The Golden Wrench

A blog about bicycle repair and maintenance by the mechanics at Freewheel Bike.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

The most wonderful time of the year!!!!

Hey Friends!
 Winter is heading our way and the means shorter days, dropping temperatures and of courses the world famous Freewheel Bike Winter Overhaul Special!!!!!!! 
We take our Golden Wrench Overhaul regularly priced at $240 and slash it down to $120! That is a crazy deep discount.  The Golden Wrench Overhaul includes truing the wheels, overhauling the bottom bracket and hubs, cleaning the drive-train, installing any parts, adjusting gears and brakes, tapping bars and more.(parts not included) The special starts on October 1st and runs till January 1st. Act now before it's too late. 

Monday, August 14, 2017

get some class at Freewheel Bike

Hey lovely bicycle rider!!!
There are still spots open for the Bicycle Tune Up class this Saturday from 10am-2pm at Freewheel Midtown. This class is perfect for new and experienced riders. You get to work on your own bike at the Freewheel's DIY shop, cost is $100 and will go over brakes, gears, tries, drive-train upkeep and much more. Take your bicycle education in you own hands sign up now before the last spots fill up!



Friday, August 11, 2017

Get a clean buttery drive-train

Nothing is better than having a clean drive-train on a bicycle. When the chain, cassette and crank are clean the bike rides like butter. Now is your chance to learn how to overhaul your own drive-train at freewheel Midtown on Saturday the 26th of August. Cost is only $100 for this four hour class. Come with a dirty bike and leave with a buttery bike!!!!





Monday, August 7, 2017

The best bike I've ever owned


I've owned a lot of bikes in my life from ranging in style from mountain to road, hybrid and even fixie. Out of all those bikes, there is one that holds a special place in my heart. This bike is nothing special, just an Orange steel single speed that I named Star-buck after a character from Battle-star Galactia.  I've ridden Star-buck in the rain, the snow, the heat and the wind.  I've ridden Star-buck up hills and down mountains. Together, we have zipped wildly thorough busy Manhattan street, traversed down country roads and lazily followed the Mississippi river. Star-buck has seen me at my best and worst: cross country moves, broken collar bones, brake ups, the makings of new friendships and new lives. All this time, my little orange Star-buck has been by my side. I've never owned a bike that made me feel more alive and happy. When I am riding Star-buck, I feel like a biker. 


Wednesday, August 2, 2017

tune up class!!!!

Still a few spots open for the Tune up class this Saturday the 5th!!!!!!

Thursday, July 6, 2017

spots still open!!!

Hey All!
Just a heads up, spots are still open for the Tune up class at Freewheel Midtown. sign up here for this awesome hour class. 

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

joke of the day!

Q. How many bicycle mechanics does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A. 3, one to screw in the bulb and 2 to debate whether is it English or Italian threading.

Monday, June 26, 2017

DIY Shop up and running!!!!

Attention all Do it yourselfers!!!!
 Freewheel Bike located in the midtown bike center right off the Greenway just opened up it's DYI shop!!!



 $16 an hour get you access to a full range of bicycle specific tools, along with lubricants, solvents, cleaners, truing stands, torque wrenches and vises! 
Every thing a mechanic needs to get your two wheel steed up and ruining.
Keep in mind that this is a do-it-yourself area, there will be no professional mechanical assistance given. We do, however, offer various classes ranging from the simply flat fix to the complex overhaul of bearing systems.


So come on by the Midtown bike center and get your hands dirty!

Monday, May 29, 2017

So Much Class!!!!!


Here at Freewheel Bike we pride ourselves on having an overabundance of class!
Starting next month you too can have as much class as your friendly neighborhood bike shop.

Tune Up Class
Thursday  June 15th from 5pm-9pm
Saturday June 17th from 10am-2pm
Saturday June 24th from 9am-1pm

Drive Train Overhaul Class
Thursday June 22nd from 5pm-9pm

Wheel Building Class
Saturday June 24th from 1pm-6pm




Friday, January 27, 2017

4 DAYS LEFT!!!!!!!!

Hey All!!!!!
Just a heads up, only 4 days left to take advantage of Freewheel Bikes' Winter Overhaul Special! Now until the end of the month our Golden Wrench Overhaul is cut in half from $240 down to $120!!! 

Those prices are so low it would be insane not to bring in your bike. 


Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Keeping up with your chain

Hey Dudes!!!
Just a reminder to change your chain regularly otherwise this might happen to you.
This is a chaining from one of the Freewheel employees who attempted to get through the winter on  his chain, however, the winter have other plans. As you can see, those teeth are worn down to the nub. 
As a chain wears, it will wear out the teeth on chain ring, This can be prevented by simply changing your chain regulatory.
So don't let this happen to you!!!! 
Come on by Freewheel and have your chain checked by one of our skilled mechanics.  



Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Overhaul class

Hey All!!!!
Just a reminder that there are still some spots open for this Sundays Bicycle Overhaul class from 10am-2pm. This is a 2 week class, the first week we will be going over drive-train disassemble, cleaning and resembling. The following week we will dive into hub, bottom bracket and headset overhaul. Take both classes or just one by emailing alex.modic@freewheelbike.com.

Monday, January 2, 2017

First class of the year

Start your year off with a Basic tune up class at Freewheel bike. Still a few spots open for Sunday January 8th. This class goes over brakes, gears, wheel truing and more!!!


Friday, December 16, 2016

Sunday Class

Hey All!!!!!
Still one spot open for our Bicycle Tune Up Class this Sunday at Freewheel midtown. The temperature may be falling but come let your bike knowledge soar this Sunday, hurry up before time runs out!!!!!


