging brands. Maybe Kuips is the next one. And check out that sweet cyclocross rig behind it.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5847c8a0.jpg" border=0 width="380" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Recognize this badge?</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5868a070.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="519" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> It's a Casati. See the logo on the downtube? Just like the badge. Add "Casati" to your list of Brands to Watch.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5888a140.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="532" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I-Pro also has more familiar big-name brands, such as Coppi. Roger said they're dropping Bianchi though, as the company is going through some issues in its dealer policies. On the one hand I'll miss seeing the Celeste green bikes in the shop. I love my Volpe (which is purple, for some reason). But Roger's a savvy businessman and I trust his judgment on this one. And if you need a touring bike, Roger has Waterfords and other well-respected brands.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="58a8a410.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="577" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Ciocc was a big name in the U.S. in the '70s but faded from sight. They're back and as beautiful as ever. Note the diacritical double dots above the "o" in Ciocc (look at the small logo on the lower part of the downtube). My software won't reproduce it and your Web viewer probably wouldn't display it. Ciocc, pronounced "choach," is Italian for "jokester" or "prankster." Those of you who have been riding with me for a long time may remember that Larry Keith, who rode with us years ago, had a Ciocc. Larry was a strong rider with a love of bikes and a personal history that went back to when he worked in bike shops in the '70s. I heard a few years ago that Larry was selling all his bicycle stuff and was getting into (or back into) motorcycling.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="594b88a0.jpg" border=0 width="440" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Yes, Roger has lots of bikes ready to go. He also has walls and racks full of frames ready to be built into dream bikes.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="596f68a0.jpg" border=0 width="502" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Fit is critical on any bike, and no less so on a custom model that may set you back several thousand dollars. Roger has the time, equipment, and expertise to get your fit dialed in at the beginning of the bike-building process.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="58cee8a0.jpg" border=0 width="494" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> You'll need wheels for that new bike. Or maybe you need new wheels for the bike you're already riding. How about something with a PowerTap hub so you can point to the numbers and prove what brute strength you have.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="58e8ac90.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="457" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I-Pro has all the parts and accessories you'll need.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5908af00.jpg" border=0 width="650" height="496" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Roger has assembled a nice collection of cycling memorabilia, from a leather hairnet helmet (upper right, behind the saddle) to Campy Cobalto brakes (foreground, with the blue caps on the center bolts). And check out those insanely ovalized chainrings. They make Shimano Biopace rings look round. I-Pro used to have a side-by-side tandem from the 1800s that they kept upstairs. I forgot to ask if they still have it.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5924c8a0.jpg" border=0 width="588" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> In years past I-Pro ran roller races in the winter. Note the drive cables leading from the rollers. The big hands on the dial showed who was ahead. The equipment is still there, but Roger's too busy building bikes to organize the races these days. "I'd like to do the races again - someday," he said.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="598d88a0.jpg" border=0 width="472" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This is Ed's bike. Note the bullet taillight, Mafac brakes, and downtube shifters. Ed wanted fenders long enough to keep spray off his toes and front derailleur. He got them. <A HREF="http://www.lyonsport.com/web/index.html" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.lyonsport.com/web/index.html">Jeff Lyon</A> is a custom builder in southern Oregon.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="59ace8a0.jpg" border=0 width="462" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The custom front rack has mounts for a light (number 1) and a handlebar bag (number 2). Not visible in this shot are eyelets running up the back of the right fork leg for routing wires from a dynamo hub to the headlight. Ed doesn't have a dynamo wheel yet because he hasn't decided which one he likes best.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="59ce88a0.jpg" border=0 width="488" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Flipping the black thumb lever in the direction of the arrow locks the front brake for parking. It's just one of many custom-engineered touches on Ed's bike.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="59ee88a0.jpg" border=0 width="488" height="650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Here's another one of those custom touches, this one machined by Ed himself. It's the roller assembly for the straddle cable on the rear brake. Sweet.</div> </td> </tr></table></body>