This is Jas.
For the past few days, I’ve been back in the "Mamachari Pit" working on city bikes for the first time in a while.
I have to say, this spot is always interesting. You’ve got a constant stream of repairs coming in, and all the local guys and gals dropping by to chat. I guess it was a bit quieter yesterday and the day before because of the cold, but that gave me time to move forward on bikes we’ve had on order and work on some parts swaps.
First thing in the morning, I started by reassembling a frame that just came back from Cul-t Paint in white.
Since we swapped the handlebars, the brake hose ended up being too short, so I replaced that too. For some reason, when we mechanics at Circles need to bleed hydraulic brakes, we use this mysterious pink handle we call "Pin-Han-chan." I have absolutely no proof of this, but it just feels like it helps get the air out better.
Next up, thanks so much for your patience—the 2018 KONA bikes have been arriving one after another. Here I’m assembling one for a customer who placed an order.
Looking good. The 2018 KONAs. I’ll be sure to introduce this one properly once we deliver it to the customer.
In the middle of the Kona assembly, a Surly Long Haul Trucker frame found a new home. We just did a face-cut for the head tube and handed it over right then and there. It’s a great kid who wants to gather up spare parts he has and try building it up himself. I’d love to see more young folks doing that. Our sister shop, Culture Club, has used parts and a rental pit, so you can dig through the parts and do the assembly right there on the spot.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
And after that, three city bike flat repairs in a row. They always seem to come in waves. It’s strange, isn't it? I wonder why. The cause of the flats is overwhelmingly pinch flats. It’s a type of puncture you can largely prevent by keeping your tires properly inflated, so make sure to keep them pumped up!
One of our regulars uses the pump with practiced ease. We keep a pump out in front of the Mamachari Pit at all times. It's free, so please feel free to use it.
Now that the city bike repairs have settled down, I’m back to assembling another 2018 KONA for a customer. The color looks similar to the one from earlier, but it’s a different model.
Factory-complete bikes arrive about 80% finished, but here at Circles, we take them all the way apart and put them back together again. I mean, look inside the bottom bracket shell—it’s bone dry, no grease at all. We check every single part, apply grease, treat the inside of the frame against rust, and then reassemble. By putting in this extra work and keeping up with regular overhauls, you can enjoy your ride for a whole lot longer.
Lately, we’ve been getting more orders and custom builds for mountain bikes, which makes me happy since I’m our self-appointed MTB guy. I’m planning on hitting the trails hard on my mountain bike again this season—why not come join me? I’m cooking up some fun ideas, so stay tuned!
City bikes, sports bikes, wheelchairs—bring ‘em on. You can drop off your bicycle for repairs at this door. Circles believes in the city bike. We look forward to seeing you.
Greetings from Mamachari Pit!
