We are looking for a Sales Associate to join our team. A minimum of 3 years bicycle shop sales experience is required for this position. Please email resume to info@grovestreetbicycles.com
Help Wanted
March 13th, 2010Cycling with Michael Musto
March 11th, 2010Here is a link to streetfilms.org for an article and video about Village Voice gossip columnist Michael Musto’s cycling lifestyle…check it out.
Google Maps now features bike routes!
March 11th, 2010Google has added bike routes to Google Maps. You can map your ride with turn by turn directions. This has been a long awaited feature for riders. Check it out today and see what you think.
Long and Short Term Bike Storage Available
March 5th, 2010We offer Bicycle storage for $1.00/day, $7/week, $25/month and $250 a year. Bicycles are stored on premises for short term parking. The bicycles are wiped down, tires inflated and inspected for safety. Pick up and delivery available. Call or stop in for more details.
Clothing and Helmet Sale
March 5th, 2010We have a 30% off 2009 Spring Cycling Clothing, 20% off Winter Cycling and Casual Apparel and 20% off in stock helmets. Now is the time to gear up and save big! Sale ends 3/31/10
Free Flat Repair Class 9am every Saturday
March 5th, 2010This class is for anyone who has just purchased a bike or someone who needs to learn the basics of how to fix a flat, properly lube your bike, and handle most things that could happen to you while out on a ride. You will not need to bring your bike.
Held Saturday mornings at 9 am through out the spring/summer/fall, classes last about one hour. There is a 10% discount on tools and road side maintenance items immediately following the class ( in stock items only). The class is held in our service department and will be instructed by one of our service professionals.
Class includes :
Wheel removal and installation
Tire and tube removal and inspection
Tube replacement
Proper Pump and CO2 inflator usage
Discussion of tools and supplies needed
Usage of tools and lubrication
New Specialized Spring Apparel is in stock
March 5th, 2010We have a lot of new Spring Cycling Gear from Specialized.
Now in stock…base layers, jerseys, shorts, arm/leg warmers, rain gear and tons of other apparel to keep you riding comfortably. Stop in today and check out some of the specials!
New Extended Hours!
March 5th, 2010Our Summer Season Hours are here!!!
To serve you better we have extended the hours this season.
Monday 9:00am til 8:00pm
Tuesday 9:00am til 6:00pm
Wednesday 9:00am til 8:00pm
Thursday 9:00 til 8:00pm
Friday 9:00am til 8:00pm
Saturday 9:00am til 6:00 pm
Sunday 11:00am til 5:00pm
Come down and purchase your dream bike today!
Check out our new cycling club, Grove Street Velo
March 3rd, 2010Here is the latest from our associate and rider, Dave Devine. Then check out grovestreetvelo.com.
Riders,
The Establishment of the new Grove Street Velo cycling club offers the opportunity for people of the Northern New Jersey area to take part in a grassroots organization that supports cycling advocacy and bicycle racing. Grove Street Velo is associated with both USA Cycling and New Jersey Bicycle Association. At this point in the season we are bringing together riders and organizing efforts to make the most of this coming cycling season.
Club dues for this coming season will be a reasonable 45 dollars and will entitle members to be associated with a USA Cycling and NJBA sanctioned club. Members will also receive a ten percent discount on all items in Grove Street Bicycles, except for complete bicycles where a five percent discount will be given. Club members will have the opportunity to purchase custom Grove Street Velo clothing that features the logos of both Grove Street Bicycles and Grove Street Velo.
If you have never been a member of a USA cycling club please take a few minutes to view the benefits of your membership here: http://usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=2589
When filling out your membership to USA Cycling make sure to fill in club number: 12907
In order to complete your membership, stop by Grove Street Bicycles @ 365 Grove Street in Jersey City and fill out a membership form.
Membership dues will only be taken in cash or credit and are good for one year!
The leadership of the club is looking forward to a season of organized group rides, cycling advocacy events, racing and so much more!
Sincerely,
David Devine
Helmet Sale!
February 16th, 2010
Grove Street Bicycles is offering 20% off all helmets in stock. It is a perfect time to evaluate your old helmet to see if it needs replacing. If it has been impacted, or had average use for 3-5 years, consider replacing it before February 28th and save big! Here are some reasons to get a helmet if you don’t already ride with one…
From Helmets.org:
Need One? Yes!!
The average careful bike rider may still crash about every 4,500 miles. Head injuries cause 75% of our 700 annual bicycle deaths. Medical research shows that bike helmets can prevent 85% of cyclists’ head injuries. And helmets may be required by law in your area.
