Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show

On January 25th and 26th Country Squirrel Outfitters participated in the Greater Olean Area Outdoor & Rec Sports Show in Olean, New York.  This was the fifth year for the event, which is hosted by the Olean Chamber of Commerce and is held at the Good Times of Olean Events Center.  The show featured 40 vendors and was attended by over 2,200 visitors.  Country Squirrel Outfitters offered free snowshoe demos as well as kayak, snowshoe, cycling, climbing and PA Wilds visitor information.

Schwinn vs Schwinn Signature Series

Schwinn Stingray advertisement from 1963

We’ve probably all heard of the bicycle brand name “Schwinn.”  If you didn’t have one when you were a kid, then you probably knew someone who did.  After all, we’re talking about a company that started manufacturing bikes in 1895.  The Schwinn brand was a staple and industry leader for much of the 20^th century.  Models such as the Stingray, Continental, Varsity, and World were around for decades and many of us have probably pedaled one of these in our lifetime.  As with many companies, Schwinn fell on hard times and eventually went bankrupt in 2001.  The Schwinn brand was eventually purchased by Dorel Industries and is alive and well again today.

Currently the Schwinn brand is divided into two different markets.  Schwinn bicycles are sold at larger retailer stores.  These are the mass produced Schwinn bikes that are sold at stores such as; Walmart, K-mart, Sears, Toys R Us, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Dunhams and other larger chain stores.  Schwinn bikes typically have a lower price point (some starting at about $100) and are available for the entry level or casual rider.  The second category available under the Schwinn brand name is the "Schwinn Signature Series."  Schwinn Signature bikes are only available at independent bike dealers.  This is where Country Squirrel Outfitters comes in.  Schwinn Signature bikes are one of the bike brands that we offer through CSO.  Schwinn Signature bikes are suited more for the experienced rider and have a little higher price point (ranging from about $300 to $1,500).  Walmart (and other mass retailers) that sell Schwinn bikes are not able to sell the Signature Series bikes.  Likewise, independent bike dealers that sell Schwinn Signature Series bikes are not able to sell the entry level Schwinn bikes.  What this means is that you will not be able to purchase a Schwinn Signature Series Voyager bike at Target.  Likewise, you will not be able to purchase a Schwinn Merge bike at Country Squirrel Outfitters. 

So what makes a Schwinn Signature Series bike different than a regular Schwinn?  It’s all in the components and materials.  Lower end bikes will sometimes be produced using materials such as steel or plastic where Signature Series bikes utilize aluminum or stainless steel.  Signature Series bikes usually have higher quality (lighter weight and more durable) components (shifters, brakes, wheels, tires, cranks, etc.)  These differences might not even be noticeable unless you are a gear junkie (like us) and you know the difference between Shimano Alivio shifters and Shimano XTR shifters and know that there is about a $220 price difference between those two shifters.  So how do you know the difference between a Signature Series and a regular Schwinn?  Aside from the differences in components, Schwinn Signature Series bikes will be clearly labeled somewhere on the frame.

Schwinn makes some great bikes for every level of rider.  They also make many bikes that are great for riding on the Clarion-Little Toby Rails to Trails (or any other bike path type of trail).  For this type of riding, we recommend you check out the “hybrid” or "bike path” collections offered by Schwinn.  If you are interested in a Schwinn bike, stop in and talk to us and we can help you through the process of choosing the right bike for you. 

What is a Fatbike?

2014 Surly Pugsley

Cogburn CB4 in RealTree camo with archery rack.

If you have walked into Country Squirrel Outfitters anytime over the last several months, you probably noticed one of our Surly Pugsley “fatbikes” among the other mountain bikes available.  Usually people ask “what is THIS for?”, while others simply squeeze the big tires, grin, and continue shopping.  Even if you aren’t a bike enthusiast, a fatbike is sure to catch your attention.  So that leads us to the question of “what is a fatbike?”  A fatbike is a mountain bike with oversized wide tires.  Usually the tires are 3.7 inches or wider and are designed for riding on soft, unstable terrain.  Obviously a 4 inch tire won’t fit on just any mountain bike.  These bikes have frames and forks that a specifically designed to accommodate the wider tires.  So why the larger tires?  The wider tire allows you to take your bike in places that you normally wouldn’t be able to take your average mountain bike – mainly, sand and snow.  Although these bikes may have originally been designed for places that are covered in sand and snow, their increase in popularity has caused many riders to venture into other types of terrain and other types of riding conditions.  It has been found that fatbikes actually perform quite well in all types of conditions.  Even those rocky, muddy, leaf littered trails we call single track here on the east coast.  Fatbikes are no longer just for beach bums and Alaskans.  Many people are using fatbikes as their everyday go-to mountain bike.

