The Perfect Gift

This year, I bought Aaron the perfect gift for his birthday.


If you're like me, you're looking at the picture wondering ... what is new? Well, it's the Chris King DreadSet Head Set. Perfect for the rastafarian/peace-loving hippie/blingin' BMX rider on your list -- and also available in 10 other colors, or any combination thereof, with over 6,000 choices (to complement your lime green chain or pay homage to your home team). Aaron has been lusting after it for years. Literally. Even as a silly girl, I was pretty impressed at the (expensive) shiny red-green-and-yellow contents of the small box. And that wasn't even counting my herculean efforts!

Boys are amazing at two things that I will never understand or comprehend: sports statistics and vehicle specifications. If I wanted to buy Aaron a bike part, and was able to consult with the expert at Sultana Cycles about it, in 5 minutes I would know exactly what I needed in the correct size, most durable material, hippest color, best model year, most reliable manufacturer, etc. in my price range and scheduled to arrive in the fastest possible time. That would, however, ruin the surprise ... so when I called Chris King to place my order -- based solely on the color -- I got my own surprise. I didn't even know what a head set was, let alone what the head tube is, the size of the head tube (to the closest 1/8th of an inch -- foreclosing any possibility of accurate independent measurement), or whether it is threaded or unthreaded. Also, some bikes have an integrated headset that can't be replaced with Chris King bling! Sheesh. I searched the internet. I complained to my assistant. I called strangers with my questions. I researched the cost of return shipping. I poked around Aaron's bike and kept my ears open.

After much effort and reconnaissance, I can now identify the unthreaded 1-1/8th-inch head tube on the Bontrager. I got it right and Aaron loved it.

As Christmas approaches, I know I will never get him a better gift, ever, in the next 50+ years of blissful marriage. But ... in the bike world, I guess Chris King is forever.

Redline and Voodoo and Kona -- Oh My!

Although we love to fine-tune your old bikes, if you're in the market for something shiny and new in 4130 chromoly steel, come by and check out what we have in stock ...

The Torker U-District

This single-speed is simple and clean in flat black finish. Plus, it's equipped with a 16-tooth freewheel and track-lock ring, so it easily converts into a fixed gear bike with the right sprocket. Great quality value-priced -- only $350 out the door.

Redline Monocog 29-er

Another simple single-speed bike -- and with 29-inch wheels, it will roll up and over anything. Perfect all-purpose ride. $550 out the door.

Redline D440

This 8-speed 29-er has a double-butted chromoly frame. Aaron takes his own D440 out for coffee before heading up and down the local mountains. Classic look in shiny black. $650 out the door.

The Redline Metro 9

Our favorite commuter bike -- it really moves! This quick 9-speed beauty was made to ride in heels and comes pre-equipped with fenders to keep road grime from splashing up the back of your suit. Looks great with a white oak rack on the back for your briefcase or groceries. Only $680.

Voodoo Wazoo

Our cyclo-cross bike -- the 18-speed drivetrain has an FSA Omega crank, Tiagra shifters and derailleurs, plus a full Ritchey Pro cockpit. Great commuter or road bike in bright shiny bottle blue -- now priced $300 below MSRP!

Voodoo Captain Balljack

Aaron's baby (after his lovely wife), the Captain Balljack rides like a dream. A BMX-inspired single-speed for adults has a big comfy seat and wide handlebars for cruising town. You'll feel like you're in grade school again except for the chic paint job. $550 out the door.

Volume Sledgehammer

Another dream for cruising town, this is the last Sledgehammer to leave the Volume warehouse -- and there won't be any more next year. A sweet alternative to a froo-froo beach cruiser for $600.


Sultana Cycles is an Authorized Dealer for Redline, Voodoo and Kona cycles -- and can special order anything for mountaineering, road-riding, commuting, or just tooling around. Stop by for a test ride, or talk to Aaron about how much bike you need or want -- he has an uncanny knack for finding a perfect fit.

Free Advice

We often get customers inquiring into the safety and hardware requirements for bicycles in the Prescott area. Sultana Cycles wants you to have a fun, safe ride without any unnecessary police contact, so here's your lesson in the area's bicycle laws!

In the City of Prescott, the only municipal ordinance applicable to bicycles prohibits riding and parking on sidewalks. (Realistically, this applies only in the central business district, but consider yourself informed.)

The State of Arizona, however, devotes Article 11 of Title 28, Arizona Revised Statutes, to the operation of bicycles. For example, did you know . . .

