White Industries Urban Platform Pedals with Tapered Spindles Are Foxy on Your Fixie

Take a look at the White Industries tapered stainless steel extra-foxy spindles on their newer Urban Platform pedal. No more meowing about your fat work shoes hanging off of your teeny track pedal platforms. It was kind of hard for me to put these in the case and not straight onto my ride. These pedals are not available in giant quantities, yet. But we do have a black-and-silver set in the glass case if you want to see what the fuss is about, and we will be getting in more pedal sets in silver, hopefully. The CNC'd engineered aluminum platforms, exacting touches, and thoughtful hardware, like sealed-bearing cartridges and brass acorn nuts, make them unique and  pricey. The platforms accept all standard toe clips and single or double toe straps. The tab the you step on to align the pedal with your foot is much wider than most and not easy to miss. The platforms kind of look like an electrical outlet face plates to me when I allow my mind to wander. Check out the photos. (Jump for the gear-head specs.)

(Photos by Wheelgirl.)

Gear-head specs are as follows, as taken from the White Industries website:

• 6061 aluminum platforms


• Sealed cartridge Enduro 1x6901, 1x6801 bearings


• Stainless steel 17-4 tapered spindles


• Brass acorn nuts


• 9/16th x 20  thread per inch


• 309 grams

Ritchey TorqKey Pocket Wrench or Jelly Beans and Sound of Carbon Bars Snapping

During a bike check this Easter Sunday, Cyclist Lee sprang into action by quickly offering his Ritchey TorqKey with a 4mm hex bit. This pocket-sized torque wrench, which fits in the palm of your hand,  worked well during a customary Ritchey carbon handlebar and Ritchey alloy stem check. Torque spec is usually printed on the stem. The TorqKey has one 4mm hex bit and a fixed torque setting of 5 newton meters (5 Nm or 44 inch-pounds), so it works with Ritchey handle bar and stems. When you have tightened a stem face plate bolt to 5 Nm, the wrench clicks, signaling it has topped out, and you can relax knowing you have tightening the stem face plate bolts to manufacturers' spec, and not crushed your carbon handlebars. The alternative, of course, is that under the influence of jelly beans, in a jet-fuel-like sugar coma, you decide arbitrarily to guess what 5 Nm of torque feels like, and with your folding minitool and a few marshmallow chicks for courage, deeply scar or snap your pricey handlebars. We will have the TorqKey at the shop, and you can pick up one for less than a large pizza with two toppings. (Remember we've moved to 1400 San Pablo Ave. between REI and Performance.)

Wheelgirl is Looking for a Few Good Bike Mechanics

If you are an experienced bike mechanic who has put together pricey road bikes for highly discerning (and kind) customers, and you are looking for part-time work this bike season, please send your resume to us. You must also be able to tune-up a faithful 7-speed Stumpjumper or 3-speed Raleigh commuter bike. You must have current bike shop or race mechanic experience with current knowledge of Campagnolo, Shimano, and SRAM bike components to be considered for these positions. That means you have put lots of Campy and Shimano 10-speed drive trains on bikes. Campy 11-speed experience isn't required. Jump to read the particulars of applying.

(Photos lifted from the web.)

The mechanic positions at Wheelgirl are not "learning"
opportunities. We are not able to train you on the job. Slow and steady
can't win this particular race. We need experienced mechanics who can
spin a wrench quickly and accurately. If the service time estimates in
Barnett's is business as usual for you, make sure to apply. If you have
built over 50 wheel sets from scratch, make sure to apply. We will need
you to work weekend as well as week day hours. If you are working at
another bike shop, but have had your hours cut due to the sluggish
economy, feel free to apply. We are flexible with scheduling. And we
will allow you mainline unflavored coffee all day, every day.

When you send your resume via email, (service@wheelgirl.com) please type or cut and paste your resume directly into the email. We won't open any attachments,
so please don't attach your resume to the email (computer virus stuff,
etc.) Show me the money, you say! Your hourly wage depends on your
experience, accuracy, speed, and references. You get what you pay for,
and we are happy to pay for the skill sets we need. Please put the word
"Part-Time Mechanic" in the subject line.

Note: We will contact
you if your experience appears to be a good match for the positions.
Please do not call the shop. There are many hard workers out of work
these days. These mechanic positions, however, are only going to be
filled by those who have bike shop references. So, please do not email
your resume unless you have current bike shop or race mechanic
experience. Thanks for reading.

*Remember: We are now located at 1400 San Pablo Ave. between REI and Performance.

Wheelgirl Moving to 1400 San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley Starting April 11

Loyal customers and cats who like to look at gorgeous bits of machined metal alloy bike jewelry that glimmers in the spring-time sunshine, we've moved to 1400 San Pablo Ave. We'll be on Spring hours starting April 11, 2009 (11am-6pm). The Wheelgirl custom bike shop is now located smack dab between REI and Performance. (Wheelgirl is located 161 feet from the front doors of REI and 1 block from Performance.)

While re-modeling the space, we've meet super nice and welcoming employees from both the REI and Performance bike shops. You want to know where the bike love is? Get yourself over to San Pablo Ave. in Berkeley. Did I hear someone say MTV bike freak block party every weekend in Berkeley?!