PricePoint.com

Price Point Supports Our Troops

2011-11-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

In order to show gratitude to the US troops, Price Point donated a variety of parts to the 4^th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron in Afghanistan. Captain Brandon Black and his squadron are stationed at the Bagram Air Base just outside of the capital, Kabul.

Members of the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron.

Bicycles are vital tools for the American troops in Afghanistan. They use them for both transportation and exercise around the base. Price Point helped the 4^th ERS at Bagram Airfield by sending them pumps, tubes, and other essential parts to get their bikes up and running again.

The squadron's bikes at the Bagram Air Base.

The squadron showed their gratitude of the donated bicycle parts by sending pictures, as well as a very unique flag. The flag was flown on a combat mission, in an MC-12W Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft.

The donated flag from the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron.

Certificate of Appreciation.

Do you want to show your support? Below are some other ways you can help the troops:

Volunteer:

VA Voluntary Service

Participate in a local charity ride or walk/run. Here are a few happening Veteran’s Day weekend:

3rd Annual Veterans Day Race, West Haven, CT

Veterans Day 10K- Washington, DC

Soldier Ride- San Antonio, TX

Soldier Marathon- Columbus, GA

Anderson Completes Tour Divide

2011-10-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Price Point-Sette Rider Markley Anderson challenges himself to at least one epic ride a year and in 2011 he chose to participate in the Individual Time Trial Tour Divide. The Tour follows The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route and spans from Banff, Alberta, Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. With a total of 2,693 miles of self-support on off-road terrain, the Tour Divide demands only the highest levels of endurance, both physically and mentally.

Anderson completed the Tour in 24 days on the Sette Serum Elite, a full-carbon 26” mountain bike. This is the same bike he rode in the 2011 Tree Shaker Race, where he finished in first place. In a recent publication of XXC Magazine, Anderson describes the bike as being, “a great bike for the Tour and it responded well with no issues regarding the integrity of the frame.”

Anderson’s efforts were constantly tested. Racking on hundreds of miles a day is one challenge, but doing so in extreme environments is a whole other challenge in itself. Walking through 10 miles of snow in Montana and battling rattlesnakes in New Mexico were only a few encounters Anderson faced. Despite all of the remarkable people Anderson met throughout the Tour, there were some days he rode alone in the most remote areas. These conditions tested his capacity of individual strength. Anderson accomplished an incredible journey and will continue to do so as his riding career continues.

All photos courtesy of Markley Anderson.

Read more about Anderson's tour in issue #13 of XXC Magazine.

Take A Look At Price Point’s New Website!

2011-10-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

Here at Price Point we want our customer’s to have the best shopping experience possible. That is why we added new features to our website, as well as updated some that you may have not been aware of. Take a look at how things are looking over at PricePoint.com.

A FRESH NEW LOOK

FASTER WAYS TO FIND THE PRODUCTS YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

Now you can search items by category and brand without leaving the homepage.

Check out the site and let us know what you think!

www.pricepoint.com

PricePoint Sponsored Rider Markley Anderson Finishes 2nd

2011-08-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

PricePoint Sponsored rider Markley Anderson finishes 2nd at the 9 Hours of Hilbert race in Richmond, VA. Way to go Markley!

"What a day! Hilbert once again was fast and flowy. I set up the pits and happened to set up right by our competition. I recruited Chris to race with me at Hilbert. We have been training together since I got back from the Tour. He has helped me get my pop back in my legs for the faster races. We decided to alternate laps one for one for the first 6 laps and then go to a 2 lap rotation. It worked good for us. We laid down fast laps that stayed consistent throughout the day. We battled back and forth with Eric and Frank all day for 1st. It really made a great race. I felt good even though the heat and humidity was sucking the energy right out of me. The battle of competition kept me alive and cranking hard. The course at Hilbert is so fun with flow all around the 6 mile lap. You can really jam on it as the roller coaster trail spins you and throws you out. The Sette carbon bike was a jewel for me and absorbed everything I could throw at it. Chris and I both showed up in good form and were..." Read more here.

1st & 2nd place at the JumpShip!

2011-06-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, PricePoint Team Rider Mike Montgomery wins the JumpShip Best Trick with a sick 720 and places 2nd for the JumpShip Contest! The photographer missed the 720 due to Mike's spontaneity, but there is a video of him nailing it listed here.
Photo courtesy of Pinkbike


Mike taking the Best Trick win

JumpShip Contest results:

1. Brandon Semenuk 96.33
2. Mike Montgomery 93.67
3. Mitch Chubey 84.67
4. Geoff Gulevitch 80.67
5. Casey Groves 74.67
6. Anthony Messere 73.33
7. Scott Grant 71.33
8. Tyler McCaul 68.00
9. Jamie Goldman 63.00
10. Kurt Sorge 32.00

PricePoint checks out Shimano at Idllywild, CA

2011-06-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Our purchasing department was lucky enough to ride the new Shimano M780 XT gruppo along with the new XTR Shadow Plus rear derailleur last week in Idllywild, CA. On Thursday they rode the 24 hour course at Hurkey Creek and on Friday sampled the great singletrack at Alvin Meadows which is a 15 minute pedal from town. They both came away super impressed with the new XT brakes, how precise and smooth the shifting was, and how well new trail and race pedals put the power down. PricePoint will be stocking all the new XT M780 products and XTR Shadow Plus derailleur as soon as they are available.

Click here for Shimano's official site.

Markley Anderson - Serum ISM

2011-06-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

PricePoint professional rider, Markley Anderson, talks a bit about his newly shipped Sette Serum ISM. Markley is also sponsored by Sette; the original write up can be found in Sette's Blog.

I received one sweet bike (Sette Serum ISM) a few weeks ago and let me tell you it is a jewel for those racer types. I will do a review later in the summer that is more complete. However, for the moment I can tell you I’m stoked about this bike.

Basically, it is the same frame as the Serum Elite. The main difference is the integrated seat mast on the Serum ISM. This requires cutting the seat mast down to your required length on the pedal stroke. I took caution and used the provided cut guide that came with the bike and made two cuts. If you cut too much off, well that is it and you will be stuck with a seat mast that is too short. I took measurements off my Serum Elite and erred on the side of caution by cutting the first cut slightly less than I needed. I got on the bike in my kit and shoes to get a more accurate measurement in order to make the final dialed in cut. Made the second cut and you got it, fit like a glove. I recommend if you get the Serum ISM to take it to your local bike shop for making the correct measurement and cut for you.

This bike is light and you don’t have to fool with seat collars and seat posts. It is loaded with the 2011 XTR package, 30 speed. The only additions I have made to the stock version: Crank Brothers Ti Egg Beater Pedals, Bye Kyle Simple Strap and I will be adding ESI grips soon. If you’re serious about racing XC or Marathon type races, this is the bike without a doubt.

Stay tuned for a detailed review later in the summer. At the moment, I have 12 days until the start of the Tour Divide. That is my priority and focus, but I had to get these pics out of this sweet rig. Price Point has the Elite and Serum ISM ready to roll for your single track cravings.

PricePoint Donates to a Good Cause

2011-06-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

This is a Thank You email we received from Jeff Barrett - a school teacher at the Glen Lake Schools in Northern Michigan - after we gladly donated a few Sette bicycles to the Bicycle Works at Glen Lake.

Hello-

My name is Jeff Barrett and I teach at Glen Lake Schools in northern Michigan. Pricepoint generously donated 6 bicycle frames to a program that I teach at school. I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much we appreciated the donation. I have attached some photos of the students building up their bikes and riding them. I have also attached a link to a newspaper article about the program and it mentions Pricepoint.

http://www.morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2010/11/21/grand_traverse_insider/news/leelanau_area/doc4ce2cb948566f254086068.txt

Thanks and happy riding.

Jeff barrett

barretj@glenlake.k12.mi.us

231 334-3061 x 208

You're welcome Jeff!

Here are a few pictures Jeff included in his email. Check out the kids enjoying the sport and even building up a Reken from the ground up!

Aaron Hodgkin at the 2011 Sea Otter Classic

2011-05-27T10:54:00.000-07:00

Sea Otter is a big event, but it is not just the racing that makes it an enjoyable event to be part of. When you attend, you enjoy seeing the bikes being displayed, socializing with friends and riders, you enjoy the weather, you take pictures, even the drive (or flight) there is part of it. Here is a little write up one of our professional riders, Aaron Hodgkin, wrote about his experience at the 2011 Sea Otter Classic:

From the moment I got the call about racing at Sea Otter, I knew it was going to be an eventful time. Unable to sleep the night before the trip, I packed my gear bag and anxiously waited for the morning to come. At 9:00 AM, Dwayne (Pricepoint Marketing Manager) pulled up with a truck jam-packed full of gear, and we headed out on our journey.
After a long drive, and much conversation in between, we still managed to beat Brian and Scott who were driving the rental truck equipped with all of the supplies for the Pricepoint show booth. To make things more exciting, and to cause more attention, Dwayne busted out his DJ equipment pumping up the jams! Meanwhile, Brian and Scott were winging free Pricepoint water bottles and sette patch kits to the people passing by.
As the days rolled in, I walked around the venue checking out all of the new product, and ran into old friends I had not seen in years, such as Randy Spangler, Aaron Chase, and Cameron McCaul. All the talk about riding got me anxious to go out and shred. Gearing up back at the tent it was awesome to see all the guys helping all the people interested in the Sette bike line.

On the hill- After getting a few slow practice runs in, I decided it was time to do a run with someone who knew the course well and that could help me familiarize myself with the new layout. I figured there was no one better than my good friend Elliot Jackson from the Yeti camp. Getting a little too comfortable a little too early, I lost my line, getting cross-rutted in the steep section, which caused me to high side and slammed me onto my left shoulder. After a few more solid practice runs, the pain in my arm began to grow more uncomfortable. Soon after, I called it a day and headed back to the Sette tent to clear my head.
Even though Dwayne had his hands full taking home the win in dual slalom, it didn’t slow him down from getting me a fresh new sponsor from the great people at Profile racing. This was something that has been a childhood dream since I first laid my eyes on their legendary 3-piece crank set.

When Sunday morning finally came, I knew the time for my race was soon approaching. With much anticipation, I came up to the starting gate reminding myself to go out and just have fun. Hoping this would keep the nerves to a minimum and help keep my mind off the pain of my dislocated shoulder. With all the cowbells ringing on the sidelines and the high energy of all the screaming fans, it was hard not to have a great time down the hill, even though I could hardly hang on to the handlebars by the time I crossed the finish line. A sure reminder of why we all ride with the natural high of adrenaline flowing through your body!

The Sette crew, with all smiles, burned faces and chapped lips, packed up the trucks and headed for the long trip back to southern California. Exhausted, and not sure if we had enough energy to make it home, Dwayne threw out another surprising curve ball and said he wanted to meet up with an old friend for dinner along the way. After putting my name in for a table at the restaurant, in walks Dwayne with the one and only 2002 X-Games gold medalist Allan Cooke and the Haro crew. Just one last thing to make this years Sea Otter trip one we will never forget, leaving us with excitement to see if we can top it next year.

Markley Anderson Finishes 1st & 2nd!