• A person riding a bicycle on the roadway or shoulder has all the rights and duties of a motor vehicle being operated in these areas -- so you have a right to a three-foot buffer zone when being passed, but must give hand signals when turning and abide by traffic signals.
• It's illegal for a person to ride a bicycle sitting anywhere than on a permanently-attached seat.
• You cannot attach your bicycle to any motor vehicle for a quick boost.
• A bicycle must have brakes that will cause it to skid on dry, clean pavement.
  
• You cannot ride more than two abreast.
• Carrying articles (or your doggy) is prohibited where it keeps you from being able to put both hands on the handlebars.
• A bicycle used at nighttime must have a white lamp in front, visible from a distance of at least 500 feet, and a red reflector on the rear, visible from a distance of at least 50 feet.
• Horns and bells are okay (and fun!); sirens and whistles are not.

Helmets, although not required in the State of Arizona, are obviously encouraged.

Also note that the Town of Prescott Valley requires that all bicycles ridden within town limits be marked with an identification number -- for the bargain price of $1.75 -- to be affixed by the Police Department at "regularly scheduled times." Failure to do so could result in a warning ticket and a summons to appear in Bicycle Court. Per code, they actually have an judicial officer with the title "Bicycle Magistrate."

The Town of Chino Valley adds no additional regulations to the operation of bicycles -- but keep your sexually-oriented businesses at least 1000 feet away from any bicycle path.

We hope you take this information and ride with it! (Although I am now tempted by the thought of adding a siren to my bicycle . . . ) Questions about your area? Just ask. As you know, advice -- and air -- are always free at Sultana Cycles.

Making Noise

Sultana Cycles now carries Volume and Demolition BMX parts and accessories!

Volume is a small, rider-owned company that produces high quality frames, forks, bars and bikes for street and dirt BMX riding. Its subsidiary, Demolition Parts, makes cranks, wheels, grips, stems, pedals, pretty much everything you need for your bike. All parts are designed and tested on the west coast, in Buena Park, California.

There isn't much else to say -- these unique and colorful parts will add some fun to your ride. What does Aaron say? "Sweet."

My personal favorite is the black-and-white JAILBIRD seat. Using its patented Pivotal Technology, Volume has done away with the heavy rails and bulky hardware of traditional seats. The total weight of the seat and post is just over a pound -- the result of eliminating those ugly, heavy guts of the traditional seat. One quick turn of the bolt (easily accessible through a patch on the top of the seat) and you're adjusted, no hardware required.

And for all the big kids out there, we've got the BMX bike for you: the last Volume Sledgehammer to roll out of the warehouse for 2009. A simple and larger version, the 26" BMX cruiser made specifically for adults to tool around on. Unfortunately, no 2010 model is expected, but per its latest review: "Like a fine single malt, there's not enough O's in smoooooth!" Come by for a test ride or call us @ (928) 445-5919 for more information.

Late Bloomer

When I was about six years old, and my sister was about seven years old, my sister got a bicycle. She subsequently proceeded to crash it in the driveway, busting and bloodying herself up on the gravel. Being an observant baby sister, I'm pretty sure I didn't ride a bike a single time in the next fifteen years.

Then, when I was in law school, my mom invited me to spend the weekend vacationing with her and a friend on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. I agreed to let her rent me a bicycle. I refer to this time fondly as The Time I Learned How To Ride A Bicycle. At age 23. A late bloomer. There were sidewalks everywhere and we went everywhere on our bikes -- shopping, dinner, cocktails, etc. -- and I crashed into a lot of curbs, trees, blades of grass, etc. I even found a little lost dog to put in my basket! (Thankfully his owner returned before I had a chance to crash again.)

That's when I realized that nothing really compares to wind in your hair, a frosty beverage in your belly and a silly little dog yipping away in your basket.

However, learning to ride a bike in your 20s -- or 50s -- is a lot different than learning to ride a bike in your single digits. You don't have that same fearlessness or resiliency that you had at 9. I met a woman last weekend at Sultana who was also just learning to ride and was asking me for tips. I'll be the first to confess my mechanical ability at the bike shop is limited to a lever-like action in pushing the broom around -- that's what Aaron is for. But this is something I can handle. So, for all you beginners out there, here's my expert advice:

1. Ride your bike to happy hour. It's not a coincidence that this is the first on the list. Don't close down the bar, but a margarita or two will help in the fearlessness AND resiliency realms for the cruise home. Plus, with all that exercise you're getting, you deserve a bubblegum vodka treat!
2. Pick a destination. It's easier to get and stay moving if you have a reasonable goal. Like having a cup of coffee or paying your electric bill or riding to the square for the Wednesday night cloggers.
   
