With our new website, we’ve also made the feet-first plunge into social media. We may not be online socialites like Tim Jackson of Masi or a Twitter powerhouse like Carlton Reid, but we know these new marketing avenues are something pretty powerful.

So, we have expanded our online offering by letting you comment, participate, and oogle at everything Renaissance.  Here are some of the ways we have tapped into (or rather plugged into) social media:

• Two Blogs: News and Shop Talk — www.renaissancebicycles.com/feed
• Facebook — www.facebook.com/pages/Renaissance-Bicycles/61423788218
• Twitter — www.twitter.com/renaissancebike

Sure some of the content is redundant, but we are trying to get the word out about renaissancing vintage bikes.  In defining our niche, we some times purposely overlap our interests and audiences … which can be redundant.

Of course, the power of social media is really with you, dear reader.  So help us by spreading / Facebooking / Twittering / Picasa-ing the good word about Renaissance Bicycles!

We are pleased to announce our latest partnership with the legendary Rivendell Bicycle Works!

Rivendell is regarded the world-over as one of the premier small manufacturers of quality bicycle frames.  Their attention – nay obsession – to details, and their determination to swim against the mainstream conventions has led to some of the most beloved bicycles of our time … the Quickbeam, the Atlantis, the A.H. Hilsen to name a few.

For 2009, Rivendell and a few select dealers (including Renaissance Bicycles) will sell their newest country bikes, the Sam Hillborne and Betty Foy.  Both models sell for $1000 and include a pre-installed bottom bracket and headset, along with a 27.2 seatpost.

Early predictions have these selling out before their availability in mid-March.  Fortunately, Renaissance Bicycles has already secured a full helping of frame sizes in both models.  Simply contact us to reserve yours … and Spring time will be all that more sweet on your new ride from Rivendell.

Welcome to another new feature of Renaissance Website 2.0!

The purpose of the Shop Talk section is to share some of the technical processes that go into creating a truly renaissanced bicycle.  In other words, if you want to create a retro-mod bicycle, there are some specific technical pieces that need to first be addressed.

Over the next few weeks / months / years, we hope to share some of our experise with you.  Here are some of the topics (not necessarily in this order) that we intend to cover:

• Frame spacing
• Frame Saver … Helpful or Headache?
• Upgrading downtube shifters to modern brake / lever shifting.
• What frame characteristics make for good “renaissancing”?
• Online technical cycling resources
• Converting a 1″ threaded fork to a modern threadless stem.
• Adapting recessed brakes to a frame intended for traditional nutted brakes.

(If you are looking for advice on basic bike repair, please visit our friends at BicycleTutor.com)

If you have other topics of interest, please leave a comment or Contact Us with your suggestion.

Happy Renaissancing!

Along with renaissancing bicycles, we have also renaissanced our website!

We made good use out of our original website, but it was time to update to the latest web functionality.  Our new website now includes:

• Google Checkout with an active Shopping Cart function.
• Two blogs:  News (for the latest updates) and Shop Talk (for technical articles about upgrading vintage bikes).
• A Gallery for sharing and displaying bicycle related images / photography (aka bike porn).
• Reader Comments.

Our goal was to improve the user experience for shopping, blogging / commenting, and gallery viewing.  Alan Barnard, of Barnar[D]esign and EcoVelo fame, deserves all of the credit.  He was able to bring his original design concept to fruition, all the while incorporating all of our nit-picky needs.  Thanks again, Alan!

We are very pleased, and we hope that you are too.  We will work diligently over the next few weeks to fill out all of our content … after all a website is always a work in progress.  If you run into any speedbumps while perusing the site, please Contact Us.

Thanks again and welcome to the new Renaissance Bicycles 2.0 website!