2011-05-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

One of our riders, Markley Anderson, podiums twice in a row. Here is what Markley has to say about the two endurance races:

Cranky Monkey 9 Hour Endurance Race - 1st Place
"Oh yeah baby, I’m back. Last week, I had a great result with Chris, but I was off big time. This week, I was on and ready to jam. EX2 puts on great races, especially the Cranky Monkey Mountain Bike Endurance Races. I just felt it on Saturday at Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland along side 350 racers. Trevor and I arrived the evening before and I pre-rode the course, feeling great. The race started with a LeMans start, which I hate. I was midway in the pack at the beginning and started making my way on the Sette through the traffic. Even with a flat on the second lap and losing 10+ minutes, I was able to bounce. Rain was predicted but it never came, thank goodness as the roughly 9 mile course was wet and slippery. It would have been a mud bog if rain would have shown. After 350 bikes ran across the course the muck began to spread creating a slip/slide affair all day. Along with the great help of Trevor in my pits, I was able to ride with pop, continuously. I built up a lead early and was able to back off and ride a safe race, while securing the win in my age group’s male solo division. The course was wet and with excess roots and rocks creating havoc on the bike’s path, I was able to navigate without having to ride over my limits. A couple of weeks ago I damaged my left thumb and some of the rocky descents were dicey. The vibration from the rock hopping took a toll on my thumb. This discomfort forced me to be slow on the descents, so I pressed the gas on the big climbs and took advantage of the very flowy sections in the big chain ring. The Sette carbon mountain bike was phenomenal and once again it made a visit to the podium. Thanks to Price Point for keeping me on the best equipment and Trevor for keeping the pits in order. Tour Divide is next, so training and prep for it will take the forefront now. Good times, can’t wait until the next adventure. I will post more pictures from the race, soon.
Cheers"

- Markley
Race Results

12 Hours of Lodi - 2nd Place
"Two races, two seconds and both races the lead was within grasp. Lodi is a great race and I have done it for the last 4 years. This year I did it with my buddy, Chris. This was our second race together and both times we have walked onto the podium for second. Both times we have competed in a competitive field that has kept us on our toes. Either I have been on or as at Lodi this year, Chris was on. If we ever show up at a race and are both on, it is ours for the taking. For some reason I was off this year at Lodi. Could be over training, type of training (Tour Divide) or simply not enough rest. However, I was sluggish and had no energy and I sensed it on the first lap. I rode a survival race and gritted it out while Chris kept our time loss at a minimum. Thank goodness Chris came ready, because as a team we rocked the course and completed 120 miles of rooty, tight and bouncy single track in 11 hours 59 minutes. The Sette bike performed brilliantly. It was fun hanging out with the guys at Blue Ridge Cyclery in between laps. Chris and I will be back together later in the year for the 18 hours on the Farm. Maybe a rematch with Scott and Geoff is in order."

- Markley
Race Results

NEW Item: Contour Connect View

2011-04-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

We have added a very cool product to our inventory. The Contour Connect View is a small blue tooth adapter that allows your iPhone to work as a view finder for your ContourGPS

If you have had a helmet camera before you already know what a pain it can be to set it up correctly: Is it capturing the view crooked? Is it recording? Should I retake the scene? Etc...
This contraption, along with the beauty of Bluetooth, allows your iPod/iPhone to be used as a view finder. You get live video feed and you can change shutter speed, video, and sound settings in the camera - all this from your phone and on the trail! How cool is that!?

Bad news: this is only for the iPod & iPhone
Good news: Android owners are not being left out. Contour says there is one on the works and it will be coming out soon.

Besides the iPhone/iPad and Contour GPS, you will also need to download and install an application for your handheld. Here is a link to the app needed.

Demo video from Contour.com:

2011 Sea Otter Classic

2011-04-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

This year's Sea Otter Classic was a big success for us. We want to extend our sincere appreciation to all our loyal supporters, riders, customers, and friends that made it to our booth. Meeting people face to face was a thrill and we were proud to show off the Sette line up along with their new added bikes.

Our marketing manager Dwayne Taylor talks a bit about the Derro and Razzo for MTBR.com

Our sponsored pro rider Aaron Hodgkin shredding the DH course

Aaron getting airborne

Our booth!

Winning new customers is just the beginning - We will see you next year!

PricePoint

Lycra Warmers

2011-03-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

With this ever-changing weather, it's always best to be prepared. Whether you're commuting to work (like some of us!), climbing the steepest trail, bombing down the fastest singletrack, or even riding around the neighborhood with your honey, some cool weather gear such as arm warmers are always a good idea to have with you. You could even use them when camping!

Check out our Cool Weather Gear Here!

Price Point Sponsors Miles for Miracles Charity Event

2010-12-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

On February 20, 2011 former motocross champion Jimmy Button and his former trainer Cory Worf will be riding bicycles 2428 miles from San Diego CA to Daytona Beach FL. The objective is to raise money for spinal cord research
A little history on Jimmy and Cory; In January 2000, Jimmy was a Factory Yamaha motocross racer and Cory was his personal trainer and best friend. On January 22nd of that year Jimmy suffered paralyzing injuries when he crashed during practice for the San Diego round of the AMA Supercross series. The injuries sustained was a pinched spinal cord in the C-2 to C-6 region of his neck leaving him paralyzed from the neck down, and considered an incomplete quadriplegic. After many months of rehabilitation he was able to regain movement and be one of the very fortunate few that ever recover from these types of injuries. During this time, Cory was ever present in the long rehab process.

Now, ten years later Jimmy and Cory are teaming up to ride bicycles from the place of his accident which was Qualcomm Stadium to Daytona International Speedway to raise money for those people that were not so fortunate after suffering a spinal cord injury. The goal is to raise money for the very important research that is going on that could end the suffering a person goes through after having injured their spinal cord.

At approximately 2428 miles and averaging 60 miles per day, the ride is expected to take nearly 2 months.
Click here for more information.

The new Sette bikes are here!

2010-12-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

A fresh crop of bikes from Sette have arrived just in time to be added to your holiday wish list. Don't ever feel bad about tacking on a big item at the last minute. Congress does it all the time.

Below you can read a brief overview of the new Sette models. There are two brand new models with the Jamr and the pavement going Xion. The hugely popular Razzo 29er is growing its family tree by being offered in two different versions for two different riding styles and Sette's proven Reken frame is now offered as a complete bike for the first time.

The Jamr

The Jamr

The Jamr (pronounced jammer) is a classic 26” hard tail that’s race ready right out of the box. The backbone of the Jamr is an ultra light alloy frame with proven XC oriented geometry. The Jamr features a full Shimano SLX drive train, Avid disc brakes, and a 100mm Fox 32 RL fork. USA Cycling racing license not included.

The Razzo 1.0 and 2.0

The latest edition of the Razzo has split into two models- the 1.0 and the 2.0. Before we get into the differences between the two, we should note that aside from some very minor refinements to the cable routing and fresh graphics, this is the exact same 7005 aluminum frame as the original Razzo. If you missed out on the original, rest assured the ride will remain the same.

The Razzo 1.0 and 2.0 both share the same frame and Reba SL fork. The main differences are can be found in the components hanging from each frame.

The Razzo 1.0

The Razzo 1.0 is the race bike of the duo right down to the aggressive Truvativ flat bar. Kitted out with a 9 speed Shimano SLX drive train, that’s been boosted with XT derailleurs, the Razzo 1.0 is an endurance racer’s dream sled.

The Razzo 2.0

The Razzo 2.0 uses a trail oriented spec reminiscent of the original Razzo. The 2.0's spec does double duty as one that’s wholly race worthy while still being considerate to your bank account. .

The Reken

If you've got a buddy who's been thinking of hitting the dirt but has commitment issues, point him over to the new Reken complete.

The Reken

Built around Sette's proven, no nonsense aluminum Reken frame, the Reken complete features a fully dirt worthy Shimano Deore component group and a solid RockShox Dart 3 suspension fork. It's a great option for someone who's just getting started in mountain biking and would like something much more capable than an entry level ride.

The Xion

Finally, we'll change the pace with the Xion, an all-new bike for the pavement set.

The Xion

The Xion is a sporty flat bar road bike that's up for a variety of tasks from commuting to tackling a multi-day charity ride. A full Shimano Tiagra component group is mounted to a 6061 aluminum frame that utilizes a 12K full carbon fork to smooth out the ride and help keep the weight under 20lbs. One cool feature of the Xion is the use of a compact road crank. The 50 tooth big ring gives it the top end of race bike while a 36 tooth small ring allows the steepest of hills to be conquered with ease. The Xion is available in gloss black or gloss white.

NEW ITEMS ADDED!!

2010-12-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

We've added more items to the End of the Year BLOWOUT SALE! Make sure to visit PricePoint.com to finish up your Christmas shopping or buy a little something for yourself.

PRICE POINT'S BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR!

2010-11-12T17:02:00.001-08:00

Its the sale you've all been waiting for... Price Point's END OF THE YEAR BLOWOUT has arrived!!! Our biggest sale of the year! Stop by PricePoint.com to see our huge inventory reduction today.

No Minimums!! This week only FREE SHIPPING!

2010-10-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

We are offering Free Ground Shipping for all orders shipping within the continental US until 11/1/10! This offer does not apply to orders with *oversized and large items.

Shop away!

(*not including bikes and oversized items)

We Have a Winner for Our Free Marzocchi Giveaway!

2010-10-20T11:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Linda Y. of Glenwood, AR. She is the winner of our 2010 Marzocchi Corsa Micro Suspension Fork Giveaway! She's thrilled and should be receiving her fork soon. If you want to check out what she won, or get one for yourself, check it out here.

Show Yourself Some TLC and Check Out All of the New TLD!

2010-10-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

We just got in some cool new gear from our friends over at the legendary Troy Lee Designs. Always known for having some of the coolest graphics, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that they pay very careful attention to the actual design of the product itself. Smart choices come from not only having the best of the best racers on your teams, but also by making a concerted effort to really hearing what they are trying to express to you when it comes to the features and functions they want from their gear.

The biggest part of their tradition is of course, their helmets. Check out these that are fresh in from TLD:

Pretty awesome stuff.

Troy Lee also has a long history of making gloves that can really take a beating and keep the skin on your hands. (Eew! Terrible to think about... but so true!) Check out these cool new mitts!

And among the grip of new gear we also got some amazing new shorts from TLD. Much of what they've made in the past has been for motor sports or for gravity sports like DH and Freeride. These new offerings are great for anything, including All-Mountain, XC and even commuting.

There's really just too many good things coming out of Troy Lee Designs right now. (Is that even possible?) Take a look at the whole line at Price Point. We have everything that you see and ready to ship, usually on the same day!

Marzocchi Fork Giveaway Ends Monday!

2010-10-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Just a little reminder, Price Point is holding a giveaway for a beautiful 2010 Marzocchi Corsa Micro Fork.There's no obligation, no surveys to take, and no purchase necessary.

We will be trying to contact the winner by Tuesday of next week. So get on it! Click here to register.

Price Point Sponsored Ride2Recovery Riders Complete 450-Mile Ride

2010-10-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Having ridden through mountain passes, into cold coastal winds and in the pouring rain, over 200 injured military veterans completed more than just another ride. In this case a 450-mile ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica (just west of LA), CA. Even though these folks had already proven themselves as survivors with tenacity and the grit of perseverance, it was still great to see them as they came to the finish, some on special bikes to accommodate amputated limbs and others burdened with the mental scars of battle. Luckily they had nice sunny southern California weather when they rode in on last Saturday.

So, what exactly is the Ride2Recovery? Held in partnership with the Fitness Challenge Foundation, the R2R raises money to support Spinning Recovery Labs and outdoor cycling programs at military and Veterans Administration locations around the U.S. to help injured veterans overcome the obstacles the face.

Cycling is an important part of the recovery and rehabilitation program for two reasons:

Cycling is an activity that almost all patients with mental and physical disabilities can participate.
Participation in the Ride2Recovery Program helps speed up the recovery and rehabilitation process.

