HARO BIKES

Saracen Clever Mike, Hire bikes, Zell am See, Kaprun, Rothiemurchus......

                          I just want a bike!!!!

At Mikes Bikes we regularly hear this statement/plea. Indeed Mike himself has wanted “just a bike” for over 20 years. What do we mean by this statement? Well, it’s a bike that can fulfil the following criteria:

• Comfortable
• Light
• Maintenance free
• Flat pedals
• Looks good outside the shops
• Build for summer cruising or commuting

It should not be:

• Stiff
• Overly race oriented
• Higher maintenance than a Ferrari
• Be brown
• Have loads of heavy suspension.

There are many solutions, see Graham Shillands Schwinn for an example. Mike has finally found his “bike”, to sit beside the 29er, the carbon Ferrari and the cross bike. Even Jenny could not resist this one! It’s the 2012 Saracen Clever Mike, no this is not a typo, it really is called a “Clever Mike”. In Mikes words “how true”, many other have a differing take on this, and before you suggest it “smart ass Mike”, does not fit on the frame.

So what is so special about it:

• It looks great (check out our facebook for a photo)
• It has and 8 speed rear hub gear Shimano Alfine
• Hydraulic brakes
• Bike wide bars
• Light
• It says clever Mike all over it, and has lots of red anodised bits.

It has now been ridden, and it ideal for all of its intended uses, and is indeed “Just a bike”. We at Mikes Bikes are very sceptical regarding hub gears for mountain bikes, however they make bags of sense for this type of 700c commuter/urban bike, with no maintenance and less need to clean/fettle.

           Rothiemurchus/ Mikes Bikes partnership

Most of  you will be aware that Mikes Bikes run a very large hire fleet from our workshop based at the Myrtlefield workshop. We have held a belief that hire customers should have a high quality holiday experience, and to this end we are delighted to announce that Mikes Bikes will offer a 1^st class hire service from the Pavillion (next to tennis courts) @ Rothiemurchus. After discussion it was agreed that both Rothiemurchus and Mikes Bikes share a common philosophy with regard to tourism and the delivery of a 5 star experience.  From 1^st March 2012, Mikes Bikes at Rothiemurchus will offer a bike hire service designed to meets the needs of all bike tourists from beginners, to enthusiasts.

It has long been Jenny and Mikes opinion, that a customer hiring a bike should be given:

• A clean bike
• The  correct size
• Guidance on bike usage
• Relevant trail advice
• A bike which works!!

Mikes Bikes have based their new centre on centres in Valencia-Spain, Zell am See-Austria, Kaprun-Austria (Aviemore in the Alps) and crucially feedback from the 100s of hire customers we have at Mikes Bikes. All of these resorts have dedicated Hire Centres, where the primary function is supporting the hire customer.

We are very excited with this new partnership and will continue to provide hire and Bike Sales/repairs at Myrtlefield in town.