3. Wear a helmet. Full-face if necessary. And elbow pads. And one of those plastic face masks like Richard Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons. Whatever you need to feel safe.
   
4. Take advantage of the early morning. Prescott is a sleepy, sleepy weekend town. By 9AM downtown can be hustle and bustle, but 7AM on Sunday, the road/bicycle lane/dirt path/sidewalk is essentially yours.
5. Fall down. Contrary to my beliefs as a six-year-old (and admittedly, I was a sissy six-year-old), crashing is really not that big a deal. But you don't realize that until you do it a couple times. Once you realize that crashing isn't so bad -- just some skinned knees and potential embarrassment, depending on your audience -- you open the door to even more fun on your bike. For example, the last time I crashed was because I slammed on my brakes and then looked back to see my "awesome skidmarks." Whoops.
6. Breathe. If you get frustrated with wobbling or tired of concentrating on the little white line, just stop. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. You're supposed to be having fun, remember? There's bound to be a clean patch of sidewalk to park your behind on while you take a chill pill. Or, if you're like me, to call your mom crying until you get over yourself.
   

I'd be interested to see how anyone fairs on my advice . . . but moral of the story: It's never too late to start having fun. Good luck!

Slime Time

One of the first things I learned about Arizona is to be wary of the vegetation. Apparently the "blade" defense mechanism is the only one that has materialized out west, because even fluffy-looking plants can get you if you rub up on them the wrong way. For example, the ocotillo in bloom has a false sense of security about it. Lesson learned.

This can be rough on other sensitive areas as well -- like your bicycle tubes. This past spring, Aaron and I spent 3/4 of our weekend bike rides either (1) racing as fast as we could back to the house as soon as we heard the telltale hissing, trying to beat the clock before the air ran out or (2) sitting on the side of the road waiting for his dad to come rescue us and our deflated tires. The culprit: goat head thorns, last but not least of the evil plants.

Aaron dutifully patched our tubes each time, and we continued to operate on the mantra of just-one-more-time. However, Sunday we rode out several miles to Willow Lake in the beautiful weather, and no sooner had we turned onto the dirt path, Aaron started picking thorns out of his tire. Racing (uphill) back to town to beat the hissing . . . I decided THIS was the last time.

Turns out, it took ten minutes and less than $10 to squish some Flat Attack into the tubes. Flat Attack is the original tire sealant -- born the same year as me -- and seals any holes in your tube as fast as you can roll over a prickly-pear. Plus it's non-toxic and a very attractive shade of booger green! And it's probably the only slimey substance on earth with it's own mascot. You can also get pre-filled slime tubes if your bike has presta valves.

Don't fall for the just-one-more-hole trick! Make your life easier and protect against flats with thorn-resistant tubes and/or some slimey green filler. No more flat tires, no more patch kits, no more telltale hissing ruining your morning commute or afternoon joyride.

So ... What IS A Tune-Up Anyway?

Here is everything I know about tuning up a bicycle: You need to do it sometimes. And there's lube involved. The end.

So this weekend I went ahead and asked: What IS a tune-up anyway?

"A tune-up is the way I feel about you, except I do it to your bike," Aaron says while rubbing my leg. "It's a heart with a T and two wheels coming out of it." (See explanatory illustration, right.) So a tune-up is basically TLC for your bike, which jiggles around, loosens up, and loses its smooth-like-butter qualities when you burn rubber all over town. Or bounce it down a mountain and drag it through the dusty desert. Or leave it out on the back porch as a pack-rat habitat.

At Sultana Cycles, a tune-up includes lubing up your cables and housing and chain . . . and derailleur pivots . . . and limit screws . . . and anything else that can handle a little Pedro's GO! (our environmentally-friendly, biodegradable, canola-oil based lube -- for sale and available on request!). We will also make sure your hubs, derailleurs, cables, brakes, headset, and bottom bracket are installed correctly and adjusted to avoid any strange rubbings, squeakings, clackings, etc. A detailed inspection ensures all parts are secure and installed appropriately -- so you're not flung unexpectedly face-first into the pavement when your wheel falls off because the quick release is not installed properly. Tires are properly inflated. Chrome is polished. Bolts are tightened. The seat is faced forward again. You ride away happy. A heart with a T and two wheels on the side.