John Wordin, president and founder of Ride 2 Recovery, said he launched the program because of the benefits he knew former military officers would get from cycling. "Cycling is for anyone, anywhere, anytime," Wordin said. "It provides people with freedom and independence, which is something you lose when you're injured."

"This was a great way to end this amazing, challenging, inspiring ride," said Chatsworth resident Adam Volchok. Volchok, an Army medic who was stationed in Afghanistan from 2002 through 2003, was one of more than 200 injured military veterans who participated in the ride that took cyclists from the coast of San Francisco to Santa Monica in seven days. Volchok admitted the ride presented him with one of the biggest challenges he'd ever had, especially as he tried to make his way through the hills of Big Sur during a 93-mile leg of the ride. But the 30-year-old said as he neared the end of the ride, he felt like he could go for another 60 miles. "You just get this great feeling when you're riding with your fellow veterans, you're relaxing on your bike with the scenery ... everybody is talking and telling stories," Volchok said.

But it was also the camaraderie from bonding with fellow riders that most participants called the best part of the massive ride, which raises money for other Ride 2 Recovery programs to help wounded veterans. "There were so many points where I wanted to quit, but you see the person next to you or in front of you and they are pushing you, they are handing you water ... they don't let you quit," said Percy Banks, a Van Nuys resident and Navy veteran.

Cheering the riders on, and shielding them from highway traffic, were dozens of American Legion riders and United Services Organization volunteers who also made sure that all riders ate during scheduled breaks. "It just feels good to help these guys and girls who served our country," said Dave Avant, vice president for the American Legion riders chapter of Oxnard. "We're on our motorcycles, but these guys are pushing bikes ... but it's great to see these guys take this challenge the same way they took the challenge and served our country."

We at Price Point were more than happy to help out by outfitting a bunch of this crew with clothing for training and for the ride itself. Check out these pictures and you'll see them sporting the fine, and very affordable, kits that you can find exclusively from Price Point.

Check out the great deals on Price Point clothing by clicking here.

If you'd like to ride with, donate or learn more about the Ride2Recovery program, click here.

This story borrows quotes from a great article on The Daily News Los Angeles.

The Prettiest Wheels, Ever?

2010-10-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

Take a look at what we got in stock last week, the 2010 Easton EC90 Aero Tubular Road Wheelset. If they're not the prettiest wheels ever, they are definitely in contention.

In addition to being one of the most aerodynamic wheelsets on the market, the EC 90 TT enjoys the distinct advantage of being the lightest 90mm wheelset on the planet which make running them a no brainer decision even for courses with a significant amount of climbing.

The aerodynamically proven R4 TT front hub uses 12 bladed Sapim spokes. The rear bumps the spoke count up to 16. Both connect to their respective rims via internal nipples to keep the surface area as slippery as possible. In a further nod to weight savings Easton employs what they call Variable Nipple Bed Technology which places carbon fiber precisely where it's needed to support spoke tension. The low spoke count keeps the weight down while keeping the wheels plenty stiff. Would you want to use them in a nine corner crit? Probably not, but anything else on the road is fair game.

The EC 90 TT is entirely hand built and is sonically tuned for exact spoke tension. Easton wheels have no weight limit and carry a two year warranty. For more details, click here.

Team Crank's Markley Anderson Finishes Out His Race Season with a 1st Place Win!

2010-10-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Team Crank's Markley Anderson finished out his 2010 racing season in fine form with a 1st place win at the 12 Hour Creek to Peak Mountain Bike Race in West Virginia. In the course of completing this race, Markley did just over 90 miles and over 9,000 feet of climbing. Although achieving many podium places during the entire season, a first place win had eluded him. That must have made this victory extra sweet. Check out the details on the Team Crank Blog.

Markley has had nothing but great thing to say about his Sette carbon hardtail mountain bike. It has taken him all over the eastern United States, to much of Europe during the TransAlp race, and delivered him safely home again without ever giving any signs of wanting to stop. You can check out the latest versions of Sette's bikes available through Price Point.

Team Crank also uses a ton of Sette tools and clothing to make sure everything stays in top race-ready condition. If you take a close look at the image that accompanies this story, you'll see a set of Sette Epic Shoes that have been with him through it all. Super stiff-soled, durable, and with plenty of breathability, these shoes make a great choice for racing, commuting or touring.

So congratulations to Markley and to Team Crank for a great season. Stay tuned, for 2011 there are plans for conquering the Tour Divide Race, the most epic race in the US, and maybe the world... after all, it stretches from Banff, Alberta Canada all the way to Antelope Wells, New Mexico. This is a one-stage 2745 mile/4418 km race that is totally self -supported. What does that mean? It means you're on your own. No mechanics, no sag wagons, no feed stops. Woah. Not for the faint of heart.

Free, Free, FREE! Marzocchi Fork Giveaway!

2010-10-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, Price Point is having another phenomenal giveaway. This time it's a 2010 Marzocchi Corsa Micro Fork!

The Corsa is specifically designed to match all the xc racers needs in terms of stiffness, hydraulic control in compression and rebound, combined with an extremely efficient lock out. From 80 to 100mm of travel in order to be compatible with all frames designs front and full suspension, the Marzocchi Corsa is the ultimate cross country fork. Winner of the Marathon World Championship for two years in a row (2007 and 2008) with the Bianchi Pro Team riders Thomas Dietsch and Leonardo Paez. A prestigious success that helped to develop a full line of high end cross country weapons.

And now here's your chance to win one of these for your very own. It would probably go nicely with one of those new Sette Serum frames, dontcha think? Signup now!

Yes, It's Cross Season! Arrre Yoooou Reeady!!

2010-10-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

That's right, cyclocross season is officially underway. Hopefully you are as excited about it as we are, regardless of where you are from. I know most people usually equate it with sloppy cold weather and a smile full of mud, but here in southern California we keep it a bit more pristine. Weather is good and we have one of the best organized race series in the country.

Price Point is excited about sponsoring another year of the SoCal Cross Prestige Series. Consisting of 20 races between now and the end of January, there are plenty of opportunities to get out there and experience this great sport first hand. Combining elements of both road and mountain bike racing, what more could you ask for?

Check out all of the details and the schedule at the SoCal Cross website. And of course, Price Point is ready to help you out with any of your cyclocross need. Check out our exclusive cyclocross department and while you're there, check out the amazing new Sette CX-1 Full carbon bike and frame.

Live from Las Vegas - Interbike 2010!

2010-09-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

Members of the Price Point team send their greeting from Interbike, the yearly bike industry trade show. This is where all of your favorite companies reveal all those magic bits that make bike riding so much fun.

They arrived at the show on Wednesday. Sometimes it can be quite overwhelming when you first get there. Everything is clamoring for your attention and it's hard to focus on just one thing at a time. It also makes it hard not to miss a few things. And that's exactly why we send a few of us to cover the show. With a few eyes seeking out the cool stuff (and each one of us having our own take on what's cool) we make sure we find it all so we can bring it to you.

One of the first stops was the highly revered company Fox Racing Shocks. We do a tremendous amount with their entire line. You can check them out by clicking on the picture. But suffice it to say, they always deliver and this year's peek at the 2011 product was no exception.

A stop at the SRAM booth is always a necessity, and something that you need to spend some time at! After all, SRAM is actually a consortium of some of the best component manufacturers out there: SRAM, Avid, RockShox and Truvativ. This year they were unveiling more variations on their 10 speed mountain components and some really amazing new cranks.

And when hunger from wandering through this bicycle fantasy land becomes just too much, a stop at one of the sports nutrition suppliers can help keep a person going. Here you see some pretty sweet custom motorcycles at the Jelly Belly Sport Bean booth. Mmmm, yummy motorcycles...

And last but hardly least (at least for today's report), Shimano was showing off some new Dura Ace cranks. They were also showing some new Saint parts (wait 'til you see the brakes) and some new TT parts, otherwise known as time trial parts. Also great for all of you fixie afficianados that I know are out there.

More to come!

Attention Mountain Bikers! (And Trade Show Geeks...)

2010-09-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year and the bicycle industry trade shows like EuroBike and InterBike are upon us. Now, what possible reason should this interest all of you riders out there who don't necessarily work in the industry? Two reasons:

Cool new stuff to drool over... and wracking your brain on ways to creatively budget so that you can afford to buy them.
Great savings on perfectly great products that were probably the center of attention at last year's trade show.

Isn't it convenient that the savings you find on reason #2 can help you afford the items you'll find because of reason #1?

Well, to help you out Price Point is doing targeted sales depending on the type of cycling you do. First up is our Mountain Bike Blowout. Check it out, there are a lot of great savings there to be had. (And as for you road cyclists, your turn is coming up very soon!)

Also be sure to check out this space next week where a few members of our team are going to be scouring the floor of InterBike which hits Las Vegas next week. They're going to be seeking out the coolest gear and the best prices that the industry has to offer. They've promised daily reports and to send pictures of a few of the cool things they are finding. We'll be posting whatever treasures and news that they find.

Wanna Know How to Score Some of the Best Bicycle Deals on the Web?

2010-09-10T15:30:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't want to know how to score some of the best bicycle deals on the web? This may not be the biggest of secrets, but Price Point does offer some incredible deals through its email newsletter. Now that we're heading into Fall, and before the holidays hit, it might be just the perfect time to sign up.

Why now? Because Fall and late Winter are the two times of the year that Price Point runs its best email promotions. Everything from super deep discounts to the ever-popular FREE SHIPPING. And these deals are truly exclusive to the mailing list. The only way to to get the deal is to click on the link included with the email. Our website will then automatically know to give you the deal during check out.

Just so you know what to expect, we typically send out only a few emails a month. Is this a blatant ploy to get you to sign up? Definitely! But keep in mind that we make it VERY easy for you to subscribe and to unsubscribe. Not only is price the point at Price Point, but we also aim to make shopping for your favorite bicycle products fast, reliable and FUN!

To sign up today, click here.

Riding and Racing with the Shiokari's in the Bay Area

2010-09-03T14:17:00.000-07:00

It's great to catch up to Ken Shiokari and to see what his latest adventure is on a bicycle. Ken has been a sponsored rider with Price Point for quite a while now and always has something cool to share. He somehow manages to cover the entire NorCal area and show up for all of the big races and organized rides that go on there, whether it be mountain or road.

This month he organized a ride into the San Francisco Watershed Area. These rides are on restricted conservation land and the only way to legally ride there is to go with a registered SF guide. Luckily for Ken, he IS a registered guide! Here's his description of the ride:

"The weather was awesome, with clear sky's so you could see from the ocean and all the way east to Mt. Diablo past the San Francisco Bay. We pedaled from the ocean to the access gate and then road the whole trail south for a total of 30+ miles and 6,500 ft of climbing. Since it's all fire trails, it's a great talking, double-track ride -- I got a chance to chat with all the riders. And with only three permitted groups, you don't have to worry about any traffic. A great once-a-year group ride!"

Ken also shared news that would make any parent proud. His two boys started cross country racing back in June. Andrew (#1916) and Chris (#1917) were able to place first and second in their first race. Apparently they paced each other to drop the rest of the field as soon as they hit the dirt trails. (Hmm.. I wonder who could possibly be giving them coaching tips?) Ken said that they are laughing in the photo because the ribbons they won happened to match their respective Price Point jerseys. A couple of weeks later, Andrew managed to pull off another win by placing second in a race in Sacramento.

Congratulations guys! The Shiokari family racing tradition continues...

The Summer Blowout is Ending Soon!

2010-08-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

The SUMMER BLOWOUT is soon coming to a close! You have until August 31st to make any final purchases at our special summer blowout prices. Click the banner and take advantage now!!

