www.backbaybicycle.com: bikes

W?hat the heck is 650B anyhow? At 27.5”, 650B is a wheel size that measures halfway between a standard 26” wheel and a 29” wheel. The advantages of this “tweener” size is proven 26” wheel frame geometry can be used with this larger wheel size, which gives you big-wheel performance advantages like better stability and improved traction without the big-wheel bike feeling. Think of it as the having the best of both worlds rolled into one phenomenally fun mountain bike.

You’ve never been accused of being high-maintenance. While your friends might fuss over their dry-cleaning and which shirt matches what slacks, you live in blue jeans. Jeans are simple, hassle-free, and they look great with everything. Some people favor fashion over function; you are all about practicality. You are a master of utilitarianism. Does this mean you surround yourself with dull, lifeless, boring things? Of course not. You still expect stellar performance, you just don’t want the fuss that sometimes comes with it.

It’s no big surprise that you chose a Shift series bike; it mirrors your sensibility. When you were shopping for a mountain bike, you did your homework and found that the single-pivot rear suspension technology that the Shift bikes use is a proven, tried-and-true design used by many of the world’s best bike manufacturers. Single-pivot bikes have long been a favorite amongst riders of all levels because they offer great performance with minimal maintenance. Without the hassle of servicing multiple pivot points, you can spend more time riding and less time wrenching.

Just like your favorite pair of blue jeans, your Shift is simple, low maintenance, and supremely comfortable on those long trail rides. Plus, it goes with all your favorite bike clothes. But best of all, it performs like a champ. Just like you’d expect.

Haro Sonix, Shift, Flightline (Sport, Comp, Expert), and Escape Series bicycles are built for moderate to aggressive cross-country riding on a wide range of terrain. This includes technical singletrack, medium climbs and aggressive descents over small natural obstacles like rocks, roots and bumps. For serious riding some of the time and super-fun riding all the time, these machines are hard to beat.

XC Trail tech highlights:
• Hardtail frame or dual suspension with 4.5”-5” of travel
• Balanced climbing and descending capabilities
• Lightweight yet rugged frame construction
• Triple drivetrains with disc or high-performance V-brakes

Our Flightline Series bicycles (2DX, Two, 1DX, One, Intro, and S) are built for easy to moderate riding on bike paths, dirt roads, and trails with minimal technical terrain. Perfect choices for entry-level riders who want to explore the sport of mountain biking without breaking the bank.

XC Sport tech highlights:
• 60-100mm of fork travel
• Knobby tires for off-road traction
• Sturdy frame construction
• Intuitive, easy-to-learn shifting

Right down the street from the Haro headquarters in Southern California, there’s a small patch of land undergoing a radical transformation. Not long ago, the hills were peppered with coastal sage, granite boulders, and ribbons of singletrack trails. On any given day, you’d see other mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers enjoying this local gem. Sometimes you’d even find yourself dodging coyotes, rabbits, horned lizards, and rattlesnakes.

Locals called this network of trails “Flightline” since it sits under the flight path of a regional airport. Barely a five minute ride from the doors of the Haro office, the Flightline trails were where just about every mountain bike in the Haro line was tested and perfected. It was a “proving ground” right in our own front yard where prototypes could be ridden within moments of receiving them.

Now, the Flightline hills are buzzing with bulldozers, dump trucks, and a variety of other heavy earth-moving vehicles doing what they do best—moving dirt to make way for future development. The sagebrush has been scrubbed away leaving only naked exposed earth embossed with bulldozer tracks. The trails have been removed from the hillsides like an eraser wipes off words from a chalkboard. It won’t be long before these hills are covered with industrial parks and houses.

With the demise of this fantastic little network of trails, it seemed a fitting tribute to name our introductory bike series after the place where most all of our mountain bikes got their not-so-humble beginnings. Whether you’re looking to simply ride for fitness on your local bike path or ride to get dirty on your favorite trail, the Flightline Series is your ticket to getting your own two-wheeled adventure underway.

Dirt. Since most of our bikes are designed to be ridden on dirt, we’ve devoted a little time talking about it. However, man cannot live on dirt alone. Sometimes you have to venture off the beaten path into more civilized territory. You know, take the off ramp from the country road that goes into the city.

Hardcore mountain bikers might tell you that one of the reasons they have a mountain bike is because there’s nowhere to ride in the city. So they load their bikes into their cars and head for the hills in search of dirt. We say it doesn't have to be that difficult. There are plenty of places to ride right outside your front door if you know where to look. Your neighborhood is teeming with possibilities. Ever wondered where that side road down the street from you goes? Hop on your bike and see for yourself. You’ve also heard that there’s a nice bike path down at your local park. Why walk it when you can bike it? You’ll see more, go further, and have more fun doing it. Tired of high gas prices and want to do your part to “go green”? What better way to take one more car off the road than by riding your bicycle to work.

There’s an entire asphalt jungle out there just waiting to be explored. Every successful adventure starts with the right equipment. Haro’s line of Asphalt bikes will get you on your way. Lightweight alloy frames are a breeze to pedal and they resist rust. High-pressure tires with a smooth tread zip over paved surfaces with ease. Seats, grips, handlebars, and stems are handpicked to ensure comfort without compromising performance.

There’s an adventure waiting in your own neighborhood. And you don’t even need to get dirty to experience it.

****************************************************************************************

You’re a creature of habit; you’ve got daily rituals in place that help you make the most out of your busy schedule. Exercise is one of your regular rituals. Nothing makes you feel better than getting outside and doing something that makes you sweat and gets your blood flowing. It’s almost like a powerful drug…it gives you more energy than you know what to do with and makes you feel alive. Saturday mornings are your self-designated bike days. At about 9am, you load your bike onto your car and drive to the lake to ride the bike path. You enjoy riding the bike path since you only have to worry about occasionally dodging joggers and other people on bikes instead of cars. The path winds all the way around the lake; if you ride the entire loop, it’s about 7 miles. It’s mostly flat with a few little rolling hills, but if you ride it at a good clip, you get a good workout. And if you’re really feeling good (or maybe you just ate that extra piece of cheesecake the night before), you’ll do the loop twice. Sounds like a long time to be on a bicycle, but when your bike is as comfortable as your Heartland, it’s no problem. It’s made of lightweight aluminum, so there’s no extra weight to rob your energy. It’s outfitted with a cushy seat, a front suspension fork to soak up all the bumps in the road, and has a comfortable, upright riding position. As you unload your bike, you take a deep breath of fresh air and look around you. It’s warm and sunny. The birds are happily singing in the trees. There are ducks floating lazily on the lake. You smile. Today is going to be a two-loop day for sure.

Start your own fitness ritual. If winding roads and city streets are your playground, check out a Heartland Express or Heartland Express LE. Or, if bike paths and dirt trails are more your speed, try a Heartland, Heartland DLX, or Heartland LTD. Exercise has never been more enjoyable.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

****************************************************************************************

************************************************************************************************

**********************************************************************************************

*****************************************************************************************

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------