Tune-ups are like Valentine's Day -- maybe you only buy your bike fancy chocolates once a year, but you can still show it love year-round by practicing frequent chain lubrication and proper tire inflation. Tune-ups run about $60 plus parts, but you can get $10 off Aaron's hard labor if you mention this ad! Trust me, it's more fun to ride your bike when it works good.

The RavX DrinkerX

Sultana Cycles encourages people to ride their bicycles . . . well, everywhere. Prescott is super-bike-friendly, and there's no reason not to rely on your bike for your commute to work, to pick up those few things you overlooked on your last trip to the supermarket, or to get some fresh air en route to happy hour on Whiskey Row. That's why we were happy to discover the RavX DrinkerX. No longer are you limited to beverages in plastic bottles!

The RavX DrinkerX is essentially a koozie that attaches to your handlebars. It removes easily with a quick-release bracket and has an integrated belt buckle clip. It fits most cans, cups and bottles, and features a draw-string closure to hold your beverage securely in place. With the RavX DrinkerX, there's no need to interrupt your ritualistic morning stop at Bucky's Bean Bag for a steamy cup of coffee . . . and no reason to pass by The Liquor Barn on Goodwin on your way home.

The Shopkeeper

We recently invited some passersby into the bike shop to check out our spot and enjoy a beverage while seated on an overturned 5-gallon bucket. "I can't sit down," Aaron says with a grin. "I have to stand back here and lean on the counter, because I'm the shopkeeper."

Interestingly, upon the announcement of the opening of Sultana Cycles, I was directed to this article on Outside Online. As it succinctly notes in the title: Angry bike mechanics are going extinct. And that sucks.

Aaron hates this article. "It sounds like a bike snob who wrote that crap," he says. This makes me laugh. Aaron is super-knowledgeable about bicycles and more than willing to propagate both the facts and his opinions. (If there's one thing I've picked up from my bike mechanic husband, it's that disc brakes suck -- especially the ones on my 29-er that have to be re-adjusted every time i gain or lose a pound.) However, he manages to get that across, fairly convincingly, without being angry or looking down his nose. It appears the angry bike mechanic was actually the Dr. Frankenstein who created the Frankenstein's monster* that is the snobbish author.

"Riding a bicycle is supposed to be fun," Aaron continues. "It's more fun to ride a bike that works because it's simple, good quality, and greased up on a regular basis. But it's not about what or where or who you ride with." This is the attitude you will get at Sultana Cycles -- more like a lecture from my dad, who will happily tell you how to do something "the right way," follow up with the but-do-what-you-want-because-I-know-you're-going-to-do-it-anyway remark, laugh, and go about his business. He even attempts to mute the eventual "I told you so" during the repeat lecture after I've done what I wanted to do anyway.

The bottom line: there's a happy medium between pandering and snobbery. We want your bike to be fun and functional. We want you to ask questions and be an informed consumer. And if you still want the clown-bike, we'll build it and send you happily on your way.


*Note the distinction, as the green monster reanimated from dead flesh with screws in his neck is so often mislabeled. Frankenstein is the mad scientist. The monster, tragically, remains nameless.

Redline Metro 9: The Hip Urban Commuter

Sultana Cycles is almost ready for the soft opening in just two days. The shipments came in all on the same day and we came close to drowning in cardboard, newspaper, plastic wrap, and styrofoam peanuts. However, after a busy weekend of Windex, price tags, and a lot of coffee, it's starting to look like a real shop! Aaron put together Sultana Cycles' first bike last week: The Redline Metro 9.

The Metro 9 is a 9-speed commuter bike with a double-butted 4130 cromoly steel frame and straight-leg 4130 cromoly steel fork with eyelets for easy rack installation. The Sram X-5 shifters control an X-5 rear derailleur over a wide range 11-28 cassette. The durable Alex G-200 Aero Rim wheel set is sturdy and reliable for urban commuting. Can you tell I am reading from the brochure? I am confident that someone out there is reading this who understands what a sweet bike the Metro 9 really is.

Here, Aaron adjusts the front brake on the almost-complete masterpiece. (Thankfully I arrived with a clean t-shirt for my husband, who managed to spray green gook all over the bike shop trying to get Flat Attack through the Presta valves -- a messy but useful task in Arizona, where even the most unassuming plants will stick you, and your tubes.)

I took it for a spin around the parking garage and was ready to ride off into the sunset. The bike MOVES -- super smooth and with almost no effort. Aaron and I both added it to our wish list.

This particular Metro 9 only stayed with us a short time before we made our first bicycle sale -- Jim Ledbetter of The Ledbetter Law Firm in Cottonwood (aka My Boss) made the first purchase of a Redline Metro 9 three days before the doors opened!