Save the Date - CORBA's Fat Tire Festival October 17th

2010-08-20T10:34:00.001-07:00

It's never too early to start planning for a really good time! Price Point is proud to be a sponsor of CORBA (Concerned Off Road Bicyclists Association) and their annual Fat Tire Festival. This year it is going to be on October 17th at the beautiful Castaic Lake in Southern California. As they so eloquently put it:

All year, you ride for yourself. For one day, ride for the trails.

So join them for a fun-filled day of riding, exhibitions and events for mountain bikers and their families to raise much needed funds for trail maintenance and raise awareness on trail access.

Exhibitors
Demo Bikes
Huge Raffle
Poker Ride
Classes & Clinics
Food
Bike Riding Contests
Kids Activities
Fun for the Whole Family!

So go already... you'll have a blast (and probably come home with some great free swag and prizes)!

Check out the New Sette Forza Road and Serum Mountain Bikes

2010-08-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Big announcement from our friends at Sette Bikes. First, they have a brand new website which looks amazing. You can see it at settebikes.com. And even better, we now have their new line of bikes in stock and ready to ship. These are some of the most fantastic examples of carbon road and mountain bikes that we've seen in a while. Incredibly light, best-in-class components, and prices that are impossible to beat. Check'em out and get your ride on. They're serious when they say "never before has quality been so attainable"!

Here's a preview to whet your appetite:

More Opportunities to Stay Connected to the Sport You Love? (And Possibly Win Free Stuff!)

2010-08-06T13:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, we know. We know! Everyone wants you to follow them on Twitter. Well, if you're into that kind of thing and want to join the conversation of rides and events, then follow Price Point on Twitter. You can also use it as a way to give us feedback or ask questions. We're here to help.

Not only that, we also randomly hold fun contests on our Twitter feed. Sometimes it's just, "Whoever answers this trivia question get some free swag!" Other times it might be, "Whoever has the best ride story of the weekend gets a prize!" Check out what one of our previous winners got in the image to the right. Not bad! Either way, we like to keep it fun and would love it if you join in.

In fact, this weekend we are having a contest where the winner will get a Sette tool kit worth $130 like the one pictured here. Pretty sweet deal, isn't it?

So, find out the details and follow us on Twitter!

Summer Blowout!!

2010-07-30T14:57:00.001-07:00

The summer isn't over until PricePoint has it's Summer Blowout sale! There are over 600 products discounted up to 80% off! Be sure to visit PricePoint.com to save BIG on bikes, frames, parts, clothing and accessories!

Price Point Sponsored Riders Complete the TransAlp Race!

2010-07-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

We are extremely proud to report that Markley Anderson and Paul Loete of Team Crank have successfully completed the European TransAlp Race! This race is eight straight days of brutal climbing through the mountains of Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy. Although they will be posting a full race report on their blog by this weekend, they did give us a little preview.

It was a tough race and they were almost out of contention from shortly after the start. Markley had a bad crash that left him bloodied and pretty shaken up. He managed to hang on and ride through it for 4 hours until he finally crossed the finish line. Although they got into a rhythm after that, the nature of the course was relentless. With almost 65,000 feet of climbing over 375 miles that works out to an average of over 8,000 feet of climbing and almost 50 miles a day... off-road! The conditions were so tough that over 20% of the competitors would drop out by the end. Just to finish is a massive accomplishment. You can check out all of the details of the event itself at the Bike TransAlp website.

The guys were happy to report that all of their equipment performed far beyond their expectations. They use a lot of Sette components and accessories and the very core of their ride is a Sette full carbon mountain bike frame. And if you're wondering when you'll be able to get your hands on one of these beautiful and affordable frames, check the Price Point site after September 1st. Sette has promised to have a bunch of new bikes and frames to us by then.

As Team Crank shares more news, stories and images of the race we will share some of them here. In the meantime, congratulations Paul and Markley!

We Have Our Winners for the Twenty20 Contour HD Camera Contest!

2010-07-30T09:12:00.001-07:00

Shimano 10-Speed for Mountain Bikes is in the House!

2010-07-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

One recent addition to the pantheon of products offered here at Price Point is the all-new Shimano Dyna-Sys component range.

Dyna-Sys, Shimano speak for 10 speed, is currently offered in both SLX and XT level components. The SLX is virtually the same design as XT but uses some different materials to keep the cost down but with a small weight penalty. SLX and XT Dyna-Sys series components can be mixed and matched no problem.

Unlike the other big “S” component manufacturer out there, Shimano chose to go with a 3x10 for Dyna-Sys. While a 30 speed drive train may sound excessive, the logic behind Shimano’s decision is actually pretty sound.

By adding a 36 tooth cog to the cassette and revising the gearing on the crankset to 24/32/42 Shimano has essentially found away for more gears to equal less shifting.

Now bear with us for a sec while we break it down.

By adding a massively low gear in the back, Shimano has dramatically increased the useable gear range when you’re riding in the middle or big ring. Shimano refers to the middle ring as the “Primary Drive Gear” and with a spread from 11 – 36, you’ll be amazed at how much you don’t need to shift out of the middle ring.

When you do have to shift up front, the smaller jumps between the chain rings equals smoother shifting and a much more seamless transition to a new range of gears. By making the ratios up front a little tighter, you won’t have to shift as much in the back to find that perfect gear when making shifts between chain rings.

The other intriguing aspect to Shimano’s 3x10 system has to not so much to do with shifting as it does with the bike that you’re possibly riding. If you get into the nitty-gritty technical aspects of full suspension designs, you’ll quickly learn that the majority of suspension platforms are designed for optimal performance when ridden in a 32-tooth middle chain ring, which is something a dual ring crank is obviously going to be missing.

Now does that mean 2x10 systems are suddenly horrible? Not at all. In fact Shimano even has an XTR 2x10 system coming down the pipe. But for anything outside of a XC race machine, Shimano feels a triple is the way to go.

As with any monumental change in componentry, there’s not going to be much carryover from previous generation equipment. Freehub bodies that are 8/9 speed compatible are now 8/9/10 speed compatible as the dimensions of the cassette haven’t changed. So there’s no need to fret about getting new wheels. Shimano simply squeezed 10 gears into the space of 9 and this is where things start to change.

Because the cogs are narrower with less space in between, all the important drive train bits were designed to be specific to 10 speed. The chain and chain rings are narrower and the derailleurs are specific to the new gear range. On the front the big change is a revised cage to work perfectly with the new crankset. The rear sees bigger changes. The long-cage Dyna-Sys specific derailleur can be ridden in a ridiculous crossover gear of 42/36 without breaking a sweat.

The official word from Shimano is that the only compatible part from previous generation components is the front shifter. Because of this they are offering a 10 speed rear shifter available separately so that you don’t have a shifter go to waste or that you don’t end up with an unnecessary spare if you’re building the ultimate 1x10 set up.

While needing a to buy a whole new component group might sound like a bit of a bummer, especially if your hide is still a little chapped from having to ditch your sweet anodized purple brake levers when Shimano released the mighty V-brake, try to look at it this way: you’re getting a whole new component group!

That alone should be reason enough to celebrate.

Check out the whole lineup here.

Adventure Racing, Texas Style

2010-07-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

If you like mountain biking to have a sense of adventure, and you like your adventures REALLY big, then the folks at Texas Adventure Racing might be serving up exactly what you need. They had a very successful race in April and have 2 more coming up by the end of the year.

First up will be the NavTexas in Huntsville on October 24, 2010. This is not only a fantastic event for the seasoned veteran but also a great opportunity to get your feet wet and find out what's involved. They are holding both a training class and a race, so dive in and have fun at whatever level you feel most comfortable.

Second is the Huntsville Hammer which has Sprint, 6 & 12 Hour variations. This will also be held in Huntsville and will take place November 13, 2010. Not a bad way to potentially wrap up your race season!

Check out their site here for all of the necessary details.

As If The Summer Wasn't Hot Enough - Team Crank Turns Up the Heat

2010-07-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Team Crank was at it again last week and turned in another great performance at the Cranky Monkey 12 Hour MTB race Quantico Marine Base in Virginia. The temperature hit over 100 degrees.

It wasn't all smooth sailing. Twice they almost had to call it quits due to the extreme temperatures. Somehow they manages to rally both times and were able to hang in for a 2nd place finish. In the process they managed to cover over 110 miles in 11 hours with over 16,000 feet of climbing.

There's a phrase that comes to mind looking at this last picture of Markley on a climb, "Only mad dogs and Englishmen (and now Markley and Chris) are out in the noonday sun". We'll now have to ad Markley and Chris to the short list. This image is truly a portrait in perseverance. (Check out a zoomed version of his facial expression on their blog.)

You can see all of the Sette products that they use on our site by clicking here. Also, check out the whole story on their blog.

Next up... the TransAlp Race in Europe. We eagerly await their race reports!

Explosive Savings? That's Right, It's a 4th of July Sale!

2010-07-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

We hope everyone has a fun-filled, but safe 4th of July. And while you're waiting for the fireworks to start, check out our sale for some exceptional savings:

Have You Seen Me? Coming to a Trail Near You...

2010-07-01T11:21:00.001-07:00

A while back we received and email from a gentleman asking about the exact dimensions of Sette’s ST-7 workstand. As he explained, he was living on the road and space was at a premium in his Sprinter van. At the end of his note he said to check out the June issue of Bike Magazine.

It took all of a minute to find that issue of Bike in our break room and confirm our suspicions. That issue had arrived just a few days earlier and by the end of the day we’d all read about Craig Bierly with enviable admiration. A couple years ago he retired and reorganized his priorities so that the only thing on this to-do list was ride the entire lower 48. Once he achieved that goal he set a new one and is now in the midst of a 1000 day mountain bike adventure. Somewhere along the way he’d finally had enough of wrenching on his bike without a repair stand and lucky for him we still had a little room left in our sponsorship budget. A few days later a stand was on its way to a rendezvous with Craig as he was swinging through Ohio to wish his father a happy birthday. This morning we found this great photo waiting for us in our in-box.

PHOTO CREDIT: Dawn Kish

Looks like the stand made it to Craig safe and sound and he can now use one hand to work on his bike and the other to hold a frosty beverage without fear of his bike tipping over. If any of you out there now what he’s drinking, please let us know. That bottle looks very intriguing. Craig’s keeping a terrifically detailed account of his adventure complete with ride data so make sure you visit his website. It’s a great read. And the name R U Nuts Adventures makes us laugh because, to us, a 1000 day bike ride sounds like a perfectly reasonable adventure.

Where Price Point Customers Ride

2010-06-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

When Friday afternoon rolls around and all the hay is in the proverbial barn for another week, the big topic of conversation around these parts is where everyone is riding over the weekend.

Plans are made. Usually very quickly. Other times full-on debates will break out over where to go.

A while back we were so stumped for where to go. We turned to Twitter for inspiration and asked if anyone out there was riding anywhere fun.

None of the replies were from locals, but that didn’t matter. The far off responses we got were intriguing enough that we posed the same question the next week and even got some photographic evidence.

Although we’re at the epicenter of some of the best riding anywhere we can’t help but get the urge to get out of our bubble and explore the trails these folks are hitting up.

If you’re on Twitter be sure to follow us. Not only will you be getting the latest scoop but you’ll also get in on a little fun as the riders who sent us these photos can attest.

Price Point Sponsored Team Crank Takes 2nd Place at 48 Hour Adventure Race

2010-06-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Incredible news, Team Crank persevered during the 2-Day Equinox Traverse Expedition Race and took 2nd place! Most of us get a little evasive whenever someone starts even hinting around at doing a 24 hour race MTB race. Not these guys, they go in and they go all the way. For 48 hours.

