Not to be presumptuous, but might we suggest a new year's resolution for some of our cycling brethren? Get some lights and use them. Here at Tip Top we don't want to be finger-wagging curmudgeons but here's our little list for why using lights is a no-brainer:

*They keep moving objects such as cars, other riders, and pedestrians from hitting you. (There's not much to be done about hitting objects at rest other than paying attention).

*All the other movers and shakers out on the street are more likely to stay out of your way which means you're less likely to take anyone out.

*And don't fool yourself: You Are Invisible Without Them.

It's a little list, but a good list we think. Straightforward. Sensible. No nonsense.

Oh yeah, and it's illegal to ride without a front light in California. Cops will stop you. They will give you a ticket. And not a cheap ticket either. So keep your wallet full and your body in one piece. Put some lights on your bike, your bag, your helmet; turn'em on and ride like the wind.

Happy Holidays and keep the rubber side down...

The Tip Top Crew

'Tis the season to be jolly and bright...or something like that. Here at Tip Top, we're putting out as many pretty, shiny holiday goodies as we can get our hands on. So for any of you last minute shoppers (and don't feel guilty... we all do it) our doors are open all weekend and from 12-4 on Christmas Eve.

Here's a tasty sprinkle of what we've got going on:

*funky new Crumpler bags
*zippy and scootable Specialized Hotwalks for the little ones
*chic and functional clothing from Vanderkitten "for women who kick ass" (and the men who dig'em)
*hi-power rechargable lights from Niterider and Knog and Frog of all colors
*a full range of "I Hella Bike Oakland" t-shirts, water bottles, stickers (which are free) and the new arrival "I Hecka Trike Oakland" one-zees and t-shirts for wee riders.

And if you're looking for a gift for the rider who has it all, our very own Derek designed and created some sweet top tube protectors--check them out for the fixie in you life...and you get to support the new daddy; a worthy cause.
JP

Well, as Thanksgiving gobbles its way towards us, our BIG FAT CLEARANCE SALE is making a big dent in our collection of svelte '07 bikes; check our website for current stock.

But you're going to have to wait because we are closed Tuesday as usual, Wednesday because we feel like it, and Thursday because we're eating. See ya Friday.

In other news, we're unveiling our first session of Tip Top Bike Shop classes, FREE and open to the two-wheeled public. Here's what you have to look forward to at our inaugural "Get Home(AKA the basics) " class on Thursday, December 13^th, from 6:00-6:45 p.m.:

"It’s a dark and stormy night. You and your trusty bike are soldiering on through knee deep puddles and doing your best to avoid swerving cars when BOOM. It’s not a lightning strike or a thunderclap. Your front wheel has come to an abrupt stop in a pothole, and your tube has come to an abrupt end. What do you do to get home???!!"
Whether it’s a flat tire or a dropped chain, let us help prepare you to help yourself. Bring your bike and after an hour or so you’ll be the envy of all your friends and know how to:

• Lock your bike up properly so you can ride it home at the end of the day.
• Fix a flat and all the sundry bits and pieces that entails.
• Put your chain back on.

We’ll be happy to work with up to 8 folks and accompanying bikes on a first come first served basis.

Stuff
We just got in a super cool new bike: the Felt Virtue 2. It's a full suspension mountain bike with a unique linkage system that minimizes pedaling bob. It really works! The bike is super well equipped with Full XT, Mavic wheels, quality Fox and RockShox suspension, and at 27.25lbs for 5" of travel it's killer. OK, it's an '07 but we can sell it at a great price and we have it now.
We should also have Felt Cafes very soon too. If you are looking for a comfortable, great looking and smooth performing bicycle: this is it.

Derek made some cool top tube protectors and and we'll have them until they're gone... support the new daddy.

Moving towards the end of the year we'll be breaking out the '08s from Dahon, Felt, and Specialized but before that we need to clear those '07s (plug plug plug). here comes the last weekend of clearance deals, if you've been eye-ing a bike all year now is the time to strike.

Ride On

Good god damn I forgot about this thing. A year later and Tip Top Bike Shop EXISTS. Here we are in the Temescal neighborhood of northern Oakland and have been for near 3/4s of a year. We do have the quality bikes and bike goodies we were looking for as well as some extra shiny bits. I am still not completely grouchy and the people who work with us are very friendly. Also friendly are the people who live and work around here; they are the secret to our success--for without them we would be nothing. So we can call Tip Top Bike Shop a real thing and successful in its initial phases.

So I guess I better tell you what we have:
Specialized for road, mountain, cross and urban bikes. We also have tons of cool accessories, helmets, clothes, tires and whatnot from the big S.
Felt supplies more road bikes and stylish cruisers.
Dahon has super cool folding bikes. Forget any misconception about folding bikes riding like squirrelly circus bikes... these are great. As a matter of fact we have the Cadenza and the Matrix which, honest to goodness, looks almost exactly like standard bikes. And of course you can take them on BART at any time including rush hours; or toss it in your trunk, closet, or any other place where there isn't normally enough room for a bike.
And if you want something extra special Titus is holding down the high end.
If you love your bike, lock it up with a Kryptonite, of which we have a bunch.
And carry your lock and lunch in a groovy Crumpler or Banjo Brothers bag.
Planet Bike and Knog light our way with bright, inexpensive lites.

And the goodies don't end there. So come on down and check out the whole shebang. We might even have some cookies to share (if not, Bakesale Betty is just down the street).

Tip Top Bike Shop
4800a Telegraph Avenue,
Oakland, CA 94609
510-444-4148
top@tiptopbikeshop.com
tiptopbikeshop.com