Fatbikes go beyond being just a mountain bike with wide tires.  Most are equipped with mounting points for racks, bags and other accessories, which allows you to equip your bike for a long adventure into the backcountry.  These bikes have spawned a new subspecies of cyclist.  A cyclist that is not afraid of any type of terrain, rides year round, and needs to carry a lot of gear for their extended trip into the backcountry.  Many fatbike races have popped up around the world.  Most of which are in places like Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin,   Perhaps one of the most demanding is the 1000 mile Iditarod Trail Invitational, which takes place on the famed Iditarod dog sled route in Alaska.  Fatbikes are also appealing to the outdoorsman.  It’s a quiet (compared to an ATV) way to expand your hunting or fishing range.  Bikes like the Cogburn CB4 (pictured above) are designed with the sportsman in mind, come in camouflage colors, and can be accessorized with racks to carry your fishing rod, rifle, shotgun or archery equipment.

Although fatbikes are the most popular type of bicycle on the market today (they are hugely popular in western states and are often sold out at many western bike shops), fatbikes certainly aren’t for everyone.  However, if you are looking for a different type of cycling experience and looking to go beyond what you thought were your cycling limits, then a fatbike might just be the ticket you are looking for.  Fatbikes usually start at around $1,700 and go up from there.  They are now available in different types of materials (steel, aluminum, and carbon) and are available in both 26" and 29" tires.

Fatbikes have been around for a few years now and more and more manufacturers are offering fatbikes.  Country Squirrel Outfitters has a number of fatbikes available (usually through special order) including the Cogburn CB4, Surly Pugsley, Surly Pugsley Ops, Surly Moonlander, and the Charge Cooker Maxi. So, if you are looking for a little bit of cycling adventure in your life, stop in CSO and ask about a fatbike.  

The Value of Shopping Local

Many label “Black Friday” as the official start of the holiday shopping season.  It also seems that the recent trend by many of the “big box stores” (call them what you want; corporate stores, chain stores, department stores, etc.) have started their Black Friday specials long before Black Friday even arrives.  Some have gone as far as offer special deals on Thanksgiving Day.  As you head out to do your holiday shopping this season, I want to remind you of the importance of shopping local.  “Local” doesn’t always mean the store that is closest to your house.  “Local” in this case means the locally owned and independent small business.  Why is this important?  Recent studies have shown that 50 to 70% of the money that you spend at a locally owned and independent small business stays in your community.  If you compare that to local big box stores, that number goes down to around 20 to 30%.  Local big box stores do employ local people, but they typically have their corporate headquarters somewhere else and that is where most of the money goes.  If you compare those numbers to online shopping, the amount of money that stays in your community is about 0%.       

Let’s examine how this all works.  First, let’s explore the locally owned and independent small business.  This business is probably owned by someone who lives in your community, possibly even your neighbor or someone you know. They pay local taxes, just like you do.  The business employs local people.  Small businesses are also more likely to sponsor local events - your son’s little league team, local 5K race, charity benefit dinner, or daughter’s soccer team.  Local small businesses are also more likely to offer products that are made locally, probably even products that are produced by another locally owned small business.  Big box stores aren’t interested in products unless they can get them really cheap and in large quantities.  Small businesses are much more likely to give another enrapture a chance at selling their products.  Local business owners also shop locally and spend their money locally.  They use local services; local garages to maintain their vehicles, local contractors, local lawn services, local barbers and hair stylists and do their banking at the bank on Main Street.  The money you spend at their business is money that will be recycled within your community. 