Located in the wilds of George Washington National Forest, Covington, Virginia, this event mixed disciplines that included mountain biking, canoeing or kayaking, trekking, orienteering and rappelling down cliffs. Not only were teams required to carry all of their gear with them at all times but also their food & water for the entire race. And although there was plenty of water along this course, they needed to be capable of purifying their own water if they planned on making it to the finish. And although the contestants work in teams, the whole team competes together the entire time. No breaks. No, "This is your lap". Classes of teams of 2, 3 or 4 people raced approximately 165 miles over two days, without any outside support.

Words like gargantuan, arduous, and insane might best describe their undertaking. Consisting of Markley Anderson and Paul Loete, Team Crank really does us proud. Price Point has been their sponsor for two seasons worth of adventure now and they continually display the amazing sportsmanship that our sport is all about. We set them up with all kinds of gear, including some pretty trick Sette bikes, clothing and tools.

For a VERY worthwhile read, including how the two of them logically came to wearing kilts during the race (no... really, it makes sense) click here.

So congratulations to Markley and Paul and all of Team Crank's support crew! Stay tuned for more stories, these guys are one of the only teams representing the US in Europe's TransAlp race next month!

Complete List of the Ergon Grip Contest Winners!

2010-06-08T15:43:00.000-07:00

We finally had all 20 winners of our Ergon Grip Giveaway report in. So hopefully they are all enjoying the newfound comfort and control that comes with using these cool grips. Here is the complete list:

Price Point is Now Carrying Selle SMP Saddles

2010-06-04T14:54:00.001-07:00

We are happy to welcome the Selle SMP company as one of our new suppliers. They have been making some much sought after saddles for a while now. They may look like they stepped right out of a Salvador Dali painting, but they have very specific reasons behind their unique form.

Selle SMP's saddle range is scientifically designed with two things in mind- performance and comfort. Thanks to their patented unique design, Selle SMP has washed away the myth that performance and comfort are mutually exclusive variables.

Starting at the front, the dropped down nose is designed to provide a comfortable, flat base for those times when you find yourself shifted forward such as when staying seated for a long climb. The other upside to the dropped down nose is that the chances of snagging your shorts when getting out of the saddle are greatly reduced.

Then, the wide central channel prevents the crushing of all your tender bits. And when SMP says all, they're talking about parts of your anatomy you probably haven't even considered. From tip to tail you're going to be protected.

The last variable primarily focuses on proper weight distribution. SMP's swoopy profile just isn't for looks; it helps evenly spread the load between the buttocks and the ischiatic tuberosities which are commonly referred to as the sit bones. Additionally, the design rotates the pelvis into its most efficient position for maximum pedaling power.

To find out more, or to try one out for yourself, click here or on the image.

Race Report - Ken Shiokari at Sea Otter and Santa Teresa

2010-05-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

We just received a race report form one of our sponsored independent racers, Ken Shiokari. Ken is always out at the races in Northern CA and splits his time between both road and mountain bike disciplines. Here's his race report, and there are probably a few things we could all learn from this veteran racer:

"Sea Otter XC Race - Great weather and a good turnout. Otter was your typical sprint to the single track race and then follow the trains on the climbs. I got to the the tracks in about 15th and shuffled around until about mile 5. After the neutral water, Rob Stark, Davis Curtis and I established that there were 3-4 guys that got away with Francisco Vidal off the front. Our chase group pushed nose to tail for about 10 miles catching and dropping a couple of the guys. After leading this group the whole way, I let Rob pull through so I could rest before the long climb out -- the race mistake. Soon after while passing traffic, an out of class rider endo'ed into "the mud puddle" right in front of me. This created the gap that grew on the next climb where I could not get past another train on the next single track climb - Rob got away. The climb out was typically hard and then there was a new finishing circuit that had a bunch of little leg breakers. Paul Montgomery (who nipped me at the line last year) got the win, Rob second, Francisco third, I got fourth (closing in but ran out of distance), and Dave filled the podium in 5th. The venue might have podium pictures - maybe ask them for a photo since Price Point was a sponsor. The expo park was packed and well attended.

Santa Teresa XC Race - Perfect weather for XC race. This tough, rocky course was awesome. I'd never ridden here before but others knew about it. - former World champion Ned Overend and former master's WC Rob Anderson came out to play too. My lack of course knowledge had me line up near the back of the 60 rider plus field and then there was no sorting section -- just straight onto the trail. Once we hit the rocky switchback climb, there was a 50 rider train ahead. It was steep so I was able to pass a few when they bogged on the rocks but it was a tight line. I had a few almost 'fly offs' switchback encounters but the single track is great there. Once we hit the long fire road climb, I was able to pace out and pass in bunches. Then we hit the rock garden -- wow this was nice stuff (see photo). The trails were rocky before but this trail was all rocks (I think it's called rocky ridge trail). We down hilled and wooped it back to the start finish -- now that I had the 'pre-ride' in it got really fun. Ended up taking first and riding solo for the whole race."

Well then. Congratulations Ken and thanks for representin' Price Point! We appreciate the shared stories and look forward to hearing about how your season progresses.

Markley Anderson of Team Crank Podiums Twice in 2 Weeks

2010-05-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Markley Anderson of Team Crank has now been on the podium twice in the past 2 weeks! First up was 12 Hours of Lodi in Fredericksburg, VA as part of a relay team representing the Blue Ridge School where he works. Battling an unexpected early-season heatwave with temperatures over 90 degrees, and two mechanical issues that left them running (not riding) with their bikes for the finish, Markley and his team mates Tony and Dave persevered for a 3rd place finish. You can read the full story here.

And for his second act the following weekend, Markley headed to Rocky Gap State Park in western Maryland for their 9 Hours of Cranky Monkey. It was a big race, with over 250 competitors. Markley stated that he hadn't gone up against this level of competition in a while. He knew he had his work cutout for him.

Planning to maintain a lap an hour for the duration of the race, Markley settled into his pace. Even though he did his best to stick to his regimen of refueling, he still ended up cramping during laps 6 and 7. Cramping is almost always an indication of not staying hydrated enough and not replenishing essential minerals. This was definitely the case, as his clothing was covered in a fine layer of white (salt from his body). So when Markley got to the pit, he downed a can of chicken noodle soup. Who would've thought that the soup would be the ideal recovery fuel? But apparently it worked, because within a lap or so he was back on track and able to complete 9 laps in 8 hours 20 minutes. This got him on the podium in 4th place. Not too bad when most of us would tap out and yell "enough!" after the first sign of cramping. Way to go Markley! Read more here.

ERGON GRIPS GIVEAWAY!!!

2010-05-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Who wants a free pair of ERGON grips???

Ergon GC2-L Performance Comfort Grips are multi-position grips with integrated cold forged Aluminum bar ends, which have a dual function acting as the clamps for the grip. Its size and shape are ideal for middle to larger sized hands (8.5 – 10.5). The bar end and the support platform on the grip can be independently adjusted for the correct angle to allow optimized fit for individual saddle position and riding style.

Ergon GC grips prevent numb fingers, painful hands and forearms – problems that many riders face. The cause of this is high pressure on the particularly sensitive areas of the palm and an incorrect hand position. Due to their anatomically optimal design, Ergon grips provide a contact surface of 100%. Regular grips only provide a contact surface of approximately 60%. With increased contact surface, pressure is especially reduced in the area of the ulna nerve, thus decreasing the likelihood of numbness. Furthermore, the anatomic form of the Ergon Performance and Race Series grips corrects your hand position. An incorrect hand position and overloading of the median nerve (a leading cause of carpal tunnel syndrome) are impossible as long as the grip is mounted correctly.

Enter to win a pair at PricePoint.com!! We're giving away 20 pairs, so you have 20 chances to win! Sign up to win today!

2010-04-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder! Price Point's "The Big Sale" is heading into its last week. Click on the sale banner and surf around. There are certainly amazing deals to be had!

Need Some Motivation to Race?

2010-04-16T15:28:00.001-07:00

Are you ready to race? Price Point has been sponsoring the US Cup MTB races which are held nationwide. As a little motivation to get out to the races, we are awarding 1 randomly-drawn participating racer from each class (both male and female) a free $25 Price Point gift certificate. That means at the 2 most recent US Cup events, Fontana and Bonelli, there were 16 lucky winners. After all, sometimes just showing up deserves its own reward. Check out the race series (and register?) by clicking the US Cup logo below. There is hopefully an event near your hometown soon. Good luck!

ITEMS ADDED TO BIG SALE!!!

2010-04-13T14:11:00.001-07:00

There has been more items added to PricePoint's BIG SALE! Swing by and check it out!

Congratulations to Price Point sponsored rider Ken Shiokari!

2010-04-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

We were thrilled to learn that long time Price Point sponsored rider Ken Shiokari took 1st place in his class at the Henry Coe Race in Morgan Hill, CA on Saturday March 27th. Ken is a seasoned racer who likes to mix it up between both road and mountain bike disciplines. This was a mountain bike race turned epic for Ken who suffered from a mechanical while out on the course yet still managed his 1st place finish. As the report came in from the race organizers, "The 50-59 class was also hotly contested and not only are these guys fast, they are also generous as well! Class winner Ken Shiokari not only rides for Price Point, but also brought along some cool Price Point goodies that he wanted to contribute to the junior riders. WOW! Thank you Ken, the kids were stoked!"
For the complete story and more details about the excellent series of races put together by SB Racing, click here. Congratulations Ken!

the BIG SALE has arrived!

2010-03-31T15:00:00.001-07:00

The BIG SALE is back with amazing deals! 1000+ products discounted up to 80% off! Go to PricePoint.com and SHOP NOW!

Price Point is now carrying tubular tires from Vittoria and Continental!

2010-03-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

A little something for our roadies! Price Point is now carrying tubular tires from Vittoria and Continental. We have 7 models to choose from and they are in stock. So far we have the Vittoria Pave Evo CG, Corsa Evo CX, Rubino PRO and the Rally. And from Continental, we're featuring the GP 4000, Competition, and Sprinter.

Although we won't be stocking tubular glue for now (due to shipping restrictions), we will also soon have Tufo Tubular Tape. To those unfamiliar, Tufo Tape is a great way to mount these tires with less mess, fuss and a quicker set up time.

Check out the whole selection here.

FREE FOX FORK WINNER...

2010-03-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Keith V. of Euless, TX! He's the excited and very surprised, winner of the 2010 Fox 32 TALAS RLC Fit Fork with a QR15. Seeing as this is one of the most desirable forks in the industry, even the staff here at Price Point are a little jealous. If you want to check one out for yourself, click here.

Enjoy the fork, Keith!

Price Point Is Now A Proud Sponsor of the US Cup

2010-03-12T15:26:00.000-08:00

Price Point is pleased to announce that we are now official sponsors of the US Cup's Kenda Cup West and Triple Crown race series . The US Cup is now in its second season and is already the biggest pro and amateur mountain bike race series in the United States. Some of the biggest names in mountain bike racing participate in these events and it's a great chance for all of the aspiring locals to race alongside of them. There will be pro men racers like Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Sid Taberlay, Jeremiah Bishop, Tinker Juarez, Adam Craig and pro women expect to see Catharine Pendrel, Pua Sawiki, Allison Mann and many more.

And to reward all of you racers out there who show dedication by registering and making it out to the race, Price Point is giving away $25 gift certificates to 1 randomly drawn lucky participant in each class for both the mens and womens divisions. That means there will be 8 winners at each of the 8 events that Price Point is sponsoring!

Each of these events all lead up to the finals that are going to be held in Bonelli Park, CA on September 11 and 12. So whether you make it out to the Kenda Cup West series or to the Triple Crown OR to the Finals and you register to race, you will be eligible to win free gift certificates towards all of the great gear available at Price Point. We will be posting news here and on our Facebook page as the season progresses but you can also check out all of the details on the US Cup site, including pro racer profiles. And if your ready to have some fun and go out and spend the day with some like-minded people and take part in the action, you can register here.