Naturally, Jim's son Grant was on hand to make fun of his dad on his new bicycle. "That's a road bike," he says, a very distinct and recognizable my-dad-is-a-geek look on his face. "No," Jim retorts, "it's a hip urban commuter bike." (I think he may have stuck his tongue out at Grant and wiggled his hands by his ears too.)

And the crowd of attorneys and legal staff murmured in agreement, as Jim was clearly the picture of hipness. And this bike was clearly suited for someone in a pin-stripe suit with alligator wingtips in the toe clips. Plus, it's a chic shade of conservative navy blue with just a hint of sparkle and the fenders will ensure that Jim never arrives to work with road-spray on his back.

Time Is A-Tickin'

I logged into the website today and the handy-dandy counter reminded me that there are only 12 days left until the doors of Sultana Cycles officially open for business. Egad! So much to do in less than 2 weeks, but we have been working hard. Aaron has been dutifully poring over the catalogs non-stop for the last week trying to develop an inventory. I haven't been quizzing him, but I bet that if he doesn't order exactly what you need, he will certainly know what's available to special order inside out and backwards.

I, on the other hand, have been brushing up on my old-skool-paint skillz (and actually found the spray-painter-function truly useful for the first time in my life) and, with one vital flash of inspiration on my ride over Mingus Mountain on Friday, developed a couple of initial logos for us to work with. This has also taken an immense amount of time but has been an interesting learning experience on how we view the world. It's amazing how divergent our imaginations go, even when we think we've agreed on a concept.

This week: The first order of bikes, parts and accessories goes in! We decide on a logo for the business cards. And we tackle signage -- sure to be riddled with its own challenges on the outside of a historic building.

What's Behind Door #1?

So far, a gorgeous display case, the neon bud light sign, and a single well-loved (and untouchable) Bontrager are all that adorn the future home of Sultana Cycles. But out the door has gone a lot of dust, grime, burnt out light bulbs, and empty beer bottles...

Aaron and I have spent countless hours already cleaning, arranging, chasing down furniture, rearranging, brainstorming, rearranging, debating the merits of slat wall versus grid wall, rearranging ... you get the picture. Hopefully, most of the annoying things are done -- like dealing with the lease, the Department of Revenue, the City of Prescott, the bank, the phone company, etc. So now the fun can begin -- combing through hundreds of pages of bike-parts-magazines to develop an inventory of bicycles and parts! Luckily, Aaron has tons of experience as a bicyclist and mechanic and has kept up to date with the value and functionality of various bicycle parts. I, on the other hand, am useful only for an expert opinion on what is the shiniest.

Want to come by and watch the transformation? We are conveniently located off South Montezuma behind the Arts Prescott Gallery, or follow the neon beacon of the Whiskey Row Alley sign, just opposite the parking garage. Door #1 will be open when we are.

Coming Soon -- July 2009 !!

Sultana Cycles, a retail and service bicycle shop, will open July 2009 -- as the first business located in the alley behind historic Whiskey Row in Prescott, Arizona.

Although a small business in a small-town alley may seem mundane to some, this shop is a ten-year dream in the making for my husband, Aaron Ruda. Aaron grew up on bicycles in the Prescott area and has worked as a bicycle mechanic at various shops in Northern Arizona for the past 10 years. I dug a school photo out of a box in his parents' garage recently -- a gap-toothed ten-year-old with a BMX t-shirt on.

I'll happily note that Aaron has 10 bicycles in the garage, some of which I am not allowed to touch. Road bikes, mountain bikes, BMX bikes ... even a little vintage turquoise deal he's been saving for a someday-daughter. He has years worth of adventures and scars.

In contrast, I learned how to ride a bicycle at the age of 23 while on vacation with my mother. She laughed at my many crashes, but I was happy so long as I had a basket with a toy dog in the front. After crashing Aaron's numerous times, I finally have a single bicycle to call my own -- a shiny blue 29-er -- and am comfortable enough on it to start jumping (small) curbs.

Despite our varied backgrounds, Aaron and I both believe that riding a bicycle should be fun. Yes, it's a piece of machinery that gets you to point B a little bit faster than walking and with a little less GHGs than driving. Yes, it's a tool to get you over the mountain or through the bowls and props to impress the skatepark girls. Yes, it has a function, just like your toothbrush, your salad-shooter, and that piece of rubber you keep in the kitchen drawer for opening jars. But at the end of the ride, get off your bicycle smiling. This is what we hope to share with you.