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Winter Overhaul Special (Winter is coming!!!!)



The white walkers are on the move, the king of the north has been crown and Freewheel has started its Winter Overhaul Special.


 Our tune up packages have been slash. The Golden Wrench Tune-up plus normally $140, is now $100 and our Golden Wrench Overhaul normally $240 is now only $120!!!!  That's $120 for a complete overhaul of your bike not including parts. Stop by any of the three Freewheel locations to get your bike ready for winter riding or as a finale once over before retiring your faithful steed for the year. 

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Freewheel University

 Get ready for the fall by signing up for Freewheel University. Freewheel U is a three week bicycle mechanic course that will go over everything you need to know in order to be the master of your bicycle. The first week October 9th will go over the basics, brakes, gears, wheel and drive-train. This will be followed by the Bicycle Overhaul class on October 16th and 23rd. The overhaul class will dive deeper into the hubs, headset and bottom bracket along with a full overhaul of the drive train! sign up now before its too late.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Sunday class

Still spots open for the class on Sunday. sign up here. Also, plenty of slots open on the 28th

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Rock and Roll

 With all that's going on in the world today, it's good to just know that this exists.


                                         
ROCK AND ROLL LITTLE MAN!!!!!!!

Friday, July 29, 2016

Tune up class

Hey All!!! There are still slots open for the Bicycle Tune Up class this Sunday at 10 am at Freewheel midtown. Sign up now before its too late.


Saturday, July 23, 2016

New Mural

Hey all!! Come by freewheel and check out the new Mural. I't not done yet, but the painter has been working really hard on it and I think it's looking really cool.
Come on by and tell us what you think!!!!!!

Monday, July 18, 2016

New Summer Classes

Summer is in full swing so what better time to get your learn on with some Freewheel Bike tune up classes. I just up some classes up on the schedule and I'm supper excited.


First we have the  Bicycle Tune Up Class on July 31st and Aug 7th this class with give you a basic understanding of how to maintain your bike. Next is the Bicycle Overhaul Class. This class will make you the envy of your group ride, one week you'll overhaul your drive train the next you dive into the hubs, headset and bottom bracket. Sign up today before the classes fill up.

Monday, June 13, 2016

Tune Up Class

Still one spot open for the tune up class on Sunday the 19th. Sign up here.

Bad Joke of the day

Question:What is the difference between a Congressman in tuxedo riding a bicycle and a farmer in overalls riding a tricycle?

Answer :Attire

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Bike class and Selfies!

Had a great seminar on bike repair last week with Awesome turn out at Midtown Freewheel Bike Center!!!!!! Over 60 people from Allina Health crammed into a small room to hear me pontificate about bike repair. Thanks to all the people who showed up to learn more about bikes. And sorry I made you all take a selfie with me.

Monday, May 30, 2016

School Is In

Hey all! There are still spots open for the Bicycle Overhaul Class starting this Sunday. This two week course covers bottom bracket, head set and hub overhaul as well as how to completely take off your drive-train, clean it and reinstall. Be the envy of all your friends with the knowledge to work on your own bike. Sign up here.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Get Some Class at Freewheel

There's still time to sign up for Freewheel's famous Drive-Train Overhaul class. In this class you'll learn how to take apart you entire drive-train, clean it and properly assembly it back on the bike. Class is on Sunday, March 20th from 10am-2pm at the Midtown bike center. Come get your hands dirty.



Thursday, March 17, 2016

Notes from a Wrench: Caffeine and Bike grease

This week a member of Freewheel Bike decided to order some brand new cold coffee drinks to sell to costumers. We put the 12 illy brand cafe iced coffee cans in the front cooler along side the Coca-Cola and Power-Aid ready for the public.
Sure enough, two days later the mechanics in the back had consumed every last one. Just goes to show you that if you wish to bribe a bicycle mechanic nothing works better than beer or coffee.
And that's the way it spins
Email me at alex.modic@freewheelbike.com

Friday, March 4, 2016

Notes from a Wrench: Magnets!!!!!

Our friends at Zipp have come out with a brand new spin (pun intended) on free-hub bodies. I know what you're thinking and no it't not one of those Fabian Cancellara motors. Zipp Wheels have come out with a rear hub body that uses magnets to eliminate drag. That's right magnets!!!!! And as the philosophers and poets of the Insane Clown Posse once said "Magnets how do they work", the Zipp Cognition rear hub is just as mystifying.

The hub works by "disengaging the ratchet mechanism when coasting" this reduces drag and make the wheel more efficient. And for only $3,800 a set it could be yours. I think the product is too new to really have a proper option on it's future in the bike industry, but I know if you don't like the hub you can always hang it up on your refrigerate with your kid's homework. But like Moonpies and the inter-web, I think this is going to be a game changer. Check out the hub online and tell us what you think.

And that's the way it spins
Email me at alex.modic@freewheelbike.com




Monday, January 4, 2016

Get Some Class

One week left to sign up for the basic bicycle tune up class. learn brake, gears, tire and much more to keep your faithful steed  up and running. $100 gets you one on one guidance from one of our skilled teacher, along with access to all the top notch tools you'll need. Sign up today before slots are filled up. And don't for get to take a look at all the other classes the Freewheel offers!

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Back To School

One week left to sign up for the basic bicycle tune-up class at Mid-Town Freewheel. Get your learning on and be the envy of your group ride. Only $100, so sign up now before all the slots are filed.