Conference noted::bicycle

    
    In fact, Palo Alto Cycles (name?), the shop & mail-order place, is
    in Palo Alto.  So that may be a place for good deals.
    
    Alternatives?  I've been pleased with clothing from the
    Performance Bicycle Shop - Their Gore-Tex faced jacket goes for
    $100 or so; their Gore-Tex Century jacket (deluxe, many pockets,
    pieces of velcro, stowable hood, etc., full Gore-Tex covered)
    is now about $150, I believe, but it would be worth it.  That's
    what I use.  Their Polarlite-material clothing (vests, balaklavas,
    hats) are also good.
    
    They do not have an outlet in California, but they are mail-order.
    Maybe you could get a catalog and look at it.  How long will you
    be staying, and when are you coming (did you say?)?
    
    -john

    
    PS: The Performance Gore-Tex jacket has an extra pair of
    zippers for zipping in something like their (aforementioned)
    Polarlite vest.
    
    -john

    Alan,          
         I am just back in the UK from six weeks on the west coast
    visiting family. Performance have an outlet in Santa Monica (Los
    Angeles). I bought quite a lot of cycling goods while on my visit
    but mostly from Helens Bicycle shop (also LA) in their annual sale.
    These included  Bellweather goretex over-trousers $30 (pre sale
    $85) Bellweather goretex fronted thermal cycling tights also $30
    (pre sale $90) and various cycle components shoes etc. The savings
    even outwith the sales are tremendous. 
    
    I recommend the top of the line Performance century jacket except
    on colour. I previously owned one but got rid of it in favour of
    a UK manufactured (Freestyle) jacket which came in Flou yellow.
    The price of the Freestyle is 99 pounds so the savings aren't too
    great on the jacket. One item I really recommend (not available
    yet in the UK) is the Vistalite. I picked up three to give to 
    friends. They are a very light ultra-high visability tail light
    that weighs only 3.5 ounces with batteries, works using
    superluminescent LEDs that flash 7 times a second and you can see
    clearly, and I mean CLEARLY for about 1/2 a mile. It costs about
    $15 and if you do any night riding it really is an essential buy.
    
    Enjoy your trip

    
    	Performance DOES have an outlet very close to Palo Alto.  It
    is in Redwood City on El Camino Real.  Other shops in the area:
    
    	Wheelsmith             Palo Alto  
    	Palo Alto              Palo Alto
    	Bicycle Outfitter      Los Altos
    	Spectrum	       Sunnyvale
    	Shaw's		       Santa Clara (kind of far from PA, but they
    					    are a good sponsor, so I HAD to 
    					    give them a plug.)
    
        A new place that specializes in discount cycling clothes left
    	flyers on everyone's windshield at one of the earlybird
        criteriums.   I'll see if I can find it.  
    
    
    
    	Contact me, Gary(TPWEST::)Shroyer, or Artie Alvidrez for details
    	and to figure out a ride schedule, loaner bike, etc.   We have
    	a good time Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunch.  The track is open
    	on Saturday mornings and has loaner bikes in some sizes as well.
                                            

If you're at Performance in Redwood City, you may as well stop at 
Chain Reaction.  They have a large selection and often have good 
sales.

Directions:  From P.A. either (1) take El Camino Real North through 
Menlo Park.  OR (2) take 101 north to 84 west.  

Here is a terrible map:


Redwood City
		El Camino			  101
		    |				|
		    |<---Chain Reaction		|
		    |				|
		-----------------------------------
		-----------------------------------  	<-----84
		    |				|
		    |<---Performance		|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|
		    |				|


    DEC Palo Alto --->



Good Luck!  With this map you'll need it!

    You could also try REI.
    
    They have an outlet in Cupertino on Sunnyvale Saratoga, Deanza BLVD
    exit on block north of 280 on left. This is the intersection of
    Homestead I think. 
    
    They are an outdoors type outlet with camping and hiking stuff, and a
    bunch of bike stuff.
    
    JC

    Performance also has an outlet in Fountain Valley on Warner, just
    off the San Diego Fwy.
    
    And there are 3 other really neat bikeshops within a block, just east
    on Warner, as well as Suspension Eyewear.
    
    ed

    
    .3 & .7
    
    	The shops in L.A. are probably great, but they would be a good six 
    hours drive from Palo Alto.

    One Palo Alto shop not yet mentioned is the North Face Outlet store on
    Alma, just north of SRC and WRL.  The carry a wide variety of outdoor
    gear and clothing, including wind and rain shells.  Some are cut for
    cyclists, with long tails and reflective stripes.  Prices are very low,
    though some of the stuff is not the best quality (defective, returns,
    etc.).
    
    Ken
    

Thanks for all the pointers.