See everyone at the races!

Team Crank Visits Price Point (and Hits Some Great Southern CA Singletrack)

2010-03-05T15:43:00.001-08:00

Last week we were lucky to have 1/2 of Team Crank pay us a visit here in California. Markley Anderson was in town and looking to ride and we were happy to oblige. Team Crank is an elite endurance/adventure racing team sponsored by Price Point that consists of Markley and Paul Loete.

Their specialty is "go hard and go long". As you'll see below, Markley is a human dynamo, solid muscle, and just goes and goes. Milo of Price Point, the tall, lanky guy in one of the pictures, can do just fine on the usual 2 - 4 hour rides, but it's easy to picture Markley holding the same pace even in the wee hours of a 24-hour race or on day 4 or 5 of a tough multi-day stage race. They took some video on the ride as well. Markley plans to eventually post a compilation video on his team blog, chronicling this season's adventures. Team Crank has a very full schedule!

Speaking of multi-day stage races, Markley brought news that they will be possibly the ONLY U.S. team doing the TransAlp this year. If you haven't heard of this race, it is brutal: 7 days, over 65,000 feet of climbing and 482 miles of trail that snakes through the Alps of Germany, Austria and Italy. Check it out here. They did the BC Bike Race last year and hope to do La Ruta de Conquistadors soon. These guys are really active, and though we'll post their stories here every time we can, you may want to check them out on their own blog here.

We'd like to give a huge thanks to the Sette company who loaned us one of their amazing full carbon bikes for the ride. It was a great opportunity for Markley too. He has built up a custom Sette bike but has had little opportunity to ride it because of all the unusual snowfall that has been hitting his native Virginia. This ride has only whetted his appetite to get on his own new whip! Thanks Markley for the great ride, although Milo had to admit from that his perch on his all-mountain rig, it left him wondering, "Hey, where's my sub 19 pound carbon hardtail?" Hmmm...

FREE Fork anyone?

2010-03-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

Click here to enter!

Direct from the Fontana Winter Race Series, the Sette Vexx and the Venom!

2010-02-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

As you probably have noticed, we are fond of re-posting news from the guys over at Sette. We love their bikes and sales of them at Price Point have been phenomenal. Customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Here's a story that SetteUSA.com just posted and we thought we would share it with you. It seems their friends at MTNBikeRiders.com (and we second the statement of what a great forum they have) forwarded these pictures to Sette from a race that they participated in last weekend. They were putting their Sette Vexx and Venom bikes to the test and it looks like they had a lot of fun doing it. Congratulations go out to Wes for placing 2nd on his Vexx. And to RL, who is freshly back on the Venom after having cracked some ribs a few months ago and still managed to place 6th in his class, we're just glad to see you out on the bike again!

Our Friends over at Sette Are Extremely Excited To Announce That Pro Freereider Aaron Hodgkin Is Now Riding the Vexx!

2010-02-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

Aaron was a prodigy/wunderkind of freeriding, making a name for himself while still in his late teens. Some of his claims to fame are being the first to be filmed doing a backflip on a DH bike and being on the first cover of Decline magazine. He also did numerous shoots for a number of other mountain biking magazines, was the poster child for Marzocchi shocks for a couple of years, and was featured in both the Highways and Super Heroes series of extreme mountain biking videos. He also made a few attempts at the world record bike jump distance while being towed behind a dirt bike. After a few years off the bike, he's back to his first love and ready to throw down some new tricks. Here are some early sessions of his return as he warms up to pushing the envelope of what's possible. His specialty is going big, REAL BIG! But in the meantime, hopefully these images of doing mere 30 foot gaps will keep you amused... more to come. And we here at Sette can't wait. Go Aaron!"

You can check out the Sette Bike and Frame on our site. On sale now at Price Point!

Road Magazine Reviews the Sette Primo

2010-02-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

Fresh news sent from our friends at Sette USA:

The Sette Primo Road bike was just reviewed by the very prestigious Road Magazine. They can be very discerning when it comes to testing out bikes and often cover only the most legendary of brands. Sette is thrilled to be in such company. Road had a lot of great things to say about the Primo, but here are a few of our favorite quotes:

“While the Primo does well on the straight and flat roads, and climbs decent, the real fun begins when you descend… it tracks pretty well and responds quickly to any nudge of the bar.”

“…A pretty phenomenal specification to boot. Ultegra SL wraps the bike along with FSA, Pro Logo and Sette’s own Avanti bar and tape… the Avanti bar has a nice ergonomic feel to it and the bar tape is some of the best I have used!”

“With regard to the frameset, without question, I am certain you won’t get a better ride quality for the price.”

Click on the image to the left to read the whole review from Road Magazine.

Explore more of this great bike, or its frame, on Price Point.

The winner of the Free Mavic Wheelset is....

2010-02-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

Charlie R. from Arden, NC! Congratulations Charlie! Enjoy the wheelset!

Free Mavic wheelset anyone??

2010-01-15T16:11:00.001-08:00

One of our best giveaways yet! Enter to win here!

New Sette VEXX DH bike has arrived!

2010-01-12T14:06:00.001-08:00

The Vexx DH bike is based upon classic DH geometry that will give it the versatility to perform in a variety of terrain. Although most of us fantasize about having a mountain with lift access in our backyard and wide open trails, the reality is most of us are shuttling our local single track or hitting our favorite session area where tighter turns and occasionally slower speeds are a part of the deal. The Vexx 6061 aluminum 8.5" travel frame is incredibly well thought out and keeps this reality in mind. The top tube is of monocoque construction to achieve focused, precise steering, all while maintaining plenty of clearance for maneuvering around on the frame. The Vexx also features CNC machined struts and linkage for superior tracking through the toughest terrain. Read more...

See Sette Vexx Details

End of the Year Sale EXTENDED!

2009-12-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

The sale will be extended until January 15th! Check out the sale while it lasts!!

Price Point End of the Year Sale

Custom Painted Sette Flite Bikes

2009-12-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

Check these out! Sette forwarded these pictures to us of how a rider customized a pair Sette Flite bikes for his girl and himself. Awesome to see such creativity.

If you'd like to see where these started their journey or want to get one for yourself, click here.

BIGGEST Sale of the Year!

2009-12-10T14:28:00.001-08:00

We have recently added more products to PricePoint's End of the Year Sale! It's by far, the biggest sale of the year for us. The most products, at the best prices around!

Visit PricePoint.com to see what bike gear you could be saving on!

A bike worth trudging through the snow for

2009-11-30T15:28:00.001-08:00

Way back in October we donated a Sette Razzo 29er frame to be raffled off at the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo in Brady, Nebraska.

Despite a record amount of unseasonal snowfall, the Ballyhoo went on as best as possible and the Razzo went home to a lucky winner by the name of Kelly Klein.

Hopefully no triple dog dares took place to see if tongues would stick to frames.

Skip ahead to today and we found a nice surprise waiting for us in our in-box.

Kelly just finished building up his Razzo and sent over some pics. The end result is nothing short of fantastic.

Notice that the drive train is set up as a 1x9. Very cool.

According to Kelly this is his first 29er and he “had a blast learning about components and building it up.” Not that there’s ever anything wrong with buying a complete bike but there’s just something so much fun about starting out with the blank canvas of a bare frame and choosing each part to your liking. In the end you get your bike and guaranteed there isn’t another Sette Razzo identical to this one.

By the looks of things he’s probably had a chance or two to take it for a ride as the snow is gone and the grass is still green in Nebraska.

Congrats Kelly on winning the frame and building up such a sweet ride. We hope you enjoy it!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!

2009-11-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

Be sure to stop by PricePoint.com to check out the amazing deals we have in the Black Friday Sale! You'll see huge savings without having to deal with the crowds!

Winner of the NiteRider Sweepstakes!

2009-11-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Susan Aberdeen of WA! Enjoy your new NiteRider MiNewt 400!

Ride on!

End of the Year Blowout!

2009-11-13T17:20:00.001-08:00

Check it out! Price Point is having the Biggest sale of the Year! Save Up to 80% off on over 500+ products, from the biggest names in mountain and road biking. Check out our awesome selection from Sram, Avid, RockShox, Fox Shox, Manitou, Race Face, Truvativ, Magura, Camelbak, Hutchinson, Sette and many more!

Click Here

Win a free NiteRider Minewt 400 Dual LED Lights!

2009-11-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

PRICE POINT GIVEAWAY

The MiNewt.400 benefits from a power increase in 2010, raising lumen output to 400, making the MiNewt.400 Dual a serious offroad light! In the past this output level was reserved for bigger and heavier lighting systems, now it’s available on a lighting system weighing less than 325g! Technology marches on. In addition, the dual headlamps allow light “stacking” for the ultimate in beam management. High, low and an attention getting flash mode make the MiNewt.400 a favorite among commuters and offroaders alike.

No Purchase Necessary - Sign Up Now!

Sette Attends the CORBA Fat Tire Festival as a Sponsor and Exhibitor

2009-11-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

We have this report from our friends over at Sette USA:

"The Sette crew attended the CORBA Fat Tire Festival on Sunday. We were really glad to be there not only as an exhibitor but also as a sponsor. CORBA does a lot of amazing work to make sure that we all have trail access. Mountain biking wouldn’t be much of a sport if there was no place to ride. Sure, in a race there are sanctioned places to ride and bike parks are slowly growing in number, but these are examples of places that most of us only ride at once in a while, if ever. It’s the local trails that matter. Where else would we be able to train, to create local legends of derring-do, to grab a moment of peace in a crazy world?

Even the pros realize the importance of their local trail. It was great to see Brian Lopes, Ned Overend and Sid Taberlay representing at the festival which acted as a fundraiser for CORBA. They led several rides through the beautiful Castaic Lake hills. Later, they used the Sette booth as a meeting place and held a skills ride with Mark Langton, CORBA’s own Skill’s Instructor. As it came close to clinic time, the Sette booth was mobbed. I did get a chance to take a picture of the crowd as soon as the clinic began, but it made for a very hectic ½ hour beforehand.

The Poker Ride was one of the biggest contests/events of the day. They combined our donations of workstand and tool kit into a grand prize, so we got top billing during the awards ceremony for that. You’ll see a picture below of a young man celebrating his win of that event.

Weather was somewhere between absolutely perfect and then incredible gusts of wind that must have been pushing 40-50mph. Ours was one of the few tents that didn’t get pushed over or completely blown away. It made for some pretty exciting times. You’ll see in one of the attached pictures that the yellow Price Point banner that was placed right over the head of the prize announcer is partially falling down. Luckily that only happened right near the very end of the day.

At the very end of the day CORBA holds their big raffle. The Sette Impulse carbon frame was used as the Ultimate Grand Prize. People went nuts for it. Just before they announced the winner, I had them throw the remaining free swag of socks and grips that we had out to the crowd. The usual pandemonium, feeding-frenzy ensued. The winner of the frame was a gentleman that apparently is a bit of a legend in the bicycling world, a founder of both IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association) and CORBA (CA Offroad Bicycling Association), a former pro racer, and has been inducted into the MTB Hall of Fame. Not too bad for a guy I had no clue as to who he was! I had about a ½ dozen people come up to me immediately afterwards to tell me how cool it was that he won. I think they were trying to impress upon me how cool and wonderful of a person he was. They were so genuine that I have to say, I was convinced! As you’ll see, I also couldn’t resist jumping into a picture with him either. By the way, his name is Jim Hasenauer, a SoCal mountain biking legend. Very cool.