How Does a Helmet Work?
A helmet reduces the peak energy of a sharp impact. This requires a layer of stiff foam to cushion the blow. Most bicycle helmets do this with crushable expanded polystyrene (EPS), the white picnic cooler foam. EPS works well, but when crushed it does not recover. A similar foam called expanded polypropylene (EPP) does recover, but is much less common. Another foam called EPU (expanded polyurethane) has a uniform cell structure and crushes without rebound, but is heavier than EPS and its manufacturing process is not environmentally friendly. Other foams are beginning to appear that may offer promise. The spongy foam pads inside a helmet are for comfort and fit, not for impact protection
The helmet must stay on your head even when you hit more than once–usually a car first, and then the road, or perhaps several trees on a mountainside. So it needs a strong strap and buckle. The helmet should sit level on your head and cover as much as possible. Above all, with the strap fastened you should not be able to get the helmet off your head by any combination of pulling or twisting. If it comes off or slips enough to leave large areas of your head unprotected, adjust the straps again or try another helmet. Keep the strap comfortably snug when riding.
What Type do I Need?
Most bike helmets are made of EPS foam with a thin plastic shell. The shell helps the helmet skid easily on rough pavement to avoid jerking your neck. The shell also holds the foam together after the first impact. Some excellent helmets are made by molding foam in the shell rather than adding the shell later.
Beware of gimmicks. You want a smoothly rounded outer shell, with no sharp ribs or snag points. Excessive vents mean less foam contacting your head, which could concentrate force on one point. “Aero” helmets are not noticeably faster, and in a crash the “tail” could snag or knock the helmet aside. Skinny straps are less comfortable. Dark helmets are hard for motorists to see. Rigid visors can snag or shatter in a fall. Helmet standards do not address these problems–it’s up to you!
Standards
A sticker inside the helmet tells what standard it meets. Helmets made for the U.S. must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission standard, so look for a CPSC sticker. ASTM’s F1447 standard is identical. Snell’s B-95 standard is tougher but seldom used.
Fit is not certified by any standard, so test that on your own head. Visors are not tested for shattering or snagging in a fall, so you are on your own there.
Comfort Requirements
Coolness, ventilation, fit and sweat control are the most critical comfort needs. Air flow over the head determines coolness, and larger front vents provide better air flow. Most current helmets have adequate cooling for most riders. Sweat control can require a brow pad or separate sweatband. A snug fit with no pressure points ensures comfort and correct position on the head when you crash. Weight is not an issue with today’s helmets.
Special Problems
Some head shapes require more fiddling with fitting pads and straps. Extra small heads may need thick fitting pads. Extra large heads require an XXL helmet. Ponytail ports can improve fit for those with long hair. Bald riders may want to avoid helmets with big top vents to prevent funny tan lines. For a softer landing, seniors should pick a thicker model without huge vents.
How to Buy
We always recommend checking out the latest Consumer Reports article, but they can’t cover very many of the available brands and models, and their articles go out of date.
We have a review up on helmets for the current season, but it has no impact ratings.
Our testing has shown that most helmets have about the same impact protection regardless of price.
When you pick up a helmet, look first for a CPSC sticker inside and a smooth shell with a bright color outside. Put it on, adjust the pads and straps or the one-size-fits-all head ring, and then try hard to tear it off. Look for vents and sweat control. Helmets sell in bike shops from $30 up, or in discount stores for less. A good shop helps with fitting, and fit is important for safety. The $10 discount helmet can be equally protective if you take the time to fit it carefully, and for another $10 you get easier fitting. Helmets are cheap now, so don’t wait for a sale. Many of us bought our helmets after a crash. You can be smarter than that.
Kids Helmets
Check out our pamphlet on child helmets
.
When Must I Replace a Helmet?
Replace any helmet if you crash. Impact crushes some of the foam, although the damage may not be visible. Helmets work so well that you need to examine them for marks or dents to know if you hit. Most manufacturers recommend replacement after five years. We think that depends on usage, and many helmets given reasonable care are good for longer than that. But if your helmet was made before 1990, it’s time to replace it. Replace the buckle if it cracks or a piece breaks off. No one requires you to replace your helmet, so give it some individual thought.
Bike Helmets for Skating?
The ASTM standards for biking and inline skating are identical. But aggressive skating and skateboard helmets have their own ASTM standard, designed for multiple hits with lesser impact severity. Those helmets may not handle bicycle impacts. Do not use a skate helmet for bicycling unless it has a CPSC sticker!