   In the end I made it along to Performance in Redwood on Wednesday evening.
Maybe California isn't the place to get Gore-Tex suits. They only had the
Century in XS - marked down to $69 mind you ! So I ended up buying shorts
and various shirts, and one of those new-fangled featherweight helmets
(Vetta Corsalite). The prices in dollars were about what I would expect to
pay in my usual (notoriously expensive) shop here, in pounds. I reckon I
could buy a titanium frameset in the US and pay for the trip with the
savings :-)

---Alan

p.s. Summer in February ? What a neat idea !

    The Performance store in Redwood City is often out of stock on just
    about everything I go in there for.  I don't remember the last time I
    actually walked out with everything I went in for.
    
    They always have a good stock of Power Bars, though. 8-} 

     
    Well, it is not the West Coast, but Louis Garneau is located in Newport
    VT, a few miles from the Canadian border.  If you've looked in the
    stores, the stuff is not cheap, but is good quality from what I've
    seen and used.

    66 Main St, Box 755
    Newport, VT  05855
    802-334-5885
    Hours: I believe 8-5 Monday-Friday, Saturday 9-4.  At least that is
    close.

    Apparently, this is where the clothing is assembled and they have an
    outlet store that has 1st and 2nd quality clothing at 40-70% off -
    usually, sometimes more, but it doesn't last long (even though Newport
    is not on the beaten path, unless you live in Canada :-)).  From
    Burlington, about 75 minutes; White River Junction (I-91), probably
    about the same or a bit more.  You can call to find out sale
    percentages and quantity.  
                                   
    Usually:

    Shorts:

    - large boxes of each size (med sells out quickest), 1st
    quality, 50% off - from $60 -> $30 (these are from the elite line or
    equivalent)
    - Seconds (minor defect) or lesser quality ones $12 - $25.

    Jerseys:

    - Long and short sleeve, usually 40-60% off, typically elite quality.

    Jackets:

    - All types (rain, winter, etc), usually 50% off.

    Tights:

    - Thermal lycra, supplex, lycra, etc. 40 - 60% off.

    Polar Fleece:

    - Jackets (full zip, snap-t, half zip), pants, jerseys and casual wear,
    40-70% off.

    Various:

    - Gloves (minimal), booties, leg/arm warmers, hats and such, 40-50%
    off.  This stuff is all minimal in size and quantity, at least now in
    this season.  

    Good times: Early spring for summer wear, Late summer for Winter. 
    After they ship the line, the left-overs will start to fill up the
    outlet store.  Also, you may want to call to find out if the warehouse
    is open.  If so, they can sometimes check if a size runs out in the
    store.

    john

    I went there on my vacation.  The had a bin of purple shorts, 4 panel,
    $12.00 first quality.  Eight panel with a high quality pad were 21.00.
    
    I think the drive from I-91 is not to long.
    
    Good place to check out if you are skiing Jay Peak.
    
    steve

Hi,

I bought some of his stuff in Ottawa.  Although it is not bad, it still needs 
work before being up to snuff with the likes of Pearl Izumi.

When I was at InterBike, I met Louis and told him exactly how I felt: sizes 
are cut smaller than normal, stitching not as smooth as it should be, running
colors.  Initially, I don't think that he liked to hear this but better now
and not when he is folding shop.  It was even tougher hearing it from a fellow
French Canadian whose mother is from the same small town as his mother.

His helmet, though looks like a real winner.

Eric

    ....speaking of Pearl Izumi's (.14).
    
    Does anyone have any recommendations where to find the best selection
    of Pearl Izumi shorts or bibs?  -or-
    
    Does anyone have an "800" number for them. I think they are located
    in Boulder (?).
    
    Ciao,
    
    "Don" Berto'

    Well you might try...(303)938-1700

    Pearl Izumi
    2300 Central Ave
    Boulder, Colorado
    

    ..Thanks for the phone number - they were somewhat helpful and gave
    me a few names of folks along the East coast (US) of who carried
    thier product. I explained that I live and spin in Germany and they
    gave me thier distributor over here. One predictable trouble I see
    looming is the scarity of product in der "Vaterland" und the fact
    that the costs will be highe rthan the US.
                     - so -
    Without having to call a half dozen shops, does anyone know of a 
    shop in the greater Boston area which carries alot of this product?
    (ie. some selection in styles, sizes, color, etc.). I'll probably
    place a phone order if I can find a dealer/deal...
    
    Vielen dank (many thanks),
    
    "Don" Berto'

    	
    	Landry's in Westboro, MA  and Framingham.

    Tried calling Belmont Wheelworks yesterday - busy every time, but 
    I found out that the Cycle Loft in Burlington has Pearl Izumi
    stuff. I'll post their phone number later...
    
    Ed