If you ever get the chance to attend one of their events, even a fundraiser, go! You will be guaranteed a fun time and will meet plenty of soul mates. CORBA really went out of their way to make us feel like the stars of the festival. They said that it was because we’ve supported them in the past and that we weren’t there just as exhibitors but also as sponsors. In our opinion, it wasn’t the pro riders, the manufacturers, the local shops or any of the sponsors that were generous, it was CORBA itself. They do a tremendous service for all of us that far too often goes thankless. So to CORBA, thanks for a great day, and a heartfelt thanks for all that you do."

We have our winners!

2009-11-03T10:17:00.000-08:00

Price Point is pleased to announce that we have our winners for the 3 CygoLite Mlion 200 Light sets. We had almost three thousand entries, and among those we randomly drew 3 names. They are as follows: Andrew W. of Hialeah, FL, Kirk V. of Omaha, NE and Bill K. of Delaware, OH. Check out All of CygoLite’s great line of bicycle lighting systems here.

Congratulations to all three and thanks to everyone who registered to win. And please stay tuned, there will be more giveaways coming up soon!

The Sette Razzo Compete bike arrives!

2009-10-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

The moment we started offering the Sette Razzo 29er frame requests started pouring in for a complete bike.

Sette USA heeded the call and they came back with a complete Razzo outfitted with a killer parts spec. It reads like a who’s who of the best brands in the cycling industry.

SRAM and TruVativ handle the drive train. Up front a RockShox Reba SL 29er Dual Air takes care of business when the going gets rough. And when things get too rough, Avid Elixir CR hydraulic disc brakes will bring the Razzo down to a more manageable warp factor.

29ers have now been around long enough most everyone knows the reason why they have such a rabid following. It’s because of the ability of the big 29 inch wheels to rollover just about anything, covering ground faster than a bike with 26 inch wheels.

We could go on for days about the advantages but really, if you’re reading this, we’d just be preaching to the choir. So the important thing for you to know is that the Razzo is outfitted with Shimano Deore 29er specific hubs laced to disc specific Mavic M719 rims. Mounted to those Mavic rims are a set of Kenda Small Block Eight Kevlar beaded tires in a 2.1 width that are ready to make any line the Perfect Line.

Finally, the icing on this highly polished cake is a cockpit that features Sette’s own lightweight, high performance handlebar, stem and saddle.

The Razzo complete graces the scales at an average weight of 26lbs.

Win a free CygoLite Milion 200 Lighting System!

2009-10-16T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ready for the time change? Sign up now for the Cygolite Milion 200 Giveaway. 3 Chances to Win! Price Point and Cygolite have partnered to bring you the chance to win 1 of 3 of these amazing new $140 lights.

The Cygolite Milion 200 features:

All-in-one design - no cable, battery and light are one unit

Hi-Brightness/Hi-Efficiency LED Technology

Quick release Li-Ion battery for easy, on-the-fly battery changes

USB Rechargeable

3 Lighting Modes – High, Low, Flash

Includes both handlebar and helmet quick release mounts

$140 Value

No Purchase Necessary - Sign Up Now!

Festival Report: Big Wheeled Ballyblizzard

2009-10-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

We want to tip our collective cap to the hearty souls who not only turned out at the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo but managed to have a ton of fun despite 10 – 14 inches of snow showing up to crash the party.

The one drawback to living and riding in Southern California is that all of us here at Price Point are such softies when it comes to the weather that none of us would have been able to hack it. Just to give you an idea how sad we, are our resident wannabe Belgian breaks out the knickers and toe covers anytime the mercury dips below 60. Last time we checked there weren’t a whole lot of Belgian hardmen wearing toe covers.

Still, the Big Wheeled Ballyhoo managed to go on. And for those who didn’t get scared off by the fluffy white stuff, what they got in return was some great riding, camaraderie and an “epic ride” story that will surely top just about anything out there.

You can check out some very cool first hand accounts here, here and here.

The lucky guy on the left was the big winner of Sette Razzo frame. Too bad Sette doesn’t make skis. We could have really hooked him up. Photo credit: Biking Fools.

Race Report (17 + 54 = 2)

2009-10-07T12:29:00.001-07:00

We had a fun race report waiting for us in our in-box the other day that’s too good not to share. Markley Anderson, one of the riders we sponsor on Team Crank, decided to see what the world of duathlon racing is all about.

With multi-day adventure races being the norm for Markley, he went ahead and signed up for the 9 Hour Endurance Class at the EX2 Day of Endurance which took place at Rock Gap State Park near Cumberland, Maryland.

The format for the race was simple. For the first three hours racers would run a 5.5 mile lakeside trail as many times as possible. Then, racers would ditch their running shoes for something of the clipless variety and spend the final six hours of the race doing hot laps on a rocky strewn nine mile single track.

On the run Markley scampered 17 miles before hopping on his bike to bang out what would end up being a 54 mile ride. The ride portion turned into one big hammer fest as Markley and the eventual winner battled back and forth the whole way. The final selection wasn’t decided until the last lap.

The real kicker to all this, aside from Markley finishing an astonishing 2nd place in his first duathlon, is that he spent the two weeks prior to the race laid up sick. Basically, Markley rolled out of bed on race day and flat out drilled it for nine hours straight.

Amazing.

“Sette carbon products from Price Point once again came through as I navigated gnarly rock gardens continuously throughout the day.”

Anyone out there have a lighter Razzo?

2009-09-30T12:49:00.001-07:00

Waiting for us in our in-box today were some photos from a Razzo owner by the name of Ryan who lives up in Wisconsin. Ryan’s a pretty accomplished racer and a while back he dropped us a note to let us know he’s been crushing his field on his 20lb Razzo.

When we saw the phrase 20lb Razzo, we were naturally intrigued and requested some photographic evidence.

Here’s what Ryan sent back. We gotta say we really like this set up- XTR 1 x 9 with a rigid carbon fork, Avid Juicy Carbon brakes, and very nice set of American Classic wheels. Be sure to check out the saddle too, that’s the rare Tioga Spider. You don’t see too many of those out in the wild.

So the bar has been set by Ryan at 20lbs. Anyone out there have a Razzo that tips the scales a little less?

If you do, let us know because we’d like to see it.

Lighting 101

2009-09-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

With Daylight Savings Time coming to an end, now is a good time to start thinking about a lighting system if you plan on riding in the winter months. We’ve got a lot of great options for lights and picking out the best style for your needs can not only make your night riding safer but much more enjoyable.

To help you pick out a light, we’ve placed some of our different lighting systems into three different categories.

The first category is what we’ll call Casual Night Riding. Basically, these lights will provide you first and foremost with the ability to be seen which is absolutely vital when riding in the dark. The higher end lights in this category boost the power to a level add a lot of visibility to the darkest streets.

Some of our favorites in this category include:

Sette Elumin-X Safety Light

For under $10 you can get a front and a rear light and stay safe and legal. For its size the Elumin-X puts out a good amount of light but keep in mind it would be considered the bare minimum. If you don’t plan on being caught out in the dark a whole lot or you’re going to be riding on very well lit streets, the Elumin-X will get the job done.

Knog Frog
This little puppy is a single LED light but packs a pretty good punch. Like the Sette Elumin-X, the Frog is primarily for being seen but its unique design and ease of use make it a very popular light. The Frog installs in seconds without needing any tools and can be mounted quite a few different ways on your bike. It’s not uncommon to see multiple Frogs on a single bike.

Cateye EL410
This is where lighting starts to get a little more serious. The EL410 uses three LEDs to pump out 180 candlepower which is sufficient light to see potholes on even the darkest street. The run time is great too- between 30 and 60 hours depending on how much the light is used on flash or steady mode. Finally, the innovative mounting strap allows you to mount the EL410 in a variety of places including your helmet.

The next category we’ll call the Super Commuter. These lights are for folks who do a lot of city riding and want to see just as well as they can be seen.

NiteRider UltraFazer Max
The UltraFazer Max is one of the brightest lights you’ll find without having to rely on an external battery pack. The Max uses a 1 watt Luxeon LED bulb with three settings- high, low and flash. One of the more innovative features of the Max is that it can run on standard alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries. If you plan on doing a lot of night riding this light can help save some cash and more batteries from ending up in the landfill.

NiteRider New MiNewt Mini-USB w/ Helmet Mount
The MiNewt Mini USB is far and away the most popular light amongst folks looking for maximum power in the smallest possible package. The battery is ridiculously tiny and can be charged with either the included wall charger or through your computer with a standard USB cable so it can easily be recharged at the office. Its 110 lumens of power makes it the perfect commuter light.

On the mountain bike side of things the MiNewt Mini USB is a decent starter light for off road riding. If you know you’ll be doing a lot of mountain biking at night you might want to consider a light with a little more juice. Then again, start with the Mini USB and if you upgrade you can always make use of the helmet mount and have a very capable second light.

Remember, there’s no shame in getting dropped by a kid.

2009-09-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

After all, they’re young, full of energy and have plenty of time to train since they don’t have that whole “job thing” getting in the way.

One thing that always makes us smile is getting the chance to stoke out the next generation of riders. We recently sent a little care package of goodies to the Allegheny Cycling Association so they could have some prizes for the juniors racing in the season finale of their weekly summer crit series.

They might be small but you can tell they’re laying down some serious power.

It’s hard to tell who will go pro first because they already look PRO.

It’s all smiles after the race.

Check out the Sette Venom Build from mtnbikeriders.com

2009-08-14T14:46:00.000-07:00

Our friends over at mtnbikeriders.com have been sending us periodic updates about a build of the Sette Venom freeride frame. They have been doing a series of stories covering the whole process of putting a bike together from the frame up. They've finished the project and sent along some photos of its maiden voyage. Looking great!

If you want to check up on the project, click here: mtnbikeriders.com/venom

All photos by js3images.com

SRAM issues voluntary recall of 10-speed PowerLock chain connector links

2009-08-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

On August, 11^th SRAM issued a limited recall of select 10-speed PowerLock chain connector links. The chains themselves aren’t being recalled, just the PowerLock links. This recall only applies to 10-speed models. No other SRAM chains are subject to recall.

If you’re running a 10-speed SRAM chain on your bike, please take the time to inspect both sides of the PowerLock link. Links affected by the recall will be stamped with either the letter “M” or “N”. If either side of the PowerLink is stamped with an M or N, stop riding your bike and contact SRAM and they will arrange for a replacement PowerLink at no charge to you.

The moment we heard the news of this recall, we stopped what we were doing and headed off into the warehouse to inspect our inventory of SRAM speed chains. We hand inspected each and every 10-speed SRAM chain in stock and removed the few that were affected by the recall. It was a fairly tedious process but you can rest assured that every 10-speed SRAM chain Price Point has in stock is good to go.

For more information or to obtain a replacement Powerlink, please visit www.sram.com

News From A Few of Our Sponsored Riders

2009-08-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick news update from two of our sponsored riders. Both Ken and Markley have been out there hitting the race circuit and we're glad to be able to play a roll.

Ken Shiokari

2009 has been a great season for Price Point rider and all-round dual threat Ken Shiokari. Back in April, Ken stomped his way to an impressive 7th place finish at the Sea Otter Classic cross country race. Just a week later, he hit the dirt again and did one better finishing 6th in the Santa Ynez Valley Classic.

Then Ken decided to give his mountain bike a break and he hit the road finishing in the top 20 in both the Panoche Valley Road Race and Pescadero Coastal Classic. He cracked top 10 in the Leesville Gap Road Race when he escaped off the front with what would be the winning group. The breakaway worked together and hammered off the front for nearly 100k. Unfortunately, cramping got the best of Ken. Knowing he wasn’t going to be contesting the sprint finish, Ken went to the front with a couple miles to go and pinned it with everything he had left to ensure the break wasn’t caught by the hard charging peloton.

