Only a few months until CMWC in beautiful Panajachel, Guatemala! Nadir from La Carrera has shown us a number of pictures from the area around the CMWC host city and it looks gorgeous. Although we have taken a lot of time off lately we still were happy to be sponsors of this unique event in 2010.

Check out the CMWC Guatemala website for great up to date information. Lots of helpful info for travelers to Panajachel.

Also during the same two weeks, LA OCHO a new legend will be born with the construction of this amazing track. Look at the CMWC site above for more information.

The Bike Clinic has been providing repairs and accessories for several years on Harbord St., and this winter moved up into a larger location on Bloor St. west of Christie Pits, filling a gap in the bike store distribution on westbound Bloor.

Vinnie and the lads provide excellent tune-ups and other repairs to keep your two-wheeled steed happy, and while you wait you can peruse their refined selection of parts and accessories (including UTW bags, naturally). The Bike Clinic is convenient to pop in on your way from downtown to the west end, and just down the street from Christie Pits Park, a great spot to hang out while your bike is in the shop.

So drop by to get some work done, buy some snazzy add-ons for your ride, or just to check out the cool photography on the walls! Go to The Bike Clinic’s website for location, hours, prices and more!

The TOBMA is throwing it’s First Annual Fundraiser for the BMEF this weekend, beginning tonight!

There will be polo, rides, movies, parties, and general fun and mayhem all weekend! We were very happy to provide some prizes for the events and so were a bunch of other great local companies.

There is so much going on, check it out on the MAYDAY Website and the MAYDAY Facebook Page where all the details are kept and you can see who else is going to be there.

Remember this is for a good cause, if you can’t make it to the fun please consider donating directly to the BMEF at this link. They have assisted several injured Toronto messengers and it is always good karma to give back.

Bicycle Messenger Emergency Fund (BMEF)

We may try to go ourselves, but have been really busy lately with family. That’s why this is the first post we’ve put up in a few months!

Thanks so much to the TOBMA volunteers, their friends and sponsors for making things like this happen, the BMEF can use the support.

We’ve got a special perk-you-up for these dreary days of winter, because spring will be here before we know it, and it’s great to have some fresh gear for the fresh cycling season!

From now until April 15, 2010, purchase any Zenit from us (in-stock or custom order) and receive one FREE Cuft Pant-leg Retainer, OR Cache Mini Pouch OR Shoulder Saviour Strap Pad!

Just mention this promotion, and which item you’d like when you make your purchase, and then wait for your new gear to arrive!

If you are in Toronto tonight find your inner winter winner as this Toronto tradition in Ice racing continues in 2010!

Who will be this years Ice champions? Come out to see at Dufferin Grove Park where you can also enjoy delicious hot chocolate and goodies at the Zamboni Cafe in the clubhouse. Cuddle up to the woodstove if you get chilled from the super spectacular coolness of Icycle racing, meet lots of fun people! Don’t forget to go to the afterparty hosted by the Bike Pirates Yar! Live Music and fun late into the night, come party with these scurvy dogs in the concrete seas of Toronto.

Icycle 2010 Facebook Page

After party @ The Bike Pirates 1292 Bloor West starting @ 10pm. All proceeds go to Charlie’s FreeWheels.

We’re constantly trying out new and different things behind the scenes here at Under The Weather, and lately we’ve been getting into some items that are less cycling-specific.

Of course we’ll always be whole-hearted supporters of cycling in every form, but we recognize that even the most determined cyclist sometimes has to get off the pedals and deserves some stylish, well-crafted bags to carry necessities for the occasion.

In that spirit, we’ve got some new limited edition items available now!

The Clutch: a small purse just the right size to hold what you need on an evening out, or to keep small items from getting lost inside a larger purse.

The Sonia Purse: this leather handbag in a classic style is elegant enough for a fancy occasion, but simple enough to carry with business wear or even jeans. Sized to carry just the right amount of stuff, and perch on your shoulder or carry in your hand equally comfortably.

The Wristlet: A handy-dandy little zip-up bag that slings around your wrist (or hangs off your bike handlebars!) and carries just what you need for a quick run to the store, or can hold all the little things that you transfer from one to another of your larger bags.

