Nine Hours

• The shop is shifting into "late winter" mode, or, perhaps more accurately, "pre-spring". Despite the ice on the ground and frigid sub-zero days, neighborhood cyclists are getting a little giddy and stir-crazy, and everyone seems to be working on a new or revitalized bike. It's time to crack the open the door a tiny bit, and so starting this week it will be unlocked between 2 and 5pm Fri-Sat-Sun.

  As always, if you need one-on-one time, a fitting, or service -- please schedule an appointment.

  The shop is overflowing with goodies, so a trip through the slush this weekend will be worth your while. Linus sent over samples of their roadster, mixte, and Dutch bike. These are going to be huge come springtime. Priced at $400-550 with impeccable aesthetic details. Ortlieb's awesome new City Biker and Downtown commuter bags are in, as well as the very cute Velocity mini messenger bags (in four colorways!).

  

  TATI may be the only Chicagoland shop stocking every single pedal manufactured by TIME. We're still waiting on the Better-than-Keo carbon iclics, but the odd little Allroad Grippers arrived this week. These are a commuter variant of the stalwart ATAC platform. I'm not sure about the colorful plastic bits, but mechanically these have it all over competitors like the Shimano A530s.

  

  As always, there are way too many saddles in the shop. Also, there are a few Garmin Edge 500s left, at too-low-to-publish pricing. If you're thinking about running a rechargeable light this year, stop by for 30% off Cygolite and Niterider.

  

  Spring striped socks are on the way, so the remaining stock is half off. We're reloaded on Gator's excellent Icelander insulated & windproof socks, but have decided to drop the Gator neoprene booties for the superior Endura overshoes. 40% off remaining stock of the Gator booties.

  

  A few friends have been singing Chain-L N°5 for many months, and how can you not love lube that requires a blow torch to install? I'll have a full review in a couple of weeks.

  

  Chicagoans have learned the benefits of embrocation for winter riding, thus Mad Alchemy has been selling well. But did you know they make chamois creme too? It's mintier than Assos. All Selle Italia & San Marco 2009 saddles are 40% off.

  

  Knog 30% off, including the excellent new (and crazy looking) Knog Nerd computers. And speaking of nerds, the winter issue of Bicycle Quarterly has arrived. Only $8.50 for the awesomest domestic cycling print mag for rando-fans and bike nerds of all stripes. And... our orange Rhodia notebooks arrived! Get rid of that inferior Moleskine.

  

  I have no idea how we're going to pull it off, in an effort to mainstream the shop, we'll be adding Giro helmets and Lake shoes to the inventory this year. Giro has already started arriving, and is quickly creating Tetris-like volume problems. 30% off all Giro until this is solved. Four dozen pairs of Lake shoes are arriving soon, so the remaining stock of Spiuk and Gaerne needs to go away fast: 50-75% off. Or make an offer! I've recently learned to love Challenge's "open tubulars," which are actually clinchers that... feel like Clement tubulars of yore. They'll be filling the shelves next to Schwalbe this year, and will actually complement that line really well. If you like that old-school feel, they're worth a try.

  

  The 2010 UCVC kits are in, so come get yours! If you missed out, don't worry; we'll have stocking inventory of short sleeve UCVC jerseys beginning in April. And finally, I absolutely *love* the Scottish Endura line of rainwear. 20% off for a few weeks while the stuff settles in.