Markley Anderson

We used to think once a product went through all the stages from prototype to real world that was it- until we discovered something known as Markley’s world. Price Point rider Markley Anderson is a little different than your typical cross country mountain bike racer. Funny how being a former paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and an award winning power lifter will do that.

In early July, Markley and one of his Team Crank cohorts traveled 6,000 miles to compete in the 7 day BC Bike Race from Vancouver to Whistler via North Shore’s most brutal single track.

Many bikes and competitors were broken during the week but Markley and his buddy both made it to the finish in one piece which in something as epic as the BC Bike Race is the name of the game.

Along the way they put a couple of Sette products through the wringer. Here’s what Markley had to say, "Sette carbon handlebars held up to the rigorous demands the course put on us and absorbed lots of shock, which allowed us to continue pumping away without being fatigued. When we had to get off our bikes and trek a bit, our Sette bike shoes allowed us to do this comfortably and when pedaling they remained firm and effective, thanks Price Point and Sette."

Sette Makes a Splash at Sea Otter!

2009-06-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

As Sea Otter gets bigger and better every year, it draws out the best in the world of cycling with the likes of Lopes, Minnaar, Carter, Atherton, Hill, Hannah and even Leipheimer making an appearance. In keeping with that theme of bringing out the best, Sette continued its rollout of amazing bicycles and frames.

New at Sea Otter was the scene stealing Vexx, a brand new DH rig that is going to radically alter what riders will expect in terms of performance and affordability.

This bike is exceptionally well equipped. Starting with a top notch, well-designed frame that provides 8.5 inches of Rock Shox Vivid 4.1 suspension, the Vexx does everything it can to provide a superior ride. From front to back, it looks like Sette took every detail into account: hydroformed aluminum tubing, a 65 degree 1.5” head tube, ISCG tabs, extra wide 83mm bottom bracket, oversized 10mm sealed pivot bearings, and a 12 x 150mm bolt rear through axle. No doubt, this bike is going to be super stable at speed and track through corners like nobody’s business!

And what else is Sette giving you? A 2010 Rock Shox Boxxer Race fork, 1.5” flush headset, Avid Code 5 brakes, Truvativ’s killer Gravity series handlebar, direct mount stem and cranks with the E13 LG1 chain guide. The wheels consist of Mavic EX 729 rims mated to a Formula rear hub and Sette’s own 20mm thru-axle front hub. Oh, yeah and a SRAM X9 rear derailleur and very cool Wellgo LoPro Pedals work there way into the mix, too.

This bike is simply amazing. We at Price Point are eagerly anticipating their arrival and the price we anticipate being able to sell these at should be around $2600. Yeah, that’s right. $2600. Ridiculous.

Sette also had news, and an early pre-release version, of their Razzo 29er as a complete bike. The frame has already been a phenomenal success for us at Price Point. We feel that the competition prays everyday that no one hears about the Razzo, that’s how good they are. And the price as usual, can’t be beat. The fact that it is now a complete bike is awesome. Besides the popular, proven frame, here’s the quick lowdown on what it will come equipped with: Rock Shox Reba SL fork, Avid Elixer CR brakes, SRAM X7 drivetrain with an X9 rear derailleur, Truvativ Stylo cranks and Sette’s own cockpit of Seatpost, saddle, stem, handlebar and grips. Now here’s the really cool part, also included with the Sette Razzo bike is a very amazing wheelset, Mavic TN 719 rims, Shimano’s 29er specific 12-36 tooth cassette AND 29er specific hubs. The whole package, without pedals (although included), comes to an incredibly respectable 25.5 lbs. Price? About $1400. Wow.

Both of these bikes will be available in the fall. Did we mention how excited we are?

And just because we thought you might like to know, the Vexx frame will be available in July for about $900 and the Razzo is available now on our site. Check it out.

Price Point is Hiring!

2009-06-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

Price Point, a Premier Bicycle Internet Retailer Co. located in the South Bay Area of Los Angeles, has immediate openings to fill the following positions: Marketing & Sales Assistant, Product Buyer and Bicycle Product & Specification Manager. If you would like to become a member of a dynamic, creative and growing company, Price Point is the place for you. They offer a relaxed, clean and friendly work environment, competitive benefits and pay, and great product discounts.

The Marketing & Sales Assistant position’s responsibilities include, but are not limited, to: coordinating catalogs, ads, flyers, sponsorship programs, website and mass email promotions; expanding site and product selection; updating items, copies and photos; Price Point brand placement, research & implementation of marketing opportunities; managing projects and coordinating marketing efforts with the Price Point Team.

Price Point is also offering an exciting opportunity for a Product Buyer, a self motivated professional to purchase products, research deals, new products & various other duties. Applicant should have sufficient knowledge of cycling and industry experience.

For the Bicycle Product / Specification Manager position, Price Point is hiring a self motivated professional who has experience in specifying parts in the manufacturing of complete bicycles. This position requires understanding of all types of full suspension technologies along with the ability to read and analyze bike frame geometries, a minimum of 5 years experience in working with the bicycle industry at all levels and understanding key suppliers and bike part brands for all types of bikes, and knowledge about current trends in the cycle industry and have experience riding various styles of bikes.

Ideal candidates must be creative, organized, detailed oriented, and team players. Have excellent written, verbal and computer skills. Cycling knowledge and experience. Internet and E-commerce knowledge are a plus. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Salary is based on experience.

Please email resumes to jobs@pricepoint.com including cycling and e-commerce knowledge and experience, salary requirement, salary history, exact dates of employment and possible start date.

For more information, log on to pricepoint.com/employment.

Sette Debuts Complete Bike and Frame lineup at the Tour of CA

2009-06-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

For the first time in its young history Sette has started making the rounds of festivals and races. First up was the Tour of CA which featured Lance Armstrong’s stateside return to the world of road racing. Sette had on hand the prototypes that were to become the core of their first complete line of bikes and frames.

Among them, making its debut was the Primo, Sette’s opening salvo into the world of road bikes. They hit it on the head with this one, classic looks mated to an amazingly complete Shimano Ultegra SL drivetrain and wheelset, Weighing in at sub-18lbs, this carbon frame and fork equipped bike is a great choice for a competitive rider on a budget. It would also be a great fit for the serious athlete who wants to explore road biking without it costing them a fortune (like a MTB rider who wants to do some cross-training or someone trying their hand at triathlons but still wanting a bike for training on roads in the “real” world). The Primo is just plain ready.

Of course they had on hand the Flite and Ace bikes which were introduced at the start of the year. Both of which have proven incredibly popular, probably because no competitor can touch what those bikes have to offer in terms of components, performance and price. Sette also had on display examples of their Razzo 29er and Impulse Carbon 26” hardtail frames.

All in all a very exciting start to a new chapter in Sette’s evolution. As their exclusive online retail partner, Price Point is extremely excited to see what they’ll do next.

Bike to Work in Denver

2009-06-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

Get involved! Denver celebrates its annual Bike To Work Day on Wednesday, June 24. Last year was a record-breaking year, with close to 35,000 people getting out of traffic and enjoying fresh air and exercise on Bike to Work Day. Be sure to join them this year and find out what all the fuss is about! These photos are from last years event.

Price Point is pleased to be a sponsor of Denver Water’s breakfast stop. They are one of over a hundred places to stop, catch your breath, and grab a bite to eat on the morning of Bike to Work Day! They're showing support for hardworking commuter cyclists, so be sure if you are taking part in this event to plan a few extra minutes into your ride to stop at a station near your home or work.

If you’d like to participate or just check out part of the riding scene in Denver check out this link: http://www.drcog.org/btwd2009/

Tour Deal France!

2008-07-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

We just received these Limited Edition 6" Tour de France socks from Sock Guy. Support the most classic race in the world and keep your feet and at least 6 inches of your ankle/leg festive by rocking the tour socks at your next group ride or race. It's a lot better than being a face painter!

Click Here for more details.

So you think you can hustle?

2008-06-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

We've just received this Lid from Rockhard Helmets and the supply is limited! All of their helmets are produced with exclusive graphics that were personally approved by the greatest music and pop culture Icons around. This Hustler design will be sure to turn heads while your bombing down the hill on your pedal powered or motor powered two-wheeler. It meets and even exceeds SNELL M2005, DOT, BS 6658 Type A, and ACU safety standards.

Click here for more details.

Seasons DVD In Stock!!!!!

2008-05-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

"Seasons" is the highly anticipated third film from the award winning mountain bike DVD film makers The Collective, producers of "The Collective" and "Roam". Seasons is a film that follows 7 of the world's best mountain bikers through the course of 4 seasons of one year. Seasons explores what it means to be a full time mountain bike athlete as told through the lives of downhill racers, slopestyle competitors, and big mountain freeriders.. . .

Click Here to view the Trailer.

Eddy says:

2008-05-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ride Your Bike!

Spank Me Part 2!

2008-05-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Well, they've done it again. How can one company make me want to buy everything they make based solely on a first impression? The style, the Fashion, the Design, the hole in my wallet...? All in an attempt to have the prettiest rig out there. This Frame breathes sweetness by offering the smallest of details in one great, extremely durable package. The Spank Smoke frame is complete with an almost indestructable 4130 CrMo Frame with CNC machined dropouts featuring ingenious chainstay length adjuster dials and locking axle locators. You can also have the option of running 24" or 26" wheels and 10mm or 14mm axles with a simple adjustment.

Click Smoke for more details.

If You're Lost, I'll Find You...

2008-04-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Or you can find yourself. Check out the latest in Gamin's line of cycling friendly GPS brilliance. The New Garmin Edge 705hr will train, navigate, show the current speed, max. speed, distance, riding time, display your heart rate, and perform many other tasks all on a crisp, clear, color screen. It has a built in base map to assist you in your next venture out into uncharted territory, (uncharted by you that is).

Click Lost and Found for more info!

Good Luck!

2008-04-02T14:14:00.000-07:00

Fox has teamed up with Price Point to offer our customers a chance to win this 2008 Fox F120 RLC Fork. All it takes is a few clicks on the keyboard to sign up and start your journey to the Winners circle. There is No Purchase Necessary, and no information needed but your email address.

So click Here to Enter!

Get 'em While They Last!

2008-04-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for an all white 700c tire for years, and we finally have them. Check out the White Vittoria Zaffiro Tires which are Brand New and Currently in Stock. We also have them in Black!

Click Here for more....

Spank me, it's my Birthday

2008-03-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

Whether you ride Downhill, Dirt Jump, or XC, these new Products from SPANK are sure to turn heads on the trail! I could only guess that rocking these bars, stems, and grips would make you ride faster, look better, and recieve more phone numbers from the opposite sex than you've ever gotten before. Pick them up, afterall...Brown and Gold are the new Black!

Click Chocolate Sunshine for more details.

BMX with BMX Bikes! BMX with Track Bikes?

2008-02-29T16:32:00.000-08:00

You've got to check out our latest selection of DVDs that we just received in. Complete with Coffee Table reading material, these two DVDS are sure to wow you and inspire you to get off the couch and ride! "Mash" and "Grounded" both offer yet another stride forward in testing the limits of what can be accomplished on a bike! Unbelievable.

Click Bunnyhop Barspin to No Foot Can-Can to get Radical

Over 45% Off? What a Deal!

2008-02-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

We've got some of the best prices on these 2007 Marzocchi Forks. If your in the market for a new XC Mountain Bike Fork, look no further! You've found it.

Click Travel for your purchasing needs.