You can see the whole selection in the Special Items category. And don’t forget to keep checking that category for other new, unique, and limited edition items!

That’s right, we’ve marked down all our in-stock bags by 50%, even the ones that were already on sale!

We’ll be making a few changes to our bags in the New Year, so we’re giving you this chance to get incredible deals on our current stock to make room for new stock in 2010.

You’ll find them all here.

The sale ends January 9th, so hurry up and grab that bag you’ve been wanting before it disappears!

*Shipping & Handling – We got a message from a prospective customer that our sale isn’t really a value because shipping to the US is so much. Thanks for the email and the chance to clarify, our S&H is a flat rate for all continental North American customers and always has been. For instance; a Heavy Gear very large bag, is $25 Canadian to ship. If in the US you will receive your shipment by UPS in 3-5 days, everywhere else your purchase is sent by The Messengers International overnight and begins the journey by bicycle. All of our goods are handmade in Canada with raw materials purchased in North America and thereby tax-free between the U.S., Canada & Mexico. U.S. customers pay no duty, tax or brokerage fees. If UPS attempts to charge any fee upon delivery please refuse the delivery and we will contend with their error. We pay all brokerage fees in advance of delivery.

Thanks for the input, we’re sorry that your experience shipping with other Canadian businesses may have caused you to draw a similar conclusion regarding our products and service. Shipping to the U.S. from Canada is prohibitively expensive for many, for us it means we pay part of your shipping to offer you a fair rate.

International to Europe, Asia & Australia is a few dollars more but you receive overnight or 2 day service via The Messengers International no matter how far away you are and your purchase begins it’s journey on a bicycle.

Oh, and shipping in Toronto is free & by bicycle if within 12k of downtown, or you can choose to pick it up at a local bike shop!

Happy Holidays to everyone everywhere! We believe our bags a value even when not on sale, but please bargain shoppers take advantage of this sale because our new bags in the new year will be regularly priced. We do not do this everyday or even every year, our bags are each produced by ourselves and to us are not just a commodity we buy low and sell high. See you in 2010!

Yup, it’s got all the details worked out, been tested in the field, and had its portrait taken.

It’s a big bag, intended for those of you who need to carry lots of cargo, from a file box delivery, to all your gear when you travel, to loading up on groceries or doing laundry! We’ve built in lots of sturdy structural elements and details to maximize comfort and convenience while doing all of that, so like all our bags it’s made for long-term heavy duty usage.

Check out all the details right here

Are you in Toronto? Are you looking to get some unique holiday shopping done? Don’t miss the Holiday Marketplace at 401 Richmond Street West!

This great event (now in its 17th year) is a fantastic opportunity to find one of a kind gifts from the 401 Richmond creative community, plus guest artists and artisans, this year including Under The Weather!

You’ll find a huge variety of creations, from natural skin care products to musical instruments to baked goods to bike-themed art. We’ve even gone out of our way to make some special items just for the occasion, like the cards and purses pictured below.

We’ll have lots of great gift-ables in a wide price range (most discounted from our regular website prices!), so if you’re in the city, definitely come check it out!

Admission is free, there’s great food, music and an ATM on site, even a raffle so you could win something from one of the participants just for being there!
Hours: Thurs-Sat Dec 10-12; 11am-8pm: Sun Dec 13; 11am-5pm.
This historic building (voted by NOW magazine 2007 as Toronto’s “Best Free Hangout”) is located just off Spadina Ave., one block south of Queen St. West, so it’s easy to get to and there’s lots of other great shopping in the area too.

See the event website for more details including links to other participants.

Please note our Holiday Shipping deadlines:

Purchases made by December 15 at noon EST will be shipped on the 15th with pre-Christmas delivery.*

Purchases made between noon EST December 15th and noon EST December 21 will be subject to extra shipping charges for pre-Christmas delivery.*

*There may be some exceptions based on location and item(s) purchased. Please include a note with your purchase if you would like to guarantee pre-Christmas delivery.

We will be closed December 16-20, December 23-28, and January 1-4.

Wishing the best of the holiday season to everyone!