Now, let’s compare that to the big box store.  Sure, big box stores employ local people (assuming you have a big box store in your community), but that is really where the local process stops.  Big box stores buy their products from large global companies.  The products are often shipped in from overseas where they are made in foreign countries.  Any profit that the big box store makes is sent to corporate headquarters and out of your community.  Many large companies are given tax incentives (sometimes tax free) to locate their business in your community.  They are likely not paying the same local taxes as you or the local small businesses are paying.   Big box stores rarely sponsor local community events, local organizations or provide donations to local civic organizations.  When was the last time Walmart, Target, K-Mart or Home Depot sponsored your son’s Little League team? Specialty services (contract work) is usually handled by a specific company that handles those services for the big box store at a national level.  The vast majority of the money you spend at the big box store is not staying in your community.  It is going somewhere else.

Lastly, we have online shopping.  This topic is somewhat subjective since most companies, even small businesses, have websites and an online presence.  Again, I’m focusing this discussion more toward the big box stores and larger web-only stores.  Sure, it is convenient to shop at home and have items shipped to your door - especially if the store happens to offer free shipping.  But where is that dollar that you spent really going?  The online store isn’t employing anyone you know or anyone from your community.  The online store isn’t paying any local taxes (heck, you don’t even have to pay a sales tax in most cases) so your community isn’t generating any revenue from your purchase.  The online store isn’t hiring any local contractors, buying any groceries from the local market or getting their hair cut at the local barber.  In most cases, as soon as you click that “buy” button on your computer, the money you spent is gone from your community forever.  It might even be leaving the Country.

I do understand that not everything you need and certainly not everything you want can be obtained locally.  I’m not saying that you should only shop at local small independently owned business and that you can’t shop online or that you shouldn’t shop at big box stores.  I understand that sometimes those are the only places that you can get the items or services that you need or want.  However, what I am asking of you is that you consider your community when making purchases and that you make smart purchases.  Saving a dollar by shopping online or at the big box store might keep an extra dollar in your wallet when you make that purchase, but what you are doing is taking a dollar away from your friends and neighbors.  It’s no secret that shopping at big box stores or online shopping is cheaper than shopping local (small businesses don’t have the luxury of buying huge quantities to receive big wholesale quantity discounts), but what big box stores and online shopping stores can’t do is provide the outstanding level of customer service that local small businesses can provide.

 As most of you know, one facet of our business is a bicycle repair shop.  Often we get visitors that are about to go on a bike ride and realize that their tire is flat or their brakes are squeaking.  They come into our store and ask to use the air pump or ask for assistance adjusting their brakes.  We are happy to assist, and in the case of something minor like that, we don’t charge for those services.  We’re just happy to be able to assist in getting you back on your bike so you can enjoy the ride.  Now, I ask you.  When was the last time Amazon or Walmart helped you put air in your tires or adjusted your squeaky brakes?  If the trend of save a buck by shopping big and shopping online continues, you are going to see small businesses disappear from your community.  Sooner or later you are going to need air in your tires or need your brakes adjusted and there is going to be no one there to do it for you.  This holds true for all small businesses, regardless of what services or items they offer.  If you don’t help them, sooner or later you are going to need a service or item and they won’t be there.   Keep your hard-earned dollars in your community by shopping local this holiday season.                   

Philly Bike Expo

(CSO owners, Miranda and Steve, with CSO Bike Mechanic, Jason, at the Philly Bike Expo) 

On November 9^th and 10^th the CSO crew attended the Philly Bike Expo in Philadelphia, PA.  The Expo, in its 4^th year, is a celebration of all things cycling.  The two day event includes vendor displays, educational seminars, and even a few organized rides.  Seminar topics discussed included gear for bike touring, how to build your own bike, yoga for cyclists and more.  The vendor display area was a great showcase of many small custom bike frame builders as well as larger companies including Surly and Raleigh.  The vast majority of the custom bike frames were of steel construction (awesome to see hand-built steel frames making a comeback and gaining in popularity). There were also many cycling accessories (bags, saddles, clothing, helmets, etc.) on display and for sale.  The Expo also included a vintage Schwinn bike display, including a bike that participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics.  CSO  had an awesome weekend at the Philly Bike Expo and we greatly enjoyed seeing so many bikes and discussing bikes with man fellow cyclists that are just as passionate about bicycles as we are.