Mark's blog

These have been hard to get but we just received the first Trek Madone 5.9 with the new Ultregra Di2 electronic shifting. This stuff is so nice and works so well that I'm not sure why you'd want the Dura Ace version. Box stock it is 15.78 lbs w/o pedals. This one is a 54cm and it costs $5099.99. Come by to check it out. I know what you're thinking; I don't need electronic shifting, it's a gimmick, what if the battery dies? One ride and you will be a convert. No more having to trim your front derailleur when you shift at the back.

Trek's New Slash 9 is so named because it is for XC slash DH riding--get it? This is one of the new generation of long-travel trail bikes that can be ridden up the mountain and then descend like a freeride or DH bike. The 9 is the top end of Trek's 3-bike Slash series and sells for $5799. The Slash 8 is $4749 and the Slash 7 is $3699. The Slash 9 seen here has a full SRAM XO drivetrain, a Fox 36 TALAS Kashima fork, a Kashima DRCV Fox RP-3 and a really cool internally-routed Rockshox Reverb Stealth dropper seatpost. Come see it before it's gone.

 Appropriately it was International Women's Day when we received a shipment of women's specific Trek bikes. For the Roadies out there, we received the Lexa S ($999), the Lexa SL ($1299) and the Lexa SLX ($1499). Can't decide between road and trail? Don't because we also received Trek's women's specific dualsport bikes the Neko S ($669) and the Neko SL ($889) which are at home on pavement and gravel paths. If you like the idea of pavement riding for fitness or commuting but the drop bars make your back hurt just looking at them then we have Trek's FX bikes.

Congratulations to Head Mechanic Barry Levoir for his 10 Year Anniversary here at Hardcore Bikes. Ten years ago he was a tattooed kid who wandered in here straight from taking his Barnett's mechanics course. His first bike build took 8 hours but several thousand later he is a lot faster now. Barry keeps the service department running smoothly even in the face of a Groupon onslaught. He can fix any bike and specializes in those tough jobs that no one else can figure out. Need your bike fixed in a hurry? Just bring a 12 year old or older scotch and he'll hook you up.