Blog

From skis to ski gear. From service to bootfittings. We've got you covered for the mtn adventures ahead! Let's make this winter one to remember! But first, start here.... 

1. Gear Up: Get on the mountain this year in with a new setup! Upgrading your gear will get you in the latest technology ultimately making for a better day on the mountain. Plus our team can direct you to the best fit for your style. Skis, googles, softgoods, poles, gloves, helmets we've got you covered for all of your winter needs. Psst.... new 2025 Skis are in stock and ready to rip!
2. Bootfittings + Guarantee: Did you know that all boots purchased and fitted at the shop receive free follow up fittings and adjustments for the first year you own the boots? Plus our online appointment system makes it so you never need to wait in line. Make a bootfitting appointment (or follow up adjustment) online and we will get you in a boot and out the door. Book bootfitting.
3. Ski Service: Dust off those skis and check your ski gear. Bringing

Wish that early season trail was a bit more cleaned up? Well, get to foot raking!

On Tuesday, June 27 the shop will be closed due to our parking lot being repaved. While we never like to close the shop, being open when repaving is happening is a very unpleasant experience for both our employees and customers... trust us, we've tried.

Thank you for your understanding! We will reopen with regular hours on Wednesday, June 28.

In celebration of the 4th of July, the shop will also be closed on Tuesday, July 4. Ski, paddle, pedal, there are so many options in Tahoe this year, we hope you can get outside and enjoy the holiday too! We will reopen on Wednesday, July 5 with regular hours.

Join our first women's group ride of the season on Wednesday, June 7! Meet at the shop at 5 pm and roll-out shortly after. The group will head to the Jackass Trail network with details discussed before the ride. Afterward, head to Donner Creek Brewing for a drink, located in the same parking lot as Start Haus.

A huge shout-out to Truckee Dirt Union for all of the work they put into our local trails. Support the non-profit by donating via their website or volunteering during one of their dig days. 

Welcome back to our Basic Bike Maintenance Series! This week we are breaking down another important topic, how to replace your brake pads. Check out the video on our youtube channel HERE.

The first step in this process is determining whether or not your brake pads need to be replaced. It can be difficult to determine wear without having an idea of what a new brake pad looks like, so we recommend purchasing a new set of pads before starting this project. In fact, having an extra set on hand is always a good idea, just in case something goes wrong and you can't get to a shop right away. Just like choosing bike tires, you must choose the correct size and the right compound for your needs, so give us a call if you're not sure what to buy!

Once you have a new set on standby, look into the caliper and view the old pads from every angle. A new brake pad is typically 8-12mm thick, and they should be replaced when the thinnest part of the pad is 3mm. If the pads wear much thinner than 3mm, you

Its that time of year once again to bring us your consignment ski’s and race suits!  Crack open the attic, move the bags out of the garage, and bring your used (and in decent condition) recreational ski, race skis, adult skis, junior skis, and race suits down to Start Haus. 

We’ll help you price the gear to sell and you choose either 70% store credit or 60% cash in the form of a check.

We’re taking in skis now and space will be limited- get your skis in today!  Sale happens over Labor Day Weekend 2021- that’s Friday August 3rd to Monday September 6th.

Accepting gear starting Friday August 6th!

Our Basic Bike Maintenance series is here to answer the questions our customers ask us the most! Last time we talked about chain wear, which you can read about HERE. Today we are going over how to maintain your tubeless tire system, and more specifically, tire sealant. If you'd prefer to watch the video, you can find it HERE. Don't hesitate to drop a comment and let us know how we are doing!

First of all, how do tubeless tires work? At the simplest level, an air-tight seal is created between your bike tires and your rims, eliminating the need for tubes. Of course, small leaks will develop over the life of the tire, and a puncture or pinch-flat could happen while riding. This is where sealant comes into play! Tubeless sealant is a mixture of liquid latex and small particulates, which work together to clog holes in a tire. [Note: composition varies between brands, so its important to pick one and stick with it!]

Sealant is added during setup, and often forgotten about until leaks arise.

It has been a whirlwind year and a half since we were first affected by Covid-19. In March 2020 when ski areas closed and the stay-at-home order went into effect, the futures of Start Haus and many other local businesses were unknown. We operated online-only and asked our customers for help.

The local ski and bike communities overwhelmed us with support, from online orders to gift card purchases, and we're very thankful to everyone who helped us keep the doors open. We were able to reopen the brick-and-mortar store in accordance with CDC, state, and county guidelines by installing ventilation fans, requiring masks, reducing capacity, cleaning often, and switching to an appointment system for boot fitting.

On June 15th, California ended the stay-at-home order and posted new guidance regarding the pandemic. If you've visited our shop in the last two weeks, you may have noticed some changes in accordance! All of our employees are fully vaccinated, and we are no longer requiring masks to be

Welcome to the first post in our series of Basic Bike Maintenance! Whether we started riding at 5 or 45, we were all beginners at one point. This series is chocked full of information we wish we knew from the start, and is focused on empowering new riders to feel confident in maintaining their equipment. Many of us have learned these lessons the hard or expensive way, but you shouldn't have to.

This brings us to our first topic, chain wear! Bike chains are made of up to 116 individual links, and have the most moving parts of any component on your bike. They're constantly under stress while we pedal, and are usually covered in dust, mud or anything else you might encounter on a ride. Knowing this, it makes sense that your chain will wear with normal use. So what does normal chain wear look like, and when is replacement appropriate?

Luckily for us, chain wear is quantifiable using a chain checker tool, which indicates wear on a scale from 0 to 1. Our favorite tool is the Park Tool Chain Checker

There are plenty of YouTube videos describing the full gamut of Maxxis Tire offerings, how to combine them, and what conditions to run them in. However, there is a surprising lack of tire guides specific to the conditions of the Tahoe area. The basin is unique, with early season hero dirt rapidly devolving into dusty hardpack, to the deep dust of summertime. Techy rock gardens and loose-on-hard flow means we need ultimate grip and cut resistance out of our tires. Here we will break it down to basics- pattern, casing, and compound- plus we will share our favorite front/rear combo for the local conditions.

Tread Pattern (Front):

First up is the legendary Maxxis Minion DHF. In our opinion, this tire is the best compromise between traction and rolling resistance for our area. Combining fast-rolling center knobs with well-supported cornering knobs, it has been a solid choice for a front tire since its debut almost 20 years ago.

Next is WC Downhiller Greg Minnaar's signature pattern, the Maxxis

If you've ever had a bootfitting appointment with us, you know our fitters are meticulous. From measurements and mobility tests, to custom footbeds, canting and alignment... their expertise ensures a great fit! This season we have welcomed so many new skiers to the sport, and had the pleasure of fitting their first pairs of non-rented boots. With that in mind, we want to go back to the basics to address some of the often unspoken techniques that make our lives a little easier.

A very common question this year has been "How do I put my boots on/take my boots off? It takes so long and can be painful... there must be an easier way!" Well, there certainly is a technique to it, and with some preparation and gear you can make things even easier. Read below, or check out the video tutorial!

Step 1: Boot storage is important. Be sure to always buckle your boots in storage so the cuff retains its shape.

Step 2: Make sure your boots are warm. As Alexis mentions in the video, 70F or warmer is a must,